Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
Michael Carling 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 242. --00--Edgar, W. (Bill). (2018). “The precarious voyage of her majesty’s convict ship ‘Nile’ to the Swan River colony, late 1857 – and the unexpected aftermath.” The Great Circle, 40(1), 20–43. |
| 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: One of Michael Carling's co-accused was also transported to WA. Michael O'Neil arrived there more than five months in advance of him, on 3 July 1857 per Clara (1). His bio is at https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/oneil/michael/16026
From the "Convicts associated with Toodyay" database: Carling, Michael (1835- ) 4619 1858-01-01 Nile CWA: Mar; lab; semi lit RC; stab with intent 15 yrs; Guildford, Fremantle, Swan, Toodyay (https://www.toodyay.wa.gov.au/) --00--
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: CARLING, Michael; inmate #4619, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1835 Marital Status: Married Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Place: Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England Crime: Stabbing with intent Sentence Period: 15 years Ticket of Leave Date: 18 Sep 1859 -- issued to him at Guildford Conditional Pardon Date: 14 Apr 1862 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--
8 September, 1857: Sent to board the Nile for transportation to WA; prisoner #17/3953 (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32)). Behaviour during the voyage “good” (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Character Book for Nos 4508-5585 (R8)). --00--
12 May, 1857: After 1 year and 7 days at Dartmoor, he was admitted to Portsmouth jail in Hampshire, a journey of more than 150 miles. 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, 2018, p40) At Portsmouth, Michael Carling was inmate #3953. Listed as 20 years old when tried, labourer, married, reads only, Roman Catholic. Next of kin -- wife [not named] at Newcastle-on-Tyne; uncles, brothers and sisters at Mount Jubilee, County Mayo, Ireland. He served 3 months 28 days; behaviour “good”. By the time he was transported he had served a total of 1 year 9 months 6 days in jail (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portsmouth Prison; Register of Prisoners; to 1881). --00--
15 April, 1856: He was sent to Dartmoor prison at Princetown, Yelverton, in Devon. Presumably, he had a medical condition (see below). His behaviour was “exemplary”. “Originally built in 1809 and first used for prisoners of war until circa 1816, Dartmoor was re-opened as a male convict public works prison in November 1850. Within five years the prison became reserved for less able-bodied convicts.” (https://www.prisonhistory.org/) --0--
22 January, 1856: Admitted to Millbank prison in Westminster -- served 2 months 23 days in separate confinement; behaviour "good". “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). Millbank, Pentonville, Wakefield and Mountjoy in Ireland were the “Probation” or “Separate” prisons, as were some local jails. --0--
JAILS: 9 October, 1855: Admitted to Morpeth County Gaol and House of Correction, Castle Bank (south side of Wansbeck in township of Catchburn), Morpeth, Northumberland -- held for 3 months 10 days; behaviour "good". Morpeth held 106 prisoners when audited in July 1855 (Annals of British Legislation 1856, Prisons of Great Britain, p448). --0--
Newspaper reporting of their trial: From the Newcastle Chronicle, 7 December, 1855, p10: "Wednesday, Dec. 5. The Court sat this morning at nine o'clock. Michael Carling (20), labourer, Michael O'Neill (22), labourer, and Anthony Narrey (24), labourer, were charged with having on the 10th September, at Ponteland [15km north of Newcastle upon Tyne], feloniously wounded John Taylor and George Simpson with intent to do them some grievous bodily harm. Mr. Liddell and Mr. Blackwell conducted the prosecution; Mr. Davison defended the prisoners. The prisoners are all Irishmen, and had been employed in the neighbourhood of Dinnington getting in the harvest. On the morning in question they had been engaged shearing, and the afternoon went into public house to get some refreshment. The prosecutors were in the house at the time and some dispute arose about a glass of whiskey, the end of which was that the Irishmen fell upon Taylor. He took up a poker to defend himself, and, the Irish party, numbering nine or ten, immediately attacked him with their reaping hooks. Having succeeded in knocking him down outside the door, they cut at him furiously with their hooks, the consequence of which was, that received a cut on the wrist which nearly severed his hand from his arm. The other prosecutor, Simpson, a companion of Taylor, went out to defend his friend, when one of the Irishmen ran behind him and drew a hook across his face, which laid his cheek open from mouth to ear. Neither of the injured men could identify the prisoners the identical parties who inflicted the wounds, but Taylor swore to their being present, and, to the best of his belief, they were among those who attempted to strike him. A Newcastle baker, named Lockey, was passing through the village in his cart when Narrey struck him with his hook, but darted aside and and avoided the blow. After the affray, the Irishmen took to their heels but were pursued by a farmer, who succeeded in [catching] the prisoner. The other prisoner, Carling, was apprehended by the parish constable at Brinkley. In the course of the examination, it came out that a previous dispute had arisen between the Irish and English reapers in the village; and woman who lived close had beard the Irish party to whom the prisoners were supposed to belong, vow that they would have revenge upon the Englishmen. They were then going down towards the public-house where the affray took place. Mr. Mason, the village surgeon, deposed to the injuries received. Simpson’s wound extended from the right angle of the mouth to the tip of the ear and it was cut clean down to the bone. The injury inflicted upon Taylor was such would [illegible] him for life; the use of the hand having been taken away." Mr. Davison, for the defence, asked the jury to consider whether the party of Irishmen went to the public-house with intent to do grievous bodily harm. If not, the lesser offence of malicious wounding was to be considered. "The jury retired and, after short absence, returned verdict of Guilty of the greater offence against all the prisoners.—Fifteen years transportation each." (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/) --0--
TRIAL: 3 December, 1855: At the Special Gaol Delivery Sessions, at the Castle of Newcastle, all three were convicted of "stabbing with intent to do grievous bodily harm" and all were sentenced to 15 years' transportation (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Northumberland; 1855). --0--