Tasmania: John ROBERTJOHNS, Born 1833 Exeter, Devon

[BAC3]

Hello,

This gentleman arrived aboard the Oriental Queen in February 1853 and was awarded his
Certificate of Freedom on 23/07/1859.

I can find no further reference to him through BDM Indexes, Convict websites such as Claim a Convict, newspapers etc.

Can anyone help please.

Thank you

BAC3

[Neale1961]

Surname is being written as ROBERTJOHNS. (all 1 word)
https://www.hawkesbury.net.au/claimaconvict/convictDetails.php?convictId=51779

All his convict records are at Tasmanian Archives.
https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-114$init=CON33-1-114p212
https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON18-1-59$init=CON18-1-59p157
https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON30-1-1P434JPG
https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-47$init=CON14-1-47_00100_L   (Image 100)
https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-11$init=CON13-1-11P102


Once he received his certificate of freedom, he was free to go anywhere, including returning home to England. He may have changed his name.

[CaroleW]

See freebmd - death in 1891

[Neale1961]

Thanks for looking for that Carole. Not surprising to find him back in England. There was no sign of him in Tasmania or anywhere else in Australia after his freedom.

Added - however I don't think that death in Dulverton Somerset is the same person who went to Tasmania? He seems to have been married in 1848, whereas the convict John was single.

[BAC3]

Good Morning,

Thank you for your posts.

I have revisited all possible Indexes, using both ROBERTJOHNS and JOHNS, but he remains totally elusive.....I shall have to leave him pending!!!

For now,

BAC3

[shume]

Although a certificate of freedom meant ex convicts could travel, it was unlikely that they returned to England (but not impossible) due to lack of funds. Research has shown many went to Victoria for the gold  ref Convicts and Survivors  He may have changed his name to Robertson or it was transcribed that way. A difficult one!

[Dundee]

His real name was Robert JOHNS.  He is with his parents Hugh and Elizabeth in Devon in 1841, tried in 1848 aged 14, in Parkhurst in 1851, and transported in 1852 aged 18.

If he wanted to disappear he could have been using any combination of names.

Debra 

[BAC3]

Good Evening

John ROBERTJOHNS or Robert JOHNS has "beaten" me sadly and he has gained the honour of my long term pending tray!!!!

Tony

[shume]

Its easy to see how he was written down as Robertjohns. If the court asked him his name and he replied Robert Johns in a Devon accent, and was unable to read or write, that's how these variations crop up.
Not that it really helps you!

shume   australia