Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
William Rodgers 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 233 (118). --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 |
Claims
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Convict Notes
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: ROGERS, William; inmate #4519, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Alias: RODGERS Place of Birth: Heath, Derby, England Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Nailer Literacy: Illiterate Sentence Place: Derby, Derby, England Crime: Burglary Sentence Period: 15 years Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket of Leave Date: 30 Nov 1859 at Perth Conditional Pardon Date: 8 Sep 1862 Certificate of Freedom Date: 11 Feb 1872 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --0--
10 September, 1857: Sent from Portland to board the Nile for WA; listed as #12/6772, and called William ROGERS. On the voyage his behaviour was described as “good” but it's also noted that he was "tied up but not flogged, minor punishment" for an unspecified offence (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers;Character Book for Nos 4508-5585 (R8)). --00--
12 March, 1857: As William ROGERS, admitted to Portland prison, Globe Road, Portland, Dorset -- inmate #6772; listed as able to read; behaviour "very good"; health "good". 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) --0--
9 July, 1856: Admitted to Millbank prison, Westminster, London -- served 8 months 7 days in separate confinement; behaviour "good" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for William Rodgers; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners). “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. William Rodgers was listed as 28 when convicted, single, illiterate, Protestant and a labourer. Next of kin -- his father Robert Rodgers of Shirland [about 16 miles north of Derby]. —0—
JAILS: 17 March, 1856: William RODGERS was admitted to Derby prison -- served 3 months 22 days in association with other prisoners; behaviour "good". --0--
NOTE re previous conviction: He was convicted, along with Aaron Rodgers, at Derby Assizes in July 1851 of three counts of robbery with violence. Both men were sentenced to 12 months' jail (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for William Rodgers; England; Derbyshire; 1851). From the Derbyshire Courier, 2 August 1851, p2: "Aaron Rodgers, William Rodgers, and Alexander Dent were charged with having on the 25th of April last, at the parish of Glossop, assaulted and put in bodily fear and danger of his life Phillip Barnes, and stolen four half-crowns and ten shillings from him. Mr. Barker prosecuted, and Mr. Flood defended the whole of the prisoners. Philip Barnes, a farmer and carrier at Chapel-en-le-Frith: the day named went to Stockport fair, and on returning home, having three sacks of flour of 20 stones weight each, to deliver a Mrs. Smith, asked William Rodgers to carry two of them up some steps. Went into Shawcross's public house with Rodgers, and bought a pint of ale. Took about £1 11s 9d out of his pocket in silver and there were a good many half crowns among it and some shillings. Went to other places, and at Chinley chapel yard saw three men coming up, he being riding in his own cart. Took the men to be three neighbours, and asked them to get into the cart. Two of them jumped in, and immediately threw him down on the bottom of the cart. Witness seized hold of the least of the two, and they struggled together, rolled out of the cart, and fell under it, the horse never stopping. All three eventually got hold of him, and one of them throttled him, and they again threw him down. They tore his watch pocket, and tried his other pockets but got nothing. They then ran away, and prosecutor got up and followed them and met a woman who had picked up witness's hat. Was never two yards behind prisoner until he overtook and seized him. Gave him into custody to the police, and when he got to the police station one of his hands was covered with blood... ...The judge, in passing sentence on the case in which the brothers had been convicted, said they had received the benefit of the doubts raised in the two other cases and he would not transport them, but strongly recommended them, at the expiration of their lengthened term of imprisonment, to cease from their evil practices and take an honest mode of making a livelihood. Sentence, one year's imprisonment." [Alexander Dent was found not guilty.] --0--
Newspaper report of the trial: From the Derbyshire Courier, Saturday 22 March 1856, p2: "... GRAND JURY ROOM. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19. Before John Balguy, Esq. Joseph Rodgers and William Rodgers, the former for receiving and the latter for stealing two pairs of boots and two pairs of half boots, at Ashover, the property of Joseph Holmes, were found Guilty, and the prisoner Joseph sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. A second indictment was preferred against the prisoner William for stealing bacon, candles, tobacco, sugar, a gown, and various other articles, at Heage [about 10 miles north of Derby], the property of Timothy Ball, of which offence he was also found Guilty. Having previously been convicted of highway robbery, the prisoner was sentenced to 15 years’ transportation." --0--
TRIAL: 17 March, 1856: Convicted at Derby of burglary; sentenced to 15 years' transportation, with a previous conviction for felony taken into account (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for William Rodgers; England; Derbyshire; 1856). --0--