Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
John Williams was transported on the Nile, departing 18th Sep 1857 and arriving 1st Jan 1858 with 271 passengers.
Nile (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 93, Class and Piece Number HO11/18, Page Number 234. --00--Edgar, W. (Bill). (2018). “The precarious voyage of her majesty’s convict ship ‘Nile’ to the Swan River colony, late 1857 – and the unexpected aftermath.” The Great Circle, 40(1), 20–43. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26783779 |
| 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
FOOTNOTE: William Marwood, his co-accused, was also transported to WA, arriving five months after John Williams per the Lord Raglan. See his bio at https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/marwood/william/58989.
IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: WILLIAMS, John; inmate #4595, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1824 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Semiliterate Sentence Place: Exeter, Devon, England Crime: Burglary & wounding with intent Sentence Period: Life, commuted Ticket of Leave Date: 26 Oct 1861 Conditional Pardon Date: 10 Aug 1867 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--
10 September, 1857: Sent to board the Nile for transportation to WA. His behaviour on the voyage was "very bad" [no details] (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Convicts Transported Per Nile (R32)). --00--
20 May, 1857: Admitted to Portland prison, in Grove Road. Portland, Portsmouth, Chatham and Spike Island in Ireland were listed public works stations and the second stage in the penal process. After separate confinement, prisoners were “placed on work parties at various locations, most commonly naval stations, where maintenance of facilities was vital for the effective protection of Britain’s far flung commercial and military influences around the world. While there, attitude and behaviour were monitored closely. In theory, only after consistently positive reports was a prisoner moved on to the third stage of his incarceration—transportation.” (Edgar, p40). John Williams was inmate #7073. Listed as 33 (when convicted), single, able to read and write imperfectly, Church Of England; alias Abraham Mutters. Next of kin -- sister, Maria Mutters of Cullompton, Devon (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portland Prison; Prison Records to 1875). --0--
25 September, 1856: Admitted to Millbank prison in London; inmate #3698. Served 7 months 25 days in separate confinement; behaviour "good" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Millbank Prison; Prison Records to 1885). “After a sentence of transportation was handed down, the prisoner entered into a separate stage where he was placed into an individual cell, isolated from others, apart from brief periods of exercise and attendance at chapel. However, no communication of any kind with other prisoners was permitted at any time. The philosophy behind this penal methodology had its provenances in the religious, monastic traditions; i.e., that in the isolation of his cell the malefactor would be able to contemplate the errors of his way, unadulterated by the negative influences of former contemporaries, and be reformed.” (Edgar, 2018, pp39-40) When first put into practice, the mandated period of separate confinement was 18 months. By the late 1840s, authorities had conceded that such conditions of imprisonment were “injurious to many prisoners’ mental health” and the stint was reduced to 12 months. Periods of separate confinement were reduced further “as a prisoner displayed good behaviour tendencies” (Edgar, p40). Millbank, Wakefield, Pentonville and Mountjoy in Ireland were the “Probation” or “Separate” prisons, as were some local jails such as Hereford. --0--
JAILS: 13 May, 1856: John Williams was committed to stand trial. Held at Devon (Exeter County) jail -- served 4 months 12 days; behaviour "Good with the exception of having attempted to break out of his cell and escape from prison"! (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Millbank Prison; Prison Records to 1885) --0--
NEWSPAPER reporting of the trial: From the "News of The World", August 3, 1856, p.7: Exeter BURGLARY WITH VIOLENCE John Williams, 33 and William Marwood, 23, both labourers, were indicted for a burglary on the 16th of May, at the house of Ann Cook, at Upottery. Williams pleaded guilty, and Marwood was also found guilty, and a previous conviction was proved against him. The two prisoners were also charged with a burglary at the house of Mr. John Pring, an old man of 73, who resided by himself in a lone-spot, near Awbscombe, and also with attempting to murder him. The circumstances of this case were of a serious nature. The house was forcibly entered, Mr. Pring was stabbed with a hayfork, brutally beaten about the head, and his hands tied. Various articles were taken away, among others a pistol, a snuff box, and a knife. These were subsequently proved to have been sold by Williams the day after the burglary. Marwood was seen in the other prisoner’s company immediately before and after the burglary. It appeared that Mr. Pring died a short time afterwards, and there was little doubt that his death was accelerated by the brutal treatment he had received at the hands of the prisoners. Marwood was acquitted, and the prisoner Williams found guilty. The judge recorded sentence of death against him, remarking that he had a narrow escape of being tried for murder, but that he would now be transported for life. BURGLARY AT MRS. COOK'S Marwood, for the burglary at Mrs. Cook’s, was sentenced to fourteen years’ transportation. --00--
TRIAL: 22 July, 1856: Case #28 convicted at Exeter Assizes, Exeter Castle, Devon, and sentenced to death commuted to transportation for life for burglary and wounding (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Devon 1856). --0--