Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
John Williams was transported on the Calcutta, departing 31st Jan 1803 and arriving 4th Oct 1803 with 305 passengers.
HMS Calcutta was the East Indiaman Warley (1795), converted to a Royal Navy ship. This ship of the line served for a time as an armed transport. She also transported convicts to Australia. The French Magnanime captured Calcutta in 1805. In 1809, after she ran aground during the Battle of the Basque Roads and her crew had abandoned her, a British boarding party burned her. In 1803 the Calcutta sailed into Port Phillip bay where at least 4 convicts escaped , in Sydney in April 1804 it was reported that 8 had died on the trip. Of the four known escapees one was shot on escape, 2 turned back after 2 days to reattach to the group at the camp in bay before the boat left , one continued on ...into Australia's history books. At least 13 convicts were transferred on to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), Australia.The ship also carried officers, wives and free settlers.
Calcutta (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 339 (169) |
| 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
SORRY - TRIAL ABOVE OF WILLIAM WILLIAMS NOT JOHN WILLIAMS. ------------------------------------------------- Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 05 March 2020), April 1801, trial of JOHN TAGG JOHN WILLIAMS (t18010415-128). JOHN TAGG, JOHN WILLIAMS, Theft > grand larceny, 15th April 1801. 422. JOHN TAGG and JOHN WILLIAMS were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 13th of April , an umbrella, value 6s. the property of Jervis Wells . JERVIS WELLS sworn. - I am a Venetian-blind maker , and live in Piccadilly : On Monday se'nnight, as I was at dinner with my family, between one and two, I lost my umbrella, I did not see it taken. ANN SANDWICH sworn. - I was sitting at dinner, and saw the prisoner, Tagg, take the umbrella, it was hanging upon a nail within-side the shopdoor; I am sure the prisoner is the man, an officer went after him. WILLIAM WILSON sworn. - I am one of the patrols of the parish of St. James's: On the 13th of April, a little after one o'clock in the day, coming from the watch-house into Piccadilly, I saw the prisoner, Williams, standing at a silversmith's door, he seemed very attentive, looking down Piccadilly; I watched him, and observed Tagg coming out of the prosecutor's shop, with an umbrella, and the little one, Williams, immediately joined him; he gave Williams the umbrella in the middle of Piccadilly, and ran down Derby-court, which is no thoroughfare; he threw the umbrella away upon a dunghill, and I took hold of him immediately; Rice Evans took the other prisoner. RICE EVANS sworn. - I was with Wilson: I pursued, and apprehended the prisoner Tagg. Wells. This is my umbrella, it has my own hand-writing upon it. The prisoners did not say any thing in their defence. Tagg, GUILTY , aged 19. Williams, GUILTY , aged 16. Transported for seven years . First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Common Serjeant.
THERE ARE TWO JOHN WILLIAMS ON THIS SHIP, BOTH TRANSPORTED FOR 7 YEARS, TRIED AT MIDDLESEX GD, BUT ON DIFFERENT DATES. --------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON22-1-2p514 John Williams, Tried at Middlesex G.D., 15 April 1801, 7 years. ________________________________________________ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 05 March 2020), April 1801, trial of WILLIAM WILLIAMS (t18010415-118). WILLIAM WILLIAMS, Theft > theft from a specified place, 15th April 1801. 411. WILLIAM WILLIAMS was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 24th of February , 200 pounds weight of lead, value 4os. the property of Felix Calvert , Robert Landbroke , Robert Calvert , Charles Calvert , and William Whitmore , fixed to a certain dwelling-house of theirs . Second Count. Charging it to be fixed to a certain building of theirs. GEORGE WEST Sworn. - I am cooper to Mr. Calvert: I went with the keys to open the house the sign of the Coal-hole in the Strand : I opened the door, and in the passage I saw a man, the house was an empty one; the man made a rush, but I stopped him, and asked where he was going; he said he was going after somebody, but I don't recollect the name; I collared him, and a friend of mine assisted me; I perceived his shoes to be dirty with mortar, I then sent to Bow-street for assistance, and we searched the house; there was a copper gone, the beer machine, and a quantity of lead; we matched it, and it exactly fitted; it was packed up ready to be taken away. THOMAS WATSON Sworn. - I was with the last witness: I saw the prisoner in the passage, we secured him, and I went for Saver, the officer; I saw the lead compared, and it fitted exactly. JOHN SAYER Sworn. - I am an officer: I took charge of the prisoner, I know nothing of the lead. The prisoner did not say any thing in his defence, but called three witnesses, who gave him a good character. GUILTY , aged 19. Transported for seven years . First Middlesex Jury, before the Lord Chief Baron.