Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Thomas Fitzgerald was transported on the Lady Nugent, departing 12th Jul 1836 and arriving 12th Nov 1836 with 290 passengers.
Lady Nugent (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 90, Class and Piece Number HO11/10, Page Number 308; Western Times, Saturday 26 March 1836, p.3; Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Sat April 2 1836 p.3; Engladn Criminal registers - Devon Spring Assizes 1836. |
| 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
Thomas Fitzgerald was tried at the Devon Spring Assizes at Exeter commencing on 17th March 1836, for “breaking into the dwelling-house of Mr Fay, at Copplestone, and stealing various articles. We recently gave the particulars of this burglary and the heroic conduct of a young man named Avery, in pursuing and capturing the prisoner. Death Recorded. Judge ordered a £3 reward to be given to Avery." [Western Times, Saturday 26 March 1836, p. 3] The English criminal register for the Devon Assizes spring session 1836 recorded that Thomas Fitzgerald was aged 23 and could not read or write. Attempted Jail Break [Taken from Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Sat April 2 1836 p.3] Thomas Fitzgerald was confined in the same ward of High Gaol of Devon as the other six men who’d been given a Death Recorded sentence at the March Devon Assizes. On Monday 28 March 1836, only a few days after the Assizes sentencing had ended, all seven men together attempted to break out of gaol by overpowering the guards as they were being moved from the airing room back to their cell. They tried to take the keys, managed to get the governor and two other turnkeys locked into a ward and struggled for a time with another turnkey. However, other jail guards came to assist and inevitably the prisoners were subdued and confined in separate cells till the following day, double-ironed. Seven weeks later, on Monday 16th May, they were all removed to the Ganymede Hulk at Woolwich. The Ganymede Hulk records state that Thomas Fitzgerald was aged 23, was convicted of Burglary and was disposed of from the hulk to Van Diemens Land 2 July 1836. He sailed on “Lady Nugent” to VDL on 12 July 1836. Of his fellow Devon Jail prisoners who had attempted to break out, James Barnes had been sent to NSW on 2 June, four departed the hulk to NSW on 8 October (McGuire, Clist, Facey and Mason), and George Jenks would be sent to VDL on “Sarah” 9 November.