Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
John Pearsall 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 343 (171) |
| 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 |
Claims
"4th great grandfather"
Photos
No photos have been added for John Pearsall.
Convict Notes
Family connections for John (Pearsall) are: PEARSALL John (Pearsall/Pierceall) was born on 1 6 1791 at St Dunstan & All Saints Greater London. He was tried for stealing chickens etc at Stafford Assizes Staffordshire on 22 7 1801, sentenced to death respited to Life, held at Stafford Gaol Delivery & on hulk at Portsmouth & arrived in Van Diemens Land or Port Phillip Victoria then Hobart Tasmania, on 4 10 1803 after a voyage of 7+months on HMS CALCUTTA (an expedition that settled in Tasmania); he would have camped at what is now Sorrento/Sullivans Bay. This expedition rejected Port Phillip for a settlement at this time & he was moved to Risdon Derwent Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) on 27 1 1804 (arriving on 15 2 1804) on OCEAN or HMS LADY NELSON or leaving on 24 3 1804 (arriving on 25 6 1804) on OCEAN. He was granted 70acres at Clarence Plains. He was listed to receive a Conditional Pardon on 12 1813. He was recorded as a farmer in 1827. He was issued his Absolute Pardon in November 1840. He died <1860 & was buried at St Matthews Rokeby. [Some details taken from this Website] Maria (Nicholls) was born in 1796 in England. She arrived at Port Phillip (now Victoria) with her parents on 4 10 1803 after a voyage of 7+months on OCEANalso (supply ship with HMS CALCUTTA) (an expedition that settled in Tasmania); she probably camped at what is now Sorrento/Sullivans Bay. She went on HMS LADY NELSON with her parents to Risdon Derwent Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) on 13 12 1803, arriving on 15 2 1804. She married at age13 William (Mansfield) on 4 12 1809 at St Davids CofE Hobart & produced at least 5children.>>> >>>a Maria (Nicholls) arrived at Port Phillip (now Victoria) on 4 10 1803 after a voyage of 7+months on OCEAN (supply ship with HMS CALCUTTA) (an expedition that settled in Tasmania); she probably camped at what is now Sorrento/Sullivans Bay. She went on HMS LADY NELSON to Risdon Derwent Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) on 13 12 1803, arriving on 15 2 1804. She married John (Pearsall/Pierceall) on 9 1 1816 at St Davids CofE Hobart. She was a farmer when she died on 22 3 1860 age64 by heart disease was buried at St Matthews Rokeby. .. John (Pearsall) & Maria (Nicholls) produced 6children: mostly girls 1.Frances (Pearsall) was born in June 1816. She died on 22 12 1816 age6m & was buried at St Davids CofE Hobart. 2.Benjamin (Pearsall) was born o 27 1 1818 & baptised on 26 2 1818 at St Davids CofE Hobart. He died on 12 5 1819 age16m & was buried at St Davids CofE Hobart. 3.Benjamin (Pearsall) was born on 1 12 1819 & baptised on 17 12 1819 at St Davids CofE Hobart. 4.Fanny (Pearsall) was born on 16 10 1821 & baptised on 11 11 1821 at Hobart. 5.Susannah (Pearsall) was born on 2 12 1823 & baptised on 18 1 1824 at Hobart town. She died on 9 3 1825 age15m. 6.Caroline Elizabeth (Pearsall) was born on 8 10 1827 & baptised on 12 11 1827 at Clarence Plains. Reference: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.
Death of Maria Pearsall, 22 March 1860, age 64 years, Farmer, Cause of death, disease of the heart, Informant, Benjamin Pearsall, son, Clarence Plains. On the 22nd March, at Clarence Plains, Maria Pearsall, relict of the late Mr John Pearsall, aged 63 years. Launceston Examiner, 12 April 1860.
Children Death of Frances Pearsall, age 6 weeks, buried 20 Dec 1816, in parish of Hobart Town. Baptisms in parish of Hobart Town district. Benjamin Pearsall, baptised 26 Feb 1818, born 27 January, son of John and Maria Pearsall, (married), resident at Hobart Town. Rev. R. Knopwood. Death of Benjamin Pearsall, aged 16 months, 9 May 1819. buried 12 May 1819, Hobart parish. Fanny Pearsall, baptised 11 Nov 1821, born 16 Oct, daughter of John and Maria Pearsall, (married, resident at Hobart. Rev. R. Knopwood. Susannah Pearsall, baptised 18 Jan 1824, born 2 Dec 1823, daughter of John and Maria, of Hobart Town. Rev. Wm. Bedford. Death of Susannah Pearsall, age 15 months, 9 March 1825. Caroline Elizabeth Pearsall, baptised 12 Nov 1827, at parish of Clarence Plains, born 8 Oct 1827, daughter of John and Maria Pearsall, resident at Clarence Plains, father- a Farmer. Rev. R. Knopwood. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Records – Colonial Secretary Correspondence : https://stors.tas.gov.au/CSO1-1-376-8585 Memorial of John Pearsall Sheweth That your Memorialist has been resident in this settlement since its first foundation by His Honor the Late Lieut Governor Collins and upon his becoming Free by Emancipation, received the indulgence of seventy acres of Land at Clarence Plains and proceeded to the cultivation thereof and has the present season thirty acres in Crop. That your Honor’s Memorialist is Married and has a family of three children and possessed of forty head of horned cattle, six working oxen and 160 sheep and the Land memorialist at present enjoys =is very indifferent and is desirous of extending his Agricultural pursuits and is possessed of the means to do so. Memorialist therefore humbly prays that your Honor will be pleased to grant him such further portion of Land as your Honor may deem proper to direct. And your memorialist in duty bound will ever pray, John Pearsall. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CSO1-1-376-8585$init=CSO1-1-376-8585-5 Letter dated 11 March 1825. In answer to the directions contained in the annexed Instructions , John Pearsall begs leave most respectfully to inform His Honor the Lieutenant Governor, that he has a farm of seventy acres of land at Clarence Plains, thirty of which are in a state of high cultivation besides five acres enclosed as a garden, twenty five of the thirty acres in cultivation are fenced in, he has erected a large commodious house on the farm , consisting of six good rooms together with barns and out houses. He is also possessed of one cart and six working bullocks besides ploughs, harrows and all other implements of husbandry, about forty head of horned cattle, one hundred and sixty sheep about one hundred and fifty bushels of wheat on hand besides pigs , poultry and divers other property. Clarence Plains, 11 March 1825. I hereby certify for the information of His Honor the Lieutenant Governor, that the above statement is correct. (signed) Wm. Bedford. and Ed. Boulthe,(?), Chief District Constable.
GOVERNMENT NOTICE. Colonial Secretary's Office, November 19. 1840. The Lieutenant-Governor has been pleased to direct that the following list of Convicts who have received Absolute or Conditional remission of their sentences, and of which her Majesty's gracious allowance has been notified, should be published for general information. The individuals in whose. favour the Pardons have been granted will therefore apply at the Muster Master's Office, Hobart Town, or if in the Interior, to the Police magistrate of the District, that they may receive the instruments of pardon: — ABSOLUTE PARDON. John Pearsall, Calcutta; The Cornwall Chronicle, 25 Nov 1840.
Colonial Secretary Index. PEARSALL, John. Per "Calcutta", 1803 1812 Oct 17 Received nails from H.M. Tool Store, Hobart (Reel 6044; 4/1729 p.333) 1813 Feb On list of convicts to receive conditional pardons or emancipations at the Derwent (Reel 6003; 4/3492 p.206)
https://records-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=INDEX2368949&context=L&vid=61SRA&lang=en_US&search_scope=Everything&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=default_tab&query=any,contains,James%20Ballance,AND&query=any,contains,Calcutta,AND&mode=advanced&offset=0 On list of convicts to receive conditional pardons or emancipations at the Derwent, Date 1/2/1813. 18. John Pearsall, per HMS Calcutta, Life, Stafford G.D. 22 July 1801.
Hulk Records. Portsmouth. HO-9-8_1. page 51/52 Received five from Stafford, 17 July. John Pearcall, age 27, C.R. (Capitally respited), Tried at Stafford, 22 July 1801, BS Life, Calcutta. --------------------------------------------------- At Stafford, ... N. Bate, and John Pearsall for stealing a calf; and ... were capitally convicted. Chester Courant, 4 Aug 1801.
Born: St Dunstan and All Saints, Greater London, UK 1791 Transported to Hobart on 31/12/1804 Crime: stole two chickens and a piece of cheese Married Maria Nichols, only daughter of William Nicholls (former free settler, Superlutenant of Hobart)
Born: St Dunstan and All Saints, Greater London, UK 1791 Transported as a 12 yr old Transported to Hobart on 31/12/1804 Married Maria Nichols, only daughter of William Nicholls (former free settler, Superlutenant of Hobart)