Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
William Allen was transported on the Castle Forbes, departing 3rd Oct 1819 and arriving 4th Mar 1820 with 143 passengers.
The Castle Forbes was a 439-ton merchant ship built by Robert Gibbon & Sons at Aberdeen, Scotland in 1818. She made two voyages transporting convicts from Ireland to Australia. Castle Forbes arrived at Port Jackson, New South Wales on 27 January 1820. After their arrival in Sydney, 136 men were sent on to Van Diemen's Land Colony (now named Tasmania), arriving in Hobart 1 March 1820. 4 men remained in New South Wales and 4 deaths recorded on this voyage. Alexander Pearce (the infamous bushranger) was one of these men. (Incomplete register of persons transported - records are currently being inputted)
Castle Forbes (generic)References
| Primary Source | Tasmanian Archives |
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Convict Notes
NOTE. William Allen was originally sent to NSW per Prince Regent, then, with 43 other prisoners from Prince Regent, he was sent to VDL per Castle Forbes.
William Allan stood charged with the wilful murder of William Saul, at Birch's Bay, on the 1st of September last. The circumstances of this case were in many respects similar to those of the last.* The prisoner and the deceased had been confined at Macquarie harbour, and had absconded on the 25th of August.—On the 8th of September, the prisoner returned and gave himself up, with some clothes that had been worn by Saul. Those clothes were pierced as if by spears; and on inquiry being made for the deceased, the prisoner answered that he had been killed by the natives. Masters Lynn, a prisoner, deposed that he was confined by lameness in the Hospital at Macquarie Harbour, during September last. The prisoner, after giving himself up, was also a patient in it. On the 11th he asked witness to cut his hair, and whilst it was being cut, observed "this is the last time you will cut my hair,—this is the last time I shall have it cut by any body." Witness begged to know why he thought so, and he answered "because I shall be hanged at the next Criminal Court. I have committed a crime, of which I will tell you all the particulars another time." On the following, day, witness was in the privy, when the prisoner went to him and said "I am very uneasy in my mind; the Devil terrifies me both night and day, so that I never have a moment's rest." Witness asked the reason and the prisoner then made the following confession.—"I have committed murder! As I and Saul were, wandering by the water side, he caught a snake, which he cooked, and of which he only gave me a very little piece. I asked him for some more, and on his refusing it, I struck him with my knife above his eye-brows, and then in the cheek. The blood then ran down his clothes, and he cried out "Oh! Allen do not murder me! you may take all my clothes, but don't kill me!" I then struck my knife into his heart, and ripped his bowels open.—Witness repeated this confession directly to Eldridge, the dispenser of medicines.—Mr. Eldridge, on receiving this information, conveyed it to Mr Garratt, who immediately entered the Hospital and examined the prisoner. Mr. Garratt said, Allan, this, is a serious case, which you have revealed to Lynn, and the prisoner answered " yes, but it is true and cannot be helped now. I am miserable and would rather die than live." He then detailed the circumstances, adding that he had wounded Saul's throat, and cut off his --------. Witness never heard of bodies speared by the natives being mutilated like that of the deceased, when it was found, it lay in a state of nudity - the belly cut open, part of the entrails and the -----------being absent. Robert Badkins corroborated the state in which the body was found; and after the most impartial investigation of all the circumstances, it became the Jury's indispensible duty to bring in a verdict of Guilty. Hobart Town Gazette, 26 Nov 1824. * (refers to similarities between this case and that of Francis Oats, also escaped from Macquarie harbour with another prisoner, whom he killed over non sharing of food when both were starving.) -------------------------------------------------- Execution at Macquarie Harbour.—On the 16th instant Thomas Hudson, Francis Oats and William Allen, who had severally been found guilty of murder under most abhorrent circumstances, underwent the awful sentence which heaven and earth pronounce for their offence, at the penal Settlement, Macquarie Harbour. The behaviour of Hudson was penitent and manly, but we are sorry to add, that his fellow culprits and sufferers displayed to the last, an apathy of conscience quite incorrigible. Hobart Town Gazette, 25 Feb 1825.
Occupation listed as Card Brusher e.g. Card Brusher falls under the broader career category of Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers,
William was transported on the 'Castle Forbes'. Crime not recorded, but convicted at Lancaster Mar 1819. Life Sentence to Van Diemen's Land. Further offences in the colony: 6/4/1821 breaking out of gaol, Launceston. Stealing a horse. To be transferred to Newcastle for remainer of term. 19/6/1824 Obtaining....under false pretences - 25 lashes. Executed at Macquarie Harbour, VDL 28 Jan 1825. Convict no. 733.