William Philp

51

Chris Ison on 5th December 2024

August 27, 1831 Conspiracy on board the Argyle, removed to Macquarie Harbour per colonial sentence of 27 Aug 1831. (Tasmanian Archives, William Philp Conduct Record, CON34-1-3p116)

343

Maureen Withey on 5th January 2023

Reported in the English Press: Piracy by Convicts. Information was received at the different Police establishments yesterday, that in the month of August, 1833, the Colonial Schooner, Badger, belonging to the Government of Van Diemen’s Land, was piratically seized and carried off {it was believed) by the following nine convicts, viz., George Harding Darby, convicted at Somerset in March, 1830, and transported for life, reported from the Hulks to have behaved very badly there and headed a party designing to mutiny; Wm. Phillip, convicted Cornwall, August, 1830, of setting fire to vessel, and transported for life ; John Nicola, convicted in London of robbery from the person, and transported for life; John Veaton, tried at Devon, March, 1829, and transported for life; Isaac Haines, tried in Sussex in July, 1832, transported for seven years; Lochlan Mackintosh, transported for life from Edinburgh July, 1831; John Deacon, tried Dorset in July, 1830, for sheep-stealing, and transported for life; Dowson, transported from London in 1830, for seven years ; Joseph Ward, tried at Leicester in March 1831, transported for life; and John Roberts convicted in Middlesex in September, 1830, of forgery, and transported for life. They arrived with the schooner at Lifutta one of the Friendly Islands, in September, 1833, and were known to have afterwards reached Macao, China, from whence it was supposed some of them would find their way back to England. Morning Advertiser. 5 June 1835. -------------------------------------------------- This is probably William's wife and two daughters in the 1841 census. 1841 Census England., at Church Street, Padstow, Mary Philp, age 50, born in Cornwall. Mary Philp, jun. age 25, born in Cornwall. Eliza Philp, age 20, born in Cornwall. --------------------------------------------------- There is a baptism for Eliza Philp, Father William Philp, mother Mary Philp, at Padstow, Cornwall, on 5 Aug 1818.

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Maureen Withey on 5th January 2023

PIRACY. " We have had reported to us the escape of the Badger, a Government Colonial vessel, stated to have been, entirely manned by convicts— as such a fact would envolve a charge which must cost Colonel Arthur his commission to govern this Colony any longer, we postpone observation, till due enquiry has been made." Thus speaks The Colonist of last week.— The loss of this vessel is confirmed by the demi-official journal of Friday last. It appears, that she left the port of Hobart Town on Tuesday week, with provisions for some military station at East Bay Neck ; at which place she was seen (by the signal-man from Mount Nelson) to pass without putting in, on the following day. No suspicion of her being taken away took place till yesterday se'n-night, when a signal man, stationed at Mount Nelson, was missing. The master and the whole of the crew are crown prisoners ! The signal-man at Mount Nelson, is a person named George H. Darby, who, it is said, was formerly a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and distinguished himself at the battle of Navarino. Besides this man, the following prisoners are officially advertised in last Friday's Gazette as missing :— William Philp, (formerly the master of a merchant vessel), John Venton, John Nicolas, Isaac Haines, and Lauglan Macintosh. The Clergyman, named Roberts, who was recently transported to this Colony, and who it was supposed had been sent to Port Arthur, is also gone. Several other convicts, used to the seafaring life, are likewise missing. The Badger is well fitted out for a long voyage, with plenty of provisions, muskets, ammunition, and nautical instruments, which the runaways procured. She is nearly a new vessel, about 25 tons, a good sailer, and newly coppered. She had, it is said, a fair wind out of port ; and whatever means may have been used by the Government to discover or overtake her, we fear, they will prove abortive. We have heard a great deal about Colonel Arthur's system of prison discipline. What will the Home Government think of His Excellency manning a Government vessel, thus provisioned and equipped as the Badger, with Crown prisoners, like the above-named runaways, all sea-faring men ? The Colonist, (Hobart Town) 6 Aug 1833.

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Maureen Withey on 5th January 2023

Cornwall Assizes. William Philp was indicted for having wilfully and maliciously destroyed the sloop Jane, of which he had been master and was part owner, by blowing her up with gunpowder, in Penzance harbour on the morning of the 16th of February last. William Hamley is an inkeeper, at Carnhell Green, in the Parish of Gulval. On Saturday the 13th of February last the prisoner put up at his house, and asked bim where he could buy 1 ½ cwt. of gunpowder. This the witness obtained for the prisoner of Captain Philp, of the Herland mines. The prisoner said he intended to take the powder to Padstow where he resides. A person named Fidock, a carrier of Penzance, called for the powder, which was in two casks, on Monday evening, the 15th of February. The prisoner acted openly and did not appear desi- rous to conceal his name. William Fidock is a carrier and lives at Penzance. On Monday the 15th of February the prisoner employed hira to take two casks from the house of the last witness, to Penzance, and gave him a canvas bag to put the casks in. One cask was larger than the other; prisoner said they weighed l ½ cwt — he paid witness for the carriage. Witness arrived at Penzance about ten o'clock and put his carriage into a yard which was locked. About twelve o'clock the same night prisoner called for the casks; witness said they could not be got at that time of night; prisoner said he must have them, for they were to be sent to St. Ives. With much difficulty witness got the casks. Prisoner drank tea and some brandy at the house of witness, of whom he borrowed a lantern, though the night was not dark; had two pieces of candle, one of which was lighted. Witness went out with prisoner, and having delivered the barrels to him, left him at the end of Queen-street, leading to the pier, with the lantern in his hand. Witness went home to bed, but was knocked up by the prisoner, whom he let in; prisoner had then nothing with him, but a bundle of clothes ; he said he had lost the lantern, which he would pay for. Prisoner said he had been to Marazion. Henry Howard is a housekeeper at Penzance ; having been at Falmouth on the l5th of February last, he returned late and about one o'clock on the morning of the 16th saw the prisoner going down Custom-house lane, towards the pier; he carried a lantern, and lighted a candle for witness ; saw a small barrel by the door of the stable, but did not see prisoner touch it. Thomas Chegwin is a sailor and lives at Penzance; was employed by the prisoner to look after the sloop Jane, the Thursday before she was blown up; prisoner said he was going to Padstow, and gave witness the keys. Witness did not sleep on board; saw the sloop last on the 15th of February, when he cleaned cut the cabin and forecastle, but did not go into the hold, there were ballast and ship's stores on board. Witness was alarmed in the night by an explosion ; the sound came as from the quay ; got up ; went to the quay and saw a great smoke issuing from the Jane, with fire in the centre. Water was procured and the fire was put out ; the decks of the vessel were blown up in air. in his cross-examination he said he had known Capt. Philp, the prisoner, before; there were a dozen vessels lying in the pier; one was so near the Jane that a person could step from one to the other ; had said he did not believe the prisoner had blown up the vessel. Mr. Richard Pearse is a resident at Penzance and agent for Lloyd's at that place. Had known the sloop Jane for years; was launched in her 12 years since. Lives about 200 yards from where the vessel lately lay at Penzance quay. On the morning of the 16th of February last, was awoke within about two minutes to 3 o'clock, by two distinct explosions: there was about half a minute between each. In about 5 minutes was dressed and on the pier; two persons accompanied him, and he found one had preceded him, who pointed out the Jane as having been blown up : parts of the deck were scattered about in different directions, and the vessel was on fire. Witness immediately ran to get persons … Royal Cornwall Gazette, 3 April 1830. -------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Conduct Record https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-35$init=CON31-1-35P66 No 730. William Philp, per Argyle, Aug 5 1831. Tried Cornwall, 9 Aug 1830, Life. Transported for feloniously setting fire to a vessel. Married, 3 children, wife Mary. Not very legible. See record for details. Aug 27 1831. Conspiracy on board the Argyle /removed to Macquarie … Col Sec Memo of 27 Aug 1831. ----------------------------------------------------- Indent: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-2$init=CON14-1-2P5 and https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-2$init=CON14-1-2P6 No 730. William Philp, age 51, Mariner, tried Cornwall Ass, 8 Aug 1830, Life, native place, Padstow, Cornwall, Married, 3 children, protestant, can read and write, Offence: Setting fire to a vessel (my own property). Bad (character). Relations: Wife, Mary Philp. I expect her out of here very shortly/free. F & M Ad. At N.P, a farmer. 5B, Ad a farmer in np. All relations in & about NP. Jno, 1 B, a Commander of the Dolphin.

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Penny-Lyn Beale on 4th June 2021

UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals - Argyle Age; 42

William Philp was a master mariner before his conviction and escaped with a group of convicts after stealing the provisioning ship Badger in 1833. A newspaper report some months later claims he was spotted in Macao but was not recaptured.