Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
James Bostock was transported on the Blundell, departing 13th Mar 1844 and arriving 12th Jul 1844 with 210 passengers.
Blundell (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 91, Class and Piece Number HO11/14, Page Number 26 |
| 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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Photos
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Convict Notes
FOOTNOTE: James Bostock's two accomplices were also transported on the Blundell to Norfolk Island, before going on to serve time in VDL. William Johnson’s bio is at https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/johnson/william/70464. Thomas Jones’s bio is at https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/jones/thomas/72693. --00--
CORRECTION: His correct Convict number is 18083 (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-78$init=CON33-1-78p22) --0-- DEATH: 6 June, 1847: James Bostock #18083 died at the Cascades Probation Station on the Tasman Peninsula. This document contains no details about the circumstances of his death (Tasmania, Australia, Convict Court and Selected Records, 1800-1899; Register; Registers of convict deaths, 1845-1874). --00--
February, 1847: Taken from Norfolk Island per the Governor Phillip to VDL. 22 May, 1847: To be recommended for indulgence by the Governor of Norfolk Island for his service as a Constable (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-78$init=CON33-1-78p22). --0--
NORFOLK ISLAND & VDL: 12 July, 1844: On arrival, James Bostock was listed as 41, convict #5994, native place Manchester; Church of England. He was married with two children, and could read and write a little. He said he had been transported for burglary -- stealing plate and silver coins along with Thomas Jones (who was at Norfolk Island) and William Johnson (in VDL). He had a previous conviction for shoplifting (jailed for 7 years, served 3 years in Millbank prison, London). Family: Mother Jane and wife Ann Tarrant were at his native place; his brothers John and Thomas and sister Mary were in America (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON17-1-1$init=CON17-1-1P302). --0--
NEWSPAPER reports of the trial: "WINTER ASSIZES. LIVERPOOL, Saturday, Dec. 23. (Before Mr. Justice Wightman.) James Bostock, William Johnson, and Thomas Jones were charged with burglary, in breaking and entering the house of Mr. John Kennedy, at Manchester, on the 24th of August, and stealing therein divers articles of plate, some coins, and other property. Mr. Brandt and Mr. Crake were for the prosecution, and Mr. Corbett for the defence of the prisoner Jones. The first witnesses were the servants of Mr. Kennedy, who proved that on the night in question the house of their master had been broken into, and the articles taken away. The breaking was effected by a door, and there was a hole made through one of the window-shutters, as by a spring-bit, an instrument commonly used by thieves. Further evidence connected the three prisoners together, by showing that they had been drinking in company late on the preceding evening, and were again together at half-past six on the next morning. Johnson and Bostock had in the morning been seen to have some of the articles stolen in their possession, and a jemmy, or small crowbar, had been secreted by the prisoner Bostock soon after. The property found was identified by the servants, and by Mr. Kennedy, jun., the barrister, son of the gentleman robbed. —Against Jones, it was further shown, that files, keys, and a spring bit were all found in the room where he dwelt, and some skeleton keys were discovered on the roof of the same dwelling. Footmarks were also found on some sand near Mr. Kennedy's house. Inspector John Maybury had taken the prisoner's shoes and compared them with the marks, and he and another officer stated that the soles of the shoes and the footmarks perfectly agreed. Maybury had asked Jones where he was on that night, to which he answered, that he had been out part of the time, and could not exactly say as to the rest. When asked what account he could give of the things found at his house, he said, 'You know as much about them as I do.' Mr. Corbett contended that this was not enough to warrant a conviction. The companionship might be considered proved, but nothing showing that Jones, either on the night or in the morning, was at all aware of what the others were or had been about. As circumstantial evidence, the whole together was not enough. Others, it had been proved, lived in the same house with Jones; and therefore the keys, &c., were not shown to be in his possession any more than in that of others. The evidence respecting the footmarks as compared with the shoes, ought by the jury to be considered suspicious, because it came them only in the opinions of two policemen, both of whom stated that they had questioned the prisoners; and that was what no policeman had a right to do, and in doing which, by committing an excess beyond his duty, he must know that he was violating it. The Learned Counsel said he had the authority of the Judges for declaring that this practice was an abuse, and he would add, that if no power were exercised to prevent it in future, juries must cease to rely on evidence proceeding from such quarters, or they must work injustice by pronouncing verdicts of guilty on the strength of proof so obtained. He (Mr. Corbett) had often had occasion to feel disgusted with what he had witnessed in this way at the quarter-sessions in the production of evidence of the same kind to a jury, which no jury ought ever to have brought before them. This circumstance should weigh in the present case, and render the identity of the footsteps doubtful, there being no witnesses to the fact thus deposed to but two of the police themselves. His Lordship went at length through the whole of the evidence; and after a few minutes' consultation among the jury, they returned a verdict of Guilty as to all three. Bostock and Johnson were then proved to have been previously convicted. All were sentenced to be transported; Bostock for 21 years, Johnson 12 years, and Jones 10 years." (London Evening Standard, Tuesday 26 December 1843, p4, and and London Sun, pp3-4). --00--
TRIAL: 16 December, 1843: Convicted at the Liverpool Assizes and sentenced to 21 years' transportation for burglary (http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsearch/convict/chain/ai05994). --0--
TRADE: Weaver and imp [imperial?] tailor (as per his Convict Indent at https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON17-1-1$init=CON17-1-1P302).