Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
William Cassidy was transported on the Hougoumont, departing 10th Oct 1867 and arriving 9th Jan 1868 with 281 passengers.
875 ton ship was built at Moulmein in 1852. http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/on-this-day-in-history-australias-last-convict-ship-docks.htm ---------------------------- Incorrect Image ....This is a four masted steel hulled Barque in the drawing , im surprised Australian Geo didn't do a bit more research on this .......The Hougoumont was a works ship on the Forth Bridge Project in 1885 ....the one potrayed as a drawing in Aust Geo is the later version of this ship.....the photograph i have attached is the correct and original convict vessel. --00-- 1867 "The hired convict ship Hougoumont, which has been taken up by the Government for the conveyance of a numerous party of convicts to Freemantle, Western Australia, left the Nore on October 1, and proceeded down Channel, after receiving on board 150 convicts from the establishments at Chatham and Millbank. The convicts from the Chatham establishment, at St. Mary's, embarked from the dockyard on board the paddle-wheel steamer Adder, Mr. W. J. Blakely, and were in charge of a numerous party of convict guards and wardens, all heavily armed. Among the convicts shipped were a party of fifteen Fenians, who were engaged in the late conspiracy in Ireland, together with the officers and crew convicted of scuttling the ship Severn, and some others who have achieved notoriety from their crimes. The Fenian convicts, like the remainder of the prisoners, were chained together in gangs, but it was observed that they were kept apart from the other convicts in a portion of the vessel by themselves. The steamer Petrel also took down a number of convicts from the establishment at Millbank for shipment on board the Hougoumont, in charge of a strong escort and convict guard. On Tuesday, October 8th, the Hougoumont arrived in Portland roads. Shortly before midday ninety convicts were marched down to the Government pier at Portland under a strong escort of the 12th Light Infantry. The party included twenty-three Fenian convicts, among whom it was said, was Moriarty. The Government steamer employed in the breakwater service was used for conveying the convicts on board the Hougoumont transport ship. The convicts were chained together on embarking, and on board the steamer a strong guard of marines from her Majesty's ship St. George was formed, and saw the convicts safely placed on board the Hougoumont. The Governor of the penal settlement at Freemantle, Captain Young, is on board the Hougoumont, and returns in that ship to his sphere of duty after paying a visit to his native land." Source: Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 19 Dec 1867, p4, English Shipping, available on Trove at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271?searchTerm=hougoumont.
HougoumontReferences
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/19, Page Number 256 |
| 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


IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: CASSIDY, William; inmate #9686, arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1844 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Moulder Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Place: Glasgow Crime: Assault & robbery Sentence Period: 10 years Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket of Leave Date: 19 Oct 1872 Certificate of Freedom Date: 19 Jun 1878, issued at Vasse Comments: Teamster, moulder, labourer, sawyer, axeman (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --0--


IN SCOTLAND: Newspaper report of his trial: "William Cassidy was charged with assault and robbery, on 8th September, in the house of William Leckie, brass-moulder, when he did assault the said William Leckie, and rob him of 14s. and a tobacco-box. Prisoner pleaded not guilty, and a special defence of an alibi was put in by Mr. Campbell, counsel far the prisoner..." (29 December 1866, Glasgow Herald, p6, at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/) --0--


1867, 15 January: William Cassidy, prisoner #2772, was received at Millbank Prison from Glasgow. Listed as 20, Roman Catholic, not able to read or write, single and a moulder. Convicted for assault and robbery, he had a previous conviction [no details stated] and had been held at Glasgow for 17 days before his transfer. His father, Peter Cassidy, of 9 Sawmillfield Street, Glasgow, had visited him in jail. He was sent from Millbank to the Hougoumont for transportation on 30 September 1867 (see UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners 1866-1867). --00-- 1868, 10 January: On arrival in WA, he was listed as 22 years old, and a moulder; single, with no children (see Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department Registers (128/40 - 43)). This record also contains his physical description.


1866: PRECOGNITION -- against William Cassidy for the crime of assault to the effusion of blood and injury of the person, and robbery Accused: William Cassidy, Age: 20, moulder, Address: Purdon Court, Cowcaddens Street, Glasgow, Origin: Native of Ireland (see National Records of Scotland; Reference AD14/66/161). --0-- 1866, 28 December: TRIAL -- Trial papers relating to William Cassidy for the crime of assault to the effusion of blood and injury of the person, and robbery. Tried at High Court, Glasgow (Second Court). Accused: William Cassidy, Verdict: Guilty, Sentence: Penal servitude - 10 years (see National Records of Scotland; Reference JC26/1866/265). --00--


OCCUPATION: MOULDER -- not listed above. The Dictionary of Old Occupations says the earliest use of the term was for "a person who carved stone, a skilled occupation. The occupational term evolved to include casting iron. It is also a pottery industry term for a Presser" (see https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk).