James Littlejohn (abt. 1810 - 1894)

Born about 1810 in Arbroath, Forfarshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (Kerns) Littlejohn — married 22 Nov 1862 in Franklin, Tasmania, Australia

Descendants

Died 1894 at about age 84 in Franklin, Tasmania, Australia

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Biography

James Littlejohn was born on 24 January 1811 in Arbroath, Angus, Scotland. He was the son of James Littlejohn and Elizabeth Petrie. ^[1]

James was a flax dresser when he was convicted and found guilty on his own confession for stealing brass from the Spinning Mill, Lindsay Street, Aleriecloss, St. Vigeans, Arbroath. Tried at High Court, Perth on 14 September 1829 he was sentenced to 14 years transportation.

He arrived in Van Diemens Land on 27 July 1830, having departed on 5 Mar 1830 from London on ship 'Sir Charles Forbes'. His goal report noted this as a second conviction, on the first he received one month for shoplifting, that he was of bad character, a boy of considerable mechanical genius. James, born in Arbroath, was 20 years of age on his arrival in Van Diemens Land. He was 4’10” tall, with a fair complexion, brown hair, dark hazel eyes, and he had lost the top joint of his thumb on his left hand.^[2]

1830 Muster: Public Works 1832-35 Musters: Assigned to Mr. Nightingale.

1836: TOL 30/7/1840: CP 1843: Free Certificate.

In the 1851 Van Diemens Land census James Littlejohn was head of his completed wood house holding five men, all mechanics and artificers, at Castle Forbes Bay on the Huon River.

James, 36, boatbuilder, married Mary Jane Gergison, 17, in St Mary’s Church, Huon, Franklin River. ^[3] No children were born to this marriage.

James, 40, widower, married Margaret Kerns, 25, on 22 November 1862 in St Mary’s, Franklin. ^[4]

James died aged 84 years on 12 February 1894 in Franklin, Tasmania. He was a boat builder, and he died of senile decay. The informant of his death was Jane Leitch, his daughter, of Hobart. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Scotlands People birth LITTLEJOHN JAMES Parents: JAMES LITTLEJOHN/ELIZABETH PETRIE M 24/01/1811 272/ 40 320 Arbroath. https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
2. ↑ Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office Convicts Appropriation List: CON27/1/4 http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON27-1-4,162 : Conduct Record: CON31/1/28 http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON31-1-28,206,14,F,60 : Description List: CON18/1/19 http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON18-1-19,237,133,F,60
3. ↑ Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office Marriages RGD37/1/14 no 447 Hobart 14 Feb 1855 Littlejohn, James Age: 36 = Gergison, Mary Jane Age: 17. https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD37-1-14$init=RGD37-1-14p190
4. ↑ TAHO marriage RGD37/1/21 no 97 https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD37-1-21p64j2k
5. ↑ Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office Deaths RGD35/1/63 no 253 Franklin 12 Feb 1894 Littlejohn, James Age: 84. https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD35-1-63$init=RGD35-1-63p79j2k