William Banner

343

Maureen Withey on 4th February 2022

Conduct Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-7$init=CON33-1-7p8 William Banner, Tried at Down 21 October 1840, 10 years. Transported for Larceny. Stated this offence: Horse stealing, John McGrath, Dunmore. Single. Protestant, cannot read or write. Surgeon’s Report: Orderly, rather dirty, quiet and good tempered. Farm lad, age 16, native of Co. Down. Many offences listed on his record, including: Tried Launceston Q.S. 5 Feb 1851 as Samuel McGinn by this ship. Stealing 4 coats and other articles the property of his master John Norton. Guilty, To be transported for 7 years, - 15 months P. Arthur. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-7$init=CON33-1-7p188 Conduct Record- William Banner. ( No personal details) Just a list of offences and punishments. Arrived Norfolk Island 10.5.51. His sentence was extended several times, due to cases of petty larceny. He absconded a couple of times. ------------------------------------------------------ It appears that William used the name Samuel McGinn, and the newpapers and records use this latter name. Return of Paupers from Invalid Depots,, from 22 to 29 February 1872. Brickfields, Hobart, Samuel McGinn, per B. Sovereign, admitted from Hobart, 13 Nov 1871. Discharged 27 Feb 1872. Left without leave. Had on Government clothing. Cascades, Hobart. Samuel McGinn, per B. Sovereign, admitted from Hobart, 23 May 1872, Discharged 17 June 1872, At his own request. Fit for light work. Brickfields, Hobart, Samuel McGuin, B. Sovereign, Admitted from Hobart, 8 April 1873, Discharged 22 April 1873, At his own request. Unable to work. -------------------------------------------------- Part of an article about the Rules and regulations of the Pauper establishments: There was a case at the Police Court the other day of an old man 71 years of age, who had left the Brickfields establishment without permission, and gone away dressed in the Government uniform served out to him from the stores. His name, Samuel McGinn, was published in the "Crime Report as an intimation to constables to arrest him. We are informed the man was absent ten days or a fortnight, and all that time he was supposed to be liable to be apprehended. He afterwards presented himself at the Depot for re-admission. Was the Superintendent bound to receive him, after he had gone off without leave, taking Government clothing with him, and according to regulation 23 rendered himself liable to be prosecuted for so doing." Strictly speaking the Superintendent was not bound to take him in and legally he was not empowered to give him into custody. But he did give him into custody, in the interests of the establishment, on the supposed authority of rule 23 and for the benefit of the old man himself, who, as the Police Magistrate said, would be better in the Depot, if he did but think so. The trifling detention in the look-up would probably operate as a warning to him although, on the charge of stealing the clothes, he was properly released from custody, there being no ingredient of " felonious intent." The effect of this, in a disciplinary point of view, upon the inmates of the establishment, may not be satisfactory; but the case may be referred to as affording an illustration of the necessity of some legislation as to the government of an institution, the inmates of which number not far short of two hundred and fifty. The Mercury, 15 Mar 1872. --------------------------------------------------- Death in Gaol. Samuel McGinn, alias Paddy the Dancer, who, before threshing machines came to be used so generally, was in great request as a thresher, by the farmers in this and the neighbouring districts, latterly, from old age, and infirmities, spent some time in the Invalid Depot, of which place he was not a very willing resident, preferring to roam from farm to farm to eke out a subsistence, and it was whilst so roaming about that he was found insensible near a farm, whence he was taken to the Richmond gaol where he died no Saturday night last. — The particulars are as follow of the INQUEST. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201488312?searchTerm=Samuel McGinn There is a full account from witnesses who knew him and recounted his last days. -------------------------------------------------- Richmond District, 1875. 31 July 1875, Samuel McGinn, male, age 69, Labourer, Cause of death, Congestion of the lungs, Verdict Coroners Jury. Informant was the Coroner, Winston Churchill Simmons. Inquest. 2 Aug 1875. Date of death, 31 July 1875. Samuel McGinn, free by servitude, per British Sovereign. Samuel McGinn came to his death on the 31 day of July in the year aforesaid through exposure to cold on the night of the 29th July in the year aforesaid, causing congestion of the lungs and by no violent ways or means whatsoever to the knowledge of the said jurors, did die. --------------------------------------------------

343

Maureen Withey on 4th February 2022

Appropriation Record. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON27-1-8$init=CON27-1-8p168 3307. William Banner, Age 16, height 5ft 4, Trade, Farm lad, Tried at Down, 10 years, Native place, Down, How Appropriated- Fifteen months Roads.