Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
John Tongs was transported on the Eliza, departing 2nd Feb 1831 and arriving 29th May 1831 with 224 passengers.
The Eliza was a 511-ton (later 538 ton) merchant ship built in British India in 1806. She made five voyages transporting convicts from England and Ireland to Australia.
Eliza (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/8, Page Number 5. Tasmanian Archives |
| 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
Contribution on 4th Nov. also from myself. Personal Description: 5'6"; age 36yrs; Timsbury; sallow complexion; lge round head; brown hair; round visage; forehead - sloping backwards; brown eyebrows; blue eyes; small nose; medium width mouth; medium chin. No remarks. (Convict Description list. page 51.) Assigned to Joseph Archer Esq.1832-1835 (Muster rollcall) Archer's fortune, like that of most other free settlers was built on the labours of his convict assigned servants. He is reputed to have been a hard master. He disliked the convict system intensly, and was one of the first men to arrange for free and indentured labourers and their families to be brought out from England. Family: Married, with 4 children, when transported. From the Parish at Native Place, Romsey, England. Wife was Fanny. (After he received his Free Pardon on 3 Feb 1836, he returned to England1842-1843, travelled on the 'King William" with Fanny and children back to Tasmania. They settled at Longford. Children: John Palmer (Fanny's son by former husband) b. 1815, Susannah b. 1820, Charles b. 1823, John Joseph b. 1824, Samuel b. 1829. Death: TONGS - At his residence, Longford, Mr John Tongs; aged 74, deeply regretted by a large circle of friends. The funeral will take place on Monday, the 14th June. Died in his 74th year, cause "Heart Disease". Inscription on gravestone reads: "John Tongs, died 10 June 1869, in the 74th year of his age, He was for upwards of forty years a consistent member and useful office bearer in the Methodist Church. the memory of the just is blessed. Proverbs XC part VCV."
John was from Timsbury, Hampshire, England. He was married, to Fanny, with 4 children when arrested for "Machine Breaking" during a farm labourer's strike in 1830. He was a blacksmith and he is said to have assisted the rebels. He received a 7 yr transportation sentence. He was of good conduct and had a good influence over other convicts as he had been a local preacher. He served his time in van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) and received a Free Pardon 3 Feb 1836. Convict no. 71124 - his record is available to view on Archives Tasmania. He, with the assistance of his old Parish, was able to bring Fanny, 4 children plus Fanny's child to her 1st husband, out to live at Longford, Tasmania. John's name is on the Honour Board of the Methodist Church, Longford as their 1st Preacher and consistent member of the church. He died in his 74th year, of heart disease and is buried at the General Cemetery, Longford. My family connection is through his daughter Susannah who married Joseph Walker. There are many Tongs descendants living in Tasmania.
deported from england