Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
William Nelson was transported on the George The Third, departing 12th Dec 1834 and arriving 12th Mar 1835 with 220 passengers.
Built at Deptford, England in 1810. 394 tons, 114 feet length, 28 feet 3 inches beam. Registered at the Port of London. George III, was wrecked on reefs at the south-eastern entrance to the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) on 12 March 1835 near the end of a voyage from Woolwich to Hobart Town. 133 of 220 male convicts on board lost their lives, 81 survived, one being a 10yr old boy. Only five of the 88 crew, guards and their families were drowned. Firearms had been discharged to keep the convicts below decks while the latter were being evacuated.
George The Third (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 90, Class and Piece Number HO11/9, Page Number 491 (247) |
| 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
CON31-1-33 Image 69 Native Place; Soho TRIAL; 15 May 1834 No; 359. TRIAL; 15 May 1834 Offence; Stealing Glass in a dwelling house "Strongly recommended by the officer on bord, for having saved the ship from fire during the voyage. Surgeons Report;- "Heroic, carried the powder from the midst of the fire scorching his hands remained amidst the flame pouring down the water until all was extinguished. His conduct during the wreck & afterwards in the boat and on Shore equally meritorious. Status; Single. Height; 5 ft 4 3/4 inches aged 25 years old Trade; Brass Finisher Protestant, able to read & write 1838 - 8 December 1838. Conditional Pardon 1845 - Free Certificate. Nol 144/1845
one of two convicts who helped put out a fire on board that threatened to destroy the ship an extract from Hobart Town Courier: The ship, 400 tons, was in command of Captain William Hall Moxey, and Bailed from Woolwich on the'14th of December, 1834, having on board 220 convicts, a military guard of 29 rank and file, and three officers, Major Ryan, Lieutenant Minion and Doctor MacGregor ; the Surgeon Superintendent of convict!, Dr. Wise; besides her crew, and several of the soldiers' wives and children, in all 308 persons, which number was increased to 310, by the birth of two children at sea ; of the convicts 40 were boys. The voyage was one of sickness, death, and disaster, from first to last. When within the tropics-from some unexplained neglect whilst drawing off spirits the doomed ship took fire ; and the flames spread go quickly, that her destruction was for a time looked on as certain. But neither the captain, nor his brave officers and crew, lost presence of mind for one moment, but fought like salamanders with the fire; and as example, whether good or bad, is always contagious, both soldiers and convicts flew to their side, working manfully to beat it down ; and by efforts almost superhuman they got it under at last. Two of the bravest of the last named class-Jones and Nelson-were eminently conspicuous in this service, and but for them the ship must have gone to fragments the next minute. The flames had reached the magazine (for' she had some military stores on board), when these two fellows, undeterred either by the in- tensely heated atmosphere, or the smoke that rolled between decks, made a dash into it, and succeeded in removing the powder; though, says the account I quote from, some of the copper kegs in which it was packed were " so hot from the surrounding flames," as to scorch their hands as they carried them off. (Dr. Wise's evidence, Hobart Town Courier, 17th April.)
He survived the wreck of George the Third on April 13, 1835 Extract of Home Office transportation registers (The National Archives microfilm HO11) William Nelson? ; Middlesex Gaol Deliv.y; 15-5-1834; Seven years; Saved extract from The Hobart Town Courier (Tas. : 1827 - 1839), p. 4. -William Nelson, a prisoner. When the ship struck, I ran to the prison gates at the main hatch, and called the sentry to let us see our Doctor. The sentry said, be quiet. The Doctor came and told us if there was any danger we should be let out. I heard the water rushing about in the hold. We succeeded in breaking some of the uprights, and I got out and lay under the hatchway. The prisoners and the soldiers both said, go back or you will be shot. Five or six muskets were pointed at me down the hatch way. The Doctor then came a second time to the hatchway, and I entreated him to come down, he did so, and when he returned I followed to the quarter deck. I heard several shots fired but do not know in what direction.