Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Charles Elton was transported on the Palmerston, departing 8th Nov 1860 and arriving 11th Feb 1861 with 296 passengers.
978 ton ship was built at Moulmein, Burma in 1853. On the voyage from Portland, England to the Swan River Colony, Western Australia in 1860/61 the ship also carried passengers, pensioner guards, wives and children as well as soldiers and 296 convicts.
Palmerston (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/18, Page Number 341 |
| 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
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Photos
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Convict Notes
13 June, 1891: From the Daily News, Perth, p2: FUNERAL NOTICE. The remains of the late Mr. CHARLES ELTON, will leave his late residence, Howick-street, Perth, at a quarter-past three TO-MORROW (Sunday) AFTERNOON. Friends will please accept this intimation. DONALD J. CHIPPER, Undertaker. Perth, June 13, 1891. (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/76464638) --00--
MARRIAGE: 1883: Aged 72, Charles Elton married Elizabeth Wilson Hogg (born 1858, died 1925) in Perth, according to family researchers. The couple had five sons between 1877 and 1890. --0-- DEATH: 3 June, 1891: Charles Elton, alias Austin Montroe/Montrose, died in Perth. He was buried at East Perth Cemetery (Australia and New Zealand, Find A Grave Index, 1800s-Current).
5 December, 1872: A Charles Elton appears on a list in the Express newspaper (p3) of holders of a Colonial Wine Licence (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/256613018/28526253). --0--
1871: A Charles Elton was among the signatories to a memorial published in the Herald (Fremantle) on 22 April, p3, concerning the prosecution of several business operators for “short or light weights”: “SHORT WEIGHTS. We have been requested to publish the following memorial and reply. That whereas, upon the information of the Examiner of Weights and Measures, we are summoned before three of Her Majesty's Justice of the Peace for this Colony, namely, E. W. Landor, George Wilkinson, and H. Ashton, Esquires, for that we had severally in our "possession light weights," so caused by use in business, and that we were severally fined with costs in the sums of six and six pence each, and otherwise put to great inconvenience. That whereas the Ordinance the 3rd of William the 4th No. 2, provides: "That it shall be lawful for the Governor, or other officer for the time being administering the Government of the said colony, by any order or orders to be by him from time to time made, and published in the Government Gazette, to appoint certain places and persons in which, and with whom, respectively, shall be deposited complete sets of Weights and Measures" for public accession and convenience. That in the absence of such place being appointed by Your Excellency, we complain, and respectfully contend, that the proceedings against us are not authorized by the Ordinance. Moreover, a steel pen would, in many instances, have made up the deficiency in weight: and this arising from use in business, and not fraud on our part (even though the proceedings against us had been warranted by precedent), we consider ourselves unfairly dealt by… T. Farrely, G. Marfleet, E. Birch, H. & S. Birch, T. J. Keaughran, J. Taylor, John Scollard, W. Thwaites, J. Turner, James Dyson, Charles Elton, Patrick Lambert, W. Hines, G. Randal—Agent for B. Mason, J, Redoreda, D. Brennan, Y. Boladeras, B. Veyard, T. & V. Britnall, R. N. Bullen, D. Cameron, T. Jackson, G. Rider.” --0--
From his FREMANTLE JAIL record: ELTON, Charles; prisoner #5745, arrived 11 Feb 1861 per Palmerston Alias: MONTROSE, Austin Date of Birth: 1811 Date of Death: 3 Jun 1891 Place of Death: East Perth Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Tailor Literacy: Literate Sentence Date: 1858 Sentence Place: Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England Crime: Shop breaking Sentence Period: 15 years Ticket Leave Date: 14 Dec 1862 Conditional Pardon Date: 22 May 1868 Comments: Labourer, general servant, self-employed, 1865 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --0--
IN WA: 11 February, 1861: On arrival in WA, Charles Elton was listed as convict #5745, 50 years old, a tailor [change of vocation], single with no children; 5’7” tall, light brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department; Estimates and Convict Lists (128/1 - 32)). —0— 14 December, 1862: He received a Ticket of Leave. 22 May, 1868: He was granted a Conditional Pardon – received in Perth (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; General Register for Nos 8127-8190, 5497-5894 (R3-R4)). --0--
EMBARKATION FOR WA: 3 November, 1860: Charles Elton was discharged from Portland jail to be embarked for WA per the Palmerston. By this time he had served 2 year 6 months 29 days in jail. William Ash, also sentenced to 15 years’ penal servitude, was aboard the Palmerston too. —0— 10 November, 1860: The SS Palmerston, contract dated 22 October 1860, sailed from Portsmouth bound for WA with 296 convicts aboard (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C5896305; and http://www.perthdps.com/convicts/con-wa28.html). --00--
JAILS: 5 April – 10 May, 1858: He was held at Clerkenwell jail for 36 days in separate confinement; behaviour “good”. NOTE: From this time on, his alias surname is spelled MONTROSE in official records. -- 11 May, 1858: Charles Elton, alias Austin Montrose, was admitted to Millbank prison, London, from Cold Bath Fields (Clerkenwell) jail. Listed as inmate #7060, aged 42, a labourer, able to read and write imperfectly, single [change of status] and Protestant. Family – his mother, Mrs Daniels, Queen’s Place, King Street, Hackney Road. At Millbank, he served 17 days in separate confinement; behaviour “good” (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-195; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners; 1882-1885 [mislabelled]). — 28 May, 1858: Admitted to Pentonville prison, from Millbank. Inmate #8066, 42, single, labourer, once transported for 15 years following a conviction at CCC on 1 February, 1847. Described as 5’8” tall with a fresh complexion, light hair and blue eyes. Behaviour “good” and forwarded as a “1st Class” prisoner (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Pentonville Prison; Register of Prisoners; 1856-1859). — 12 May, 1859: Admitted to Portland prison; inmate #8987. All details as per his previous jail records. Behaviour “exemplary” (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portland Prison; Prison Records; 1860-1863). --0--
ANOTHER TRIAL -- NOW CHARLES ELTON: 5 April, 1858: Tried at Clerkenwell Quarter Sessions, Middlesex, Charles Elton was convicted and sentenced to 15 years’ transportation for shopbreaking after a previous conviction (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for William Ash; England; Middlesex; 1858). — NEWSPAPER report of the crime: From the Examiner, 3 April, 1858, p219: “Robbery of 1000 pounds worth of jewellery. – At the Clerkenwell office on Monday, William Ash, Hannah Ash (his wife), C. Elton, alias Moreton, alias the Corporal, a ticket-of-leave man, G. George, alias Williams, and J. Bosworth (brother to Mrs Ash), were charged with entering the shop of Mr. Steward, a jeweller, of High Street, Islington, and stealing jewellery and watches of the value of nearly 1000 pounds. The facts of the case were these:—On the night of the 24th February, the prisoners, Mrs Ash and Elton, were seen loitering near the prosecutor’s shop, which at eleven o’clock was quite safe, although no one lodged in it. The policeman on duty there, shortly afterwards was called away for the purpose of taking up a disorderly prostitute, and on his return found the prosecutor’s door open, and on the mat a black bag containing house-breaking instruments; the shop being nearly stripped of its valuable contents. Although every effort was made by the police, no traces could be found of the thieves, until a prostitute of the name of Jessy Norton, residing in the same house as Ash, came forward and deposed to certain conversations she had had with Mrs Ash about breaking into the prosecutor’s shop, at the same time admitting that she would not have ‘peached’ had the prisoners behaved in a ‘handsome’ manner towards her. When the police apprehended the prisoners they found some gold rings which the prosecutor said were of the same pattern as those he lost, and which he ‘believed’ were a portion of the stolen property. From further information the prisoner Bosworth was apprehended at Halifax, and upon him was found a brooch and ring, which Mr. Steward swore were his property, and were safe in his shop on the night of the robbery. It should be stated that both the witness Norton and her paramour bore very indifferent characters, and admitted after a great deal of pressing and false swearing, that they had been in prison for uttering counterfeit coin. Mr Steward admitted that the brooch, which was taken from Bosworth, and which had in it a portrait of the prisoner Ash, was not gold and was of the value of 2s 9d. The ring was also of little value. Mr Corrie said he should discharge the prisoner Williams, but the others he should commit to the assizes for trial. Although he had no doubt one of the Ashes would be discharged, still he thought it a fit case for a jury, and he could not help remarking that the evidence against Elton was very slight.” (https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/The_Examiner) — Footnote: So much for Mr Corrie’s predictions. Charles Elton, alias Austin Montrose, William and Hannah Ash and were all found guilty of shopbreaking after previous convictions. Hannah Ash was sentenced to 10 years’ penal servitude, having previously pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 18 months, in December 1853, for “feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Charles Howe and stealing three pieces of Coburg cloth” (London, England, Newgate Calendar of Prisoners, 1785-1853; Piece 60: 1853). Like Charles Elton, William Ash received a sentence of 15 years’ penal servitude. John Bosworth (Hannah Ash’s brother), convicted for receiving, was sentenced to 3 years’ penal servitude (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Middlesex; 1858). --00--
TICKET OF LEAVE: 25 June, 1855: Austin Montroe, inmate #1284 on the Stirling Castle hulk, aged 35, a dealer, married, his wife living at Shoreditch, London, was issued with a Ticket of Leave / Licence for Parole #3365 (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Misc.; Register of Prisoners; 1774-1789 [mislabelled]). --00--