Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
James Carr 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 237 (120). --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. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26783779 |
| 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
FOOTNOTE: DEATH OF JAMES CARR? From the West Australian, 2 Feb 1885, p3: On Monday last a rumour reached York that the dead body of a man had been discovered near Chidlow's Well. It proved to be the remains of a man named James Carr, well known in those parts [and called a navvy in other reports]. This poor fellow was accustomed to receive remittances from home occasionally which led him into excesses while they lasted. It seems that he lately received a sum of money which unfortunately caused him to give way and led to his untimely death. It is said that he had been "on the spree" last week; for on Sunday he was seen several times near Chidlow's Well, and early on Monday morning, he was observed lying on the ground on his face, when it was ascertained that he was quite dead. I do not hear that there is any suspicion of foul play. (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2994800) --0-- INQUEST: From the West Australian, 31 January, 1885, p3: An inquest was held at the Guildford Court house on the afternoon of the 27th instant before the coroner for the district, Mr. G. W. Leake, P.M., and a jury consisting of Messrs. S. Chester, W. F. Gnppy, and W. G. Johnson, to inquire into the cause of the death of a navvy named James Carr. Several witnesses gave evidence by which it appeared that the deceased was employed on the third section of the railway line, and that about half past eight o'clock on the morning of the 26th instant he was found by a woman named Leah Penny, lying dead at a spot about three hundred yards from the Oxford Inn, on the York road. It was also alleged that deceased had been addicted to drink. The jurors returned a verdict of 'Death from apoplexy, accelerated by intemperate habits and the heat of the weather.' (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2994744)
See Philip WALL's bio at https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/wall/philip/58998
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: CARR, James; inmate #4547; arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1828 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Sailor Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Liverpool, Lancashire, England Crime: Wilful murder Sentence Period: Life, commuted Ticket of Leave Date: 23 Nov 1863 Conditional Pardon Date: 12 Apr 1866 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --0--
10 September, 1857: Both men were sent from Portland to board the Nile for transportation to WA. James CARR was listed as #40/6875 (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32)). --00--
18 March, 1857: Portland prison — both were admitted to Portland jail, in Grove Road. Portland, Portsmouth, 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) James CARR was inmate #6875. He was listed as 28 when convicted of wilful murder, able to read and write well, single, Catholic, with no details of his next of kin or previous convictions. Behaviour - “very good” (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portland Prison; Prison Records to 1875). —0—
17 June, 1856: Leicester prison (Leicester County Gaol and House of Correction) — they were transferred and then held in separate confinement here for 9 months 1 day. “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). —0—
22 March, 1856: Kirkdale prison (probably the Old Swan Police Station and Lock Up House)—following their convictions, both men were held here for 88 days, in separate confinement (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32)). —0—
JAILS: 21 February, 1856: Liverpool—both men were committed to stand trial for wilful murder. —0—
NEWSPAPER REPORT OF THEIR COMMITTAL: From the 'Weekly Dispatch', February 24, 1856, p.5: MURDER IN LIVERPOOL At an early hour on Wednesday the inhabitants of Chisenhale Street, Clement Street and the locality of Vauxhall Road and Great Howard Street, near the first named streets, were thrown into a state of great excitement by a report that a man had been murdered during the night, robbed, and the body dragged into a long and narrow passage running between Chisenhale Street and Clement Street. Hundreds of persons soon congregated about the spot, and between 5 and 6 o’clock one or two inspectors and several police constables arrived. The body of a man, apparently about 35 years of age, was found lying extended upon his back in the centre of the passage known as “Baggin’s Entry,” which leads from Knight’s buildings into Vauxhall Road, one way, and into Great Howard Street the other. This passage is not more than four feet wide, some 150 yards in length, and on either side there is a dead wall, or the backs of a miserable lot of buildings, said to be tenanted by the worst characters in Liverpool. The murdered man had neither coat, vest, hat, nor boots on; he wore black cloth trousers, a fancy shirt, with studs down the front, his trousers pockets were turned inside out, and nothing was found upon him to afford any clue as to who or what he was. Around his neck was a small scarf, the ends of which lay in opposite directions. The scarf was tight when found, and the appearance of the throat left no doubt that its wearer had been strangled. Near where the body was found there were marks on the brick-wall, as though they were made in a struggle; and it is supposed that more than one person was engaged in the murder. It was stated by persons who reside in Chisenhale Street, that between 9 and 10 o’clock on Tuesday night a man, answering the description of the deceased, was seen in Joseph Tyrer’s spirit vaults, of the sign of the Grapes, in Clement Street, in the company of a girl of bad repute; and that although the man was not drunk he had been drinking. The landlord had no recollection of seeing them. From the appearance of the deceased and his dress - all that was left - it is supposed that he visited a house of ill-fame, he got robbed, turned out, and was strangled. The police are engaged in making inquiries. An inquest was held on Thursday upon the body of the deceased, who was identified as a seaman named James Howes. Two seafaring men, named James Carr and Philip Wall, are in custody, charged with the murder. It was proved that on Tuesday night the deceased left his lodgings, with about 20s in silver in his possession; that he obtained some drink, and towards midnight fell in with a woman, with whom he was seen in the neighbourhood of Chisenhale Street about midnight; that while talking to her he fell down, apparently intoxicated; that than the two prisoners were seen to go up to him, Carr exclaiming, “Well, shipmate, will you go along with me?” and that they led him away towards the entry, where he was afterwards found dead. Mr Syers, surgeon at the Vauxhall Dispensary, stated that death had been caused by strangulation. The jury, at 7 o’clock, returned a verdict of “Wilful murder” against both prisoners. The prisoners conducted themselves in a very unconcerned manner throughout the inquiry, and laughed at each other when the verdict was given. --0--
TRIAL: 22 March, 1856: At the Liverpool Assizes, Philip WALL and James CARR were convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of seaman James HOWES. Their death sentences were commuted to transportation for life. --0--