Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
George Smith 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 246 |
| 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 |
Claims
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Photos
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Convict Notes
Footnote: Gun finishing is one of the more important specialisations of gunsmiths. A finisher applies various chemical processes (browning, bluing, Parkerization, among others) to the metal parts of guns to develop corrosion resistant surface layers on the steel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunsmith). --00--
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: SMITH, George; inmate #4546, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1835 Marital Status: Widower Occupation: Gun finisher Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Warwick, Warwick, England Crime: Robbery with violence Sentence Period: 15 years Ticket of Leave Date: 27 Oct 1859 Conditional Pardon Date: 17 Dec 1862 Certificate of Freedom Date: 11 Jan 1871 Comments: Self-employed, 1861 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/).
On arrival in WA, he was listed as: Smith, George -- #4546, 23, gun finisher, widower no children; 5'1", sandy hair, grey eyes, oval face, fresh complexion, middling stout build, burn on left arm, "Elizabeth" in a wreath on left arm (http://www.perthdps.com/convicts/conwad21.htm). --0--
10 September, 1857: Sent from Portland to board the Nile for transportation to WA; prisoner #39/6874 (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32)). --00--
18 March, 1857: Admitted to Portland Gaol, inmate #6874; 21 years old (when convicted), gun finisher, literate, widower, Protestant; next of kin -- his mother, Mrs Hines, Kenyon Street, Birmingham. Behaviour "very good" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portland Prison; Prison Records; 1870-1875). --0--
25 February, 1856: Admitted to Leicester County Gaol and House of Correction, Welford Road (near the junction of Lutterworth and Welford roads), Leicester; served 12 months 21 days in separate confinement, behaviour "very good". --0--
JAILS: 8 August, 1855: Admitted to Warwick House of Correction; served 2 months 24 days in association with other prisoners. Behaviour "indifferent". --0--
Newspaper reports referred to George Smith and two unidentified accomplices' "Daring attempt at street robbery at Birmingham" on the 5 August. (Coventry Times, Wednesday 19 December 1855, pp9,10). -- From 'The Times', December 15, 1855, p.9: "Midland Circuit, Warwick, December 14 George Smith was indicted for assaulting and robbing George Mitchell. Mr Spooner prosecuted. It appeared that the prisoner, on the 5th of August last, had met the prosecutor in Birmingham, and when the latter inquired his way to a certain part of town which the named prisoner offered to conduct him thither. On the way the prisoner suddenly put his arm round the prosecutor’s throat, so as partially to suffocate him and to prevent him from calling out. The prosecutor was immediately approached by two other men, who rifled his pockets; and then all ran off. The prosecutor cried 'Murder!' and, as the prisoner was running away, he was met by a policeman who had been attracted by the cry. As soon as the prisoner saw the policeman he stopped running; he was at once apprehended; and though the prosecutor in his confusion was at first doubtful whether the prisoner was the man who had assaulted him, he almost immediately afterwards identified him. The jury found the prisoner Guilty, and he was sentenced to 15 years transportation. --0--
TRIAL: 13 December, 1855: George Smith was tried at the Special Gaol Delivery Sessions, Warwick, and convicted of robbery using violence; sentenced to transportation for 15 years. He had a previous conviction for stealing a shawl, with a jail term of 8 months (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Warwickshire; 1855). --0--
COMMITTAL: 6 August, 1855: He was committed at Birmingham to stand trial. --0--