Henry Greene

218

Dianne Jones on 25th January 2021

1849: Henry GREENE, convict no.16634, per Lady Franklin from Norfolk Island, previously tried at Antrim (14 years), Sydney (15 years) and Van Diemen’s Land (Life), who arrived in Tasmania in 1845 and is currently on Norfolk Island is listed on the Convict Muster for Tasmania (see New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849; Tasmania Ledger Returns 1849). 1855, August/September: Henry GREEN per Neptune is listed on the Hobart Prisoners’ Barracks Register, having been sentenced on 25 July 1855 to three months’ or 92 days’ incarceration and labour (see Tasmania, Australia, Convict Court and Selected Records, 1800-1899; Register; Hobart Prisoners Barracks Register, 1855).

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Dianne Jones on 25th January 2021

1839, 10 July: Henry GREEN was sent to Norfolk Island (see above jail record for 15 March 1839). 1841-45: Henry GREEN per Neptune, convicted at Antrim 30 June 1837 (14 years), and at Sydney Supreme Court 18 May 1839 (15 years), is on a list of Convict Court Records for Tasmania (see Tasmania, Australia, Convict Court and Selected Records, 1800-1899; Register, Comprehensive register of convicts (CORE SERIES) A - L, 1841-1845). 1846, 6 April: “SUPREME COURT… Henry Green, was indicted for having robbed Mrs. Peter Lette of a number of articles, he being armed with a gun, on the 27th January. This was also a capital felony. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and after being cautioned by his Honor not to expect that his pleading guilty would mitigate the sentence, replied that he was aware of that, but the case was too clear against him.” (see Launceston Examiner, Wed 8 Apr 1846, p 6) 1846, 9 April: The Supreme Court handed down a sentence of death for the robbery of Mrs Lette (see Launceston Examiner, p 3). However, a more detailed report in the same paper on 11 April, p6, says the death sentence was commuted to life, as follows: “SENTENCING. The court opened at nine o’clock on Thursday morning, for the purpose of passing sentence. Henry Smart, Henry Food, George Potter, George Smith, William Brown, and HENRY GREEN [my emphasis] were first placed at the bar, all convicted of capital offences… “Henry Green, who pleaded guilty, said that he never ill-used any one, never uttered a threat, never used, and never intended violence. His Honor then proceeded to pass sentence. The prisoners had all been convicted of one species of offence, robbery under arms; and they must all have been well aware at the time that the offences they were committing were punishable by death: but, his Honor remarked, he knew that the lives of many had been spared under the circumstances in which some of the prisoners were placed, and he should not therefore pass sentence of death upon all of them. In the cases of Green and Potter he should abstain from passing sentence of death. (Here Potter again protested his innocence.) “His Honor continued:- The jury were evidently not satisfied with the evidence produced by Potter, or they would not have convicted him. If it was in the power of the prisoner to produce further witnesses, his Honor recommended him to appeal to the Executive Council. But his Honor said he must act upon the decision of the jury, who pronounced a verdict of guilty. He would not, however, under the circumstances, pass sentence of death, but ordered it to be recorded. The same sentence was recorded against the prisoner Green.”

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Dianne Jones on 25th January 2021

1839, 18 May: From the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Tue 21 May 1839, p3: “Supreme Court—Criminal Side. Saturday May 18… The Court opened this day at ten o’clock for the purpose of passing sentence upon the various prisoners who had been convicted during the term and remanded for sentence… HENRY GREEN [my emphasis], found guilty of stealing in dwelling-house and putting in fear: fifteen years to a penal settlement.” 1839, 22 May: A report in the Commercial Journal and Advertiser, p2, of the same Supreme Court proceedings sheds more light on Henry Green’s punishment: “Henry Green, found guilty of stealing in a dwelling house, and putting in bodily fear, was sentenced to fifteen years transportation to a penal settlement. The Chief Justice stated to the prisoner, prior to passing sentence upon him, that although his career had been bad enough, and in the company of Hall, yet his life would be spared him, hoping that yet, as he had not used violence, he would become a good and useful member of society.” HOW DID HENRY GREEN MEET BEN HALL? Perhaps they met in Goulburn Jail where, as the above entries show, Henry Green spent at least two periods of incarceration. Henry was certainly at Goulburn in December 1838: “HALL THE BUSHRANGER.—On Monday evening, at seven o'clock, Edward Hall, the bushranger, whose depredations in the neighbourhood of Argyle and Bathurst have made him so notorious, and who effected his escape from Goulburn Gaol recently, was brought into Sydney. Hall was recaptured by a party of the Mounted Police stationed at Bong Bong, and was brought into Sydney by Lieut. Waddy, attended by a Mounted Policeman. He was heavily ironed, and handcuffed to the saddle of the horse which he rode, and marched between his guard. There are seven warrants of committal for felonies lodged against him in the gaol.” (see Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Thu 20 Dec 1838, p2).

218

Dianne Jones on 25th January 2021

1839, 14 March: Henry GREEN per Neptune, place of origin Newry, labourer, was admitted to Parramatta Jail awaiting trial after committal by G Stewart Esq on a felony charge. He was discharged and sent to Sydney Gaol (see New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance Book, Parramatta, 1838-1840). 1839, 15 March: Admitted to Sydney Gaol from Goulburn [via Parramatta], awaiting trial. He was discharged on 10 July 1839 to be sent to Norfolk Island (see New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance Book, Sydney, 1837-1841). 1839, 2 May: From the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, p2: “Supreme Court—Criminal Side.Supreme Court-Criminal Side. WEDNESDAY, MAY 1: Before the Chief Justice, and a Military Jury). “Henry Green was indicted for stealing several articles of wearing apparel from the house of James Hill, of Bosworth, on the 8th of December last, the property of James Crichton, and putting him in bodily four. From the evidence of the prosecutor it appeared that early on the morning of the day mentioned in the indictment, the prisoner, in company with Hall, the notorious bushranger, came armed to the house, and asked for the prosecutor, who is overseer at the station of Dr. Hill, near Wingello, Hall was armed with a fowling piece, and Green with an adze. Hall told the prosecutor to stand, or he would put a ball through him. “Green and Hall then each took a suit of clothes. Hall told the other not to break open any place, as it would get the young man into trouble, observing that he had heard n good account of him. Three other men belonging to the station were in the kitchen; they were ordered to come outside, where they, along with Crichton, were guarded by the prisoner, armed with an adze, while Hall went into the house to help himself. While in this position these three men made no attempt to defend themselves, although Green appears but a youth.” Guilty – Remanded for sentence.”

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Dianne Jones on 25th January 2021

1838: Henry GREENE, born 1821, age 17, per Neptune was admitted to Sydney Gaol (see New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Description Book, Sydney 1835-1838). 1838, 20 October: 1838: Henry GREEN, per Neptune, place of origin Newry, labourer, was admitted to Parramatta Gaol from Limestone Plains. He was sent on 25 October to Liverpool (see New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930, Entrance Book, Parramatta, 1838-1840). 1838, 27 December: Henry GREEN per Neptune, place of origin Newry, labourer, was admitted to Parramatta Jail at North Parramatta from Goulburn. On 3 January, he was sent to Liverpool (see New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance Book, Parramatta 1838-1840).

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Dianne Jones on 25th January 2021

1837, 17 August: Henry GREEN was admitted to Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, having been sentenced to 14 years, on 30 June 1837 by P Fogarty Esq, for twice receiving stolen goods. He was prisoner #680, 16 years old, 5’2” with grey eyes, fair hair and a fair complexion. Also in Kilmainham was Henry's first cousin George McCormick, 15, who received a similar sentence for the same crime. Both George and Henry were discharged on 26 August to go aboard the Neptune (see Ireland, Prison Registers, 1790-1924; Dublin, Kilmainham 1836-1910).

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Wendy Smith on 5th July 2019

Surname is spelt Greene in some records and Green in others. Name spelt Greene in Warrants and Convict Indentures.

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Wendy Smith on 5th July 2019

Described in the Annotated Indentures as being 16 years old; Education - reads and writes; religion Protestant; Native place Belfast; occupation stable boy; was convicted of receiving stolen food (Warrants of Lord Lieutenant) and changed to shop lifting in the indentures at Antrim on 30 June 1837. He had three prior convictions for which he served 8 months; 12 months and 18 months. Height 5 feet 2 inches; Complexion Sallow: Hair Brown and eyes Haze. Prisoner's number 38-180. In remarks indicated that he was a first cousin of Prisoner number 38-179. In Warrants indicated that he was 15 years old and height 4 feet 10 inches. He was assigned to James Wright at Lanyon. Lanyon is now located in southern Canberra, ACT.