Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
John Leach 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. Tasmanian Archives, convict records. https://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au Old Bailey court record https://www.oldbaileyonline.org |
| 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
Family connections for William (Leach) are: LEACH William (Leach) was born about 1775. He was convicted of stealing a copper pot at Middlesex Gaol Delivery on 1 7 1801, sentenced to 7years & arrived at Port Phillip (now Victoria) on 4 10 1803 after a voyage of 7+months on HMS CALCUTTA (an expedition that settled in Tasmania); he probably camped at what is now Sorrento/Sullivans Bay. He may have been transferred to Risdon on Derwent River Tasmania-whch occurred late in 1803. He was recorded as off stores in Hobart town on 2 10 1818. He was an emancipist when he lived with & married Mary (Burn her fifth relationship) on 3 6 1816 at St Davids CofE Hobart. [Details taken from entry for John (Leach) on this Website] Mary (Burn) was born about 1771/5. She was tried for stealing cotton (or a silver pocket watch) at Dublin Ireland, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 17 9 1793 after a voyage of 5months on SUGAR CANE. She had a first (1of5) relationship with John (Rousseau) & produced 1child. She was sent to Norfolk Island where she produced another child. She was recorded in February 1805 as sentence expired on stores on Norfolk Island. She left Norfolk Island with 2children on 3 9 1808 on CITY OF EDINBURGH to Derwent Tasmania, arrivig on 5 10 1808. She was an emancipist when she married thirdly (3of5) James (Bendall) shopkeeper on 2 10 1810 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She produced another child. She produced perhaps 6children in her lifetime.] [Some details taken from this Website; where 2xMary (Burns) have entries: information that follows may refer to one or other of them, or may be there was only one] John William (Leach) & Mary (Burn/Byrne) produced maybe 3children: 1.John (Leach) was born in 1810-perhaps son of James (Bendall). It may be he who is recorded as off stores in Hobart town on 2 10 1818. 2.??? (Leach). It may be he who is recorded as off stores in Hobart town on 2 10 1818. 3.Sarah Ann (Leach) was born in 1820. She died in 1825 age about5. .. [For the above 3children:] [Noted a John (Leech) is recorded as born in 1821, died on 17 5 1824 age3 & was buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney-no parents given] [ & a John (Leech) is recorded as born in 1827, died on 7 7 1828 age18m & was buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney-no parents given] [ & a Sarah (Leech) is recorded as born in 1829, died on 2 11 1830 age18m & was buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney-no parents given] REFERENCES Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony. Irene Schaffer & Thelma McKay 'Exiled Three Times Over! Profiles of Norfolk Islanders Exiled in Van Diemens Land 1807-1813' James Hugh Donohoe 'Norfolk Island 1788-1813-The People and Their Families' Reg Wright 'Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island & Van Diemens Land'
Tasmanian Records. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON22-1-1_0656 Per Calcutta, John Leach, tried Middlesex G.D., 1 July 1801, 7 years.
John/William LEACH was convicted at the Middlesex G.D., London on 1 July 1801 for stealing a copper pot- 7 yr transportation sentence. Aged 27 yrs (ref. court record) Sent to New South Wales, Australia per the ship 'Calcutta' departing April 1803 then transferred on to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). Record of ship arriving at VDL with John Leach onboard. Full Conduct Record not found on main search either under "John" or "William" Leach. There are several other convicts in the colony around that time with the same name, including the infamous John Leach who was found guilty of beating his wife to death and summarily executed in 1829. ? same person? Further research needed on the life of this man.