Henry Williams

Level 42

Kate on 30th March 2026

The following is an excerpt from "Notes of an exile to Van Dieman's Land", written by American convict Linus Wilson Miller. There was one young man, among this herd of criminals, whose superior conduct and manners early interested me. Henry Williams (an assumed name) never associated with the wicked men who surrounded him. He was gentle and mild in his manners, and his melancholy countenance was never seen to light up with a smile. Whatever of good or ill fell to his lot, he never murmured, but bore with truly christian meekness the frowns of adverse fortune. I sought his acquaintance, won his confidence, and he became to me a friend and companion. His history was a sad one. He "was the only son of respectable and wealthy Irish parents, and had received a liberal education. While spending a few months at home, after the completion of his studies, he became attached to a peasant girl, whose parents were poor but honest. Without consulting his friends, who, he well knew, would object to the union, he married her clandestinely, and then, upon his knees, confessed all and besought forgiveness. He was turned from his father's door with the curse of both his parents upon his head. With but slender means, he repaired to London with his bride, thinking to obtain some assistance from a rich uncle, but his hopes were cruelly disappointed. Friendless and a stranger, he sought employment for a long time in vain, but, when his last shilling was spent, he succeeded in obtaining a situation as book-keeper in a mercantile house, which afforded but poor support for himself and wife. In one year he became a father, but when his wages were most needed, the house failed and left him nothing but a character from his employer. With this he wandered through the streets in search of further employment, until his child died from want, and his wife was almost dying from the same cause. She had eaten nothing for three days but a crust of bread, and he had fasted double that length of time ; besides, the rent of his house was in arrears, and on the following day they were to be turned into the street. Passing a jeweller's (sic) shop that evening, for the first time in his life, he felt tempted to steal. He could have starved first, himself, but his poor wife must have food that night. He stepped into the shop, told the jeweller (sic) his sad story, and asked for the loan or gift of a shilling, to buy some bread, but was turned out of door. In a fit of frenzy he broke a pain of glass in the window, seized a chronometer and ran towards his wretched home. ''Stop thief!" immediately sounded in his ears, and in a few moments he was in custody of a policeman, who, to ascertain the truth of his statements went with him to his home. When his wife heard the horrid tale of his guilt and detection,she fell down and expired in his arms. He recollected nothing further, till he found himself in court, arraigned for trial. In reply to the usual question of " guilty or not guilty"?" he answered, "guilty" and was sentenced to transportation for ten years. Such was this man's melancholy history. The curse of his parents seemed to follow him, for within a few months after his arrival at Van Dieman's Land he died in the lunatic asylum at New Norfolk.

Level 338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 27th June 2022

1838 - 17 Sept. Trial. Offence; House breaking and Larceny 1838 - 4 Oct. Received on board the "York" moored at Gosport. Aged 25 years. Trade; Surveyor. 1839 - 14 September 1839. Boarded the Canton for V.D.L. 1841 - 31 May 1841. Died at the Hospital at New Norfolk. 31 May 1841.