Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Matthew Nelson was transported on the Calcutta, departing 31st Jan 1803 and arriving 4th Oct 1803 with 305 passengers.
HMS Calcutta was the East Indiaman Warley (1795), converted to a Royal Navy ship. This ship of the line served for a time as an armed transport. She also transported convicts to Australia. The French Magnanime captured Calcutta in 1805. In 1809, after she ran aground during the Battle of the Basque Roads and her crew had abandoned her, a British boarding party burned her. In 1803 the Calcutta sailed into Port Phillip bay where at least 4 convicts escaped , in Sydney in April 1804 it was reported that 8 had died on the trip. Of the four known escapees one was shot on escape, 2 turned back after 2 days to reattach to the group at the camp in bay before the boat left , one continued on ...into Australia's history books. At least 13 convicts were transferred on to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), Australia.The ship also carried officers, wives and free settlers.
Calcutta (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 341 (170) |
| 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
Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 14 February 2023), April 1802, trial of MATHEW NELSON WILLIAM HUNT (t18020428-142). MATHEW NELSON, WILLIAM HUNT, Theft > shoplifting, 28th April 1802. 407. MATHEW NELSON and WILLIAM HUNT were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 14th of April , six silk handkerchiefs, value 36s. the property of George Oliver , privately in his shop . The prisoners not being proved to have possession of the goods, were Both ACQUITTED . First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant. ------------------------------------------------- MATTHEW NELSON, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 28th April 1802. 408. MATTHEW NELSON was again indicted for feloniously making an assault, on the King's highway, upon John Howard, on the 7th of April , and putting him in fear, and taking from his person, against his will, five silver boxes for watches, value 2l. the property of James Hallam . JOHN HOWARD sworn. - I am eleven years of age, and know the nature of an oath; my master, James Hallam, is a springer and liner of watches : On the 7th of April, I was going to Mr. Palmer's, and Mr. Wood's, with some silver boxes for watches, and met one Pollard, by the Jolly Coopers, in Short's-buildings, Clerkenwell, who asked me where I was going; we went on till we came to Aylesbury-street, and he asked me if I was going up Compton-street; I said, no; then he went up Compton-street; and I went down St. John's-street; as I was going up Sutton-street, I met Nelson, the prisoner, who said, Mr. Palmer was his master, and I had the wrong box for him, and told me to give him my bag, but I would not; then he told me to run, which I did; he told me not to run quite so fast, and, when we came to Aylesbury-street , he hit me a blow in the mouth, which made it bleed, put his hand in the bag, and took five boxes out, and run down Woodbridge-street; I went home to my master, and told him. Q.Are you sure he struck you a violent blow when he took them? - A. Yes, while he was taking them; I never saw them again, I am sure the prisoner is the lad; Pollard was with him, but was discharged. JAMES HALLAM sworn. - I am master of the boy, and, on the 7th of April, he came home with his mouth bleeding, and had lost five cases; he had eleven, but brought back only six. WILLIAM POWELL sworn. - I saw the prisoner going along with John Howard; and Mr. Howe, the corner of Jarusalem-court, sent me to tell John Howard to come back, because he knew the prisoner before. EDWARD PEMBERTON sworn. - I am twelve years of age, and know the nature of an oath; I saw Nelson go over the way to John Howare , and tell him to come back, for they were the wrong boxes, at the corner of Sutton-street; I am sure that is the boy. JOHN RAY sworn. - I took the prisoner into custody for the handkerchiefs, but nothing was found on him. Prisoner's defence. I never saw the boy at all; I was going to my aunt's the same day. GUILTY , aged 14. Of the larceny. Transported for seven years . First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant.
1811 - New South Wales, Census and Population Books, 1811-1825 for Mattw Nelson Hobart Town, Port Dalrymple and Norfolk Island Population Muster, 1811 Residence; Hobart Town
Matthew Nelson. Vessell Calcutta. Middlesex Goal Delivery 28/04/1802. Sentence 7 years ------------------------------------- Tasmania, Australia, Convict Court and Selected Records, 1800-1899 Name: Matthew Nelson Date: 28 Apr 1802 Place: Tasmania, Australia Record Type: Register Ship: Calcutta Reference Number: CON22-1-2 P 103, Image 131 of 675