Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
John Spowage was transported on the Katherine Stewart Forbes, departing 21st Feb 1832 and arriving 16th Jul 1832 with 223 passengers.
Katherine Stewart Forbes (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/8, Page Number 272 |
| 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
Note: Mary Ann Griffith SPOWAGE died on 22 June 1848, aged 35. The cause of death was listed as consumption and her death was registered in the District of Hobart (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD35-1-2p198j2k).
1845, July: He was granted a Conditional Pardon (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON34-1-3$init=CON34-1-3P509). 1865, 5 September: He was convicted in the Supreme Court at Hobart for larceny and sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment to be served at Port Arthur (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON37-1-10$init=CON37-1-10p251). 1868, 9 April: He returned to Hobart. 1895, 2 November: John SPOWAGE, aged 83, died of senility at the New Town Charitable Institution in the District of Hobart. He was listed as born in England (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD35-1-15p55j2k). 1895, 4 November: John SPOWAGE, aged 83 and a pauper, was buried in Pauper's grave no.532A at Cornelian Bay Cemetery (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/AF70-1-21$init=AF70-1-21p351jpg). Note: One burial document lists him as 83, the other as 85 - the latter being at odds with the details of death at New Town.
1831-32: John SPOWAGE was held aboard the prison hulk Cumberland, moored at Chatham, while awaiting transportation to VDL (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849). 1832: On arrival in VDL, he was listed as 19, a labourer and single (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON18-1-10$init=CON18-1-10p49). 1840, 14 May: He was granted a Ticket of Leave (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-39$init=CON31-1-39p204). 1843, 7 March: John SPOWAGE per KS Forbes and Mary Ann GRIFFITH per Navarino were granted permission to marry. 1843, 14 May: They were married at St George's Church of England, Hobart. Both were listed as 28 years old (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD37-1-3p185j2k).
1831, 21 July: John SPOWAGE was one of four men tried at Nottingham for the rape of Mary Ann Lord on 16 April. Spowage, William Reynolds and William Marshall were each found guilty and sentenced to death. Spowage's sentence was remitted to transportation for life. Thomas Connor was found not guilty. Reynolds and Marshall were executed on 24 August 1831 (see England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Nottinghamshire 1831). Prior to their executions, a petition was lodged for a respite of their death sentences. The details below are from the National Archives (see https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11654785): "Prisoners' names: William Marshall and William Reynolds. Court and date of trial: Nottinghamshire Summer Assizes 21 July 1831. Crime: Rape of Maryan Lord [Mary Ann Lord] on 16 April 1831. Initial sentence: Orders for execution 10 August respited to 24 August 1831. Petitioner: George Whitehead, schoolmaster; 20 inhabitants of Nottingham including the prosecutrix and some jurymen; Benjamin Reynolds, one of the prisoners' father. Grounds for clemency: youth of prisoners; their inexperience; their ignorance of the enormity of the crime; place where crime supposedly took place overlooked on all sides; prosecutrix a prostitute and not to be trusted; admitted she went with Reynolds of her own accord; she did not appear to have suffered any ill effects of the crime; Marshall's mother has not eaten since they were convicted; parents distressed; the convicts would have run away if they were guilty; were not arrested immediately. Other papers: Deposition of Edward Hall. A letter from Sir Ronald Ferguson supporting case for transportation. John Fox, John Mead, Mary Whitting and Sarah Carter swear that Mary Ann Lord had been 'criminally connected' with several people and was not innocent as she declared at the trial sent to Judge Littledale. Two copies of a letter from Thomas Allen and R G Barker Sheriffs of Nottingham inquiring whether executions are to take place. The deposition of Richard Fairbairn discrediting Mary Ann Lord's evidence; he was not asked to appear as a witness at the trial. A letter from Thomas Denman enclosing a letter from Reynolds and supporting case."