Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
James Caton was transported on the Camden, departing 21st Sep 1832 and arriving 18th Feb 1833 with 200 passengers.
Camden (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/8, Page Number 418 |
| 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
No one has claimed James Caton yet.
Photos
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Convict Notes
I would draw your attention to information kindly provided by author Brian Walsh during the course of his convict research. A notice appeared in the New South Wales Government Gazette of 10 January 1845 page 37 regarding Thomas Caton, Bengal Merchant 1838, 28, Lancashire, file cutter who had absconded to attend the Boxing Day races at Maitland in 1844. The information in that article was that he had absconded with his brother James Cayton, a prisoner from the "Clayton" read Camden, from E. Reynolds, district of Paterson since 26th ultimo. If this information in the Gazette is correct, then the 1838 death of James Catton in the NSW BDMs cannot be one and the same person, even if the Camden convict had perchance been assigned to William Crommarty and there still may be an 1846 death for which we need to search.
The interesting point about the two brothers James and Thomas Caton was that Thomas named his own children born from 1854 to 1867 as Robert, Catherine, Thomas, John, James, Isobella and Elizabeth, all names found in that 1820 census in the same family.
This James Caton was shown by "Who Do You Think You Are" in April 2013 to be a 15 year old on the 1820 Roman Catholic Census at Preston, Lancashire in the family of Robert aged 39 and Elizabeth Caton, aged 35, with other siblings, William 13, Betty 11, Bella 9, John 7 and Thomas 5, the latter being the convict Thomas Caton who arrived on the Bengal Merchant 1838 to the Hunter Valley. I have researched James' brother Thomas as he married my great great grandmother in Maitland in 1854. Brian Walsh, notable convict researcher for Tocal near Paterson NSW with whom I corresponded made the connection in Australia of the two brothers, and pointed out that the Indent for James Caton, notes he "drowned Port Stephens 46/7295, 27 July 1846". I was aware of the 1838 Crommarty deaths and yet have been unable to prove the annotation for the 1846 entry, which is perplexing. James was married. Judging by reports in the Preston Chronicle for his brother Thomas in October 1837 it would appear that the family was not averse to theft.
31/12/1831 Lancaster Gazette Lancashire, England: CORRESPONDENCE: Robert Hardnian and James Caton 26, charged with having broken into a warehouse on St. George's quay, Lancaster, and stolen therein divers sovereigns and shillings, the property of Geo. Carruthers and others. 4/4/1833: Iron turner assigned to George Yeomans at Newcastle. 26/11/1836: Newcastle Gaol Entrance Book. Turner and filer from Preston. Admitted to Newcastle gaol from Maitland. Returned to government service. Assigned to William Cromarty at Port Stephens on 28 November 1836. William Cromarty was Harbour Master and pilot at Newcastle. 24/9/1838 The Sydney Monitor: PORT STEPHENS - On Saturday last, the bodies of old Cromarty, the pilot, his son, and an assigned servant (**James Caton**) were found on One Mile Beach. A few bones were all that remained of the old man. Capt. Abbot of the Lady Blackwood, whaler, lying at Port Stephens, humanely provided coffins and interred the bodies at Carrington on the following Monday. Cromarty had been many years pilot at Port Stephens and was much respected. The Native who accompanied them is still missing. NSW BDM: Deaths: CATTON JAMES 3419/1838 V18383419