Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Charles Donn was transported on the Guildford, departing 31st Jul 1811 and arriving 18th Jan 1812 with 214 passengers.
The ‘Guildford’ was built on the River Thames, England in 1810. Used as a Convict Transport ship to Australia - voyages 1812, 1816, 1818, 1820, 1822, 1824, 1827 & 1829. The ship was lost at sea near Singapore in 1831, loosing all aboard.
Guildford (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 46 |
| 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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Convict Notes
Charles and Mary Donn had another daughter, Bridget who was baptised on 03/11/1822 https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD32-1-1-P069 and who died at the age of 6 months on 26/05/1823 just 14 days after her RGD34-1-1P031 There was a fifth child, a male, also named Charles Donn although no birth or baptism records with that name have been found. This child was born around 1821 and was recognised in legal documents linking other members of the family including Charles' second wife. That child departed VDL in 1847. He may have been a step child.
According to his biography written by Rev. Benjamin Carvosso his real name was Cranmer.
His occupation prior to conviction was jeweller. Later he was a convict constable, builder, carpenter/furniture maker and early lay member of the Wesleyan missionary church in Hobart VDL. Is mentioned by name in John West's History of Tasmania, Pretyman's A Chronicle of Methodism in Van Diemen's Land as well as some other historical texts. He was the builder, owner and caretaker of what became known as the Argyle Chapel (or Meeting House) in Hobart Town for about 5 years. This was claimed to be the site of the first Sunday school in Tasmania and the first public library in Australia.
ESSEX ASSIZES. C. Don was indicted for stealing cart-horse, the property of J. G. Sparrow, Esq. of Gosfield. The horse was taken from the farm-yard of Mr. Sparrow. The prisoner arrived the same morning at a public house at considerable distance, on the horse, without a saddle, and nothing hut halter, when he called for some beer, and said he was going Cambridge, and offered to sell the horse, it being, as he alledged, too heavy for him. The landlord having suspicion that it was stolen, said he would undertake to find a gentleman who would buy him. He went accordingly to Gen. Elwes, Magistrate, told him his suspicions, and brought the General back with him, who detained the prisoner, and was then fully committed. In defence, said had found the horse wandering the road, seven miles from the public house; that he rode him where he was stopped, but never offered to sell him. Lord remarked on the dishonesty admitted by the defence, and left the facts to the Jury who immediately pronounced him—Guilty. Public Ledger, 18 Aug 1810.
It appears that baby Charles died soon after his baptism, although the burial record has his name as Denn, not Donn. Death Record St David’s. Parish, Hobart Town: https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD34-1-1p009j2k Charles Denn, died 16 January 1817, buried 17 January 1817, 11 days old, Free. -------------------------------------------------- COURT HOUSE- HOBART TOWN, MONDAY, 24th MARCH, 1817 Whereas in the dead of the Night of Saturday last. the 22nd Instant, a most atrocious and malicious attack was made on the Dwelling Houses of SAMUEL YOUNG and CHARLES DONN, two of the Constables for Hobart Town; whereby the Lives of the Families residing therein, were endangered, and the properties much damaged, and there being good Reason for believing that these Outrages were committed by some of the Persons who were engaged in the alarming affray which took place in Argyle Street in the Afternoon of the preceding Day, with intent to Intimidate and Deter the Peace Officers from from performing their Duty, His Honour LIEUTENANT Governor has thought proper return me to offer, and I do hereby offer a Reward of TEN POUNDS Stirling, to any Person or Persons who will give such Information as will lead to the apprehension and Conviction of the Offender or Offenders concerned in the attack on the House of Samuel Young ; and a further Reward of TEN POUNDS STERLING, to any Person or Persons who will give like Information respecting the Person or Persons who attacked the House of Charles Donn, on the aforesaid night. A. W. H. HUMPHREY, Justice of the Peace Hobart Town Gazette, 29 Mar 1817. -------------------------------------------------- NOTICE.- A Mutual separation having taken place between me and my Wife, MARY DONN, all Persons are strictly forbid giving her CREDIT on my Account, as I will not be responsible for any Debts she may contract. CHARLES DONN. Hobart Town Gazette, 4 Oct 1817. -------------------------------------------------- His Excellency the GOVERNOR in CHIEF'S free pardon is awarded, at the recommendation of the LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, to James M'Gill, who had previously an emancipation, and to Thomas Worrell, crown servant, for their exertions and services in the case of Michael Howe. Charles Donn, district constable has received his emancipation, specially as having detected and seized smuggled spirits in Hobart Town. Emancipations have also been granted to Edward Yates and William Lindsey, in reward of their intelligence and industry when employed under the Acting Engineer and Inspector of Public Works, in the construction of the Government
https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD32-1-1-p034j2k Baptisms of children in Hobart Town, of Charles and Mary Donn, married, resident in Hobart: Mary Ann, daughter of, born 24 Oct 1814, baptised 16 Dec 1815, Charles, born 6 Jan 1817, baptised 13 Jan 1817. Lucy Jane, born 30 July 1818, baptised 19 August 1818.
Tas record. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-1$init=CON13-1-1p23 List of 80 male convicts to be embarked on ship Ruby of Calcutta, for the settlement of Hobart Town, extracts from the indents as per ship Guildford in 1812. Charles Donn, Tried at Essex Assizes, 13 Aug 1810, Life. -------------------------------------------------- Charles Donn to NSW per Guildford, To VDL per Ruby. Tasmanian Conduct Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-9$init=CON31-1-9p10 5. Charles Donn. April 20 1813. Having a quantiry of quick silver in his possession which he could not give a satisfactory account of; 25 lashes. Conditional Pardon, 14th Dec 1818. -------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. DONN, Charles. Per "Guildford", 1812 1818 Dec 14 - On list of convicts in Van Diemen's Land to be granted conditional pardons (Reel 6006; 4/3499 p.218) -------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Marriage Record – Hobart Town district 1814: https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD36-1-1p32j2k Charles Dann, age 27, convict per Guilford, and Mary Cuply, age 22, convict per Catherine, were married by Banns, 24 October 1814. Witness: Samuel Lightfoot.