Charles Wright

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Dianne Jones on 4th November 2023

ON ARRIVAL IN WA: Charles Wright, #9920, was listed as 23 years old, single, illiterate, Roman Catholic [then] Protestant; family -- brother James, at 12 Cranbrook street, Old Ford Road; 5'10" tall, brown hair, hazel eyes, square visage, fair complexion, healthy appearance, right hand injured (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers, General Register for Nos 9599-10128 cont. (R16)). --00--

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Dianne Jones on 18th December 2022

IN WA: From his Fremantle jail record: WRIGHT, Charles; inmate #9920, arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1843 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Literate Crime: Burglary Sentence Period: 10 years Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket of Leave Date: 18 Dec 1871 Certificate of Freedom Date: 20 Feb 1877 Comments: General servant, labourer, grubber, teamster, farmer. To whaling grounds, 5 Jul 1877 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--

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Dianne Jones on 18th December 2022

8 October, 1867: He was sent from Portland to board the Hougoumont for transportation to WA. “The hired convict ship Hougoumont, which has been taken up by the Government for the conveyance of a numerous party of convicts to Freemantle, Western Australia, left the Nore [an anchoring-ground in the estuary of the Thames, 3 miles n-e of Sheerness] on October 1, and proceeded down Channel, after receiving on board 150 convicts from the establishments at Chatham and Millbank… On Tuesday, October 8th, the Hougoumont arrived in Portland roads. Shortly before midday ninety convicts were marched down to the Government pier at Portland under a strong escort of the 12th Light Infantry…. The Government steamer employed in the breakwater service was used for conveying the convicts on board the Hougoumont transport ship. The convicts were chained together on embarking, and on board the steamer a strong guard of marines from her Majesty’s ship St. George was formed, and saw the convicts safely placed on board the Hougoumont.” (Sydney Morning Herald, 19 December, 1867, p4, on Trove at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271). —00—

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Dianne Jones on 18th December 2022

21 May, 1867: He was transferred to Portland jail. 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) --0--

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Dianne Jones on 18th December 2022

JAIL: 10 September, 1866: Charles Wright was admitted to Millbank prison, London, from Newgate prison where he had served 27 days in separate confinement. From 1849, Millbank was used for male convicts serving the first (probationary) part of their sentence in separate confinement as well as for those who were in need of another period of separate confinement after misbehaviour at public works prisons (https://www.prisonhistory.org/prison/millbank-prison/). Charles Wright was listed as inmate #2351, a baker, born 1843, single, illiterate, Roman Catholic and Protestant [both listed]; family -- brother James Wright, 12 Cranbrook Street, Old Ford Road. Previous convictions -- two, he had been sentenced to 3 years' penal servitude in 1863. Behaviour in Millbank "good" (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for Charles Wright; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners; 1866-1867). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 18th December 2022

TRIAL at the Old Bailey: 13 August, 1866: #726. CHARLES WRIGHT (23) and JOHN WILSON (32), Burglary in the dwelling house of Edwin Whitburn and stealing 2l. 10s., his money — second count, for receiving. MR. LANGFORD conducted the Prosecution. EDWIN WHITBURN. I keep the "Stanhope's Head" beerhouse, Garden Street, Whitechapel—on Wednesday morning, 5th July, between one and two o'clock, I was disturbed by a dog barking—I got up directly and looked out of the window that overlooked my private bar—I saw both the men outside first—I saw one of them get through the window, I don't know which it was—as soon as I threw up the window and looked out they were off directly—I missed nothing at first—next morning I missed 2l. 10s. in coppers, done up in five-shilling packets, and a white tablecloth—I have not recovered the tablecloth—the window was bolted before I went to bed—I described the prisoners to a policeman who is not here—I had previously seen them drinking in my house two or three times—I am quite sure Wright was one—I can swear to him—the other was much the stature of Wilson—Wright wore a white cap—the policeman Carling afterwards showed me some copper moneys and brown papers (produced)—these are like what I lost—there was a bad halfpenny among them—my wife did them up. Wright. At Worship Street he said he saw Wilson get out of a window and cross over the street to a man with a white hat on. Witness. No. MR. LANGFORD. Q. Is that the kind of hat (produced) he wore? A. Yes. CHARLES CARLING (Policeman 163 H). From information I received from the constable on duty, I went with Sergeant Reed, about half-past two o'clock in the morning of the 5th July, to No. 5, Bell's Place, Whitechapel—the door was open and I went in—I found the prisoners there—Wilson was in bed in his shirt—Wright said, "What do you want here?"—I said, "Nothing particular; I've come to search your room to find some stolen money in your possession"—he said, "Oh, you can look"—he didn't say if he had any or not—I asked Wilson to jump out of bed—I looked underneath the head of the bed—there was nothing there—then I looked underneath the bed and found this cap full of copper money—I found these papers on the table—I asked Wright how he came by the money—he said he was a dealer in fish at Billingsgate, and got it for some mackerel—he said, "That is my money; I earned it honestly." ALFRED REED (Policeman 20 H). I went in company with Carling—I saw him search the bed and find the money under the bed in the hat—I asked the prisoners how they accounted for the money—Wright said, "It belongs to me; I worked for it"—Wilson said, "It belongs to us." HARRIET WHITBURN . I am the wife of Edwin Whitburn—on the Monday before Thursday, 5th July, I made up some packets of halfpence—this halfpenny is one that was in one of the five-shilling packets—when we put the halfpence up we always put the French halfpence or any of that sort by themselves, and then if any are wrong we allow to the brewers for them—I can swear to this halfpenny—this is another which I did up—I can swear to this also. Wright's Defence. I wish to state how I came by the money—we are two hard-working men, and get our living by selling fish—on the Wednesday previous to the Thursday we were taken I went to Billingsgate Market and bought some mackerel—we were going with it along Whitechapel, when just outside the London Hospital a man asked us if we wanted to sell the mackerel—I said, "I will take 55s. for them if you like"—he said, "I will give 50s. for them"—I said, "All right, you shall have them"—he says, "I have 50s. worth of coppers," and counted them into my cap—we had some supper and went to bed pretty near daylight—the police came and asked me what I had got there—I said nothing belonging to them—they searched the place and found the cap of money—I said, "It belongs to me." Wilson's Defence. That is all that took place—I have nothing more to say. GUILTY. Wright was further charged with having been previously convicted at Clerkenwell, on 20th April, 1863, to which he PLEADED GUILTY. WRIGHT**— Ten Years' Penal Servitude. WILSON*— Five Tears' Penal Servitude (https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/). --00--