Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
George Bird was transported on the Anson, departing 23rd Sep 1843 and arriving 4th Feb 1844 with 499 passengers.
The HMS Anson was a large ship, 1870 tons, built at Paull, near Hull, England in 1812. Sailed to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), Australia from Plymouth, England on 1 Oct 1843, arriving 4 Feb 1844 carrying 499 male convicts, plus a crew of 326 - the greatest number to ever leave England on a transport ship. The 'Anson' was then refitted as a hulk Probation Station for housing female prisoners after they first arrived in Van Diemen's Land. It was situated in the River Derwent, Prince of Wales Bay, Risdon near Hobart. There is much written about it's time as a Probation Station. The 'Anson' ship was broken up in 1850.
Anson (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 91, Class and Piece Number HO11/13, Page Number 466 |
| 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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Convict Notes
DEATH: 9 August, 1846: George Bird died at Wedge Bay, one of 75 Probation Stations established in the colony. There are no details of the circumstances (Tasmania, Australia, Convict Court and Selected Records, 1800-1899; Register; Registers of convict deaths, 1845-1874).
IN VDL: 4 February, 1844: On arrival, George Bird was listed as convict #11394, a ploughman and labourer, "can milk", 18 years old when convicted, single, Protestant, able to read, native place Peasenhall, Suffolk (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-49$init=CON33-1-49p57). 4 October, 1845: He "emerged" from the Victoria Valley gang. Listed as a Class 2 PPH (Probation Pass Holder -- under the Probation system, 3 classes were issued varying in degrees of restriction and wages). --0--
MORE ABOUT GEORGE BIRD: TRIAL: 19 October, 1843: He was convicted and sentenced to 10 years' transportation for stealing five lambs at Woodbridge; he had form -- a previous conviction for stealing sheep but was "acquitted after 14 days" (http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsearch/convict/chain/ai05060). --0--