Charles Ainsworth

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Helen Scanlon on 11th July 2024

Age. He was 22 years when tried at Oxford Quarter sessions in In Dec 1838

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Helen Scanlon on 11th July 2024

Source; Tasmanian Convict register known as "Black Books" held in Hobart State Library. Charles was a third class convict. He was a Protestant, perhaps Presbyterian or Methodist. He could read but probably not write. We have a full description of him in the Black Book. He gave his trade as a woodcutter. He was tall for this period, 5ft 7½ins, aged 22, with a ruddy complexion, large head with a large oval face, brown hair and thin brown whiskers. His forehead was perpendicular, eyes hazel with brown brows, a medium nose and mouth but large chin. Charles was not married. He was given a period of probation on arrival of 15 months. During the period of probation it seems as if Charles was based at the Prisoner’s Barracks, and at the end of this time, after 4 October 1841, he was sent as a servant to a station at Sandy Bay. Here it was in May 1842 that he was absent from work and found carrying beer to work. For this crime he was sent for two months hard labour on the roads, so he returned to the Prisoner’s Barracks. Back at work as the servant once more, he was convicted of being in a public house and for this did six days in solitary confinement, once more in Prisoner’s Barracks. In June 1844, J Walker of Hamilton stated that he had disobeyed orders and absconded without leave. This time he did 14 days in solitary. This employer, J Walker of Macquarie Plains, Hamilton, seems to have been his employer since October 1842. On 15 November 1845 Charles obtained his ticket of leave and finally on 9 January 1849 he was given his Conditional Pardon. He was now free to move about the colonies but not able to return to England. The pardon states that he had been “above 3 years without offence and has been in his present service 5 years”. Charles Ainsworth met and married Ann Carrol. (Daughter of Convict Ann Birnes) in St John’s Church of Scotland, Macquarie St, Hobart Town on 18 November 1850. He was said then to be a sawyer, and her name was spelled Ann Caril. Both of them signed with a cross. The clergyman was James I Bell.(marriage Certificate copy) Ann and Charles decided to become hoteliers and returned to the area near Hamilton that Charles knew well from his time as a convict servant. In 1851 Charles had the licence of the Woolpack Inn near Gretna on the road north-west from Hobart, between New Norfolk and Hamilton, the transfer to his name announced in May 1851 . there they moved to Hobart Town. Here they took the licence of The Man of Ross Inn, at 219 Liverpool St. The licence was transferred to Charles in February 1852 and he is listed as licensee from then to 1857. However, from 1858 to 1864 it is Ann who holds the licence, not Charles. Charles apparently travelled to Victoria in 1856 according to a statement from Ann. Was he seeking his fortune on the gold fields there? Charles Ainsworth and Ann Carroll had four children whose births were recorded. The eldest son Charles Wetherall was born 12 February 1852 . The father Charles is stated to be a sawyer. The baby was baptised 3 March 1852 at St Joseph’s Catholic Church by Rev W Wall. The godmother was Bridget Belling. (At Charles and Ann’s wedding a Charles Belling was a witness). Their second child, a daughter Martha Mary was born 28 June 1854 and she was registered a few days later. Charles Wetherall Ainsworth, father, is stated to be a licensed victualler of Liverpool St. He signed his own name in the register that day. Their third baby, a daughter, Sarah Ann, lived only five weeks. Born on 14 October 1855 she died 20 November in Hobart. The fourth, William was born 1856. No record found after he left Tasmania.