Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
John Owen was transported on the Nile, departing 18th Sep 1857 and arriving 1st Jan 1858 with 271 passengers.
Nile (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/18, Page Number 238. --0-- Edgar, W. (Bill) (2018), “The precarious voyage of her majesty’s convict ship ‘Nile’ to the Swan River colony, late 1857 – and the unexpected aftermath.” The Great Circle, 40(1), 20–43. |
| 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
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: OWEN, John; inmate #4713, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1830 Marital Status: Married Occupation: Blacksmith Sentence Place: Kirkdale, Lancashire, England Crime: Larceny Sentence Period: 5 years penal servitude Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket of Leave Date: 25 Apr 1859 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--
VOYAGE: On board the Nile, his behaviour was "very indifferent" and he was handcuffed for 2 hours for an unspecified offence (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Character Book for Nos 4508-5585 (R8)). --00--
1856: Portland -- listed as 26 when convicted, married, a blacksmith, able to read and write imperfectly, Protestant; behaviour "very good". Portland, Portsmouth, Chatham and Spike Island in Ireland were listed public works stations and the second stage in the penal process. After separate confinement, prisoners were “placed on work parties at various locations, most commonly naval stations, where maintenance of facilities was vital for the effective protection of Britain’s far flung commercial and military influences around the world. While there, attitude and behaviour were monitored closely. In theory, only after consistently positive reports was a prisoner moved on to the third stage of his incarceration—transportation.” (Edgar, p40) He was sent from here to board the Nile for transportation to WA. --0--
1856: Leicester County Gaol and House of Correction, Welford Road, Leicester -- served 9 months 6 days in separate confinement; behaviour "good". “After a sentence of transportation [or penal servitude, it seems]was handed down, the prisoner entered into a separate stage where he was placed into an individual cell, isolated from others, apart from brief periods of exercise and attendance at chapel. However, no communication of any kind with other prisoners was permitted at any time. The philosophy behind this penal methodology had its provenances in the religious, monastic traditions; i.e., that in the isolation of his cell the malefactor would be able to contemplate the errors of his way, unadulterated by the negative influences of former contemporaries, and be reformed.” (Edgar, 2018, pp39-40) When first put into practice, the mandated period of separate confinement was 18 months. By the late 1840s, authorities had conceded that such conditions of imprisonment were “injurious to many prisoners’ mental health” and the stint was reduced to 12 months. Periods of separate confinement were reduced further “as a prisoner displayed good behaviour tendencies” (Edgar, p40). Millbank, Pentonville, Wakefield and Mountjoy in Ireland were the “Probation” or “Separate” prisons, as were some local jails such as Leicester. --0--
JAILS: 1856: Kirkdale County Gaol and House of Correction, Kirkdale -- served 2 months 20 days. --0--
TRIAL: 22 April, 1856: John Owen was convicted at Kirkdale Adjourned Sessions of stealing from the person and sentenced to 5 years' penal servitude (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for John Owen; England; Lancashire; 1856). --0--