Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Thomas Close was transported on the North Briton, departing 20th Dec 1842 and arriving 4th Apr 1843 with 180 passengers.
Departed from Dublin. 178 male convicts on board. 1 Death: Michael McDaniel died on board.
North Briton (generic)References
| Primary Source | TasLINC Con33/1/37 conduct; CON14/1/20 Indent; CON18/1/35; RDG37/1/-1345 and CON52/1/2-303 marriage permission; POL220/1/1-629 Departure after Cond Pardon |
Claims
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Photos
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Convict Notes
1852 - DEPARTURES. Rank: Steerage. Status: Conditional Pardon Departure date: 25 Mar 1852 Departure port: Launceston, Ship: City of Melbourne Ship to colony: North Briton Bound to: Melbourne POL220/1/1 p629
Birth year likely late 1821 or early 1822 - his death age of 84 may not be accurate.
Thomas Close, born in Antrim about 1821. On June 15, 1842, with an acquaintance, stole a cow belonging to Rev. Edward L. Elwood in Tandragee and admitted he was drunk. This would cost him 10 years' transportation (with the friend found not guilty) being convicted in Amargh, Ireland on 21 July 1842. He sailed to Tasmania with 176 other convicts, some of the 99th regiment, a few settlers and some children of convicts on the North Briton departing 20 Dec. 1842 and arriving on 4 April 1843 at age 22. His conduct was good but on 30 Aug 1845, he was charged with neglect of Duty from losing a Cross Saw but lucky for Thomas, it was discharged. On 11 Oct 1845, he was assigned to Mr. Parker's South Esk cottage on the Norfolk Plains and on 20-21 Oct 1846, he was assigned to Westbury under James Hogg, where he may have met his wife-to-be, Ann Gutteridge, a free person. A permission to marry request was approved on 3 July 1847 with the marriage taking place on 19 July 1847 in Westbury. Thomas received a Ticket-Of-leave on 11 Apr 1848 and his Conditional Pardon recommendation on 4 Aug 1849, finally granted on 15 Oct 1850. Thomas and Ann lived in Launceston, Deloraine, Port Sorell then moved to the Don area near Devonport and finally near the Leven River, Ulverstone having produced 11 children. He died Mar 1907, listed as 84 but he was likely 85 and perhaps nearly 86; he was buried on 11 Mar 1907 in the Ulverstone General Cemetery and his wife, Ann died 29 July, 1909, noting she was the wife of the late Thomas Close (another Thomas Close, convict of the Elizabeth and Henry, 1844, also living in Ulverstone after 1851 had a wife, Ellen Kin(g)shott who died in Ulverstone 1910 but her spouse, Thomas's death date is unknown.