Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
William Robertson was transported on the Guildford, departing 4th Apr 1822 and arriving 15th Jul 1822 with 192 passengers.
The ‘Guildford’ was built on the River Thames, England in 1810. Used as a Convict Transport ship to Australia - voyages 1812, 1816, 1818, 1820, 1822, 1824, 1827 & 1829. The ship was lost at sea near Singapore in 1831, loosing all aboard.
Guildford (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/4, Page Number 166. Trial Record, 12th July 1821– held West Register House Edinburgh Scotland. Charles Bateson “The Convict Ships 1787-1868”, A H & A W Reed Sydney. Assignment Record, Colonial Secretary – fiche 1825 - 3132 4/1841E 296 P873. |
| 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
William Robertson, b. 1802, was sentenced to life imprisonment for housebreaking in 1822 and transported from Edinburgh to New South Wales. He was granted a conditional pardon on the 25th of June, 1831. The pardon is signed by the Governor of New South Wales, Lt. Gen Ralph Darling.
National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/118/68. Date: July 1821 – Dec 1837. Prisoner name: William Robertson. Prisoner occupation: Teacher. Court and date of trial: High Court of Justiciary [Edinburgh] 12 July 1821. Crime: Stealing a watch from a shop. Initial sentence: Transportation for life. Gaoler's report: Convicted before. Annotated (Outcome): On first petition 'to be pardoned if his conduct in [New South Wales] has been such as to throw no impediment in the way of a pardon.' Conditional pardon 25 June 1831. On second petition,1837: 'Full pardon if he has behaved well in the Colony.' Petitioner(s): K Boyle, Charlotte Robertson and Jane Robertson, prisoner's sisters. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Orphaned at an early age but looked after father's brother Nicol Robertson. Fell into bad company. Has behaved well in the colony. Other papers: Letter from prisoner to his uncle. Letter from Robert Dunlop forwarding the petition. Additional Information: Prisoner in the employ of William Mitchell of Brisbane Meadow, Argyle, New South Wales. Sailed on the transport Guildford to New South Wales in 1822. --------------------------------------------------------------------- PARDONS. Col. Sec. Office; Sydney, June 26, 1838. His Excellency the Governor directs it to be notified that the Right Honourable the Secretary of State has signified in his dispatches, Nos. 62 and 65, dated 4th and 19th January, 1838, Her Majesty's gracious commands that an Absolute Pardon be issued to William Robertson, per Guildford, ... The Colonist, 30 Jun 1838.
After their arrest, and while detained in the jail of Edinburgh, John Lawson, James McLaughlin and William Robertson faced trial, at the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh, for stealing a silver watch. The panels faced accusations of forcibly and feloniously breaking into a jewellery shop, in West Register Street, occupied by James O’Donnell. John Lawson pleaded guilty and received fourteen years. James McLaughlin and William Robertson pleaded not guilty but received life and the threat of death on their re-entry to Great Britain and Ireland without lawful cause and within the aforesaid period. Allegations of previous convictions influenced James McLaughlin and William Robertson’s penalties. The verdict adjudged the panels to transportation beyond the seas. The prisoners remained at the Jail of Edinburgh until an opportunity offered for their transportation. The Guildford sailed from London on 7th April 1822 - the twelve-year-old, Thames built, two-decker making her 5th voyage with prisoners, under the command of Magnus Johnson. One of the best-known convict ships, she registered 521 tons and during the voyage set her best time between England and Sydney. She carried 190 male convicts, landing 189 in Sydney after one death during the passage. After touching briefly at Teneriffe they anchored on Port Jackson on 15th July, 99 days out. On this day, 24th July 1822, 104 Male Convicts landed from the Transport Ship Guildford 5 and forwarded by water to Parramatta to be disposed – John Lawson & James McLachlan to William Faithfull at Windsor, & William Robertson, Sexton Richmond Church Richmond, Windsor.