Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
William Roberts was transported on the Calcutta, departing 31st Jan 1803 and arriving 4th Oct 1803 with 305 passengers.
HMS Calcutta was the East Indiaman Warley (1795), converted to a Royal Navy ship. This ship of the line served for a time as an armed transport. She also transported convicts to Australia. The French Magnanime captured Calcutta in 1805. In 1809, after she ran aground during the Battle of the Basque Roads and her crew had abandoned her, a British boarding party burned her. In 1803 the Calcutta sailed into Port Phillip bay where at least 4 convicts escaped , in Sydney in April 1804 it was reported that 8 had died on the trip. Of the four known escapees one was shot on escape, 2 turned back after 2 days to reattach to the group at the camp in bay before the boat left , one continued on ...into Australia's history books. At least 13 convicts were transferred on to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), Australia.The ship also carried officers, wives and free settlers.
Calcutta (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 341 (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 |
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Convict Notes
Old Bailey On-Line Born; 1786. Imprisoned; 1802. - Age; 16 Tried; 13 Jan 1802. Age; 16. Sentence respited; 25 Feb 1802. Age; 16. LIFE Transported; 25 Feb 1802. January 1802, trial of WILLIAM ROBERTS (t18020113-53). WILLIAM ROBERTS, Theft > burglary, 13th January 1802. 132. WILLIAM ROBERTS was indicted for feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Thomas Revell , on the 7th of January , about the hour of seven in the evening, with intent to steal, and burglariously stealing two axes, value 2s. a saw, value 2s. five knives, value 15d. and five forks, value 15d. the property of the said Thomas. JOHN ELLIS sworn. - On the 7th of this month, about seven o'clock at night, I was at Shoreditch , and saw the prisoner at the bar, with another young man, looking in at Mr. Revell's window, who keeps an ironmonger's shop ; I suspected they wereabout to commit a robbery, and I passed the window, but did not see any thing amiss; they went away just before I came up to the window; I immediately crossed the way, and saw them come back to the window again, I heard the other, who is called Billy the Sweep, because he was formerly a chimney-sweeper; they went away again, but as a cart came by, they went up to the window again, and shoved it in; I saw them do it, but could not hear it from the noise of the cart; the window had been cracked across but mended with putty, and was perfectly safe; they went a few yards from the window and looked round, to see if anybody was coming, and then went up both together; I saw them both put their hands in, and take something out, and come away; I crossed over to them, and as I was stepping on the pavement they turned round and saw me; the prisoner said to the other, bolt, and he immediately absconded; I caught hold of the prisoner, and asked him what he had about him; he said, nothing; I unbuttoned his coat, and underneath were two small axes, and a small saw; I took him into the shop, and afterwards to Worship-street, where five knives and forks were found in his pocket. THOMAS REVELL sworn. - I keep an ironmonger's-shop in Shoreditch: Ellis brought the prisoner into the shop, on Thursday evening the 7th of January, about seven o'clock; the glass was split before, and mended with putty, but then it was quite taken out, it was perfectly safe before; all the goods were gone as far as they could reach; the prisoner begged that he might be sent to sea; I said it was a pitty such as he should be sent into his Majesty's service, and gave him in charge. (The property produced.) Revell. These are my property, I know them by my private mark; there was a box of table and desert knives and forks, but the box and all is gone. Prisoner's defence. The glass was broke big enough to put my hand in before I touched them. GUILTY, Death , aged 16. The prisoner was recommended to his Majesty's mercy, by the Jury and prosecutor, on account of his youth . First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Lawrence.