Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
William Francis was transported on the Eleanor, departing 15th Feb 1831 and arriving 26th Jun 1831 with 136 passengers.
Eleanor - 1841 Journey. Port of Hobart Town. Arrivals. - April 21 -the brig Eleanor, 257 tons, Mossman, from the Isle of France on her way to Sydney, with sugar and dates, and several cabin passengers. She has landed 14 male and 1 female prisoners. The Courier, 23 April 1841.
Eleanor (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/8, Page Number 20 |
| 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
On Monday the following 24 convicts, against whom sentence of death was recorded our late Special Assize, were removed from Fisherton gaol, and put board the York Hulk at Gosport. Maurice Pope, the Wiltshire pugilist, will seen, is amongst the number. John Jennings, George Shergold, of Wilton, H. Shergold, Thomas Whately, James Down, Isaac Cole, Wm. Francis, W. Lewis, Shadrach Blake, George Shergold, John Shergold, Joseph Watts, Geo. Durman, James Toomer, Maurice Pope, Gifford North, Wm. Cheater, Charles Davis, Laban Stone, Thomas Lawrence, John Pounds, John Ford, and Chas. Pizzie, to be transported for life. John Burrough, William Hibberd, Aaron Stone, Job Waldron, Robert Baker, Henry Toombs, John Reeves, John Orchard, Levy Brown, and Wm. Legg, to be transported for 14 years and John Remain for 7 years. Hampshire Advertiser, 12 Feb 1831.
Henry Shergold, aged 30; George Shergold, 25; James Down, 17; James Cole, 18; Wm. Lewis, 30; T. Whatley, 17; John Jennings, 18; Wm. Jacobs, 31; and Wm. Francis, 21; stood indicted for having feloniously destroyed a mill, engines, and machinery therein, the property of John Brasher, in the parish of Wilton, on the 25th November. The Attorney-General stated the case as detailed by the witnesses. Samuel Brasher proved that his father occupied Crow-lane mill, where woollen cloth was manufactured; on the 24th of November 500 men came to it, amongst whom were all the prisoners, armed with different weapons; the amount of the damage done by them to the mill was £500. Henry Jones, Charles Vining, and George Brasher, having fully made out this evidence, the prisoners were called on for their defence. Jennings, G. Shergold, and H. Shergold, said that the witnesses has sworn falsely. The other prisoners said they were pressed by the mob. The case was not pressed against Jacobs, as it was fully ascertained he had been forced to go, by threats of their throwing him in the river. The prisoners, Down, Francis, Lewis, having received very excellent characters, Mr Justice Alderson summed up. The following verdicts were given in: John Jennings, Guilty; Geo. Shergold, Guilty; Henry Shergold, Guilty; Thomas Whatley, Guilty; James Down, Guilty; Isaac Cole, Guilty; Wm. Francis, Guilty; Wm Lewis, Guilty; and Wm. Jacobs, Not Guilty. The Jury recommended Wm. Lewis to mercy. Morning Chronicle, 5 Jan 1831.
Swing Riots - Wiltshire, 1830: Wilts Special Commission, Salisbury - Monday Henry Shergold, aged 30; George Shergold, 25; James Down, 17; James Cole, 18; William Lewis, 30; T. Whatley, 17; John Jennings, 18; Wiliam Jacobs, 31; and William Francis, 21; stood indicted for having feloniously destroyed a mill, engines, and machinery therein, the property of John Brasher, in the parish of Wilton, on the 25th November. 1837: Absolute Pardon 1/10/1838: Royal Pardon Warrant. William was involved in the swing riots and was transported for 'machine breaking' -- After receiving his Absolute Pardon, which most of the machine breakers did, he was fully a free man. It is reported that he sailed, or was due to sail, with his employed Major Thomas Livingstone, the Solicitor-General of NSW, to England in the Duchess of Northumberland, in February, 1837. Of 102 men of the swing rioters to whom pardons had ben issued between 1826 and 1833, only eight had left for England.