Henry Fillingham

43

Darryl Buley on 10th October 2025

Name Henry Fillingham Birth abt 1818 • Lancashire, England Brother of James Fillingham, Margaret Fillingham, Sarah Fillingham, Mary Fillingham, George Fillingham and Peter Fillingham Baptism 5 Apr 1818 • St Helen's, Lancashire, England Name: Henry Fillingham Gender: Male Baptism Date: 1818 Baptism Place: St. Helens, Lancashire, England Father: Henry Fillingham Mother: Mary FHL Film Number: 1469036 Reference ID: - 2:2GZMHG4 Baptism 1818 • Prescot, Lancashire, England Henry Fillingham was christened on 5 Apr 1818 at St Helens Chapel of Ease in the parish of Prescot, Lancashire. He was the son of Henry and Mary Fillingham. His father's occupation was recorded as labourer, and the family's address as Windle Marriage 29 Oct 1838 • Rainford Chapel, Rainford, Lancashire, England Henry married Margaret Jaques on 29 Oct 1838 at Rainford Chapel of Ease in the parish of Prescot, Lancashire. Both were of full age (21 or more) and lived in Eccleston, and neither had been married before. Henry was a tailor. Margaret Jaques 1821– Margaret's Family 1838 Two of Margaret's brothers (and also two cousins), together with Fillingham himself, were members of the Long Company - a notorious group of gangsters and poachers which terrorised the Prescot area in the mid-19th century. Birth of son George Fillingham (1839–) 1839 • Lancashire, England Residence 18 Nov 1840 • Liverpool Gaol, Lancashire, England Name Henry Fillingham Criminal Admission Age 23 Record Type Register Birth Date 1817 Criminal Charge feloniously stolen Sentence 3 Months Criminal Admission Date 18 Nov. 1840 Criminal Admission Place Lancashire, England Jail Liverpool Gaol Residence 21 January 1841 • Lancashire, England Name: Henry Fillingham Age: 23 Estimated birth year: abt 1818 Date of Trial: 21 Jan 1841 Trial Year: 1841 Location of Trial: Lancashire, England Sentence: Imprisonment 3 Months Crime: Larceny Census 1841 By June 6th 1841, the family was living in Eccleston Lane Ends; Henry was a master tailor. Residence 1841 • Eccleston, Prescot, Lancashire, England Name Henry Fillingham Age 20 Estimated Birth Year abt 1821 Gender Male Where born Lancashire, England Civil parish Prescot Hundred West Derby County/Island Lancashire Country England Registration District Prescot also Margaret 20 George 1 Residence 27 Mar 1842 Their daughter Mary was christened on 27 Mar 1842 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. Her father's occupation was recorded as tailor, and the family's address as Eccleston. Residence 10 Nov 1843 • Knowsley, Lancashire, England A clash between poachers and a gamekeeper accompanied by three "watchers" occurred on Lord Derby's estate at Knowsley. Shots were fired from both sides, and the gamekeeper, Richard Kenyon, was shot, and died four days later. Residence 11 Nov 1843 Henry Fillingham was one of the group, moreover as one of the two poachers who had fired shots, although not the one whose bullet had hit Kenyon. After a lengthy police search, Henry Fillingham was found hiding under straw in a barn, with a supply of bread and cheese. Residence 16 Dec 1843 • Lancaster, Lancashire, England Name: Henry Fillingham Vessel: Blundell Convicted Date: 16 Dec 1843 Voyage Date: 13 Mar 1844 Colony: Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) Place of Conviction: Lancaster, Lancashire, England Chester Chronicle, 29 Dec 1843 29 Dec 1843 MURDER AT KNOWSLEY. John Roberts, 27, James Hunt, 25, Thomas Jacques, 26, Joseph Rimmer, 22 , and Henry Fillingham, 27, were indicted for the wilful murder of Richard Kenyon, gamekeeper to Lord Derby, at Knowsley. All the prisoners pleaded not guilty. Residence 1843 The five men charged, including Henry Fillingham and Thomas Jacques, were all found guilty and sentenced to be hung; all had pled not guilty. However the four who hadn't actually shot Kenyon had their sentences commuted to transportation for life. Departure 13 Mar 1844 Name: Henry Fillingham Conviction Place: Lancaster, Liverpool Special Assizes Departure Date: 13 Mar 1844 Arrival Date: 12 Jul 1844 Arrival Place: Van Diemen's Land Arrival Ship: Blundell Arrival 12 Jul 1844 • Tasmania, Australia Henry was one of 210 convicts transported on the Blundell, departing on 13 March 1844 and arriving in Van Diemen's Land on 12 July 1844. Joseph Rimmer, Thomas Jacques and James Hunt were on the same ship. Indent 1844 • Tasmania, Australia Five and a half feet tall with a fair complexion, cleanshaven with an oval head and light hair and eyebrows, a high forehead, a medium nose mouth and chin, 29 years old, Protestant and able to read and write. Residence 1844 • Prescot, Lancashire, England Henry and Margaret's daughter Mary Jane was born in 1844 in Prescot district, and died in early infancy. Escape attempt 11 Mar 1846 • Norfolk Island, Australia Henry attempted to escape from Norfolk Island, where he was doing hard labour, on a boat he had built in secret. For this, he was sentenced to 12 calendar months' hard labour in chains, and his probationary period extended by the same. Residence 1846 Also in 1846, he was given 36 lashes for possession of a Jack?. He was also given an extra 3 months at Norfolk Island, also in 1846, for "not going to work". Residence 1847 Name: Fillingham, Henry Convicts Employer: Goldie, Alexander: 1849 Belcher, George: 1850, 1851 Property: Tasman Peninsula Probation Stations Ship: Blundell Place of origin: Rainford, Lancashire Off Norfolk Island per Pestongee Bomangee Apr 1847 Occupation 1849 In 1849, Henry spent some time working for Alexander Goldie, which ended with one of these convictions. By 1850, Henry was working for George Belcher of Murray St. Residence 1849 Between 1849 and 1854, he was reported for a number of what seem like relatively minor offenses - being absent without leave, being drunk in Church, absconding, being out after hours, being in a dwelling house without permission. Residence 1849 • Australia Name: Henry Fillingham Arrival Date: 1844 Vessel: Blundell To Norfolk Isld Province: Tasmania Title: Ledger Returns Year(s): 1849 Place of Conviction: Liverpool Residence 15 Jul 1850 Name Henry Fellingham Date 15 Jul 1850 Place Tasmania, Australia Record Type Employment Ship Blundell Reference Number CON152-1-1 Residence 6 Aug 1850 Name Henry Fellingham Date 6 Aug 1850 Place Tasmania, Australia Record Type Employment Ship Blundell Reference Number CON152-1-1 Pardon 10 Feb 1857 He received a conditional pardon on 10 Feb 1857. In September 1857, he was in Campbell Town. Marriage 28 Dec 1861 • Launceston, Tasmania, Australia Husband of Eliza Patience (Bricknell) Calver — married 28 Dec 1861 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia Eliza Patience Bricknell 1843–1913 Birth of daughter Amy Alice Fillingham Foster (1862–1916) 28 Mar 1862 • Launceston, Tasmania, Australia In November 1862, his wife, Eliza Fillingham, filed a complaint for Maintenance before the Police Magistrate, reporting that he had deserted her and her child in January last. In his defense Henry said he was making arrangements to have his wife removed to where he was employed in the interior. He was ordered to pay 10s. per week, for the maintenance of his wife for 3 months, and 5 weeks payment to be made that day. In February 1863 Henry was sent to gaol (until the amount was paid) for failing to pay comply with an order to contribute 10s. per week towards support of his child. Birth of daughter Eliza Ann Fillingham Foster (1863–1912) 22 May 1863 • Launceston, Tasmania, Australia Inquest 15 Jan 1867 Name Henry Fellingham Gender Male Death Place Australia Inquest Date 15 Jan 1867 Inquest Place Strangways Cause of Death Inflammation of the bowels Death 1867 • Victoria, Australia Name: Henry Fellingham Birth Year: abt 1827 Age: 40 Death Place: Victoria Registration Year: 1867 Registration Place: Victoria Registration Number: 3065 Henry seems to have died in Victoria, Australia in January 1867; they understandably didn't know him well and his age was recorded by the coroner as 40. He was ill and unable to work for a while before his death, and was aware he was dying, but he was found with his conditional pardon form in his pocket, so his identity seems clear. He was buried on 15 January 1867 at Strangeways, in the district of Castelmaine, Victoria.

343

Maureen Withey on 5th June 2024

South Lancashire Assizes. MURDER AT KNOWSLEY. John Roberts, 27, James Hunt, 25, Thomas Jacques, 26, Joseph Rimmer, 22 , and Henry Fillingham, 27, were indicted for the wilful murder of Richard Kenyon, gamekeeper to Lord Derby, at Knowsley. All the prisoners pleaded not guilty. Mr. Brandt stated the facts of the case; observing that the charge arose from that illegal and monstrous state of society, in which men, to the number of ten or fifteen, thought themselves justified in going out at night armed for the purpose of destroying game. ... Chester Chronicle, 29 Dec 1843.

41

Tom on 4th June 2024

According to his son, he was from Kirkby, Lancaster, and was transported to Norfolk Island. CO 201/251 p334. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1074130378/view