Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
William Best was transported on the Hashemy, departing 19th Jul 1850 and arriving 25th Oct 1850 with 103 passengers.
Built 1817 at Calcutta. Wood barque of 523 Tons.
Hashemy (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 92, Class and Piece Number HO11/16, Page Number 302 |
| 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
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Photos
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Convict Notes
In October 1848, a John Main (bookbinder) was walking in Queens Drive (Holyrood Park) when a man with an Irish accent approached, presented a pistol at his head and demanded money. John Main ran-off and a shot fired at him, missed him. Two weeks later, John Main was in North Bridge when he saw the same Irishman and alerted nearby Police. After his apprehension, it was established that the accused William Best had once been in the employment of the Police establishment (not confirmed but believed to have been a scavenger). Police found 'a quantity of gunpowder and lead bullets' in his lodgings. In January 1849 at the High Court of Justiciary, William Best was convicted of breaking into a bakers' shop, the attempted robbery in Queens Drive and two other armed robberies (committed in Arthur Seat and Morningside). He received (surprisingly lenient) transportation for 14 years. Witness John Main was commended by the Lord Justice Clerk for his action leading to the apprehension of Best -see Scotsman newspapers 18 October 1848 p3 on 'A Dangerous Character' that describes the shooting and later arrest; and 6 January 1849 p 2 on 'High Court of Justiciary'. Note: On 6 March 1852 William Best 'died from consumption' - see online Parliamentary Papers: Accounts & Papers of the House of Commons (Session 4 November 1852-20 August 1853) - Further Correspondence on the Subject of Convict Discipline and Transportation, Western Australia (13 December 1853) p 211 for 'Return on the Number, Cause and Dates of Death of Ticket-of-Leave Holders during the Half Year ending 30 June 1852' with the subject 1 or 13 recorded deaths. See also McGowan, John (2022) Policing the Metropolis of Scotland, 1833-1861 (Edinburgh City Archives) Volume 1, p 410 and pp 1427-1428.