Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Frederick Alex Watkins 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, p237 (121). --0-- https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t18670708-692. --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 |
Claims
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Photos
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Convict Notes
TRANSCRIPT OF TRIAL: “692. FREDERICK ALEXANDER WATKINS (23) was indicted for feloniously wounding Matilda Griggs, with intent, to murder her. Second Count: with intent to do grievous bodily harm. MR. STRAIGHT conducted the Prosecution, and MR. RIBTON the Defence. SARAH GRIGGS. I reside at Buckhurst Hill—I am the mother of Matilda Griggs—on the night of 23rd April, at eight o'clock, she was going to Mrs. Grifton's; the prisoner went with her—when she left me she was perfectly well—next morning she was brought home stabbed and covered with blood. Cross-examined. Q. How long have you known the prisoner? A. Over three years—his father has a brick-field not a great way from where we live—he has been acquainted with my daughter for two years; they were upon very intimate terms—I believe he was about to be married to her—he always appeared kind, attentive, and affectionate to her—he was in the habit of seeing her three or four times a week—he lived in London—he used to come down of an evening and see her and go out for a walk: he used to return to London by the ten o'clock train—he has shown me a dagger with a sheath to it; I saw it once or twice—he did not walk from London to our place; he used to come by train—I dare say it is half a mile from the station to our house; he sometimes came as late as seven o'clock in winter—I can't say whether he carried the dagger for his protection; I can't say what he carried it for—I dare say it was five or six months ago that I saw it, or it might be a little more—there have not been any garotte robberies in our neighbourhood that I have heard—he used to say he had the dagger for his own protection—he went out on this night apparently in the same state as he had been on former evenings; they seemed to be very good friends—I have not seen my daughter since she went away with Miss Watkins; that was on the last day of May—she was not quite Well then; she was recovering. COURT. Q. Do you know where she is? A. No; I have asked, and they have said they did not know. MR. STRAIGHT. Q. You have inquired after her, have you? A. Yes, and the police have been after her—they cannot find her—she left with Miss Watkins. cont/d 2...
TRIAL: 1867, 8 July: Tried at the Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court), London, before Baron Bramwell – sentenced to 20 years’ penal servitude for grievous bodily harm (UK, After-Trial Calendar of Prisoners, 1855-1931 for Frederick Alexander Watkins; 1867; image 132). --0--
COMMITTAL: 1867, 14 May: Frederick Alexander Watkins, 23, watchmaker, literate, was committed to stand trial by John Speed Davies Esq., Waltham, on a charge of feloniously wounding and causing grievous bodily harm to Matilda Griggs, with intent to kill and murder her (UK, After-Trial Calendar of Prisoners, 1855-1931 for Frederick Alexander Watkins; 1867; image 132). --0--
OCCUPATION: Watchmaker is not available in the options, so watch chain maker was selected.