I had a surprise find the other day.  One of Emily Jane’s great-uncles was a Convict!

Details:

Jacob Wiltshire – Parents James and Jane Wiltshire (nee Evard).  Jacob was the brother of Michael Wiltshire, father of Jane Coleman (nee Wiltshire) ie. Jane’s Uncle.

Born:  1808  (Christened 13 March 1808 at Vernham Dean)

Convicted:  18 December 1830, at Southampton Gaol,  for ‘Riotous Assembly and sending threatening letters to Farmers’

Sentence:  Death, later commuted to transportation to Australia for the term of his natural life.

Departure:   2 May 1833 on the Sailing Ship ‘Captain Cook’.

Estimated arrival date in Sydney, NSW:  2 Jan 1834 (based on an estimated 8 month voyage)

Died:  15 Jan 1839, still a convict.  [Archives citation: 4/4549; Reel 690 page 227]   Aged 30 years.

Location:  District/Parish:   Bathurst, NSW.

Source of above information:  Australian Joint Copying Project.

The background to Jacob’s conviction can be found at:

The Swing Riots of 1830

From a brief internet search so far, it appears Jacob had requested a pardon, as many of the swing rioters transported to Australia had received pardons.  Unfortunately Jacob passed away before such a pardon was granted.