Crewe Group
An Act Granting Pardons to Selected ConvictsBy Les PickeringWe, in consideration of some circumstances humbly represented unto us, are graciously pleased to extend our mercy and grace unto them and to grant them our pardon for which they stand convicted. On condition they do remain and continue within Our Australian Territories whither they are about to be sent in pursuance of their respective sentences, for and during the remaining term of such respective sentence. Our Will and pleasure therefore is that you do take notice hereof and that upon of the before mentioned persons in our said Australian Territories, this our pardon shall have the effect of a free pardon within our said Australian Territories, and for so doing, this shall be your warrant. Given at Our Court of St. James, the Tenth Day of October 1844 in the Eighth year of the reign. To Our Trusty and Well Beloved Lt. Col. Sir George Gipps, Governor of Our Territories of New South Wales and Sir John E. Eardley Wilmot, Lt. Governor of Van Deimans Land and all those whom it may concern. Victoria R.I. The continuing transportation of convicts to Van Diemens Land and New South Wales during the late Eighteen Thirties was giving concern both in England and in the Australian Colonies. Prison reform was to include the training of young offenders to enable them to seek work on completion of their sentence. This training applied to prisoners sentenced to transportation. A new prison was built at Pentonville in London to house and train the offenders. Prisoners boarded the transports at Deptford or Portsmouth and were given their pardons when the ship cleared UK territorial waters. Conditions on board were much improved.
Chas. Baycroft, aged 17, a carpenter, William Goodwin, aged 17, a gardener, Chas. Peers and James Sturgess arrived Geelong, Victoria, August 29th 1847 on the ship Joseph Somes. Peers accepted a six months contract with A. & C. Birch of Loddon to work with sheep at £18-00-00 with rations. Sturgess contracted to Bradnight of Geelong at £10-00-00 plus rations. The Captain of the Joseph Somes reported to London all 200 plus convicts had left the ship and found employment within three days of arriving in Geelong. The scheme was introduced in 1844/45 and the name Pentonville exiles was applied to the men concerned. I could not find any instance of a man returning to England after the term of his sentence expired, but most men were given a complete free pardon within four years of arrival in Australia.
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