John Allen (abt. 1825)

Born about 1825 in Dublin City, Ireland

Biography

John Allen was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to Van Diemen's Land

John Allen was about 19 years old when he was tried in Dublin on 8 November 1844 and found guilty of the crime of larceny. He received a sentence of seven years transportation. John was imprisoned in Smithfield gaol in Dublin for a time^[1] and the Irish court records contain a copy of a petition that he lodged on his own behalf after conviction.^[2] His pleas fell on deaf ears and John was sent to Van Diemen's Land, arriving there on 9 June 1845 on board the Elizabeth & Henry,^[3]

John came from Dublin City and was working as a labourer at the time of conviction. He was a Protestant, was not married and could read and write. John was five feet seven and a half inches tall with fresh complexion, small oval head, brown hair and whiskers, grey eyes, large nose, small mouth and a long chin. It is possible he may have had some tattoos or similar style markings. John was transported for stealing wearing apparel from a house but he had been convicted twice before (stealing money and pickpocketing). His prison conduct record was good but the surgeon's report from on board ship was "indifferent".^[3]

John spent the first fifteen months of his sentence working in a gang based at Port Esperance. in December 1845 he was found guilty of disobeying orders and received a sentence of fifteen days solitary confinement. In 1846 John was assigned to a master in Darlington.^[4] In January 1848 it was recorded in his conduct record that John had been absent without leave and was guilty of misconduct in "uttering scandalous reports concerning his master's wife." John received one month's imprisonment and hard labour in chains for that offence. In March 1848 he received another sentence of four months working in chains for refusing to work. In October 1848 John was found guilty of neglecting his duty and was sentenced to one month's imprisonment and hard labour. In December 1848 he was found drunk and was sentenced to three days solitary confinement. ^[3] In 1849 John is recorded in the hospital at Launceston (reasons unknown).^[5]

John obtained his ticket of leave in December 1849 and obtained his freedom by servitude in November 1851.^[3][6]

In November 1852 John left Van Diemen's Land taking passage in steerage on a ship called the Clarence from Launceston to Melbourne.^[7] His whereabouts after this time is currently unknown.

Sources

1. ↑ "Ireland Prison Registers, 1790-1924," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KM32-2PB : accessed 1 June 2016), John Allen, 1844; 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.
2. ↑ National Archives of Ireland, Irish Transportation Database, PDF compilation database of records contained in the National Archives of Ireland; entry for John Allen page 30; Record reference code: TR 5, P 61; Record reference code 2: CRF 1845 A 1.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Archives of Tasmania, PDF original convict conduct record for John Allen.
4. ↑ New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849. Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 5, 19-20, 32-51); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Class: HO 10; Piece: 38.
5. ↑ New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849. Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 5, 19-20, 32-51); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Class: HO 10; Piece: 40.
6. ↑ The Cornwall Chronicle, 29 November 1851.
7. ↑ Archives of Tasmania, passenger record for John Allen, page 250.

See also:

• Archives of Tasmania, PDF original convict indent record for John Allen.