Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
James Slater was transported on the Surrey Or Surry, departing 31st Dec 1813 and arriving 28th Jul 1814 with 204 passengers.
Built at Harwich in 1811 a square-rigged transport ship of 443 tons and copper lined she had two decks with a height between decks of 5 ft. 8 ins. In 1818, she had a major refit increasing the decks (and convict carrying capacity) to three. She was owned by the London firm of F. & C.F. Mangles.
Surrey Or Surry (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 131 (67) FamilySearch, "England, Births and Christenings 1538-1975," database, Intellectual Reserve Inc, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 14 Apr 2013), entry for christening of James Slater in 1778; GS film number 547822. New South Wales Department of Attorney General and Justice NSW, death certificate 001406 (1862), James Slater; NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, Chippendale. |
| 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
No one has claimed James Slater yet.
Photos
No photos have been added for James Slater.
Convict Notes
James proved himself hard working building 2 houses in Duke St Balmain .
James was assigned to John Allen and then almost immediately to Samuel Lord, where he worked in Lord's factory. He made and maintained spinning machines, looms and the first water-powered carding machine in the colony. He later opened a workshop in Pitt Street, where he was assigned three convicts and employed a weaver. In 1825 he worked at the Female Factory in Parramatta. James opened a lumber yard and cabinetmaking workshop in Balmain in 1843 and owned enough property to vote in elections.
James Slater was born in Lancashire c1778 and married Mary Mayall in 1797 at Manchester Cathedral. He was an engineer employed in cottom manufacturing and was found guilty of stealing "one twilled sack, at Ashton Under Line, the property of Samuel Howard". He had the knowledge to make the first water power driven carding machine , spinning jennies and looms in Australia. He had nine children with Mary, four of whom at least came to NSW. In 1843 James bought a weatherboard cottage in Balmain. A year later his wife arrived with their daughter Mary Hall and family. James died at Balmain in 1862 of old age. After serving his time he worked as a carpenter, builder and later pile driver.
On his convict indent James Slater is described as age 33, Cccupation- engineer and cotton manufacturere, Hair- black, Complexion- ruddy. Height- 5feet six inches.