Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
James Taylor was transported on the Hougoumont, departing 10th Oct 1867 and arriving 9th Jan 1868 with 281 passengers.
875 ton ship was built at Moulmein in 1852. http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/on-this-day-in-history-australias-last-convict-ship-docks.htm ---------------------------- Incorrect Image ....This is a four masted steel hulled Barque in the drawing , im surprised Australian Geo didn't do a bit more research on this .......The Hougoumont was a works ship on the Forth Bridge Project in 1885 ....the one potrayed as a drawing in Aust Geo is the later version of this ship.....the photograph i have attached is the correct and original convict vessel. --00-- 1867 "The hired convict ship Hougoumont, which has been taken up by the Government for the conveyance of a numerous party of convicts to Freemantle, Western Australia, left the Nore on October 1, and proceeded down Channel, after receiving on board 150 convicts from the establishments at Chatham and Millbank. The convicts from the Chatham establishment, at St. Mary's, embarked from the dockyard on board the paddle-wheel steamer Adder, Mr. W. J. Blakely, and were in charge of a numerous party of convict guards and wardens, all heavily armed. Among the convicts shipped were a party of fifteen Fenians, who were engaged in the late conspiracy in Ireland, together with the officers and crew convicted of scuttling the ship Severn, and some others who have achieved notoriety from their crimes. The Fenian convicts, like the remainder of the prisoners, were chained together in gangs, but it was observed that they were kept apart from the other convicts in a portion of the vessel by themselves. The steamer Petrel also took down a number of convicts from the establishment at Millbank for shipment on board the Hougoumont, in charge of a strong escort and convict guard. On Tuesday, October 8th, the Hougoumont arrived in Portland roads. Shortly before midday ninety convicts were marched down to the Government pier at Portland under a strong escort of the 12th Light Infantry. The party included twenty-three Fenian convicts, among whom it was said, was Moriarty. The Government steamer employed in the breakwater service was used for conveying the convicts on board the Hougoumont transport ship. The convicts were chained together on embarking, and on board the steamer a strong guard of marines from her Majesty's ship St. George was formed, and saw the convicts safely placed on board the Hougoumont. The Governor of the penal settlement at Freemantle, Captain Young, is on board the Hougoumont, and returns in that ship to his sphere of duty after paying a visit to his native land." Source: Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 19 Dec 1867, p4, English Shipping, available on Trove at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271?searchTerm=hougoumont.
HougoumontReferences
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/19, p242 --0-- England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for James Taylor; England; Lancashire; 1865. --0-- https://fremantleprison.com.au |
| 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
NOTE: Year of Birth is taken from official records but day and month are not known. The latter dates have been entered as 01/01 because the site does not allow those fields to be left empty.
BURIAL: Name: James Taylor Whitehead Birth: 1831, England Death: 9 July, 1906 (aged 74–75), Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia Burial: East Perth Cemeteries, Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia Plot: Church of England Grave 455 (findagrave.co./memorial/152891427). --000--
DEATH OF JAMES TAYLOR WHITEHEAD: 1906, 9 July: Whitehead, James, male, aged 75; son of John WHITEHEAD and Elizabeth FARREN; died at Perth, 1906; reg. no. 100481; year of registration 1906 (WA BDM at https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-justice, and FindAGrave at findagrave.co./memorial/152891427). --0--
OTHER: James Taylor Whitehead was married before he was transported to WA, according to his WA Convict record – to Mary Ann, 29 years old, and in jail at Princeton when he arrived in WA in 1868. Just where in Princeton is is not clear. Dartmoor Prison is there but it held men only. -- DEATH OF HIS FIRST AUSTRALIAN WIFE: Ellen Howard Whitehead, born 1849, died in childbirth on 11 February, 1874, aged 24-25. She married James Taylor Whitehead in 1871 (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152891427). -- DEATH OF HIS SECOND AUSTRALIAN WIFE: Eliza Withney [Withey] Whitehead died on 13 February, 1898, aged 47 years. She married James Taylor Whitehead in 1874 (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152891427). From the West Australian, 15 February, 1898, p4: “FUNERAL OF THE LATE MRS. E.A. WHITEHEAD - The remains of the late Mrs. Eliza A. Whitehead, wife of Mr. James T. Whitehead, of this city, were interred in the Church of England portion of the Perth Cemetery yesterday afternoon. The funeral, which left the deceased's late residence in Hay-street at 5 o'clock, was largely attended. The pall-bearers were Messrs. W. Allen, W. Britnall. D. Guthrie and J. A. Liddelow. Several wreaths were sent by sympathising friends. The Rev. R.J. Coyle officiated at the grave, and the funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. Donald J. Chipper.” (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3195019) --0-- A THIRD AUSTRALIAN WIFE: James Whitehead married Maria Withey, at Fremantle, in 1898; reg. no. 515; registered 1898 (WA BDM https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-justice). Surname suggests she was a sister of Eliza, his previous wife. --00--
BANKRUPT: From the Inquirer and Commercial News, 23 March, 1894, p6: “James Taylor Whitehead, hairdresser, has been adjudicated a bankrupt on the debtor's own petition.” (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66313918) --00-- SUPREME COURT – IN BANKRUPTCY: From the West Australian, 3 April, 1894, p3: “MONDAY, APRIL 2nd... Re J. T. Whitehead. The public examination of James Taylor Whitehead, hairdresser, Perth, was commenced by the Official Receiver. The bankrupt said his statement of affairs showed all his liabilities and assets. The unsecured creditors amounted to £440 18s, and the creditors for rates and taxes to £5 18s. The assets amounted to £9 16s, consisting of a few articles of furniture. Since then the amount of the assets had been increased? – They have increased by you taking what my wife bought, and what was in my possession, and therefore, you claimed them. Continuing, he said he had not supplied any deficiency account because he had none. He kept no books. His creditors were generally for cash advanced for gambling purposes, and those who lent it to him knew it. For card playing?—More for shaking. That was the sole cause of his bankruptcy. He was solvent up to near Christmas time, and never had a book debt. He had been twenty-six years in the colony. All the time he had been in business, he had been in the habit of gambling. He had been gambling the last twenty years, and it had cost him all he earned. Had it not been for that he would have been independent by now. He had not spent it on drink; he had not taken drink the last twenty years. He went to England about March 1887. He sold off everything, and took with him over £460, and sent £100 by post. He returned six months afterwards. During that time he ‘got shut’ of all his money in England by gambling. Since he had been back Mrs. Whitehead and her sister had been carrying on business between them. He had nothing to do with it. I suppose you have what money who [sic] like from them? – No. Whenever I do get money from them, it is more like extortion. It is so hard to get it. They don't like giving me the money they have. Well, you do get some? – I get a little. And whatever you get goes by gambling? – It goes no other way; I don't drink. Continuing, he said he had never interfered in their business; it was theirs solely, and they worked it. He never had a banking account, because he did not need it; if he won £300 or £400 to-day, he lost it, perhaps, to-morrow. He had won and lost thousands and thousands since he had been in colony. He attended nearly all the race meetings. He thought he had lost £400 between the 14th of December last and the middle of the following January. He played with strangers – some who ‘sharped’ others besides himself. You think they ‘sharped’ you? – I have had reason to think so since, and those who lent me the money know those other people won it. They know it for a fact. About how much do you get from your business? – From £3 to to £3 10s. a week. I pay out of that to my wife £2 a week for the room. She has a lease of the house to herself, and pays the rent. The examination was adjourned for a week.” (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3060021) --0--
IN PERTH POLICE COURT: From the West Australian, 16 August, 1890, pp3-4: “THE SEQUEL TO A GAMBLING CASE... At the Perth Police Court yesterday, before Mr. J. Cowan P.M., James Nicholls was charged with stealing the sum of £6, on the 11th inst., the money of James Whitehead. Mr. Geo. Parker prosecuted, and Mr R. S. Haynes defended. James Taylor Whitehead [James Taylor] deposed that on Monday, 11th inst., he left Foster's Royal Hotel at ten minutes to ten o'clock, and Nicholls came after him and said there was a man who had been at Foster's all the day and he had got some money. He asked the prosecutor to go back and gamble with him and he was persuaded to go and see the man. Defendant told him he would gain the front way and prosecutor could come in by the back. The man Woodman was treating Nicholls to drink, and the latter introduced the prosecutor to him, and they all had a drink at Woodman's expense. It was suggested that they should have a game, but no game was arranged at that time. Prosecutor then went home, and brought back close upon £21, consisting of one £5 note, eight sovereigns, six half-sovereigns, and three £1 notes, and about 20s worth of silver. He then asked Woodman if he would play at cards. He said no, he did not like to play at cards, as he had lost £800 down at the Nor'West. Prosecutor then asked him to shake dice, and he said he did not care about that. He asked him to play dominoes,and defendant refused, and Nicholls asked him what game he could play, and he said ‘toss two pennies’. Woodman seemed to be frightened to go to any place where there would be more than three of them. Nicholls arranged for a room at the Wellington Hotel, and when the prosecutor and defendant went in Nicholls and the landlord were upstairs. Woodman asked witness to drink, and Nicholls and the landlord came down stairs. Nicholls, prosecutor and witness then went up stairs, and a blanket was laid on the floor, so that the coins would not make a noise. Neither Woodman nor the prosecutor had any pence, and Nicholls pulled out five or six pennies. Prosecutor spread them on the table, and Woodman began to brighten one, and in answer to the prosecutor he said he liked them bright on the head side. Nicholls also began to brighten one on the head side. While the cleaning process was going on prosecutor went out to the yard, and when he returned the pennies were on the table heads up and brightened. He picked up the pennies and examined them to see that there were tails on the other side, or that they were ‘honest’ pennies. Woodman asked for something to toss up the coins with, and prosecutor suggested a piece of old comb, but he said that would not do; he liked a piece of stick, and Nicholls went out and brought in a piece of stick (produced) and the play began.” Then followed an “explicit” description of the game from Whitehead. In short, after initial winning, Whitehead began to lose and said he noticed one penny always fell near the window and never came up tails, while the second only “sometimes” came up tails. Whitehead claimed they were double-headed pennies. He called off the game and demanded eight sovereigns he had seen Nicholls pick up when the game was called off. Nicholls said he didn’t have it. Allegations and counter-allegations were traded about the money owed to/won by Whitehead. “The magistrate reviewed the evidence, and concluded there was not sufficient evidence to send the case for trial, and he therefore dismissed the case. There were several cries of ‘hear, hear’ from the public in the back of the Court. The prosecutor said that nobody was more glad than he that the case was dismissed.” (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3136375/753346) --0--
RETURN TO WA: 1887, 18 September: James Taylor, exp., late 9888, alias James Thomas Whitehead, returned to Colony from London per “SS Clyde” [called RMS Clyde in shipping news sections of various newspapers, she arrived at Albany on the 18th] (WA Police Gazette, No.42, 19 October, 1887, p.185 at https://slwa.wa.gov.au/pdf/battye/police_gazettes/188710_m.pdf) --00--
TO LONDON: 1887, 30 March: Sailed from Albany, WA, for London on board the “SS Massilia” [called “RMS Massilia” in newspaper shipping reports, and owned by P&O]. Listed as James Taylor alias JT Whitehead, expiree, late reg. no. 9888, per Hougoumont. Remarks: “Middling stout, age 57 years, 5ft. 5½in. high, dark brown hair turning grey, dark grey eyes, long visage, dark complexion, scar on right cheek near ear, small coal-cut in centre of forehead, 7 stars and scar on right wrist, a hair-dresser.” (WA Police Gazette, No.16, 20 April, 1887, p.74 at https://slwa.wa.gov.au/pdf/battye/police_gazettes/188704_m.pdf) --0--
FREMANTLE JAIL RECORD: TAYLOR, James; inmate #9888, arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Alias: WHITEHEAD J T Date of Birth: 1829 [1831 – see Death] Marital Status: Married Occupation: Barber Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Salford Crime: Pickpocket Sentence Period: 10 years Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket Leave Date: 4 Dec 1869 Certificate of Freedom Date: 28 Mar 1876 Comments: General servant, barber, Self-employed, 1871, 1875-1876, baker. To London, 30 March, 1887, returned to Western Australia, 18 Sep 1887 (https://fremantleprison.com.au). --0--
IN WA: 1868: On arrival, James Taylor, 37, was listed as convict #9888; sentenced to 10 years, at Clerkenwell, 28 August, 1865, for “larceny from the person and previous conviction”; barber; married, no children; literate; Protestant; family – wife Mary Ann (29), Princeton Prison; behaviour “very bad”. Described as 5’5¼” tall, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, round visage, swarthy complexion, stout; scar of letter D left side, scar right groin. Previous convictions: 10 and two acquittals between 1851 and 1865; convictions ranged from stealing clothes and money to uttering base coin (3 convictions) to professing to tell fortunes (March, 1865, 21 days jail). Ticket of Leave 4.12.69; Certificate of Freedom 28.3.76. Other: On 14 October, 1868, he received “special remission of 12 months gang labour for “assistance to AW Baring when attacked by 8258” [#8258 David Evans, per Racehorse (1865), was serving a life sentence for burglary.] --0--