Henry Singleton

221

D Wong on 19th September 2018

Henry Singleton was estimated to be 18 years old on arrival in VDL; native place: Manchester. Henry had been 16 times in prison: handkerchief 2 months, 3 months, 1 month, 1 month, 14 days for various offences &c. Transported for 'Stealing a waistcoat piece. Henry was 5'0¾" tall, fresh complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyes, illiterate, single, deeply pockpitted, scar on left eyebrow, 2 moles back of neck, wart on right thumb, 2 warts on 3rd finger left hand. Occupation: Factory Boy. Father: Neetham of Manchester Brothers: John and James Sister: Anna 9/7/1846: TOL 8/1/1847: TOL revoked. 15/4/1851: Free Certificate 8/9/1860: The Mercury, Hobart: PIG STEALING.-Joseph Nelson Barnes, a stout grey-headed man, and Henry Singleton, known by the nick-name of " Harry the Tinker," were brought up on remand charged with stealing five pigs, which belonged to Mr. James Lord. The prisoners were fully committed for trial. The prisoners having been for some time carrying on business together as timber cutters at the Blue Hills. Sentence: Joseph N. Barnes, and Henry Singleton, to be kept in penal servitude for four years. 17/3/1864: Disturbing the peace - fined 5s - listed as a tinman at Oatlands. 2/8/1864: Henry Singleton was charged with having committed bigamy. 4/8/1864 The Mercury, Hobart: BIGAMY.-Henry Singleton was charged, on remand, with having committed bigamy. Mr. Moriarty appeared for defendant. John Letherock Ison, a clergyman of the Church of England, residing at Oatlands, deposed: That on the 28th October, 1858, he married a woman named Ann Davis, to the defendant. That was in the parish church of Oatlands. He produced the marriage register, which contained an entry of the marriage. The marriage was solemnized by banns. Cross-examined by Mr. Moriarty: The marriage was in 1858. I don't remember having had any previous knowledge of the defendant. I have known both defendant and the woman Davis since their marriage, well. Some years ago the defendant left the Oatlands district, and I heard of it from his wife. I have not seen the woman in Oatlands for three or four years. Richard Millar, minister of the United Methodist Free Churches, Murray-street, deposed : I know defendant now present. I also know the woman Anna Singleton now present. I saw them on 1st February last at my house. They came together to be married. I married them, and produce the register which attested the marriage of the parties by license. The declaration of the parties previous to the solemnization of the marriage was also produced and read. Witness continued : I had no previous knowledge of the parties, and have known nothing of them since. I understood defendant that he waa employed under government at Port Arthur, and was going back there almost immediately. He had no doubt whatever as to the parties. Anna Singleton deposed : I reside at Oatlands at present. I have lately been living with defendant. I was married to him on 2nd February last. I was married by the Rev. Mr. Millar at his house. When I went to be married with defendant, Mr. and Mrs. Young, Charles Ellis, and Susan Fiddler were present and witnessed the ceremony. I have since been living with him as his wife, I had known defendant the whole time he was at Port Arthur. That was about twelve months before the marriage. Was then living with my parents at Port Arthur. Defendant was holding a situation at Port Arthur, I think as a watchman. My name then was Anna Gibbons. He never said anything about any previous marriage. I always took him to be a single man. I never saw the woman Davis in my life before to-day. In answer to the usual question, defendant said he had nothing to say then. He left his defence to his counsel. Defendant was then committed for trial. There being some doubt as to the validity of the first marriage, prisoner was acquitted. 3/3/1870: Sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for stealing tools. 14/3/1871: Henry Singleton absconded from the Penal Establishment, Port Arthur, on 23rd January, a reward of two pounds in securing his apprehension. 29/5/1873: Apprehended. 25/10/1883: Henry Singleton, charged on warrant with having on the 16th September burglariously entered gthe house of Mr. Joseph McMahon, Longford, was remanded to gaol fo conveyance to Longford. Henry was aged 71. Sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. Still in gaol in July 1889. 14/12/1898: At the Launceston Benevolent Asylum. Henry Singleton, died aged 87, of Senility - listed as a coppersmith.