Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
Charles Chance was transported on the Clara, departing 19th Mar 1857 and arriving 3rd Jul 1857 with 262 passengers.
Clara (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/18, Page Number 219 (111). --0-- 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
No one has claimed Charles Chance yet.
Photos
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Convict Notes
PROBATE/LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION: From the Evening Star (Boulder), Mon 16 Jun 1902, p3: OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY. The following probates and letters of administration were issued out of the Supreme Court during the week... Letters of Administration with the Will Annexed ... Charles Chance, late of East Beverley, retired farmer, to Sarah Bell, £114." (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/202856937) Note: Sarah Bell was Charles Chance's daughter from his second marriage, in WA, to Mary Susannah Little in 1876. --00--
DEATH OF CHARLES CHANCE: 2 April, 1902: Charles Chance died at "Moss Grove", East Beverley, Western Australia, according to family records. He was buried on 8 April, 1902. From FindAGrave: Name Charles Chance Gender Male Birth Date 1830 Birth Place Lincoln, City of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England Death Date 8 Apr 1902 [see note above] Death Place Beverley Shire, Western Australia, Australia Cemetery Beverley Anglican Cemetery Burial or Cremation Place Beverley, Beverley Shire, Western Australia, Australia --00--
OTHER: From the Eastern Districts Chronicle (York), Sat 28 Dec 1878, p2 -- YORK COURT HOUSE "SAMUEL TORRENS, summoned on the information of the Inspector of Sheep with neglecting to make a return of the sheep in the time prescribed by law. Through the neglect having occurred by the act of an agent the matter was favorably considered, and Torrens was only fined in costs 3s. 6d. JOHN DONOVAN was summoned, on a similar complaint. Mr. Donovan not being aware of the regulation he was dealt with as in the previous case. GEORGE BOYLE was summoned for the same offence. Boyle having pleaded ignorance of the law was disposed of in the same way. THOMAS PENNEFATHER appeared on the same complaint, and was fined in costs 3s. 6d. GEORGE MARTIN, of Cubbine, was also summoned on the same complaint. Defendant not appearing, the case was adjourned. CHARLES CHANCE was fined 20s. and costs 3s. 6d. for the same offence" (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/148240977). --0--
WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS COLLEAGUES? All four men involved in the burglary of the Tims’ home would be transported, separately, to Western Australia. CHARLES CHANCE, per Clara, was the first to arrive on 3 July, 1857. Just under 6 months later, WILLIAM SMITH per Nile got to WA on 1 January, 1858—see his bio at https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/smith/william/60826. Next was THOMAS HIRONS, aboard the Lord Raglan, on 1 June, 1858—see his bio at https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/hirons/thomas/54903. ALFRED SMITH per Edwin Fox was the last arrival, on 21 November, 1858 -- see his bio at https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/smith/alfred/95587. --00--
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: CHANCE, Charles; inmate #4384, arrived 3 July 1857 per Clara (Journey 1) Date of Birth: 1830 Marital Status: Married 1 child Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Date: 12 Jul 1855 Sentence Place: Oxford, Oxford, England Crime: Burglary Sentence Period: 15 years Ticket of Leave Date: 4 Jun 1859 Conditional Pardon Date: 1862 Certificate of Freedom Date: 12 Aug 1870 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--
2 March, 1857: His jail record says he had a visitor [no other details, but most likely it was his wife Elizabeth]. --0-- 4 March, 1857: Charles Chance was sent from Portsmouth to board the Clara for transportation to WA (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners; 1855-1858). --00--
22 May, 1856: Admitted to Portsmouth prison, Cumberland Street/Gloucester Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire —inmate #3329. 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) Charles Chance was listed as 25 when convicted; married with one child; a tubemaker; able to read and write imperfectly, Church of England; next of kin—his wife Elizabeth, at No 2 Ormond Street, Birmingham. He had no known previous criminal history. His health was "good" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners; 1855-1858). --0--
4 August, 1855: Admitted to Reading County Gaol and House of Correction, Forbury Hill (Forbury Road), Reading, Berkshire—served 9 months 18 days; behaviour “good” (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for Alfred Smith; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners; 1855-1858). --0--
JAILS: 31 May, 1855: He was committed at Banbury to stand trial. Tried 12 July, 1855, at Oxford Assizes. --0-- 12 July, 1855: Admitted to Oxford County Gaol and House of Correction in Oxford Castle for 24 days; behaviour “bad”. A subsequent jail record says he was "overheard arranging with another prisoner a plan to escape from prison" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for Chas Chance; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners; 1855-1858). --0--
OCCUPATION: Not "Not known", just not listed in the options. He was a tube maker/tube drawer which the Dictionary of Old Occupations defines as "a metalworker who made metal tubes. These could have had many uses, for example in bicycle construction, gun barrels, etc." (https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/). --00--