Researchers who have claimed this convict
There is currently one researcher who has claimed James Hay
- Researcher (Catherine Westerland)
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Biographies
My convict Great Great Great grandfather James was born on 16th August 1810 to Alexander, a Shipwright, and his wife Margaret Hay in the parish of Woolwich, County Kent, England. James was baptised ten days later on 26th August 1810 at Scots Church in Woolwich. At the age of nineteen years, James was tried at the Kent Quarter Sessions on 15th July 1830 for the crime of ‘larceny, before convicted felony’ and was sentenced to fourteen years transportation. On 27th July 1830 James was received from Maidstone onto the prison hulk Retribution in Woolwich for the offence of ‘stealing a leg of mutton’. James Hardy Vaux wrote detailed descriptions in his memoirs about the difficult conditions the convicts endured on board the Retribution.
On 17th October 1830 James departed from Sheerness on board the convict ship Lady Harewood with 215 other male convicts. Richard William Stonehouse was the Ship’s Master and the Surgeon Superintendent was James Ternan, who wrote in the ship’s journal 'the appearance of scurvy was the consequence of confinement and damp. A visit for one day to Port Praya and the purchase of fruit and meat there together with a favourable change in the weather enabled me to resort to more active remedial measures in the way of exercise. Some of them were obstinate until the cheering exercise of the boxing gloves was introduced and to it they yielded most magically'.
On 4th March 1831 the Lady Harewood arrived in Sydney Cove in New South Wales, after a voyage of 138 days and two deaths on board. At the time of arrival James was a 20 year old single Protestant who could read and write. James’ native place was Maidstone (Kent), his trade was ‘Brickmaker complete’ and his former conviction was one month. James’ height was 5 feet and 7 inches, his complexion was ‘ruddy, freckled’, his hair was dark brown and his eyes were dark grey. James had the following tattoos ‘man, woman, JHMW on upper part right arm, sun, stars, anchor and fish on lower part right arm, JW, heart, darts and fishes on left arm’.
James was admitted to Newcastle Gaol on 13th October 1831 because of ‘his master Major Sullivan having no agent to receive him from hospital’. It was noted that James’ behaviour in gaol was ‘orderly’ and that he was disposed of to Mr Neville on 15th October 1831. In 1832 James employer remained Major Sullivan and his residence was at Williams River. By early 1837 James was assigned to another Master by the name of Edward Smith Hall and he was stationed in the District on Inverary.
On 26th April 1837 James obtained a Ticket of Leave which allowed him ‘to remain in the District of Goulburn’. Several months later, on 7th August 1837, James was granted permission to marry Bridget Flynn, who was also a convict. James was aged 26 years and stated that he was a ‘Bachelor’ and Bridget was 25 years old and a ‘Spinster’. James and Bridget were married on 23rd August 1837 in Sutton Forest, New South Wales, and their marriage was registered in Bungonia, Goulburn, Lake Bathurst, New South Wales.
On 25th February 1843 James was granted a Ticket of Leave passport which allowed him ‘to remain at Maneroo in the service of Mr Mahers for 12 months’. Three days later, on 28th February 1843, James was granted an Absolute Pardon. The following year James was granted a Depasturing Licence from 1st January to 30th June 1844 for the sum of five pounds.
On 18th September 1845 James was granted a Certificate of Freedom. At this time James was a 35 year old ‘Brickmaker' who was 5 feet and 8 1/2 inches tall and had a ruddy complexion, dark hair and grey eyes. James had ‘eyebrows partially meeting, two scars centre of forehead, another scar over inner corner of right eyebrow, man and woman on upper arm, seven stars, half moon, anchor and fish on lower part of right arm, JW, heart pierced with two darts and two fishes lower part of left arm. Blue ring middle and third fingers of left hand’.
Submitted by Researcher (Catherine Westerland) on 7 June 2017
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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
All of the information in this biography was sourced from convict records re. James Hay obtained from the National Archives in England and the State Records of New South Wales in Australia.
Submitted by Researcher (Catherine Westerland) on 7 June 2017
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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. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/7, p.509
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