Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
William Kirk was transported on the Nile, departing 18th Sep 1857 and arriving 1st Jan 1858 with 271 passengers.
Nile (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/18, Page Number 232 |
| 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
DEATH IN PERTH JAIL: According to the Perth Gazette of 3 March, 1871, p3, William Kirk, a Ticket of Leave convict, appeared before the Perth Police Court, on 10 February, charged by Sergeant Dale with absconding from the Toodyay District. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3750702). How or why William Kirk died while in custody in Perth jail is not clear. Nor does he appear on the Toodyay convicts database as having been assigned to work in the district. Surely, by this time, he was eligible for a Conditional Pardon/Cert of Freedom? --00--
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: KIRK, William; inmate #4560, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1831 Date of Death: 29 Mar 1871 Place of Death: Perth, prison Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Farm labourer Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Place: Nether Knutsford, Cheshire, England Crime: Stealing from boat Sentence Period: 14 years Ticket of Leave Date: 21 Oct 1859 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--
10 September, 1857: Sent from Portland to board the Nile for transportation to WA; listed as #53/6929 (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32)). Behaviour on voyage "good (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Character Book for Nos 4508-5585 (R8)). --00--
6 April, 1857: Admitted to Portland prison at Dorset; inmate #6929. Portland, Portsmouth, Chatham and Spike Island in Ireland were listed public works stations and the second stage in the penal process. After separate confinement, prisoners were “placed on work parties at various locations, most commonly naval stations, where maintenance of facilities was vital for the effective protection of Britain’s far flung commercial and military influences around the world. While there, attitude and behaviour were monitored closely. In theory, only after consistently positive reports was a prisoner moved on to the third stage of his incarceration—transportation.” (Edgar, p40) Listed as William Kirk, alias Thomas Cook, aged 25 when convicted, single, a shoemaker, able to read. Next of kin -- his uncle, Isaac Kirk, of Chinley, near Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for William Kirk; Portland Prison; Prison Records to 1875). --0--
13 May, 1856: Admitted to Pentonville, Caledonian Road, London -- served 10 months 24 days; behaviour "good". --0--
27 March, 1856: Admitted to Millbank, Westminster, London -- served 1 month 16 days; behaviour "good". “After a sentence of transportation [or penal servitude, it seems] was handed down, the prisoner entered into a separate stage where he was placed into an individual cell, isolated from others, apart from brief periods of exercise and attendance at chapel. However, no communication of any kind with other prisoners was permitted at any time. The philosophy behind this penal methodology had its provenances in the religious, monastic traditions; i.e., that in the isolation of his cell the malefactor would be able to contemplate the errors of his way, unadulterated by the negative influences of former contemporaries, and be reformed.” (Edgar, 2018, pp39-40) When first put into practice, the mandated period of separate confinement was 18 months. By the late 1840s, authorities had conceded that such conditions of imprisonment were “injurious to many prisoners’ mental health” and the stint was reduced to 12 months. Periods of separate confinement were reduced further “as a prisoner displayed good behaviour tendencies” (Edgar, p40). Millbank, Pentonville, Wakefield and Mountjoy in Ireland were the “Probation” or “Separate” prisons, as were some local jails. --0--
JAILS: 24 January, 1856: Committal at Stockport. --0-- 28 January, 1856: Admitted to Knutsford County House of Correction, Knutsford -- served 2 months 3 days; behaviour "good". --0--
NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF THE TRIAL: From the Cheshire Observer, Saturday 23 February, 1856, p5: "William Kirk, alias Thomas Cook, 25, stealing from the cabin of a boat, one rope, the property of the Manchester &c. Railway Company at Marple; further charged with stealing three pounds weight of cheese, &c, the property of John Swindells, at Marple; and also stealing one calico bag, and a quantity of meal, the property of Edward Goodwin, at Marple. Fourteen years' penal servitude." (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/) --0--
ANOTHER TRIAL: 11 February, 1856: Convicted at Nether Knutsford while holding a Ticket of Leave and sentenced to 14 years' transportation for stealing from a boat; previous conviction taken into account (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for William Kirk; England; Cheshire; 1856). --0--
8 June, 1855: Granted a Ticket of Leave, as below: Reference: PCOM 3/31/3260 Description: Licence number 3260: William Kirk. Convicted of Felony with previous convictions at the Quarter Sessions at Derby, Derbyshire, 06 January 1852. Then aged 18 years and by trade a Boatman. Sentence: 7 years' transportation. Licence granted: 8 June 1855, for early release from Portsmouth prison. Date: 1855 June 8 Held by: The National Archives, Kew (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10243067). --0--