Henry Ellis

51

Chris Ison on 10th December 2024

Norfolk Island -On the 15th July last, seven [more likely eight] of the prisoners at this settlement made their escape in a whale-boat, which they had contrived to build secretly in a cave in Mr. Waldron's garden, and which they carried overland a distance of three miles to Cresswell's Bay, at which place they embarked, and got clear off. Owing to the tempestuous weather which set in the day after their departure, and which continued eighteen days, there is every probability of the boat having foundered. It appears strange that the building of the boat could have been effected without discovery, as it was found, on examining the marks on the sand, that she measured about thirty feet over all, and it must have taken some time to complete her. (Colonial Observer 24 Sep 1842, p. 6.) Principal Superintendent of Convict Office, Sydney, January 17, 1844. THE undermentioned Prisoners having absconded from the individuals and employment set against their respective names, … Higgins John, John Barry, (3), 24, Lancashire, rope maker's labourer, 5 feet 5} Inches, ruddy freckled comp., brown hair, brown eyes, eyebrows partially meeting, three warts and scar back of right hand, long sear right thumb, two scars back of forefinger, and wart between fore and middle fingers of left hand, from Norfolk Island, since August 6,1842. Williams Joseph, Ocean (3), 40, Exeter, carpenter 6 months, 5 feet2 ¼ inches, fair comp., dark flaxen hair, blue eyes, cast in right eye, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. Bennett James, jun., Mangles (3)47, Sussex, carpenter 5 feet 9 ½ inches, fresh, comp., brown hair, light blue eyes, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. Brady James, Waterloo (2), 35, county Cavan, labourer, 5feet 4 ½ inches, florid pockpitted comp., brown hair, light brown eyes, small mole at corner, and under left ear, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. Brown William, Waterloo (3), 29, Lambeth, watermans 5 feet 4 inches & upwards, fair sallow comp., red hair, hazel eyes, LMERCT inside lower right arm, blue mark resembling a star back of ball of right thumb, ring on middle little fingers of same, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. Ellis Henry, John Barry (8), 26, Chester, labourer, 5 feet 1 ½ inch, ruddy comp., light-brown hair, grey eyes, nose a little pockpitted, scar on knuckle of left thumb, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. McDougall Daniel, Hibernia,39, Lanarkshire, labourer, 5 feet 7 inches, ruddy comp., light-brown hair, grey eyes, nose rather flat, lost part of third finger of left hand, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. Spencer Joseph, Lady Harewood (I), 35, Hull, mariner, 5 feet 4 inches, ruddy freckled comp., brown hair, hazel eyes, two small diagonal scars over right eye, scrofulous under cheek and left jaws and at lower part throat, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. (New South Wales Government Gazette 19 Jan 1844 [Issue No.10], p.155)