Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
James Stevens 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 245 (124) |
| 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
CORRECTION: 18 February, 1851: James Stevens is listed on Portland Prison records as inmate #1463, who was sent to Gibraltar per the ship Cornwall, from Portland where he had been held since 1 July, 1850 (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portland Prison; Prison Records; Undated). However, he must have been held -- awaiting transport to Gibraltar -- on the prison hulk Stirling Castle, moored at Portsmouth. This would explain the notation for 4 March, 1851. --00--
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: STEVENS, James; inmate #4699, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1823 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Farm labourer Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England Crime: Firing a barn Sentence Period: Life Ticket of Leave Date: 7 Apr 1858 Conditional Pardon Date: 9 Apr 1862 Comments: Self-employed, 1858, 1860 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/) --00--
8 September, 1857: Sent from Portsmouth to board the Nile for transportation to WA; convict #14/4173 (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32)). --00--
4 July, 1857: Received from Gibraltar per the Hamilton Mitchell at Portsmouth prison; inmate #4173. Listed as 28 (when tried), single, labourer, able to read and write, Church of England. Next of kin -- father, James Stevens, Chobham, Surrey. By the time he was sent from Portsmouth for transportation, he had served a total of 8 years 5 months 15 days in public works prisons. He had two separate visits logged before his departure -- but no names are given -- one on 15 July and the second on 30 July, 1857 (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners; 1855-1858). --0--
JAILS: 13 January, 1849: Committed to stand trial and held in jail at Chobham. --0-- 24 August, 1849: Admitted to Pentonville prison. Served 10 months 6 days in separate confinement. --0-- 1 July, 18509: Admitted to Portland prison. --0-- 4 March, 1851: Sent to Gibraltar per the Stirling Castle. --0--
30 March, 1849: The Times, p7: Home Circuit Kingston , March 29 Before Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN William Smith and James Stevens, who had pleaded ‘Guilty’ to the offence of arson, were first placed at the bar. His LORDSHIP, addressing the prisoners, said, that they had pleaded guilty to a most serious charge. The prosecution, Lord Vaux, had recommended them to mercy, and his conduct in doing so did great credit to his humanity, but after looking at the depositions, and seeing that there were several other charges of a similar character against them, he felt that he could not, consistently with his duty to the public, give any effect to that recommendation, but was compelled to pass the full sentence fixed by the law for the offence of which they had pleaded guilty, which was that they be transported for the term of their natural lives. --0--
Newspaper coverage of the trial: 28 March, 1849: London Evening Standard, p1: "SPRING ASSIZES. HOME CIRCUIT. Kingston, March 27. (Before Mr. Justice Wightman). James Stevens, 28, pleaded guilty to a charge of feloniously setting fire to a corn-shed and other buildings in the parish of Chobham, the property of George Lord Vaux at Harrowden ..." and 30 March, 1849: London Evening Standard, p4: "William Smith and James Stevens, who had pleaded guilty to the offence of arson, were sentenced to be transported for the term of their natural lives ..." --0--
TRIAL: 24 March, 1849: James STEVENS and William SMITH were convicted and sentenced to life, at Kingston-on-Thames, for maliciously firing a barn (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners; 1855-1858). --0--