Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
William Ashley was transported on the Tortoise, departing 28th Sep 1841 and arriving 19th Feb 1842 with 401 passengers.
Rig: HMS 1000 tons Voyage 1841/1842 from Plymouth, England to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) Australia. Capt J. Hood. Surgeon: Thomas Brownrigg. 394 - 400 male convicts listed.
Tortoise (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 91, Class and Piece Number HO11/12, Page Number 383 (193) |
| 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 William Ashley yet.
Photos
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Convict Notes
INQUEST: 7 December, 1848: At the inquest, James Elliott, a ferryman who worked with William Ashley at Bridgewater on the same ferry, testified that he had known Ashley for 16 years. Elliott, Ashley and another man were working the punt at the ferry crossing when a rope on the punt pulled all three men into the water. Elliott and the other man were able to get out of the water but Ashley, who could not swim, drowned. The inquest found that William Ashley died from suffocation (drowning) (https://stors.tas.gov.au/SC195-1-23-1984). --0--
DEATH: 17 November, 1848: William Ashley accidentally drowned at Bridgewater Ferry (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-17$init=CON33-1-17p4). --0--
27 July, 1847: William Ashley was granted a Ticket of Leave. 4 January, 1848: He was recommended for a Conditional Pardon (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-17$init=CON33-1-17p4). --0--
IN VDL: 1842: On arrival in VDL, convict #3877 William Ashley was listed as a waterman (not a waiter, as per his jail record). His native place was Covent Garden, Middlesex. He was single and aged 22 (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-17$init=CON33-1-17p4). --0--
Note: The men named Bennett and Miles, referred to in the above trial, were JOHN BENNETT and THOMAS MILES. They, too, were tried for burglary at the Old Bailey, on August 17, 1840. Both were convicted -- Bennett receiving 15 years and Miles a life sentence. Both were transported to VDL per Lady Raffles, arriving there in 1841. --0--
TRIAL TRANSCRIPT: 161. WILLIAM ASHLEY was indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of James Lane, about one o'clock in the night of the 11th of July, at St. James, Westminster, with intent to steal, and stealing therein, 7 rings, value 20l.; 2 neck-chains, value 20l.; 2 pairs of bracelets, value 10l.; 6 lockets, value 10l.; 2 seals, value 3l.; 1 watch-key, value 1l.; 1 brooch, value 2l.; 1 coat, value 3l.; 1 waistcoat, value 10s.; 16 pairs of stockings, value 3l.; 2 collars, value 1l.; 2 sleeves, value 5s.; 7 pairs of boots, value 4l.; 1 pair of shoes, value 7s.; 6 printed books, value 1l.; 1 drawing, value 2s.; 12 toothbrushes, value 6s.; 1 jacket, value 15s.; 2 bags, value 1s.; 3 half-sovereigns, and 6 5l. notes, the property of Henry Blissett, clerk.—2nd COUNT. stating it to be the dwelling-house of Henry Blissett, clerk. MR. BODKIN conducted the Prosecution. REV. HENRY BLISSETT. I live in Herefordshire. In July last I was staying in London, and had a front parlour at No. 3, St. Alban's-place, St. James's, which I used as a sleeping-room—Mr. Lane, the owner of the house, did not sleep in the house, but his servant lived there and attended to the rooms—on Saturday, the 11th of July, I came home about twelve o'clock at night, and then went out to a club-house in the neighbourhood—I took a latch-key with me, that the parties in the house should not be kept up—I closed my room-door, but did not lock it—I closed the outer door after me, and am quite sure it fastened—I returned about a quarter after two o'clock, and found the police in possession of my room, and nearly all the property gone, to the value of nearly 200l. Cross-examined by M. PAYNE. Q. Are you not mistaken in saying you closed the outer door? A. I think, if I recollect, when I went out Captain Cape came in at the same moment, and I think I closed the door, but I will not be positive, but that the door was closed I am quite certain—whether Captain Cape shut the door, or whether I pulled it to, I will not be positive. LOUISA TURNPENNY. I kept the house No. 3, St. Alban's-place, for Mr. Lane, in July last—I did not see Captain Cape come home—Mr. Mayo was the last gentleman who came in, except Mr. Blissett—Mr. Mayo came in between twelve and one o'clock—I then closed the outer door, I am certain, and at that time Mr. Blissett's door appeared to be right—when I let Mr. Mayo in, I shut the door to myself—it shuts with a spring—at the time Mr. Mayo came in I noticed a policeman go past with a boy in his custody—I then went to bed, leaving Mr. Blissett to let himself in—Captain Cape had a key, but he came in before that, because I was up at the time he came in—I know Mr. Mayo came in after Captain Cape, because I let him in—I was awoke about half-past two o'clock in the morning by a policeman—I went down, and found the house had been entered and the property stolen—I had noticed the property in the room about eleven o'clock that night—every thing appeared safe then—I had fastened the back doors and windows, and every thing was as I had left it, except the front door. Cross-examined. Q. Did you let Captain Cape in? A. No—I heard him come in—he lodged at the top of the house, and I heard him go into his room—I am confident it was him—he could have gone out afterwards—all the gentlemen had keys—there were eight gentlemen—they were all in except Mr. Blissett—whether any of them went out again or not, I cannot tell. THOMAS VIVIA. (police-constable C 58.) I was on duty in the neighbourhood of St. Alban's-place, on the night this happened—I passed by No. 3, with a boy who I had in my custody, about one o'clock—the outer door appeared to be closed then—about twenty minutes past two o'clock my attention was called to the door again—I put my hand to it, and it was open—I went in and alarmed the family—the door was on the jar—I examined the lock—it did not appear to have been forced—the house did not appear to have been entered by force. ANDREW VALLANCE. I am a police-sergeant. I had notice of this robbery on the 11th of July, and took two men into custody, named Miles and Bennett, who were tried here at a former session—in consequence of information which I got after they were in custody I went about ten o'clock on the morning of the 27th of July, to the prisoner's lodging at No. 52, Whitcombe-street, St. James's, the back attic, on the third floor—he was not there—the door was unlocked, but was closed to—I found there these lace-sleeves, part of the brass of a writing-desk, four keys, and a small box for holding pencil-points—Mr. Blissett was with me, and claimed them as his property. Cross-examined. Q. Where did you find the sleeves? A. In a bag with some dirty linen—the keys were in a box, and the part of the writing-desk lying in the window—that was all I found. WILLIAM WOOLGAR. I am a bricklayer. I keep the house No. 52, Whitcombe-street, the prisoner lodged at my house in July last, in the top garret—he was in the house before I took it, and I had it eight months—on Saturday night, the 11th of July, he paid me a half-sovereign—it was from one to two o'clock, as near as I can tell—I had not been in bed long—I do not know how long he had been out that evening—when he came home he knocked me up to give me the money—I cannot say exactly how much he owed me—there was but a few shillings more difference between us—his rent had got in arrears—when he gave me the half sovereign, he said he was going into the country, perhaps he might be gone two or three weeks, or he might not be gone above a week—he left a box in his room—he did not go into the country—he came back again the next night, and continued to lodge there for about a fortnight after, till the officers came—he was there on the Sunday night as they came on the Monday—he went away on that Sunday—he came in, went up stairs to his room, came down again, and went away—I saw no more of him. Cross-examined. Q. Did he pay you more money at the fortnight's end? A. No—he did not tell me then that he was going into the country—he said nothing—he was not there five minutes that Sunday—he asked me to lend him a light—I was not at home when the officers came—his room was always kept locked till the Sunday night that he went away—it was then left open—three other families lodged in the house—he had the key of the room—he left about ten o'clock on Sunday night—I know it was the 11th of July that be paid me the half-sovereign, because I have spoken about it to the officer—I did not keep an account of the day, but I know it was the same night as the robbery—the officer said so—I did not hear of the robbery for a fortnight after—no one slept in the prisoner's room on Sunday night, that I know of—I cannot swear no one did sleep there, but they had no right to do so, and I did not know of it—the door was not locked after he left. MR. BODKIN. Q. How long before the officers came was it that he paid you this half-sovereign? A. The Saturday week before, just a fortnight. JOHN GRAY. (police-constable C 14.) I saw Miles standing with the prisoner between three and four o'clock, either on the 24th or 25th of July last, about 100 yards from Whitcombe-street, where the prisoner lodged. JOHN WHALE. (police-sergeant C 16.) I have been looking for the prisoner to apprehend him, ever since the search made at his lodging, but was not able to find him till the 12th of October, when I took him at No. 5, New-court, Duck-lane, Westminster. MR. BLISSET. re-examined. These keys are mine, and were in my room, in the carpet bag—these sleeves were also in the carpet-bag—this piece of brass, I have no doubt, is part of my writing-case—it has exactly the same coloured leather on it as the case I lost that night—I had left it locked—this pencil-holder was also in it, I believe—it is exactly like one I lost—I also lost six 5l. notes, and three half-sovereigns, I think—Miles was taken into custody on the night of the 24th. JAMES LANE. I was present when Miles was being conveyed to the station, on the night of the 24th of July—on his way there, I observed something fall from him, which turned out to be eleven or twelve skeleton-keys in a bag. ANDREW VALLANCE. re-examined. I took Miles into custody on the night of the 24th, and kept him in custody till he was tried. GUILTY. Aged 21.— Transported for Fifteen Years. Fourth Jury, before Mr. Common Sergeant (https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/). --00--
TRIAL: 23 November, 1840: William Ashley, 21, a waiter, was tried at the Old Bailey before Baron Parke, and sentenced to 15 years' transportation for burglary (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for William Ashley; England; Middlesex; 1840; and London, England, Newgate Calendar of Prisoners, 1785-1853 for William Ashley; Piece 47: 1840). --0--
New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters. Tasmania Year; 1849 No; 3877 Name; William Ashley Ship; Tortoise - 1842 Remarks; ACCIDENTLY DROWNED;