Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
James Wiggins was transported on the Argyle, departing 5th Mar 1831 and arriving 3rd Aug 1831 with 252 passengers.
Argyle (generic)References
| Primary Source | England (Select Marriages FHL Film No. 1468812, Ref. ID: p.203, no.596). Ancestry. Australia Death Index. Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/8, Page Number 53 (29). Tasmanian Archives - convicts: Conduct Record. Arrivals. |
| 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
Marriage 8 November 1818 to Mary Ann Bishop at Brighthelmston, Sussex, England Death 28 June 1884, aged 85, Hobart Tasmania, Reg. Year 1884, Reg. No. 1709
Newspaper entry "The following have been committed to the above gaol for trial at the next Assizes: John Chard, charged with stealing five sheep, the property of James Upton, of Oving. John Turner, James Wiggins, and Abraham Hutchinsm charged with assaulting Wm. Goldsmith and Ephraim Hazelgrove, on the King's Highway, in the parish of Brighton with intent to rob them." From: The British Newspaper Library Sussex Advertiser - Monday 27 September 1830, Page 3, Col 5. NB: "The above gaol" would refer to the Horsham goal, since it was mentioned in the Sussex Advertiser, in the column just above the entry for James Wiggins.
James was tried at the Sussex Special Winter Assizes in 1830 along with a others accused of the same crime. On the same page as James' crime is listed, you will find people tried for destroying threshing machines, inciting others to riot, impeding people who are trying to put out fires. Clearly, James was caught up in the "Spring" Riots. A search of the Brighton Gazette in December reveals that these riots were common in December 1830. It's fair to assume that James was one of them. As a 30 year old man with four children and a trade, it is also reasonable to wonder whether James was a leader among the rioting lower classes. Once he arrived in Tasmania, he survived his time as a convict and became a well-to-do Bricklayer and Stonemason by day and a Licensed Victualler of a succession of hotels by night. His wife, Mary Ann, managed the hotels by day. His family became respected members of the fledgling township of Hobart.
The family of James Wiggins emigrated from England to be with him, free, on the ship 'Strathfieldaye': wife Mary children: Robert, Jane, James & Martha (ref. Arrivals, State Archives of Tasmania) Child: Robert was admitted to Queens Orphan School, New Town on 29/08/1834, aged 8yrs. Discharged to his parents on 23/05/1835.
James Wiggins was convicted at Brighton, Sussex on 18/12/1830 for assault, with intent to rob. Previous convictions. 14yr sentence. Transported to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) on the 'Argyle', arriving 04/08/1831. Married man, wife Mary & 4 children, at Brighton, England. 5'8"; stout; dk brown hair; lt brown eyes; Protestant; stonemason & bricklayer. Assignments of service in the Colony. Ticket of Leave 15/10/1834 Conditional Pardon 18/08/1841 Free Certificate 08/11/1852