Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
William Freeman was transported on the St Vincent, departing 28th Dec 1852 and arriving 26th May 1853 with 214 passengers.
St Vincent (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 92, Class and Piece Number HO11/17, Page Number 631 (318). --0-- Roscoe, Katy (2018), “Convicts and the Sea: the naval influence on Gibraltar Convict Establishment” at https://staffblogs.le.ac.uk/ |
| 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


IN VDL: 26 May, 1853: On arrival in VDL, WILLIAM FREEMAN was recorded as convict #27905. Listed as a farm labourer, 26 years old, 5’2”tall with black hair, hazel eyes and a sallow complexion. He was single, Protestant, and semi-literate. Native place: near Dudley, West Midlands, England. Prison report: good. He said he had been transported for stealing clothes. Previous conviction for same twice (6 months each); “been four times in prison”. Family: Father James; mother Fanny; brothers James and Cornelius – all at his native place (http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsearch/convict/chain/ai24973). For further details see his VDL Conduct record at (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-115$init=CON33-1-115p60). --00--


VOYAGE: From the medical journal of the St Vincent, by Thomas Somerville, Surgeon Superintendent, Folio 1: 28 January, 1853: “William Freeman, aged 23, convict; sick or hurt, nausea abundens; put on sick list, 28 January 1853, discharged duty 1 February 1853.” Folio 3: 4 May, 1853: “William Freeman, aged 22, convict; sick or hurt, diarrhoea; put on sick list, 4 May 1853, discharged duty 8 May 1853.” (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C4106910) --00--


21 December, 1852: He was sent from Portsmouth to embark on the St Vincent for VDL. By this time he had served 32 months 13 days in prison and was listed as holding a Ticket of Leave. --00--


31 March, 1852: He was admitted to Portsmouth prison, Cumberland Street / Gloucester Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire -- inmate #191 –- the same year it was opened as a male public works prison. He was listed as 23, single, a labourer, able to read imperfectly; Protestant. State of health – “good”. His previous convictions were listed in detail: 1843 – stealing a chain (one month, last week in solitary confinement); 1846 – stealing from a dwelling house (6 months); 1846 – stealing (3 months). Family: Father James, a carpenter, at Charford near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. Has three brothers and 4 sisters (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for William Freeman; Portsmouth Prison; Register of Prisoners; 1874-1879 [mislabelled]). --0--


26 July, 1850: He was admitted to the Defence hulk, Portsmouth – prisoner #284; behaviour “good”. --0-- 4 March, 1851: Sent to the Stirling Castle hulk, Portsmouth – behaviour “good” (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for William Freeman; Misc.; Register of Prisoners; 1790-1799 [mislabelled]). --0--


JAILS: 24 June, 1850: From Worcester jail, where he was held for 2 months 18 days, he was sent to Millbank prison, Pimlico, London – behaviour “good”. From 1849, Millbank was used for male convicts serving the first (probationary) part of their sentence in separate confinement as well as for those who were in need of another period of separate confinement after misbehaviour at public works prisons (https://www.prisonhistory.org/prison/millbank-prison/). --0--


TRIAL: 8 April, 1850: William Freeman, 19 and semi-literate, was convicted at Worcester and sentenced to 7 years’ transportation for stealing wearing apparel, with a previous conviction for felony taken into account (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for William Freeman; England; Worcestershire; 1850). --00--