Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
William Sturdy was transported on the Claudine, departing 19th Aug 1829 and arriving 6th Dec 1829 with 180 passengers.
The 'Claudine' was an East Indiaman built in Calcutta in 1811 from teak wood with a tonnage of 452 tons. In 1820 she ran from London to Hobart Town, Sydney, Batavia and back to England. After leaving Sydney on 10 May 1820 under the command of John Welsh, she discovered the Claudine Reef in the Coral Sea, before making her way past Murray Island in Torres Strait on her way to Batavia. The Claudine made two voyages to Australia as a convict transport. Departing Woolwich 24 August 1821 mastered by John Crabtree with Henry Ryan as ship's surgeon. She arrived in Port Dalrymple, van Diemen's Land after a passage of 113 days via Teneriffe, on 15 December, landing 40 convicts. She then sailed on to Hobart Town and landed the remaining 119 male convicts, one prisoner having died en route . On 24 August 1829 the Claudine departed London, arriving in Sydney on 6 December 1829 after a voyage of 104 days; her Master was William Heathorne, the surgeon William H Trotman. On this voyage she sailed with 180 prisoners and their guard; two prisoners died en route. she then sailed on to Madras on 30 December. The Claudine returned to merchant service and on Monday 21-22 November 1840 under the command of captain Brewer was deliberately beached with another East Indiaman 'Westminster' during a storm off the Kent coast near Margate. This stranding was the subject of a famous engraving by William Henry Bartlett and a pencil and chalk sketch by J.M.W. Turner. The 'Westminster' successfully unloaded 6000 chests of tea into two steamers which delivered it to the East India Docks and was refloated on 7 December. 'Claudine' which was beached onshore unloaded into 200 carts the following day 23rd November and was then refloated on a spring tide after 7 December. Both ships having been dismasted in the storm, were repaired and put back into the trade. The Claudine appears to have been sent to the wreckers in 1849.
Claudine (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/7, Page Number 172 |
| 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
Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 04 August 2022), April 1829, trial of HENRY WILLIAMS WILLIAM STURDY (t18290409-70). HENRY WILLIAMS, WILLIAM STURDY, Theft > simple larceny, 9th April 1829. 780. HENRY WILLIAMS and WILLIAM STURDY were indicted for stealing, on the 11th of March , 5 shirts, value 10s.; 2 pairs of stockings, value 1s.; 1 sheet, value 3s., and 3 frocks, value 1s. 6d. , the goods of Spooner Fitt . SPOONER FITT . I live in Hammerton-street, Paddington-green . On the 11th of March my neighbours told me their yards had been stripped - I went to look at mine, and missed seven shirts, one sheet, four children's frocks, and other articles; I think three of my neighbours places had been robbed; I did not know the prisoners before; they were taken up about twelve o'clock the next night. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. What sort of a day was it? A. I know there was a shower - I know the sun shone. FRANCIS BRADLEY . I am the watch-house-keeper of Paddington, and live just opposite the watch-house. I heard of this robbery about half-past seven o'clock, and then saw the prisoners passing very hastily by with each a bundle, which appeared to me to be linen; Williams resembled a young man against whom I had a warrant, and priI sent two officers after them, but they were not taken; on the following evening, a few minutes before twelve o'clock, I took up Sturdy; when they passed, Williams had a blue frock-coat on, and Sturdy a drab frock-coat - and there was left on the fence of Mr. Hogg's garden this piece of a coat, which I produce; it is exactly similar to the one Sturdy had on - but when I took him he had a dark coloured coat on; I took off Sturdy's shoes, and said,"Are these the shoes you had on when you were there?" or something to that effect; he said they must be, for he had no others; I went to the place where some persons had got over the wall, and these shoes exactly fitted several footmarks that were there; there appeared to be the footsteps of two other persons or more - but these I traced across some tulip beds, and other soft ground, to where the persons had got over; a piece of the paling was broken down in getting over; I went with Stowell to apprehend Williams - Stowell ordered him to pull off his shoes - we went and fitted them to a number of marks. Cross-examined Q. Are they right and left shoes? A. No; this one has been worn on the left foot - it is a common size; Sturdy kept out of the way till the second day; I think there had been no rain at that time; the shoes were quite dry; William Hopkins is the young man I mistook Williams for; I did not stop the bundle at first - it was in a shawl handkerchief, and appeared like linen, but it was wrapped up. WILLIAM HENRY PIDGEON . I live at Pell-street, Mary-le-bone, about half a mile from Mr. Fitt's. On the Thursday morning, about eight o'clock, or a little before, I saw the two prisoners pass my father's door with two bundles -I had often seen them pass; I heard the words "wet linen;" the arms of a shirt hung out of one of the bundles. Cross-examined. Q. Was it a shawl? A. It was like a blue pocket-handkerchief; they were small bundles; I was not taken out of the Police-office to be spoken to by any one; I had often seen the prisoners about the door - their bundles were about the size that one person could carry; it was rather a dull morning; I do not believe there was any rain on that or the next day. HENRY STOWELL . I am an officer of Mary-le-bone. I went and saw the ground; I went to the back of Williams' house, took these shoes off his feet and matched them with the marks on the ground - here are three or four nails on this side which were marked exactly; there is a mark where his toe slipped on the rails, and a mark where these nails scraped the mud in jumping over the wall; Williams said he might as well he transported for this as for any other offence. Cross-examined. Q. Did he not say he might as well be transported for any other offence as this? A. I think his words were, "I may as well be transported for this as for any other offence;" I will not swear it; his house is not far from the prosecutor's - the two gardens go towards each other; he might have gone towards his own house, and I think he did; there was a poor woman there who went into fits, and said something which I do not think right to repeat here; I searched his house and Sturdy's, but did not find any property belonging to the prosecutor. JAMES HOGG . I have some premises near the prosecutor's - I found this piece of cloth on the fence of my garden near where two houses are building. WILLIAMS - GUILTY . Aged 18. STURDY - GUILTY . Aged 19. Transported for Seven Years . -------------------------------------------------- ADM 101/17/5/3 Folios 22: Copy of the daily sick book for the Claudine Male Convict Ship. William Sturdy, aged 20, convict; disease or hurt, febris catarrhus. Put on sick list, 13 December 1829. Discharged 15 December 1829.
Name: William Sturdy Spouse Name: Ellen Connor Marriage Date: 1838 Marriage Place: New South Wales Registration Place: Abercrombie District, Bathurst, New South Wales Registration Year: 1838 Volume Number: V