Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
Michael Henry was transported on the Nile, departing 18th Sep 1857 and arriving 1st Jan 1858 with 271 passengers.
Nile (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/18, Page Number 234. --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
FOOTNOTE: John Gough was never transported. He was "invalided to Woking prison" in February 1861. Prior to this, he served time at several prisons including Millbank, Dartmoor, Chatham, Pentonville and Portsmouth. Notations from his various records have a common theme -- of his continuing use of violent, threatening language towards prison staff and governors, assaults on officers "and inciting others to do the like". He was described by one Governor as "a most dangerous prisoner on public works where there is no means of restraining his violence" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for John Gough; Portsmouth Prison; Register of Prisoners; to 1882). At Woking, inmate #873, he was described as "a most dangerous character". There is no indication of what became of him (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for John Gough; Woking Prison; Register of Prisoners; 1858-1875).
IS THIS "OUR" MICHAEL HENRY? Perth City Police Court, 21 October, 1884: "(Before the Police Magistrate) -- Michael Henry, an old offender, was charged with being drunk. The arresting constable stated that he had found Henry asleep in Wellington Street, and that he told him he had no home, so he locked him up. Mr. Leake: What do you say to this? Prisoner: Well, I have nothing to say, Sir, only that I got drunk and don't remember anything, Sir. I can say this, though, that I work hard for my living, and that I sold at the North-west, a copper-mine for £1,100. Mr. Leake: But how long ago? Corp. Claffey: He sold a mine about 10 or 11 years ago. Mr. Leake: Three-weeks." (Daily News, p3 at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/76216747). --00--
From Toodyay Convicts database: Henry, Michael (1839- ) #4607, 1858-01-01 Nile. CWA: Unm; lab; semi lit, RC; assault with intent to murder, life; Champion Bay (https://www.toodyay.wa.gov.au/). --00--
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: HENRY, Michael; #4607, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1839 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Place: Exeter, Devon, England Crime: Assault with intent to murder Sentence Period: Life, commuted Ticket of Leave Date: 23 Feb 1863 Conditional Pardon Date: 27 Jan 1869 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--
THE VOYAGE: Michael Henry’s behaviour during the voyage was “very bad”, according to his WA Convict record. He was flogged, receiving 36 lashes (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Character Book for Nos 4508-5585 (R8)). What prompted this punishment? Although a requirement, no journal/full report of the voyage from the ship’s Surgeon Superintendent has ever been located, according to Bill Edgar (2018) whose research fills in some blanks. Around two-thirds of the Nile’s 268 convicts could be considered “serious criminals” by virtue of the violence of their crimes, or their recidivism or both. A point that wasn’t lost on the ship’s crew or warders. Edgar (2018) says between the starting point of the Nile’s voyage at the head of the Thames at Sheerness and her arrival at Plymouth a week or so later to take on prisoners from Dartmoor, two warders “having seen the potential for trouble… decided to refuse duties they could clearly perceive as very dangerous”. They left the ship. Between the Nile’s departure from Plymouth, on 23 September, and her arrival just over 4 weeks later at Bahia (in Brazil), a “litany of frightening incidences took place aboard”. Fearing a mutiny, the captain had nine convicts placed in chains “where they were to stay for the remainder of the voyage”. There was no mutiny. Edgar writes, however: “It had been a near run thing. The prospect of a mutiny had been very real.” Despite the Nile’s arrival off WA late on the night of 31 December, 1857, the bulk of the prisoners were not disembarked for five days. Twelve men were unloaded on 2 January – three bound for hospital and nine who went in chains to Fremantle prison. The latter were the “failed mutineers”, listed as men of “bad character” by the ship’s Surgeon Superintendent in a letter to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty (Edgar, pp24-25, 27). They were: Michael Henry, George Foxton (alias Thompson), John Turnbull, James H Jones, John Cirans (Ceirans), Thomas Ward, Patrick McBride, John Ferguson, and George Woodcock (the possessor of at least seven aliases by this time). --00--
8 September, 1857: He was sent from Portsmouth to board the Nile for transportation to WA; listed as #5/3977 (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32)). --00--
16 May, 1857: He was admitted to Portsmouth jail, inmate #3977. A visitor, not named, is recorded on 28 August, 1857. All other details are as per previous jail records (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners; 1855-1858). --0--
25 September, 1856: He was admitted to Millbank prison. Listed as inmate #3696, 18, single, reads only. Next of kin -- his father Patrick Henry of Penfold Street, Birmingham. This record has a notation that he is "Not to go to Dartmoor" and he's "Very bad". He served 15 months 24 days in separate confinement. His behaviour was listed as "bad". --0--
JAILS: March, 1856: Michael Henry served 3 months 27 days in separate confinement out of almost 6 months at Birmingham jail where his behaviour was listed as "good". --0--
5 July, 1856: Committal of John Gough for "aiding and inciting Michael Henry to wound Thomas Palmer at Lydford" (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, p5). --0-- 22 July, 1856: Exeter Assizes -- tried before Baron Martin -- Michael Henry, 18, a button maker, and John Gough, 24, a fishmonger, "both of whom wore convict's dress", pleaded guilty to having struck Thomas Palmer, a warder at Dartmoor Prison, with intent to murder him (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 26 July, pp7-8; and Western Times, 26 July, pp6-7). Both men were sentenced to death, commuted to transportation for life (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 6 September, 1856). --0--