John Lumley

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Chris Ison on 7th December 2024

News - On the 13th of November six prisoners managed to make their escape from the Island in the following manner - A party of gentlemen had gone over to Phillip Island, shooting, and remained there several days, the six men employed in the Boats were dispatched over from Norfolk Island to fetch them, they went there, and took in the party's baggage, &c., but the moment the fowling pieces were placed in the boat, a couple of them presented the pieces at the officers, and commanded them to stand, they then secured them, marched up the beach, bound them, and got clean off with the boat, and have not since been heard of, the same party we understand had made it up to take the ' Hope,' which vessel went there a short time since, but it appears they could not agree among themselves. (Sydney Monitor 11 Jan 1841, p. 2.) The undermentioned Prisoners attached to the Boat's Crew at Norfolk Island, effected their escape in a Whale Boat from Phillip Island, on the 1st December, 1840. Atkinson, William, Guildford (7); 30, London, labourer, 5 feet 1 inch and upwards, fair ruddy camp., fair hair, dark brown eyes, W. A.U.S. on upper, anchor M READ I and IF on lower left arm, IE on lower right arm. Hurst Joseph, Henry Tanner [ship], 27, Lincolnshire, waterman and seaman, 5 feet 6 3/4 inches, ruddy and little pockpitted comp., brown hair, hazel grey eyes, two front upper teeth apart, forehead pockmarked, scar right side of upper lip, middle finger of right hand contracted scar back of right thumb, scar back of fourth finger of left band. Lumley John, Marian Watson, 26, Sydney, seaman, 5 feet inches, fresh comp*, dark brown hair, grey eyes, from Van Diemen's Land. Mullen Thomas, Countess Harcourt (4), 26, Dublin, errand boy, 4 feet 3 inches and upwards, fresh comp. dark brown hair, dark brown eyes. Sproat Harle John, Lord Lyndoch (3), 26, North Shields, painter glazier and sail maker, 6 feet 6 ¼ inches, dark ruddy comp., brown mixed with grey hair, grey eyes, dimple on chin, scar on right eyebrow, two scrofula marks on left side of neck, Md on upper, CxSCxBxS inside lower left arm, MK Mary Sproat and swan inside lower left arm, same crooked, scar on left knee. Smith James, Lady Kennaway (2), 32, Glasgow, foundryman, 5 feet 9 1/4 inches, pale and pockpitted comp., light brown hair, hazel eyes, lost a front upper tooth, and canine tooth left side of under jaw, large brown scar calf of right leg. THOMAS RYAN, Chief Clerk. (New South Wales Government Gazette 2 Apr 1841, Issue No.26, p. 468) [I assume this is the same six absconders referred to in the first news article despite the difference in date. I have found no other escape from Norfolk Island around that time which matches the circumstances. – Chris Ison]

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Louise Roy on 2nd November 2012

Brother of convict Joseph. 1839, killed convict George Keith during a drunken fight in Tasmania. Sentenced to Norfolk Island for life. Reunited with his brother Joseph on Norfolk Island in 1839. On 30th November 1840, escaped on a boat with Thomas Mullen, Joseph Hirst, a pirate, John Halls, William Atkinson and James Smith. All these men had seafaring experience and being the wet season, had plenty of water. I believe they made it to New Zealand because John's brother Joseph went over there in 1850 for a while.