Robert Black

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Summary

Born
Jan 1827
Conviction
Theft - larceny
Departure
Oct 1867
Arrival
Jan 1868
Death
Unknown
Step 0 of 0

Personal Information

Name: Robert Black
Gender: Male
Born: 1st Jan 1827
Death: Unknown
Age at death: Unknown
Occupation: Weaver
Aliases: Back, Blyth, Ramsay

Crime

Convicted at: Scotland, Dundee Circuit Court of Justiciary
Sentence term: 10 years

Voyage

Departed: 10th Oct 1867
Arrival: 9th Jan 1868
Place of Arrival: Western Australia

Transportation

Robert Black was transported on the Hougoumont, departing 10th Oct 1867 and arriving 9th Jan 1868 with 281 passengers.

875 ton ship was built at Moulmein in 1852. http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/on-this-day-in-history-australias-last-convict-ship-docks.htm ---------------------------- Incorrect Image ....This is a four masted steel hulled Barque in the drawing , im surprised Australian Geo didn't do a bit more research on this .......The Hougoumont was a works ship on the Forth Bridge Project in 1885 ....the one potrayed as a drawing in Aust Geo is the later version of this ship.....the photograph i have attached is the correct and original convict vessel. --00-- 1867 "The hired convict ship Hougoumont, which has been taken up by the Government for the conveyance of a numerous party of convicts to Freemantle, Western Australia, left the Nore on October 1, and proceeded down Channel, after receiving on board 150 convicts from the establishments at Chatham and Millbank. The convicts from the Chatham establishment, at St. Mary's, embarked from the dockyard on board the paddle-wheel steamer Adder, Mr. W. J. Blakely, and were in charge of a numerous party of convict guards and wardens, all heavily armed. Among the convicts shipped were a party of fifteen Fenians, who were engaged in the late conspiracy in Ireland, together with the officers and crew convicted of scuttling the ship Severn, and some others who have achieved notoriety from their crimes. The Fenian convicts, like the remainder of the prisoners, were chained together in gangs, but it was observed that they were kept apart from the other convicts in a portion of the vessel by themselves. The steamer Petrel also took down a number of convicts from the establishment at Millbank for shipment on board the Hougoumont, in charge of a strong escort and convict guard. On Tuesday, October 8th, the Hougoumont arrived in Portland roads. Shortly before midday ninety convicts were marched down to the Government pier at Portland under a strong escort of the 12th Light Infantry. The party included twenty-three Fenian convicts, among whom it was said, was Moriarty. The Government steamer employed in the breakwater service was used for conveying the convicts on board the Hougoumont transport ship. The convicts were chained together on embarking, and on board the steamer a strong guard of marines from her Majesty's ship St. George was formed, and saw the convicts safely placed on board the Hougoumont. The Governor of the penal settlement at Freemantle, Captain Young, is on board the Hougoumont, and returns in that ship to his sphere of duty after paying a visit to his native land." Source: Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 19 Dec 1867, p4, English Shipping, available on Trove at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271?searchTerm=hougoumont.

HougoumontHougoumont

References

Primary SourceAustralian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/19, Page Number 255 (130)
Source DescriptionThis 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 SourceGreat Britain. Home Office
Compiled ByState Library of Queensland
Database SourceBritish convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database

Claims

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Convict Notes

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 14th April 2022

From "Convicts associated with Toodyay" database: Black (or Back), Robert (1827- ) 9668 1868-01-10 Hougoumont CWA: Mar; miner; lit Prot; theft prev conv 10 yrs; Geraldton, Champion Bay; lab, gen svt, cook, shepherd, hutkeeper (https://www.toodyay.wa.gov.au/). --0--

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 14th April 2022

From his Fremantle jail record: BLACK, Robert; inmate #9668; arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1827 Marital Status: Married Occupation: Miner Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Dundee Crime: Theft Sentence Period: 10 years Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket of Leave Date: 3 Jul 1872 Certificate of Freedom Date: 5 Jul 1880 Comments: Labourer, general servant, cook, shepherd, hutkeeper (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --0--

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 14th April 2022

Newspaper report of his trial: Dundee Courier, Thursday 19 April 1866, p3: "THEFT FROM A SHIP. Robert Black or Back, Dundee, was charged having on Sunday or Monday, the 15th or 16th October 1865, stolen a jacket from the schooner then lying in King William's Dock, Dundee. The jacket belonged to James Anderson, seaman, at Ferryden, Montrose. The charge was aggravated by the accused having been six times previously convicted. He pled not guilty; and was defended by Mr Finlayson. From the evidence led it appeared that the accused, on the night of the 15th October, went down to the dock shortly the Aid had arrived. He went and asked the master, John Simpson, for work but the reply was that he could not get an employment at that time. He remained aboard the vessel a few minutes after that... and then left. As he was passing the Royal Arch one of the Customs officers saw him with a jacket under his arm..." (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/). --00--

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 9th July 2021

1868: On arrival in WA, he was listed as Robert Black per Hougoumont, 39 (in 1866), born 1827, tried at Dundee, married, occupation - miner (see Australia, Convict Index, 1788-1868). Note: Age and occupation are at odds with his High Court record.

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 9th July 2021

1866: Precognition against Robert Black for the crime of theft and previous conviction Accused: Robert Black, alias Back; Blyth; Ramsay, married, Age: 35, weaver, Address: Dundee (see National Records of Scotland; Reference AD14/66/203). --0-- 1866, 18 April: Trial papers relating to Robert Black for the crime of theft and previous conviction. Tried at High Court, Dundee. Accused: Robert Black, alias Back; Blyth; Ramsay, married, Verdict: Guilty, Sentence: Penal servitude - 10 years Previous convictions: theft (see National Records of Scotland; Reference JC26/1866/2). --00--