Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
James Flower was transported on the Bangalore, departing 1st Jan 1850 and arriving 30th Apr 1850 with 302 passengers.
Built 1843 at Jersey. Wood barque of 877 Tons.
Bangalore (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 92, Class and Piece Number HO11/16, Page Number 148 |
| 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
Committed for trial. THURSDAY. John Oldfield, James Flower, Caroline Flower, and William Plummer were charged on suspicion of sheep-stealing. They were apprehended by Policemen Bees and Hurford, of the detective force in the city, and parts of some sheep were found in the room in which they were, and a sheep's skin in an out-house adjoinlng the premises The magistrates remanded them to give time for inquiry. i Bristol Mercury, 20 Jan 1849. -------------------------------------------------- John Oldfield, James Flower, and Jonathan Flower, were indicted for stealing a lamb, the property of James Stone, on the 2lst of January, from a field in Bedminster, near the Red Cow, of which house the prosecutor was landlord. Mr. Evans conducted the prosecution. The skin of the lamb was identified a shepherd in the employ of the prosecutor. Five of the joints were found in Oldfield's box, who lodged in Flower's house, and the skin was found buried in the garden. A sheep was heard to cry in Flower’s house on the Tuesday night, by a person named Bolt, who lived next door. Jonathan Flower was acquitted: but James Flower and Oldfield were found guilty. Sentence deferred. Oldfield had been previously convicted at Wells. Bristol Times and Mirror, 14 April 1849. -------------------------------------------------- The rest of the prisoners were sentenced as follows Seven Years' Transportation. —John Oldfield, 25, and James Flower, 46, for stealing a lamb, the property of James Stone. Bristol Times and Mirror, 21 April 1849.
James flowers 1800-1870-Maria Jonathan flowers 1829-Maria Bindin 1829 - 1849 William Flowers - Alice Edwards William Flowers 1886 Rose Flowers my Grandmother 1907 - 2004
I had previously thought he was charged with stealing a sheep, but now have enough proof from newspaper articles to know he was sentenced in the Gloucester Court on 5th April 1847 for "highway robbery", aged 20, along with Edward Milikins, aged 30. They befriended a man, offered directions to where he needed to go, then attacked and robbed him. It was James' father, also named James, who was guilty of sheep stealing. He probably did not leave England, serving out his time in prison or on a prison hulk. He is the one who returned to Bedminster.
James Flower was convicted in April 1849 for sheep stealing, and his son Jonathan was acquitted. Newspaper account are clear that the James Flower convicted (to 7 years transportation) was the father of Jonathan. On this basis, the James Flower who robbed John Tucker (along with Edward Milkins)on the 4th January 1847 and convicted to 7 years transportation is not the same man. Whilst it cannot be certain, it is very likely that Edward Milkins accomplice was the son of James and Caroline Flower ... given the scrapes the family had over the years with the law. James Flower (senior) was my Gt*3 grandfather, his son James my gt*4 uncle ... coincidently Edward Milkins was my gt*4 uncle too!
There seems to be some confusion regarding my two ancestors.James the toymaker( my3xGrandfather) is NOT the James Convicted at Gloucester assises on 5th April 1845.That James is his son James convicted with Edward Milkins of robbery with violence.I have his full prison report and newspaper cuttings of his crime.He is probably the flower on the "China" James the Toymaker according to an unproven family story is that he may have served his time for sheep stealing in England, although on the 1851 census his wife Caroline states she is Pauper business woman, husband transported, but she may have believed he had been.James senior along with two other men it is alleged stole a sheep to feed their families and hid the carcas in the outside privy of the "Red Cow" pub in Bedminster, Bristol, and the ring leader was hanged and James and the other man were transported although no proof.I must repeat that the James sentenced in April 1847 was young James, not the toymaker.
James the toymaker, my 3x grandfather was not sentenced in 1847 at Gloucester assises, that was his Son. James senior was sentenced for sheep stealing on 10th April 1849 for sheep stealing at Bristol along with John Oldfield and James son Jonathon Flower who was found not guilty.They were sentenced to transportation for 7 years.
James was sentenced in the Gloucester Assizes on 6 April 1847 to 7 years for sheep stealing. After serving 4 years he was pardoned (I gather this was usual), and was able to return to England. The 1861 census shows him back in Green's Building, Bristol with his wife and youngest son. Before transportation he was a toymaker. After his return he was a splintmaker - a more useful occupation amongst the other convicts, I'd guess! His son, also James, was sentenced to Life for robbery with violence. He went to Norfolk Island on the China, but died only a few weeks after his arrival in 1846.
James Flower was my 3x grandfathers brother from Bristol, who was sentenced along with Edward Milkins to 7 years transportation for robbing and beating John Tucker outside the "Avon Packet" public house in Bristol.I have newspaper report and prison details from Gloucester assizes.