George WESTLEY Exile Convict to Australia on the Thomas Arbuthnot 1847

[lynsfamily]

Hi,
Looking for any information on the following convict.
George Westley born in Sawley Derbyshire to Benjamin and Ann Westley in 1829.
George was convicted with his brother John.  Did time at Pentonville Prison.  Hawker and Shoemaker. On the Thomas Arbuthnot for Port Phillip arriving on 4th May 1847.

From there he seems to just disappear.  I have searched everything I can think of to get a lead on his life in Australia but nothing.  His brother John  ended up in Tasmania but I cannot find George.

Does anyone have any ideas where to search next?

Lyn

[ShaunJ]

Have you seen the item on FindMyPast transcribed from the Government Gazette indexes? Possibly places him in Darling Downs, Queensland in 1852.

[lynsfamily]

Yes, I had uncovered that information and believe it may be the same George Westley but that is the end of the trail.
Regards
Lyn

[majm]

Queensland was not hived off from NSW until 1859, so have you searched the NSW Government Gazettes available online at Trove ... free to search 

https://trove.nla.gov.au/  and then to
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/gazette?q=

and have you checked NSW State Archives ?  The Exiles index there does not display his Ticket of Leave District. 
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/keyname-search

and have you contacted RChatter BAC3? https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=20929  He is actively researching many of the Exile lads.

JM

[lynsfamily]

Hi JM,

Thank you for the references provided.  Nothing more uncovered so far.  Will probably need to organise a visit to Sydney and book a reading room session to discover anything further.  Will keep searching in the meantime.

I really appreciate the Rootschat site, particularly when I have exhausted my own research ideas.  It is great of so many people to happily share information and tips.

Regards
Lyn

[rosball]

Hi Lyn,
   Here is the snip about George WESTLEY from the book Convicts of Port Phillip District by Keith M Clarke.

   The  NSW archives office has very little about the earlier exiles - just the index which is online
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/searchhits_nocopy?keyname_search=westley&id=20

And it has
Also included is a list of 90 boys embarked from Parkhurst Prison on board the convict ship "Thomas Arbuthnot" for Port Phillip 11 January 1847 (name, age, trade, disposition and character).

(4/4546; microfilm copy SR Reel 706). 1 vol.

There is information at Mitchell Library - disposal of exiles from Darling Downs   A 1764.  You could use the ask a Librarian service http://www.nfhs.org.au/index.html#Research_Requests

Ros

adding : I was at archvies office today and had a quick look at reel 706 and found a list of those on board the Thomas Arbothnot in 1874 1847 but the information was much the same as in the book (from which I posted the snip) except that it didn't say he was disposed to Melbourne.   By the way you need to scroll horizontally along the snip.   )

[majm]

.....
adding : I was at archvies office today and had a quick look at reel 706 and found a list of those on board the Thomas Arbothnot in 1874 but the information was much the same as in the book (from which I posted the snip) except that it didn't say he was disposed to Melbourne.   By the way you need to scroll horizontally along the snip.   )

1874 ...   tis just a typo.  1847

JM

[majm]

Have you seen the item on FindMyPast transcribed from the Government Gazette indexes? Possibly places him in Darling Downs, Queensland in 1852.

https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/convict-exiles-index

Record series in the index: NRS 12202, NRS 12223, NRS 12192 (indexed by staff),
  Surgeon Superintendent's Journals (PRO Reels 3187, 3197, 3205, 3208),   
  Returns of Exiles employed at Darling Downs 1850-52 (Mitchell Library, A1764; CY789)

JM

[rosball]

Yes it was a typo JM, I will correct it.

UnFortunately  the other records in NSW archives apply to exiles who arrived AFTER 1850 - the staff assured me.  Only reel 706 was relevant to an exile who arrived before then.

I did mention that disposals of exiles from Darling Downs was available at Mitchell Library and that Lyn could use the ask a librarian service. 

Ros