Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
Edward Davis 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 245 (124) |
| 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
No one has claimed Edward Davis yet.
Photos
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Convict Notes
OCCUPATION: On all records prior to transportation he is listed as a painter (not painter & glazier which is the only option given above).
From the "Convicts associated with Toodyay" database: Davies, Edward (1815- ) #4756 1858-01-01 Nile CWA: Unm; house decorator; lit Prot; larceny prev conv 7 yrs; transportation 6yrs; Perth, Swan, Toodyay (https://www.toodyay.wa.gov.au). --00--
From his Fremantle jail record: DAVIES, Edward; inmate #4756, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Alias: DAVIS, ARMSTRONG Date of Birth: 1815 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: House decorator Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Newington, Surrey, England Crime: Larceny Sentence Period: 7 years (transportation 6 years) Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket of Leave Date: 18 Jun 1859 Conditional Pardon Date: 13 Jul 1861 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--
IN WA: 1 January, 1858: On arrival in Fremantle, he was listed as Edward DAVIES, inmate #4756, 43 years old and a house decorator (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department; Estimates and Convict Lists (128/1 - 32)). --0--
8 September, 1857: Edward Davis was sent from Portsmouth, #2/3646, to board the Nile for transportation to WA; behaviour on voyage "good (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Character Book for Nos 4508-5585 (R8)). --00--
BACK TO JAIL: 17 September, 1856: As Edward Davis -- re-admitted to Portsmouth prison, listed this time as #3646. Changes to details since first admission: Next of kin -- sister, Mrs Green of Snowsfields, Bermondsey; and a cousin, Mr Hill of No.1, Florence Road, Deptford. A notation on this record says: "First sentence (7 years' transportation) expires 24 October 1859". --0--
NEWSPAPER reports of his committal and trial: From the Globe, 14 August, 1856, p3, re his committal: "SOUTHWARK THIS DAY.— Robbery by Ticket-of-Leave Convict. — Edward Davis, a miserable looking man, ticket-of-leave convict, was brought before Mr. Combe, charged with stealing a brush from the shop of Mr. Chubb, Union Street, Southwark..." -- From the Essex Standard, 27 August, p4, re his trial: "Edward Davis alias Armstrong, 41, a ticket-of-leave convict, pleaded guilty to stealing a brush, the property of John Chubb, an oil-man, in Union Street, Southwark. The prisoner stated to the court that he had formerly held good situations with tradesmen of respectability until about seven or eight years ago when, owing to forming improper connexions [sic] at public-houses, he was in an evil hour induced to commit a petty theft. He was taken before a magistrate for that offence, for which, being the first, he was summarily convicted [December 1849 for stealing a hat; 4 months' hard labour]. The consequence of that was the loss of his character, and, on his release from prison, he was unable to obtain employment. Being in a bad condition, he committed another theft, when he was tried at the Old Bailey [as Edward Armstrong], and sentenced to six months [for stealing a ham valued at 6 shillings]. After obtaining his liberation he endeavoured all he could to get work, but no one would employ him, and to get shelter and food he committed another robbery, when he was tried at the quarter sessions at Newington, on the 25th October, 1852, and sentenced to seven years' transportation. He spent about twelve months of that time in the utmost misery in Millbank Prison, being sick nearly all the time. He was then removed to the hulks at Portsmouth, where he fared better, and soon got his strength. He had good food and not much work. For his good conduct he received a ticket of leave from the Secretary of State, on the 22nd of November, 1855. He had a few shillings then, and he attempted to return to his former ways and obtain an honest livelihood. However, every one avoided him, and wherever he went was pointed out as a convicted thief. He sold everything he had to buy food, and at last he was reduced to starvation, and he committed the offence for which he was then being tried for the purpose of being sent back to the hulks. The judge lamented very much the prisoner's condition, and regretted that there was was no asylum for liberated convicts, to enable them to reform. He should sentence him to six years' penal servitude and no doubt something would be done for him by the Government." -- Footnote: The Government response was to finish punishing him for the offence committed in 1852 that carried the sentence of transportation for seven years! --00--
TRIAL IN 1856 18 August, 1856: As Edward Davis otherwise Armstrong -- at Adjourned Quarter Sessions, Newington, London, convicted of stealing a brush; sentenced to 6 years' transportation "to commence at the expiration of a sentence of transportation passed upon him on the 25th October 1852 for seven years" (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Surrey; 1856). Note: The stipulations of the sentence seem to be at odds with the sentiments of the magistrate, quoted in the Essex Standard's article, below. --0--
COMMITTAL IN 1856: 15 August, 1856: As Edward Davis -- committed at the Southwark Police Court, Kennington, London, to stand trial for larceny. --0--
1 February, 1854: Admitted to Portsmouth prison, inmate #1774, aged 38 when convicted, single, a painter, Church of England, literate; next of kin -- sister Mrs Green, 3 York Street, Blackfriar's Road, London (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portsmouth Prison; Register of Prisoners; incorrectly labelled as 1879-1880). 22 November, 1855: As Edward Davis -- issued with Licence #4633 (called a Ticket of Leave) for early release from Portsmouth prison (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10340889). 4 December, 1855: As Edward Davis -- discharged from Portsmouth as per Licence #4633 (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners; 1855-1858). 3 September, 1856: As Edward Davis -- Licence #4633 revoked due to a conviction in August, as set out below (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10340889). --00--