Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
Thomas Pridgeon 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 239 (121). --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
24 January, 1888: Thomas Pridgeon died, in the Invalid Depot at Mt Eliza. --0-- From the Inquirer and Commercial News, 25 January, p5: "An inmate of the Mt Eliza Invalid Depot, named Thomas Pridgeon, died yesterday from the results of dysentery and senile decay, at the age of 78 [more likely 68, according to court and jail records from England]. The deceased was admitted into the institution on the 14th May, 1885." (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66084603) --0--
7 May, 1885: From the Daily News, p3 "Perth Police Court... Thomas Pridgeon, a pauper belonging to the Invalid Depot, was charged with drunkenness. The accused admitted the truth of the charge, but in his defence pleaded that he was seventy-six years of age [hmmm]. Mr. Leake, however, declined to admit the validity of the excuse, and directed that, as old Thomas was unable to pay a fine of 5s., he should go to prison for a week." (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/76207664) --0--
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: PRIDGEON, Thomas; inmate #4753, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1822 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Place: Louth, Lincoln, England Crime: Stealing meat Sentence Period: 10 years Ticket of Leave Date: 17 Jul 1858 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --0--
10 September, 1857: Sent from Portland to board the Nile for WA. 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)). —00—
3 April, 1857: Following the revocation of his ToL (no grounds given), he was sent from Bow Street and returned to Portland where he was readmitted on 18 April, 1857. Listed this time as inmate #7005, aged 32 when convicted, single, agricultural labourer, Church of England. Next of kin -- his mother, living at Gosberton, Lincolnshire. Health "good" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for Thomas Pridgeon; Portland Prison; Prison Records; labelled as 1870-1875). --0--
31 October, 1856: He was granted a Licence for Parole/Ticket of Leave # 6592, as below: "Reference: PCOM 3/62/6592 Description: Licence number 6592: Thomas Pridgeon. Caption order and prison record from when he was convicted of larceny at the Quarter Sessions at Louth, Lincolnshire on 26 October 1852. Then aged [not given] years and by trade a [not given]. Sentence: 10 years transportation. Licence granted 31 October 1856, for early release from Portland prison. Comments: Licence revoked 3 April 1857, caption returned 20 April 1857. Revocation order only. Date: 1856 October 31." (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10373396) --0--
12 January, 1854: 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) Thomas Pridgeon -- inmate #3944 -- served 3 years 10 months in public works; behaviour "very good". --00--
JAILS: 6 December, 1852: Admitted to Bedford County Gaol and House of Correction, St Loyes Street, Bedford -- served 13 months 5 days in separate confinement; behaviour "very 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 such as Bedford. --0--
TRIAL: 26 October, 1852: Convicted at Louth of stealing a meat saw belonging to Thomas Sheriff, at Binbrooke; a previous conviction taken into account; sentenced to transportation for 10 years (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for Thomas Pridgeon; Lindsey Gaol; Calendar of Trials; 1831-1863). --0--
COMMITTAL: 27 July, 1852: Committed to stand trial. He was held at Lindsey Gaol, Lincolnshire, England (Calendar of Trials At Quarter Sessions Held At Louth and Spilsby). --0--