One thing I hadn't looked at was George Faulkner's gaol admission record from when he was arrested in 1872 and imprisoned in Goulburn Gaol. But someone else did, and they put in on ancestry.com.
In the Remarks column there's a description of his distinguishing features:
"Right lower eyelid of ----- nose. Short scar over right eye and scar under right eye. Marks of punishment on his back. Back much curved. Scar on left wrist."
The marks of punishment were presumably from when he was flogged in Newcastle almost 50 years before, for stealing coal from the mines. Twenty-five lashes.
He was 70 when he was admitted to Goulburn Gaol and had shrunk from his original five feet, three and a half inches to just five feet. His complexion was still "Fresh".
The Education column records that he could read and write.
Showing posts with label Criminal Records. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Criminal Records. Show all posts
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Gladesville Hospital for the Insane
On 14 June 1873, only a few months after his release from Parramatta Asylum, George Faulkner was convicted before James Styles, JP, for using obscene language in Cork Street, Gundaroo, "towards William Affleck of Gundaroo, to wit You bloody Scotch bugger, I'll break your bloody door and smash your bloody machinery".
Sentenced to three months in Queanbeyan Gaol, he was again separately examined by two doctors as required before he could be committed to an asylum.
Andrew Morton, surgeon, wrote that he had observed "his violent conduct in the gaol... - his obscene language - & at one time praying, quoting scripture & immediately afterwards blaspheming - cursing, swearing and altogether behaving as a Maniac with homicidal tendencies - his constant headaches & vertigo with confusion of thought & the wildness of his manner & eyes".
The jailer and warder told Morton that their prisoner "is increasingly so violent - threatening them & his fellow prisoners - that he had to be put under restraint - & that his habits were very filthy - & his insomnia".
John Newton MD noted similar observations - "his violent language, his obscenity, his threats to commit murder if called nicknames, his headaches and vertigo and the wildness of his appearance and manner".
On 24 June 1873 Morton and Newton signed a medical certificate certifying George Faulkner "to be of unsound mind, and a proper object for reception into a Lunatic Asylum". He was transferred to Goulburn Gaol on 28 June and from there to Gladesville Hospital for the Insane.
George Faulkner died of pneumonia in Gladeville Hospital on Oct 14th 1875. The death certificate gave his age as 75 and stated that he was married and had two children, "further particulars unknown". He was buried in the hospital cemetery.
Sentenced to three months in Queanbeyan Gaol, he was again separately examined by two doctors as required before he could be committed to an asylum.
Andrew Morton, surgeon, wrote that he had observed "his violent conduct in the gaol... - his obscene language - & at one time praying, quoting scripture & immediately afterwards blaspheming - cursing, swearing and altogether behaving as a Maniac with homicidal tendencies - his constant headaches & vertigo with confusion of thought & the wildness of his manner & eyes".
The jailer and warder told Morton that their prisoner "is increasingly so violent - threatening them & his fellow prisoners - that he had to be put under restraint - & that his habits were very filthy - & his insomnia".
John Newton MD noted similar observations - "his violent language, his obscenity, his threats to commit murder if called nicknames, his headaches and vertigo and the wildness of his appearance and manner".
On 24 June 1873 Morton and Newton signed a medical certificate certifying George Faulkner "to be of unsound mind, and a proper object for reception into a Lunatic Asylum". He was transferred to Goulburn Gaol on 28 June and from there to Gladesville Hospital for the Insane.
George Faulkner died of pneumonia in Gladeville Hospital on Oct 14th 1875. The death certificate gave his age as 75 and stated that he was married and had two children, "further particulars unknown". He was buried in the hospital cemetery.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
George Faulkner in Manchester
A couple of months ago I asked a researcher in Lancashire to see if she could find out anything about George Faulkner's family in Manchester. She started by finding this entry for George Faulkner in the Lancaster Prison Records:
George Faulkner says he was born in Manchester, 18 years of age, 5’3” high, (?) complexion, gray eyes, short dark brown hair, two scars in his lip & chin, a large scar of his left wrist, 3rd finger right (?), Assizes 23rd March 1822. Death reprieved, transported for Life 11th May 1822 & put on board (?) at Chatham.
She also searched the Calendar of Crown Prisoners Ref. QJC/1, and in the Salford Hundred of Saturday 23rd March 1822, found this entry:
Event of Trial: Death
No.: 15
Name: George Faulkner
Age: 18
Committed by: Rev’d C.W. Ethelston, 22nd December 1821, charged with having assaulted Thomas Halliday on the highway at Salford and with having stolen from him, sixty pence, sixty halfpence and one knife, his property.
So George Faulkner was definitely born in Manchester, rather than just brought to trial there. But if he was 18 in March 1822, he would have been born in 1803 or 1804 rather than 1802, the year that appears on his convict records. Did he put his age back when he was arrested?
A search of the Manchester Parish Register at the Lancaster Records Office found no baptismal entry for a George Faulkner born 1801-1805. The entries may not be complete though, and some of the entries are indecipherable.
On familysearch.org, there's a George Faulkner who was christened at Manchester Cathedral on 7 November 1802. His parents were George and Ann. These may be the George Faulkner and Ann Winterbottom who married on 31 December 1792 at Manchester Cathedral.
The next step is a search of the original Parish Registers at Manchester Central Library.
Lancaster Prison Records Ref. QGL/2 MF1/36
Calendar of Crown Prisoners (Ref. QJC/1, Salford Hundred of Saturday 23rd March 1822
George Faulkner says he was born in Manchester, 18 years of age, 5’3” high, (?) complexion, gray eyes, short dark brown hair, two scars in his lip & chin, a large scar of his left wrist, 3rd finger right (?), Assizes 23rd March 1822. Death reprieved, transported for Life 11th May 1822 & put on board (?) at Chatham.
She also searched the Calendar of Crown Prisoners Ref. QJC/1, and in the Salford Hundred of Saturday 23rd March 1822, found this entry:
Event of Trial: Death
No.: 15
Name: George Faulkner
Age: 18
Committed by: Rev’d C.W. Ethelston, 22nd December 1821, charged with having assaulted Thomas Halliday on the highway at Salford and with having stolen from him, sixty pence, sixty halfpence and one knife, his property.
So George Faulkner was definitely born in Manchester, rather than just brought to trial there. But if he was 18 in March 1822, he would have been born in 1803 or 1804 rather than 1802, the year that appears on his convict records. Did he put his age back when he was arrested?
A search of the Manchester Parish Register at the Lancaster Records Office found no baptismal entry for a George Faulkner born 1801-1805. The entries may not be complete though, and some of the entries are indecipherable.
On familysearch.org, there's a George Faulkner who was christened at Manchester Cathedral on 7 November 1802. His parents were George and Ann. These may be the George Faulkner and Ann Winterbottom who married on 31 December 1792 at Manchester Cathedral.
The next step is a search of the original Parish Registers at Manchester Central Library.
Lancaster Prison Records Ref. QGL/2 MF1/36
Calendar of Crown Prisoners (Ref. QJC/1, Salford Hundred of Saturday 23rd March 1822
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Parramatta lunatic asylum
George Faulkner's admission records:
"Nov 11th, 1872:
This man is a native of England, a Protestant: 70 years of age and by trade a Blacksmith. Admitted by Warrant from Goulburn Gaol Oct 28th. Is serving a sentence of three months for "indecently exposing his person", which sentence expires Nov 2nd 1872.
"On admission he looked ill - fatigued, badly clothed, and ill-nourished. At once desired to write letters to his wife and family, as he had property at stake of great value. These are false delusions as he is said in the "Medical Certificate" to be "homeless and destitute". Eats well, sleeps well, is cleanly in person and habits. Suffers from Senile Dementia, aggravated by long periods of intemperance. Is in fair bodily health.
"Dec 1st, 1872: Continues in good bodily health and is somewhat mentally improved.
"Jan 2nd, 1873: Is in good health, and mentally improved. I think if it could be ascertained that this man has relations willing to receive him he might be discharged to their care.
"Jan 30th, 1873: A letter received from his son expressing his willingness to receive his father when fit to be discharged.
"Feb 3rd, 1873: Continues in good health: and much improved mentally.
"Feb 20th, 1873: Should be brought before the Board. No answer has been received from his son who was informed that his father could be given up to him after the Board Meeting in February.
Less than three months after his admission, George Faulkner "being of perfectly sane mind" was "discharged cured" from Parramatta Asylum on February 24th 1873.
"Nov 11th, 1872:
This man is a native of England, a Protestant: 70 years of age and by trade a Blacksmith. Admitted by Warrant from Goulburn Gaol Oct 28th. Is serving a sentence of three months for "indecently exposing his person", which sentence expires Nov 2nd 1872.
"On admission he looked ill - fatigued, badly clothed, and ill-nourished. At once desired to write letters to his wife and family, as he had property at stake of great value. These are false delusions as he is said in the "Medical Certificate" to be "homeless and destitute". Eats well, sleeps well, is cleanly in person and habits. Suffers from Senile Dementia, aggravated by long periods of intemperance. Is in fair bodily health.
"Dec 1st, 1872: Continues in good bodily health and is somewhat mentally improved.
"Jan 2nd, 1873: Is in good health, and mentally improved. I think if it could be ascertained that this man has relations willing to receive him he might be discharged to their care.
"Jan 30th, 1873: A letter received from his son expressing his willingness to receive his father when fit to be discharged.
"Feb 3rd, 1873: Continues in good health: and much improved mentally.
"Feb 20th, 1873: Should be brought before the Board. No answer has been received from his son who was informed that his father could be given up to him after the Board Meeting in February.
Less than three months after his admission, George Faulkner "being of perfectly sane mind" was "discharged cured" from Parramatta Asylum on February 24th 1873.
"Indecently exposing his person"
On 3 August 1872, a few months before he turned seventy, George Faulkner was committed to Queanbeyan Gaol for three months after pleading guilty, under the Vagrant Act, before Joseph Styles and Arthur Affleck, JPs, of “indecently exposing his person” in a public street, namely Cork Street, Gundaroo on 2 August.
The Yass Courier reported the story, omitting details of the offence: “On Saturday last George Falconer [sic], better known as Old Blocker, was brought before Messrs. Styles and Affleck under the Vagrant Act. The unfortunate was in the horrors of drink, and as this was his second offence, he was sent to prison at Queanbeyan for three months.”
On 16 September, he was transferred to Goulburn Gaol where he was examined separately by two doctors, William Hayley and Selby Norton.
George Faulkner, Hayley found, was "restless", "talked a great deal of nonsense" and "labors under hallucinations and illusions". Selby added that "he is constantly asking for a warrant for persons who have wronged him". Both noted that their patient believed he had a hole in his chin which "he had stopped up with bread". His gaoler reported that he was "disgustingly filthy in his habits", a reference, perhaps, to masturbation.
Hayley wrote that his patient "believes that he has a house, wife and family and is the possessor of property, whereas he is homeless and destitute".
Certified insane by the two doctors, "George Faulkner, blacksmith, late of Gundaroo" was transferred from Goulburn Gaol to the lunatic asylum at Parramatta on 14 October.
Colonial-Secretary's Correspondence (72/7893)
Yass Courier, 9 August 1872
The Yass Courier reported the story, omitting details of the offence: “On Saturday last George Falconer [sic], better known as Old Blocker, was brought before Messrs. Styles and Affleck under the Vagrant Act. The unfortunate was in the horrors of drink, and as this was his second offence, he was sent to prison at Queanbeyan for three months.”
On 16 September, he was transferred to Goulburn Gaol where he was examined separately by two doctors, William Hayley and Selby Norton.
George Faulkner, Hayley found, was "restless", "talked a great deal of nonsense" and "labors under hallucinations and illusions". Selby added that "he is constantly asking for a warrant for persons who have wronged him". Both noted that their patient believed he had a hole in his chin which "he had stopped up with bread". His gaoler reported that he was "disgustingly filthy in his habits", a reference, perhaps, to masturbation.
Hayley wrote that his patient "believes that he has a house, wife and family and is the possessor of property, whereas he is homeless and destitute".
Certified insane by the two doctors, "George Faulkner, blacksmith, late of Gundaroo" was transferred from Goulburn Gaol to the lunatic asylum at Parramatta on 14 October.
Colonial-Secretary's Correspondence (72/7893)
Yass Courier, 9 August 1872
Friday, April 16, 2010
"Sixty pence, sixty half-pence, and one knife..."
"George Faulkner and Richard Bond have been committed to our Castle, since our last, charged with having assaulted Thomas Holliday, on the King's highway, at Salford, and violently stolen from his person sixty pence, sixty half-pence, and one knife, his property" – The Lancaster Gazette and General Advertiser, 29 December 1821
On 23 March 1822, George Faulkner and Richard Bond were sentenced at Lancaster Assizes to "to be severally hanged by the neck until they be dead" for highway robbery.
On 24 April, Justice John Bayley, Chief Justice, commuted their sentences to transportation for life. On that day, 47 men and two women sentenced at Lancaster Assizes for highway robbery, burglary, stealing in a dwelling house, forgery, horse-stealing, stealing a heifer and sheep-stealing had their death sentences commuted.
Richard Bond was transported to Van Diemen's Land on the Morley. On 31 July 1831, in Hobart, his name appears on a list of convicts granted tickets of leave.
The Lancaster Gazette and General Advertiser, for Lancashire, Westmorland, &c., 29 December 1821, Issue 1073
[no title] DDCM 1/20 24 Apr. 1822, Lancashire Records Office
One Search database (http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au), State Library of Queensland
Hobart Town Courier, 30 December 1831, p. 2
On 23 March 1822, George Faulkner and Richard Bond were sentenced at Lancaster Assizes to "to be severally hanged by the neck until they be dead" for highway robbery.
On 24 April, Justice John Bayley, Chief Justice, commuted their sentences to transportation for life. On that day, 47 men and two women sentenced at Lancaster Assizes for highway robbery, burglary, stealing in a dwelling house, forgery, horse-stealing, stealing a heifer and sheep-stealing had their death sentences commuted.
Richard Bond was transported to Van Diemen's Land on the Morley. On 31 July 1831, in Hobart, his name appears on a list of convicts granted tickets of leave.
The Lancaster Gazette and General Advertiser, for Lancashire, Westmorland, &c., 29 December 1821, Issue 1073
[no title] DDCM 1/20 24 Apr. 1822, Lancashire Records Office
One Search database (http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au), State Library of Queensland
Hobart Town Courier, 30 December 1831, p. 2
Saturday, April 10, 2010
"You bloody Scotch bugger..."
In 1873, William Affleck was a big man in Gundaroo, the owner of the Caledonian Store, licensee of the Royal Hotel (now Grazing Restaurant, above) and son of Arthur Affleck, one of the JPs who'd sentenced George Faulkner to three months in Queanbeyan Gaol the previous year.
On 14 June, George Faulkner abused William Affleck on the main street: "You bloody Scotch bugger, I'll break your bloody door and smash your bloody machinery'".
What sort of machinery? Why smash it?
The Royal was a staging post for Cobb & Co. According to its National Trust plaque, the hotel's stone stables "once served as a blacksmith's shop for travellers enjoying the Royal's accommodation".
Was George Faulkner the blacksmith? Did Affleck owe him money? Had he sacked him?
The Yass Courier reported the outcome: "On Saturday last, George Faulkner, better known as Old Blocker, was brought up at the Police Court, before Messrs. Styles and Affleck, under the Vagrant Act, for using obscene language in a public place, and was sent to Queanbeyan Gaol for three months."
Yass Courier, Tuesday 24 June 1873
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