Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
John Earle was transported on the Calcutta, departing 31st Jan 1803 and arriving 4th Oct 1803 with 305 passengers.
HMS Calcutta was the East Indiaman Warley (1795), converted to a Royal Navy ship. This ship of the line served for a time as an armed transport. She also transported convicts to Australia. The French Magnanime captured Calcutta in 1805. In 1809, after she ran aground during the Battle of the Basque Roads and her crew had abandoned her, a British boarding party burned her. In 1803 the Calcutta sailed into Port Phillip bay where at least 4 convicts escaped , in Sydney in April 1804 it was reported that 8 had died on the trip. Of the four known escapees one was shot on escape, 2 turned back after 2 days to reattach to the group at the camp in bay before the boat left , one continued on ...into Australia's history books. At least 13 convicts were transferred on to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), Australia.The ship also carried officers, wives and free settlers.
Calcutta (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 343 (171) |
| 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
"John was my 4th great grandfather"
Photos
No photos have been added for John Earle.
Convict Notes
In the early years , from 1805, John Earl was employed by the Reverend Robert Knopwood, as a gardener. Robert Knopwood’s Diary. The Rev. Robert Knopwood sailed from England, on the Calcutta in 1803, and landed in Port Phillip with the prisoners. He later became the first chaplain appointed in Van Diemen’s Land, and was also appointed a Magistrate. He kept a diary, from 1805 -1808, which can be downloaded by following the links: https://eprints.utas.edu.au/13550/ https://eprints.utas.edu.au/13563/ There are several references to John Earl, or "my Man Earl" in the diaries. Entry for Saturday 4 May. 1805. At 11 I discovered a very daring Robbery which John Earl My Gardner had committed upon me by breaking into my closet. I found Brandy and some Picklock Keys upon him. Monday 6 May. Am engaged this morn in committing John Earl for robbery. He broke into my house and stole some spirits and for which he was ordered by the magistrate 500 Lashes. I sat up on the Bench to try 4 prisoners who robbed the Stores of Flower. Tuesday, 7 May. Am this morn my Man that Robbed me received part of his punishment of the 500 Lashes, Entry from Wed 1 October. 1806 am. At 1 pm I went up the River with my Men as far as the farm, that Sculler might detect my Man Earl in using some of my seasond wood &c. for Bedsteads and table. At 3 I returned when Sculler informed me that he had taken Earl and with timber was putting the bedstead together. In the eve I waited on the Gover and requested him not to punish Earl but begd of him to give him a reprimand the table was for Stoker and the bedstead, though he would not acknowledge it. Thurs. 2 Oct 1806. am. this morn at 10 the Govnr Released Earl with a reprimand. At 1 am I went afishing and took Earl with me. In two hours opposite my house we caught in the Bay 5 dozen of Rock Codd and 1 Dozen flatheads. Entry for Sunday 14 December. 1806. Early this morn being unwell I had occasion to go into the Garden where I see a Man very busy in diging up my potatoes, and went to him and found it was my Gardener Earl, stealing some. Monday 15 Dec. I took Earl before the Govnr and I forgave him. Entry for Saturday 29 November 1806. am. at 8 got into the boat went across the River sent 2 men out akangarooing Self and Earl took guns and went after some ducks at a Lagoon. I see three snipes and had the good luck to kill2. The first On my return home I gave them to the Governor who wrote me the following note. Dear Sir, I feel much obliged for your handsome Present of what I did not know we had in the country and which I with pleasure accept as a very rare treat. Yours truly, David Collins. 29 Nov 1806. Revd. R, Knopwood. The first Snipes killd in this country. Earl killed a couple of Teal. Entry for Saturday December 20, 1806. At 11 I went out afishing had very bad success the day cold & my man Earl killd me a couple of ducks and a Pigeon, the wind blowing hard from the West. Entry for Monday 19 January 1807. am the morn very warm this day I began my Wheat Harvest. Gains Richardson Earl Haffart reaped the wheat. Monday March 2, 1807. my man Richardson came in from Kangarroing he brought 80 w t and left Earl and Kemp in the bush he informd me that on Saturday morn about 9 a.m. He and Earl were out with the Dogs and that the Natives to the number of 60 came down to them throwing stones and shaking their spears at them. One man came forward to Richardson and was going to spear him, but he shot him another came to Earl he killd him my men immediately made up the Hill for fear the Natives should surround them and kill them and Dogs. The two Natives that my men shot, the others they took away, and made a very large Fire for the purpose of Burning the dead. the Natives have been very troublesome for a long time, but not so desperate as lately, no doubt but they have killd Brewer. The Natives endeavour to keep the Men and Dogs in the vallies that they may throw stones at them which they do with great force and exactness Wednesday 5 Aug 1807. My man Earl returnd from Hunting· with his shoulder bone out of joint
Death Registration. Date of death, 17 January, John Earle, age sixty-three years, Farmer, cause of death, Decay of nature, Informant, Hobart Town Sexton. -------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Record- His Will: https://stors.tas.gov.au/AD960-1-1-168_1 https://stors.tas.gov.au/AD960-1-1-168_2 https://stors.tas.gov.au/AD960-1-1-168_3 https://stors.tas.gov.au/AD960-1-1-168_4 John Earle’s will. Mentions as beneficiaries of the whole of his estate, Charles Staples, and Elizabeth, his wife, and their adopted daughter, Catherine Elizabeth Staples, and his own son, Charles Staples Earle. The will also mentions his ward, Charles Fletcher Howard, and his ward, Thomas Butcher. The will also mentions the property he possessed. -------------------------------------------------- The Tribune, 8 Sept 1877. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201737519?searchTerm=Staples John Earle There was a law suit in 1877 regarding John Earle’s Will. ----------------------------------------------------- Find a grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154343108/john-earle There is a photo of a Memorial plaque to James Austin, Died 1 Dec 1831 and to John Earle, died 15 Jan 1840. They were buried at St David’s Park, Hobart. See link for photo and more details. This site gives his date and place of birth as 1777, Boltonsborough, Mendip district, Somerset, England.
John Earle and James Austin remained close to each other and had neighbouring farms. NOTICE.—Within 14 days from this date, We intend to remove a Number of Sheep into the Interior of the Country.—Any Person having lost any Sheep may examine our Flock previous to their Removal. JAMES AUSTIN, JOHN EARLE. Feb. 19, 1819. Hobart Town Gazette, 20 Feb 1819. GOVERNMENT PUBLIC NOTICE. Secretary's Office, Hobart Town, Saturday, October 7th, 1820. FOR the Information of the Public and the particular Guidance of the Officers of the Police Establishments, HIS HONOR the LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR has been pleased to order and direct that the following List of Publicans, who have been duly licensed by the Bench of Magistrates for keeping of Public Houses, and Vending of Wines, Spirits, and Beer, in the several Districts in the County of Buckinghamshire, be published in the Hobart Town Gazette. BLACK SNAKE & OLD BEACH FERRY. Messrs. Austin & Earl - Barley Mow By Command of His Honor, H. E. Robinson, Secretary. Hobart Town Gazette, 7 Oct 1820. CAUTION.—All Persons are hereby cautioned against purchasing Cattle of John Miles, at the Black Marsh, marked EA; as all Cattle in his Possession bearing such Brand-mark are the Property of the Undersigned, JOHN EARLE, JAMES AUSTIN. Hobart Town Gazette, 5 May 1821. Married. —On Monday last, by Special License, by the Rev. R. Knopwood, M.A., Mr. John Earle, of Roseneath Inn, to Mrs. Mary Fletcher, widow of the late Mr. Charles Fletcher, of Port Dalrymple. Hobart Town Gazette, 10 Aug 1822. AT a GENERAL MEETING of the Justices of our Lord the King, in and for Van Diemen's Land, holden at the Court House, in Hobart Town, on Michaelmas Day, 1823, the following Licenses were granted: To sell Spirits, Wines, & Beer, in the Country. Jas. Austin, - Roseneath Inn, Roseneath. John Earle, - Northampton Arms, Compton. Hobart Town Gazette, 4 Oct 1823. --------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CSO1-1-355-8096$init=CSO1-1-355-8096-2 Oatlands, 14 November 1828. To the Hon. John Burnett, Esq., Colonial Secretary, Hobarton. Sir, I have the honor to recommend to the notice of the Lieut. Governor, Mr John Earle, to be a Special Constable, and Keeper of the Pound in the Eastern Marshes, in the district of Oatlands. Mr Earle lives on his land in the Eastern Marshes: he is a very respectable man, for, although he was once a Convict, he was not a convict Felon, and has behaved well, invariably since he arrived in the Colony. There is no Pound within six or seven miles of Mr Earle’s Grant, and I consider that his appointment will be advantageous to that quarter of the Oatlands District. I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, Thos. Anstey. ---------------------------------------------------- Roseneath and Compton Ferries THE Undersigned having rented the above commodious Ferries from Mr. JAMES AUSTIN and Mr. JOHN EARLE, take this opportunity of respectfully acquainting the Public thereof; and trust, by their unremitting and personal attention to the convenience, dispatch, and safety of Passengers and Luggage across the said Ferries, that they will give general satisfaction to the Public, and merit a continuance of their Support. N. B. All kinds of Colonial Produce will in future be taken in Payment at these Ferries. JOSIAH AUSTIN, SOLOMON AUSTIN. July 10, 1829. Colonial Times, 17 July 1829. ----------------------------------------------------- DIED.—On Friday, the 17th instant, at his residence, High Sunderland, Mr. John Earle, an old and generally respected Colonist, aged 63 years. Colonial Times, 21 Jan 1840.
Tasmanian Records. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON22-1-1_0286 Per Calcutta 1804. John Earle, tried Somersetshire Sessions of P., 13 Jan 1802. 7 years.
Hulk Records. Portsmouth. HO-9-8_1. page 49/52 Received five from Somerset, 28 Feb. John Earle, age 24, Larceny, tried at Somerset, 13 Jan 1802, BS 7 years. Calcutta.
Stole a beehive and honey with cousin James Austin, both sent to Van Diemans Land later created a ferry business across Derwent River