Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
John Alexander was transported on the Oriental Queen, departing 23rd Oct 1852 and arriving 23rd Feb 1853 with 280 passengers.
Oriental Queen (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 92, Class and Piece Number HO11/17, Page Number 547 (276). --0-- http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsearch/convict/chain/ai00504 |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
Claims
No one has claimed John Alexander yet.
Photos
No photos have been added for John Alexander.
Convict Notes
BURIAL: February, 1854: John Alexander, 23, was buried on the Isle of the dead at Port Arthur. The service was performed by John R Gurney, Chaplain. This record does not give a day of burial (https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD34-1-2p149j2k).
DEATH: 6 February, 1854: John Alexander, 23 and a Pass Holder, died at Port Arthur (Tasmania, Australia, Convict Court and Selected Records, 1800-1899; Register; Registers of convict deaths, 1845-1874). --0--
THE QUARRY/QUARRIES: WC Cromer (1976) says the sandstone used extensively in building projects at Port Arthur was probably worked on a small-scale trial basis from many localities near the settlement. "The choice of anyone particular site was governed not only by the suitability of building stone, but by access (which is often difficult), ease of removal, transport problems, and distance from Port Arthur. Many of these sites have long been abandoned and forgotten, and most would be unidentifiable today. However, three definite quarry sites have been located... Each was a major excavation, and together they supplied most of the stone used at the settlement." Quarry 1 is at Plummer's property, quarry 2 at Palmer's Lookout Road and quarry 3 is 0.4 km west of the old convict farm house at Safety Cove ("Sources of building stone at Port Arthur", p69-1, at https://www.mrt.tas.gov.au/mrtdoc/dominfo/download/UR1976_69/UR1976_69.pdf). --0--
SENT TO PORT ARTHUR -- WHY? He was "specially reported" by the Oriental Queen's surgeon superintendent for "misconduct on the passage". He was "ordered to VDL and to undergo further prison. To be sent to the Quarry Gang at Port Arthur and to be worked in heavy irons..." 5 February, 1853: At Port Arthur, he was "to be released from New Prison Rd and to be worked in heavy irons in the Quarry Gang." 9 September, 1853 or 13 November, 1853: He was "to be worked in light irons at ... Bay but if conduct not satisfactory to be sent to Quarry Gang". --
IN VDL: 19 February, 1853: On arrival, he was listed as convict #27184, single, aged 22, a cook and baker, illiterate and Protestant (C of E). His native place was St Thomas, West Indies. He arrived with a prison report of "very bad" and a surgeon's report of "bad". Description: 5'5¾" tall, black complexion, black woolly hair and dark eyes. Tattoo: July first 1850 on left arm in blue (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-114$init=CON33-1-114p16). Family: Father William, two brothers [name not legible] and Samson, and three sisters Phoebe, Eliza and Sophia (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-47$init=CON14-1-47_00008_L). --0--
TRIAL: 1 July, 1850: John Alexander was sentenced to 7 years' transportation for housebreaking (he was caught in the house of Mrs Hayes at Southampton); he had a previous conviction for stealing a purse (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-114$init=CON33-1-114p16). --0--