Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
James Holmes was transported on the Phoenix, departing 4th Mar 1828 and arriving 14th Jul 1828 with 191 passengers.
Built at Thames, England 1798. 589 tons.
Phoenix (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/6, Page Number 326 |
| 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 |
Claims
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Photos
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Convict Notes
National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/58/48. Date: 1827. 1 collective petition (18 people mostly farmers of Hadleigh, Suffolk and neighbouring parishes) on behalf of James Holmes and Henry Holmes, labourers, convicted at Bury St Edmunds Epiphany Sessions 1827 of stealing a stone ass, property of Abraham Ringo. There is also a letter from James Robinson Walsh transferring petition and supporting family. Initial sentence: 7 years transportation. Grounds for clemency: steady, sober and industrious, first offence. Gaoler's report: characters from gaol very bad. Annotated: refused. KM48
James Holmes and Henry Holmes, for stealing a male ass, the property of Abraham King, of Layham ; Bury and Norwich Post, 24 Jan 1826. On Friday last the following nine convicts were removed from our Gaol to the Leviathan Hulk at Portsmouth, viz. Abraham Harrington, to be transported for 14 years; and George Barber, Edward Bland, Isaac Brock, Edward Harrison, Francis Dale, James Pearman, James Holmes, and Henry Holmes, for seven years. Bury and Norwich Post, 14 Feb 1827.
1828 Census Index. James Holmes, age 23, G.S. Phoenix, 1828, 7 years, Labourer to Andrew Lang, Pat. (Patricks) Plains district.
Medical and surgical journal of HM transport Phoenix for 29 January to 30 July 1828 by William Bell Carlyle, Surgeon, Royal Navy, during which time the said ship was employed in carrying convicts to New South Wales. Folios 6-8: Henry Holmes, aged 21, convict; case number 4; disease or hurt, febris intermittens. Put on sick list, 23 March 1828 at sea. 20 May 1828, has had no return of his complaint. Folio 15: Surgeon's general remarks. Every individual of the convicts and Guard were landed at Sydney in a state fit for duty. Towards the latter end of the voyage a few additional ounces of lemon juice were given daily to 15 of the convicts who were discovered to have a scorbutic sponginess of the gums which yielded readily to the Lime Juice in eight or ten days. The brother of Holmes (see case number 4 above) being a weak kind of creature naturally, with an impaired digestion and great dejection of mind, was for a considerable time put on an improved diet with wine, and by that means kept him in his usual health. [Signed] William Bell Carlyle, surgeon, Royal Navy.
1832 -Ticket of Leave. 32/940. Allowed to remain in the District of Paterson Plains 1834 - 16 Jan. Certificate of Freedom. 34/63. Had a Ticket of Leave 32/940. Age; 29. [1805] New South Wales, Australia, Liverpool St Luke. No; 527 Name; James Holmes Abode; Liverpool Hospital When buried; 1835, 21 ?? Oct 1835 Age; 28 years Ship’s Name; Phoenix Quality or profession. Free. By Whom Ceremony was preformed; Robert Cartwright
New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Ship; Phoenix - 1828 Indent No; James Holmes Name; James Holmes Reads. Single. Age; 22 [1805] Native Place; Suffolk Trade or calling; Farm Labourer Offence; Ass Stealing Trial; Bury - 15 Jan 1827 Height; 5 ft. 0 1/2in Eyes; Hazel Hair; Dk. Brown Completion; Pale Sallow Remarks; 32/940 Assigned; Andrew Laing, Hunters River BROTHER: Henry Holmes. Age; 19. On board
James, and his brother Henry, both convicted of stealing "a stone ass" in Polstead, Suffolk, where they lived in 1827. Suffolk County records currently reveal that James was named father of a child born a few months after the conviction. Caroline Sage was mother of the child (named James Sage). In 1848, James Sage was convicted of stealing and transported to Hobart. It is not known whether James Holmes and his son James Sage ever met. James Holmes was granted a Certificate of Freedom, however there seems to be no further record of his whereabouts after that.