Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Aaron Bannister was transported on the Bussorah Merchant, departing 1st Oct 1829 and arriving 18th Jan 1830 with 200 passengers.
The Bussorah Merchant was built at Calcutta in 1818, 531 tons. The ship transported convicts from England in 1828 to New South Wales, from Ireland in 1829/30 to Hobart, Van Diemen's Land and in 1831 another voyage to Sydney, New South Wales. (The ship also made voyages to Australia, in 1837, 1839 & 1845 with free immigrants.)
Bussorah Merchant (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/7, Page Number 213 (109) 1848 - Court. SC32-1-6 Image 81 |
| 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 |
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Convict Notes




Quarter Sessions, New Norfolk, October 14, 1833. Aaron Bannister, John Carstairs, and William Underwood stood charged with stealing a quantity of wheat, the property of Mr. W. Abel, their master. The two former were found Guilty, and the latter Not Guilty. Bannister was sentenced to seven years transportation, and Carstairs to three years. The Tasmanian, 25 Oct 1833.




Tasmanian Records. Description: https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON23-1-1/CON23-1-1-P051 1275. Aaron Bannister, 5 ft 4 ½, brown hair, grey eyes, age 20, Ploughman, tried Stafford Q.S. 15 Oct 1828, 7 years, 10 Dec 1831, 3 years extended, (corrected to “2 yrs extd”.) New Norfolk Q.Sess, Oct 1833, 7 years. July 1 1840, 6 months hard labor out of chains. Per ship Bussorah Merchant. Native place, Burton upon Trent, Stafford. Marks: SB inside rt arm; WB & A B inside left arm. Remarks: F.C. No 74/1840. Conduct Record: https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON31-1-4/CON31-1-4P6 This page is damaged and part is missing. Transported for Stealing 14 shillings, Gaol report, convicted long before, a reputed thief. Hulk report, Orderly. Stated this offence, House breaking, once 6 months for …. goods false pretences. F, Joseph Bannister, Tailor, at NP, Burton upon …, Stafford. Single. Many records of his offences and punsihments listed. See record for full details. Conduct Record, continuation https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON32-1-2/CON32-1-2P25 No 1275. Aaron Bannister. Approved to be removed to Green Ponds under his existing sentence to hard labor and not to be employed in any billet. Conduct to be specially reported. L.G.’s Decis. 28 Aug 1840.




Prisoners. ...To be Transported 7 Years. — … Aaron Bannister, stealing money at Anslow. Staffordshire Advertiser, 18 Oct 1828. The undermentioned convicts have been removed from our county Prison to the Retribution Hulk at Sheerness, viz: ... and Aaron Bannister, sentenced to transported for seven years each. Staffordshire Advertiser, 15 Nov 1828.


A standard part of convict record-keeping was noting physical descriptions to catch runaways, but Aaron's 1830 gaol entry recorded a highly unique, cryptic piece of ink history. On his skin, he bore a mysterious tattoo of the initials "S B" inside his right arm.




Place of origin: Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire No; 1275. Name; Aaron Bannister Height; 5 ft 4 1/2 inches, aged 20 years old Ploughman Trials; 1858 - Stafford Q.S. 15 Oct 1828 1833 - New Norfolk Q.S. 14 Oct 1833 - 7 years 1840 - 1 July 1840 - 6 months 1848 - 29 Jun 1848. Court Oatlands. Name; William Bannister. No; 1275. Free by Servitude. Ship; Buss Merchant Offence; Stealing 1 sheep the property of Richard Baldwin Verdict; Guilty. To be transported for Life Death Under Sentence - CON63-1-2/135527 No; 1234. William Bannister. B. Merchant Trial; Oatlands Sup. Ct. 29 June 1848 - Life Died; 18 April 1853. Aged 35 years old, In Hospital, Launceston. P.H. ** All details as per the Original Registers **