Joseph Hurst

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Chris Ison on 7th December 2024

News - On the 13th of November six prisoners managed to make their escape from the Island in the following manner - A party of gentlemen had gone over to Phillip Island, shooting, and remained there several days, the six men employed in the Boats were dispatched over from Norfolk Island to fetch them, they went there, and took in the party's baggage, &c., but the moment the fowling pieces were placed in the boat, a couple of them presented the pieces at the officers, and commanded them to stand, they then secured them, marched up the beach, bound them, and got clean off with the boat, and have not since been heard of, the same party we understand had made it up to take the ' Hope,' which vessel went there a short time since, but it appears they could not agree among themselves. (Sydney Monitor 11 Jan 1841, p. 2.) The undermentioned Prisoners attached to the Boat's Crew at Norfolk Island, effected their escape in a Whale Boat from Phillip Island, on the 1st December, 1840. Atkinson, William, Guildford (7); 30, London, labourer, 5 feet 1 inch and upwards, fair ruddy camp., fair hair, dark brown eyes, W. A.U.S. on upper, anchor M READ I and IF on lower left arm, IE on lower right arm. Hurst Joseph, Henry Tanner [ship], 27, Lincolnshire, waterman and seaman, 5 feet 6 3/4 inches, ruddy and little pockpitted comp., brown hair, hazel grey eyes, two front upper teeth apart, forehead pockmarked, scar right side of upper lip, middle finger of right hand contracted scar back of right thumb, scar back of fourth finger of left band. Lumley John, Marian Watson, 26, Sydney, seaman, 5 feet inches, fresh comp*, dark brown hair, grey eyes, from Van Diemen's Land. Mullen Thomas, Countess Harcourt (4), 26, Dublin, errand boy, 4 feet 3 inches and upwards, fresh comp. dark brown hair, dark brown eyes. Sproat Harle John, Lord Lyndoch (3), 26, North Shields, painter glazier and sail maker, 6 feet 6 ¼ inches, dark ruddy comp., brown mixed with grey hair, grey eyes, dimple on chin, scar on right eyebrow, two scrofula marks on left side of neck, Md on upper, CxSCxBxS inside lower left arm, MK Mary Sproat and swan inside lower left arm, same crooked, scar on left knee. Smith James, Lady Kennaway (2), 32, Glasgow, foundryman, 5 feet 9 1/4 inches, pale and pockpitted comp., light brown hair, hazel eyes, lost a front upper tooth, and canine tooth left side of under jaw, large brown scar calf of right leg. THOMAS RYAN, Chief Clerk. (New South Wales Government Gazette 2 Apr 1841, Issue No.26, p. 468) [I assume this is the same six absconders referred to in the first news article despite the difference in date. I have found no other escape from Norfolk Island around that time which matches the circumstances. – Chris Ison]

51

Chris Ison on 7th December 2024

On the morning of Friday last, the inmates of Vaucluse, the property of Mr. Wentworth, discovered that the Alice, a sloop of about twenty tons belonging to that Gentleman, and which he had recently purchased for the sum of £100, had disappeared in the night ; it was soon found that five of Mr. W.'s convict servants, one of whom was the footman who had charge of the property in the house, two from Mr. Siddons's at the Light-house, and one from Mr. Wieland's, the Pilot, together with a pilot boat belonging to the latter, had also vanished. A large quantity of property consisting of wine, spirits, provisions, plate, &c. to the value of £150 belonging to Mr. Wentworth was also missed, as well as Mr. Ross, the Master of the Alice, who it is supposed was forced to accompany the runaways as sailing-master. The Revenue Cutter was immediately despatched in pursuit — but as several hours had elapsed before the loss was discovered, those who are authorities on the subject do not anticipate their capture. A strong southerly gale was blowing during the night and till a late hour the next day — if then they escaped going to the bottom (which considering the size of the craft and the tremendous sea which must have been running at the time, is by no means certain) they had such a start as sets pursuit at defiance. It is supposed that the runaways would have steered in a North-easterly direction, so as to fall in, with some of the Islands in the direction of the friendly Islands, unless they were compelled by stress of weather to run up the coast, when they would probably be driven on shore in the neighbourhood of Port Macquarie. (The Australian 20 Oct 1835 Page 2) Joseph Kay, life, Joseph Hurst, life, James Brennan, life, Thomas Stullen life, Thomas Brennan, 7 years, John Williams, life, James Anson, life, Thomas Ford, life, John Stockwell, life, were arraigned at the bar, charged with piratically taking a boat, the property of W. C. Wentworth, Esq., with the intent of escaping from the colony. … (Sydney Gazette, 3 Nov 1835, p. 2.)