Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
James Manton Currell was transported on the China, departing 3rd Jan 1846 and arriving 16th May 1846 with 200 passengers.
Built 1837 at Hull. Wood ship of 524 Tons.
China (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 92, Class and Piece Number HO11/15, Page Number 9 (6) |
| 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
James Currall was born in Warwick, England in June 1823 to Thomas Manton Currall and Martha (née Dunkley). He was baptised on 21 December 1823 at a non-conformist chapel in Warwick. On census day, 6 June 1841, James was recorded at home in Warwick. On the 23 December 1841, aged 18 years and unmarried, James arrived in New South Wales, Australia on board the ship, William Jardine. His occupation was given as a gardener. James’ destination was Bathurst in the service of Mr Icely and Mr Rodd. His wage was £15 for a term of two years. On the 15 October 1843, James married Mary Loveland at St Stephen’s, Bathurst. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, he and Mary were subsequently employed by a family in Sydney. About March 1845, James left his pregnant wife and returned to England on board the Hamlet as a cook. He went back to his family home in Warwick. On the 26 June 1845, a daughter, Mary Jane Currall, was born in Sydney.
Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser - Saturday 05 July 1845 ATTEMPT AT MURDER, BY STABBING. Yesterday morning, as soon as the inhabitants of our quiet town were out of their beds, they were put into a state of excitement by a report that an attempt had been made to murder a girl, named Maria Moore, servant to Mr. Lee, the pawnbroker, of Jury Street, by a young man of the name of Currall, who had lately returned from Australia, having emigrated to that country about five years ago. The report, which was, unfortunately, found to too true, was that about 6 o'clock in the morning, Currall went to see the unfortunate girl at her master's house, where he stabbed her with a knife, and then rushed from the house, going to the residence of his father, in Market Street, where he was soon afterwards apprehended by Mr. Bellerby, the police officer, who brought the prisoner, at 11 o'clock, to the Court House, before P. W. Newsam, Esq., Mayor, and J. Wilmshurst, Esq , when the following evidence was taken. The prisoner gave his name as James Manton Currall, and said he was a gardener. The Sydney Morning Herald - Thursday 8 January 1846 WARWICK ASSIZES. — At the August Assizes for the county of Warwick, a young man named Currall was tried for an attempt upon the life of a young woman, named Moore. We happen to know that he arrived in this colony about five years ago, got married here, and was, we believe, in the service of Mr. Icely, and Mr. Rodd, of Bathurst. Subsequently he was (with his wife) in respectable employ in a gentleman's family in Sydney. But about ten months ago he shipped on board the Hamlet, Captain Wilson, as cook, and embarked for England.
On 26 December 1845, James boarded the convict ship, China. The China departed on 3 January 1846 and arrived on 16 May 1846 at Van Diemen’s Land and Norfolk Island. The Convict Conduct Record describes James as single. His height as 5 foot 5 ¼ inches, his complexion ‘sallow’, his head ‘oval’, hair ‘dk brown’, eyes ‘blue’. He had identifying marks of a ‘woman and anchor’ with initials J.C. two darts and initials M.L. (Tattoos that would seem to reference James Currall and Mary Loveland). James was given a conditional pardon on 17 January 1854.
On the 4 July 1845, James attempted to murder a former girlfriend, Maria Moore, by stabbing her in the chest. Maria was working as a house servant to Mr and Mrs Lee of Jury St in Warwick. It seems that James was jealous that Maria was going out with another man. James was tried and sentenced to death at Warwick Assizes on 6 August 1845. His sentence was commuted to fifteen years transportation.