Tasmanian convict arrivals: clues to U.S., Irish rellies

[smcarberry]

Here is your Sunday afternoon reading: a database of U.K. convicts who landed in Tasmania (then called Van Dieman's Land) in the mid-1800s:
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/

These are not the same convict records as those online through the National Library of Ireland, although some of the passengers arriving in Tasmania are also in that other database. The arriving passengers are sorted in this database by surname (a "fuzzy" search brings up spelling variations), and the search display then shows first name, county where convicted, ship, and some other details. Further clicking on an individual brings up whatever a prior search of several records (by volunteers) may contain, such as physical description, co-offender, relatives on board, and names of family members. There may also be a page icon that leads to an image of the actual record page. There are usually enough references to the underlying conviction that further research could yield the Irish conviction record. I have yet to find any Clare convict for whom an exact Clare locality (parish, town, or townland) is given.

Unfortunately, there is no capacity with the search engine to limit results to only Clare convicts. Also, to find all those who were Clare-born you will need to click on individuals for whom no county of conviction is listed, as many with a Clare-type surname but no conviction county noted will show Clare as the birth county.

Some convicts will have so many details that it may be possible to use Griffiths Valuation to pinpoint the families left behind. Note that occasionally the offender's victim is named, another clue to the involved locality.

From the FAQ section, here is a good question with an informative response:
"Why don't you include convicts to destinations outside Tasmania?

We are looking only for convicts transported to Tasmania because the Tasmanian records are better than those that have survived in New South Wales. In NSW, many of the conduct records were destroyed and the penal system in Tasmania, particularly with the introduction of the probation system from 1840 to 1852, produced astonishingly detailed records of convicts’ behaviour and experience. We also have many more medical records for Tasmanian convicts and Tasmania and Victoria were more advanced than NSW in the recording of births, deaths and marriages. We hope that others will take up the challenge of the NSW and Western Australia stories in the future."

I could not find anything that explains the abbreviation "np" that frequently appears next to the name of a surviving family member, so please post back here if you know what that means. Thanks.

Below are several examples of Clare convicts, although I am not trying to show all the given details.

G'day,
Sharon Carberry (USA)


Thomas Bretts, arrived 1847, age 20, tried for gun stealing with Patrick Brassil, on board,
fa: John; mo: Catherine; bro: John, James np.
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsear ... in/om24345

Patrick Brassil, age 28, single, farm laborer
fa: Michael; mo: Mary; bro: John, Michael; sis: Bridget np.
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsear ... in/om24346

Margaret Hinchy, arrived May 1850, age 22, RC single [record page image provided, her image is below that of Ann Hehir, age 60, of Clare]
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsear ... in/ai33002
and
http://foundersandsurvivors.org//pubsea ... -8,226,134

Patrick Tuohy, arrived Feb 1853, age 35, single, farm labr, d.8 Jul 1875 Stanley
bro: John; sis: Norah, Peggy np.
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsear ... in/ai71688

William Tuohy, 1853, age 25, RC, single, lab'r
bro: Jeremiah, John; sis: Mary (America), Margaret, Ellen np.
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsear ... ain/om8107

Michael Bethel, arrived Feb 1853, age 24, RC, single, farm laborer, bro John, sister Ann
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsear ... in/ai04764

Charles O'Connell, arrived Sep 1841, age 37, farm laborer, stole 4 lambs
wife: Bridget; 5 children: Patrick, Teddy, Michael, Leary, Kitty; 4 bro: Michael, John, Patrick, James
http://foundersandsurvivors.org/pubsear ... in/ai53565

Australian resident Ellen Crehan's ancestor--
NAI convict database online:
MARY McMAHON Age: 23
Trial place: Co. Clare Trial date: 06/07/1849
Crime desc: Cow stealing Sentence: Transportation 10 yrs
Document ref: TR 9, p 11 (F)

Founders and Survivors database: additional details
Physical description
Calculated Age 23
Body Marks pockmarked slightly lisps
Eyes Hazel light
Hair Dark Brown
Height Calculated Total Inches 62.5
Height Feet 5
Height Inch 2.5
Note: record page image has further remarks:
http://foundersandsurvivors.org//pubsea ... -8,226,148
Social and family
Literacy neither read nor write
Marital Status unmarried
Religion catholic
Trade Co Servant
Trade country servant

[AlStaunton]

Here's another, William smith O'Brien
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/obrien- ... smith-2516

[Larzus]

Just in case anyone is still wondering, 'np' is an abbreviation for 'native place'. That living relative is still residing in the place listed as the convict's native place.

[smcarberry]

'np' is an abbreviation for 'native place'. That living relative is still residing in the place listed as the convict's native place.

Thank you ! While I did eventually hear about the "np" part of that information, it is good to know the additional meaning that the indicated person was still residing there. Your posting now provides for all of us what we need in order to follow the leads provided in the online database.

S.C.