Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Peter Mottram 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 142 |
| 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
Three boys, named Peter Mottram, 15; Charles Walker,15; and William Gaskill, 10, were charged with breaking into the dwelling-house of Matthew Shaw, at Macclesfield, during the night of Wednesday, the 4th of January, and stealing therefrom a pair of trousers, a purse containing 9s. 6d., and other articles. It appeared from the evidence that on the night in question the house of the prosecutor was entered, by a pane of a window being removed, which would leave space sufficient for the boy Gaskill to enter, and the articles mentioned taken away. Early next morning the prosecutor got up, and, on finding he was robbed procured assistance, and traced the marks of bare feet on the snow which had fallen from his own house to a cabin, where the prisoners were found in the act of putting on their clogs, with part of the stolen property on them, and a jacket belonging to Gaskill was found near the window. The Jury found all the prisoners Guilty. His Lordship deferred passing sentence. Morning Post, 8 April 1843. Assize Intelligence. SATURDAY. {Before Mr. Justice Mamie.) Mr. Justice took his seat the bench this morning at nine o'clock. Peter Mottram, Charles Walker, and Wm. Gaskell, who had been convicted of a burglary on a previous day, were sentenced, the two former to ten years transportation, and the latter to six months' imprisonment. Chester Chronicle, Friday 14 April 1843 ------------------------------------------------------- THE 'EXILES' PER ‘SIR GEORGE SEYMOUR'. The accounts given in the Hobart Town papers of the conduct, during the voyage, of the "Exiles" by the above ship, and of the cleanliness which pervaded the vessel on her arrival, are very flattering to all those concerned. The annexed is from the COURIER, of the 4th instant: 'The men, too, are of a very superior order, and the greatest credit is due to Dr. Hampton, the Surgeon-Superintendent, for the excellent arrangements which are discoverable in their comfort and classification. The vessel proceeds to Port Phillip the latter end of the present week with that portion of the prisoners who have obtained conditional pardons. The remainder, by far the larger portion, ticket-of-leave men and pass-holders, remain in the Colony. The Government have rented Mr. Solomon's house in Argyle-street, as a hiring depot for those latter men who are well clad, and present, altogether, a very different appearance from the ordinary class of convicts. Several of the men, we understand, have been already engaged, at wages varying from ten to twelve pounds a year; and every facility is afforded by the Surgeon-Superintendent to those who, for the purpose of engaging servants, visit this vessel. It is necessary, however, to be provided with an order from the Colonial Secretary to go on board the ship." Two other ships were daily expected with similar cargoes from England, to arrive at Launceston. The Australian, 20 Mar 1845. Exiles. Transportation to NSW effectively ceased in 1842 but between 1846-1850 exiles were transported. Exiles had served part of their sentence in a penitentiary in Britain and were granted a conditional pardon or ticket of leave on arrival in the Colony.