Some details about Henry, home address, previous occupation, etc, ... do you know what happened to his wife and children left behind when he was transported?
18 December 1835 The Morning Post, London.
Police Intelligence. Bow Street – Stamp Forgeries.
Information has recently been obtained by the authorities at the Stamp Office, at Somerset House that forgeries of stamps have been for some time past carried on to a very considerable extent, especially in the article of playing cards. In consequence of this information, Ellis, Ballard and Keys, officers of this establishment, were ordered by Sir F Roe to make inquiries, the result of which was, that warrants were issued against several suspected persons. Ellis went with a search warrant to No. 122, John St, Smithfield, where he took into custody a card maker, named Henry Wheeler, who occupied the attic floor, and found upon his person thirty eight pieces of very thin paper, each containing an impression (forged) of the stamp upon the Ace of Spades, forming one of a pack of playing cards. On searching a loft over the attic he found a plate from there could be no doubt the forgeries he found upon the prisoner’s person had been struck.
The officer brought the prisoner before Sir F Roe at the evening sitting, and the above circumstances having been briefly stated, the prisoner, who declined saying anything, was remanded to give time to produce the necessary formal evidence.
Mr Sircum, and two other Gentlemen, attended from the Stamp Office for the prosecution. The prisoner was once a licenced manufacturer of cards but in consequence of some faux pas (it is said) the licence was withdrawn, and he has since been extensively engaged in manufacturing cards with forged stamps.
A respectably dressed man, about the middle age, named John Lomas, was next put to the bar by Ballard under the following circumstances:
Ballard, it appeared, had a search warrant against the prisoner on suspicion of being concerned in the transaction with which Wheeler, the former prisoner, stands accused, and in consequence of information which he obtained he went close to a house in Grove Street, Holloway Road, but wishing to watch to see the prisoner before he proceeded to search, he waited some time, and saw the prisoner come out. He followed him some distance, and observed that he had something of a flat square shape in a bag under his arm …….
From an offline index resource
12 February 1837,
Henry WHEELER, per the Norfolk arrived Sydney NSW.
He was aged 40, Protestant, a married male with 3 children : 2 Male , 1 Female. He was a labourer who could read and write. He was born London. He was tried Central Criminal Court for being in possession of stolen property. Trial date 4 January 1836. He had no previous convictions, he was found guilty and received a sentence of life, transportation beyond the seas. He was 5 ft 2 ¾ inches tall, with dark sallow complexion, hazel eyes and his hair was dark brown mixed with grey.
31 December 1837 Convict General Muster NSW
Henry WHEELER, aged 40, per Norfolk 1837, with the Colonial Architects Department, Sydney.
JM
