Robert Alford

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Dianne Jones on 4th May 2022

DEATH: 4 August, 1850: Robert Alford died at Salt Water River, aged 51; no details are recorded about the cause of death (Tasmania, Australia, Convict Court and Selected Records, 1800-1899; Register; Registers of convict deaths, 1845-1874). --00-- FOOTNOTE: Saltwater River, 102 km south-east of Hobart and 23 km from Port Arthur, on the Tasman Peninsula, was established as a convict outstation in 1833. There were two outstations: one was agricultural and supplied food to Port Arthur; the other was a coal mine which convicts described as "hell on earth". * By the late 1830s Saltwater River was producing most of the coal being used in the whole of Van Diemen's Land. * By 1843 there were 579 prisoners, 27 soldier guards, 35 civilian supervisors and administrators, 14 wives and 90 children living at Saltwater River. * Convict mining at the site stopped in 1848 and the site was sold to private operators. * The mine was closed down in 1877." (https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/saltwater-river-tas) --00--

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Dianne Jones on 4th May 2022

1849: Robert Alford #396 was listed as being in hospital at New Norfolk (New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849; Tasmania; Ledger Returns; 1849). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 4th May 2022

COLONIAL SENTENCE: 13 October, 1842: From the Launceston Advertiser, p3: "Timothy Joyce, Robert Alford, and James Williams, convicted of a larceny in the dwelling house of Mr. Kean, were sentenced to transportation for life. His Honor said it was one of the most impudent robberies he ever heard of, and he felt very little commiseration in sentencing the prisoners." (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/84767742) --0--

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Dianne Jones on 4th May 2022

Another COLONIAL TRIAL for stealing, as per newspaper report below: 6 October, 1842 -- Supreme Court, Launceston (from the Launceston Advertiser, p3): "SUPREME COURT—CRIMINAL SITTINGS. Timothy Joyce, Robert Alford, and James Williams, were indicted for stealing on the 7th August, a table, key, some steel pens, a five pound note, twenty one pound notes, and other articles from the dwelling house of Mr. Hugh Kean of Campbell Town. Hugh Kean.— I am a licensed victualler, residing in Campbell Town; on the evening of the 7th August, I was in a room close to the bar, there is a glass door at the back part of the bar, which opens into a passage at the back part of the house; I heard the door open or shut, it was latched a few minutes before I went into the room: I walked to the bar door, and heard a trampling of feet, and directed my attentions to the spot; I then saw five men amongst whom were the prisoners at the bar; they ran away and I pursued them; I came up to Plummer and collared him, and both of us fell, a scuffle ensued, when Joyce and Alford who were some distance ahead returned, and commenced kicking me; during the scuffle one of them succeeded in pulling my trowsers pocket away; Plummer was rescued from me; I returned to the house and called up a female. I afterwards went across the road for a person named O'Meara, and then to report the case to the police; I returned to the bar and missed a small table, it had two drawers, there were checks and notes to the amount of £80 and upwards in one drawer, besides some silver; they were all one pound notes; the prisoner Williams was in my service at that time; after the scuffle he came to the bar and said, 'Master, what's the matter, I know nothing about it;' I said you scoundrel how can you say so, and struck him; he immediately went away. Amongst the checks taken away was one for four pounds, drawn by Roderick O'Connor on the Union Bank in my favor. I went with some constables to search for the property; we went to the house where Alford resided; these two pieces of wood were found in the fire-place— I believe them to be parts of my table; I also saw the two brass locks found; the key which used to unlock the drawer of the table I lost fitted these locks. This portion of a small type frame found also in the fire, I believe to be mine; I swear to this key, which was in the drawer at the time. (Several other things were produced and identified.) When Joyce and Alford were leaving my premises they appeared to be carrying something in a bag; the prisoners had been in my house that night for the purpose of having something to drink. Cross-examined by Mr. Macdowell.— This was about 11 o'clock at night; I struck Williams after I went to O'Meara's, but before he came I had missed the table before that. I had been drinking with these men, one of them paid for it; I tossed with him, and he lost. I had been in the bar a few minutes before I heard the creaking I spoke of; the room I was sitting in opened into the passage; there were two or three persons in the kitchen whom I did not know. I was in a state of considerable excitement after the robbery; it was a starlight night, but very dark. I believe Alford was in custody when we searched his house. Thomas Connell — I am a constable; went to Alford's house on the 6th August with Mr. Kean and Mr. District Constable Flynn; these articles (locks, key, &c.) were found in the fire-place. District Constable Flynn.—Went to Mr. Kean's house on the 7th August; apprehended the three prisoners at the bar... Walter Davidson.— I reside at Campbell Town, near the house where these things were found; the prisoner Alford and a man named Gould, were employed by me, I paid them off on the 6th August, I gave them £8, odd shillings; Alford lived in a small cottage near the burial ground. Mr. Macdowell then addressed the jury for the defence, and dwelt particularly upon the improbability of Mr. Kean's evidence. He called the witness with the view of proving that it was improbable Williams could have been present at the robbery, and the jury had a right to infer, that if Mr. Kean was mistaken in reference to him, it was equally probable he might be so as to the identity of the other prisoners. William McCarthy was employed as cook at Mr. Kean's on the 7th August; Williams was employed as waiter, recollect Mr. Kean coming to the kitchen and saying he had been robbed; there were two or three men in the kitchen at that time; Mr. Kean said his box was robbed and likewise his person, I think Williams was in the kitchen half an hour before the robbery, he was there till about two minutes before Mr. Kean came in. The Attorney-General cross-examined the witness, and elicited several answers at variance with his deposition before the magistrate. Mr. Everton stated that he let a house to a man named Gould, but two other men employed in building a wall for Mr. Davidson lived with him in it. Verdict— Guilty." (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/84767257) --0--

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Dianne Jones on 4th May 2022

31 May, 1839: His Conduct Record states he was "to be sent to Port Arthur for 5 years" -- convicted for larceny under 5 pounds (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-2$init=CON31-1-2p27). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 4th May 2022

IN VDL: 17 November, 1830: On arrival Robert Alford was listed as convict #396, per Persian. He was single, a quarryman from Hyde, Cheshire, aged 31 (https://librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/). 1837: He was "Free by servitude" (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-2$init=CON31-1-2p27). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 4th May 2022

TRIAL: 10 April, 1830: Robert Alford, a quarryman, was convicted and sentenced to 7 year's transportation for burglary. He had previous convictions for vagrancy (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-2$init=CON31-1-2p27). --00--