James Mills

218

Dianne Jones on 16th January 2021

CRIME: According to the Chapman's Muster Roll, James Mills (alias Milne) - described as a soldier, labourer - was arrested for "street robbery" (see NSW, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849; 1817 Chapman). TRIAL: He was committed for trial by Thomas Herbert on December 27, 1816. Mills appeared before Counsellor Torrens on January 21, 1817, to answer a charge of stealing £7/10/-. PRISON: Mills was initially held at Newgate prison, before being transferred to Kilmainham Gaol on December 27, the same day he was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years' transportation. As prisoner 3059, he was sent from Kilmainham on January 24, 1817, "to board the convict ship" (see Ireland, Prison Registers, 1790-1924; Dublin, Kilmainham 1815-1910).

53

Beth Taylor on 18th August 2019

1817 - James MILLS, arrived Sydney on the 26th July 1817 on the ship "Chapman", a convict with a 7 year term. He had been tried at Dublin City Court on 10 January 1817, was a native of Aberdeen, a soldier and labourer, aged 23, 5 feet 5 and a half inches tall, fair pale complexion, light brown hair and hazel eyes. (Source: SRNSW Convict Ship Indents - Microfiche 637; p306) 1823 to 1825 - James MILLS, convict, per "Chapman" 1817, 7 years, government servant to Samuel Terry, Liverpool (32824) (Source: 1823,1824, 1825 Muster of NSW) ================================= 1824 - NUMBER - 14/1711 NAME - James MILLS SHIP - Chapman YEAR 1817 TRIAL PLACE - Dublin City TRIAL DATE - 10 January 1817 SENTENCE - Seven years NATIVE PLACE - Chelsea OCCUPATION - Labourer, Gardener, Soldier AGE - Thirty HEIGHT - 5 feet 5 3/4 inches COMPLEXION - Sallow HAIR - Brown EYES - Hazel DATE OF CERTIFICATE - 10th January 1824 REMARKS - None (Source: SRNSW Certificates of Freedom - 4/4423; No. 14/1711; Reel 602) [have copy] ================================== 1828 - James MILLS, aged 37, free by servitude, per ship "Chapman", sentenced in 1817, 7 year sentence, protestant, gardener to Samuel Terry at Evan. (M2504) (Source: 1828 NSW Census) 1869 - James MILLS, aged 81, died on the 12th December 1869. (Source: DC 1869/5669

105

Denis Pember on 15th October 2017

James was recorded in the 1828 Census: Page 269... [Ref M2504] Mills, James, 37, FS, Chapman, 1817, 7 years, protestant, gardener for Samuel Terry at Evan. On 31st January 1831 he married Sarah Bolton. Sarah was the daughter of Robert Bolton (Convict, 1802, "Perseus") and Ann Smith (Convict, 1804, "Experiment"). James and Sarah had 10 children, born between 1833 and 1855.

105

Denis Pember on 15th October 2017

James Mills (Alias) took part in the political upheavel in Ireland, even though he was from Scotland. He changed his name on arrest to protect his father (Charles cameron) who was an army officer. The scandal would have damaged his father's career. He was convicted in a Dublin court on a political charge and was sentenced to 7 years transportation. He left Ireland on board the infamous "Chapman" in 1817 arriving in Sydney Cove 26 Jul 1817... They were all double ironed and held below decks for most of the voyage. Goveror Lachlan Macquarie was so appalled by the state of the convicts that he prosecuted those responsible. They were all acquitted. There had by then (July 26) 14 deaths among the prisoners. Five men had been killed outright during firings (to quell a suspected mutiny), seven had died of wounds, and two others had succumed to dysentry. Two seamen had also been killed or died of wounds. Although the surviving convicts were suffering from starvation and the effects of close confinement, only ten required hospital treatment, five of whom were suffering from gunshot wounds.