Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
John Edwards 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 338 Australia, Convict Index, 1788-1868 |
| 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 |
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Convict Notes
Tasmanian Records. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON22-1-1_0286 Per Calcutta 1804. John Edwards, tried London Jail Delivery, 28 Oct 1801. 7 years. ---------------------------------------------------- Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 13 March 2023), October 1801, trial of JOHN EDWARDS (t18011028-88). JOHN EDWARDS, Theft > pocketpicking, 28th October 1801. 847. JOHN EDWARDS was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 28th of September , a pocket-book, value 5s. and a silver pencil case, value 3s. the property of Solomon Arden, privily from his person . SOLOMON ARDEN sworn. - I am a baker , and live in Redcross-street: On Monday, the 28th of September, coming down Barbican, some person touched my pocket; I turned sharp round, and saw the prisoner turn back, and look it to a shopwindow; I felt in my pocket, and found every thing safe; I walked on till I came to Redcross-street, and crossed over to my own door; I then saw the prisoner on the other side of the way, walking down quite fast; I immediately felt in my pocket, and found I had lost my pocket-book and silver pencil-case, value eight shillings; I followed the prisoner, and saw him luck something under the left side of his coat, and button it up; there was the print of a book; I immediately cried, stop thief, when he set off, and run two or three yards; he then put his hand to his left side, and threw the book upon the ground; I ran after him, secured him, and brought him to my house, and sent for a constable; Clifton picked up the book, and brought it into the shop. Cross-examined by Mr. Alley. Q. I understood you to say, you suspected somebody was about your pocket? - A. I did; but I was not certain whether he run against it; I felt something hit my pocket, whether it was an attempt to take it out, I cannot say, but the book was safe. WILLIAM CLIFTON sworn. - I am a brewer's servant; I saw nothing of it, I only picked up the book. (The book produced and identified).(The prisoner's defence was read to the following purport;) That he was innocent of the charge; that he was not on that side of the way, which he should have been able to prove, if the trial had been postponed; that, as he was walking along, he observed two men cross from the opposite side of the way, and, upon the cry of stop thief, one dropped the book, and walked off; that he always had maintained a good character, and been entrusted with great property; that he was of respectable family, and had no occasion to have recourse to such means to gratify any wish he might form. GUILTY, aged 21. Of stealing goods to the value of 10d. Transported for seven years . London Jury, before Mr. Recorder.