Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
Michael Cuffe 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 244. --00--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 |
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Convict Notes
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: CUFFE, Michael; inmate #4511, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1832 Marital Status: Married Occupation: Labourer Sentence Place: Winchester, Hampshire, England Crime: Attempting to drown his wife Sentence Period: 15 years Ticket of Leave Date: 21 Nov 1859 Conditional Pardon Date: 30 Dec 1862 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--
10 September, 1857: Sent from Portland to board the Nile for transportation to WA, #3/6729; behaviour on voyage "good" (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32)). --00--
2 February, 1857: Admitted to Portland prison, in Grove Road. Portland, Portsmouth, 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) Michael Cuffe was listed as inmate #6729, soldier, illiterate, aged 23 when convicted, married no children, Church of England. Next of kin -- his wife Rebecca Cuffe, Mitre Tavern, Kent Street, Portsea; and his mother Ann Cuffe, Carlow, Ireland. Visited on 5 February, 14 May and 3 September, 1857 [no further details]. Behaviour "very good" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portland Prison; Prison Records to 1875). --0--
21 April, 1856: Admitted to Millbank prison, Westminster, London -- served 9 months 12 days in separate confinement; behaviour "good. “After a sentence of transportation was handed down, the prisoner entered into a separate stage where he was placed into an individual cell, isolated from others, apart from brief periods of exercise and attendance at chapel. However, no communication of any kind with other prisoners was permitted at any time. The philosophy behind this penal methodology had its provenances in the religious, monastic traditions; i.e., that in the isolation of his cell the malefactor would be able to contemplate the errors of his way, unadulterated by the negative influences of former contemporaries, and be reformed.” (Edgar, 2018, pp39-40) When first put into practice, the mandated period of separate confinement was 18 months. By the late 1840s, authorities had conceded that such conditions of imprisonment were “injurious to many prisoners’ mental health” and the stint was reduced to 12 months. Periods of separate confinement were reduced further “as a prisoner displayed good behaviour tendencies” (Edgar, p40). --0--
JAILS: 1 March, 1856: Admitted to Hants County prison at Winchester / Winchester County Gaol and House of Correction, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire -- served 1 month 19 days; behaviour "good" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Winchester Gaol; Calendar of Trials; incorrectly labelled as 1825-1829). --0--
NEWSPAPER report of his trial: From the Daily News, March 8, 1856, p.7: "ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A WIFE Michael Cuffe, a soldier [private] in the 27th Regiment of Foot [several newspapers incorrectly report it was the 22nd Regiment of Foot], was charged with feloniously attempting to drown his wife [Rebecca Cuffe] at Portsea, on the 20th ult. Mr Coleridge conducted the Prosecution. In December, 1854, the prisoner married the deceased [!] at Dublin. Being removed to Portsmouth in November last, he left his wife behind him, and took up with another woman, named Cassidy, whom he passed off for his true wife, and lived with her in Portsmouth Barracks. His wife followed him to Portsmouth, however, and arrived there on 17th February, where she found him living with Cassidy. The prisoner took both women that night, and again on the 19th, to a public-home called the Blue Bell. The wife complained of the presence of Cassidy. Having had gin and beer they left the Blue Bell at 12 o’clock, and all three walked about together till one, when they came to Kingsmill-bridge, over the mill-pond. Prisoner here spoke to Cassidy, and she went away. He then said, 'Let me see if I am as strong as I used to be,' at the same time lifting her up and setting her on the rail of the bridge. He then said, 'Sit there, and let me look at you,' and suddenly taking hold of her feet he threw her backwards into the water, and ran away. By a merciful interposition of Providence, the woman when first rising to the surface of the water (6 feet deep) grasped some iron work, part of the supports of the bridge, and cried out loudly for help, and some men on the wharf fortunately heard her, ran up, and got her out with a drag. The prisoner went home to barracks, and that night slept with the woman Cassidy. The prisoner was found Guilty, and the Judge sentenced him to 15 years' transportation." (http://www.perthdps.com/convicts/w4511.htm) --0--
TRIAL: 6 March, 1856: Tried before Sergeant Channell, and convicted at the Court of Assize, Winchester, of "feloniously attempting to drown" his wife Rebecca Cuffe at Portsea, on 20 February (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Winchester Gaol; Calendar of Trials; 1855-1863). --0--
COMMITTAL: 26 February: Committed at Portsmouth to stand trial. --0--