Walter Nevan

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Dianne Jones on 11th May 2022

CORRECTION: Date of Court Martial was 15 June, 1840 (Judge Advocate General's Office: general courts martial registers, abroad; 01 January 1829 to 31 December 1850). Note: His VDL Conduct Record incorrectly gives it was 28 June, 1840.

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Dianne Jones on 11th May 2022

DEATH: 18 May, 1868: Walter Nevan died in the General Hospital, Hobart, aged 56, from "morbus cardis" (heart disease). He was a shoemaker from Renfrew and his death was registered as #7319 on 1 June, 1868 (https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD35-1-7p284j2k).

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Dianne Jones on 11th May 2022

24 October, 1844: Received a Ticket of Leave. 3 January, 1848: Free by Servitude. 15 January, 1848: Discharged from the Prisoners' Barracks [Why the delay?] (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON37-1-1$init=CON37-1-1p40). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 11th May 2022

25 February, 1842: Larceny under £5 and absconding -- sentenced to 12 months' hard labour (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON37-1-1$init=CON37-1-1p40). -- 31 August, 1844: PPH 3rd Class -- he was ranked as a Probation Pass Holder, 3rd class. “The Probation System was an experiment in penal discipline unique to Van Diemen’s Land. Introduced in 1839, it was modified several times from 1846 until it was abandoned altogether following the abolition of transportation to the colony in 1853… All convicts were to be subjected to successive stages of punishment, commencing with a period of confinement and labour in gangs: at a penal settlement for life-sentenced prisoners, or at a probation station for all others. If they progressed satisfactorily through several stages of decreasing severity, they received a probation pass and became available for hire to the settlers. Gangs of passholders awaiting employment remained at the stations and continued to labour on public works. Sustained good conduct eventually led to a ticket-of-leave or a pardon. More than eighty probation stations operated in various locations, for varying periods, throughout the settled districts. Often hastily and poorly built, few remain, and most of those in ruins.” (“The companion to Tasmanian history: Probation system” at https://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 11th May 2022

IN VDL: 16 April, 1841: On arrival in VDL, Walter Nevan was listed as #535, a shoemaker, 28 years old, single, able to read only, Presbyterian; native place Paisley, Scotland; family—father Walter, a shoemaker, three brothers and three sisters, all in Paisley. He had served in the 21st Foot for 10 years and said he had been transported for "striking Corporal D Mason. I was drunk at the time" (https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON16-1-1$init=CON16-1-1P166). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 11th May 2022

TRANSPORTATION: 27 March, 1841: He arrived in NSW per the Adelia Marqueda (aka Adele Marquard, and aka Adelina Marqude in some VDL records). — 29 May, 1841: He was one of six convicted men, who had arrived per the Adelia Marqueda two months previously, and who were sent aboard the Abercrombie to be transported to VDL. “DEPARTURES. For Hobart Town, on Saturday last, the schooner Abercrombie, Captain Douglass, with sundries. Passengers-Miss Donnell, three steerage, five convicts, and guard.” (Sydney Herald, 31 May, 1841, p 2 at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12869367). [Six convicts are listed as received from the Abercrombie; see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON16-1-1$init=CON16-1-1P166). --00--

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Dianne Jones on 11th May 2022

CONVICTED AT: 2 September, 1840: Private Walter NEVAN (aka NIVEN) of the 21st Regiment of Foot (Royal Scots Fusiliers) was court martialled at FORT WILLIAM, India—not MADRAS, as listed above (because Fort William doesn't appear on the list of options). He was sentenced to 7 years’ transportation for being "drunk, striking a corporal and abusive language" (Judge Advocate General's Office: general courts martial registers, abroad; 01 January 1829 to 31 December 1850). —0—