James Baker

218

Dianne Jones on 16th November 2023

NOTE: Year of Birth is taken from official records but day and month are not known. The latter dates have been entered as 01/01 because the site does not allow those fields to be left empty.

218

Dianne Jones on 16th November 2023

1852 FAMILY REUNION: Some of James Baker’s family who were living in Wellington, Somerset, joined him in Western Australia in 1852. Passage for his wife Charlotte (56), son Joseph (26) and daughter Jane (18) was paid in part by the convict (£2/10) and the Wellington community (£20). They sailed from London in July on the “Anne Maclean” and arrived at Albany on 6 November (Western Australia, Australia, Crew and Passenger Lists, 1852-1930, Albany, 1852, Not Stated). -- “Shipping Intelligence. ARRIVED— On the 6th inst., the barque Ann Maclean, McGaw, master, from London. Passengers: Mr Ellis, Mrs and Miss Masters, J. E., E., Mary, Fred, Arthur, and Jesse Brooke, D. Urquhart, H. Witton, C. Hall, H. Mott, B. and J. A. Brick, Joseph, Charlotte, and Jane Barker, Elizabeth, W. and S. Burkitt; John Thomas, and Mary, John, Betsy, and Mary Suff.” (Inquirer, 10 November, p3 at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/65485518). --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 16th November 2023

BIO OF JAMES BAKER BY RON PIMM: Click on the following link: https://waconvicts.fhwa.org.au/exhibits/48.-james-baker---a-blacksmith-s-tale---ron-pimm.pdf --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 16th November 2023

OTHER: Birth: 1793 at Bathealton, Somerset, England Death: 10 January 1873, at Fremantle, Western Australia Burial: On 11 January 1873, at Skinner Street Cemetery, Fremantle, Western Australia Convicted: Stealing fowls and sentenced to 14 years on 23 February 1847 at Exeter, Devon, England. He had been convicted previously. Family Status: Married, 6 children as at 1 June 1850. Character book 1850 lists only 2 children. Asked permission for wife & children to come to WA. Physical Description: Height 5' 7½"; dark grey hair; hazel eyes; full visage; dark complexion; stout appearance Occupation: Blacksmith Transported: On the Scindian arriving at Fremantle, Western Australia, on 1 June 1850. He had been collected from Portland prison. Convict No.: 48, assigned on 1 June 1850 Literacy: Literate as at 1 June 1850 Ticket of Leave: Granted on 16 October 1850 at Western Australia. He was assigned to the Champion Bay district as a blacksmith working for Geraldine Mining Co. at the wage of 20s per week. Conditional Pardon: Granted on 10 January 1857 at Western Australia. (https://waconvicts.fhwa.org.au/g0/p2.htm#i48) --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 20th August 2022

AGE, etc.: Other records give his age as 48 on arrival (born 1801/2), and trade as a blacksmith, as below: From his Fremantle jail record: BAKER, James; inmate #48, arrived 1 Jun 1850 per Scindian Date of Birth: 1801 Marital Status: Married 6 children Occupation: Blacksmith Literacy: Literate Sentence Date: 23 Feb 1847 Sentence Place: Exeter, Devon, England Crime: Stealing towels Sentence Period: 14 years Ticket Leave Date: 16 Oct 1850 Conditional Pardon Date: 10 Jan 1857 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 20th August 2022

ON BOARD: JAMES BAKER was convict #48; convicted in 1847 and transported for stealing towels (https://www.perthdps.com/convicts/con-wa0.html). —00—

218

Dianne Jones on 20th August 2022

NEWSPAPER REPORT OF THE SHIP’S ARRIVAL: 7 June, 1850: “Arrival of the ‘Scindian’ with Convicts. The arrival of the Scindian with the first batch of convicts and the staff of officers for the formation of the Penal Establishment, took place on Saturday last, the 22nd anniversary of the foundation of the colony-a curious coincidence and a very fit day for the commencement of the new order of things. She has had a quick passage of 88 days from Portsmouth, which she left on the 4th March. The number of passengers is 277, of which seven are cabin, including Dr. Gibson, R.N., Surgeon Superintendent, Capt. Henderson, R.E., Superintendent of the Convict Establishment, lady and child, Mr. and Mrs. Dickson and two children. Mr. and Mrs. Manning and two children; steerage, 75 convicts, 54 pensioners with wives and families and 14 emigrant young women. The Scindian is the first of four vessels taken up by the Home Government for the conveyance of convicts hither, one to sail each month during the three following months… On Tuesday His Excellency proceeded to Fremantle, for the purpose of arranging, in concert with Capt. Henderson [Superintendent of the Convict Establishment], for locating the prisoners, and an agreement was made with Capt. Scott to take his premises upon lease for five years, at a rental of £250 per annum, to expend £1,000 in improvements for which interest at the rate of 4 per cent is to be allowed out of the rent. We understand, that after the erection of their own buildings, the first public work proceeded with will, in all probability, be the erection of a Pier to run out from Arthur’s Head, for the protection of Gage’s Roads. We also hear that the Scindian has on board 400 tons of Government stores, including tools, iron-work, and everything the establishment is likely to require for the erection of gaols, carrying on works, &c.” (The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News, p2 at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3171648). —00—

218

Dianne Jones on 20th August 2022

PER SCINDIAN — THE FIRST CONVICTS TO WA: 1 June, 1850: “On this day in 1850, the first convict transport ship Scindian arrived in Fremantle to great surprise, as she had managed to overtake the ship carrying news of her arrival. There was no prison capable of holding the convicts, so a local warehouse was rented and quickly converted into a temporary prison. Convicts remained there for five years, whilst building their new home, The Convict Establishment, later renamed Fremantle Prison.” (https://www.facebook.com/fremantleprison) —0—