Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
Henry Christian was transported on the Isabella, departing 4th Nov 1821 and arriving 9th Mar 1822 with 203 passengers.
The Isabella was built in London in 1818. She was owned by William Wiseman, Patrick Chalmers and James Wallace. The Isabella transported convicts to Australia in 1818 (NSW), 1822 (NSW), 1823 (NSW), 1832 (NSW), 1833 (VDL) and 1842 (VDL).
Isabella (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irishconvicts Database by Peter Mayberry |
Claims
No one has claimed Henry Christian yet.
Photos
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Convict Notes
Absconded Prisoners. Christian Henry, alias Stephens John, Isabella (2), 29, Dublin, shoemaker, 5 feet 3¾ inches, fair comp., brown hair, grey eyes, from Moreton Bay since June 30, 1832. NSW Govt Gazette, 6 July 1836.
Contributed by: Penny-Lyn Beale on 21/06/2020 DEATH: New South Wales, Australia, Convict Death Register, 1826-1879 Name: Hy Stephens - [Christian Stephens] Date of Death: 20 Jul 1832. District: Ayr Found Dead in the bush.
Warrants of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland - Ship; Isabella Indent No; 20 Native Place; Dublin Trade; Shoe maker Age; 17 years [1804] Person; Slender Eyes; Blue Hair; Brown Height; 5 ft 4 in
Warrants of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Indent No; 20. Offence; Felony of wearing apparel
The Irish Convict database gives his age when convicted as 16, and his native place Dublin, occupation a shoemaker. It also states he is dead, but no indication of when or where this information came from. Other information from other sources, throws up contradictions. Sydney Gazette, 5 Jan 1826 Principal Superintendent of Convicts' Office, Sydney, January 3, 1825. THE undermentioned Prisoners having absented themselves from their respective Employments, ... Christian Henry, Isabella (2), 30, Dublin, 5 feet 3 and three quarters, grey eyes, brown hair, fair comp. from Mr. Samuel Terry's Clearing Party. Transcription records of Moreton Bay convicts,by Ken Lamb: Henry Christian, alias J. Stephens, convicted at Dublin City 25 July 1821,7 years. Colonial conviction at Sydney, 18 Nov 1830, for larceny, sentence, 7 years. He ran away several times - Run 18 Jan 1831. Ret 11 Feb 1831. Run 6 April 1831. Ret 17 Jany 1832. Run 25 June 1832. The Australian, (Sydney) Fri 22 Jan 1830 On Tuesday last, a man named Henry Christian, being sentenced by the Police-Bench to three months hard labour, in the gaol, as a rogue and vagabond, was accordingly hand-cuffed with several others, and sent under charge of a posse of constables to the gaol; on reaching the gate of which, the constables commenced mustering the men, when that it was found that Christian had taken French leave, by disencumbering his left wrist of the Iron ruffle with which it was graced. On making this discovery, the phizes of the knights of the staff visibly grew longer, and after depositing their charge, the whole scampered off like a parcel of goats in pursuit, but without avail. The Australian (Sydney) 19 Nov 1830 Criminal court - Thursday 18th The following prisoners were brought up for sentence: Henry Christian,stealing in a dwelling-house - Seven years. Commercial Journal and Advertiser, Sydney, Sat 28 Nov 1840 Henry Christian and John Wiltshire, were found guilty of receiving stolen property and sentenced to be transported to a penal settlement for the space of ten years. The Sydney Herald, 28 Nov 1840 Summary Jurisdiction Henry Christian, 7 years; John Wiltshire, life; both runaways from Parramatta ironed gang, were indicted, for having on Friday the 30th of October last, on the Windsor road, assaulted and robbed Mr John Hamilton's collecting clerk, while proceeding to Mr Best’s at the Seven Hills, for the purpose of getting the cash for some orders A few days after, as a mounted policeman was coming to Sydney with a prisoner for trial, he apprehended Christian and Wiltshire, on suspicion of their being runaways when one of the orders of which the collector had been robbed, was found in their possession, both denied that they could either read or write but from the indents, it appealed that both of them had received a common education, and could both read and write; when taken they excused their having the order, by pretending that Mr Best had given them wrong papers, to enable them to reach his station In defence on their trial, they asserted that they had found the order lying on the road. Mr Keck said he had known Wiltshire for about 8 years, and during the whole time he had been almost incessantly in trouble, Christian had also been a very bad character; the prosecutor when he first appeared against the prisoners, was unable to identify them as the parties who had robbed him, the court considered there was not legal evidence to convict the prisoners of the robbery, but ordered them to be arraigned on a charge of having stolen property in their possession, they were convicted, and sentenced each to be transported for the period of ten years to a penal settlement. The sentence was also ordered to be carried into effect immediately, as the prisoners were dangerous characters.