Frederick Alex Watkins

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

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.

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

DEATH: Name: Watkins, Frederick Alexander Sex: M Age: 32 Place of death: York Year of death: 1875 [Date: 5/5/1875] Registration number: 8445 Reg. year: 1875 (WA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages at https://www.wa.gov.au) --000--

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

FREMANTLE JAIL RECORD: WATKINS, Frederick Alexander; inmate #9906, arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1843 Date of Death: 5 May 1875 Place of Death: York, inflammation of bowels Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Engineer Literacy: Literate Crime: Grievous bodily harm Sentence Period: 20 years (https://fremantleprison.com.au) --00--

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

IN WA: 1868: On arrival, Frederick Alexander Watkins, 24, was listed as convict #9906; sentenced to 20 years, at the CC Court, 8 July, 1867, for “feloniously wounding a person with intent to do gbh”; engineer [note change]; single, no children; literate; Protestant; family – father Alexander, 36 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden Market, London; behaviour “good”. Described as 5’3” tall, light brown hair, light hazel eyes, oval visage, sallow complexion, stout; marks – F Watkins, FW, square and compass, flags "Nelson" left arm, rings, anchor on left hand, heart right forearm, ears pierced. Previous convictions: Nil. Made a Constable 1.10.72. “Died at York 5th May 1875 (inflammation of the bowel brought on by the bursting of an abscess in the kidneys)” (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; General Register for Nos 9599-10128 cont. (R16) at https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/60668/images/44765_352421-00319). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

JAILS contd: 1867, 28 September: Sent to Millbank Prison, London, for transportation to WA. --00-- EMBARKATION: 1867, 30 September: Sent from Millbank to board the Hougoumont for WA (UK, Criminal Records, 1780-1871 for Frederick A. Watkins; Prison Registers and Statistical Returns; 1864-1871; HO 24/18; image 149). “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 [only two were on the Hougoumont – Thomas Berwick and Lionel Holdsworth, each sentenced to 20 years for fraud], 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 [not the senior Fenian, Captain Moriarty; rather, this was Bartholomew Moriarty, aged 17]. 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.” (Sydney Morning Herald, 19 Dec 1867, p4, at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271). --00--

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

A REPLY TO A LETTER FROM HIS MOTHER: 1867, 20 August: “78489 – [To] Mrs Watkins, 36 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. In reply to your letter of the 13th instant I am ... to acquaint you that the Secretary of State does not give orders to see convicts, and that your application for permission to see your son Frederick A Watkins in Pentonville Prison, should be addressed to the Director of Convict Prisons No 45 Parliament Street. [signed] AFO Liddell” (UK, Criminal Records, 1780-1871; Criminal Entry Books; 1866-1868; HO 13/109; image 337-38). --00--

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

1867, 9 August: Admitted to Pentonville Prison, Caledonian Road, London – inmate #4765, Frederick Alexander Watson, 23, watchmaker, single, tried 8 July, 1867, CC Court; 20 years’ ps for “feloniously wounding a person with intent to do gbh” (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for Frederick Alexander Watkins; Pentonville Prison; Register of Prisoners; 1866-1869; image 117). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

JAILS: 1867, 14 May: Held at Newgate Gaol awaiting trial and following his conviction – Frederick Alexander Watkins, 23, watchmaker of Islington; behaviour “good” (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for Fk Alexr Watkins; Newgate Prison; Registers of Prisoners; 1863; image 330). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

Trial/3 EDWARD HOLME. I am a surgeon at Buckhurst Hill—on the morning of 21st April I was called to see Matilda Griggs at her father's house—I went up stairs and saw her lying on the bed—I proceeded to examine her—upon first examining her I saw nothing but a mass of blood, in fact the whole of her back was covered with blood—she was being stripped—I called for some water and began to wash away the blood, and I found wound after wound—I found eight wounds on the back—I then asked her if she was hurt anywhere else—she said she had been stabbed on the left breast—I examined that, and found three wounds on the inner part of the left breast; they were in three spots, close to one another, one very close to the nipple—I next examined her hand, and found two punctured wounds on the upper part of the thumb; I should say all those wounds were done by some sharp-pointed instrument—I examined the depths of the wounds as accurately as I could—the one out of which I extracted this brass end of the sheath was nearly three inches deep—that was at the back, just on the side of the right blade-bone; that was a slanting wound, not straight through; the others were in several places, and of the depth of not more than an inch, with the exception of one wound which penetrated the lung; that was rather deeper, but it would not have been prudent to judge how deep, or I might have done mischief—the wound out of which I took the brass sheath was on the shoulder blade, from left to right, supposing him to be standing behind her, low down on the left side that penetrated the lung—I will not be certain whether it was the right or left—that was sufficiently deep to touch the lungs between the ribs; the thickness of the interval was from three-quarters of an inch to an inch—the girl is a fat girl—in my opinion the wounds may have been caused by an instrument of this character, they were of a three-cornered nature, such as a bayonet, or such as this dagger is—I then examined the head, and found two wounds of a different character, contused wounds, on the upper part of the head, more towards the back—they might have been caused by such an instrument as this piece of lead with a sling passed through it—altogether there were fifteen wounds on her body, eight on the back, three on the breast, two on the hand, and two on the head—there were marks of blood on the dagger when it was first presented to me—I did not see any on the lead. COURT. Q. Did you notice whether she had been stabbed through her clothes? A. I did—I examined her clothes—she had been stabbed through them—there were several wounds through her dress and stays. MR. STRAIGHT. Q. When you saw her was she in danger? A. She was certainly; I at first thought, from her breathing being so very slight, that she was dead—I did not believe there was any wound of the lung until I examined it, but there was decidedly—she continued in danger, she got worse next day, so much so that I recommended that her depositions should be taken, at least I mentioned it to those who said it was necessary it should be done. Cross-examined. Q. This seems to be part of an old bayonet, does it not? A. I am not sufficiently acquainted with bayonets to say—I attended her constantly—the last time I saw her I saw one wound open, I think the wound from which this was extracted; it was open, and discharging, therefore she was not perfectly well—I can't say when that was, probably her mother can. (Mrs. Griggs. It was on the Sunday as she went away on the Thursday.) She complained of a little bodily illness—I am not able to express an opinion whether all the wounds were inflicted with the sheath or the dagger—I should say not, because the wound from which this end was extracted was of a larger character than the others—looking at the wounds themselves, I should say that all but that one had been inflicted without the sheath; they all presented a very sharp appearance, the other presented an oval appearance, namely the form of the sheath—no part of this remained in the wound—I extracted the whole of it—I should say that was the first wound inflicted—the others were decidedly done with the unsheathed weapon, that is my opinion from the nature of the wounds, they were three-cornered wounds, this was of an oval shape—they could not have been inflicted with the brass point on—I say that with certainty; they might have been inflicted with this leather part of the sheath remaining on; that would not interfere with them. COURT. Q. That is to say, there would be enough of the blade exposed to make the wounds without the leather preventing? A. Yes; this would act as a stop, and cause them not to be so deep; the leather would prevent the blade going its entire length, or from going any length. THOMAS GRIGGS. I reside at Buckhurst Hill—I am the father of Matilda Griggs—the prisoner has been keeping company with her—I have seen him with this dagger in his possession. Matilda Griggs was called upon her recognisances, but did not appear. GUILTY on Second Count.—Twenty Years' Penal Servitude.” (https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t18670708-692) --00--

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

Trial/2 WILLIAM HENRY LEWIS PATTESON. I am superintendent of the Essex constabulary stationed at Epping—on Wednesday morning, 24th April, I was called up about half-past five to see the prisoner—he was in the office—when I went in he said, ‘I stabbed a young woman last night’—I waited a minute or two, and I then said, ‘Whatever you say will be given in evidence for or against you’—he said, ‘I done it last night whilst we were out walking’—I said, ‘Where was this?’—he answered, ‘On the New Freehold, Buckhurst Hill’, that is about six miles from Epping—I said, ‘Who was she?’ —he answered, ‘Miss Griggs’—he then said, ‘May I go outside? I feel so sick’—we went out into the yard, and while we were there he had some water to drink—he said, ‘I took something last night I ought not to have done’—I asked him what it was—he said, ‘Acid we use in our trade’—we went back into the office—I then asked him who was, Miss Griggs—he said, ‘Thomas Griggs's daughter, wellborer, North Cottage, Prince's Road, Buckhurst Hill’—I asked him, ‘How did it happen?’—he answered, ‘We had some words before, and all that’—I said, ‘What did you do it with?’—he answered, ‘A dagger’ I asked whereabouts—he said, ‘I don't know, I did not take any notice; in two or three places’—I asked, ‘What became of the woman after you had stabbed her?’—he said, ‘I left her; I suppose some one saw her’—I asked what became of the dagger—he replied, ‘I don't know; I suppose I left it there afterwards when I came away’—I asked him his name—he gave the name of Frederick Watkins, 36, Henrietta Street, watchmaker, now lodging at the Fox, Buckhurat Hill—that was all the conversation that took place—I examined his hands and his clothes—I found blood on and between the fingers of his right hand; there was nothing on his clothes—I then took him in custody, and left him in charge of Sergeant Lellan. JOHN FRY (Policeman N 41). I was at the station at Epping on 24th April—I received the prisoner into custody from Mr. Patteson—I told him the charge—he said, ‘Oh, how did she get home?’—it was about nine or ten in the morning when I received him; I had come over from Loughton, where I am stationed, to Epping—I had known of the affair before—I said, ‘She walked home’—he said no more till we arrived at Loughton—he then said, ‘Then she did walk home?’—I said, ‘Yes’—he said, ‘What time did she get home?’—I said, ‘Between four and five’—I put him in the cell—he said he felt queer; the train shook it up—(we went by train to Loughton)—I said, ‘Shook up what?’—he said, ‘The stuff I have taken’—I told a constable to give him a dose of physic; I had received some physic at Epping, and brought it with me—I then went to Buckhurst Hill—from instructions I had received from Mr. Patteson, I went on to the Freehold, and saw this dagger lying in the field—I got over and picked it up, and about a yard from it I saw this piece of lead—there were marks of blood on the dagger, and also on the lead—near the lead I found this piece of string; it was not attached to it—this leathern sheath was on the dagger when I found it, but the end of the dagger projected through the sheath—I had previously received the end of the sheath from a constable, who brought it from the surgeon—it corresponds with and fits on to the dagger—I should think this piece of lead weighs about a pound—I examined the ground, there was a quantity of blood there, and the grass was trodden down—it is all field there, but there was a temporary fence put up round it; there is no footpath or road through it; they must have got over into the field—I then went back to Loughton, the charge was read over to the prisoner, and he—said it was quite right—on 25th April he was taken to the room in which the girl Griggs was; her examination was taken there—after we had left the room he said, ‘What she said is quite right’—I then took him to Ilford Gaol—on the way there he said, ‘I struck her on the head twice with the lead, the second time the string broke; I then took out the dagger, but I did not think to take the sheath off; when I walked away from her I heard her hallooing; I stopped; I had a mind to go back; I thought she would not halloo long, and I did not’—he said, ‘I had sense enough not to run up the road on the gravel, I ran across the field on the grass’—it is a new road cut through there—he said it was through jealousy, and he asked me if I ever felt jealous—I said, ‘No.’ Cross-examined. Q. I suppose you did not take a note of this conversation? A. No, I am speaking from memory. contd/3...