Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Henry Birtwistle was transported on the Bangalore, departing 11th Apr 1848 and arriving 14th Jul 1848 with 205 passengers.
Built 1843 at Jersey. Wood barque of 877 Tons.
Bangalore (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 92, Class and Piece Number HO11/15, Page Number 283 (143). -0- 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. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26783779. -0- Bateson, Charles (2004), “The convict ships 1787-1868”, Library of Australian History, Sydney, CD. |
| 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 |
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Convict Notes
NOTE: Year of Birth is taken from official records but day and month are not known. The latter dates have been entered as 01/01 because the site does not allow those fields to be left empty.
VDL CONVICT 1848, 14 July: On arrival, Henry Birtwistle was listed as convict #20686; 23, a sawyer (pit), single, illiterate, Protestant; native place Northwich; 10 years for housebreaking; stated this offence “housebreaking and stealing a watch and a shilling”. [Previous conviction 28 Nov 1842 at Northwich.] (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON33-1-90/CON33-1-90p22) Family: Mother Betsy at native place (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON14-1-39/CON14-1-39P12). Described as: 5’5½” tall, ruddy complexion, dark brown hair, hazel eyes; marks—mole under lower lip; woman with flowers in each hand, flower above head on right arm below elbow; S on left arm below elbow. Wages from Bermuda: “Have about £5 to come.” (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON14-1-39/CON14-1-39P12. Arrived with Ticket of Leave. 1849, 17 July: ToL revoked. 1855, 3 February: Received Certificate of Freedom (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON33-1-90/CON33-1-90p22). --000--
From: The Courier, 19 July, p2: “THE ‘BANGALORE.’ — This convict ship, Harvey Morris, Esq., Surgeon-Superintendent, J. A. Martyn, master, arrived here on Friday last, bringing upwards of two hundred prisoners from Bermuda, who are to receive tickets-of-leave, not conditional pardons [some men did receive Conditional Pardons]. These men, it is stated, have been selected by the Governor of Bermuda not only for their good behaviour during their detention at that island, but also for their mechanical acquirements. Favourable reports are said to have been forwarded to the Convict Department respecting their behaviour during the voyage. Lieutenants D'Oyley and Hague, of the 11th regiment, also arrived in this vessel, having command of small detachments on the way to join their respective regiments in these colonies. The Bangalore experienced a rather rough but good passage. A soldier of the 11th regiment and one prisoner [James Fitzsimones] died on the voyage. THE EXILES or ticket-of-leave men just arrived from Bermuda are reported, upon very good authority, to have brought upwards of a thousand pounds' worth of cash amongst them [see Governor of Bermuda’s despatches above], the amount received by them as wages earned in that island. They are waiting engagement on board the vessel; but, after to-day, can only be obtained from the New Town Depot. Orders to go on board can be procured on application to the Comptroller-General. There are 93 farm labourers and 8 domestic servants; amongst them, 2 grooms, six carpenters, and 7 miners. --00--
REACTION TO THE ARRIVAL “LONDON AGENCY PAPERS. ...we cannot but notice the shameful conduct of the British Government, or rather our Governor, Earl Grey, in sending another bad cargo of exiles which has arrived by the Bangalore from Bermuda. When this abomination is to terminate it is difficult to say, but not, we firmly believe, until we receive our full rights from the British Government:— London, March 10, 1848.” (Colonial Times, 18 July, p3, at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8763150) Note: According to Bateson (2004, p7), “exiles” specifically referred to “prisoners who had served a probationary period in England and had been pardoned on condition of deportation”. However, the men on the Bangalore had served the bulk of their sentences on Bermuda rather than in England. Most were sentenced to terms of 7 and 10 years. Others were serving 14 and 15 years. Only one man had a life sentence. Their records show they all held either Tickets of Leave or Conditional Pardons on their arrival during the period of the Probation System in VDL. --0--
ARRIVAL OF THE BANGALORE “July 14, 1848: — Arrived the barque Bangalore, [departed] from Bermuda 11th April last, with 202 male convicts [landed]. Passengers -- Dr. Morris, R.N., Surgeon Superintendent, Lieut. D'Oyley and Ensign Hague 11th Regt., 49 rank and file 11th, 96th, and 99th regiments, 4 women, and 4 children.” (Colonial Times, 18 July, p2, at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8763146) --0--
1848, 11 April: The Bangalore loaded its 203 male convicts on 9 April and two days later sailed for VDL. –0-- 1848, 15 April: From despatches from Charles Elliot, Governor of Bermuda: Description: Reports the departure of the Bangalore [sailed 11 April, 1848] with 203 convicts bound for Australia. Comments on the £1071 they would receive for their reserve earnings. Notes that the £492, which was earned during their probation period, could be used to help purchase the passages of any female relatives who wished to join them. [Printed for Parliament September 1848.] Reference: CO 37/121/30; Convicts, No. 26, folios 207-219. Date: 1848, Apr 15 (National Archives, Kew, at https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10231720). --00--
BERMUDA – FINAL MUSTER 1848, 9 April: Henry Birtwistle, #360, sent from the Tenedos hulk to board the Bangalore for VDL. Health “good”; behaviour for previous 15 musters “good” (England, Criminal Lunatic Asylum Registers, 1820-1876; Quarterly Returns of Prisoners in Hulks; 1848; June; at https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/9163/images/ho8_096_00175). --00--
CONVICT LIFE ON BERMUDA From The Pilot, 3 July, 1848, p4, at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001301/18480703/045/0004 “THE BERMUDAS: ... the following account of the convict establishments in those islands, furnished by a correspondent, will doubtless prove acceptable to our readers. There is one on the principal island, called St. George’s, and another 21 miles further up the harbour... called Ireland’s Island. The treatment at each is precisely the same, rations ditto, with this difference in the employment; those going out in working parties from the ship at St. George’s have with them a file of men, termed a convict guard; at Ireland Island, although there are military on the island, they never do duty over the convicts. It is thought the chances of escape are greater from St. George’s, although there never has been an instance in which men have succeeded in reaching any other island; in fact, they have but few records of attempts to escape. The rations, which are served out twice day are as follows:—ln the morning a pint of cocoa with, on four days in the week, one pound of good biscuit; and on the other three days, one pound and a quarter of white bread per day; boiled pork, with pea soup, serves for dinner four days per week, and twelve ounces of fresh beef on the other three. Nothing is given from the ship after the mid-day meal, with the exception of the grog, which is given twice every day—it consists of half a gill of rum to three half gills of water. The government have caused very great alterations to be made in the various establishments, as there have been many men who have saved, while out there, sums varying from 50l. [50 pounds] to 70l., and, in several cases, to a larger sum, as 300l. and 400l. They were some ten years since allowed work at any occupation fancy dictated to them; this was in addition to their daily labour, and some of that could at times be done by proxy. Some of the labour being task-work, a man could finish his task when it pleased him, and would then do that of another; but after the general labour of the day was over, they were to be seen plying different crafts, many of them as happy (except when there was any stir, such as a ship coming out to take some home) as though they had been free; gold and silver smiths, or working jewellers, watchmakers, shoemakers, tailors, hat makers, brush makers, hair-workers, &c. &c. There were also a good many who got up various ornaments, which they termed specimens manufactured from a very beautiful stone, found on the island; also from the white choral [sic] which is found here. A pair of guns, manufactured from the stone mentioned above, and gold-mounted, have frequently been sold for four pounds and through so many men becoming thus employed, it opened another field for others to wait upon them; in washing for them, cooking, &c., &c , each man being required to wear two clean suits of clothes per week, consisting of shirt, frock, and trousers, and there were many who wore flannels; all this brought grist to the mill in some way or other. Others there were, who carried on a large business as general dealers, supplying the others with butter, coffee, cheese, sugar, &c; as we have said before, there being no meal allowed after the one at mid-day, the men have to provide for themselves. Here might be seen one fellow with two large kettles filled with coffee, each one holding not less than eight or ten gallons, which they could afford to retail at one penny per quart. On Ireland’s Island is the hospital, and a very nice building it is, both as regards its construction and its accommodation for the sick. It is for the reception of seamen, or for convicts; but the treatment, diet, &c , is the same; there are different wards for them, but the convict is as much at liberty as the sailor—he may at any hour of the day or night go over any part of the hospital or grounds. – Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper.” --0--
BERMUDA – FIRST MUSTER 1844, June quarter: On Tenedos Hulk, Bermuda – convict #360; all other details as per previous prison records, Surgeon's health report "good" but no report on behaviour for this quarter as prisoner only recently arrived (England, Criminal Lunatic Asylum Registers, 1820-1876 for Charles Anderson; Quarterly Returns of Prisoners in Hulks; 1844; June; https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/9163/images/ho8_080_0161). --0--
1844, 28 May: The Thames arrived at Bermuda (https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/9163/images/ho8_080_0113). After separate confinement, prisoners moved on to the second stage in the penal process. They 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, 2018, p40) Bermuda and Gibraltar Islands, along with the English prisons of Portland, Portsmouth and Chatham, and Spike Island in Ireland, were listed public works stations. --0--