Nelson Selmes (abt. 1807)

Born about 1807 in Rye, Sussex, England

Ancestors

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Biography

Nelson Selmes migrated from England to Tasmania.

Nelson was born in 1807 and baptised 27th May 1807 at Rye, Sussex, England, the son of Simon Selmes and Ann Selmes^[1].

In 1830, Nelson was tried at the Michaelmas Sessions at Sussex for larceny but was found not guilty and acquitted^[2]

Nelson was again tried in 1833 for receiving stolen goods at the Easter sessions at Sussex and was convicted on the 10th April 1833^[3] and sentenced to 7 years transportation^[4]

Nelson was described as being 5ft 5 inches tall, with dark complexion, a round head, black hair & whiskers, long visage, retreating forehead, black eyebrows, brown eyes with a large mouth & chin and pock marked. He was occupied as a baker^[5].

He departed from England on the 21st September 1833 destined for Tasmania (Van Dieman's Land) aboard the "Southworth"^[3]

On his arrival, Nelson was assigned as a servant to Mr. Charles Higgins. In 1834 Nelson made a complaint against Charles Higgins for not supplying him with sufficient food and bedding^[6] and was returned to government for assignment to some other service^[7].

Nelson was granted, or became eligible to apply for his ticket of leave in 1838^[8] but did not receive his certificate of freedom until 1840.

Nelson was a rebellious young man with his record of conduct showing he was constantly in trouble until his certificate of freedom.

Having been "transported for receiving stolen goods. Gaol report bad, cut off his iron with intent to escape, indicted before for larceny. Hulk report Orderly. Single. Stated this offence stealing a firkin of butter. Once on suspicion of stealing a saddle. Tried & acquitted. Single. Surgeon's report orderly"^[9].

29th September 1834: Insubordination 7 days imprisonment and hard labour to be worked at New Town 26th January 1835: Absent from muster 19th March 1835: baker : Disobedience of him having delivered to Mr. Archers Groom Flour instead of Bread. To be removed to P W Ross Bridge for 12 months 1st July 1835: Insolence and neglect of Duty: 35 lashes 24th August 1836: Being an accessory to a felony, strong suspicion is attached to this man, there are no grounds to convict him. Recommended him being removed to some other ? to break his connections. 3 months probation Cambell Town 7th January 1837: Improper conduct. 2 months to a ? and after sent to an ? gang Spring Ponds 21st January 1839: Drunk and escaping from a constable 15th April 1839: Fighting in a public street . One months ? T{icket} L{eave} suspended 29th October 1839: Drunk fined 5s^[9]

Nothing further is known of Nelson after he received his certificate of freedom in 1840.

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J989-K9G : 10 February 2018, Nelson Selmes, ); citing Rye, Sussex, England, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,067,289.
2. ↑ "England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 entry of Nelson SELMES 1830" 1830 Sussex Image available at Ancestry.co.uk Accessed 19th April 2018
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "Australian Convict Transportation Registers – Other Fleets & Ships, 1791-1868 (Southworth) entry for Nelson SELMES" Pg. 228. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk Accessed 19th April 2018
4. ↑ "England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 entry of Nelson SELMES 1833" 1833 Sussex Image available at Ancestry.co.uk Accessed 19th April 2018
5. ↑ "Tasmania Convict records" CON18/1/20 Page 220 Image available at Tasmanian Government LINC Accessed 19th April 2018
6. ↑ "The Colonist and Van Diemen's Land Commercial and Agricultural Advertiser (Hobart Town, Tas. : 1832 - 1834) Tue 4 Mar 1834 Pg. 3. Image available at Trove Newspaper Archive National Library of Australia Accessed 19th April 2018
7. ↑ " Colonial Times (Hobart, Tas. : 1828 - 1857) Tue 8 Apr 1834 Pgs 7 & 8. Image available at Trove Newspaper Archive National Library of Australia Accessed 19th April 2018
8. ↑ "The Hobart Town Courier (Tas. : 1827 - 1839)" Fri 1 Jun 1838 Pg. 1 Image available at Trove Newspaper Archive National Library of Australia Accessed 19th April 2018
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "Tasmanian Convict Conduct report of Nelson SELMES" CON31/1/40 Entry 1809 Image available at Tasmanian Government LINC Accessed 20th April 2018