William Swallow

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D Wong on 6th April 2016

William Swallow alias William Walker was formerly a seaman of the Aid, a collier, of Shields, but was subsequently tried in the name of Walker, at the Durham Quarter Session on 8/1/1821 – he arrived in VDL per ‘Malabar’, 1821 but absconded and returned to England. William Walker was 29 years old and was transported for ‘Stealing a quilt’. William was 5’8 ¾” tall, brown hair, blue eyes, small scar on nose and chin. Wife and 3 children at Sunderland – his native place listed as London near Durham. 12/10/1822 Hobart Town Gazette: John Wilkinson and William Walker, convicts, pleaded guilty to the charge of absconding from the Public Works; and, in conjunction with Matthew Travers and others, stealing and carrying away a schooner, the property of Anthony Fenn Kemp, Esq. and Co. – They were sentenced to receive 150 lashes, and to be transported to Macquarie Harbour for the remainder of their sentence. He absconded and returned to England. William was convicted for tier-ranging, plundering ships at night in the river, and then was eventually tried at Guildford on the 28/7/1828 for sheep-stealing and transported for life. He arrived in VDL per ‘Georgiana’ which arrived in 1829. After he had been transported, his wife, with whom he had 3 children, married another man called Flook. On hearing that her husband was back in the country again and in Lambeth, she went and lived with him for a few days, but husband Flook demanded that she return to him – she then gave information of William’s whereabouts, so that he may be got rid of; he was then apprehended. After being placed at the bar, William wanted to make a full confessing and stated the following: (this is a very shortened version) He went out in the Georgiana, after a gale which split the sails, he told the captain he could make sails. He was put amongst the crew and remained with them until the ship arrived at Hobart, here the mate offered to secrete him in the hold, he was discovered and sent off in the Cyprus bound to Macquarrie Harbour with convicts, crew and passengers. Three days later, while Lieutenant Carew was out on a fishing party, they took possession of the brig – since Swallow was the only one able to navigate the ship they forced him to steer for America. Provisions were not sufficient for the voyage so they went to New Zealand then Otaheite, Friendly Islands, then to Japan, where they were fired upon, then eventually to Canton, China, where they were examined before the English there. He was put on board the Charles Grant, with the other prisoners who had been committed for trial at the Admiralty sessions. 30/12/1830: Was tried at Surrey Special Goal Delivery and sentenced to Life. Transported per “Exmouth 1831” and landed 28/7/1831 in Sydney. William was kept in Sydney for some months before being shipped to Hobart. 12/5/1834: William died at Port Arthur.