James Baverstock

Level 72

Robin Sharkey on 26th October 2018

There were many Baverstocks at Andover in Hampshire, which was where James Baverstock came from. At the same assizes where he was tried, a Charles Baverstock was also tried, for a separate crime committed at Andover. ENGLISH CRIME James Baverstock, together with Charles Cook (another agricultural labourer/ploughman about the same age as Baverstock), stole a sheep at Andover in Hampshire. The Hampshire Chronicle Journal, Monday 10 March 1828, p.1 "… On Tuesday [4 March]. .... at conclusion of divine service their Lordships proceeded to the Castle and commenced their judicial duties. ... Mr Justice Gaselee tried prisoners at the Crown Bar. [The trial of Moses Shepherd "lasted nearly ten hours."] " Sentence of death was RECORDED against the following: ... Charles Cook and James Baverstock for stealing a sheep, the property of John Munday, at Andover ..." "Seven years transportation ... Charles Baverstock for stealing one cwt. [hundredweight] of iron at Andover, the property of Russell & Co, common carriers." U.K. HULK REGISTERS James Baverstock, “aged 20”. Received on “York” Hulk on 12th May 1828 from Winchester, Hampshire. Offence: Stlg a sheep. Convicted Winchester 3 March 1828, sentence: Life. How disposed of: “16 August 1828 to NSW”. Charles Cook, his fellow-in-crime, was sent to the same hulk and to NSW on the same convict ship. They were taken from the hulk to the convict ship “Royal George” which departed ten days later on Tuesday 26 August 1828. They arrived in Sydney exactly four months later on Christmas Eve, 1828. James Baverstock's age differs in various records. The hulk registers in May 1828 record him as aged 20 years (so born 1808). But in the NSW indents seven months later he is recorded as “22” (born 1805 or 1806). Some gaol records have his birth year as 1811. Baverstock is not mentioned in the Royal George’s Medical Journal, kept during the journey to NSW, so he had a healthy voyage. INDENT of “ROYAL GEORGE”: 38/742 22 yrs, “r&w” Protestant, Single, Native of Andover. Farm servant and ploughman. Offence: Sheep stealing. Tried: Winchester, 5th March 1828. LIFE. Former convictions: none. Ruddy complexion, Dark brown hair, Grey eyes. Bars[?] mark outside Right eyebrow. How disposed of: To Berry and Wollstonecraft. [Pencilled in: 38/742. “C.P [no. 47?] date 13 August 1845”] Alexander Berry and Edward Wollstonecraft were business partners and had constructed a stone wharf, then a stone warehouse, and workers' cottages and huts on the western side of Berrys Bay on the north shore of the harbour (located in present day Waverton), to take in the produce from their estate at the Shoalhaven on the south coast. It was these business partners that Baverstock was first assigned to. _______________________ What happened to the Charles Baverstock given seven years transportation at the same Assizes as James? At some point he was put on Captivity Hulk where it was recorded of him ““Character is bad. Litter gated [?]. felony [?] 1828 to the Appt [?] [?] transport [?]" And one more line is difficult to transcribe. He ended up spending six & 1/2 years on the hulks, then being pardoned six months before his 7 year sentence expired (together with quite a few other men on the same hulk across August and September 1834). But initially he was sent to Leviathan Hulk (at Portsmouth), received there 29 March 1828 “Age: 22” Offence: Felony. When & where Convicted: 3 March 1828, Winchester. 7 years. How disposed of: FP [FP means Free Pardon] 23 August 1832 After going off to Captivity Hulk Charles Baverstock was sent back again to Leviathan Hulk, Received on 1 June 1832. “Age: 25” Felony. Tried Winchester 3 March 1828. 7 years. How disposed of: P’d [i.e. Pardoned] 10 Sept 1834. ______________________ James' Personal Detail from Conditional Pardon document of 1845, no 45/437 ? Native Place was Andover ? Trade was 'Farm Servant & Ploughman' ? Offence was 'Sheep stealing'. ? Trial was at Winchester (in Hampshire) on 5th March 1828. Life. ? Height 5ft 7 &1/2 inches ? Complexion: dark ruddy * . Hair: dark brown Eyes: Grey ? 'Dark mark outside right eyebrow' ? Year of birth: 1806. ? Arrived NSW on "Royal George' in 1828. Various entries in Gaol Books: 1845 - Newcastle Gaol Entrance Book Baverstock. First name is illegible and doesn’t appear to be “James”. May be one of the other Baverstocks (could be Isabella). North Parramatta Gaol Entrance Description Book. Specific year not stated, but from 1844-1854. James Beverstock, arrived Royal George in 1828. Year of Birth – 1811. 5ft 8&1/2inches tall. Stout. Dark complexion. Hazel eyes. General Remarks – nil. “Connexions and History” – Hamps. Andover. Protestant. Laborer. F.S. Nil [note 'nil' is in a column for literacy levels]. Daringhurst gaol, Entrance Book 1854. James Beverstock, per Royal George. B 1808 (so, age 46) 5ft 6&1/2. Stout. Fresh complexion. Sark brown hair, grey eyes. Cannot read The following gaol entry proves that he was alive in 1854, and had not died in 1850 as an entry on this page first recorded: 26 April 1854 Darlinghurst Description Book – James Beverstock, Royal George, 1828. Condition arrived [I.e in NSW] Protestant. Laborer. Admitted: April 26 From: Police Office; Purpose: Confine 2 months. Disposed of [when] “Fine paid” When: 27 May 1854.

Level 72

Robin Sharkey on 26th October 2018

Personal Detail from Conditional Pardon document of 1845 Native Place was Andover Trade was 'Farm Servant & Ploughman' Offence was 'Sheep stealing'. Trial was at Winchester (in Hampshire) on 5th march 1828. Life. Height 5ft 7 &1/2 inches Complexion: dark ruddy Hair: dark brown Eyes: Grey 'Dark mark outside right eyebrow' Year of birth stated as 1806.

Level 10

Alan Beverstock on 9th November 2014

On the 1st September 1845, James Baverstock/Beverstock was granted a conditional pardon, after serving 17 years of a life sentence. A number of other convicts were also granted conditional pardons on that date. After leaving the Shoalhaven the family finally settled in Erskinville a suburb of Sydney.

Level 10

Alan Beverstock on 6th November 2014

I am inclined to agree with D.Wong that James Baverstock/Beverstock was still alive when he assaulted his wife. I tried to contact Maxwell Baverstock without success. All descendants from this union would be Beverstock to this date.The three children that were born from this marriage were Charlotte DOB 10.1.1844 James II 20.4.1846 Margaret 1848. This would indicate that the date of dead would be wrong. James II was Baptised C of E on 26.11.1848 at Shoalhaven. It is obvious that the family moved from the Raymond Terrace area to the south coast some time after the marriage.

Level 221

D Wong on 1st November 2014

The date of death of James may need a little more research – found the following in ‘Trove’ 29/4/1854 Illustrated Sydney News: Assault.-James Beverstock was charged with assaulting his wife, Isabella Beverstock. It appeared that the defendant, exasperated with his wife for losing a £1 note, proceeded to punish her by knocking her down, and then beating and kicking her until she became insensible. He is in the habit of beating her, and to such an extent that she fears for her life. The defendant was sentenced to pay a fine of £5, and to give sureties to keep the peace for six months, or in default to be imprisoned until the sittings of the Quarter Sessions.

Level 10

Alan Beverstock on 31st October 2014

Name was Baverstock but when married Minster recorded as Beverstock as he was illiterate and never corrected it. Married Isabella Lamb (Child nurse..could read and write) Sentenced to 7 years for robbery at Newcastle in 24.2.1840 and arrived on Surrey 14.7.1840 Marriage took place at Seaham near Raymond Terrace, 4.10.1841 James was born 1806 at Andover Hampshire.They had 3 children Charlotte, James and Margaret.