Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Thomas Griffiths was transported on the Woodman, departing 1st Dec 1825 and arriving 29th Apr 1826 with 150 passengers.
1823 Journey. SHIP News.— The ship Woodman, Captain Ford, arrived from Ireland, via Rio de Janiero, on Wednesday evening the 25th ult. She brings 94 female convicts, in good health; together with 8 children. Including children, there are 38 free passengers, by this opportunity, mostly destined for Van Diemen's Land. Sydney Gazette, 3 July 1823.
Woodman (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/5, Page Number 320 |
| 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
1840, 14 April: Thomas Griffiths received a Conditional Pardon. 1840, 27 May: Thomas Griffiths received his Free Pardon No.563 (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-15$init=CON31-1-15p112).
1840: He was serving as a Constable when charged with neglect of duty – it was recommended that “his promised indulgence of a Conditional Pardon be suspended for 6 months”. 1840, 26 January: Constable Thomas Griffiths assisted in the arrest of George Pettit for the murder of John Paul, at St Peter’s Pass north of the village of Oatlands. A Conditional Pardon was ordered for him for his “praiseworthy conduct in apprehending George Pettit… with the promise of a Free Pardon on the Queen’s Birthday” (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-15$init=CON31-1-15p112). Below is a report of the Paul shooting and Pettit’s arrest, from the Hobart Town Courier, 31 January, p2: “Cold-Blooded Murder… On Monday morning last an assigned convict servant in the service of Mr. D. O'Connor, at St. Peter’s Pass, having conceived offence against his overseer (Mr. John Paul) for some rebuke which he had passed upon him, suddenly entered the room where Mr. Paul was sitting, and producing a fowling piece, desired his overseer to go down upon his knees and say his prayers. Mr. Paul endeavoured to shut the door between them, but had not time before the inhuman ruffian fired at him and lodged a charge of shot in the breast and right hand, which Mr. Paul held up in his defence. After committing this atrocious act, the prisoner absconded, taking the gun with him. Immediate information having been conveyed to the Police Magistrate at Oatlands, parties of the constabulary were pushed out in various directions, and the same evening the prisoner was safely lodged in the gaol at Oatlands. Mr. Paul, of whose recovery some hopes were at first entertained, died of his wounds on Monday night. He was a remarkably quiet and inoffensive man, and arrived in the colony by the Derwent, Captain Riddle, in January 1837. George Pettit, the name of the miserable murderer, is a good-looking young man, of about twenty. He exhibited very little contrition when taken by the constables, owning to them, that after firing the first shot, as Paul did not immediately drop, he went behind the haystack, re-loaded his piece, and returned to have a second shot, but finding poor Paul was by that time lying on the ground weltering in his blood, he changed his purpose. Pettit came to this colony about twelve months ago, under a sentence of fourteen years, and was assigned to Mr. D. O’Connor, who sent him first down to his farm at Brown’s River; here he had not remained long before he appeared at the Police-office, to urge some absurd and frivolous charge against his master, upon which occasion he was very properly reprimanded by the Assistant Police Magistrate, and he was then removed from Brown's River up to Mr. O’Connor's farm at St. Peter’s Pass. He is understood to have had very respectable connexions at home, from whom his love of low company and dissolute habits at first estranged and finally separated him. An inquest upon the body of Mr. John Paul was held on Tuesday, and the jury returned a verdict of ‘wilful murder’. Since writing the above, we learn from good authority, that there is every probability that the trial of the prisoner Pettit will come on in the Supreme Court on Monday next. We regret to add that the prisoner, ever since he committed the fatal act, has exhibited evidences of the most insensible mind; his nerves appear unshaken, and his countenance has been unmoved throughout the whole proceeding of the inquest, and this with a clear impression of the hopelessness of his case. The deceased, Mr. John Paul, was buried yesterday, in the private cemetery of Mr. Daniel O’Connor. The residents in the neighbourhood intended to testify their respect for the memory of the deceased, by attending his burial, but abstained, in deference to the wishes of his widow, who desired the interment to be strictly private.” Footnote: George Pettit of Norfolk (per Augusta Jessie 2, 1838) was convicted for the murder of John Paul and sentenced to death by hanging (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-36$init=CON31-1-36p63). Aged 19, Pettit was executed on 17 February and buried in Hobart on 24 February 1840 (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD34-1-2p019j2k).
1830, 4 January: He absconded from the colony on the ship Lady of the Lake before being recaptured at Avon River. [Avon River, in Western Australia, is a tributary of the Swan River. The Lady of the Lake sailed from Hobart for Swan River on 4 January with a “valuable cargo”, according to the Launceston Advertiser, same date, p2.] 1830, 11 April: Thomas Griffiths was one of four prisoners returned to VDL on the barque Wanstead (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/MB2-39-1-1, image 42). 1830, 30 April: He was sentenced to serve three years in a penal settlement and in the meantime to be worked in a chain gang. 1830: Muster – Thomas Griffiths per Woodman was listed as being in hospital (see NSW and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849). 1832: Muster – Thomas Griffiths per Woodman was assigned to Mr Thomas (see NSW and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849). 1833, 29 May: He was suspected of stealing “large quantities of wearing apparel” belonging to Charles Dunning and J Pendall. The charge was dismissed.
1827, 30 July: Thomas Griffiths was pardoned on this date, according to his VDL Conduct Record (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-15$init=CON31-1-15p112). 1827, 13 August: The convicted men were sentenced 13 days after their trial, as reported by the Colonial Times, 17 August, p3: “The following prisoners were then placed at the Bar, and sentenced as follows: DEATH. - George Braithwaite, William Birmingham, James Horsefield, Matthew McCullum, Thomas Davis, Thomas Griffiths, George Metcalfe, John Lee, James Coates, John Brown, (mariner) John Brown (bricklayer), and John Robinson. The whole of these men, it will be recollected, were the runaways who, after attempting to seize the Emma Kemp, and failing, took to the bush, and committed several robberies while armed, in which state they were apprehended by the Military. In passing sentence, His Honor held out not the slightest hope of mercy; but strenuously recommended them, one and all, to prepare for another world.” [Contrary to this report, some of the men were pardoned, including Thomas Griffiths.]
1827, 30 July: Thomas Griffiths was tried at the Supreme Court, Hobart Town, on a charge of stealing in the dwelling house of Daniel Stanfield property belonging to Stanfield including two coats, one waistcoat, six pairs of trousers, eleven shirts, three hats, two pairs of boots, ten pairs of stockings, one gun and nine bags. This trial was reported by the Colonial Times, on 3 August 1827, p3: “Supreme Court. On Monday this Court re-opened, agreeably to the notice issued by the Chief Justice. The whole of the day was occupied in the trial of the late bushrangers, who attempted to take the Emma Kemp; namely, George Braithwaite, William Birmingham, James Horsefield, Matthew McCullum, Thomas Davis, Thomas Griffiths, George Metcalfe, John Lee, James Coates, John Brown (mariner), John Brown (bricklayer), and John Robinson. They were tried for the robbery at Mr. Stanfield's, and all found —Guilty.” Note: The charge listed on court documents is stealing in a dwelling house (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/SC32-1-1$init=SC32-1-1p259jpg).
1827, 11 July: Thomas Griffiths was one of seven bushrangers captured by soldiers following a spate of robberies in the previous weeks, as per this report from the Colonial Times, p2: “From this [information received], Serjeant Little judged that they must be on a particular neck of land on the coast, and accordingly the next morning, Wednesday, placed his men in ambuscade, so as to intercept them, should they attempt to leave it — first posting a sentinel on a hill to give notice of their approach. About 12 o'clock, the guard descried a party of bushrangers, seven in number, at a distance of about 300 yards; of which he instantly apprised the Serjeant, who finding that he had not been mistaken in his idea of the position of the gang, drew his men from their retreat, and divided them - directing one portion to flank the bushrangers, while he at the head of the others advanced. They shortly came in sight of the banditti who, immediately they discovered them to be soldiers, fired, but without effect. Notwithstanding this warm reception, the Military, courageous in a good cause, continued to advance with the greatest intrepidity, without returning the compliment, until within 30 yards, when they fired upon the outlaws, and some further shots were exchanged. At this moment, Serjeant Little gave the word to charge. This had its desired effect, for it is a fact well known that no men will stand at the point of an English bayonet. The gang retreated, with an intent as it was supposed to rally, and repel the charge; but here they were most miserably disappointed; for they were attacked in the rear by the other sub-division, who, hearing the firing, had made rapidly to the spot. Finding themselves thus hemmed in between two parties of Military, and seeing that an attempt to escape must only be paid for by life, they threw down their arms, surrendered, and were made prisoners; and were yesterday morning brought to Hobart Town by Serjeant Little and his party. Their names are — William Birmingham, James Horsefield, Matthew McCallam, Thomas Davis, George Metcalf, Thomas Griffiths and John Lee. Griffiths received a ball in his breast, which was extracted yesterday morning, at the Gaol, and he is likely to recover. Lee, who is a bricklayer, is severely wounded in his hand, from the bursting of his piece.”
1825, 28 April: Thomas Griffiths, 24, convicted at Worcester for burglary, was received aboard the Ganymede hulk at Chatham. He was sent from there for transportation on 24 November 1825 (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849). 1826: On arrival in VDL, he was 24, single and a weaver. He was listed as a labourer and weaver on a "Register of Appropriation of Convicts" where he was described as 5’5” tall with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He had a small scar at the centre of his forehead, and was stout made. His native place was County Kerry (see Tasmania, Australia, Convict Court and Selected Records, 1800-1899).
1825, 5 March: Thomas Griffiths was convicted at the Lent Assizes, Worcester, for burglary. He was sentenced to death, commuted to transportation for life (see England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892). 1825: Thomas Griffiths’ mother, Ann, petitioned for leniency, as per this summary record from the National Archives: “HO 17/25/148… Prisoner name(s): Thomas Griffiths. Court and date of trial: Worcester Assizes, Lent 1825. Crime: Housebreaking. Initial sentence: Transportation for life. Gaoler's report: Not known. Orderly in gaol and the hulks. Annotated (Outcome): Nil. Petitioner(s): Ann Griffiths of Ireland, the prisoner's mother. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): This is the prisoner's first offence. Additional Information: Prisoner from County Kerry, Ireland. Held on board Dolphin convict hulk at Chatham.” (see https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14602632).