Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
Hodgson Dawson 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. Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department Registers (128/38 - 39). |
| 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
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Photos
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Convict Notes
FOOTNOTE 2: NEWSPAPER report of the trial: At the Wakefield intermediate sessions, Thursday last, two notorious characters of this place, namely Hodgson Dawson and John Gill, were tried for breaking into the dwelling house of Mr. George K. Kenton, on the 20th ult... After occupying the attention of the Court they were found guilty and sentenced to be transported beyond the seas for fifteen years. They had been previously transported and were out upon tickets leave; they had also been convicted of various other offences since their release; they had not followed any employment, and soon recommenced their old practices, and were very much dreaded in the district. One evening last week, prior to their trial, Mr. Kenton's servant girl was violently attacked by three men whilst she had gone out to the adjoining yard for some water. They attacked her, seizing her by the throat and otherwise ill-using her. No motive can be assigned for this attack except that it was by some friends of the above two prisoners, so as to prevent her giving evidence against them. She was known to be an important witness for the prosecution. It was a very dark night, and she is not able to identify any of the parties. She did not recover from the effects of the attack until some days afterwards." (Bradford Observer, Thursday 13 March 1856, p5 at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/) --00--
15 July, 1857: Hodgson Dawson was sent to Chatham from Millbank, prisoner #1170 (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 32 and single; all other details match those on his Wakefield record. His behaviour in separate confinement and in public works was listed as "good" (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32)). --00-- References: UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners to 1885. UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Wakefield Gaol; Registers of Prisoners; Undated. Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Character Book for Nos 4508-5585 (R8). Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32). --00--
7 May, 1857: He was admitted to Millbank, as prisoner #4668. Listed as 32, single, a labourer and his next of kin was his brother, James Dawson of Yeadon. A notation on the register says: "Special Medical Certificate". (Clearly, this record did not prevent him from being selected for transportation.) --0--
TRIAL AND JAILS: 5 March, 1856: The pair was tried at Wakefield, convicted and sentenced to transportation for 15 years. They were returned to Wakefield jail but were split up on 1 August, 1856, when John Gill was sent to Millbank Gaol, at Westminster in London. His story continues on his bio page. Meantime, Hodgson Dawson was kept at Wakefield until 1857, and in that time he served 14 months 12 days in separate confinement. Normally, the mandatory "probationary term" of separate/solitary confinement would have been served at a prison such as Millbank or Pentonville, but the probable reason for Dawson's stint occurring at Wakefield lies in a notation on his record from Millbank that suggests he had a serious medical condition. --0--
FOOTNOTE: Hodgson Dawson and John Gill, also transported aboard the Nile, were well known to each other, sharing crimes and convictions: JAIL: 26 February, 1856: Both were admitted to Wakefield jail -- Dawson as inmate #3593; Gill as #3594. They had been committed for trial by T Horsfall, Esq, on a charge of breaking and entering a dwelling house and stealing a writing desk at Yeadon, Leeds (about 22 miles north of Wakefield). In Wakefield, detailed physical descriptions were recorded. Hodgson Dawson was 32, 5'6¼" tall with brown hair, grey eyes, swarthy complexion, with a cut on the left side of the forehead, scar on the chest and large mole on the right side. He could read but not write, was Wesleyan, a labourer, born at Yeadon and living there. John Gill's description is on his bio page (https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/gill/john/59013). Both men had previous convictions, the most recent and shared one being a sentence of 7 years' transportation handed down at Bradford on 25 November, 1851, for breaking and entering a shop and stealing beef. --0--
Footnote: One of two men listed on WA Convict Records as having died during the voyage. The other was John Hunter -- see his bio at https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/hunter/john/60812.
OCCUPATION: Labourer (see Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department Registers (128/38 - 39).
Hodgson Dawson Age: 32 (actual 35, born Guiseley, York's) Tried: Wakefield, 5 Mar 1856 Tried For: housebreaking Sentence: 15 years Died at sea before surgeon took physical description