George Spencer

Level 347

Maureen Withey on 29th July 2022

THE ECLIPSE; On Wednesday the 11th instant, at about the hour of ten o'clock in the forenoon, the cutter Eclipse, belonging to Messrs. John Atkinson and James Reibey, was piratically taken from alongside the Government Wharf, at the port of Newcastle, Hunter's River, by thirteen prisoners of the crown, three of whom are said to be seamen. They were facilitated in their escape by the sails being loosened to dry, and the master only being on deck at the time, so that they had only to put him below and slip the cable. There was a sentinel on duty at the wharf, when she began to move ; she was almost out of musket shot before suspicion was excite, and any alarm given; she was nearly round Nobby 's Island before a boat, properly manned and armed, could be got ready. The master and the crew were put into a boat, which was alongside belonging to the government, but this was not done until the vessel was well out at sea. At twelve o'clock she was just visible faraway, in the offing, steering North East. The provisions on board at the time consisted of two bags of bread, a cask of salt pork, a harness cask of beef, and a quarter of fresh beef, with about 80 gallons of water. Two puncheons of rum were landed from the cutter a short time previous to her seizure by the pirates. (Further particulars.) In less than two minutes the men had entire possession of the cutter. When she swung it was thought she had parted from her moorings ; but, on seeing the sails begin to be hoisted, it was immediately suspected what they were at, and alarm was given; but before Captain A. or Lieutenant Owen could reach the wharf she was running down the harbour with a fine fair westerly wind and ebb tide. Every effort was made to get a boat away in pursuit; but the boats crews being all convicts, did not hurry them selves to overtake her. However, they started with six or eight soldiers, under Mr. Owen's orders, but their expedition was fruitless, and they soon returned. The pirates put the master and his crew into a boat, and sent them on shore; and by three or four o'clock the cutter was out ot sight. The last time she was seen she was standing to the N. E., wind at west, and appeared to be hauling up north, under a press of canvas ; but being very crank, on account of the small quantity of coal on board, they were obliged to run her away large. We have no doubt, from all that can be learnt, that they intend for Timor. A person who was steward with Captain King (Jas. Johnston) in his voyage round this Island, is the navigator, and Wm. Tunnecliffe, who headed the party that ran away with Captain Allman's gig last January, is the Captain. There were no spirits on board, and consequently there is less chance of falling in with the pirates, as they will be kept sober. They were, employed in lading the vessel with coals ; for which service the owners were to pay so much per ton. Three of them had been ordered to be kept in gaol previous to their being transported to Port Macquarie but notwithstanding their being under sentence they were allowed to work in irons — their overseer had run away from Port Macquarie. The Australian, 26 May 1825. Accompanying the following list was a letter from the Colonial Secretary, dated 14 Nov 1825, to A. Hely, the Principal Supt. of Convicts. Sir, I beg to call your attention to the enclosed list of runaways, whose names have not, I believe, been published in the Gazette, and I solicit a statement of the reasons of these omissions to enable me to adopt measures to prevent their recurrence. Signed, F. Goulburn. List of Runaways specifying their names, ships, assignments and dates of desertion. All were assigned to Govt, Hunters River, and deserted on 11 May 1825. William Tunnecliffe, per Elizabeth, James Obery, Per Coromandel Charles Day, Per Lady Castlereagh John Patterson, per Guildford. James Johnston, per Larkins Lewis Collins, per Neptune Thomas Greenway, per Dick Danl. Delahantry, per Earl St Vincent Charles North, per Recovery Joseph Collins, per Medway William Wheatley, per Batavia George Cain, per Elizabeth George Spencer, per Shipley. ---------------------------------------------------- Nothing further was ever found of the Eclipse and the 13 men who sailed off in her.

Level 347

Maureen Withey on 29th July 2022

Colonial Secretary Index. SPENCER, George. Per "Shipley", 1818. 1818 Nov 24 On list of convicts disembarked from the "Shipley" and forwarded to Liverpool for distribution (Reel 6006; 4/3499 p.168) 1820 Nov 22-Dec 14 Sentenced to death; commuted to transportation to Newcastle for life. In reports of prisoners tried at Court of Criminal Jurisdiction (Reel 6023; X820 p.29) 1821 Jan 26 On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Prince Leopold" (Reel 6007; 4/3503 p.70) 1823 Sep 25 On list of convicts removed from Newcastle to Port Macquarie per "Elizabeth Henrietta" (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.428-9) 1825 Nov 14,19 On lists of runaways; escaped from Newcastle in the cutter "Eclipse" on 11 May (Reel 6015, 4/3515 p.615; Reel 6063, 4/1784 p.307a) -------------------------------------------------- Criminal Court. Tuesday, Dec. 5. John Sullivan, Michael Tracey, George Spencer, Thomas Givney, and Mary Givney, were indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of John Wait. The four male prisoners were adjudged guilty, and remanded for sentence. Mary Givney was acquitted. Sydney Gazette, 9 Dec 1820. -------------------------------------------------- The following prisoners that had been tried and convicted during the sessions, and who were remanded for sentence, were placed at the bar to receive sentence; which was as follows : John Sullivan, Michael Tracey, and George Spencer, for burglary ; —SEVERALLY RECEIVED SENTENCE OF DEATH ! ... Thomas Givney—life to such part of the Territory as HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR may think proper to direct. Sydney Gazette, 16 Dec 1820. ------------------------------------------------------ Executions. This morning the following unfortunate men also suffered :- ... John Sullivan, and Michael Tracey. Sydney Gazette, 23 Dec 1820. -------------------------------------------------- His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR in CHIEF has been humanely pleased to extend the Royal Clemency to the following prisoners, condemned to suffer death at the late Criminal Court, by commuting their respective sentences to transportation for life; viz. ... and George Spencer. Sydney Gazette, 20 Jan 1821.