William Muirhead

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 26th March 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Cawdry - 1826. Indent No; 7 Name; William Muirhead. Age; 25 [1801/2] Reads & writes , Single Native Place; Co. Stirling Trade or calling; Soldier & Errand Boy Offence; Murder. Calcutta Sentence; Life. Height; 5 ft. 8 1/4 in Eyes; Hazel Hair; Dk. Brown Completion; Brown Assigned; Thos. Aspinall, Sydney Remarks; Allowed to remain in the District of Bathurst 1833 - 1 Dec. Ticket of Leave. 33/942.

341

Maureen Withey on 26th December 2019

William Muirhead was transported to New South Wales in 1826 on the Cawdry, from India. THIS SHIP HAS NOT YET BEEN ENTERED ON THIS WEBSITE. William Muirhead was one of 14 military prisoners who came from India on the Cawdry. Law. Supreme Court, Oct 28 – Ebenezer Picken and William Muirhead were indicted for shooting a native at the cantonments of the subsidiary force at Nagpore. The jury after twice retiring, and a long deliberation, found the prisoners guilty, on the belief that what they confessed to their comrades - “we have killed a black fellow” - was fact; besides which, the defence they put forth was in itself sufficient to raise doubts of their innocence; for, they asserted, that the natives of the Nagapore country were in the habit of firing random shots to frighten away wild animals. Mr Turton, however, has moved for an arrest of judgement, on the ground that it is no murder here, if the life of a man was taken in the territories of a foreign prince. He has applied for time to consider the case, previously to his ultimate address to the bench on this subject. (Beng. Hurk.) Source - The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Magazine for British and Foreign .., Volume 19, May 1825. He was a member of the 1831 expedition of Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, surveyor for roads and bridges. Following are extracts from Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell's journal pertaining to his journey from Parramatta, through the Hunter and to the Liverpool Ranges.......... I bade adieu to my family, and left Sydney at noon on Thursday, the 24th day of November 1831, being accompanied for some miles by my friend Colonel Snodgrass. Nov. 30. - At length I had the satisfaction to see my party move forward in exploring order; it consisted of the following persons, viz.: - Bullock Drivers - Robert/William Muirhead (Cawdry), Daniel Delaney (Asia 1822), James Forehan, … These were the best men I could find. All were ready to face fire or water, in hopes of regaining by desperate exploits, a portion, at least, of that liberty which had been forfeited to the laws of their country. This was always a favourite service with the best disposed of the convict prisoners, for in the event of their meriting, by their good conduct, a favourable report on my return, the government was likely to grant them some indulgence. I chose these men either from the characters they bore, or according to their trade or particular qualifications: ... Robert Muirhead had been a soldier in India, and banished, for some mutiny, to New South Wales; where his steady conduct had obtained for him an excellent character. Of the above men, six men would also accompany Sir Thomas Mitchell's expedition in 1836 - Alexander Burnett, William Woods, John Palmer, Robert Muirhead, Joseph Jones, and Anthony Brown. William received a Conditional Pardon. Dated 25 November, 1835 Muirhead William, Cawdry. By Command of His Excellency the Governor, ALEXANDER M'LEAY Sydney Gazette, 24 Dec 1836. PARDONS. HIS Excellency the Governor has directed it to be notified that the Right Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, has signified in his despatch No. 37, dated 4th December, 1837, Her Majesty's gracious approbation and allowance of the Absolute and Conditional Pardons granted to the undermentioned individuals, viz. — ABSOLUTE PARDONS. Dated 27th April, 1837. Muirhead, William, Cawdry Palmer, John, 'Asia 2 Woods, William, Royal Charlotte The Australian, 15 May 1838.