Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
George Woodcock 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 233 (118). --0-- 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
25 August, 1855: George Woodcock escaped from Dartmoor "by walking up the neck of a drain for three-quarters of a mile" (Liverpool Albion, 10 November, p6). "Once free of the prison he then stole a suit of clothes, dumped his convict clothes and made his bid for freedom. The authorities managed to stay on his trail for four days" before he gave them the slip (https://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/wood_cock.htm). 28 August, 1855: "The Escape of a Notorious Convict.— The police of metropolis this day received information of the escape of George Woodcock, alias Massey, alias Matthew Williamson, alias George Johnson, alias Alexander Sigismund; a convict, No. 2763 (2753?), from Dartmoor ..." (Globe, p2). --0--
25 November, 1854: Admission to Dartmoor Prison. --0--
14 March, 1854: Assizes at Derby -- Acquitted on a charge of feloniously cutting [the Chaplain at Bedford?] (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Derbyshire; 1854). --0--
7 March, 1854: Admission to Preston jail. A report by the jail's governor appears as a notation on his record at Portland prison. It reads: "This fellow is always telling lies against the officers and complaining of rations. No officer ever ought to go near him without a witness by his side -- he is a most treacherous, blasphemous, lying and dangerous scoundrel -- by his own confession he has been in 17 different gaols. At Bedford Co Prison he was 7 weeks tied down on his bed (hands and feet) to prevent his injuring the officers. He also there tried to stab the Chaplain and [committed] several outrageous offences." At Preston, he is said to have tried to escape by climbing up a chimney. When discovered about half way up and ordered to come down, he refused. He was "persuaded" to reconsider by warders who lit a fire under him and smoked him out (https://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/wood_cock.htm). --0--
3 January, 1854: Quarter Sessions at Derby -- Convicted for "larceny, before convicted for felony" -- sentenced to 10 years and 1 calendar month of penal servitude (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892; England; Derbyshire; 1854). Note: Thomas Baker was found not guilty of larceny. --0--
14 December, 1853: "An attempt was made Friday last [9 December] on the life of the head turnkey of the Derby County Gaol, Henry Carrington, by a prisoner named George Woodcock... awaiting his trial at the next sessions on a charge of felony. The prisoner, a muscular man possessed of great strength, had been placed in solitary confinement.." (Globe, p2). --0--.
10 November, 1853: Eckington Petty Sessions before Sir S R S Sitwell -- Committal of George Woodcock, returned convict and shoemaker, and Thomas Bacon (Baker), shoemaker, both charged by John Heald, of Eckington, master shoemaker, with stealing from him four pairs of boots and a quantity of tools (Derbyshire Courier, 19 November 1853, p2). --0--