Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Charles Merrin was transported on the Thomas Arbuthnot, departing 6th Jan 1847 and arriving 4th May 1847 with 289 passengers.
Built 1841 at Aberdeen, Scotland. Wood ship of 621 Tons. Thomas Arbuthnot, 1847. “The Thomas Arbuthnot convict ship, Captain Thomson, sailed from Spithead this morning for Port Phillip, with a superior class of delinquents, officially called “exiles.” These are the first “exiles” sent to the above settlement, which the inhabitants of that respectable place are very wroth at, and have memorialised the Government on the subject. The most ingenious trades and professions are carried on, on board this ship; in fact, we believe, all trades in vogue have their representatives on board. The most ingenious affair, however, is a newspaper in manuscript, published every Saturday, having its foreign and domestic correspondence, advertisements, and, indeed, all the necessary accessories to an apparently well-conducted journal. The articles are well written and the arrangements well made. The name of this paper is the Citadel, and the conductors dub the captain of the ship ” the governor.” The Citadel having no opponents enjoys a large circulation. The editor is a man who has been of considerable note in the legitimate literary world; but all names and circumstances in connexion with their present position is strictly preserved secret with regard to these “exiles,” the greatest majority of whom are juvenile offenders from Millbank, Pentonville, and Parkhurst (Isle of Wight) prisons.”—Times, January 12. Published in the Launceston Examiner, 2 June 1847. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36252218?searchTerm=Thomas Arbuthnot There was a lot of public criticism of the arrival of these “Exiles” in New South Wales, and of their treatment, by being offered training, etc, to the detriment of honest but poor labourers.
Thomas Arbuthnot (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 92, Class and Piece Number HO11/15, Page Number 151 (77) |
| 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
MERRIN.—On the 26th of August, at Talbot-street, Colac, Louisa, relict of the late Charles Merrin; aged 80 years. The funeral is appointed to leave her late residence this Friday afternoon at 3.30 for the Colac Cemetery. The Colac Herald, 27 Aug 1915. One of the oldest residents of the Colac district, in the person of Mrs. Merrin, relict of the late Charles Merrin, died at Colac on Wednesday evening at the advanced age of 80 years. She was born at Hobart (Tasmania) in 1835, and nine years later she came to Victoria with her parents. She was married at Colac East in 1851, and had resided in the district ever since. Her husband died 26 years ago, and she leaves a family of three sons and four daughters. to mourn their toss-Mr. John Merrin (Red Hill). Mr. Joseph Merrin (W.A.), Mr. Archie Merrin (New Zealand). Mrs. A. Denmead (Colac), Mrs. R. Webster (Colac), Mrs. J. Kalin (Kensington). and Mrs. J. Angus (Curdie's River). She also leaves 51 grandchildren and 24 great-grand children. The funeral will leave her late residence, Talbot-street, Colac, this afternoon at 3.30 o'clock for the Colac Cemetery. The Colac Herald, 27 Aug 1915.
Convict Exiles Index. Charles Merrin, age 16, per Thomas Arbuthnot. Date of trial, 25/73/1845, at Nottingham Assizes, sentence, 7 years, Charge, Breaking and entering a dwelling house and stealing therein. Remarks: The conduct of all these prisoners during their stay in Milbank Prison has been good; besides having learned to read and write well, they have made some progress in Arithmetic and all have been instructed in some useful trade. ---------------------------------------------------- Nottingham Review. … Charles Crest and Charles Merrin, for housebreaking. … Nottingham Review, 25 July 1845.
Married Louisa Archibald, Colac 1851 Had 12 children.