Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
John Hampshire was transported on the Hougoumont, departing 10th Oct 1867 and arriving 9th Jan 1868 with 281 passengers.
875 ton ship was built at Moulmein in 1852. http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/on-this-day-in-history-australias-last-convict-ship-docks.htm ---------------------------- Incorrect Image ....This is a four masted steel hulled Barque in the drawing , im surprised Australian Geo didn't do a bit more research on this .......The Hougoumont was a works ship on the Forth Bridge Project in 1885 ....the one potrayed as a drawing in Aust Geo is the later version of this ship.....the photograph i have attached is the correct and original convict vessel. --00-- 1867 "The hired convict ship Hougoumont, which has been taken up by the Government for the conveyance of a numerous party of convicts to Freemantle, Western Australia, left the Nore on October 1, and proceeded down Channel, after receiving on board 150 convicts from the establishments at Chatham and Millbank. The convicts from the Chatham establishment, at St. Mary's, embarked from the dockyard on board the paddle-wheel steamer Adder, Mr. W. J. Blakely, and were in charge of a numerous party of convict guards and wardens, all heavily armed. Among the convicts shipped were a party of fifteen Fenians, who were engaged in the late conspiracy in Ireland, together with the officers and crew convicted of scuttling the ship Severn, and some others who have achieved notoriety from their crimes. The Fenian convicts, like the remainder of the prisoners, were chained together in gangs, but it was observed that they were kept apart from the other convicts in a portion of the vessel by themselves. The steamer Petrel also took down a number of convicts from the establishment at Millbank for shipment on board the Hougoumont, in charge of a strong escort and convict guard. On Tuesday, October 8th, the Hougoumont arrived in Portland roads. Shortly before midday ninety convicts were marched down to the Government pier at Portland under a strong escort of the 12th Light Infantry. The party included twenty-three Fenian convicts, among whom it was said, was Moriarty. The Government steamer employed in the breakwater service was used for conveying the convicts on board the Hougoumont transport ship. The convicts were chained together on embarking, and on board the steamer a strong guard of marines from her Majesty's ship St. George was formed, and saw the convicts safely placed on board the Hougoumont. The Governor of the penal settlement at Freemantle, Captain Young, is on board the Hougoumont, and returns in that ship to his sphere of duty after paying a visit to his native land." Source: Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 19 Dec 1867, p4, English Shipping, available on Trove at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271?searchTerm=hougoumont.
HougoumontReferences
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/19, Page Number 254 |
| 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
NOTE: The “Date of birth” field must include a day and month entry in order to function, but only the birth year of 1817 is known for John Hampshire. That is, disregard the day and month provided here.
From his FREMANTLE JAIL record: HAMPSHIRE, John; inmate #9756, arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1817 Date of Death: 27 Jun 1881 Place of Death: Fremantle, invalid depot, heart disease Marital Status: Married 2 children Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Wakefield Crime: House breaking Sentence Period: 14 years Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket Leave Date: 23 Jan 1874 Comments: General servant, labourer, clearer, gardener, sawyer. To Victoria per Cleopatra, 11 Nov 1876 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/history-heritage/research/convict-database/). --00--
IN WA: 1868: On arrival in WA, convict #9756 JOHN HAMPSHIRE was listed as 51, a labourer, married with two children, literate, Protestant and sentenced to 14 years for “housebreaking and previous convictions”. Previous convictions: At Wakefield for breaking, entering and stealing cloth (March, 1856) 4 years; at York for stealing watches and rings (July, 1862) 4 years; released on licence 30 September, 1865; but licence revoked 3 May, 1866. Next of kin – wife, Elizabeth, Westgate Common, Wakefield, Yorkshire; daughter Emma aged 23, and son James, aged 21. His behaviour in Pentonville jail was listed as “good”. He received his Ticket of Leave on 26 August, 1874. John Hampshire “died suddenly at the Invalid Depot Fremantle 27.6.81” from “heart disease” (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department Registers, General Register for Nos 9599-10128 (R16)). --00--
1867, 30 September: John Hampshire was sent from Pentonville to board the Hougoumont for WA: “The hired convict ship Hougoumont, which has been taken up, by the Government for the conveyance of a numerous party of convicts to Freemantle, Western Australia, left the Nore [anchorage] on October 1, and proceeded down Channel, after receiving on board 150 convicts from the establishments at Chatham and Millbank. The convicts from the Chatham establishment, at St. Mary's, embarked from the dockyard on board the paddle-wheel steamer Adder, Mr. W. J. Blakely, and were in charge of a numerous party of convict guards and wardens, all heavily armed. Among the convicts shipped were a party of fifteen Fenians, who were engaged in the late conspiracy in Ireland, together with the officers and crew convicted of scuttling the ship Severn [only two were on the Hougoumont – Thomas Berwick and Lionel Holdsworth, each sentenced to 20 years for fraud], and some others who have achieved notoriety from their crimes. The Fenian convicts, like the remainder of the prisoners, were chained together in gangs, but it was observed that they were kept apart from the other convicts in a portion of the vessel by themselves. The steamer Petrel also took down a number of convicts from the establishment at Millbank, for shipment on board the Hougoumont, in charge of a strong escort and convict guard. On Tuesday, October 8th, the Hougoumont arrived in Portland roads. Shortly before midday ninety convicts were marched down to the Government pier at Portland under a strong escort of the 12th Light Infantry. The party included twenty-three Fenian convicts, among whom it was said, was Moriarty. The Government steamer employed in the breakwater service was used for conveying the convicts on board the Hougoumont transport ship. The convicts were chained together on embarking, and on board the steamer a strong guard of marines from her Majesty's ship St. George was formed, and saw the convicts safely placed on board the Hougoumont. The Governor of the penal settlement at Freemantle, Captain Young, is on board the Hougoumont, and returns in that ship to his sphere of duty after paying a visit to his native land.” (Sydney Morning Herald, 19 Dec 1867, p4, at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271). --00--
1867, 7 May: John Hampshire was sent from Wakefield and admitted to Pentonville jail. Listed as inmate #4543, and semiliterate, with “good” behaviour at Wakefield, his record follows: NAME: John Hampshire MARITAL STATUS: Married CRIMINAL AGE: 48 CHARGE: Housebreaking, Felony SENTENCE: 14 Years CONVICTION DATE: 8 Apr 1867 CONVICTION PLACE: Wakefield Sessions ADMISSION DATE: 7 May 1867 OCCUPATION: Labourer (UK, Criminal Records, 1780-1871 for John Hampshire; Prison Registers and Statistical Returns; 1864-1871; HO 24/18). “After a sentence of transportation was handed down, the prisoner entered into a separate stage where he was placed into an individual cell, isolated from others, apart from brief periods of exercise and attendance at chapel. However, no communication of any kind with other prisoners was permitted at any time. The philosophy behind this penal methodology had its provenances in the religious, monastic traditions; i.e., that in the isolation of his cell the malefactor would be able to contemplate the errors of his way, unadulterated by the negative influences of former contemporaries, and be reformed.” (Edgar, 2018, pp39-40) When first put into practice, the mandated period of separate confinement was 18 months. By the late 1840s, authorities had conceded that such conditions of imprisonment were “injurious to many prisoners’ mental health” and the stint was reduced to 12 months. Periods of separate confinement were reduced further “as a prisoner displayed good behaviour tendencies” (Edgar, 2018, p40). Pentonville, Millbank, Wakefield and Mountjoy in Ireland were the “Probation” or “Separate” prisons, as were some local jails. --0—
JAILS: 1867, 11 March: John Hampshire was arrested and admitted to Wakefield Gaol, along with James Hampshire (21, labourer) and Robert Prudham (45, collier). His jail record follows: NAME: John Hampshire CRIMINAL ADMISSION AGE: 48 RECORD TYPE: Register BIRTH DATE: 1819 OCCUPATION: Laborer CRIMINAL CHARGE: Breaking and entering, stealing SENTENCE: 14 years CRIMINAL ADMISSION DATE: 11 Mar 1867 CRIMINAL ADMISSION PLACE: Yorkshire, England JAIL: Wakefield Gaol SOURCE DESCRIPTION: Wakefield Gaol, Yorkshire: Calendars of Trials At Sessions For the West Riding of York And --0--
From the Wakefield and West Riding Herald – Friday, 12 April, 1867, p3: “At the resumption of the Sessions on Tuesday… The following are the results of the trials:-- SENTENCES. …John Hampshire, James Hampshire and Robert Prudham, breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Charles Henry Binstead, and stealing therein three gold rings, two silver chains, a brooch, two pairs of sleeve links, a pencil case, a quantity of silver and copper coins, and £1 12s at Sandal, thirteen years [sic], nine months and twelve months respectively…” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002895/18670412/040/0003). --00--
NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF TRIAL: From the Wakefield Free Press – Saturday, 9 April, 1867, p8: “BURGLARY CASE. – CLEVER CAPTURE OF THE THIEVES. – At the Court House, yesterday, before J.C.D. Charlesworth, Esq., Percy Tew, Esq., and Dr. Kendell, John Hampshire, James Hampshire, and Robert Prudham were charged with having, between the night of Monday and morning of Tuesday last, feloniously entered the dwelling-house of Mr. Binstead, civil engineer, Sandal Common. An entrance to the house had been effected by a ladder placed against the wall, and then breaking the fastenings of a bedroom window. Several drawers had been ransacked, and a number of gold rings, brooches, and other valuables were abstracted. All the members of the family were absent at the time, and the burglary was discovered next morning on the servant girl reaching the house. Superintendent Hall was immediately informed of the affair, and steps were at once taken to recover the stolen property. The prisoners James Hampshire and Prudham were arrested in Queen-street on Wednesday, through the assistance of Mr. Myers Peterkowskie, general dealer, who with great difficulty managed to detain the prisoners until the arrival of the police. In consequence of information Mr. Hall received, he visited the ‘Shades’ Inn, in Silver-street, and there apprehended the other prisoner, who is well known as ‘Wiggy’ Hampshire, and who has but lately returned from serving a period of four years’ penal servitude, for a burglary committed at Stockport. He some time ago was released on a ticket-of-leave, but had subsequently been arrested for some malpractices, and had therefore to serve out the full time. It is said that the prisoner Prudham is a regular thief. Mr Hall applied for remand until Monday. The Bench granted the application and the prisoners were accordingly remanded.” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002893/18670309/084/0008) --
INDICTMENT: 1867, 8 April: John Hampshire, James Hampshire and Robert Prudham were indicted for breaking and entering the dwelling house of Charles Henry Binstead, on March 4, and stealing jewellery and other items. All pleaded guilty. John Hampshire was sentenced to 14 years’ penal servitude. James Hampshire and Robert Prudham received sentences of nine months’ and 12 months’ jail respectively, with hard labour (Yorkshire, England, Quarter Session Records, 1637-1914 for John Hampshire; Wakefield; Indictment, 1867; and England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for John Hampshire; England; Yorkshire - West Riding; 1867). --0--