Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Richard Blackstone was transported on the General Hewett, departing 31st Jul 1813 and arriving 7th Feb 1814 with 301 passengers.
The Windham and General Hewett left England the 24th of August, in convoy with the Wansted, Capt. Moore, who sailed from hence last Thursday for Batavia; the General Hewett arrived at Rio the 17th of November, and sailed again the 2d of December. Together with the military detachments, she received on board for this Settlement 300 male prisoners, of whom we are sorry to report the death of 35, whose names we shall endeavour to procure an account of, and publish in the next Gazette, for the information of their friends and families in Great Britain. Sydney Gazette, Sat 12 Feb 1814.
General HewettReferences
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 114. Tasmanian Archives - convicts http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?detail=1&type=C&id=5312 |
| 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
"I am the 4th great granddaughter of Richard Blackstone"
Photos
No photos have been added for Richard Blackstone.
Convict Notes
Richard was born approximately 1793 in Devonshire Devon England. He arrived in NSW Sydney 7th Feb 1814. He married fellow convict Alice Robson 3 December 1815 at St Matthew's Windsor . At the time the church had not been built and the Church Parish was housed in a barn. Richard and Alice had a son in 1816 in Sydney (no birth or baptism records exist) Richard was sent to Port Dalrymple (now George Town) with his wife and son, and around 13 other skilled 'mechanics' to help build George Town. Richard continued to be a Sawyer in Van Diemans Land and helped build infrastructure. His wife began an affair with the superintendent of public works and convicts almost immediately on arrival to Port Dalrymple. Richard tried to win Alice back but was rejected and was also punished by her lover William Leith. Richard assaulted police and other convicts, absconded and also escaped (Port Arthur). During his time as a convict he had over 300 lashes. He was sent to Port Arthur in 1833 before the stone penitentiary was built. He was made to use his skills as a Sawyer and helped build the Penal Colony. He escaped from Port Arthur and was found 24 hours later and returned to Port Arthur and was placed in solitary confinement for 7 days with bread and water. He was given a conditional pardon around 1840 In 1848 he was working as a shepherd for William Field in the western tiers near westbury, protecting stock from Thylacines and thiefs. He eventually moved to the South East of South Australia after changing his name to Blacksell. He died 30th of March 1865 and is buried in Mount Gambier in South Australia.
Richard Blackstone, for stealing a quantity of wearing apparel; Exeter Flying Post, 25 March 1813. -------------------------------------------------- Hulk Reports HO-9-8_2 page 17 Received ten prisoners from Exeter, 14 May 1813, Richard Blackstone, age 21, C.R. Tried at Exeter, 17 March 1813. Life, General Hewitt.
https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-1p117 List of 14 male convicts embarked on board His majesty’s Colonial Brig Elizabeth Henrietta for Port Dalrymple in the Van Dieman’s Land .. dated 21 March 1818. Richard Blackstone, per General Hewitt, tried at Devon Assizes 17 March 1813, Life, Sawyer.
Richard was transferred from Sydney to Van Diemens Land per the 'Elizabeth Henrietta' arriving 06/04/1818.