Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
John Graston was transported on the Shipley, departing 20th Dec 1816 and arriving 24th Apr 1817 with 125 passengers.
Shipley (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 318 |
| 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
National Archives. HO-9-4_2 page 19/49. Hulk Records. Woolwich Hulks, Prudentia, Retribution or Justitia. Received 2 Nov 1816. Jno. Graston, age 26, Being at large before Expiration. Tried Exeter Castle Ass, 5 Aug 1816, Sentence, NSW, Life, Transported 20 Nov 1816.
Moreton Bay Convict Records. John Graston, per Shipley 1, Tried Devon Ass, 5 Aug 1816, Life, Seaman. Colonial conviction: Crim Court , Sydney, 3 Oct 1826, Street Robbery, Seven years, Returned to Sydney, 18 Apr 1833. Description: John Grayston, Native place, Putney, age 30, 5ft 2 in. Sallow comp, red hair, brown eyes. ------------------------------------------------------------- John Graystone, a prisoner of the crown, was brought up charged with having taken a fancy to a crimson shawl, and as the readiest way of gratifying his longing, snatching it from the shoulders of the owner and departing sans cérémonie. The prisoner was subsequently discovered in a stable belonging to Mr. Glover, publican, on the Rocks, where he had deposited his booty under some straw. He was habited, when apprehended, in a suit which so ill corresponded with his way of life, as to make the constables shrewdly to suspect they were borrowed plumes, and he was accordingly " uncased" that each may claim his own ---- Remanded. Sydney Gazette, 20 Sept 1826. A prisoner, under confinement in the gaol, of the name of Grayston, was detected in an attempt to escape from the gaol on Sunday morning ; he had contrived to alter his irons for the purpose of an escape with so much dexterity, that it was not discovered until within a few minutes before his intended exploit. The Australian, 16 Dec 1826.
Supreme Criminal Court. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2. John Graystone was indicted, under the statute, for receiving a quantity of goods, the properly of Dr. William Evans, at Paterson's Plains, on the 21st of August, last, knowing them to have been stolen. Dr. Evans deposed, that his house was robbed on the 20th, of August last, of a quantity of wearing apparel, a double barrelled gun, and some provisions; a part of the property was found in the hut where Cassidy and Greystone lived. Cassidy and others have been convicted of the robbery. William Radford, a constable, deposed, that he searched the hut of Cassidy, where the prisoner was then living ; he had only come to live there 3 days before witness made the search ; is positive he did not live there on the night the robbery was committed at Dr. Evans's he was then in barracks ; witness found 3 shirts, a counterpane, and some pieces of linen in a bag concealed under some bushes, about 50 yards from Cassidy's hut. When witness was bringing it up to the hut, he heard the prisoner say to Cassidy, " by G~d he has found the bag." There were no other persons in the hut at the time but Cassidy and the prisoner. Emanuel Williams, a government man to Mrs Moore, at Hunter's River, deposed, that he was in Cassidy's hut on one night at the latter end of August, when Cassidy brought in a quantity of property in a bag, consisting of wearing apparel, tea, sugar, and pork ; Greystone was not there at that time, he did not come for 2 or 3 days after ; witness heard there were some shoes taken from Dr. Evans, among other articles ; and seeing shoes with Cassidy and the prisoner some days after, he suspected they were the same, and cautioned them not to wear them ; the prisoner could not have known of the property being at Cassidy's for some days after it was brought there. His HONOR of opinion, that there was not evidence to bring home the crime of receiving stolen goods to the prisoner ; the only circumstance against him was a knowledge of their being in the house, from his observation to Cassidy, and though the concealment of acts of such a nature was of itself criminal, yet it was not precisely the crime laid in the information. The Jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty, and the prisoner was discharged by proclamation. Sydney Gazette, 5 Dec 1825.
Colonial Secretary Index. GRASTON, John (Per "Shipley", 1817) see GREYSTONE, John GREYSTONE, John. Per "Shipley", 1817 1817 May 2 On list of convicts disembarked from the "Shipley" and forwarded to Windsor for distribution; listed as Graystone (Reel 6005; 4/3496 p.129) 1821 Nov 7 On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Sally"; listed as Grastone (Reel 6008; 4/3504A p.30) 1824 Jan; 1825 Jun On monthly returns of prisoners punished at Newcastle (Reel 6023; 4/1718 pp.175, 207) 1824 Feb 27 On monthly return of convicts assigned in the Counties of Northumberland and Durham; to John Brown (Reel 6028; 2/8283 p.77) 1825 Dec 2 On return of prisoners tried before the Supreme Court of New South Wales; listed as Graystone (Fiche 3298; X727 p.15) ------------------------------------------------------------- Principal Superintendent of Convicts' Office, Sydney, February 23, 1826. THE undermentioned Prisoners having absented themselves from their respective Employments, and some of them at large with false Certificates, all Constables and others are hereby required to use their utmost Exertions in lodging them in safe Custody : 3. Graystone John, Shipley (1), Wimbledon, 5 feet 1and a half, hazle eyes, brown hair, fair pale complexion, from Hyde Park Barrack. Sydney Gazette, 25 Feb 1826.
Assize Intelligence Devon Assizes.— These Assizes did not close until near eleven o'clock on Saturday night, when Mr. Justice Holroyd passed sentence on the following Prisoners: — … John Graston, for escaping from transportation, ... were Sentenced for Death, but have all been reprieved. Royal Cornwall Gazette, 17 Aug 1816.
John GRASTON, native of Wimbledon, was tried on 5 August 1816 at the Plymouth Assizes; and died on 14 June 1868 (see New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891; Convicts Deaths; Annual Returns of Convicts Who Died, 1867-1891).