Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
John Davis was transported on the Manlius, departing 16th Jul 1828 and arriving 9th Nov 1828 with 176 passengers.
Manlius (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/6, Page Number 449 (226) |
| 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: John DAVIS had been convicted previously in the Old Bailey, for pocketpicking. He was tried on 12 September 1821: “1197. JOHN DAVIS was indicted for stealing, on the 11th of September, one necklace, value 4 s., the goods of George Ball, from the person of Joseph Ball. SARAH BALL: I am wife of Joseph Ball. On the 11th of September I was going along the Curtain-road , I saw three boys playing with a flour sack; I passed them a short distance, and then my baby had a pull at the neck - I turned round and caught the prisoner at my shoulder with the beads in his hand - he had taken them off the child's neck. He ran away - I am sure he is the boy. JOHN TILLET: I heard the cry of stop thief - saw people running; I overtook the prisoner - took him to the prosecutrix. He said he would show me where they were. I took him back but could not find them. GUILTY. Aged 10. Transported for Seven Years. First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Recorder.” (see https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/) John DAVIS, 10, was sent from Newgate prison to the Euraylus hulk at Chatham on 25 June 1823. From there he was transferred to the Ganymede hulk at Woolwich. He was discharged from the Ganymede (pardoned), listed as aged 16, on 23 August 1827 (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849; Ganymede Index 1818-1836).
1840, 23 April: John DAVIS was charged for “feloniously killing and slaying Hugh McDougal near the Hollow Tree”. He was committed for trial in the Supreme Court on 3 June 1840 (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON34-1-2$init=CON34-1-2P551). An inquest on 21 April found that Hugh Macdougall [sic] died as a result “of a blow or blows on the head inflicted by one or all the parties at Littlehale’s house [at Hollow Tree] on the 19th day of April…” (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/SC195-1-6-391). Note: Newspaper reports of the trial say Hugh Macdougall was a carrier and both he and Davis lived at Littlehale’s property. John Davis was actually charged with manslaughter. A jury found him not guilty. A report of the trial can be found in the Tasmanian Weekly Despatch at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/233619464/25157966. 1840, 9 June: John Davis’s Ticket of Leave was restored but he was “not allowed to reside in Hamilton or the neighbouring districts”. 1846, 17 November: His Conditional Pardon was approved (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON34-1-2$init=CON34-1-2P551).
1828: On arrival in VDL, he was listed as John DAVIS, a tailor aged 20 and single, from London (see http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON18-1-15,296). He said he had previously been transported for stealing a gold necklace from a shop and had served 6 years [see footnote below]. His mother lived in Whitecrofts Street, St Luke’s, London, and he last worked as a hawker of fruit (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-9$init=CON31-1-9p172). 1835: Obtained his Free Certificate. 1837, 6 December: Convicted at the Supreme Court, Hobart Town, for stealing blankets and sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment and hard labour (see The Hobart Town Courier, Friday 8 Dec 1837, p3). 1838, 3 March: A notation on his Conduct Record record says “To be retained in the Hospital until well and then to be Pardoned” (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-9$init=CON31-1-9p172). 1838, 24 August: Granted a Ticket of Leave (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON34-1-2$init=CON34-1-2P551).
1828, 29 May: John DAVIS, born 1808, was tried at the Old Bailey: “1175. JOHN DAVIS was indicted for stealing, on the 17th of May, 1 handkerchief, value 5s., the goods of John Leggett, from his person. JOHN LEGGETT. I am out of a situation; I did live with a chemist at Marlborough, in Wiltshire. On the 17th of May I was coming up the City-road, at a quarter-past six o'clock in the evening - I heard someone call "Stop, Sir!" I looked round, and saw the officer with the prisoner and my handkerchief in his hand, which had been in my coat-pocket; he was about two yards from me. THOMAS HERDSFIELD. I am an officer. On Saturday, the 17th of May, I saw the prisoner in company with another person, close to this gentleman; they went away quickly - I saw the prisoner putting something under his waistcoat; I took him, and drew this handkerchief from him. (Property produced and sworn to.) Prisoner's Defence. I was not near the gentleman at all; the officer took me, but could find nothing; he took me back, and saw this handkerchief in the road. GUILTY. Aged 20. Transported for Seven Years. (see https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/) --- 1828, 21 June: John Davis, 20, was sent from Newgate prison to the Retribution hulk at Woolwich. He was sent from the hulk on 10 July 1828 for transportation (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849).