Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
James Wright 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
Robert Knopwood’s Diary. The Rev. Robert Knopwood sailed from England, on the Calcutta in 1803, and landed in Port Phillip with the prisoners. He later became the first chaplain appointed in Van Diemen’s Land, and was also appointed a Magistrate. He kept a diary, from 1805 -1808, which can be downloaded by following the links: https://eprints.utas.edu.au/13550/ https://eprints.utas.edu.au/13563/ From his diary: Entry for Monday 24 June 1805. am. at 8, I was informed that six men had deserted from the Camp. Steward, Carmichal, Wright, Morris, Fernander and Camel and had taken my boat with them and the Government Oars – Camel & Fernander took my boat away to the Point where they had planted something Saturday 13 July 1805 pm. Henry Hakin and the 4 soldiers return with the men that deserted in my boat. Tuesday 16 July 1805 am. this morn Mr Harris and self were upon business all the morn and we expected the prisoners Stewart &c that went away with my boat to be brought before us. In margin: Camel & Fernander took my boat away from the Moorings.
SORRY - date above misread. Should be: Tasmanian Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON22-1-2p514 James Wright, Tried at Middlesex G.D., 18 Feb 1801, 7 years. -------------------------------------------------- Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 05 March 2020), February 1801, trial of JAMES WRIGHT (t18010218-1). JAMES WRIGHT, Theft > theft from a specified place, 18th February 1801. 211. JAMES WRIGHT was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 24th of January , a pair of drab cloth breeches, value 12s. a swansdown waistcoat, value 8s. and a cloth great coat, value 21s. the property of Richard Angel , in his dwelling-house . LYDIA ANGEL sworn. - I am the wife of Richard Angel , I live at No. 133, Great Saffron Hill , my husband is a porter in an ironmonger's shop , and I keep an old clothes shop: On the 23d of January last, about six o'clock in the evening, two men came into the shop, the prisoner at the bar was one, and asked for some corduroy or velveteen breeches; I told them I had none; I shewed them some other breeches, and Wright chose a pair of new drab cloth ones; during the time Wright was trying on the breeches, the other man chose a pepper and salt coloured great coat, and a pair of leather breeches; they thought I did not shew them the best things I had, and the prisoner told me not to be afraid, that they had got a pound or two to lay out, if I had got goods that would suit them; upon that account I shewed them more goods than usual; they asked for some waistcoats, and I went to a chest in the shop and took out two swansdown waistcoats, and they chose one; then I shewed them some great coats, which did not please them; then I shewed them another, and Wright put the great coat, swansdown waistcoat, and drab cloth breeches on, in order to see whether they fitted him or not; the other man asked for a piece of chalk, to see what they came to; I told them I could cast it up, they then went out of the shop; I immediately leaped over the counter; one took up the street, and the other down; I pursued Wright, and caught hold of him by the skirt of his coat, about eight yards from my shop, and he sell down; I called out for assistance, and my next door neighbour came and assisted me in bringing him back; I had him committed; the property is here; Mr. Rose has got it. WILLIAM ROSE sworn. - The prisoner was brought to our office, Hatton Garden, on the 23d of January, in the evening, he had the property on him; I took off the great coat and waistcoat, the breeches he has on. (Produces the coat and waistcoat). Mrs. Angel. I know those things to be mine; here is my mark with my own hand. JOHN KENNEDY sworn. - I live at No. 133, Saffron Hill; I am a constable; I heard my landlady cry out, stop thief, and I came, and she said, for God's sake take this man into coustody; he had those things upon him; here is my mark upon them. Prisoner's defence. I went into the shop, and asked for a pair of breeches, and she reached me down a pair of black kerseymere, which would not do; she then reached me down these pair of breeches, and I put them on; I then asked for a waistcoat, and I put it on, then a coat, and it fitted me very well; I laid my own breeches on the counter, with the money in them, and the man along with me took hold of my breeches, and ran away with the money; I ran after him, and my heels kicked up; it was not my meaning to take any thing from the woman; when I returned to the shop, she took me into custody. The prisoner called one witness to his character. GUILTY of stealing to the value of 39s. aged 24. Transported for seven years . First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Baron Hotham .
Tasmanian Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON22-1-2p514 James Wright, Tried at Middlesex G.D., 18 Oct 1801, 7 years.