Benjamin Waterhouse

343

Maureen Withey on 25th January 2023

The boy who was convicted with Benjamin Waterhouse, 13 year old Thomas Canterbury was sent to the hulk at the same time, but drowned, as the hulk records tell: Portsmouth Hulk records. HO 9-8_3. Received 10 prisoners from London, 19 Mar 1805. Thomas Canterbury, age 13, Crime, Adml ???, Tried at London, 16 Jan 1805 1804. BS. 14 years, Drowned 5 July 1805.

343

Maureen Withey on 25th January 2023

At the Admiralty sessions, held at the Old Bailey, Jan 16, Benjamin Waterhouse, and Thomas Canterbury, the former sixteen and the latter thirteen years of age, were found guilty of boring holes in the bottom of a sloop, the property of Benjamin Kerrage, then lying about half a mile from Weymouth harbour, in five and a half fathoms water, laden with stone. These boys had been left on board by the master and mate; and by their own confession it appeared that when they were alone in the vessel, one of them said, he wished there was a hole in her bottom; and that they both went down, and, having taken away the lining, they bored two holes in the outside plank, with a large gimlet, the handle of which coming off, it dropped through the hole into the water. They got on shore and ran away into the country. Sir W. Scott, after an appropriate admonition, sentenced them to fourteen years transportation. Newcastle Courant, 26 Jan 1805. Portsmouth Hulk records. HO 9-8_3. Received 10 prisoners from London, 19 Mar 1805. Benjamin Waterhouse, age 17, Crime, Adml ???, Tried at London, 16 Jan 1805 1804. BS. 14 years, sent on board the Fortune, 9 Jan 1806. NSW Convict Index. Benjamin Waterhouse, per Fortune,1806, Conditional Pardon, 31 Jan 1816. ---------------------------------------------------- The following item may refer to this same Benjamin Whitehouse: On Saturday evening last arrived in an open boat from Gummoramorrah, lying between Shoal Haven and the Five Islands, about midway, which is, 10 or 11 miles from each, with the unpleasant tidings of the loss of the sloop Hawkesbury Packet, 28 tons measurement, on a reef of rocks at the entrance of Gomorramorrah, whither she was destined to trade in cedar ; all lives saved, but nothing else. This disaster is to the sufferer the more severe, as Mr. Wiseman had lost his other vessel, the Hope of 15 tons, about two months before, at Port Stevens ; on which occasion two men were killed by the natives ; one of whom was Benjamin Waterhouse, formerly mate of the Lady Nelson, and the other James Gowen. These unhappy victims to native ferocity had, as appears from Mr. Wiseman's report, proceeded in a boat up a creek, with intent to look after cedar, but never more returned. Sydney Gazette, 6 Sept 1817.