Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
Matthew Skellet 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 236. UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners to 1885. |
| 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
DEATH: Skellett (Skillitt), Matthew -- (1828-1895) -- Death in Mt. Eliza Depot, from debility, aged 64 years (https://www.toodyay.wa.gov.au/). Note: He would have been 66 or 67 if his year of birth is correct. --00--
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: SKELLETT, Matthew; #4660, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1828 Date of Death: 22 Jan 1895 Place of Death: Mount Eliza Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Farm labourer Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Place: Huntingdon, Huntingdon, England Crime: Bestiality Sentence Period: 15 years, commuted Ticket of Leave Date: 22 May 1860 Conditional Pardon Date: 1 Jun 1863 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--
15 May, 1857: He was sent to Chatham, a public works prison for male convicts east of London, at St Mary’s Island, in Kent (https://www.prisonhistory.org). On the record of “male transports” from Chatham, per Nile to WA, he was listed as #1101, 28 years old, single, a farm labourer, able to read and write imperfectly and convicted for bestiality. His behaviour in separate confinement and public works jails was "good" and "very good" respectively [although a notation on his Millbank records says "Character bad; condition good"] (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32)). --00--
12 September: He was sent from Great Stukeley to Millbank, at Westminster in London. Listed as #3591, he was 28, single, CofE, a farm labourer, able to read and write imperfectly and sentenced to 15 years’ transportation (death recorded) for bestiality. Next of kin — his mother, Elizabeth Skellett of Farcet, Huntingdon. He was visited by an aunt on 2 April, 1857. By the 1850s, Millbank and Pentonville were places for all male convicts to serve “their probationary term [of 9 months], after which they would be transported or sent to a public works prison” (https://www.prisonhistory.org). Matthew Skellett served 8 months 4 days in separate confinement (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners to 1885). --0--
JAILS: He served 2 months 3 days in separate confinement at Huntingdon County Gaol and House of Correction (also called Great Stukeley County Gaol, and Huntingdon Prison) in St Peter's Road. --0--
TRIAL: 16 July, 1856: Matthew Skellett was convicted at Huntingdon Assizes and sentenced to death for bestiality, commuted to transportation for 15 years.