Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
John Hollingworth 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 232 |
| 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 Hollingworth, 18, was convicted for setting fire to a hay-stack (Chester Courant, Wednesday 20 April 1853, p3).
20 March, 1861: From The Inquirer and Commercial News -- "A ticket-of-leave man was drowned on Sunday at or near the Canal. He was bathing at the time." --00--
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: HOLLINGWORTH, John; #4663, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Alias: HOLLINGSWORTH Date of Birth: 1833 [1835 by jail record] Date of Death: Mar 1861 Place of Death: Drowned Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Place: Chester, Cheshire, England Crime: Arson Sentence Period: 15 years Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket of Leave Date: 15 Feb 1858 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--
THE VOYAGE: Behaviour -- "very industrious" (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Character Book for Nos 4508-5585 (R8)). --00--
Chatham, Portland, Portsmouth and Spike Island in Ireland were listed public works stations and the second stage in the penal process. After separate confinement, prisoners were “placed on work parties at various locations, most commonly naval stations, where maintenance of facilities was vital for the effective protection of Britain’s far flung commercial and military influences around the world. While there, attitude and behaviour were monitored closely. In theory, only after consistently positive reports was a prisoner moved on to the third stage of his incarceration—transportation.” (Edgar, p40) 6 May, 1857: Chatham gaol -- inmate #958. Sent from Chatham, #31/958, to board the Nile for transportation to WA (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Character Book for Nos 4508-5585 (R8)). --00--
1857: Bethlehem Hospital -- admitted following "attempted suicide by making a wound in his arm". --0-- 24 January, 1857: Millbank gaol -- inmate #4133, received from Bethlehem Hospital. Listed as 18 [when convicted], able to read and write imperfectly, a chimney sweep, Church of England, single; convicted for arson and sentenced to 15 years' penal servitude. Next of kin -- his stepfather William Thornley, address unknown. A notation on his record says "Rejected for Portland 12/3/57". Behaviour -- "indifferent" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners; to 1885). --0--
Chester Castle Gaol -- held for 8 months 8 days in separate confinement. Reading County Gaol and House of Correction -- held for 6 months 21 days in separate confinement. Dartmoor prison -- held for 4 months in association. --0--
JAILS: “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, p40). Wakefield, Millbank, Pentonville and Mountjoy in Ireland were the “Probation” or “Separate” prisons, as were some local jails. --0--
TRIAL: 2 April, 1853: Convicted at the Chester Assizes for arson, and a previous conviction -- sentenced to transportation for 15 years (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Cheshire; 1853). --0--