Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
George Braithwaite was transported on the Woodman, departing 1st Dec 1825 and arriving 29th Apr 1826 with 150 passengers.
1823 Journey. SHIP News.— The ship Woodman, Captain Ford, arrived from Ireland, via Rio de Janiero, on Wednesday evening the 25th ult. She brings 94 female convicts, in good health; together with 8 children. Including children, there are 38 free passengers, by this opportunity, mostly destined for Van Diemen's Land. Sydney Gazette, 3 July 1823.
Woodman (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/5, Page Number 321 (162) |
| 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
1827, 23 August: George Braithwaite was hanged (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON23-1-1). 1827, 24 August: The Colonial Times (p4) reported on the men’s executions, as follows: “EXECUTION. Yesterday morning, the following nine unfortunate men, being the late gang of runaways, who attempted to take the cutter Emma Kemp, and afterwards took to the bush, committed several robberies, and then fired upon the Military, were executed pursuant to their sentence:- George Braithwaite (one of Lieut. Steele's Government servants, the other having died of the wounds received while engaged with the Military), James Horsefield, Matthew McCullum, Thomas Davis (Mr. Bisdee's servant), George Metcalfe, John Lee, (bricklayer), James Coates, John Brown (mariner) and John Brown (bricklayer.) All the prisoners from the Barracks, perhaps five or six hundred in number, were paraded under a Military escort to the front of the Gaol, for the purpose of witnessing the awful and exemplary spectacle. One or two of the unhappy culprits addressed the body of prisoners from the scaffold, warning them (especially those in Green's Chain Gang) not to attempt to abscond into the bush, that being not only a most miserable state of existence, but sure to lead to an untimely end. William Birmingham, Mr. Dean's man, Thomas Griffiths, who was wounded in the breast, and John Robertson, Mr. Young's servant, were reprieved on Friday night last, and had their sentence commuted to transportation for life to Macquarie Harbour.” 1827, 24 August: George Braithwaite was buried in Hobart Town (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD34-1-1p063j2k). FOOTNOTE: Of the 12 men convicted for bushranging/robbery, six had arrived in VDL per Woodman 1826: George Braithwaite, John Brown (bricklayer), James Horsefield, Matthew McCullum, Thomas Griffiths and John Robinson (called Robertson in some newspaper reports).
This trial was reported by the Colonial Times, on 3 August 1827, p3: “Supreme Court. On Monday this Court re-opened, agreeably to the notice issued by the Chief Justice. The whole of the day was occupied in the trial of the late bushrangers, who attempted to take the Emma Kemp; namely, George Braithwaite, William Birmingham, James Horsefield, Matthew McCullum, Thomas Davis, Thomas Griffiths, George Metcalfe, John Lee, James Coates, John Brown (mariner), John Brown (bricklayer), and John Robinson. They were tried for the robbery at Mr. Stanfield's, and all found —Guilty.” Note: The charge listed on court documents is “stealing in a dwelling house” (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/SC32-1-1$init=SC32-1-1p259jpg). 1827, 13 August: The convicted men were sentenced 10 days later, as reported by the Colonial Times, 17 August, p3: “The following prisoners were then placed at the Bar, and sentenced as follows: DEATH. - George Braithwaite, William Birmingham, James Horsefield, Matthew McCullum, Thomas Davis, Thomas Griffiths, George Metcalfe, John Lee, James Coates, John Brown, (mariner) John Brown (bricklayer), and John Robinson. - The whole of these men, it will be recollected, were the runaways, who, after attempting to seize the Emma Kemp, and failing, took to the bush, and committed several robberies while armed, in which state they were apprehended by the Military. In passing sentence, His Honor held out not the slightest hope of mercy; but strenuously recommended them, one and all, to prepare for another world.” Court records of their sentences of death by hanging can be found at https://stors.tas.gov.au/SC32-1-1$init=SC32-1-1p265jpg.
1827, 10 July: George Braithwaite was one of “three bushrangers… [captured by the military] near Mr Gellibrand’s stock run at Cape Pillar”, according to a report in the Colonial Times on 13 July, p2. He was “brought to town and lodged in gaol”. 1827, 30 July: George Braithwaite was tried at the Supreme Court, Hobart Town, on a charge of stealing in the dwelling house of Daniel Stanfield property belonging to Stanfield including two coats, one waistcoat, six pairs of trousers, eleven shirts, three hats, two pairs of boots, ten pairs of stockings, one gun and nine bags.
1826: On arrival in VDL, George Braithwaite was listed as 25, a farm labourer and ploughman. He was 5’2¾” tall, with dark brown hair and dark grey eyes. His native place was Winksley, Yorkshire. He was married with two children (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-1$init=CON31-1-1p322). 1827, 17 March: George Braithwaite was on a list of “absentees who have been apprehended” (see Hobart Town Gazette, p3).
1825, 16 July: George Braithwaite was convicted at York on 16 July for horse stealing. 1825, 14 September: George Braithwaite, 23, was received aboard the Retribution at Woolwich. He was sent from there for transportation on 23 November (see (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849).