Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
William Ashton was transported on the Guildford, departing 31st Jul 1811 and arriving 18th Jan 1812 with 214 passengers.
The ‘Guildford’ was built on the River Thames, England in 1810. Used as a Convict Transport ship to Australia - voyages 1812, 1816, 1818, 1820, 1822, 1824, 1827 & 1829. The ship was lost at sea near Singapore in 1831, loosing all aboard.
Guildford (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 45(24) |
| 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
"Researching on behalf of the Ashton family, looking for a connection to James Henry Ashton."
Photos
No photos have been added for William Ashton.
Convict Notes
15 Feb 1829 executed at Launceston for robbery https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD34-1-1/RGD34-1-1P089
Who was William Ashton? What was his life like before his conviction and transportation? Hoping to find his story and share that in the near future.
Family connections for William (Ashton) are: A deletion made to William (Ashton) Jul 2025. ASHTON William (Ashton) was born about 1792 & became a bricklayer. He was tried at Devon Assizes Devonshire, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 18 1 1812 after a a voyage of 5.5months on GUILDFORD. He was sent to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) on RUBY. He married Ann Elizabeth (Cockerell her second marriage) on 2 4 1816 at St Davids CofE Hobart. [Some details taken from this Website] Ann Elizabeth (Cockerill/ell) was born in 1793 in Devonshire. She arrived in Port Phillip (now Victoria) with her parents on 4 10 1803 after a voyage of 7+months on OCEAN (supply ship with HMS CALCUTTA) (an expedition that settled in Tasmania); she would have camped at what is now Sorrento/Sullivans Bay. She may have gone on HMS LADY NELSON to Risdon Derwent Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) on 13 12 1803 (arriving on 15 2 1804). She married firstly at age14 Thomas Figgit (Littlefield) on 11 1 1807 at St Davids CofE Hobart. She is recorded off stores in Hobart Town on 2 10 1818. Details of Ann Elizabeth (Cockerill/ell)s family are given in entry for Joshua (Peck/Peek SCARBOROUGH/CHARLOTTE 1788) on this Website. REFERENCE Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.
List of 80 male convicts (originally sent on Guildford 1812) be embarked per Ruby of Calcutta to Hobart Town, with the indents from Guildford, master Johnson, in 1812. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-1$init=CON13-1-1P22 William Ashton, Devon Assizes, tried 6 Aug 1808. Life.
1812 - Conduct Record; CON31-1-1. Indent No; 4. To NSW per Guildford and to VD Land per Ruby EXECUTED; at Launceston - 1829 1829 - Burials in the Parish of St John Launceston in the County of Cornwall, Port Dalrymple in the Year; 1829 No; 186 Name; William Ashton Abode; Launceston. Executed When buried; 1829, 16 February 1829. Age; 37 years Ship’s Name; Indefatigable ** As per Register Quality or profession. Bricklayer • William Ashton - 15 February 1829 - Hanged at Launceston for robbery