Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
George Meakins 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 241 (122). --0-- Edgar, W. (Bill) (2018), “The precarious voyage of her majesty’s convict ship ‘Nile’ to the Swan River colony, late 1857 – and the unexpected aftermath.” The Great Circle, 40(1), 20–43. |
| 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 |
Claims
"George Meakins is a direct line ancestor."
"direct relative"
"George Meakins was my Great Great Grandfather"
Photos
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Convict Notes
DEATH of George Meakins: Name: George Adams Meakins Birth Date: 16 Jul 1820 Birth Place: Potterspury, South Northamptonshire Borough, Northamptonshire, England Death Date: 7 May 1891 Death Place: Western Australia, Australia Cemetery: East Perth Cemeteries Burial or Cremation Place: Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia Has Bio?: Y Spouse: Phoebe Elizabeth Meakins Children: Robert James Meakins Joseph George Adams Meakins URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/207565520/george-adams-meakins --00--
OTHER: From the 1851 Census, England: George Meakins, 30, baker; Phoebe Meakins, 30, dressmaker; and children Phoebe, 4, Joseph, 2, and Mary 2 weeks (1851 England Census for George Meakins; Northamptonshire; Potterspury). --0--
9 November, 1860: George Meakins' family arrived in WA per Lord Raglan -- see below. --0-- From the "Convicts associated with Toodyay" database: Meakins, George (1820-1891) 4626 1858-01-01 Nile CWA: Mar; 4 chn; baker; lit Prot; sheep stealing 14 yrs; Toodyay; mar. Phoebe Hayden. BDWA: Meakins, George, (expiree), arr. 1.1.1858 per Nile, family arr. 9.11.1860 per Lord Raglan, m. Phoebe. Chd. [several] Employed 2 T/L men Toodyay 1860 & 1861. Guildford wheelwright. Signed a petition in 1877 regarding discrimination against expirees (https://www.toodyay.wa.gov.au/). --00--
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: MEAKINS, George; inmate #4626, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1820 Place of Birth: Potterspury, Northampton, England Date of Death: 7 May 1891 Place of Death: Perth Marital Status: Married 4 children Occupation: Baker Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Northampton, Northampton, England Crime: Sheep stealing Sentence Period: 14 years Ticket of Leave Date: 31 Aug 1859 at Toodyay Conditional Pardon Date: 29 Jan 1862 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --0--
8 September, 1857: He was sent from Portsmouth to board the Nile, convict #24/3803. On this manifest of men from Portsmouth, he is now listed as the father of 4 children (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--
30 March, 1857: Admitted to Portsmouth prison -- inmate #3803. 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) George Meakins was listed as 36 when convicted; Church of England; health "good". Next of kin -- his wife, Phoebe Meakins, Potterspury, Northamptonshire. He served 5 months 10 days in public works and by the time he left he had completed 1 year 6 months 12 days of his 14 year sentence (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for Geo Meakins; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners; 1855-1858). --0--
25 June, 1856: Admitted to Pentonville prison, Caledonian Road, London -- inmate #6806. He served 9 months 3 days in separate confinement; behaviour "good". Listed as 36 when convicted, baker, 5'5¾" tall with brown hair, grey eyes and fresh complexion; large scar on left arm. Married, 3 children; able to read and write; good character (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for George Meakins; Pentonville Prison; Register of Prisoners; 1854-1856). --0--
30 April, 1856: Admitted to Millbank prison in Westminster, London -- served 1 month 26 days in separate confinement; behaviour "good". “After a sentence of transportation 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: 20 February, 1856: Admitted to Northampton jail where he served 2 months 13 days prior to and following his conviction; behaviour "good". --0-- From the Northampton Mercury, 1 March, p3: "Commitments to the County Gaol and House of Correction. — George Meakins, charged with stealing one sheep, at Yardley Gobion" [about 1 mile north of his home at Potterspury] (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/). --0--
TRIAL: 28 February, 1856: Convicted at Northampton Assizes of sheep stealing; sentenced to 14 years' transportation (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for George Meakins; England; Northamptonshire; 1856). --0--