William Strang

Level 218

Dianne Jones on 13th March 2021

1829, 2 August: William Strang, 20, prisoner #3948, was received aboard the prison hulk Justitia, moored at Woolwich. He had been tried on 18 May at Edinburgh. He was sent from the hulk on 17 November for transportation to NSW (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849). 1830, 7 May: On arrival in NSW, William Strang was 20, could read and write, Protestant and single. He was listed as a medical student convicted for stealing money. He was 5’10” with a ruddy, fair complexion, light brown hair and hazel eyes; he had a blue scar at the top of his forehead on the right side. He was assigned to Wisemans as a medical attendant (see NSW, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842; Bound Indentures 1829-1830). 1833, 27 April: He is on a list of prisoners discharged from the Phoenix Hulk to be sent to Hyde Park Barracks, and then for transport to Port Macquarie per the Isabella on 3 September 1833 – listed as William Bowe Strang per Mermaid, surgeon, and his behaviour is “good” (see New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891; Phoenix Hulk: Discharge Book, 1831-1833). 1835, 31 May: William B Strang is on a list of men who have been discharged from Port Macquarie for return to Sydney (see NSW, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891; Port Macquarie Penal Settlement: Monthly Returns, 1835-1836). 1836, 8 April: He was granted a Ticket of Leave No.36/571 for the District of Evan, but this was torn up “the holder having been granted a Certificate of Freedom on 7 April 1836, No.36/378” (see NSW, Australia, Tickets of Leave, 1810-1869; Ticket of leave butts (NRS 12202), Ticket of leave butts, Mar 1836-Jun 1836). SOME ASIDES: Some family records give William Strang’s birth date as 25 Apr 1811 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland, and his parents as William Strang and Margaret Paton.

Level 218

Dianne Jones on 13th March 2021

SOME MORE ABOUT WILLIAM STRANG: 1829, 10 April: The trial of Alexander Arthur, 21, WILLIAM STRANG, 20, and John Brown in the High Court at Glasgow was “deserted” on 13 April 1829. The three had been accused of “theft by opening lockfast places at Kirk Street, Calton, Glasgow and the Kings Arms, Airdrie” (see National Records of Scotland, Reference AD14/29/77). One month later, in a trial before the High Court in Edinburgh, John Brown’s name had disappeared from the charge record and was replaced by Robert Campbell. 1829, 18 May: William Strang, Robert Campbell and Alexander Arthur were tried in the High Court at Edinburgh "for the crime of theft by opening lockfast places, habit and repute at Kirk Street, Calton, Glasgow". They were described in Court records as: William Strang, student of medicine, of 20 Jamaica Street, Glasgow – guilty, “sentence transportation 7 years. Note: Pannel [sic] recommitted under new warrant after trial deserted at Glasgow 13 April 1829”; Robert Campbell, gardener, Glasgow – not guilty, “sentence assoilized and dismissed. Note: Pannel [sic] recommitted under new warrant after trial deserted at Glasgow 13 April 1829”; and Alexander Arthur, alias Thomas Winter, 21, calico printer, Glasgow – guilty, “sentence transportation 14 years. Note: Pannel [sic] recommitted under new warrant after trial deserted at Glasgow 13 April 1829”. The victims were: Andrew Scott, Falconer's Land, Kirk Street, Calton, Glasgow and John Henderson, Kings Arms Inn, Airdrie, New Monkland, Lanarkshire (see National Records of Scotland, Reference JC26/1829/295). Note: Assoilize means to absolve; to free a defender or accused of a claim or charge under Scots law (see Chambers Dictionary).

Level 4

Jenny Fraser Pay on 21st March 2015

Information given to me: Married Mary? Occupation in Australia - Shepherd at "Five Dock Farm" Bathurst NSW 5ft 10" tall, ruddy complexion, Auburn/brown hair, hazel eyes. Blue scar at top of forehead-right side. Children: Surname changed to "Strange" an E added for some reason. James(1841), Thomas(1843), Henry(1845), Elizabeth(1847), Eliza(1848), Samuel(1850), Mary(1853), Edward(1855).