Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Thomas Stafford was transported on the James Pattison, departing 2nd Oct 1829 and arriving 20th Jan 1830 with 201 passengers.
James Pattison (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. |
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Convict Notes
POLICE INCIDENTS. LOOK AT THIS! THE CONVICT SYSTEM IN 1835. IRONED GANGS.-Thomas Stafford, a prisoner of the Crown, was put to the bar under the following circumstances:-Mr. Robert Foster, Solicitor, stated that the prisoner had been assigned to him, but in consequence of having committed an assault upon him, he was sentenced twelve months to an Iron Gang, and to be thence-forward assigned in the interior. The prisoner was a most dangerous character, having been sent for a period to the Penal Settlement of Moreton Bay for stabbing a former master, and the Bench therefore considered him an improper person to be allowed to live in Sydney. Deponent, however, was surprised to find that despite of that order of the Bench, the prisoner had returned to Sydney, where he had been living for some time among his friends perfectly uncontrolled and at large ; and being apprehensive of personal danger from a knowledge of his violent disposition, he had for his own security considered it necessary to inform the Police of the circumstances, and have the prisoner taken into custody. He had frequently while in his service expressed his determination to get sent to an Iron gang, through which he would be enabled to get to his friends, and he had by means of committing the assault, for which he was punished, attained his object ; he had attended the Market for some time past as a dealer in butter, and had actually had the audacity from mere bravado, to call at his house in his absence on two occasions, to enquire if Mrs. F. wanted any ; he had been apprehended in the house of his mother in Market-street. Under these circumstances, he felt it to be a duty he owed to society, and for the protection of himself, to call upon their Worships to enquire into the means by which the sentence of the Bench had been evaded. -The prisoner, being called upon to account for himself, stated that on being released from the Iron Gang, he was assigned to Mrs. Redfern, of Campbell Field, but being attacked with a severe fit of sickness, he was sent to Liverpool Hospital, where he remained five months; on his return to Campbell Field, he was still incapable of performing any work from debility, and Mr. Wills, J. P., Agent for the estate of Mrs. Redfern, gave him a pass to Sydney to his friends, in order that he might receive that attention in his sickness which was necessary for his recovery. The prisoner on being required to produce the pass, stated that it had not been given to him, but had been given to a Mr. Hill, his brother-in-law, to whose care he had been given up. Mr. Hill being called in, deposed that the prisoner was given into his charge by Mr. Wills, in consequence of his sickness ; he had given him a pass which deponent had at home, but could not lay his hand upon it at the time, but he had no doubt of being able to find it if required ; the prisoner had been in his employ about ten weeks and had been sickly during that time, but was now recovering. The prisoner was remanded until the following day, when Mr. Hill produced the pass, which was held by the Bench not to be a legal pass; although there was no doubt that it was given him by Mr. Wills, as had been stated. The Bench directed the prisoner to return to the estate of his Mistress at Campbell Field, and not again be found in Sydney on pain of punishment without a proper pass, shewing him to be on the business of his Mistress. At the request of Mr. Hill, the prisoner was given into his charge, on his responsibility to deliver him up at Campbell Field, with all possible despatch. Sydney Herald, 8 Oct 1835.
Moreton Bay Convict Register. Thos. Strafford, per Jas. Pattison, Tried Louth, 11 Mar 1829, for Larceny, 7 years, Laborer. Colonial Sentence: Tried Gen. Sess. Port Stephens, 29 July 1830, for Drunkenness and disorderly conduct and attempting to stab with a knife. 2 years sentence. Returned to Sydney, 28 Feb 1833. Description Record. Thomas Stafford, Native place Cork, age 25, 5 ft 8 ½ in. Fair pock-pitted comp, Lt brown hair, grey eyes, Catholic.
Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Thomas Stafford, age on arrival, 25, per James Pattison (1) 1830, Tried 1829, at Louth, 7 years for Stolen watch in possession. DOB, 1805, Native place, Cork, Married, wife Margaret Irving arrived per Asia I (5) 1830. Catholic, Soldier officers servant. Colonial sentence.