Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
George Pettet was transported on the Augusta Jessie, departing 10th Aug 1838 and arriving 6th Dec 1838 with 211 passengers.
Augusta Jessie (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 90, Class and Piece Number HO11/11, Page Number 328 |
| 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
1840, 24 February: George Pettit, executed aged 19, was buried in Hobart (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD34-1-2p019j2k).
1840, 3 February: In the Supreme Court, Hobart Town, George Pettit was convicted for the murder of John Paul (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/SC32-1-4$init=SC32-1-4p042jpg). A detailed report of the trial was published in the Hobart Town Courier on 7 February, p2, and is available on Trove at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8747814?searchTerm=george pettit. 1840, 6 February: The Chief Justice sentenced George Pettit to be hanged and afterwards dissected (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/SC32-1-4$init=SC32-1-4p042jpg). 1840, 21 February: The Hobart Town Courier reported on George Pettit’s execution, on p2: “On Monday morning last [17 February] the four condemned criminals, Riley, Davis, Pettit, and Martin, suffered the extreme penalty of the law at the usual place of execution, in front of the gaol in Hobart Town. A much larger concourse of people were present to witness the disgusting exhibition than has been usual upon former occasions… George Pettit, as we have already mentioned, was a native of Norfolk, where he has some respectable relations now living. He stated a short time before his execution that the evidence against him was quite true, and that Mr. Paul's statement, describing the manner in which he had been shot, was perfectly correct. He attributed all that he had suffered to the uncontrolled violence of his temper, which he owned had driven him to commit all kinds of wickedness, and that young as he was (nineteen only), he had committed almost every species of sin that could be named.”
1840, 26 January: George Pettit was arrested for the murder of John Paul, at St Peter’s Pass north of the village of Oatlands. A report of the Paul shooting and Pettit’s arrest was published in the Hobart Town Courier, 31 January, p2: “Cold-Blooded Murder… On Monday morning last an assigned convict servant in the service of Mr. D. O’Connor, at St. Peter’s Pass, having conceived offence against his overseer (Mr. John Paul) for some rebuke which he had passed upon him, suddenly entered the room where Mr. Paul was sitting, and producing a fowling piece, desired his overseer to go down upon his knees and say his prayers. Mr. Paul endeavoured to shut the door between them, but had not time before the inhuman ruffian fired at him and lodged a charge of shot in the breast and right hand, which Mr. Paul held up in his defence. After committing this atrocious act, the prisoner absconded, taking the gun with him. Immediate information having been conveyed to the Police Magistrate at Oatlands, parties of the constabulary were pushed out in various directions, and the same evening the prisoner was safely lodged in the gaol at Oatlands. Mr. Paul, of whose recovery some hopes were at first entertained, died of his wounds on Monday night. He was a remarkably quiet and inoffensive man, and arrived in the colony by the Derwent, Captain Riddle, in January 1837. George Pettit, the name of the miserable murderer, is a good-looking young man, of about twenty. He exhibited very little contrition when taken by the constables, owning to them, that after firing the first shot, as Paul did not immediately drop, he went behind the haystack, re-loaded his piece, and returned to have a second shot, but finding poor Paul was by that time lying on the ground weltering in his blood, he changed his purpose. Pettit came to this colony about twelve months ago, under a sentence of fourteen years, and was assigned to Mr. D. O’Connor, who sent him first down to his farm at Brown’s River; here he had not remained long before he appeared at the Police-office, to urge some absurd and frivolous charge against his master, upon which occasion he was very properly reprimanded by the Assistant Police Magistrate, and he was then removed from Brown's River up to Mr. O’Connor's farm at St. Peter’s Pass. He is understood to have had very respectable connexions at home, from whom his love of low company and dissolute habits at first estranged and finally separated him. An inquest upon the body of Mr. John Paul was held on Tuesday, and the jury returned a verdict of ‘wilful murder’. Since writing the above, we learn from good authority, that there is every probability that the trial of the prisoner Pettit will come on in the Supreme Court on Monday next. We regret to add that the prisoner, ever since he committed the fatal act, has exhibited evidences of the most insensible mind; his nerves appear unshaken, and his countenance has been unmoved throughout the whole proceeding of the inquest, and this with a clear impression of the hopelessness of his case. The deceased, Mr. John Paul, was buried yesterday, in the private cemetery of Mr. Daniel O’Connor. The residents in the neighbourhood intended to testify their respect for the memory of the deceased, by attending his burial, but abstained, in deference to the wishes of his widow, who desired the interment to be strictly private.”
1838, 4 July: George Pettet, listed as 19, was convicted at the Norfolk County Sessions at Norwich of "larceny [stealing from a dwelling house] and before convicted of felony". He was sentenced to 14 years' transportation (see England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England, Norfolk 1838). 1838, 17 July: George Pettet, listed as 19, was received from Norwich aboard the prison hulk Justitia at Woolwich. His hulk record said he was single, could not read or write and was an agricultural labourer. He was sent from the hulk for transportation on 4 August 1838 (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849). 1838: On arrival in VDL, his Conduct Record listed him as George Pettit. It quoted the prison hulk report describing him as "a very bad character with respectable connections". He was single, and said he had two previous convictions -- one for stealing lead (6 months) and one for stealing green peas (14 days). The ship's surgeon called him "well behaved" during the voyage (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-36$init=CON31-1-36p63). He was described as 19 and a labourer from Norfolk. He was 5’4½” tall, with a dark complexion, black hair and hazel eyes (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON18-1-4$init=CON18-1-4p203).
1837, 28 June: George Pettit, 17, was convicted at the Norfolk County Sessions at Norwich for stealing lead. He was sentenced to 6 months' jail (see England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England, Norfolk 1837). Note: It’s likely that this is George Pettet, born on 23 February 1820, and baptised on 26 March 1820 at Great Melton, Norfolk; parents Robert Pettet and Sarah Smith (see Norfolk, England, Transcripts of Church of England Baptism, Marriage and Burial Registers, 1600-1935).