Flower Howell

71

Robin Sharkey on 24th February 2016

Sorry - typo: "Flower Howell was part of an extended family with deep roots in Bexley, Kent. His father was named Flower Stidolph Howell (from marriage record 11 Oct 1807) and his grandfather was named Flower Hall." THAT is, his Grandfather was also named Flower HOWELL of course (not "hall'). That grandmother was named Mary Elizabeth Studolph (or variation Stidolph), of a family that had been around Sevenoaks Kent for hundreds of years.

71

Robin Sharkey on 24th February 2016

He had told the authorities (recorded n his Conduct Record in tasmania) that he had one prior offence "Once for creating a disturbance by “making rough music at a wedding” before a magistrate." i.e his offence was tried before a magistrate. His large extended family in Bexley, Kent seem to have been law-abiding. His trade of sawyer was learnt from his father who in the 1861 England Census recorded that he had been a sawyer. Perhaps young Flower Howell found it very hard to bear being in Convict Tasmania with no family around him. He had etched the initials of his parents and every single one of his siblings into his arm (except the baby born in 1831 after he was transported). Within six months of arriving Flower could bear it no more and had run away , been caught and given 50 lashes. This could only make a then-20 year old more antsy. Absconded 7 April 1830 and given 2 months on Launceston Chain Gang. Absconded may 1830 from Prisoners Barracks and not caught till October (?) when on 26 October was given 6 months hard labour. So, within a week he had taken off his irons "with intent to escape" and on 3rd November 1830 was given another 50 lashes, and still had his 6 months hard labour to run until end of April 1831. Young Flower Howell, once deeply rooted through family into a pleasant English village, was on his way to becoming a hardened convict of VDL. April 6 1831 Neglect of duty. 2 months imprisonment hard labour in addition to his sentence of 26th October 1830 (J Welsh) March 3 1832, J Thomas / On suspicion of felony. Committed for trial at Supreme Court, Hobart Town./ J Simpson June 26th 1832 Road party / Absconding and having on 22nd instant feloniously stolen, taken and carried away from the farm of J Cox Esq, one striped shirt value 6 pence the property of John Hughes and two towels value 1s/6 each the property of J Cox Esq. Committed for trial at Qtr Sessions/ W Lyttleton. At this point, the wonderfully named Flower Howell cut short the process of his slide into convict depravity and escaped. WRITTEN IN PENCIL ACROSS BOTTOM OF RECORD: “Run” Where did he go? Possibilities - the wilds of Tasmania itself, or one of the sealing islands in Bass Strait. Or New Zealand which was becoming popular with escapees. .. or he hid on a ship and attempted to get back to England. 1833 Muster “Absconded 1832” 1835 Muster “Absconded 1832” London Evening Standard 24 January 1834 page 3, Column 4 RUNAWAY CONVOCTS, THIRD LIST - Samuel Henry, Baynham Helps, Wilts; William Hobsell, hobarttown; Mary Hanby, Castle Ruthen; Robert Hitchcock Nottingham; Flower Howell, Kent; David Jacobs, Bucks; etc etc - from Police Gazette.

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Robin Sharkey on 24th February 2016

Flower Howell was part of an extended family with deep roots in Bexley Kent. His father was named Flower Stidolph Howell (from marriage record 11 Oct 1807) and his grandfather was named Flower Hall. The grandfather died in 1831 aged 88 and was therefore born in 1743. He married at Bexley, Kent to Mary Elizabeth Stidoph on 1st January 1775 and had ten children. Many of those children remained living in Bexley, and Flower Jnr had many aunts, uncles and cousins in the era. It would have been a shock to the family when he was to be transported for the rest of his life. It was also a shock to the old lady whose house he burgled together with a mate, Henry Peters. He was picked up for his crime in October or Novemebr 1827: South Eastern Gazette Tuesday 6 November 1827, page 4 Col: "Prisoners committed to the County Gaol, Maidstone, … Henry Peters and Flower Howell, felony at Bexley. " He was tried in January 1828: Morning Advertiser Thurs 10 January 1828 page 3 column “MAIDSTONE ASSIZES - Tuesday (Before Mr baron Vaughan) “Henry Peters and Flower Howell were indicted for breaking and entering the dwelling house of an old woman of the name of Burr, at Bexley, and stealing therefrom a copper-pot, and other articles of property. “The prosecutrix - whose appearance was that of a woman of ninety, was placed in the witness box to speak to the offence, when a question was put to her by the court as to her age. Mrs Burr - Seventy, my Lord. Mr Baron Vaughan - Seventy eh? Mrs Burr - Seventy odd, my Lord. Mr Baron Vaughan - What do you mean by 70 odd? Mrs Burr - Oh, 73, or thereabouts. Mr Baron Vaughan - What, you are unwilling to tell us your real age; was that so? Mrs Burr - they say ladies generally are. -(A laugh) “The old lady then proved the loss of her property, and the case was otherwise made out against the prisoner Howell, who was found guilty, but Peters was acquitted. Mr Baron Vaughan - Let sentence of death be recorded; and you, Howel, [sic] may expect to be sent out of the country, never to return to it. As soon as this intimation was pronounced, the old woman,Mrs Burr, exclaimed, in an animated tone, “Oh my good Lord, I hope not for ever. Do have mercy upon the boy, for the sake of his family. I hope to be able to take off some of his punishment..” Mr Baron Vaughan - So you have - you have saved him from an immediate death. this is a very bad offence, and old people like you cannot be protected unless persons like the prisoner are punished” The victim, Mrs Burr, might be the Mrs Elizabeth Burr buried in St Mary's churchyard Bexley with inscription indicating she was wife of William Burr, and she died 14 April 1843 aged 88. Mr William Burr's gravestone shows late of Bexley Heath Farmer son of [another] William Burr died 14 July 1840 aged 85.

221

D Wong on 23rd February 2016

Flower Howell was born in Bexley, Kent, he was the son of Flower Howell born C1784 also born in Bexley and Ann Harris, they had the following children: Ann 1808, Flower Jnr., 1810, Maria 1812, George 1815, Sarah 1817, Joseph 1819, Harriet 1821, James 1823, Charles 1825 and Amelia 1831. Flower was 19 years old on arrival in VDL, he was 5’2” tall, light blue eyes, light brow hair, single, Hearts & Darts Mermaid 2 pipes Glass & Bottle & Sun on rt. Arm F.H A.H M H. G. H SH JH AH JH &c C &c on left Arm F.H.No. 18 same arm. 1830 Muster: Public Works 1832 Muster: Public Works 1833 Muster: Absconded 1835 Muster: Absconded Conduct Record: A constant absconder. 26/6/1832: Tried at the Hobart Supreme Court for stealing 1 striped shirt, value 6 pence, the property of John Hughes and 2 towels (looks like) value 1 shilling, the property of J. Cox Esq. - then absconded again.

4

Gail Mitchell on 23rd February 2016

The initials tattooed on his arm were the initials of his parents and siblings in England.