William Walker

51

Chris Ison on 3rd December 2024

NORFOLK ISLAND. The last accounts from this settlement were of a very unfavourable nature. On the morning of the 19th June, a most daring act of piracy was committed by eleven of the prisoners, who succeeded in making their escape from the island. These men, who are stated to be of the most desperate and abandoned characters, contrived to elude the vigilance of the constables on duty in the camp, proceeded to the settlement, distant about a quarter of a mile, and by some means, which have yet to be explained, within a few paces of the guard-house, and close to the sentry, succeeded in launching a new whale boat, but just finished, into which they put a few articles (after a fruitless attempt to break open the stores close to the guard), and were actually crossing the bar when the first alarm was given, which was done partly by the pirates giving three cheers, and partly by the sentry alarming the guard, who fired two or three random, but ineffectual shots at them. … … The Commandant, who had turned out when the alarm was given, and was nearly the first man on the spot, then became seriously alarmed for the safety of Mr. Cunningham, the botanist (who arrived there in May), and three men who accompanied him on a botanical tour to Phillip Island a few days previous. … [The Commandant was right to be concerned, for the runaways had, in fact, plundered Cunningham’s camp for all they could carry away. They then bore out to sea and were never heard of again. Chris Ison] (Sydney Gazette 30 Oct 1830, p. 2.) ------------------------------------------------------------- THE undermentioned Prisoners having absconded from the Individuals and Employments set against their Names, respectively, and some of them being at large with stolen Certificates, and Tickets of Leave, all Constables and others are hereby required and commanded to use their utmost Exertions in apprehending and lodging them in safe Custody. … … Brown. William, Guilford (5), 26, button maker, Gloucestershire, 5 feet 5, hazel eyes, dark hair, pale complexion, from Norfolk Island. … Callaghan James, John Barry (2), 27, Labourer, County Monaghan, 5 feet 4 ½ in, brown eyes, light hair, sallow comp. from Norfolk Island. … Darcey or Dacey James, Richmond, from Norfolk Island. … Fallen [Fallon] Peter, Bencoolen, 28, Labourer, Dublin, dark blue eyes, flaxen hair, fair ruddy comp. from Norfolk Island. [Probably Fallon – death recorded at NI 19 June 1830] … Hennessy William, Mary (1), 25, Plaisterer, London, hazel eyes, brown hair, fair ruddy comp. from Norfolk Island. [from 31 Oct 1830 - … Handley Florence, Mangles (1), … [rest of entry is duplicate of Hennessy above]] … Hammond Thomas, Asia (2), 24, Glass blower, London, 5 feet 2 ½ in, dark eyes, brown hair, rudy comp. from Norfolk Island … Keilley [Keily] Michael, Hooghley, 28, Ploughman, Dangannon, 5 feet 8, grey eyes, brown hair, fresh comp. from Norfolk Island. … Mignott Andrew [Andre], Marquis Wellington, 45, sailor, from Norfolk Island. … Wallis John, Countess Harcourt, 24, Gardener, Dublin, 5 feet 4, grey eyes, flaxen hair, ruddy comp. from Norfolk Island. …Walker William, Minerva (5), 31, Weaver, Lanark, 5 feet 7, hazel grey eyes, brown hair, fresh comp. from Norfolk Island. (Sydney Gazette 21 Oct 1830, p. 4.)

116

Tony Beale on 21st June 2021

1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (Australian Copy) for William Walker. 14 year sentence. At prospect in the employ of Robert Crawford age 26 and a government servant. Protestant New South Wales, Australia, Convict Death Register, 1826-1879 for William Walker per ship Minerva At Norfolk Island. Col Sec letter no 30/888 dated 26/10/1830