Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Joseph Williscroft was transported on the Thomas Arbuthnot, departing 6th Jan 1847 and arriving 4th May 1847 with 289 passengers.
Built 1841 at Aberdeen, Scotland. Wood ship of 621 Tons. Thomas Arbuthnot, 1847. “The Thomas Arbuthnot convict ship, Captain Thomson, sailed from Spithead this morning for Port Phillip, with a superior class of delinquents, officially called “exiles.” These are the first “exiles” sent to the above settlement, which the inhabitants of that respectable place are very wroth at, and have memorialised the Government on the subject. The most ingenious trades and professions are carried on, on board this ship; in fact, we believe, all trades in vogue have their representatives on board. The most ingenious affair, however, is a newspaper in manuscript, published every Saturday, having its foreign and domestic correspondence, advertisements, and, indeed, all the necessary accessories to an apparently well-conducted journal. The articles are well written and the arrangements well made. The name of this paper is the Citadel, and the conductors dub the captain of the ship ” the governor.” The Citadel having no opponents enjoys a large circulation. The editor is a man who has been of considerable note in the legitimate literary world; but all names and circumstances in connexion with their present position is strictly preserved secret with regard to these “exiles,” the greatest majority of whom are juvenile offenders from Millbank, Pentonville, and Parkhurst (Isle of Wight) prisons.”—Times, January 12. Published in the Launceston Examiner, 2 June 1847. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36252218?searchTerm=Thomas Arbuthnot There was a lot of public criticism of the arrival of these “Exiles” in New South Wales, and of their treatment, by being offered training, etc, to the detriment of honest but poor labourers.
Thomas Arbuthnot (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 92, Class and Piece Number HO11/15, Page Number 155 (79) |
| 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
Joseph Pinfield, born in 1830 in Lindridge, Worcestershire to Elizabeth Warton and Joseph Pinfield. He was employed as a pearl button maker in Birmingham. In February 1844, he was charged with stealing a rabbit and some boots, in company with Frederick Williscroft (Ratcliffe 1848 to VDL) and John Henry Lucas ("Henry Williscroft" Joseph Somes 1847). Lucas and Pinfield gave the name Williscroft when arrested and appear to have told the courts they were brothers. Newspapers carried reports of the three destitute brothers, but they do not appear to have been related at all. In June 1844, Elizabeth Pinfield, Joseph's mother, wrote to the Home Office petitioning for clemency for Joseph.She said she had not known where he was for some months and had just discovered he was in prison.(Criminal Petitions HO18/147/36 UK Archives). It's not known what happened to Joseph after he landed.
Real name: Joseph Pinfield
Worcestershire adjourned Sessions. Joseph Williscroft, 14, shoemaker, Henry Williscroft, 13, nail-cutter, and Frederick Williscroft, 12, labourer, three destitute brothers, natives of the metropolis, but who have for some time past been living on their wits, were convicted on j a charge of stealing two tame rabbits, the property of one Joseph Milliachip, at Dudley, the 20th instant, and were sentenced to a week's imprisonment. A second charge for stealing boots, the property of Joseph Harper, of the same place, was proved against them, and the Court taking into consideration their destitute condition, sentenced them to seven years' transportation, with view of making future provision for them. Worcester Journal, 29 Feb 1844.
Joseph Williscroft was the oldest of 3 brothers, transported as Parkhurst Boys. Henry was 13 and a nail cutter and Frederick was 12 and a labourer. They were the sons of Joseph and Mary Ann Williscroft. They were 3 destitute brothers who had been "Living by their wits". When convicted the court, taking into consideration their destitute condition, sentenced then to 7 years transportation, with a view of making future provision for them. Joseph was 14 years old when tried, then he was sent to Parkhurst Prison and retrained as a Farm Labourer. The Thomas Arbuthnot disembarked Joseph at Port Phillip of the 1/5/1847. He immediately obtained employment as a groom with Mr Anderson of Geelong. No other records of Joseph found, but, a note on the NSW Government Records says to look for him under the name of Penfold.