Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Samuel Britton was transported on the Caledonia, departing 19th Jun 1822 and arriving 6th Nov 1822 with 150 passengers.
Ship Name: Caledonia (1) Rig Type: S. Built: Sunderland Build Year: 1815 Size (tons): 412 Voyage Details Source. Claim a Convict website. http://www.hawkesbury.net.au/claimaconvict/shipDetails.php?shipId=186
Caledonia (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/4, Page Number 169 (85) |
| 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
1830 - New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, Tasmania. Year; 1830 No; 547 Name; Samuel Britton Ship arrived by; Caledonia 2nd To whom assigned/Occupation; ABSCONDED; 1828 1835 - New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, Tasmania. 1835 Remarks; AT LARGE; in the woods 1841 - New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, Tasmania. ABSCONDED;
WHEREAS Samuel Britton, No. 547. per " Caledonian," a convict, is now at large, and has committed many depredations, and it being very desirable to capture him, I am authorised by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, to offer a Reward of Two Hundred Sovereigns to any person or persons who shall apprehend and lodge him in safe custody. In addition to the above Reward, a Free Pardon will be granted, should the said Samuel Britton be taken by a prisoner. M. FORSTER, C. P. M. Colonial Times, (Hobart) 26 Feb 1833.
Samuel Britton was sententced to Van Diemen's Land in 1822 for fourteen years for smuggling. In December 1828 he absconded from his master W.G.Walker, esq and soon took to the bush. Britton joined up with another escapee John Bevan, which started off his bushranging career, this lasted nearly two years together, until Bevan was betrayed and shot by a new gang member in late February 1830, for the next few years while he was a bushranger, Britton seeked revenge for his friends death. Samuel Britton was the longest reigning bushranger to roam the country side and cause depredation to the northern part of Van Diemen's Land from 1829 to January 1835. On New Years Day 1835, Britton and two of his long time gang members Jeffkins and Brown were enganged in a gun battle with police near Kelso on the Tamer River, Britton was shot in the thigh and suffered a severe wound. The gang made their way to another location known as Port Sorrel via Bakers Beach area, Britton was left behind in the boobialla scrub while Jeffkins and Brown went to find food from a hut they had earlier seen, on arrival they were confronted by a number of troopers and a fatal gun battle broke out. Jeffkins was killed and Brown seriously wounded. While being conveyed by boat to a garrison at George Town, Brown told the authorities as to the whereabouts of Britton before his death. On the return of the police to the boobialla area a search was conducted, but no sign of Britton was to be found. To this day the whereabouts of Samuel Britton is still a mystery. Did he perish in the boobialla scrub or did he make a daring escape on that fatal day. Samuel Britton, George Jeffkins and Edward Brown evaded the law in Van Diemen's Land for longer than any other bushranger who dare to bear arms and committ robbery in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania)