Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
James Harfield was transported on the Calcutta, departing 31st Jan 1803 and arriving 4th Oct 1803 with 305 passengers.
HMS Calcutta was the East Indiaman Warley (1795), converted to a Royal Navy ship. This ship of the line served for a time as an armed transport. She also transported convicts to Australia. The French Magnanime captured Calcutta in 1805. In 1809, after she ran aground during the Battle of the Basque Roads and her crew had abandoned her, a British boarding party burned her. In 1803 the Calcutta sailed into Port Phillip bay where at least 4 convicts escaped , in Sydney in April 1804 it was reported that 8 had died on the trip. Of the four known escapees one was shot on escape, 2 turned back after 2 days to reattach to the group at the camp in bay before the boat left , one continued on ...into Australia's history books. At least 13 convicts were transferred on to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), Australia.The ship also carried officers, wives and free settlers.
Calcutta (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 340 Australia, Convict Index, 1788-1868 |
| 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
1807 - Marriage. 27 day of March 1807 James Harefield, Single man and Mary Bills, single woman, both of this settlement were married by banns at Hobart Town, River Derwent Witness; Frederick Schaffers and Hugh Jarman
Correction to above, Joshua Thatcher, not James.
James Thatcher was also transported on the Calcutta. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE AT PRESENT TO ADD NEW CONVICTS TOTHIS WEBSITE, DUE TO THE UPGRADE. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE SOON RECTIFIED.
Tasmanian Marriages. https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD36-1-1p5j2k James Harfield, single man, and Mary Bills, single woman, both of this settlement, were married by banns, at Hobart Town, 7 March 1807, by Robert Knopwood, Chaplain. James and Mary both signed with their mark X. Witnesses were Frederick Schaffers (signed), and Hugh Jarman, (signed his mark, X).
Tasmanian Records https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON22-1-1_0444 Per Calcutta, James Harfield, Middx J.D. 2 Dec 1801, 7 years. ---------------------------------------------------- Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 15 February 2023), December 1801, trial of JOSHUA THATCHER JAMES HARFIELD (t18011202-73). JOSHUA THATCHER, JAMES HARFIELD, Theft > animal theft, 2nd December 1801. 73. JOSHUA THATCHER and JAMES HARFIELD were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 1st of November, a pig, value 15s. the property of Thomas May. (The case was opened by Mr. Knapp.) THOMAS MAY sworn. - Examined by Mr. Knapp. Q. You are a publican and shopkeeper , at Shepperton? - A. I am: On Sunday, the 1st of November, about half past twelve o'clock at night, I was waked; I got up, went down stairs, and found Thatcher in custody. Mrs. MAY sworn. - Examined by Mr. Knapp. Q. Are you the wife of the last witness? - A. Yes: On Sunday, the 1st of November, I was alarmed by a noise in the pig-sty; I looked out at the window, and saw the sow in the yard, without any pigs; I saw four pigs after dusk in the evening; I heard somebody in the hog-sty, I then got out of bed, and called Pearce and Butcher; I desired them to get up; they got up immediately, and took their guns; the prisoner had been in our house that evening; they left the house about eleven o'clock, with two more; one of my pigs was brought to me by a neighbour or Sunday morning, stuck in two places; I knew it to be mine. JOHN PEARCE sworn. - Examined by Mr. Knapp. Q. You lodged at Mr. May's? - A. Yes; she called Butcher and me up; we took a gun a-piece, and went down stairs; I saw Thatcher come out of the sty; he made away to the other side of the yard, and my partner met him and pushed him down with the but-end of the gun, and then I came in upon him and assisted to secure him; Harfield then ran out of the sty; Thatcher had a drawn knife in his hand, with which he attempted to stab me in the throat; his hand was coming so, (describing it), when I seized his wrist, and saved the blow; we then got him in doors; Harfield made his escape; he was taken about three weeks afterwards; I knew them both before. (Jesse Butcher carroborated the evidence of the last witness.) THOMAS HALLIDAY sworn. - I apprehended Harfield, Mr. May was with me; he said to Mr. May, take care you are not tiled in. May. I was with Halliday; he said to Harfield, you are a pretty fellow, we have got you now; Harfield said, d - n me, if I don't do for you; when I brought Thatcher in doors, I said, you are a blackguard and a scoundrel to use me in this manner, when I have been a friend to you divers times; he said, you may be d - d; d - n my eyes if I live to come back, if I don't do you; and if I do not, there shall be somebody left behind that shall. Thatcher's defence. I went to lie down in the harn, but as to the pigs, I know nothing about them; I was very much in liquor. Harfield's defence. I was very much in liquor,and when I left Mr. May's house, I went home to my lodging. Thatcher, GUILTY, aged 30. Harfield, GUILTY, aged 22. Transported for seven years. First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Grose.