Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
William Baxter was transported on the Marquis Cornwallis, departing 9th Aug 1795 and arriving 11th Feb 1796 with 198 passengers.
Captain Michael Hogan. Surgeon Matthew Austin. Surgeon John Hogan. First Officer Hugh Reid; Midshipman William Roberts. Embarked: 163 men; 70 women Voyage: 186 days Deaths 11
Marquis Cornwallis (generic)References
| Primary Source | Belfast Newsletter Monday March 30, p.3 State Records of NSW - Indents for convict transport ships, 'Marquis Cornwallis' 1796 |
Claims
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Convict Notes
Baxter’s 7 year sentence would have expired in March 1802. He is not the William Baxter recorded in NSWBDM as marrying Mary “Ware” in 1803 – this is a marine who arrived free on “Alexander” in the First Fleet who had a son with Mary Watts/Ware/Weir in 1792 when Irish William Baxter had not yet arrived in the country. (See biographical database of Australia) William Baxter per "Marquis Cornwallis" is not easy to find in the usual convict records after this.
William Baxter was transported on the Marquis Cornwallis after trial at the County of Antrim Assizes held at Carrickfergus in late March 1795 (ending Wednesday 25th March). His original death sentence of hanging on 12th May 1795 was commuted on condition of accepting transportation instead, for a period of seven years. He was transported on ‘Marquis Cornwallis’ and recorded on the indent as being aged 35 years. Just over four months after his trial, William Baxter, recorded as aged 35, was transported to NSW on the Marquis Cornwallis, departing from Cork on 9th August 1795. With him were two other convicts tried at Antrim, - one was Pat Allen also tried at the same March 1795 Antrim Assizes, and the other was Archibald Kane tried in 1795. Belfast Newsletter Monday March 30, p.3: "The following persons were tried at the Antrim Assizes held at Carrickfergus which ended on Wednesday last (i.e 25 March): "WILLIAM BAXTER, found guilty of feloniously stealing cloth out of the Bleach-yard of John Russell – ordered to be hanged on 12th May next."