Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
Benjamin Count 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 248. UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Wakefield Gaol; Registers of Prisoners; Undated. https://fremantleprison.com.au/ |
| 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 |
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Convict Notes
FOOTNOTE: NEWSPAPER REPORT OF HIS TRIAL From 'News of The World', July 20, 1856, p7: NORTHERN CIRCUIT: Attempt to Murder at Wakefield Prison Benjamin Caunt,[sic] 20, was charged with having, on the 8th of May last, cut and wounded Benjamin Holder, with intent to murder him. The prosecutor is one of the warders of the Wakefield House of Correction, in which prison Caunt had been confined. In consequence of some offence, the latter was reported by the prosecutor to the governor, and he was in consequence placed in solitary confinement. On going to the exercising round, the prisoner pulled out a hammer, which he had concealed in his dress, and struck the prosecutor a heavy blow on the head. The blow would have been repeated, had not another prisoner seized him, and wrested the hammer from him. The prosecutor was ill for five weeks from the effect of the blow. The prisoner, after the attack, expressed his regret that he had not done more; and, in defence, he admitted he had struck the prosecutor in revenge, because had had been tantalised by him and he could have no redress. He told his lordship that he might depend upon it that they would have him back again, as he would sooner be hanged than be treated as before. The jury found him Guilty. Judgement of death was recorded. (Western Australian Convicts at http://www.perthdps.com/convicts/w4642.htm)
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: COUNT, Benjamin; #4642, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Alias: CAUNT Date of Birth: 1835 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Place: York, Yorkshire, England Crime: Wounding with intent Sentence Period: Life, commuted Ticket of Leave Date: 17 Dec 1863 Conditional Pardon Date: 16 Jul 1884 Comments: To Singapore, 23 Oct 1884 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--
15 July, 1857: Benjamin COUNT was received at Chatham, from Millbank, prisoner #1172 (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners to 1885). Chatham was a public works prison for male convicts, east of London at St Mary’s Island, in Kent (https://www.prisonhistory.org). On the record of “male transports” from Chatham per Nile to WA he was listed as 20 and single; all other details match those on his Wakefield record (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32)). --00--
JAILS: While he was held at York Castle, he served 2 months 29 days in separate confinement. --0-- 20 October, 1856: He was admitted to Millbank Gaol, at Westminster in London, and listed as prisoner #3802. By the 1850s, Millbank and Pentonville were places for all male convicts to serve “their probationary term [of 9 months], after which they would be transported or sent to a public works prison” (https://www.prisonhistory.org). He served 8 months 25 days in separate confinement. A notation on his Millbank jail record says: "On 9th May last this prisoner was under sentence... for housebreaking [and] made a murderous attack upon one of the warders in Wakefield prison by striking him on the head with a hammer which he had brought from his cell and concealed in his dress, for which he was tried and convicted... At the request of the Director this prisoner has been removed from Wakefield. He is a dangerous, malicious man and upon the slightest provocation, or upon being reported for misconduct, would take the first opportunity to kill the officer who reported him, or anyone else". --0--
2nd TRIAL: 9 July, 1856: Benjamin COUNT was found guilty at the York Assizes of cutting and wounding with intent to murder. The 20-year-old labourer was sentenced to death, commuted to transportation for life. --0--
JAIL: 9 April, 1856: Benjamin CAUNT, prisoner #4021, was admitted to Wakefield Gaol, where he was listed as 20 years old, and a labourer from Malta who had arrived by tramp. He had a previous conviction, on 23 October, 1854 -- for being a rogue and a vagabond -- for which he served two months in jail. He was 5'5¾" tall, could read and write imperfectly and had no religious affiliation (later documents list him as Roman Catholic and CofE). On 9 May, 1856, he allegedly attacked a prison officer, Mr B Holder, with a hammer. On 9 July, he was "removed to York Castle" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Wakefield Gaol; Registers of Prisoners; Undated). --0--
TRIAL: 7 January, 1856: Benjamin CAUNT, having been committed to stand trial by order of the Secretary of State on a charge of housebreaking and larceny, was found guilty at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace at Birmingham. He was sentenced to 18 months' jail, with hard labour (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Warwickshire; 1856). --0--