Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
John King was transported on the Marion, departing 7th Jun 1845 and arriving 16th Sep 1845 with 299 passengers.
Built 1834 at Calcutta. Wood ship of 684 Tons. The 1847/48 voyage sent to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) BUT also went on to Port Phillip Bay, Victoria where 300 exiles disembarked. (The newspaper source says they were from Millbank, Pentonville & Parkhurst prisons.)
Marion (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 91, Class and Piece Number HO11/14, Page Number 300 |
| 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
SEIZURE OF THE LORD BISHOP'S YACHT.- On Tuesday night last, four prisoners of the Crown, James Hill, per Maitland, (in the hired service of Mr. George Forster.) Rees Griffiths and John King [should be Matthew Clarke], each per Maitland, and John King, per Marion 2. employed in the Marine Department, Hobart Town,-effected their escape from the colony under the following circumstances. The Psyche, a small yacht, about 12 tons burthen, was lying off the Commissariat Wharf in charge of Hill, who had been a pilot in the English channel, and was considered a trustworthy character, having been gazetted for his ticket of-leave for good conduct. He is an intelligent man, and considered perfectly competent to take a vessel to any part of the world. The vessel, having undergone a thorough repair, was about to be moored higher up the river, near the Gardens of the Royal Society; and Mr. G. Forster, who was to reside in the yacht, had sent his clothing, bedding, cooking utensils, and provisions on board. Having visited the Government schooner Swallow, from whence they stole a set of charts, a sextant, and a bag of biscuit, they went to Mr. Johnson's and purchased a quarter of fresh beef, which, with the provisions on board, and other articles procured in the name of Mr. Forster, made it tolerable good stock. With fresh water they were well provided, having several casks on board. It is expected they weighed anchor about 8 o'clock, and proceeded down the river, the wind then blowing a fresh breeze from the north west, changing in the night to from south west. … (The Courier (Hobart),24 February 1849, p. 2.)
VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. We have received Van Diemen's Land papers to the 24th February. Piracy.-On Tuesday evening, four men named John Hill, John King, Rees Griffiths, and Matthew Clarke, made their escape from the colony in the Psyche, a small yacht, purchased at Launceston by the Lord Bishop of Tasmania, a short time ago. The yacht was lying off the Commissariat Wharf, in charge of Hill, (who had been recommended to his lordship as a very steady man, and one who was likely to take good care of the vessel) and had undergone a careful and thorough repair, and had been fitted up in first-rate style for the reception of any party of pleasure. (The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Wednesday 14 March 1849, p. 3.) THE "PSYCHE."-Two men have been found among the islands by the Coquette of Sydney [actually Freak and handed over to the Coquette], and taken on to that port [Sydney]. They stated themselves to have been fishing in a small craft, the Buona Vista, when being caught in a gale they were wrecked. Upon arrival at Sydney one of them [Matthew Clarke] jumped overboard and effected his escape. They both turn out to have been on board the yacht Psyche, the property of the Lord Bishop of Tasmania, when she was taken out of this harbour. [The other was John King who was returned to Hobart and tried for escaping.] (The Courier (Hobart),25 August 1849, p. 2.) [NOTE: Rees Griffiths and John Hill died somewhere in the Percy Islands, possibly at the hands of either King and or Clarke. – CHRIS ISON]