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Topic: Convicts to Norfolk Island/Port Macquarie (Read 367 times)
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Vabre
RootsChat Senior
Posts: 420
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Could someone please help me?
My g,g,grandfather John Dower, aka John Doner, aka John Donell per "Lord Sidmouth" 1821, was transported to Port Macquarie on "Sally" on Dec. 24 1823.
The Colonial Secretary Index has him being assigned on Oct 21 1824 (and I think that may have been in Sydney). However, Peter Mayberry's site says he was transported to Norfolk Island. I cannot find any reference to this other than Peter's.
He was assigned as Donell Oct 21 1824 and was in the employee of John Campbell and later to William Lawson in Prospect.
Can anyone assist me in the missing gap between Port Macquarie and his assignment in Oct. 1824.
Many thanks,
John
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O'Halloran, Bryan (O'Brien) - Limerick.
Dower - Waterford. Ireland
Dodd - Kildare. Ireland
Cotter - Cork. Ireland
French, Clapson - Sussex. U.K.
Southwell - Robertsbridge, Sussex. U.K.
Pinning (Penning) - Lincolnshire. U.K.
Heath - Devon. U.K.
Bennett- Staffordshire. U.K.
Dodge - Kent. U.K
Coffey - Cork, Ireland.
Connolly- Meath
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trish251
RootsChat Leaver
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 9162
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Hi John
I am sure there are a number of books around giving details of all the Norfolk Island settlements - but I've looked through my files and can only find documentation of the first settlement (which is when my convict went to Norfolk). When they closed the first settlement he ended up in Tasmania.
I thought I had borrowed some books from my local library, but when I checked the catalogue nothing rang a bell (other than the details of the early settlement) - but there was this one listed
Norfolk Island : a revised and enlarged history, 1774-1998
Hoare, Merval
I don't know if this one relates to the first or second settlement - could be the second as I think the convicts were treated somewhat better on the first settlement
Punishment short of death : a history of the penal settlement at Norfolk Island
Hazzard, Margaret
You may well be able to get detail of your man from your local library - it is worth checking.
I don't know if there are any Norfolk Island convict lists online.
Trish
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trish251
RootsChat Leaver
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 9162
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I see from your profile you are in Sydney - Many of the 1st settlement documents are at the Mitchell Library - could be worth following up with them. I think Norfolk likes to forget the first two settlements existed as everyone/thing basically packed up & left - probably taking any records with them.
Trish
The Mitchell used to have an almost non-existant online catalogue but I did read somewhere that they were developing one - so you may be able to check some of their holdings online.
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gennig
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 1421
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Hi John
Don't know if this may help but I believe control for Norfolk Island's 2nd settlement was with Tasmania and not NSW.
Kiama Family History Volunteers Group put together a Tasmanian Collection of Records 1830s -1930s.
From this Digger (Macbeth Genealogical Society) produced a CD-Rom Index.
Tasmanian Colonial Index 1816 - 1889; NFI 1792; NSW 1823-1848.
John DONER has an entry as follows:-
Year: 1844 - Norfolk Island to Van Diemens Land - Ship: Lord Sidmouth - Category: Doubly Convicted Status: Prisoner
Reel: P3-5 Section: 335-6 Form: (3) Film: CY368
Unfortunately the Help section wasn't working on the CDRom, so I couldn't find out what the Film etc. relates to.
Regards
Genni
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« Last Edit: Thursday 30 November 06 23:22 UTC (UK) by gennig »
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******************************************* All census look up transcriptions are Crown copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk******************************************* Surnames: Armstrong, Gray, Greco, Lambden, Le Busque, Beaton, Carron, Pitt, Gould Areas: Victoria, Tasmania, Hampshire, Berkshire, Yorkshire, Fermanagh, Glamorgan |
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trish251
RootsChat Leaver
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 9162
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The Tasmanian archives has much information it seems (I also did some research there & perhaps this was where I previously saw the information - sorry John). You can search here
http://www.archives.tas.gov.au/database
A basic search on Norfolk Island instantly returns
From September 1844 until 1856, when it closed as a penal settlement, Norfolk Island was under the jurisdiction of the Tasmanian Government, and was staffed by the Tasmanian Convict Department. Throughout this period, male convicts were being transferred from there to Tasmania, as a result of their sentences there having expired; some had been sent there from Tasmania, others had been sent direct from Great Britain
They have a research and copying service. (or did when I was there - presumably still do)
The second settlement did start in c. 1825 - so there may be NSW records of your convict arriving there - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Island#Second_penal_settlement
It seems your man was lucky to survive the experience! and mine was lucky to have been part of the original settlement.
Trish
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gennig
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 1421
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Hi Trish
The 2nd settlement did start in 1825 for secondary offenders. Living there was very bad and it was decided to send them to Tasmania.
Most of the relocations to Tasmania happened between between 1847 and 1855. The Pitcairns began arriving in 1856.
John Doner - would have reoffended possibly in the late 1820's or early 1830's and then was sent to Tasmania in 1844.
Cheers
Genni
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******************************************* All census look up transcriptions are Crown copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk******************************************* Surnames: Armstrong, Gray, Greco, Lambden, Le Busque, Beaton, Carron, Pitt, Gould Areas: Victoria, Tasmania, Hampshire, Berkshire, Yorkshire, Fermanagh, Glamorgan |
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trish251
RootsChat Leaver
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 9162
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hello Genni
I find it amazing that folks never seem to learn that brutality rarely is a good idea! From my minimal reading of our early european history, the early governors in NSW Tas and Norfolk seemed to realise this fact & encouraged the convicts to lead reasonable lives. Somewhere along the line it went wrong! Our convict on Norfolk did very well - His wife on Norfolk was one of the girls from the Lady Juliana - had a house, large barn, and many acres of crops - not to mention 6 pigs! It was all shut down by the British & they were sent to Tasmania to start over - AND everything on the island was destroyed. By this stage our convict was in his 50s - what chance to rebuild! - but he obviously was much better treated than John Doner. 
Trish
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trish251
RootsChat Leaver
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 9162
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Hi John
I hope you can trace your family - it is often easier to trace convict ancestors as more information is usually available about them cf. free settlers.
Until 1988 it seemed the done thing to hide any knowledge of convict ancestors. After the bicentenary it seems to have become popular. I have a complete family tree for my inlaws - produced in the late 1800s in Tasmania which proves they come from a landed gentleman in England. It was circulated among many family members - some children were named after this ficticious ancestor. In fact they came from a 1st fleet convict who ended up in Tasmania via Norfolk Is. 
It is nice that we no longer try and hide our history - but rather are proud of these folks who were forced across the world & treated in a harsh and cruel manner as well. I hope they like what the new country became.
Good luck with the searching.
Trish
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