William Bolton

71

Robin Sharkey on 7th November 2025

WILLIAM BOLTON’s CRIME IN IRELAND Carlow Morning Post, Monday March 27 1828, Page 3 “Kilkenny assizes …. “In the City Court — Mr Justice Moore. William Bolten [sic] was convicted for burglary and robbery in the House of Henry Gore Esquire. Not sentenced yet.” A MOTHER’S PLEA His mother wrote a petition to the Lord Lieutenant. She obviously could not bear the thought of her very young William being sent to a place from which he’d never return, and she’d never see him again. She stated that • she was a widow with “four small orphans now living”. • she had two other sons who’d served “for years” in H.M’s 87th Regiment of Foot, who had both “died at Rangoon with the East Indians in H.M’s service, one in 1825 and the other in 1826”. • William was only aged 13 years and 3 months and had been “tried on a charge which, from his innocence, he was lead to by the persons who really committed the offence” but he was the only one of them “taken for said offence”. She asked that he take into account both that she is a heart-broken widow, and the youth of her poor unfortunate child. She sought for the order for Life transportation to be “reversed”. Instead she wanted William to go to “any place of confinement at hard labour for any term of years [the Lord Lieutenant] thought proper. On 15 April 1828, Bridget Bolton wrote a separate note saying she’d gone to Carlow from Kilkenny, “pennyless”, but she fell sick at Carlow and “was unable to proceed further”. She asked that the answer on her petition be sent to her as the Widow Bolton, at Coal Market, New Quay Kilkenny. It looks as though Bridget’s petition was hardly given any attention. Even in 1828 the fact that William was only thirteen years old might have triggered a more compassionate view of the circumstances. However, someone at Dublin Castle (the Lord Lieutenant himself perhaps, or his Secretary) wrote on the back of Bridget’s petition: “Any report on the Memorialist [?]” “Usual answer as to Convicts wives & children.” Bridget was right to loudly object to her 13 year old son being sent for life to NSW. William’s two older brothers had died when he was only aged 10-11; he had no father, his family were poor. Placing such a traumatised and fatherless child in the penal system could only lead to a very bad outcome for the boy. IN NSW The ship Eliza Arrived on 20 June 1829 He was¬¬ put into a Road Gang – then a mere 14 year old boy! – and had (unsurprisingly) absconded by December at least. [Syd Gazette, 31 Dec 1829 p.4] But he was apprehended after six months, in the week up to 25 May 1830 [Syd Gazette, Tuesday 25 May 1830, p.4] His location between mid 1830 and during 1831 not known (probably back in a road gang). In the first quarter of 1832 and now aged 17 yrs, William (still recorded as a tobacco twister) was assigned to Mr Francis Mitchell (per NSW Gov Gazette, Wed 13 June 1832, p.131) Mitchell, who was then 25, had arrived as a free settler seven years earlier and initially worked for a firm of auctioneers and dealers. Mitchell was building wealth, and in 1825 was given a land grant at a property he named “Melville” at Luskintyre, on the Hunter River, 3 miles from Maitland. Francis Mitchell himself lived in Sydney but by the 1828 Census he had 13 convicts working for him at the Luskintyre property plus three free workers. His 19 y.o. brother William was in charge. It’s likely William Bolton was sent here to the Hunter Valley, and not to Mitchell’s Sydney premises. But before the year’s end, William had absconded from Francis Mitchell’s service (November 1832). The notice of absconding said he was 16 (although he actually was 17) and included that he had “a great distance between the eyes” (per NSW Gov Gazette, 21 Nov 1832, p.415). THEFT in NSW Early in the period of his absconding (in fact on 21 November 1832, the same date as the government notice that he’d absconded), Bolton and others burgled a dwelling house, from which they stole cloth, silks, hats, and other articles, to a great amount. Riotous behaviour at the house of the receiver (Finnegan) had drawn the attention of the chief constable, Mr Jinks. From “certain hints Jinks received, he searched it and found the greater part of the property, a portion of which was also found on the other prisoners.” (Sydney Monitor 9 Feb 1833 p 4, Supreme Court, Criminal Side) Bolton, James Burdett and John Hennessy were jointly indicted in the Supreme Court in early January 1833 before Judge Dowling and the usual Military Commission, for burglariously entering the dwelling house of Henry Marr on 21st November 1832, and of robbery. William Finnegan and his wife, Mary, were indicted also, as receivers. [Sydney Monitor, 9 Feb 1833 p.4] The evidence being conclusive, the three men were found guilty of a capital larceny; and the Finnegan pair of receiving.—Remanded for sentence. [Sydney Monitor, 9 Feb 1833 p.4] On Saturday 23 February 1833, William Bolton, James Burdett, and John Hennessy were sentenced with “Death Recorded”. “Death Recorded” meant that the death sentence would be recorded against them but would not be put into effect. Judge Dowling remarked in passing sentence, that “HAD they been convicted of burglary [they were only convicted of the robbery of the goods], sentence of death would have been passed upon them, and he should have recommended His Excellency to have had it carried into effect.” [Sydney Herald, Mon 25 Feb 1833 p.2.] TO NORFOLK ISLAND Instead of being executed, William Bolton aged just 18 was banished to Norfolk Island for 14 years. In the hulk on Sydney Harbour he waited transportation to Norfolk Island. On 8 March 1833 he sailed on the “Governor Phillip” having been “properly searched & ironed” [Prisoners to Norfolk island; Col. Secretary Office. Sheriffs letters 33/66 p258,] It took only three months for William Bolton to be in very serious trouble again. He was now (June 1833) just short of being eighteen and a half years old. He was tried on Norfolk Island for the murder of another prisoner. The facts were laid out in the report of the criminal proceedings held at Norfolk island (Sydney Gazette, Tues 29 Oct 1833, p.2) Edward Doolan (per ‘Royal George’ 24 Dec 1828, alias Frederick Wyatt/White), had died by being stabbed with a knife on the back part of the head, right shoulder, left groin, and right side of the spine, at Norfolk Island, on the 8th June. Bolton’s sleeping hammock was next to Doolan’s. On 8 June all the prisoners on the Island went to bed in the sleeping wards as usual. Some time after they had been in bed, the prisoner’s sleeping ward was alarmed by the cry of murder; and a scuffle was going on in the area where Doolan slept. The Commandant came to the ward, and found prisoner Thomas Riley (per ship “Guildford in 1829) sitting on the rail at the side of his hammock. When it was asked what was the matter, Riley had said that it was Doolan the b----y dog, he was not fit to live. All the men were examined for marks of blood, and Wm Bolton had blood on his breast and legs, his feet were bloody as were his clothes. His blanket was found under Doolan's hammock covered with blood. Bolton had complained in the midst of the scuffle, that he had been thrown out of his hammock, and said he was afraid to go back as a man was murdered. On Thursday 19 September at the arraignment, Riley appeared to be insane. When the judge enquired whether Riley was really mad or not, or was fit to take his trial, the Government Surgeon as of opinion that it was all pretence, and that Riley was in a fit state to take his trial. The gaoler was of the same opinion. Bolton pleaded not guilty to charges both of principal and of accessory to murder. Riley did not plead and so a plea of nit guilty was entered for him. The trial was the next day, Friday 20 September 1833. Riley continued the whole time to act as if bereaved of his senses, swearing and talking in the most incoherent manner. His Honor the Judge took great pains to ascertain whether he was in a sound state of mind or not — and many witnesses were called to prove he was always considered as a person not in the full possession of his senses, but the testimony of Messrs. Rolland and Gamack the Military and Civil Surgeons, together with that of the gaoler was too clear. At the close of the case, the Judge told the Jury that he was of opinion that there was no case against William Bolton, but that he should read over all the evidence, and leave it to them to decide. As for Riley – “when the Judge addressed Riley by his name at the commencement of passing sentence of death upon him, it had a visible effect upon him; he seemed to forget himself for a few seconds, and then recommenced his muttering; it was quite evident he knew very well what was going on. The Judge in a most impressive manner passed the awful sentence of death upon him, etc” From The Sydney Gazette, Tues 29 October 1833, p.2 ‘Norfolk Island’. Thomas Riley was only 27 years. He was executed at Norfolk Island on 23 Sep 1833, just a few days after his trial. [From List of Norfolk Island Residents 1825-1855 compiled by Mrs Elaine Cooper; Source Refernce: NSWSR Convict Index Deaths] WILLIAM BOLTON DEATH William died at the Norfolk Island Hospital, aged 28, on 5 December 1840.

341

Maureen Withey on 18th July 2024

Irish National Archives. Ireland – Australia transportation Database. Ref: PPC 3356. Date of Doc: April 1828. William Bolton. Trial place, Kilkenny. Sentence: Transportation Life. Petitioner: Bridget Bolton, Mother. Petitioner is a widow and resides in Kilkenny City. States two of her sons were killed in military action at Rangoon in the East Indies in 1825 and 1826 respectively.

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 12th June 2020

The Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831 - 1842) Mon 25 Feb 1833 Page 2 LAW INTELLIGENCE. James Burdett, William Bolton, and John Hennessey, convicted of a robbery in a dwelling house above the value of £5. Judgment of death was recorded against each of them. Judge Dowling remarked in passing sentence, that had they been convicted of the burglary, sentence of death would have been passed upon them, and he should have recommended His Excellency to have had it carried into effect.

221

D Wong on 14th May 2015

William Bolton was 13 years old on arrival. 9/2/1833: Convicted of 'Robbery in a dwelling house' at the Sydney Supreme Court - sentenced to transportation. Sent to Norfolk Island. 19/9/1833: Thomas Riley, who was thought to be insane, and William charged with the wilful murder of Edward Doolan, at Norfolk Island, by stabbing him many times. Thomas Riley was found guilty. William was not guilty. 5/12/1840: Aged 28, William died at the Norfolk Island Hospital.