Silas Dredge

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Summary

Born
Jan 1825
Conviction
Unknown
Departure
Oct 1867
Arrival
Jan 1868
Death
Oct 1879
Step 0 of 0

Personal Information

Name: Silas Dredge
Gender: Male
Born: 1st Jan 1825
Death: 4th Oct 1879
Age at death: 54
Occupation: Labourer - general

Crime

Crime: Unknown
Convicted at: Somersetshire, Taunton General Quarter Sessions
Sentence term: 10 years

Voyage

Departed: 10th Oct 1867
Arrival: 9th Jan 1868
Place of Arrival: Western Australia

Transportation

Silas Dredge was transported on the Hougoumont, departing 10th Oct 1867 and arriving 9th Jan 1868 with 281 passengers.

875 ton ship was built at Moulmein in 1852. http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/on-this-day-in-history-australias-last-convict-ship-docks.htm ---------------------------- Incorrect Image ....This is a four masted steel hulled Barque in the drawing , im surprised Australian Geo didn't do a bit more research on this .......The Hougoumont was a works ship on the Forth Bridge Project in 1885 ....the one potrayed as a drawing in Aust Geo is the later version of this ship.....the photograph i have attached is the correct and original convict vessel. --00-- 1867 "The hired convict ship Hougoumont, which has been taken up by the Government for the conveyance of a numerous party of convicts to Freemantle, Western Australia, left the Nore on October 1, and proceeded down Channel, after receiving on board 150 convicts from the establishments at Chatham and Millbank. The convicts from the Chatham establishment, at St. Mary's, embarked from the dockyard on board the paddle-wheel steamer Adder, Mr. W. J. Blakely, and were in charge of a numerous party of convict guards and wardens, all heavily armed. Among the convicts shipped were a party of fifteen Fenians, who were engaged in the late conspiracy in Ireland, together with the officers and crew convicted of scuttling the ship Severn, and some others who have achieved notoriety from their crimes. The Fenian convicts, like the remainder of the prisoners, were chained together in gangs, but it was observed that they were kept apart from the other convicts in a portion of the vessel by themselves. The steamer Petrel also took down a number of convicts from the establishment at Millbank for shipment on board the Hougoumont, in charge of a strong escort and convict guard. On Tuesday, October 8th, the Hougoumont arrived in Portland roads. Shortly before midday ninety convicts were marched down to the Government pier at Portland under a strong escort of the 12th Light Infantry. The party included twenty-three Fenian convicts, among whom it was said, was Moriarty. The Government steamer employed in the breakwater service was used for conveying the convicts on board the Hougoumont transport ship. The convicts were chained together on embarking, and on board the steamer a strong guard of marines from her Majesty's ship St. George was formed, and saw the convicts safely placed on board the Hougoumont. The Governor of the penal settlement at Freemantle, Captain Young, is on board the Hougoumont, and returns in that ship to his sphere of duty after paying a visit to his native land." Source: Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 19 Dec 1867, p4, English Shipping, available on Trove at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271?searchTerm=hougoumont.

HougoumontHougoumont

References

Primary SourceAustralian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/19, Page Number 249 (127)
Source DescriptionThis 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 SourceGreat Britain. Home Office
Compiled ByState Library of Queensland
Database SourceBritish convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database

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Convict Notes

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 25th March 2023

From his FREMANTLE JAIL record: DREDGE, Silas; inmate #9719, arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1822 Date of Death: 4 Oct 1879 Place of Death: Lunatic asylum Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Place: Taunton Crime: Larceny Sentence Period: 10 years Previous Convictions: Yes (https://fremantleprison.com.au/history-heritage/research/convict-database/) --0--

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 25th March 2023

IN WA: On arrival in WA, Silas Dredge Leeson was listed as #9719, 44 years old, a labourer, single, partly literate, Protestant; 5’ tall, brown hair, grey eyes, oval visage, fresh complexion and medium strong build. Marks: Pockpitted, freckled, ruptured right side. Family: brother George, living at Frome, Somerset. Notations: "Admitted to Lunatic Asylum 19.12.68. Died at Lunatic Asylum 4.10.79" (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; General Register for Nos 9059-9598 cont., 9599-10128 (R15-R16)). —0—

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 25th March 2023

NEWSPAPER REPORTS OF THE TRIAL: From the Western Daily Press - Friday 6 July, 1866, p3: “STEALING TWO BUCKETS. Silas Dredge, 42, labourer, was charged with stealing, at Rodden, on the 16th May, two buckets, value 3s 6d, the property of Wm. Eyles. Mr Bailey prosecuted. Sentenced to 10 years' penal servitude.” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000264/18660706/020/0003) -- From the Sherborne Mercury - Tuesday 10 July, 1866, p8: “Silas Dredge, 42, labourer, was charged with at Rodden, on the 16th May, stealing two buckets, value 3s 6d, the property of William Eyles. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and a number of previous convictions having been proved against him, he was sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude.” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000411/18660710/030/0008) --0--

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 25th March 2023

TRIAL: 1866, 3 July: Silas Dredge was convicted at the Taunton General Quarter Sessions, and sentenced to 10 years’ penal servitude for simple larceny, with previous [three] convictions (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; General Register for Nos 9059-9598 cont., 9599-10128 (R15-R16)). --0--

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 25th March 2023

1861 Census 1861, 7 April: Silas Dredge, 36, agricultural labourer, lived with his elderly parents Job, aged 80, and Hannah, 74, at Water Lane, Frome. His father, previously a weaver, is listed as a pauper. So is his mother. NAME: Silas Dredge GENDER: Male AGE: 36 RELATION: Son ESTIMATED BIRTH YEAR: 1825 WHERE BORN: Frome, Somerset, England CIVIL PARISH: Frome ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH: Christchurch TOWN: Frome COUNTY/ISLAND: Somerset COUNTRY: England Source: 1861 England Census for Silas Dredge, Somerset, Frome, All, District 11. --0--