Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
James Kerr was transported on the Woodman, departing 1st Dec 1825 and arriving 29th Apr 1826 with 150 passengers.
1823 Journey. SHIP News.— The ship Woodman, Captain Ford, arrived from Ireland, via Rio de Janiero, on Wednesday evening the 25th ult. She brings 94 female convicts, in good health; together with 8 children. Including children, there are 38 free passengers, by this opportunity, mostly destined for Van Diemen's Land. Sydney Gazette, 3 July 1823.
Woodman (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/5, Page Number 322 |
| 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
1834, 25 October: James Kerr drowned off Green Island. [Green Island is a small island about 4 ha in area, close to the south-east coast of Tasmania and at the entrance to the Derwent River. It lies in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel between the mainland and Bruny Island (see Wikipedia).] 1834, 31 October: From the Hobart Town Gazette, p4: “We regret to learn that 3 men belonging to Mr. Sprent's surveying party, by name Charles Campfield, Henry Harewood, and James Kerr, besides the coxswain of the boat, were lost in a squall on Monday, coming from Three Hut Point to South Bruny.”
1830 and 1832: Musters – James Kerr was listed as having been transported to Macquarie Harbour [to the notorious penal settlement of Sarah Island which was closed in 1833] (see New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849). 1833: Muster – he was listed as having been assigned to Public Works. This document also contains a notation about his death, as below (see New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849).
1824, 26 November: James Kerr, 19, convicted for housebreaking, was received aboard the prison hulk Justitia at Woolwich. He was sent from there for transportation on 17 November (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849). 1827, 17 March: From the Hobart Town Gazette, p3: “Police intelligence… James Kerr is fully committed for trial, for a robbery in the King's store some time ago, when George Dudfield a prisoner lost property to a large amount.” The Colonial Times also reported that the lost property was "to a large amount" and included “two £100 Bank of England notes” (23 March, p3). 1827, 7 April: From the Hobart Town Gazette, p4: “SUPREME COURT, MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1827. The sittings of the second term commenced this morning, but no business of importance was heard, and the criminal court sat at 11 o'clock for the following trials:- James Kerr was charged with stealing various articles of wearing apparel to the value of £11, on the 3rd of February, out of the Commissariat Stores, the property of George Dudfield. Verdict - Guilty of stealing a pair of boots only...” [The boots were valued at 20 shillings and there was no mention in the charge list of the two £100 bank notes.] On 16 June, James Kerr was sentenced to transportation for 7 years (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/SC32-1-1$init=SC32-1-1p256jpg).
Precognition 1824: National Records of Scotland, Reference AD14/24/182 Title: Precognition against James Kerr, James Kerr for the crime of theft by housebreaking at Portugal Street, Laurieston, Gorbals, Glasgow in 1824 Accused: James Kerr, Age: 18, gardener, Address: Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. Victim: George Walker, Portugal Street, Laurieston, Gorbals, Glasgow. --00— Trial No.1: National Records of Scotland, Reference JC26/1824/45 Title: Trial papers relating to James Kerr for the crime of theft by housebreaking at Portugal Street, Laurieston, Gorbals, Glasgow. Tried at High Court, Glasgow, on 15 Apr 1824. Accused: James Kerr, Verdict: Guilty, Verdict Comments: Guilty in terms of own confession, Sentence: Transportation - Life. Note: Diet deserted and accused recommited on a new warrant. Case continued JC13/57, f.42v, Glasgow, 30 September 1824. Criminal letters Victim George Walker, Portugal Street, Laurieston, Gorbals, Glasgow. --00— Trial No.2: National Records of Scotland, Reference JC26/1824/142 Title: Trial papers relating to James Kerr for the crime of theft by housebreaking at Portugal Street, Laurieston, Gorbals, Glasgow. Tried at High Court, Glasgow, on 30 Sep 1824. Accused: James Kerr, Verdict: Guilty, Verdict Comments: Guilty in terms of own confession, Sentence: Transportation – Life. Victim: George Walker, Portugal Street, Laurieston, Gorbals, Glasgow (see http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/).