Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
William Clark 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 250. Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department Registers (128/38 - 39). |
| 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
FOOTNOTE: Newspaper coverage of their trial: From the Greenock Advertiser, Tuesday 20 May 1856, p4: William Clark, David Skinner, and Mary Barnet were charged with two cases of assault and robbery on the garotte principle. The jury found the male prisoners guilty, but by a majority they found the charge against Barnet not proven. Clark was sentenced to transportation for life, and Skinner for twenty-one years."
ORIGINAL OCCUPATION: When first convicted in 1847 of robbery, William Thomson/Clark was listed in court documents as a chain maker. On arrival in WA, he was listed as a type founder (but not as a tobacconist's boy, as given in the options above). According to the Dictionary of Old Occupations, a type founder "worked in a type foundry, designed and made wooden or metal typefaces to be used in printing. Alternative term for a Letter Founder" (https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/).
From his Fremantle jail record: CLARKE, William; #4584, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Alias: CLARK Date of Birth: 1824 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland Crime: Assault & robbery Sentence Period: Life Ticket of Leave Date: 15 May 1861 Conditional Pardon Date: 21 Jun 1866 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/)
TRIAL: 17 May, 1856: National Records of Scotland -- Reference JC26/1856/365 Trial papers relating to David Skinner, William Clark, Mary Barnet for the crime of assault and robbery at Melville Street and St Andrew Square, Edinburgh. Tried at High Court, Edinburgh Accused: David Skinner, Verdict: Guilty, Sentence: Transportation - 21 years. Accused: William Clark, alias Thomson, Verdict: Guilty, Sentence: Transportation - Life Previous convictions: robbery - High Court, Edinburgh, 23 July 1847, under the name of William Thomson. Accused: Mary Barnet, Verdict: Not proven, Sentence: Assoilzied simpliciter and dismissed. --00--
CRIME: 1856: National Records of Scotland -- Reference AD14/56/266 Precognition against David Skinner, Mary Barnet, William Clark for the crime of assault and robbery at Melville Street and St Andrew Square, Edinburgh. Accused: David Skinner, Address: Edinburgh. Accused: Mary Barnet, Age: 29, Address: No fixed abode; prisoner in Edinburgh prison, Origin: Born in Berwickshire. Accused: William Clark, alias Thomson, Age: 30, Address: Edinburgh. Victims: Henry Inglis, writer to the Signet, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh; and John Cameron, clerk, residing with James Tully, gardener, Mackenzie Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh. --0--