Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
Robert Steenson was transported on the Pekoe, departing 10th Jul 1840 and arriving 7th Nov 1840 with 191 passengers.
Built Dundee, Scotland 1834. 379 tons. Rig type S. Transported convicts from Dublin, Ireland 1840 to New South Wales, Australia. List of 177 - 180 male persons. As this ship sailed direct from Ireland, the details of those on the voyage are NOT fully entered on this site, but being updated by volunteer researchers. Military Guard of the 96th Regiment plus 5 women and 11 children. Two boys, Matthew Wood (son of Michael Wood) and Patrick McArdle (son of James McArdle) - they were considered as free persons. Ship Surgeon, Robert Bower kept a Medical Journal.
Pekoe (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. |
Claims
"Robert is my Great-great-great-grandfather Succeeding generations: Samuel, Robert A, John V, Robin J"
Photos
No photos have been added for Robert Steenson.
Convict Notes
Died 1891 in Bathurst NSW (Death certificate reference 3364/1891)
Saturday last, at about half-past two clock, Mr. M. Mcllwrath sent sent Robt. Steenson, a man about 18 years of age, and who had been with him for upwards of seven years, to the Bank of Ireland office, Donegall-place, with a cheque for £45. with instructions to obtain £45 in silver, in copper, and £l3 in notes. He obtained the money, and all of the silver and copper in two bags, and the notes in his pocket. On his return to his master, he reported, that a man shoved him on the footpath, in Castle-street, which he dropped both bags; that, stooping to recover the bag containing the copper, the other bag, containing in silver, and one in copper, was carried off. The money he returned, was in notes, and £4 in copper. The fellow’s story was believed, in the first instance, and Mr. immediately brought Steenson to the Police office, for the purpose of searching after the persons implicated the robbery. But, when at the Police office, shortly after three o’clock, although an instant search was made, under the directions of Mr. Molony, Mr Lindsay, in which all the suspicious houses were searched, not the slightest clue was discovered to the stolen property. In the course of the same evening, Mr. M‘llwrath again called the Police-office ; and, entertaining suspicions of the correctness of Steenson's story, with the aid of Constable, had him taken into custody. Sunday, M*Williams, an active night Constable, found out the residence of one of Steenson’s companions, a person named Franklin Stevenson, an engraver, in whose house M‘Williams found, digging the kitchen floor, a bag, which contained £43, 4s. 7d. in silver and copper. Stevenson and his family denied all knowledge of the money, or how it came there. All the parties are in custody. The detection of this robbery reflects the greatest credit on Mr. Lindsay and the Police force. Belfast Commercial Chronicle. 18 March 1840. Committed. Robert Steenson, Franklin Stevenson, and Mary Stevenson, for stealing a bag containing silver, in copper, the property Mr. William M'llwrath, Melbourn -street; Northern Whig, 31 March 1840. Belfast Quarter Sessions. Robert Stevenson, for stealing, at Belfast, on 14th March last, £45, the property of William McIlrath and another; also, for stealing six table-cloths, the property of William Mc'llrath and another, on 7th March last: Guilty seven years' transportation. Mary and Franklin Stevenson, for receiving, at Bel- 'fast, on 7th March. last, a table-cloth, the property of William M'llrath and another, knowing the same to stolen. Guilty. Mary and Franklin Stevenson, for receiving £42, 8s. 8d the properly of William M'llrath and another, the 7th of March last. The money was found by M‘Williams, police constable, at the house of the prisoners, buried under the floor. Guilty seven years’ transportation. Belfast News-Letter, 13 April 1840.
Committed. Robert Steenson, Franklin Stevenson, and Mary Stevenson, for stealing a bag containing silver, in copper, the property Mr. William M'llwrath, Melbourn -street; Northern Whig, 31 March 1840. Belfast Quarter Sessions. Robert Stevenson, for stealing, at Belfast, on 14th March last, £45, the property of William McIlrath and another; also, for stealing six table-cloths, the property of William Mc'llrath and another, on 7th March last: Guilty seven years' transportation. Belfast News-Letter, 14 April 1840.
Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. Robert Steenson, alias Stephenson, age on arrival, 20, per Pekoe, 1840. Tried at Antrim, 1840, 7 years sentence, for Embezzlement. Former convictions: 10 months. DOB 1820. Native place, Antrim Co. Trade, Labourer. Single. Presbyterian.