Michael Adams (abt. 1829)

Born about 1829 in Co Limerick, Ireland

Michael Adams was a convict after the Third Fleet.

Biography

Michael Adams was aged 19 when he was tried on 11 January 1848 in Limerick and found guilty of the crime of larceny from a shop. His sentence was seven years transportation^[1]. The records for Bridewell Prison in Dublin, however, state that Michael was 16 years of age^[2]. The prison records are slightly inconsistent, however, with one record implying that Michael came from Limerick but that the offence was committed at Smithfield, Dublin^[3].

Michael travelled to Australia on board the Blenheim arriving in Australia in 1851^[4]. The conduct record makes clear that the offence was stealing a roll of tobacco from a "J Arthur" of Limerick. Michael had never been convicted before although he had previously spent two weeks in prison before being discharged. The records stated that Michael was not married at the time he was sentenced. His native place was County Limerick and his trade was cooper. Michael was about 5 feet 7 inches tall, sallow complexion, dark brown hair, black eyebrows and hazel eyes. It is possible he had some kind of tattoo on his right arm.

On arrival in Tasmania Michael was deployed on to a work gang and also worked in May 1852 for Thomas Ashton in Adelaide Street, Hobart, for a while^[5]. He received a ticket of leave in September 1853 and a conditional pardon was approved in July 1854. The convict conduct record suggests Michael then settled in Launceston^[4] having received a certificate of freedom in 1855^[6].

Sources

1. ↑ National Archives of Ireland, Irish Transportation Database, PDF compilation database of records contained in the National Archives of Ireland; entry for John Adams, page 9. Record reference code: TR 7 p.103
2. ↑ "Ireland Prison Registers, 1790-1924," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KM3K-L55 : accessed 29 January 2016), Michael Adams, 1849; from "Irish Prison Registers 1790-1924," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Richmond (Bridewell), Dublin, Ireland, Richmond (Bridewell) Prison, item 3, book 1/13/42, images provided by FamilySearch International; FHL microfilm 2,356,827.
3. ↑ "Ireland Prison Registers, 1790-1924," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KM32-5DX : accessed 29 January 2016), Michael Adams, 1849; from "Irish Prison Registers 1790-1924," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Smithfield, Dublin, Ireland, Smithfield Prison, item 6, book 1/14/1, images provided by FamilySearch International; FHL microfilm 2,356,828.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Archives of Tasmania Online, PDF record of Michael Adams' conduct record
5. ↑ Tasmanian Colonial Convict, Passenger and Land Records. Various collections (30 series). Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office, Hobart, Tasmania; employment record for Michael Adams
6. ↑ The Cornwall Chronicle, dated 24 February 1855, confirmation of certificate of freedom issued to Michael Adams

See also:

• Archives of Tasmania, PDF original image of convict indent record for Michael Adams.
• New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia, Convict Pardons and Tickets of Leave, 1834-1859, Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 31, 52-64); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. entry for Michael Adams.
• Founders Storylines.com, page for Michael Adams.