Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
John Skate was transported on the Joseph Somes, departing 2nd Jun 1847 and arriving 24th Sep 1847 with 251 passengers.
Built 1845 at London. Wood ship of 780 Tons. The owner was Thomas Colyer of Kent, the son-in-law of Joseph Somes. Two voyages with transport convicts to Australia: 1845/1846: 1847: 248 male people (known as "exiles" landed at Point Henry, Geelong, Victoria and 1 went on to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). Queen Victoria had decreed that all of these men (many of them youths from Parkhurst, Isle of Wight) should be treated as "free" upon arrival (significant backlash to transported criminals at this time).
Joseph Somes (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 92, Class and Piece Number HO11/15, Page Number 190. Australian Convict Index - Ancestry |
| 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
21/3/1844 Banbury Guardian Oxfordshire, England: WARWICK John Skate, charged with stealing at Birmingham, one pair of boots, the property of Wm. Cooke.
Convict Index: Aged 18, Arrived 1847 in Geelong E., Single, Occupation: Bricklayer
Parents both dead, father was a gun-finisher in Birmingham, died in 1836, mother had then been dead 3 years. Prisoner has two brothers. The eldest is married. They both live in Birmingham. He has one sister also who resides with her brothers. Prisoner was at school for a short time before his father's death, but only at Sunday school afterwards. Did not learn to read well. Worked for some time with his eldest brother, after that was employed at a brass foundry, earned 4/6 a week. Was taken up for stealing a cap. He was then Sentenced to 7 years transportation on account as he states of him not having any parents to take care of him, but this Sentence was afterwards commuted to 6 months imprisonment in Warwick gaol. Attended school in the prison every day - After he came out of prison he went to work with a tinman in Birmingham, earned 2/6 a week. At the end of six months he was persuaded by other boys to leave his place and go about the streets with them, stealing. Was apprehended once for sleeping out, but was only confined one day - Next was taken up for stealing a pair of books, tried at the Warwick Assizes, convicted and sentenced Conduct at Parkhurst. January 22 1845 Confined 48 hours Disorderly at surgery - insolent to assistant Warder Greig. April 9 1845 - Confined 48 hours - Disobedience of orders at land labour, and falsehood. May 25 1847. Embarked on board the ship "JOSEPH SOMES” for port Philip