Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
Richard Sommerville was transported on the Hercules, departing 3rd Jul 1830 and arriving 1st Nov 1830 with 205 passengers.
The "Hercules" ship was built in 1801 at South Sheilds, England. 1801 voyage from Ireland to New South Wales, Australia. Sailed via Rio de Janeiro and the Cape. A mutiny occurred just prior to their arrival at Rio - after 45 minutes it was quashed but 13 convicts had been killed. Jeremiah Pendergass was named as the ring leader and shot. 44 deaths in total on this voyage. There was then another ship, also named, "Hercules" built 1822 at Whitby, England who made 3 trips to Austraia, in 1825, 1830 & 1832.
Hercules (generic)References
| Primary Source | New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Hercules - 1830 |
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Convict Notes
SUPREME CRIMINAL COURT. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1835. Beforo Mr. Justice Dowling and a Military Jury. William Jeffries was indicted for the wilful murder of Richard Somerville, at Port Macquarie, on the 24th of August last. The prisoner was attached to one of the government gangs at Port Macquarie and on the day in question was at work with the deceased and two other men, named Wilkes and Taylor, splitting posts and rails. Prisoner and deceased worked together at one log; Taylor and Wilkes at another, a short distance away. A short time after they had been at work, Wilkes, looking in the direction of the prisoner's log, saw the deceased extended on the ground, with his face downwards, and called the prisoner, who was standing unconcernedly by, to enquire what ailed deceased. The prisoner said he did not know, and Wilkes continued splitting the log on which he and Taylor were at work, until they had driven the wedges home. Wilkes then went over to the deceased, Taylor following him, and raised his head from the ground, when he saw a stream of blood flowing from a deep cut on the back part of tho head. Wilkes called out to Taylor that deceased was dead, and Taylor went forward quickly, felt deceased's pulse, and replied, "No, he is not yet dead, but appears to be very near gone." The prisoner stood by during this scene, and then Taylor said that deceased was still living, said, "Not dead - let me come to him, and I'll b------y soon finish him." At this time prisoner had a double headed axe in his hand Wilkes and Taylor poured some water and bathed the deceased's temples without effect. He ceased to breath shortly after. Wilkes then turned to prisoner, saying, " You surely cannot have done this;" to which the prisoner replied, "I have, and I must die for it." When he was asked what motive had induced him to commit the murder, he replied, "he drove me to it, and I must die for it." Prisoner then said he must go to the lake, meaning a lake at a short distance from where they were working and where there there was a station, at which he had left some cloaths. Wilkes and Taylor advised him to go direct to the settlement and give himself up, but, as he was determined, they would not oppose him ... Full Story; https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2201129?searchTerm=richard somerville William Jeffries - 9 November 1835 - Hanged at Sydney for the murder of Richard Somerville at Port Macquarie.
New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Hercules - 1830 Indent No; / - 83 Name; Somerville. Richard - crossed out and replaced with Robert Age; 20 years Read & write, Roman Catholic, Single Native Place; Dublin Trade or calling; Boot-closer, 3 years Offence; Picking Pockets Trial; Dublin - 18 March 1829 - 7 years Height; 5 ft. 2 1/2 Remarks; Blind in left eye FOUND MURDERED; at Port Macquarie on the 24 August 1835.