John Whittaker

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Summary

Born
Aug 1835
Conviction
Attempted murder
Departure
Oct 1867
Arrival
Jan 1868
Death
Jun 1868
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Personal Information

Name: John Whittaker
Gender: Male
Born: 25th Aug 1835
Death: 15th Jun 1868
Age at death: 32
Occupation: Cotton spinner
Aliases: Thomas Stephenson

Crime

Convicted at: Lancashire, Manchester Assizes
Sentence term: 20 years

Voyage

Departed: 10th Oct 1867
Arrival: 9th Jan 1868
Place of Arrival: Western Australia

Transportation

John Whittaker 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.

HougoumontHougoumont

References

Primary SourceAustralian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/19, Page Number 243 (124). --0-- UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners, 1866-1867. --0-- England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Lancashire; 1866.
Source DescriptionThis 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 SourceGreat Britain. Home Office
Compiled ByState Library of Queensland
Database SourceBritish convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database

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Convict Notes

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 26th December 2022

21 March, 1867: Admitted to Millbank prison, Pimlico, London -- inmate #3101, John Whittaker, alias Thomas Stephenson, factory hand, 29, married with 3 children, semi-literate, Church of England; convicted 26 July, 1866, and sentenced to 20 years' penal servitude. Family -- Sarah Ellen Whittaker, 14 Barber Street, Oldham (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for John Whittaker; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners, 1866-1867). From 1849, Millbank was used for male convicts serving the first (probationary) part of their sentence in separate confinement as well as for those who were in need of another period of separate confinement after misbehaviour at public works prisons (https://www.prisonhistory.org/prison/millbank-prison/). --0--

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 26th December 2022

JAILS: Post trial: He was held at Salford prison (most likely Salford House of Correction, New Bailey Street, beside the River Irwell, Salford) for 1 month 4 days -- in separate confinement -- before his admission to West Riding House of Correction at Love Lane, Wakefield. There he served 6 months 20 days in separate confinement (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for John Whittaker; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners, 1866-1867). --0--

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 26th December 2022

NEWSPAPER report of the trial: "Murder. At the Northern Circuit Assizes held... before Mr. Justice Lush, John Whittaker, 29, was indicted for having, at Oldham, on the 31st May, discharged a loaded pistol at James Burrows, with intent to murder. The prisoner was a deserter, and Barron had given information which led to his apprehension and imprisonment. He had said then, in the hearing of a policeman, that... he would be revenged. Having deserted again after imprisonment, he came to see his wife and family, and went to the house of Burrows on the 31st of May and was invited to take refreshment, and when about to leave, late at night, took out a pistol and discharged it at Burrows. The ball entered the left arm, but was stopped by the bone, or would probably (the surgeon said) have passed through his arm and body also. The prisoner gave a long defence, the object of which was to show that he supposed Borrows was about to betray him again. Verdict Guilty. His Lordship said there was no doubt it was a long-cherished and malicious motive that actuated the prisoner, and but for the interposition of Providence he would have stood before the jury for wilful murder. Sentence 20 years' penal servitude." (Saturday 04 August 1866, Globe, p4). --00--

Dianne Jones avatar
218
on 25th December 2022

TRIAL: 26 July, 1866: John Whittaker was convicted and sentenced at Manchester Assizes to 20 years' penal servitude for shooting with intent to murder (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for John Whittaker; England; Lancashire; 1866). --00--