Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Robert Simpson was transported on the Castle Forbes, departing 28th Sep 1823 and arriving 19th Jan 1824 with 142 passengers.
The Castle Forbes was a 439-ton merchant ship built by Robert Gibbon & Sons at Aberdeen, Scotland in 1818. She made two voyages transporting convicts from Ireland to Australia. Castle Forbes arrived at Port Jackson, New South Wales on 27 January 1820. After their arrival in Sydney, 136 men were sent on to Van Diemen's Land Colony (now named Tasmania), arriving in Hobart 1 March 1820. 4 men remained in New South Wales and 4 deaths recorded on this voyage. Alexander Pearce (the infamous bushranger) was one of these men. (Incomplete register of persons transported - records are currently being inputted)
Castle Forbes (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. |
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Convict Notes
Robin Sharkey on 9th November, 2015 wrote: Belfast Newsletter, Tuesday 25 March 1823 page 4 County of Antrim Assizes “Robert Simpson, Charles Feris and John Kirkwood for breaking into the stores of Messrs Crawford and Wallace of Belfast and stealing a quantity of tea and two slip-coats.” They were reported as “though young .. all confirmed thieves”. John Kirkwood was 22 and a butcher and Robert Simpson was 18 and a porter and both were transported on the Castle Forbes with Ferris. At the trial, the proprietor John Wallace described how the store was broken open in December 1822 and three parcels of tea gone, as well as two slip coats. A 12 year old boy called Thomas Morrison gave evidence as an approver - he had been involved in the crime but was now giving evidence for the Crown against the others involved. This boy had also been involved in a break-in at Mr Hagan’s stores and, at the previous assizes, had given evidence as an approver against the other boys involved, one being the same Robert Simpson as charged here. The young boy, Simpson and Feris got under the gate and got into the office. They handed the goods to Kirkwood who remained outside the gate. The others let themselves out by the gate and went to the barracks where they handed the goods over to another boy who was to sell it for them. The young approver got five ten pennies for his share. GUILTY - to be transported for seven years. 15 Jan 1824 - Arrived NSW per Castle Forbes 2
Colonial Secretary Index. SIMPSON, Robert. Per "Castle Forbes", 1824. 1824 Jan 20 On list of convicts landed from the "Castle Forbes" & forwarded to Windsor for distribution (Reel 6012; 4/3510 p.195)
Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Robert Simpson, age on arrival, 18, Castle Forbes (2) 1824. Tried Carrickfergus Antrim Co, 1823, 7 years, DOB 1806. Native place Belfast Antrim Co. Porter.