David Robinson 1804

[bobtonks]

David Robinson was born about 1804 in England.  He lived in the poor house at Histon, near Cambridge until 1832,  when he was sentenced to be transported for seven years. Can anybody see where he was sent to and details of his life and whereabouts after this time?

[rutht22000]

Hi

The transportation registers have a David Robinson, aged 28, to Tasmania on board the Lord William Bentinck.  Convicted at Cambridge on 6 January 1832 for 7 years, voyage date (to Tasmania) 28 April 1832.

Was his conviction for 'Felony'?

It looks like the same chap if you look at his actual conviction record it says New South Wales 21 April 1832 on Lord William Bentinck

Perhaps NSW then Tasmania?

(I think there are 2 David Robinson's possibly going out around the same time - a second David Robinson - born around 1806 - convicted for stealing on 15 March 1832 at Suffolk Assizes was also sent to Tasmania for 7 years on board the Georgiana).

Either way, whichever David is yours, Tasmania may be worth a look at

If the Lord William Bentinck David is yours he was 'assigned' to Mr Thomas Wilkinson in 1832 to work, then to 'Public Works' in 1833 to 1835.

This David looks like possibly has another couple of convictions as the the Convict Court has a few scribbles underneath his name - at Richmond, 18 October 183(something - could be a 6) and at North Norfolk twice in 1840.  I can't read what the other sentences seem to be but one of the North Norfolk ones was 6 months.

He was 'paid out' on 17 April 1843 and he was given his free certificate in 1846.  There is a departure of a David Robinson to Melbourne in 1854 but there is no way of saying its him.

Edited - just found this for the Lord William Bentinck David http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsearch/convict/chain/c31a31370234.  Wife Fanny and a child? 

the other David Robinson is on there too and he seems to have died in 1859.

[bobtonks]

Ruth

Thanks for that. It certainly looks like he was on the Lord William Bentinck. The transcript from the Cambridge Chronicle is :-

"1832 January 13         David Robinson (28) and William Smith (29) were indicted for stealing the carcass of a sheep from the slaughter-house of John Papworth, of Histon. The evidence against Robinson was that a quantity of  mutton not cut up by the butcher was found over the ceiling of a room occupied by him in the poor house at Histon, and that he was over-heard blowing the fire and taking the lid of a pot late at night. Some very material evidence in a deposition made by Robinson was invalidated by prosecutor having offered him three sovereigns to “speak the truth”. Nothing appeared to implicate Smith but Robinson’s saying before the magistrate “he’s as bad as me”. Robinson called a person to give him a character, who declined giving him a good one. The jury found Smith not guilty, and Robinson guilty, and he was sentenced to be transported for seven years."

Reports in the Chronicle cover the previous 7 days including, in this case the 6th January.

Thanks again for your help.

Bob

[bobtonks]

I have found a reference to a David Robinson in the Launceston Advertiser , Thursday 29 June 1837

" June 21, 1837 - Tickets of Leave granted to amongst others - David Robinson"

Can anyone see more details of this?

Bob

[Dundee]

Hi Bob,

The actual TOLs have not survived in Tasmania but his convict records are all digitised online.  His conduct record is fairly extensive and notes his further colonial sentences.  The note in red writing at the bottom right of his conduct record might be a reference to his TOL but is difficult to read.

https://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/names/?

Debra