William Ashford, An incorrigible lad 1792
William Ashford: An incorrigible lad 1792 by Cathy Dunn
NSW Judge Advocate David Collins wrote about the passengers aboard the Atlantic for the voyage to Norfolk Island which departed Port Jackson on 19 Aug 1792, as consisting of two marine settlers, 22 male convicts, three natives and a free women (wife of a convict) and that “incorrigible lad who had been drummed out of the New South Wales corps”. Collins described some of them as having a very bad character, with others who had attempted to escape the colony, with some even who had said to be flax dressers, in addition to a few artificers who Collins believed that they would be useful on Norfolk island.[1]
The incorrigible lad was William Ashford, who had enlisted into the NSW Corps on 15 May 1791 in England.[2] He most likely arrived in NSW per Pitt Feb 1792. Ashford was discharged from the NSW Corps for an unknown matter/offence in Sydney on 6 Apr 1792.[3] One can presume that his discharge included a military sentence of transportation to Norfolk Island, as Ashford is recorded in the Norfolk Island Victualling Book 1792-1796 on his arrival, classified as a convict on 26 Augt 1792. Less than a month later Ashford departed Norfolk Island for Port Jackson aboard the Atlantic on 21 September 1792.[4]
His departure is evident in Norfolk Island Commandant Phillip Gidley King’s report on the ship’s passengers of the Deputy Surveyor, eight marine settlers who had given up their ground, twenty men and twelve women whose terms of transportation were expired, twelve convicts, prisoners[5] Ashford along with convicts John Bennett, John Hitchcock, John Smith, James Fletcher who had been found guilty by the three magistrates had been sent back to Port Jackson along with NSW Corps Thomas Clyde for stealing from the stores. Bennett, Hitchcock, Smith also had arrived on Norfolk Island per Atlantic Aug 1792. [6]
Ashford on 18 Mar 1793 appeared before the Criminal Court in Sydney on the charge of “with force of arms at Toongabbie” for stealing clothing and other items from convicts, pleading not guilty. He was found guilty and sentenced to 300 lashes with a cat of Nine Tails, however, he was pardoned on account of his age of 15 years.[7] On 23 Apr 1796 Ashford now aged 18 years was charged with the burglary of house of William Baker in March. The Criminal Court found him not guilty of burglary but guilty of stealing to the value of eight pence and he was sentenced to seven years hard labour at Norfolk Island. Both Collins and George Barrington referred to Ashford on this occasion as James Ashford.[8]
So, Ashford finds himself once again back on Norfolk Island travelling aboard the Marquis Cornwallis with another five male convicts and two female convicts, arriving on 21 May 1796 and been placed on stores, classified as a convict to serve out his colonial sentence of hard labour.[9]
The fate of Ashford is not known, research analysis has shown that he most likely died on Norfolk Island between 1797 and 1801, at time period were there are a limited number of surviving historical records.
[1] David Collins, An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, vol.1.
[2] NSW Corps Attestations, TNA, WO12/11028: 14.
[3] NSW Corps Muster Books and Pay Lists, TNA, WO12/11028: 24.
[4] Norfolk Island Victualling Book 1792-1796 (NIVB), MLA1958: 38b.
[5] Philip Gidley King, Journal of Philip Gidley King, 1791-1796, NLA, MS70: 46.
[6] Journal of Philip Gidley King, 1791-1796, NLA, MS70: 38 – 39; NIVB MLA1958: 38b; 39a.
[7] Court of Criminal Jurisdiction, SANSW, 5/1147A: 315 – 319; George Barrington, A Sequel to Barrington’s Voyage to New South Wales, C. Lowndes London,1801.
[8] Court of Criminal Jurisdiction, SANSW, 5/1147A: 91 – 93; David Collins, An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 1; George Barrington, A Sequel to Barrington’s Voyage to New South Wales, C. Lowndes London,1801.
[9]Journal of Philip Gidley King, 1791-1796, NLA, MS70: 273; NIVB, MLA1958: 42a.
