Researchers who have claimed this convict
There is currently one researcher who has claimed William Timothy Willis
Biographies
William Timothy WILLIS and Richard THAKE were each charged with stealing fourteen bushels of flour and three sacks, from the mill of James Guy, of Haverhill. Richard THAKE was also charged with stealing a large bunch of keys, from the shop of Leonard Albon, blacksmith, of Haverhill.
On 16 July 1830, these men were all convicted of larceny and both sentenced to be transported to Australia for a period of seven years with an extra seven years for Richard THAKE for double larceny.
They were taken from Bury St Edmunds Gaol to Portsmouth by road and transferred to HMS Leviathan, on the 12th August 1830 and are listed in the Convict Prison Hulks: Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849.
They were transferred to The John, which set sail from England on the 14th October 1830 and was at sea for a total of 106 days before arriving at Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) on 28th January 1831. She departed from Spithead with two hundred male convicts aboard. The master was one John R Norsworthy and the ship’s surgeon was Thomas B Wilson. It was Thomas Braidwood Wilson’s sixth assignment as surgeon superintendent of a convict ship. He wrote a journal in the days leading up to the voyage and whilst at sea, the following, an excerpt from his journal, describes what occurred before they set sail.
September 1830, I was appointed Surgeon and Superintendent of the transport ship John fitting out at Deptford to convey 200 convicts from the hulks at Portsmouth to Van Diemen's Land. On the 20 September a detachment of the 17th Regiment (consisting of 30; officers included) embarked to serve as a guard over the prisoners, 8 women and 9 children were attached to the party. On Saturday we sailed from Deptford and arrived at Spithead on the 1 October, early on the morning of the 5th I examined the prisoners (100 on board the York and 100 on board the Leviathan, who were under orders for transportation. On the 14th October we sailed from Spithead.
William Timothy WILLIS appeared in an article in the Hobart Town Courier on Friday 7th July 1837 announcing his certificate of freedom, the end of his sentences which meant that he was presented with the option of returning to England.
Richard THAKE was granted his convict pardon and ticket to leave at the end of his sentence. There is no record of his return to England. He must have made the decision to remain in Australia and in 1845 he was arrested and found guilty of the theft of a mare. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Submitted by Researcher (14181) on 26 May 2021
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There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/7, p.503
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