Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
George Ross was transported on the Ocean, departing 31st Jul 1817 and arriving 1st Jan 1818 with 181 passengers.
The 'Ocean' was an English merchant ship and whaler built in 1794 at South Shields, England. In 1803 she accompanied the ship 'Calcutta' to Australia, acting as a transport supply ship. When the settlers abondoned Port Phillip, Melbourne, Victoria the ship transferred convicts, settlers and marines to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). In 1815, 1817 & 1823 the 'Ocean' transported convicts to New South Wales.
Ocean (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 382 |
| 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
Perth, April 24 1817 The Circuit Court of Justiciary was opened here on Thurdsay the 16th inst. by the Right Hon. Lord Pitmilly and Reston… James Stewart, alias Gellatly, John McLean, George Russ, and John Stewart, for assaulting John McIntosh, sheep-drover, Badenoch, and robbing him of 8 pounds 12 shillings; also for assaulting David Spence, and robbing him of one pound, all pleaded not guilty. The libel being found relevant, the pannels were again interrogated, when all pleaded guilty as to the assault and robbery of McIntosh, but not guilty as to Spence. His Majesty’s Advocate passed from the libel in so far as regarded Spence. The libel being restricted, the pannels were found guilty in terms of their judicial confession. Mr Tyler spoke in mitigation of punishment, and produced certificates of previous good character, from their former masters &c. Lord Pitmilly observed, that it was impossible to look without horror at four young men in such a situation. During his experience, his mind never was so much shocked, considering the extreme youth of the prisoners. It had been stated that this was their first offence - that it was the first of which they had been convicted before a Court of Justice, was true, but that it was the first which they committed, and which their consciences only recorded, considering the circumstances of this case, was very unlikely. - It was not probable that a first offence should bespeak such daring wickedness. Lord Reston, in addressing the pannels, observed, that had it not been for the humanity of the Public Prosecutor in restricting the libel, it would have been his duty - a duty from which, though painful, he must not shrink, to pass sentence of death on them! He considered it as an act of clemency to themselves, to send them out of this country. He could no conceive that, if allowed to remain in this country, they could ever redeem their characters. In the country to which they were about to be sent, they would find a very strict police established. If they were convicted of such crimes, the punishment would be inflicted as summarily as the sentence her is pronounced. - He conjured them to think seriously of their past conduct, and concluded by adjudging them to be transported beyond the seas for fourteen years.
Perth, April 24 1817 The Circuit Court of Justiciary was opened here on Thurdsay the 16th inst. by the Right Hon. Lord Pitmilly and Reston… James Stewart, alias Gellatly, John McLean, George Russ, and John Stewart, for assaulting John McIntosh, sheep-drover, Badenoch, and robbing him of 8 pounds 12 shillings; also for assaulting David Spence, and robbing him of one pound, all pleaded not guilty. The libel being found relevant, the pannels were again interrogated, when all pleaded guilty as to the assault and robbery of McIntosh, but not guilty as to Spence. His Majesty’s Advocate passed from the libel in so far as regarded Spence. The libel being restricted, the pannels were found guilty in terms of their judicial confession. Mr Tyler spoke in mitigation of punishment, and produced certificates of previous good character, from their former masters &c. Lord Pitmilly observed, that it was impossible to look without horror at four young men in such a situation. During his experience, his mind never was so much shocked, considering the extreme youth of the prisoners. It had been stated that this was their first offence - that it was the first of which they had been convicted before a Court of Justice, was true, but that it was the first which they committed, and which their consciences only recorded, considering the circumstances of this case, was very unlikely. - It was not probable that a first offence should bespeak such daring wickedness. Lord Reston, in addressing the pannels, observed, that had it not been for the humanity of the Public Prosecutor in restricting the libel, it would have been his duty - a duty from which, though painful, he must not shrink, to pass sentence of death on them! He considered it as an act of clemency to themselves, to send them out of this country. He could no conceive that, if allowed to remain in this country, they could ever redeem their characters. In the country to which they were about to be sent, they would find a very strict police established. If they were convicted of such crimes, the punishment would be inflicted as summarily as the sentence her is pronounced. - He conjured them to think seriously of their past conduct, and concluded by adjudging them to be transported beyond the seas for fourteen years.
Perth, April 24 1817 The Circuit Court of Justiciary was opened here on Thurdsay the 16th inst. by the Right Hon. Lord Pitmilly and Reston… James Stewart, alias Gellatly, John McLean, George Russ, and John Stewart, for assaulting John McIntosh, sheep-drover, Badenoch, and robbing him of 8 pounds 12 shillings; also for assaulting David Spence, and robbing him of one pound, all pleaded not guilty. The libel being found relevant, the pannels were again interrogated, when all pleaded guilty as to the assault and robbery of McIntosh, but not guilty as to Spence. His Majesty’s Advocate passed from the libel in so far as regarded Spence. The libel being restricted, the pannels were found guilty in terms of their judicial confession. Mr Tyler spoke in mitigation of punishment, and produced certificates of previous good character, from their former masters &c. Lord Pitmilly observed, that it was impossible to look without horror at four young men in such a situation. During his experience, his mind never was so much shocked, considering the extreme youth of the prisoners. It had been stated that this was their first offence - that it was the first of which they had been convicted before a Court of Justice, was true, but that it was the first which they committed, and which their consciences only recorded, considering the circumstances of this case, was very unlikely. - It was not probable that a first offence should bespeak such daring wickedness. Lord Reston, in addressing the pannels, observed, that had it not been for the humanity of the Public Prosecutor in restricting the libel, it would have been his duty - a duty from which, though painful, he must not shrink, to pass sentence of death on them! He considered it as an act of clemency to themselves, to send them out of this country. He could no conceive that, if allowed to remain in this country, they could ever redeem their characters. In the country to which they were about to be sent, they would find a very strict police established. If they were convicted of such crimes, the punishment would be inflicted as summarily as the sentence her is pronounced. - He conjured them to think seriously of their past conduct, and concluded by adjudging them to be transported beyond the seas for fourteen years.
Tasmanian Records. List of 28 male convicts embarked on board the ship Duke of Wellington for the Derwent in Van Diemen’s Land. 30th January 1818. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-1p109 The men sent to VDL on this ship all had skilled trades. George Ross, per Ocean 3rd. Tried at Perth Ct. Just. 18 Apr 1817. 14 years, Shoemaker. Number 1831/135 added to record later.