Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Thomas Shirley was transported on the Royal Admiral, departing 28th Feb 1800 and arriving 20th Nov 1800 with 305 passengers.
The Royal Admiral was built at Lynn in 1828. Convicts were transported to New South Wales on the Royal Admiral in 1830, 1833, 1835 and to Van Diemen's Land in 1842. 1833 - Ship; Royal Admiral. Commenced fitting as a Convict Transport at Deptford on the 29 March. Surgeon Superintendent [Andrew Henderson] joined on the 3rd April. Guard embarked on the 13th. Sailed on the 17th and anchored in Kingston Barbour near Dublin on the 9th May. 220 convicts embarked on the 16 May 1833 and the ship sailed from Dublin Bay for Sydney on the 4th June and arrived there on the 20 October. Originally embarked with 221 convicts, 5 Died at sea, 1 was Relanded. 11 sick on shore, The convicts were described as 220 such wretchedly debilitated creatures ... Refer to the surgeons journal for full details
Royal Admiral (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 266 |
| 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 Online 404. THOMAS SHIRLEY was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 27th of April , a leather trunk, value 20s. two muslin gowns, value 20s. six pair of silk stockings, value 40s. and a cotton gown, value 10s. the property of John Watkins . (The case was opened by Mr. Const.) JOHN SPENCER sworn. - Examined by Mr. Const. On the 27th of April, I was returning to town in a chaise, with Mrs. Watkins, and Mrs. Spencer. Q. Mrs. Watkins, I believe, parted from you? - A. At the corner of a street, in Oxford-road, Mrs. Watkins left us, and got into a Hackney-coach to go to her own house. Q. After she was gone, did you observe any thing particular about your carriage? - A. Not till we got into Hanover-square ; I looked through the glass, and observed a man behind the chaise, lifting a portmanteau from the board behind the carriage; I looked out at the chaise window, and called, stop that man; at that moment be dropped it, I immediately went and secured the trunk, the man got off. Cross-examined by Mr. Alley. Q. How did it happen, that Mrs. Watkins's portmanteau was behind your chaise? - A. In consequence of its being very dirty, the trunk was very wet, and rather than incommode her with it, we were to take it to our house, and she was to send for it the next morning. Q. What time was it? - A. Between eight and nine in the evening, it was dark. Q. I take it for granted you could not see what was doing behind the chaise? - A. Yes; I mean to swear that I saw the trunk in the man's arms, it was fastened by myself, in Yorkshire, with leather and cords both. Q. Whether or not, in consequence of your having travelled a considerable length of way, you are able to say whether the trunk was fast when you came into town? - A. No; but at Barnet I saw it fastened. Q. Do you mean to undertake to swear, that when you arrived in town, the trunk was fastened or loose? - A. At Barnet, I saw it fast. Court. Q. Did you see it behind the chaise in London, when you looked back? - A. Yes, I did. Mr. Const. Q. Was that the same trunk that you saw fastened at Barnet? - A. It was; the straps were cut asunder, I saw them this morning. WILLIAM EAMES sworn. - I am a coachman, I live with Mr. Blair: On the 27th of April, I was coming up Argyle-street, into Oxford-road, and this gentleman's carriage was stopping to put a lady into a Hackney-coach; I saw two men follow the carriage, I did not like the look of them, and I, out of curiosity, followed them, and saw the prisoner at the bar take a trunk from behind the carriage, I ran after him and stopped him, he had dropped the trunk. Cross-examined by Mr. Alley. Q. It was dark at that time? - A. Yes. Q. How near were you to these men, when you saw them in Argyle-street? - A. About ten yards from them. Q. And do you think they must not have observed you watching them? - A. They might, if they had not had another object in view. Q. If you suspected them, why did you not stop them before the trunk was stole? - A. I had no right to stop them before. Q. How many yards did the man get before you stopped him? - A. About thirty yards. JANE WATKINS sworn. - Examined by Mr. Const. I am the wife of John Watkins . (The trunk produced. Q. (To Spencer). Is that the same trunk that was behind your carriage? - A. Yes, it is the same.(The property was desposed to by Mrs. Watkins.) The prisoner left his defence to his Counsel, and called four witnesses, who gave him a good character. GUILTY (Aged 16). Transported for seven years . Tried by the first Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Baron PERRYN. The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) View title info Sun 27 Nov 1808 Page 2 SYDNEY. On Friday the Halcyon arrived with coals and cedar from Newcastle; from whence he had sailed the 16th with favorable weather, which continued till she nearly reached the north head of Broken Bay, when a heavy gale set in, and she was driven back to Hunter's River. Her situation being rather alarming owing to the state of the wind and a heavy swell, a boat was sent from the Settlement to her assistance, and the vessel was preserved.— Unfortunately, however, one of the persons employed in this beneficial service lost his life. This was Thomas Shirley, a prisoner, who arrived in the second Royal Admiral.