PART THREE

The Transportation

On the 2nd December 1840 Henry is transferred from the Fortitude to the Duncan.^{2 3} and on the 10th December 1840 the 259 embarked on the Duncan from Sheerness: (convicts from the prison hulks: 60 from Warrior, 80 from Justitia, both at Woolwich and a further 119 from Fortitude at Chatham.) This is the only convict voyage the Duncan makes.

The ship’s surgeon William McDowell MRCS, RN journal records that he was prepared to vaccinate for variola (smallpox) anyone who embarked from the prison hulks who had not been vaccinated or previously had the disease, and he records case notes on only eight passengers which are included in the 34 attendances on the Sick List.

He also remarked that the convicts were “all in good health and I am happy to state were all landed on our arrival in as good as when embarked”.⁴

The voyage takes 129 days and arrives in Van Dieman’s Land on the 18th April 1841.

On the 6th June 1841, the English census records⁵ Anna living in Hosier Street, Reading with her youngest daughter Leah who is stated as being a Female (Domestic) Servant and Anna is working as a Charwomen (a cleaning woman (Domestic service) who usually worked for hourly wages, often on a part-time basis. They usually had several different employers and unike maids, did not ‘live-in’.) 

Likewise it is believed that Mrs. Mary Cox is living with her family in Coley Terrace,Castle Hill, Reading⁶.

Henry’s Convict Records

Description List⁷

Name: Corderoy Henry

Trade	Miller & Baker	Forehead	Low
Height without shoes	5/6	Eyebrows	Brown
Age	56	Eyes	Grey
Complexion	Ruddy	Nose	Long
Head	Large	Mouth	Small
Hair	Grey	Chin	Broad
Whiskers	Reddish	Remarks	None
Visage	Oval

Conduct Record⁸

Before 1840, upon a convict’s arrival in the colony, many were “assigned” by the government to work for free settlers. In exchange for their labor, the free settlers provided convicts with accommodation, food, and clothing. Others were placed in government service.

In 1840, the Assignment system was replaced by the Probation system for male convicts. Under this system, they were required to work in government labor gangs for a period of probation. Female convicts continued to be assigned.

As convicts progressed through the stages of probation, based on their behaviour, restrictions were gradually reduced, ultimately leading to the granting of a “Ticket of Leave.”

When Henry arrived in Van Dieman’s Land in the early years of the Probation system, he was seconded on the 2nd July 1841 to the Rocky Hills Probation Station, Police Number 2779⁹

The Rocky Hills Road Station (1833-1839) was originally established with the intention to use forced labor for road construction and improvements around Rocky Hills, providing access from Hobart to the East Coast. When the Probation System was introduced, the road station was repurposed to house convicts working on the construction of the new Probation Station (1841-1847). From 1841 the station continued to rely on convict labor to construct and maintain the road and bridge infrastructure in the area.

Henry was inmate 1733 and by July 1842 he is back making the bread for the colony.
His time of 2 years and 3 months on probation was not plain sailing:

Timeline:

Henry’s over all remarked conduct was Good.

On the 29th July 1847 Anna Corderoy dies aged 64 at Hosier Street, Reading, Berkshire, England. Her cause of death was Cancer (12 months) and Liver Disease (3 months). Martha Ballard her daughter was present at the death and is the informant.¹⁰

This information raised questions about the underlying causes of Ann’s cancer and liver disease. Was it due to her lifestyle and exposure to various chemicals in her work as a charwoman? Could the liver disease have been the source of her cancer (possibly liver cancer), or was it linked to heavy drinking? Another consideration is whether her death was ultimately the result of the lead shot that remained lodged in her skull. Instead of dying on the day of the shooting, did Ann succumbed to the long-term consequences eight years later? I don’t think we will ever know for sure.

On the 10th July 1849 Henry received a Ticket of Leave.

Henry Corderoy a free man, dies on the 22nd May 1851 in Bagdad, Tasmania.¹¹ His inquest is held and his cause of death is natural causes from Apoplexy (today a  hemorrhagic stroke.)¹²

(c) Emma Devroey – Three Surnames Genealogy

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Sources

Main Image – Photo by Axel Imy on Unsplash

1. Kentish Gazette – 1st December 1840 via Findmypast.co.uk – Newspaper Collection – https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/british-newspapers – original data: British Library – https://www.bl.uk/collection-guides/british-newspaper-archive ↩︎
2. Home Office: Convict Prison Hulks: Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849 – Ref. HO9 – The National Archives, Kew, London (TNA) via Ancestry.co.uk – UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849 – Fortitude Register 1837-1843. ↩︎
3. Home Office: Convict Transportation Registers – Ref. HO11/12 – TNA via Ancestry.co.uk – Australian Convict Transportation Registers – Other Fleets & Ships, 1791-1868. ↩︎
4. Medical and surgical journal of Her Majesty’s hired convict ship Duncan – Ref. ADM 101/20/5 – TNA via Ancestry.co.uk – UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1856 – Duncan 24th Nov 1840 – 29th April 1841. ↩︎
5. 1841 England Census – Ref. HO107/36/6/9/13- TNA via Ancestry.co.uk – Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841.   ↩︎
6. 841 England Census – Ref. HO107/36/3/8/10- TNA via Ancestry.co.uk – Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841.  ↩︎
7. Description List – Ref. CON18-1-27 – Image 62 – Tasmania Library –https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON18-1-27/CON18-1-27P62 ↩︎
8. Conduct Record – Ref. CON33-1-8 – Image 36 – Tasmania Library –https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON33-1-8/CON33-1-8P36 ↩︎
9. Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania – Ref. HO10/51 – TNA via Ancestry – New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849. ↩︎
10. Death Certificate – Ref 1847  S Quarter in READING  Volume 06  Page 168 General Register Office – gro.gov.uk – ↩︎
11. Tasmanian Colonial Convict, Passenger and Land Records. – Ref 30 via Ancestry.co.uk – Tasmania, Australia, Convict Court and Selected Records, 1800-1899. ↩︎
12. Inquest – Ref. SC195/1/29 – Inquest 2535 – Tasmania Library – https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/SC195-1-29/SC195-1-29-2535 ↩︎