William Douglas

51

Chris Ison on 2nd December 2024

POSTSCRIPT EXTRAORDINARY. Yesterday afternoon the whaler Sisters, Captain Robert Duke, arrived from New Zealand, having left the 28th of January last. … The brig Wellington, belonging to Mr. Joseph Underwood, which was carrying prisoners to Norfolk Island, with the notorious Anthony Best, and other criminals on board, when within two days sail of her destination, was piratically captured by the convicts—the captain, crew, and troops made prisoners—and Mr. Buchanan, the engineer, had his head laid open with a musket. As soon as the vessel was in their possession, the pirates made for New Zealand, where it providentially happened that the Sisters was lying at anchor off the Bay of Islands. We hear that an action commenced between the pirates and the whaler, which lasted for six hours, in which two of the former were killed. Captain Duke then went on board with a flag of truce, and declared if they did not surrender, he would bear down upon them, assisted with 200 or 300 natives, and put every man to death. This had the effect, and the pirates surrendered. Some of them, however, made their escape on shore, but by means of the extraordinary exertions of Captain Duke, assisted by the natives, the whole were soon retaken. The following is a list of the gang which have been brought back to Sydney, on the Sisters—the remainder being on board the Wellington, which was off the heads yesterday evening late, having Anthony Best on board:— John Walton, ex-captain of the pirates; Charles Clay Todhunter, James O'Neal, Henry Drummond, Charles Daley, William Leddington, William Ryan, William Holt, John Jennings, John Lynch, William Webb, Patrick Flannigan, Cornelius Callaghan, John Stewart, Thomas Quinn, Richard Johnson, Thomas Edwards, Edward McGuiness, John Swan, Richard Carter, Thomas Carvell, William Brown, Patrick Geary, James Bennet, John Smith, Thomas Bayley, Edward Colethurst, William Bateman, John McGuinness, Abraham Davis, William Walker, John Boyde. [32 convicts in this list] (Sydney Gazette 10 Feb 1827, p. 2.)

343

Maureen Withey on 17th September 2021

Colonial Secretary Index DOUGLAS, William. Per "Coromandel", 1820. 1821 Jul 7 On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Mermaid" (Reel 6008; 4/3504 p.142) 1824 Apr, Jun On monthly return of prisoners punished at Newcastle (Reel 6023; 4/1718 pp.181, 185) 1824 Oct 23 Re his original sentence (Reel 6013; 4/3512 p.606) 1825 Jan 12-May 28 Convicted of burglary. On return of prisoners convicted and sentenced by the Supreme Court (Fiche 3298; X730 p.5) 1825 May 18 Sentenced to death. On return of prisoners tried before the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Fiche 3298; X727 p.9) 1825 Jul 13 On list of convicts transported to Port Macquarie per "Elizabeth Henrietta"; crossed out (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.526-7) -------------------------------------------------- SATURDAY, MAY 28.—This being the last day of Term, the following prisoners were brought up for sentence :— William Douglas, for a burglary in the house of Hugh Kelly, and stealing goods, the property of Walter McTaggart—Judgment of Death recorded. Sydney Gazette, 2 Jun 1825. -------------------------------------------------- William was reprieved and was to be sent to Norfolk Island. He took part in the piracy of the Brig Wellington, and was sentenced to death. https://www.freesettlerorfelon.com/wellington_pirates_1827.htm Six of the unfortunate prisoners who have been convicted of piracy, in seizing the brig Wellington, which was conveying them to Norfolk Island, are doomed to suffer death, on Monday morning. The names of the men selected for execution are, Edwards, Leddington, Smith, Johnson, Colthurst and Douglass. These men were capital respites. Sentence of death had either been passed upon, or recorded against them, previous to the act for which they will now suffer. The remainder of the convicted pirates were put on board the Amity, on Wednesday morning last, and quitted the port immediately for Norfolk Island. The Australian, 10 Mar 1827. --------------------------------------------------- However, he was reprieved at the gallows. -------------------------------------------------- The capture of the brig Wellington was reported in the press of the day, and full accounts can be found via TROVE.