Thomas Porter

Thomas Porter, one of 160 convicts transported on the Prince Regent, 17 September 1819

Name, Aliases & Gender

Name:	Thomas Porter
Aliases:	none
Gender:	m

Birth, Occupation & Death

Date of Birth:	1st July, 1779
Occupation:	Coppersmith/brazier
Date of Death:	25th April, 1835
Age:	55 years

Life Span

Male median life span was 57 years*

* Median life span based on contributions

Conviction & Transportation

Sentence Severity

Sentenced to 14 years

Crime:	Possession of forged bank note
Convicted at:	London Gaol Delivery
Sentence term:	14 years
Ship:	Prince Regent
Departure date:	17th September, 1819
Arrival date:	27th January, 1820
Place of arrival	New South Wales
Passenger manifest	Travelled with 171 other convicts

References

Primary source:	Old Bailey online. NSW State Archives, 4/4316, Reel No. 991. NSW BDM. Ancestry. Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/3, Page Number 234
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 Project.

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Community Contributions

Mr Mark K Johnson on 20th November, 2020 wrote:

Wife Sarah Ward was transported in 1819 and approx. 6 children also came to Australia with Sarah and Thomas

Iris Dunne on 21st November, 2020 wrote:

Certificate of Freedom No. 33/563 dated 30 May 1833, Native Place London, Trade Copper Smith, Offence uttering forged notes, Tried 26 May 1819
https://records-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/1e5kcq1/INDEX321474

Death Registry No. 1795/1835 V18351795 19, aged 62, no Parents or District

Iris Dunne on 21st November, 2020 wrote:

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey
Royal Offences > coining offences,
26th May 1819.
829. THOMAS PORTER was indicted for feloniously having in his custody and possession three forged bank notes for payment of 1 l. each, well knowing them to be forged .

JOHN FOY . I am an officer of Marlborough-street. On the 19th of May I was in company with Thomas Foy, Freeman, and Harrison, and saw the prisoner in Ivy-lane. He came into Paternoster-row; Harrison and Thomas Foy seized him. We took him into Chapter Coffee-house-court, and told him he was suspected of passing forged notes, and asked what money he had about him? he said he had none, and repeated it over and over again. We proceeded to search him, he struggled very much; I thought it necessary to handcuff him, and while I was so doing, he endeavoured to put his left-hand into his right-hand waistcoat pocket, Harrison and Thomas Foy prevented him. When he was handcuffed, I found in his right-hand waistcoat pocket six or 7 s. in silver, and three 1 l. forged notes, rolled up, and tied round with a piece of worsted. On taking them out, before I opened them, I asked him what they were, and where he got them from? he said he did not know what they were, or any thing about them. I said,

“They are forged notes” - he said,

“I hope not.” I asked him who he had them from? he said it was no matter. He was taken to the Compter. I marked the notes, and gave them to Mr. Freeman. He gave no account of them before the magistrate.

Cross-examined by MR. ARABIN. Q. Did he not say a woman gave them to him to keep, and he did not know the contents - A. No. There was a woman near him, with a bundle of asparagus under her arm. He said,

“I don’t care what you do with me, so that you let the woman go.” We searched her found nothing on her, and let her go. He swore that the woman should go - we would not let her go till we had searched her.

ANTHONY HARRISON . I am a marshalsman. I was with Foy - he has given a correct account. He did not say the woman gave them to him.

JOSHUA FREEMAN . I am an inspector of bank notes. I was present, and confirm the statement of Foy. I marked the notes - (looks at them) - these are them; they are all forged.

THOMAS GLOVER . I am an inspector of bank notes. The notes are forged in every respect.

CHARLES WATTS . I am signing clerk at the Bank. The notes purport to be signed by me, but are not my writing.

Prisoner’s Defence. The woman gave me the bundle, tied up, to keep for her till she returned from market. She gave them to me to sell me.

GUILTY . Aged 40.

Transported for Fourteen Years .

London Jury, before Mr. Justice Bayley.
https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?div=t18190526-62

Convict Changes History

Mr Mark K Johnson on 20th November, 2020 made the following changes:

date of birth: 1st July, 1779 (prev. 0000), date of death: 1835 (prev. 0000), gender: m, occupation, crime

Iris Dunne on 21st November, 2020 made the following changes:

source: NSW State Archives, 4/4316, Reel No. 991. NSW BDM. Ancestry. Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/3, Page Number 234 (prev. Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO1

Iris Dunne on 21st November, 2020 made the following changes:

source: Old Bailey online. NSW State Archives, 4/4316, Reel No. 991. NSW BDM. Ancestry. Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/3, Page Number 234 (prev. NSW State Archives, 4/4316, Reel No. 991. NSW BDM. Ancestry.

Iris Dunne on 21st November, 2020 made the following changes:

date of death: 25th April, 1835 (prev. 0000)