Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
John Bell was transported on the Clara, departing 19th Mar 1857 and arriving 3rd Jul 1857 with 262 passengers.
Clara (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/18, Page Number 205 (104). --00--Edgar, W. (Bill). (2018). “The precarious voyage of her majesty’s convict ship ‘Nile’ to the Swan River colony, late 1857 – and the unexpected aftermath.” The Great Circle, 40(1), 20–43. |
| 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 |
Claims
No one has claimed John Bell yet.
Photos
No photos have been added for John Bell.
Convict Notes
From his FREMANTLE jail record: BELL, John; inmate 4405, arrived 3 July 1857 per Clara (1) Date of Birth: 1825 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Tailor Literacy: Literate Sentence Date: 3 Jan 1856 Sentence Place: Cambridge, Cambridge, England Crime: House breaking Sentence Period: 15 years Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket of Leave Date: 26 Jun 1859 Conditional Pardon Date: 4 Jun 1862 Certificate of Freedom Date: 3 Jan 1871 Comments: Self-employed. To London, 17 Jan 1871 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--
IN WA: 1857: On arrival, he was listed as #4405, aged 30 when convicted, a tailor, single but with four living children; able to read and write well. Previous convictions -- 8 times summarily convicted; 3 times acquitted; "character very bad". 1 January, 1859: He was appointed a convict Constable (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Character Book for Nos 3640-4432 (R19)). --0--
1856-57: Some time prior to the Clara's departure, he was admitted to Portsmouth prison. Portland, Portsmouth, Chatham and Spike Island in Ireland were listed public works stations and the second stage in the penal process. After separate confinement, prisoners were “placed on work parties at various locations, most commonly naval stations, where maintenance of facilities was vital for the effective protection of Britain’s far flung commercial and military influences around the world. While there, attitude and behaviour were monitored closely. In theory, only after consistently positive reports was a prisoner moved on to the third stage of his incarceration—transportation.” (Edgar, p40) John Bell's behaviour at Portsmouth was "good", and "very good" on the voyage to WA (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Character Book for Nos 3640-4432 (R19)). --00--
16 February, 1856: Admitted to MILLBANK at Westminster, along with John Shadbolt and George Groves—time served not known; behaviour “good”. 23 February, 1856: From the Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, p5: “Six male convicts have been removed from the Castle to the Millbank prison, Loudon, viz., John Bell, John Shadbolt, and George Groves, for housebreaking at Great Shelford, fifteen years’ transportation…” —0—
JAILS: 28 November, 1855: Admitted to CAMBRIDGE Castle Gaol (Cambridge County Gaol and House of Correction)—served 2 months 24 days; behaviour “orderly”. Described as 30, 5’8” with fair complexion, born at Cambridge and living there; tailor; “a very bad character” (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Chesterton Gaol; Register of Felons; 1818-1867). --0--
12 January, 1856: From the Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, p4: “Good Riddance.—The town of Cambridge has got rid of three notorious characters — Bell, Shadbolt, and Groves — who last Saturday were sentenced to fifteen years’ transportation for housebreaking. For the last fifteen years or so they have lived almost exclusively by means of robbery and the expense to which they have put the borough and county at various times, for prosecutions and maintenance in prison, would amount to no trifling sum. When they were sentenced, a large number of of their pals who were in court appeared thunderstruck; and the prisoners appeared for a moment inclined to ...spring out of the dock. Bell, who, we understand, is in consumption, and not likely to live long, gave evidence of a deeply malignant spirit, telling the Chairman… ‘I hope you may sit there till I come back’; to which that gentleman quietly rejoined, ‘I hope I may enjoy good health’.” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/)
12 January, 1856: From the Independent Press, p8: “The jury found all the prisoners Guilty. Previous convictions for felony were then put in against them, and they were sentenced to 15 years’ transportation each. Upon hearing the sentence they appeared crestfallen, and Bell expressed the stupid wish that the Chairman might sit upon the Bench till he (Bell) came back again.” —0—
12 January, 1856: From the Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, p7: “... THE HOUSEBREAKING AT SHELFORD. John Shadbolt, John Bell, and George Groves, of Barnwell, were charged with breaking into the house of Mr. Hagger/Hugger, general shopkeeper, at Great Shelford, on the 25th of November, 1855, and stealing therefrom certain moneys (about £13), eleven silver teaspoons, one silver tablespoon, two silver sugar tongs, a pair of Wellington boots, old crown pieces, and some trinkets. There were several other counts in the indictment against them for previous convictions. The prisoners availed themselves of their privilege, and objected to all jurymen from Cottenham. Their offhanded manner created considerable amusement in Court… Witness John Hugger: I keep a general shop at Great Shelford. On Sunday, the 25th November, about quarter past six in the evening, Mrs. Hugger and I went to her brother’s. There was no one in the house, but I left it safely looked up. We remained there about three-quarters of an hour. As we were returning home I saw some person standing at the door of the [Hugger] house, and made the observation to my wife. That might be about quarter-past seven. He came towards us, going in the direction of Cambridge, and met us. It was a bright moonlight night, and I saw his face distinctly. That man is the prisoner Shadbolt. When I got to the house I found the door opened; and on entering, I found that the keeping-room and the sleeping-rooms had been ransacked. [Witness gave an inventory of missing cash and items.]...” Note: John Shadbolt was arrested first. George Groves and John Bell were arrested the following Tuesday at Godmanchester, about 19 miles north-west of Cambridge. —0—
TRIAL: 3 January, 1856: George GROVES, John SHADBOLT and John BELL were convicted and sentenced at the Epiphany Sessions, Cambridge, to 15 years’ transportation each for housebreaking (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Cambridgeshire; 1856). --0--