Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
William Watts was transported on the Claudine, departing 19th Aug 1829 and arriving 6th Dec 1829 with 180 passengers.
The 'Claudine' was an East Indiaman built in Calcutta in 1811 from teak wood with a tonnage of 452 tons. In 1820 she ran from London to Hobart Town, Sydney, Batavia and back to England. After leaving Sydney on 10 May 1820 under the command of John Welsh, she discovered the Claudine Reef in the Coral Sea, before making her way past Murray Island in Torres Strait on her way to Batavia. The Claudine made two voyages to Australia as a convict transport. Departing Woolwich 24 August 1821 mastered by John Crabtree with Henry Ryan as ship's surgeon. She arrived in Port Dalrymple, van Diemen's Land after a passage of 113 days via Teneriffe, on 15 December, landing 40 convicts. She then sailed on to Hobart Town and landed the remaining 119 male convicts, one prisoner having died en route . On 24 August 1829 the Claudine departed London, arriving in Sydney on 6 December 1829 after a voyage of 104 days; her Master was William Heathorne, the surgeon William H Trotman. On this voyage she sailed with 180 prisoners and their guard; two prisoners died en route. she then sailed on to Madras on 30 December. The Claudine returned to merchant service and on Monday 21-22 November 1840 under the command of captain Brewer was deliberately beached with another East Indiaman 'Westminster' during a storm off the Kent coast near Margate. This stranding was the subject of a famous engraving by William Henry Bartlett and a pencil and chalk sketch by J.M.W. Turner. The 'Westminster' successfully unloaded 6000 chests of tea into two steamers which delivered it to the East India Docks and was refloated on 7 December. 'Claudine' which was beached onshore unloaded into 200 carts the following day 23rd November and was then refloated on a spring tide after 7 December. Both ships having been dismasted in the storm, were repaired and put back into the trade. The Claudine appears to have been sent to the wreckers in 1849.
Claudine (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/7, Page Number 172 |
| 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
Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 05 August 2022), April 1829, trial of JAMES FREEMAN WILLIAM WATTS (t18290409-136). JAMES FREEMAN, WILLIAM WATTS, Theft > simple larceny, 9th April 1829. 815. JAMES FREEMAN & WILLIAM WATTS were indicted for stealing, on the 22d of March , 1 jug, value 1s.; 1 butter-pot, value 6d.; 2lbs. of butter, value 1s.; 5 candles, value 3d.; 1 dish, value 6d., and 2 whips, value 10d. , the goods of Thomas Woolsey . THOMAS WOOLSEY . I am captain of a boat . I lost this property from a wharf at Paddington - it had been in the cabin; I saw it safe about eleven o'clock at night, on the 22d of March, and next morning it was gone - there were four of us in the cabin, but we were all asleep - we had been working very hard the day before; I know nothing of the prisoners - Freeman's boat laid near mine the night before, but in the morning she was shifted; I got an officer, and went on board his boat - no one was on board then, but Watts had the key of the cabin; I found this jug, these whips, and candles in the cabin. THOMAS HENRY THOMPSON . The prosecutor fetched me, and I went to a boat with the name of George Winter on it, of which Freeman is captain ; it was lying about a mile from the prosecutor's boat - Woolsey looked through the hatchway, and saw part of the property; I then ascertained who worked that boat, and took Watts in another boat; I asked what boat he belonged to - he said Winter's, and he worked for Mr. Nichols; I asked if he was aware where his hoat was - he said it was beyond the stop-bridge; I told him he was my prisoner, as there was stolen property on board - he made no answer; my brother officer took the key from Watts, which opened the cabin-door - we found this property, and a great deal more there. JOHN ARGUST . I am an officer, I was with Thompson; I was searching Freeman, and I asked where the key was - Watts said, "I have the key," and gave it me; I took Freeman at his lodgings - Watts told me where he lived; I found nothing there, or on his person - I asked him if he knew where the boat was - he said, "Yes, the other side of the stop-bridge," I asked if he knew what was on board - he said there was nothing on board but two boat lines and a bucket of his. Cross-examined by MR. CRESWELL. Q. Did not he tell you he had been at home all night? A. He did not, but a person in the house said so; he made no resistance. THOMAS WOOLSEY . These are my articles; they were all safe when I went to bed about eleven o'clock - there was no reason why the other boat should be removed; when they go on their journey they generally go off at two or three o'clock in the morning, but then they do not stop about a mile off - there is no place for them to load there; they sometimes have two men on board, and sometimes four. FREEMAN's Defence. I was at home at nine o'clock at night, and left Watts in charge; I knew nothing about the property being there - I did not go out till nine o'clock in the morning. WATTS' Defence. I went to a public-house and had some beer; I staid till eleven o'clock, and then, as I could not get on the wharf, I staid all night - the next morning I went to the boat, and found it open; I had locked her up. JOHN DAVIS . Freeman lodged with me; we were all in bed by eleven o'clock that night, and at nine the next morning I was in my room, and saw him come down - I am foreman of a dust-yard. WILLIAM LONG . I lodge in Davies' house, in the next room to Freeman; I saw him come down with nothing on but his trousers and shirt, at a quarter before ten o'clock, to let Watts in, and give him his money - Watts then went away, and Freeman locked his door, and went to bed; I was having my breakfast about nine the next morning when he came down. THOMAS HENRY THOMPSON , re-examined. Theirs is a gravel boat - it would require two men to move it. JURY. Q. Is there any way to get into the cabin but by the door? A. There is a skylight, but they cannot get in, except by breaking the hatchway. WATTS - GUILTY . Aged 18. Transported for Seven Years . FREEMAN - NOT GUILTY .