"Parkhurst Boys" transported to NZ 1842/43

[BAC3]

Good Evening Annie,

"Berlin-Bob" has suggested PDF etc. for sending a copy of a Biography or, failing all else, the old "cut and paste" system.  I am nothing if not conservative so having cut Isaac Eggerton's Biography, minus the citations , I am now going to try and paste it.

Hope eveything works !!!

Tony

[/bEGGERTON, Isaac (aka in NZ as EGGENTON)

Little is known of Isaac Eggerton’s early life, except he was born between c1826/1827 and his parents were James Eggenton and Marguerite (or Margaret) Webster.

He was committed to appear at the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey) on 06/041840 accused of Larceny, found guilty and sentenced to 7 years transportation.   Then aged 13 he had been employed as a Coach Harness Plater.   He was held temporarily at Newgate Prison and on 25/05/1840 transferred to Parkhurst Prison, where his Gaoler’s Report stated he had been ‘In House of Correction previous’, was single and could read and write.

He was eventually transported to New Zealand aboard the “Mandarin” on 21/06/1843 as a Free Immigrant, classified trade being Cooper and Shoemaker, and disembarked at Auckland on 16/10/1843.   Nothing is known about him immediately after his arrival other than oblique remarks quoted by Buddee from a Report (uncited) by the Guardian of Government Apprentices (David Rough):

            ‘The Free Immigrants who arrived by the Mandarin in November
            have been offered food, clothing and house room by the government.
            The greater number, however, prefer to be at perfect liberty and refuse
            to attend to the regulations requiring them to work (with the government)
            while waiting engagement.  They are now dispersed about the country.’

However, he is later mentioned in two prison records contained in the Internal Affairs Series for 1844 and 1845:

(1)   ‘Return of Prisoners Confined in the Gaol at Auckland, New Zealand,
Sentenced to Hard Labour for the week ending Friday the Nineteenth day of July 1844.

Name:                         Isaac Egginton (sic);
When confined:         18 March 1844;
Trade:                         Parkhurst Boy;
Sentence:                    6 months;
How employed:          3 in Fort St. & 3 mending shoes;
Working character:    Good’

(NB:   There is NO offence specified in the Return)

(2)   ‘Weekly Gaol Return 27 September 1845

 Prisoners in Gaol:           Isaac Eggenton (inter alia)
 Date of Imprisonment:   26 July 1845;
 Trade or Calling:            Labourer;
 Age:                                18;
 Charge:                           Vagrancy;
 Sentence:                        3 months;
 Date of Sentence:           26 July 1845;
 How employed:              Working in Queen Street.’

At age  21 (22) he became a Boatman and on 16/06/1849 married Mary Kerns at St Patrick’s Church, Auckland…….she was 16 years of age and the daughter of one of the New Zealand Fencibles, James Kerns and his wife, Mary (nee Breen), who arrived in Auckland in 1847.   Together they had 9 children:

(1)   Elizabeth born 1849;
(2)   William c1850;
(3)   James 1853;
(4)   John 1854 (presumably died young);
(5)   John 1856;
(6)   Walter 1858;
(7)   Frederick 1859 (presumably died young);
(   Frederick 1861; and
(9)   Margaret 1863.

In 1852 he was listed in the “Roll of Early Settlers in Auckland Province before 1852”, p.72.

Isaac remained a Boatman until 1863 when he became a Mariner and owner of freehold land in Union Street, Auckland.   This date also sees him as a Militia Man.  In 1864 he moved to Coburg Street, was the owner of three adjoining cottages and a further adjoining property where he housed his firewood yard.   According to the Electoral Rolls for 1881 and 1893 he still owned this land and in the former he was listed as a Wood Dealer.

Mary died in 1874, aged 40, with disease of the liver.

Isaac was remarried on 10/03/1875 to twice-married Harriet Walling (previously married to John Saunders from Lower Matakana, New Zealand on 09/04/1850 …...her maiden name was Green).   They continued to live at Coburg Street.

Isaac died on 01/05/1897, aged 70, of chronic gout, cirrhosis of the liver and signs of senile decay.   His probate showed he owned another block of freehold property in Quay Street. 

 Harriet died in Auckland on 21/04/1901 aged 69.

[liverpool annie]

Larceny

The unlawful taking and removing of another's personal property with the intent of permanently depriving the owner - theft.

You know Tony - I can't imagine a 13 year old boy these days -  being sent away from his home and family for 7 years - for theft!! Just imagine the thoughts going through that young man's head!! and then being offered (condesendingly no doubt)
food, clothing and house room by the government.

No wonder most of them " prefered to be at perfect liberty and refused to attend to the regulations requiring them to work with the government  while waiting for a job " -  after all that time on the ship - and the sickness they saw -  and the bad treatment they saw .......!!

I am very glad that after a slow start -  "Our Isaac " turned his life around - God love him! - how amazing that he did - when you think about what life offered him!sounds like he drank quite a bit - and Lyn said he had the marks of the shackles all his life - I wonder how we would react - if put in the same position ...... ?

Makes you think!!

Annie

http://www.nzfenciblesociety.org.nz/

http://www.zealand.org.nz/history.htm

[lynbee]

Hi Annie,
Thanks for your interest in Isaac.   Your comment about the scars from the shackles, is one of the reasons that I was keen to find out about him.  When my Grandmother told me them years ago, my thoughts were much the same as yours.  What a punishment...you carry it for life!  What a stigma...no hiding it.
It was not until a few weeks ago that I found out about his trial at Old Bailey & how young he was and what he was charged with.  He seems so cruel to me...he was only a kid.  It is hard to believe that he spent 4 years in Parkhurst prison, before deportation.  Even that is excessive by todays standards.
Mind you, when I was looking into this, I came across an 11yr old boy who as sentenced to 10yrs & deportation for Larceny, too, so maybe Isaac go off lightly.  Even Isaac's sentence of 3 months for vagrancy, seems a bit steep, doesn't it?
I never knew, until Tony sent me the Biography, that Isaac still got into trouble after he was here in NZ.  And, yes it does look like he was abit of a drinker...Mary too, maybe.  I am glad that he did well eventually, and I wondered if it was Mary's influence that kept him out of trouble, although it does appear that it was a "shotgun" wedding..and she was only 16!!.  Or maybe it was his father-in-law that kept him in line!  I wish that I could have known him...he sounds like an interesting character.
I can never thank Tony enough for the added info he supplied me, as now Isaac seems very real...not just a kind of ghost running around in my mind, as he has been for years.
I guess that I will have to start saving for his death certificate, to see if I can find out where he came from.
I am just disappointed that the "cousin" that Tony gave my email address to, has not contacted me yet. I am checking my mail, every 5 minutes in anticipation.  I know that i am impatient, but I am so excited to know that there are Eggerton rellies out there.  I never knew any existed.
Now, I want to be the "Sticky Beak"  What is the URL for Erica Smith's family Project that tony spoke to you about?  If it is relevant in any way to the Parkhurst Boys, I would love to have a look.
Bless you
Lyn

[liverpool annie]

This is the site Lyn!

http://www.webace.com.au/~smidgers/index.htm

There's quite a bit about her own family of course - but there's bits and pieces of other information in there eg . the family tree of the Guardian that was with the boys Samuel Caporn
Caporn arrived in Fremantle on 20 August 1842 aboard the 'Simon Taylor' which had departed London on 29 April 1842. He was paid £5 for his duties as schoolteacher for the duration of the voyage and it is believed he was the guardian of the 18 Parkhurst boys. These boys varied in ages between 13 and 16 years and were being removed from the Parkhurst Prison under a conditional pardon from the Crown. (this pardon was forwarded to the Governor of the Colony by the same vessel).

All fascinating stuff!!

Annie

[lynbee]

Hi Annie,
Thanks for that.  I wondered if it was that one but was unsure as you had sent Tony so many URL's. I figure that if it was worth him adding it to his Favorites, that it might be worth reading.  Haven't gone there yet, but will shortly. 
But I have great news.......I have just heard from my "cousin"...no more waiting and she seems as excited as me bout the contact!
Tony has been a real blessing to me.
Bless you.
Lyn

[liverpool annie]

Oh Lyn!

That's great! - I'm so happy for you !

Please let us know when " you two " find out more !!

keep in touch!!

Annie

[lynbee]

Thanks Annie!
I will keep you updated.
Bless you
Lyn

[liverpool annie]

Tony!

here's some more !

http://thc.worldarcstudio.com/classroom_20040211_JB/gcse/crime_punishment2_industrial.htm

This is the Warder of Parkhurst

http://www.kenscott.com/prisons/prisoncareer.htm

http://www.fremantleprison.com.au/history/history3.cfm

http://www.eatongenealogy.com/blackeaton8.html

Annie

[BAC3]

Good Afternoon Annie,

Glad I was able to help Lyn, both in terms of Isaac Eggerton's life history and the contact with another Great Great Granddaughter, Desma.......they should have a lot to talk about as the family tree is extensive.

Difficult though it is to remain detached and dispassionate, having to remind oneself continually that these "Parkhurst Boys" were "FELONS" and quite accomplished despite the young ages, you do get caught up in the life histories, especially where there are photographs.  Western Australia has been exceptional in this sense and my files are almost like "albums"......good material, though, and persuasive in terms of research for new knowledge.   The balance at the moment is that of the  transported "Parkhurst Boys" I have managed to research 80% became "successful" citizens downunder, and the remaining 20% were "recidivists", of whom 5 (to date) were hanged for murder or attempted murder.   Having said that it also seems that the average number of children born to each "Parkhurst Boy" was at least 8.

But sadly I still need more response from NZ and a little more from Victoria (Port Phillip) would be welcome.

Take care

Tony