Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Joseph Pike was transported on the Claudine, departing 19th Aug 1829 and arriving 6th Dec 1829 with 180 passengers.
The 'Claudine' was an East Indiaman built in Calcutta in 1811 from teak wood with a tonnage of 452 tons. In 1820 she ran from London to Hobart Town, Sydney, Batavia and back to England. After leaving Sydney on 10 May 1820 under the command of John Welsh, she discovered the Claudine Reef in the Coral Sea, before making her way past Murray Island in Torres Strait on her way to Batavia. The Claudine made two voyages to Australia as a convict transport. Departing Woolwich 24 August 1821 mastered by John Crabtree with Henry Ryan as ship's surgeon. She arrived in Port Dalrymple, van Diemen's Land after a passage of 113 days via Teneriffe, on 15 December, landing 40 convicts. She then sailed on to Hobart Town and landed the remaining 119 male convicts, one prisoner having died en route . On 24 August 1829 the Claudine departed London, arriving in Sydney on 6 December 1829 after a voyage of 104 days; her Master was William Heathorne, the surgeon William H Trotman. On this voyage she sailed with 180 prisoners and their guard; two prisoners died en route. she then sailed on to Madras on 30 December. The Claudine returned to merchant service and on Monday 21-22 November 1840 under the command of captain Brewer was deliberately beached with another East Indiaman 'Westminster' during a storm off the Kent coast near Margate. This stranding was the subject of a famous engraving by William Henry Bartlett and a pencil and chalk sketch by J.M.W. Turner. The 'Westminster' successfully unloaded 6000 chests of tea into two steamers which delivered it to the East India Docks and was refloated on 7 December. 'Claudine' which was beached onshore unloaded into 200 carts the following day 23rd November and was then refloated on a spring tide after 7 December. Both ships having been dismasted in the storm, were repaired and put back into the trade. The Claudine appears to have been sent to the wreckers in 1849.
Claudine (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/7, Page Number 170 |
| 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
"I am the youngest, and very proud, great grandson of convict Joseph Pike (1808-1886), thru his son, James Pike, my grandfather (1856-1927), and my father, Alfred William (Bill) Pike (1904-1975). As far as can be ascertained, Joseph occupies a unique place in world history. After considerable research he is the only person who was previously sentenced to death (his conviction was at Gloucester Lent Assizes, April 1, 1829), who subsequently went on to become a Mayor of a local government body (Kiama Council, New South Wales, Australia). Joseph was elected by his fellow Aldermen to be Mayor of the Municipality on no less than 7 occasions from 1871 to 1882. This occurred despite the local newspaper, the Kiama Independent, publishing a 'Letter to the Editor" from a fierce political opponent (Captain Samuel Charles), which referred to Joseph as being a "Government Man" which was euphemism of the day of being a Convict. It didn't stop Joseph's local government career which spanned over four decades from the 1850's to the 1880's. Well done Joseph. I salute you! Geoff Pike, Perth WA"
Photos
No photos have been added for Joseph Pike.
Convict Notes
Gloucester Assizes. … and Joseph Pike and George Burchill, breaking into the house of Giles Little Edwards, of Tormarton. Bath Chronicle, 16 April 1829.
Joseph Pike and his partner in crime, George Burchill, were both originally sentenced to death for housebreaking at the Gloucester Lent Assizes on April 1, 1829. Joseph Pike came from Malmesbury, Wiltshire in England and arrived in Sydney as a convict on the Claudine on Sunday Dec 6, 1829 having been convicted of housebreaking at age 20 at the Gloucester Lent Assizes on April 1, 1829. He and his partner in the offence, George Burchill, were initially sentenced to hang but fortunately for him (and hundreds of other descendants myself included) some two weeks later the Judge, Justice Sir James Parke, eventually reduced the sentence to 14 years transportation to Sydney, NSW, Australia. So it was a very close shave for them as detailed in the following English newspaper article: GLOUCESTER (LENT) ASSIZES Gloucester Wednesday April 8, 1829. On Wedneday afternoon, Sir James Parke was met at Over, near Gloucester, by the High Sherriff, William Blaythwayt Esq. of Dyrham Park, and having been escorted with the usual formalities to the Shire Hall, the commission was duly opened. The other learned Judge, Sir James Allan Park, knt. arrived shortly after. On the following morning their Lordships attended divine service at the Cathedral, where a sermon was preached by Rev. Mr Robinson. At twelve o'clock business commenced at the Hall, Sir James Parke presiding in the Crown (criminal) Court. The Grand Juries for the County and City were then duly sworn in; that for the former consisting of the twenty one gentlemen with Lord R. Edward H. Somerset as Foreman. A long list of prisoners was presented, that for the County numbering 142, and that for the City 15. The following are the sentences of those who had taken their trials: Death Recorded - (12 sentences including both Joseph Pike and George Burchill). His accomplice, George Burchill, was also transported on the Claudine. As yet I have been unable to find any details of George after his arrival in NSW, other than the fact that he received his Ticket of Leave in 1837 (no. 37/1711), in the Goulburn district of NSW. However I would be very interested indeed to know how he got on in life thereafter and where he ended up(?) As a convict in NSW, Joseph Pike was assigned as a general servant to J. Wyllie (possibly John Wyllie?) who according to Joseph's obituary was a doctor attached to one of the Imperial regiments then in Sydney, and in his service he passed the first few years of his colonial life. When his regiment was ordered to India, the doctor, having a fancy for sheep farming, elected to stay in the colony, and soon after he placed Joseph in charge of a run and flock of sheep on the remote Lachlan River. However through no fault of his Joseph, the venture ended in failure as a result of the depredations - the ongoing attacks and plundering - of the local aboriginals. After travelling some time with the doctor through the Murrumbidgee district in search of another run, Joseph returned to Parramatta. He received his Ticket of Leave on the 12th April 1836 after having served, from the time of his offence, only about eight years of his 14 year sentence, because of his good behaviour and dedication to duty. On March 7, 1838 in the schoolhouse at Parramatta, he married Mary Talbot (born March 16, 1814 at Hanley, Staffordshire, England), the eldest daughter of John and Elizabeth Talbot. Mary had been a housemaid in England and was convicted of False Pretences (obtaining a cloak by deception) at the Stafford Quarter Sessions on 28th Feb 1833, at age 19. She was sentenced to 7 years transportation. Mary received her Ticket of Leave on the 2nd of Dec, 1837 after serving just under 5 years. Mary’s mother, Elizabeth Talbot, emigrated to Australia in 1855 (presumably after her husband John died). She arrived in Sydney in October 5, 1855 on the ship "Hilton" and her son in law, Joseph Pike, who had paid for her passage, received a message that she was "waiting for collection." Elizabeth lived with them until her death in 1860. Elizabeth is buried in the graveyard of (Anglican) Christ Church, Kiama. Joseph's milestones and significant life achievements in both the town of Kiama, the wider district and elsewhere, are many and varied. I am currently in the process of compiling a list as follows: • Sentenced to death for housebreaking by Sir James Parke (later Baron Wensleydale, Privy Councillor) at the Gloucester Lent Assizes in April 1829 • Two weeks later his sentence was commuted to 14 years transportation to NSW • Survived a cold and wet journey around the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa on board the convict ship "Claudine" in 1829 • Assigned to Dr John Wyllie and survived aboriginal attacks while pursuing sheep farming in the very remote Lachlan and Murrumbidgee River districts • As a result of these violent attacks and loss of sheep the farming ventures were eventually abandoned • Received his Ticket of Leave on 12 April 1836 after having served only 8 years of a 14 year sentence due to his good behaviour and dedication to duty • Moved to Dapto in 1836, still working for John Wyllie, although now as a Ticket of Leave man • Married Mary Talbot (also an ex convict) on March 7, 1838 • Moved to Kiama in 1846, bought land there and opened Kiama's first ever store on Pike's Hill on Jan 1, 1847 • Was Postmaster of Kiama for a time at his store, just west of the current town (Source is his wife's obituary, Kiama Independent [KI], 15 May 1891) • Held a Spirit Merchants licence from at least 1849 until at least 1857 • Treasurer of the Kiama Horticultural Association March 1856 (Illawarra Mercury 3 March 1856 p.7) • On 7 July 1856 at a public meeting, moved that "Government money for improvements to Kiama Harbour be applied to the extension of the present Jetty." The motion was carried. Geoffrey Phillip Pike of Perth WA, (born 1954 in Sydney) the youngest great grandson of Joseph and Mary Pike. Email: gpike006@gmail.com , Australian mobile phone 0418 927 283, or if calling from outside Aust. +61 418 927 283. Cheers Geoff
Joseph Pike came from Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England. I would be very interested in hearing from any Pike's still living in the area - especially anyone who might know the names of Joseph's parents or siblings. I know Joseph was born on the 14th of March. I think the year was almost certainly 1808, although it potentially could have been 1809 or 1810. Joseph was incredibly successful in NSW, Australia. Geoff Pike, Perth, Western Australia. Email: gpike006 @gmail.com ; Mobile 0418 927 283. Cheers
Joseph was originally sentenced to hang for his housebreaking offence however this was subsequently reduced to 14 years transportation to New South Wales. He and his partner in the offence, George Burchill, were initially sentenced to hang but fortunately for him (and hundreds of other descendants myself included). Some two weeks after he was sentenced to hang, the Judge, Justice Sir James Parke, reduced the sentence to 14 years transportation to Sydney, NSW, Australia. So it was a very close shave for them as detailed in the following English newspaper article:
The Claudine arrived in Sydney on Sunday December 6, 1829. Occupation listed as reaps, sows and ploughs. Height 5 feet, 3 inches. Committed the offence of housebreaking in company with George Burchill who also arrived on the Claudine. Joseph was originally sentenced to hang but this was subsequently reduced to 14 years transportation to NSW. Convict records describe him as a native of Manchester, however he probably came from Malmesbury, Wiltshire. He received his ticket of leave in 1836 and subsequently married Mary Talbot (also a convict - who "obtained a cloak by deception." Joseph moved to Kiama NSW and became a very successful storekeeper and according to his obituary in the Kiama Independent, he opened the first store in Kiama on Jan 1, 1847. He was also a farmer, landowner and businessman in and around the town of Kiama. He was a foundation Alderman of the Municipality of Kiama in 1859 until his death on Dec 5, 1886. He was also elected Mayor of Kiama on four occasions. For more information on Joseph Pike see Pike Family History Kiama on the Trove digital newspaper site at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/43713