Researchers who have claimed this convict
There are currently 2 researchers who have claimed Charles Waldron
- Researcher (Denise Lay)
- Researcher (Heidi Bell)
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Biographies
Charles Waldron is my 3 x great Uncle.
Charles Waldron was born around 1826 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England the eldest of 6 children born to Charles and Ann Waldron (nee Lawley).
Their second child William Waldron (my 2 x great grandfather) was a Parkhurst Boy exiled to Port Phillip Bay in Victoria on the “Thomas Arbuthnot” in 1847.
On the 30th March 1844 after being convicted for burglary at Warwick Assizes for Warwick Division, Charles Waldron was sentenced to 10 years.
The 7th June 1845 saw him depart on the “Marion” to complete his sentence, arriving in Hobart, VDL on the 16th September 1845 along with 299 other convicts.
Charles worked as bricklayer and would most probably have lived off-site and not in the penitentiary, learning to make sandstone bricks as well as helping to construct the many buildings still visible today.
On the 29th December 1848 Charles, a Protestant, married a convict by the name of Eliza Wilson (arrived "Sea Queen" 29th August 1846) in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Old Hobart Town. However, it appears the marriage only lasted 4-5 years with no records located to indicate they had children.
His Conditional Pardon was granted in Hobart on the 25th March 1851 with records indicating he had not been in much trouble.
Charles Waldron travelled on the "Emma Prescott” from Hobart to Melbourne on the 17th May 1852 and returned to Hobart aboard the same ship on the 22nd July 1853, this being a good number of months after his wife Eliza’s pardon. He again returned to Melbourne, with records suggesting Eliza Wilson may have also gone on the same vessel.
Little is known or was found on what Charles did for the first 16 years after his CP. It is thought he followed the Victorian gold rush.
In July 1878 Charles selected a 20a allotment in Leichardt near Marong.
When Charles died on the 31st August 1885 in Marong, Victoria, he had been at Bullock Creek Diggings for 16 years. His inquest stated he had no family in the colony, death as a result of chronic bronchitis over many years, was a native of Birmingham and had been a gun percussioner.
There were a number of witness statements taken, including from a storekeeper, a doctor, some who had known Charles for 12 years. All spoke well of him, but appears his health was poor, and for this reason they looked out for him.
One particular statement made by John Houston, a miner on the Bullock Creek Diggings revealed: (part extract) "Have known Charles Waldron for 16 years, he was my good mate. A quiet man who was a miner, but a person of little means or possessions. He was an old colonist, but not of this colony. He was born in Birmingham and was by trade a gun smith and had no family in the colony."
Despite having very little, Charles Waldron had pre-paid 10 pounds for a plot in the Presbyterian Section of the Marong Cemetery. He is in an unmarked grave.
Charles lived about 33 years after his Conditional Pardon and appears to have led a quiet and solitary life.
Family folklore says Charles and his brother William reunited in Victoria after his CP, but they had a fallout over religion. They never spoke or saw each other again. It was assumed it had been over the 1848 marriage.
CONVICT LOVE TOKEN
Something very special was discovered during the research which has been verified. A love token made by Charles Waldron.
These tokens were made in England and sent or given to loved ones by a prisoner upon their conviction or prior to transportation, as a means to keep their own memory alive after departure.
The token reads:
Side 1
From Charles Waldron aged 19 years, September 28, and I got 10 years, March 30 1844
Side 2
A token of love to Mary Price aged 19, April 8, So thats all now 1844.
The National Museum Australia some years ago purchased a number of convict tokens at a London auction, including the one made by Charles Waldron.
Information: Trove Newspapers, Convict Records, PROV Death Inquests, NMA, family hist
Submitted by Researcher (Denise Lay) on 16 October 2021
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Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/14, p.309
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