Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
John Griffiths was transported on the Fanny, departing 25th Aug 1815 and arriving 18th Jan 1816 with 175 passengers.
Fanny (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 227 (115) |
| 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
BACK IN SYDNEY: 1844: John Griffiths per Fanny 1815 was admitted to Darlinghurst jail; born 1794, 5'5" tall, of stout build, and a fresh complexion with dark brown hair and hazel eyes (New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Description Book, Darlinghurst, 1841-1849).
IN JAIL: 6 July 1838: John Griffiths was admitted to Sydney jail by police awaiting trial. He was described as prisoner #1144, a baker, Catholic, per Fanny 1815, free (New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance Book, Sydney 1837-1841). --0-- THE TRIAL: 17 July 1838: From The Australian, p3 "Mr John Griffiths, that prince of pickpockets, was for the nine hundred and ninety-ninth time placed at the bar of the Court of Quarter sessions, yesterday, this being his second appearance at that bar this sittings of the Court. He was put back in consequence of the witnesses not being in attendance, and it is ten to one, so great is his influence among this class to which he belongs, but that he will verify what he so modestly told Colonel Wilson on the Bench — 'It's no use committing me. I shall be acquitted as sure as you sit there.'" --0-- THE VERDICT: 18 July 1838: From the Commercial Journal and Advertiser, p3 Quarter Sessions, Sydney "TUESDAY, 17th.—John Griffiths, alias 'Hopping Frog', (free) was found guilty of stealing from the person, and sentenced to seven years transportation." --0-- 16 October 1838: John Griffiths was sent from jail in Sydney to Norfolk Island (New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Entrance Book, Sydney, 1837-1841). --0--
AT NEWCASTLE: 9 February 1821: John Griffiths per Fanny 1816 is on a list of prisoners transported from the Derwent to Newcastle per Elizabeth Henrietta. So, too, is James Flinn/Flynn (New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856). The Commandant at Newcastle, Major Morisset, wrote to the Colonial Secretary shortly after to request details of the men's Colonial sentences. He was answered on 16 April that each was sentenced to seven years -- Griffiths at the Old Bailey on 15 February, 1815, and Flynn in County Mayo in Summer 1816 (New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856; Copies of Letters Sent Within The Colony, 1814-1827). --0--
IN VDL: Between 20 June 1816 and 4 December 1820, his VDL Conduct Record canvasses a variety of offences committed and alleged offences for which he was acquitted, including: Burglary - acquitted Break and enter dwelling house - 50 lashes, 6 months on Gaol Gang Stealing from the person - 50 lashes and 6 months Gaol Gang "Embezzling" a spade from the Crown - acquitted Burning the skirting boards in the Gaol - acquitted Stealing vegetables - 50 lashes and 6 months Gaol Gang Using threatening language to the Gaoler - 25 lashes Stealing from the person in the Gaol - 25 lashes Absent from lodgings - several instances, 25 lashes for some of these (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-13$init=CON31-1-13p146). --0-- 9 December 1820: Hobart Court of Criminal Jurisdiction -- James FLINN [per Chapman] and John GRIFFITHS alias FROG were charged with feloniously stealing on 4 December a pocket book containing 15 shillings from Andrew Henry, and with attempting to steal a watch from William Hall. They were convicted and sentenced to 50 lashes each, and to be transported for the remainder of their original terms of transportation to Newcastle (Hobart Town Gazette, p2). --0--
15/2/1815: TRIAL at the OLD BAILEY "369. JOHN GRIFFITHS was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 13th of February, a cask, value 5 s. and six gallons of rum, value 3 l. the property of Joseph Venus, and William Venus. WILLIAM GARDNER. I am a wine porter to Messrs. Joseph and William Venus, every thing I take out, I am answerable to them for it. Q. Whose cask is this - A. Messrs. Venus's, the cask was to be returned to them after the goods were turned out. On the 13th of February, I had to call at the Crown and Anchor ; I had a cask of rum in the cart in the street, at the time I was in there the cask was stolen off the cart, when I went out to claim the property the prisoner knocked me down; this was about two in the afternoon. Q. Did you ever see the cask again - A. Yes, the cask leaked with the man throwing it down; we were obliged to get another cask to put the liquor in. when I came out, my cart was there, and the prisoner was there. I saw the cask about two yards off the cart, the prisoner was taken into custody, I saw him next at the office. JAMES GOOD . I was just gone into the public house; I was looking out of the window, I saw the prisoner with the cask upon his knees, he had his foot upon the wheel, then the prisoner was close to the wheel of the cart, I looked round in the tap room and said, there is a man wants help, I went out, and directly the carman claimed the cask as his property the prisoner instantly knocked him down, and before he could get up, he knocked him down again, and with an oath, he said he would knock his brains out, I pulled the prisoner off, the prisoner went from one to another, after that I took him before the magistrate. I am sure the prisoner is the man. Prisoner's Defence. I will tell you the truth, I was coming down Long acre, and when I came within a yard or two of the cart one of Mr. Delafield's drays ran against the wheel of the cart that made the barrel fall off, the man struck me, and I struck him. GUILTY aged 20. Transported for Seven Years . First Middlesex jury; before Mr. Justice Heath." (https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/)
https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-1$init=CON13-1-1p49 List of names of 61 convicts arrived per ship Fanny, and embarked on His Majesty’s Colonial Brig Emu to the Derwent (VDL) January 25th 1816. John Griffiths, tried Middx G.D. 15 Feb 1815, 7 years, lab.