Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
William Hawkins 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 247 (126). --0-- Edgar, W. (Bill), (2018). “The precarious voyage of her majesty’s convict ship ‘Nile’ to the Swan River colony, late 1857 – and the unexpected aftermath.” The Great Circle, 40(1), 20–43. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26783779 |
| 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
NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF HIS TRIAL: From the Morning Herald (London), 18 October 1966, p8: “MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, Oct. 17. (Before Mr. BODKIN, Assistant Judge). William Hawkins, 34, carpenter, was indicted for stealing a tool-basket, a saw, plane, and other carpenters’ tools, value 14s., the property of George Golding. This case was rendered rather remarkable in consequence of the prisoner, who was committed for trial by Mr. Arnold to these sessions on Saturday night last, making his escape from the House of Detention in a very extraordinary manner. Equally extraordinary was his recapture by Mr. Moore, the chief warder of the House of Detention. It appeared that during the enlargement of the prison this prisoner was employed at his own trade. On Saturday evening last he managed to cut through a brick wall, 22 inches thick, leading into the yard occupied by the contractors engaged in the alteration of the prison, and having gained this access he could easily pass through the temporary gates, and thus make his escape. He was missed very shortly afterwards and on this fact being reported to Mr. Moore, the chief officer of the prison, he at once put the necessary machinery in motion, and, accompanied by one of his officers, at once proceeded to Chelsea. It was believed that some information had been given to the escaped prisoner, but with the assistance of two active constables, after a chase of about three hours the prisoner was brought to bay at a low house in the neighbourhood, and was speedily taken back to his old quarters in the House of Detention. Great credit is due to Mr. Moore for the very prompt measures he took, and to whom is mainly due the fact of the prisoner making his appearance today to take his trial at these sessions. At the time the prisoner was captured he was surrounded by his old companions in penal servitude, and he had adopted several disguises to enable him to escape detection. On being placed in the dock the prisoner pleaded guilty to having the tools in his possession, and said that it was all the result of practical joking. As soon as the tools were wanted he told the owners of them where he was. George Lockyer, sessions’ officer, proved several previous convictions against the prisoner, and amongst them one for three years’ penal servitude. John Becham, police constable 155 B, proved that while the prisoner was on a ticket of leave he was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment from Marylebone Police-court. The Assistant Judge said the prisoner was so dangerous a person that he ought not to be allowed to be at large, and society should be relieved from his presence for a considerable time. The sentence upon him was that he be kept in penal servitude for ten years.” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002408/18661018/124/0008) --00--
TRIAL: 1866, 15 October: Convicted at Middlesex, at the Clerkenwell General Quarter Sessions, and sentenced to 10 years’ penal servitude for “larceny and receiving” with four previous convictions for felony (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for William Hawkins; England, Middlesex, 1866). --0--
PREVIOUS CONVICTION: 1861, 1 April: Convicted at the Clerkenwell General Quarter Sessions and sentenced to transportation for three years for “larceny of fixtures by a servant and larceny by a servant after previous conviction” (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for William Hawkins; England, Middlesex, 1861). --0--