Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
John Poole 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 245 (124). --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: POOLE, John; inmate #4518, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1819 Marital Status: Married 4 children Occupation: Farm labourer Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Place: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England Crime: Rape Sentence Period: 14 years Ticket of Leave Date: 18 Oct 1859 Conditional Pardon Date: 21 Mar 1862 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --0--
10 September, 1857: Sent from Portland to board the Nile for WA, #11/6768. On the voyage his behaviour was described as “good” (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Character Book for Nos 4508-5585 (R8)). --0--
12 March, 1857: Admitted to Portland prison, Grove Road, Portland, Dorset. 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 listed as inmate #6768; 36 when convicted; married with four dependent children; able to read imperfectly, labourer, Church of England; next of kin -- his wife, Elizabeth Poole of Buxhall, Stowmarket, Suffolk. No previous convictions. Served 5 months 23 days in public works; behaviour “very good” (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for John Poole; Portland Prison; Prison Records; labelled as 1870-1875). --0--
9 July, 1856: Admitted to Millbank prison, Westminster, London -- served 8 months 3 days in separate confinement; behaviour "good". “After a sentence of transportation 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. --0--
24 January, 1856: Admitted to Ipswich gaol -- served 5 months 14 days; behaviour "good". NOTE: On all subsequent records, his transportation term is listed as 14 years. --0--
COMMITTAL & JAILS: 26 January, 1856: Committed to stand trial at Stowmarket, Suffolk. --0--
Newspaper reporting of the trial: "SUFFOLK LENT ASSIZES... John Poole, 36, labourer, was indicted for having feloniously and violently assaulted Eliza Edwards, Buxhall, on the 21st January 1856, and then and there against her will.- Prisoner was found guilty and sentenced to 14 year's transportation." (Suffolk and Essex Free Press, Thursday 27 March 1856, p4 at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/) --0--
TRIAL: 24 March, 1856: He was convicted of rape and sentenced to transportation for 15 years [not 14, according to this record] (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for Jno Poole; England Suffolk; 1856). --0--