Relationship to me in tree
Arthur William Hicks (grandfather) –>
Mother Minnie Plant (great grandmother) –>
Mother Dinah Skinner (gr gr grandmother)–>
Mother Mary Ashwell b 1817 (gr gr gr grandmother)–>
Father James Ashwell B 1796
James Ashwell records and documents
James was born in Langford, Bedfordshire, and in 1823. He was married to Mary Crowther, they had two children James (1816) and Mary (1817).
As I am living in Bedfordshire I thought I maybe able to access some local knowledge. This has not been the case, all the knowledge has been from the internet, although I did wander around the graveyards of the local churches.
In 1824 he was arrested for stealing pickled pig, as reported in this newspaper article:
This lead to him being transported for life, and was sent to Van Dieman’s Land, here are the details from the records published by Bedfordshire archives:
| Record ID: | 3173 |
| Commital Year: | 1823 |
| Reference Doc: | BLARS QGV10/1 |
| ID in Reference Doc: | 86 |
| Age: | 27 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 5 feet 5 inches |
| Hair Colour: | Light Brown |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Identifying Features: | This man was a notorious character and a terror to the neighbourhood he lived. |
| Residence(town/village): | Langford |
| Residence(county): | Bedfordshire |
| Offence: | Stealing Pork |
| Committed By: | Rev.J.Webster |
| When Committed: | 30/12/1823 |
| Trial Type: | Lent Assizes 1824 |
| Type of Gaol: | Bedford County Gaol |
| Sentence: | Death Transported for Life |
| How Disposed: | Removed to the Justitia Hulk at Woolwich |
| Discharge Date: | 24/04/1824 |
| General Remarks: | A bad fellow |
There are records on
Founders and survivors
| Calculated Age | 1796 (Estimated from age 28 at 1824) |
| Place Of Birth | Langford/Bedford |
| Conviction sentence | Life |
| Place Of Sentencing | Bedford |
| Tried Date | 10/Mar/1824 |
| Voyage Date: | 3 Jul 1824 |
| Sailed Days | 123 |
| Sailed From | Downs |
| Sailed Route | Rio |
| Ship Master | Jos. Blyth |
| Ship Name | Princess Charlotte |
| Ship Surgeon | Jn. Dobie |
| Arrived | 1824-11-09 |
| To Colony | Van Dieman’s Land – VDL (Tasmania) |
| Gaol Report | Attempted to escape |
| Body Marks | Natural Mark outer Corner left eye |
| Eyes | Grey |
| Family | Wife & 3 Ch at Biggleswade |
| Trade | Farmers Ploughman/labourer |
On 12 Oct 1836 the record states he was given a conditional pardon, but as yet I don’t know what happened to him in Tasmania.
His wife moved to Lincolnshire with her 2 children and appears with another man, stating to be his wife, and the family tree continues in England. Her child Mary married Samuel Skinner.