Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
John Brown was transported on the Nile, departing 18th Sep 1857 and arriving 1st Jan 1858 with 271 passengers.
Nile (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/18, Page Number 240 |
| 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
From WA BD&M: Brown, John: aged 25; death reg. no.1210; death registered 1859 (https://bdm.justice.wa.gov.au/). --00--
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: BROWN, John; inmate #4627, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1834 Date of Death: 22 Feb 1859 Place of Death: Mount Eliza, hospital Marital Status: Married Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Westminster, Middlesex, England Crime: Larceny, receiving stolen goods Sentence Period: 6 years [incorrect, see above] (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--
8 September, 1857: Sent from Portsmouth, #25/3860, to board the Nile for transportation to WA. Behaviour on the voyage "good", although he received 24 lashes for an unnamed offence (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32)). --00--
1 April, 1857: Portsmouth -- inmate #3860. Portsmouth, Portland, Chatham and Spike Island in Ireland were listed public works stations and the second stage in the penal process. After separate confinement, prisoners were “placed on work parties at various locations, most commonly naval stations, where maintenance of facilities was vital for the effective protection of Britain’s far flung commercial and military influences around the world. While there, attitude and behaviour were monitored closely. In theory, only after consistently positive reports was a prisoner moved on to the third stage of his incarceration—transportation.” (Edgar, p40) Listed as 22 years old [when tried], married, no children; Church of England; reads and writes. Next of kin -- his wife, Mrs Turner of 17 Crown Street, Soho. He had one visitor on 3 September, 1856 [not named]. By this time, John Brown had served 1 year 7 months 19 days in jail (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners, 1855-1858). --0--
13 March, 1856: Pentonville -- inmate #6506; served 12 month 14 days in separate confinement; behaviour "good". Total period of separate confinement = 1 year 2 months 11 days. Listed as 22 years old, 5'6" tall, brown hair, hazel eyes, fresh complexion, robust build, lost sight in right eye (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Pentonville Prison; Register of Prisoners, 1854-1856). --0--
14 February, 1856: Millbank -- served 1 month 3 days in separate confinement; behaviour "good" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners, 1855-1858). --0--
JAILS: 21 January, 1856: Clerkenwell / Cold Bath Fields, Mount Pleasant, Clerkenwell, London, -- served 24 days in separate confinement; behaviour "good" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners, 1855-1858). “After a sentence of transportation was handed down, the prisoner entered into a separate stage where he was placed into an individual cell, isolated from others, apart from brief periods of exercise and attendance at chapel. However, no communication of any kind with other prisoners was permitted at any time. The philosophy behind this penal methodology had its provenances in the religious, monastic traditions; i.e., that in the isolation of his cell the malefactor would be able to contemplate the errors of his way, unadulterated by the negative influences of former contemporaries, and be reformed.” (Edgar, 2018, pp39-40) When first put into practice, the mandated period of separate confinement was 18 months. By the late 1840s, authorities had conceded that such conditions of imprisonment were “injurious to many prisoners’ mental health” and the stint was reduced to 12 months. Periods of separate confinement were reduced further “as a prisoner displayed good behaviour tendencies” (Edgar, p40). Wakefield, Millbank, Pentonville and Mountjoy in Ireland were the “Probation” or “Separate” prisons, as were some local jails such as Clerkenwell. --0--
--0-- From the 'Daily News', Jan 24, 1856, p.6: John Brown, 22, marine store dealer, found guilty on Monday of feloniously receiving a case containing ten gallons of oil, well knowing the same to have been stolen, was brought up for judgment. The prisoner kept a marine store shop at the corner of Queen-street, Seven Dials. He was charged as the receiver with a prisoner named Crowley (as the thief), and the principal witness against them was Henry Banks, living at 4, Little Queen-street, Holborn, who was concerned with Crowley and two others when the theft was committed. There was three indictments against them, but only one was tried. Brown was found Guilty and Crowley Acquitted. From the 'Weekly Dispatch', Jan 27, 1856, p.3: JUDGMENT.-John Brown, 22, marine store dealer, found ‘Guilty’ on Monday of feloniously receiving a case containing 10 gallons of oil, well knowing the same to have been stolen, was brought up for judgment. The prisoner kept a marine-store shop at the corner of Queen-street, Seven-dials. He was charged as the receiver with a prisoner named Crowley (as the thief), and the principal witness against them was a Henry Banks, living at 4, Little Queen-street, Holborn, who was concerned with Crowley and two others when the theft was committed. There were three indictments against them, but only one was tried. Brown was found Guilty and Crowley Acquitted. The Assistant-Judge sentenced Brown to six years penal servitude [incorrect, see above]. The other cases against Crowley were postponed. (http://www.perthdps.com/convicts/con-wa21.html) --00--
TRIAL: 21 January, 1856: Convicted and sentenced to 14 years' transportation by the Adjourned General Quarter Sessions, Westminster, for larceny and receiving; aged 22 (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Middlesex, 1856). Previous conviction for being a rogue and vagabond, 1 month. Note: Some records (as well as newspaper reports) incorrectly give his term as 6 years but the original court document verifies that he was sentenced to 14 years' transportation.
COMMITTAL: 10 January, 1856: Committed to stand trial by the Marlborough Street Police Court, in Great Marlborough Street, Soho (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners, 1855-1858). --0--