Robert Lincoln

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Summary

Born
Jun 1802
Conviction
Machine breaking
Departure
Apr 1831
Arrival
Aug 1831
Death
May 1875
Step 0 of 0

Personal Information

Name: Robert Lincoln
Gender: Male
Born: 17th Jun 1802
Death: 4th May 1875
Age at death: 72

Crime

Convicted at: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Sentence term: 7 years

Voyage

Departed: 12th Apr 1831
Ship: Proteus
Arrival: 3rd Aug 1831
Place of Arrival: Van Diemen's Land

Transportation

Robert Lincoln was transported on the Proteus, departing 12th Apr 1831 and arriving 3rd Aug 1831 with 112 passengers.

ProteusProteus (generic)

References

Primary SourceAustralian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/8, Page Number 84
Source DescriptionThis 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 SourceGreat Britain. Home Office
Compiled ByState Library of Queensland
Database SourceBritish convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database

Claims

"My wife's 3rd great-grandfather."

Cath Ellis avatar
3
Cath Ellis

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Convict Notes

Maureen Withey avatar
343
on 18th January 2026

Source: Bruce Brown published a thesis in 2004, entitled “ The Machine Breaker convicts from the Proteus and the Eliza” Upon arrival, Lincoln was assigned to the New Norfolk property of Josiah Spode, the Superintendent of Convicts. After getting some of his fellow servants drunk, however, he was sentenced to the Bridgewater road party and was subsequently re-assigned to Edward William Hodgson. He was sentenced to imprisonment and to be returned to tthe Government for an offence the same day that his free pardon was gazetted. After completing his 14 day imprisonment, he was released and the balance of the sentence was J42 rendered of no effect. Lincoln married Mary Ann Hodgson, the 16 year old daughter of his former master, seven months after receiving his free pardon and she bore him a child four months later. He remained in the colony for the rest of his life. Lincoln died in Tasmania in 1875. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is a death for a Robert Lincoln in 1842, but this is for a child - a shoemaker's child. ----------------------------------- Tasmanian Records. Tasmanian Death registration. Richmond District: https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-44/RGD35-1-44P159 4 May 1875. Death of Robert Lincoln, age 74, shoemaker, Cause of death, Chronic gastritis. Informant was George Alfred Lincoln, son, of Richmond.

Cath Ellis avatar
3
on 18th January 2026

Robert Lincoln (Convict No. 590) Ship: Proteus (Arrived Tasmania, 1831) Occupation: Agricultural Labourer Background & Crime: Originally from Whitwell, Norfolk, Lincoln was a "Swing Rioter"—a farm labourer transported for 7 years for "Machine Breaking" during the 1830 uprisings against farm mechanization. He left behind a wife, Mary, and two children who were destitute ("on the parish") in England. Colonial History: His conduct in Tasmania was turbulent. Despite an initial assessment of "Good" character, he was later punished for making servants drunk (1833), refusing to work for the government (1833), and using obscene language (1834). The "Pardon" Incident: On February 3, 1836, Lincoln appeared in a remarkable legal contradiction. He was sentenced to 14 days in solitary confinement on bread and water for falsely accusing a fellow servant, Ensley Coles, of an "unnatural offence." However, on that exact same day, he was granted Free Pardon No. 196 by King William IV (a mass pardon for the machine breakers), which effectively overrode his local sentence and secured his freedom.

Maureen Withey avatar
343
on 14th November 2019

National Archives - Medical Journal by Thomas Logan, Surgeon of Convict Ship Proteus, 6 April - 8 Aug 1831. ADM 101/62/2/3 Robert Lincoln, aged 24; sick or hurt, obstipatio; put on sick list, 8 June 1831. More or less ill all the voyage.