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Deserters that may have changed their names in South Australia
This is a project to identify Deserters from the Navy, Merchant Navy and any other situation that would cause an individual to change their name. The Police Gazette has announcements and descriptions of these persons.
Participation is desired, please request to join this project, if you can add to it in any way. You can copy original text, and then edit, if you make a mistake, simply "Cancel" the edit, do not save it, and start again.
Related Profiles
1837
Recorded as run at Holdfast Bay on the Form C lodged by the Katherine Stuart Forbes when it returned to London July 19 1838
James Hillary age 30 place of birth Breadport? Seaman ship in which he last served Bardaster date of joining ship 27nd (sic) June 1837 at London, time of leaving ship 1 November 1837 Thomas Elmore age 19 place of birth Chatham Apprentice ship in which he last served date and port of joining left blank time of leaving ship 6 November 1837 Israel Fletcher age 19 place of birth Whitby Apprentice ship in which he last served date and port of joining all left blank time of leaving ship 6 November 1837
1840
- 9 May RUNAWAY CONVICTS. —In the Resident Magistrate's Court, last week, Patrick Dog-berry was brought up on suspicion of being a runaway convict from Port Phillip. The prisoner admitted that he was not a free man— [?] [?] to an estate about 160 miles from Melbourne— but said that he had been forced away by Spage and Guess, two Port Phillip bushrangers who were apprehended here some weeks ago. He was ordered to be sent back to his master, accompanied by the statement he had made. Another person named John Smith, was brought up on a similar charge, but was remanded.— Chronicle.
1845
Thomas Wilson, from the detachment 96th regiment
- Height - 5’6”
- Complexion- sallow
- Hair- Dark brown
- Eyes -Hazel
- Date of Enlistment.- 12/8/1839
- Date of desertion- 25/12/1845
- Where born- Ormskirk, Lancashire
- Age- 27 yrs 5 mths
- Trade-labourer
- Dress- straw hat, duck trousers
- Marks- has mark of indian ink on the body and the letter “D” under left arm pit.
- GV Butler, Captain 96th regiment, Commanding Troops SA
1846
James McLaughlin, from the detachment 11th Regiment of Foot
- Height – 5’7”
- make or form – slender, head-proportionate, face-long and narrow, eyebrows-dark brown and heavy, nose-small, mouth-large, neck-long and small, shoulders-narrow, arms-rather long,
- hands, thighs, legs-proportionate, feet-large
- Hair – dark brown
- Eyes - grey
- Date of Enlistment -
- Date of desertion – 29/9/1846, place of desertion Adelaide
- Where born – St Annes, County Cork
- Age – 20 yrs
- Trade - labourer
- Dress – red jacket, black cloth trousers
- Marks -
1847
11th Regiment foot, stationed at Adelaide, SA, 6th March - Robert Webster, Captain
David Collins deserter from the 11th Regiment foot, stationed at Adelaide, SA, 6th March 1847
- Regimental No 1587
- Height – 5’ 6½”
- Make or Form – Stout
- Shoulders, arms, legs, feet – square; proportionate; proportionate; rather large
- Features - Round
- Hair – Dark brown
- Eyes – Grey Eyebrows – heavy
- Nose & Mouth – Flat; rather large
- Where born - Lancaster
- Age – 25 yrs 2 mths
- Trade - labourer
- Remarks – Marked with letter “D” under left arm. deserted in regimentals, which have since been found near the town of Adelaide
Joseph Denham, deserter from the 11th Regiment foot, stationed at Adelaide, SA, 6th March 1847
- Regimental No 1227
- Height – 5’ 6”
- Make or Form – proportionate
- Shoulders, arms, legs, feet – square; proportionate and marked with indian ink; proportionate, proportionate
- Features - long
- Hair – light brown
- Eyes – Grey Eyebrows – rather heavy
- Nose & Mouth – regular; rather large
- Where born - Lanark
- Age – 28 yrs
- Trade - weaver
- Remarks – The form of an Highlander marked on one arm, and several other marks of indian ink on both arms
John Gregg - deserter from the 11th Regiment foot, stationed at Adelaide, SA, 6th March 1847
- Regimental No 1680
- Height – 5’ 8½”
- Make or Form – slender
- Shoulders, arms, legs, feet – square; proportionate; small; small
- Features - long
- Hair – dark brown
- Eyes – Grey Eyebrows – arched
- Nose & Mouth – aquiline; small
- Where born - Dublin
- Age – 24 yrs
- Trade - labourer
- Remarks – No particular marks on this man. He speaks like a north of England man.
Stephen Watchman, born at Wivenhoe Essex 25 August 1815, seaman, height 5' 6 1/4", hair black, complexion dark, eyes brown, no marks, 1st went to sea as an apprentice 1834, when unemployed resides at Shadwell, ran at Adelaide 29 April 1847
Pte. Francis Tormey, deserter from Her Majesty’s 11th Regiment, stationed at Adelaide, SA (Deserted the night of the 31st October 1847).
- Number 10
- Height – 5’ 6½”
- Complexion – sallow
- Make or form – proportionate
- shoulders- square,
- Arms, legs, feet - proportionate
- Hair – dark brown
- Eyes – grey
- mouth - small
- Where born – Kells Town, county Meath
- Age – 21 yrs, 8 mths
- Trade – labourer
- Remarks – Supposed to have had on a blue shirt, white jacket, white trousers and blue cloth cap. Had been employed as an officer’s servant up to the time of his desertion
Geo. Fredk. Wilson, deserter from Her Majesty’s 96th Regiment, stationed at Hobart Town, V.D Land
- No – 1
- Height – 5’ 6”
- Complexion – fresh
- Make or form - proportionate
- Hair - brown
- Eyes - grey
- Date of Enlistment – 13/1/1843 at London
- Date of desertion - 17/8/1847
- Where born – St Marylebone, county Middlesex
- Age – 24 yrs, 7 mths
- Trade – labourer or sailor
- Marks - none
- Remarks – deserted in regimental undress, with black trousers, second time of desertion
- The man was apprehended on the first occasion at Adelaide in February or March 1844 ; supposed to have again embarked at V. D. Land for South Australia
1848
Thomas Reynolds, deserter from Her Majesty’s 11th Regiment, stationed at Adelaide, South Australia, 6th October 1848
- Height – 5’ 6½”
- Complexion – dark,
- make or form – proportionate,
- Hair - black
- Eyes - dark
- Date of Enlistment – 7th March 1844 Kilkenny
- Date of desertion – 6th October 1848
- Where born – Parish Phillipstown, Kings County
- Age - 23 yrs
- Trade - labourer
- Marks - none
- Remarks – Supposed to have deserted in plain clothes, got married in Adelaide to a person of the name of Bland
Michael Walsh, deserter from Her Majesty’s 11th Regiment, stationed at Adelaide, South Australia, 6th October 1848
- Height – 5’ 10”
- Complexion – fresh
- make or form- slender
- Hair - brown
- Eyes - grey
- Date of Enlistment – 24th February 1844 Kilkenny
- Date of desertion - 7th October 1848
- Where born – Parish Deansfort, County Kilkenny
- Age – 21 yrs 8 mths
- Trade - labourer
- Marks - none
- Remarks – Absent from Tattoo on the night of the 7th instant, got married in Adelaide to a person of the name of Melvill
- A Michael Walsh married Judith MULVEHILLE in 1848 in Adelaide.
- Michael Aalsh/Welsh circa1829 Danesfort Kilkenny
Lawrence Finnigan, deserter from Her Majesty’s 11th Regiment, stationed at Adelaide, South Australia
- Height – 5’8½”
- Complexion – sallow,
- make or form- slender
- Hair – dark brown
- Eyes - grey
- Date of Enlistment – 29th October 1842 Dublin
- Date of desertion – 25th September 1848
- Where born – Parish Castleblaney, County Monaghan
- Age - 23 yrs
- Trade - labourer
- Marks - none
- Remarks- Absent from Tattoo the night of the 25th September 1848, walks very slovenly, having the appearance of week limbs.
1851
- Thursday, 4th December. William Brown, one of the lads belonging to the Tory, was charged with being found hiding in the coal-hole of the Phantom, about to sail for Sydney. Ordered back to his ship.
- John Richard Cooker, a lad, was charged with deserting from the Sea Queen in April, 1850, during her former voyage. Captain Wood also claimed £18, for excess of wages paid to a substitute. Prisoner pleaded guilty, but denied having signed any articles. The Captain deposed on oath that the boy signed articles. He was willing to withdraw the information if the boy would work his passage home at a nominal rate of wages. Arranged accordingly.
- James Mace, one of the crew of the Sea Queen, was charged with refusing duty. The evidence showed that the man wanted shoes, but he said he was willing to go to work. Ordered on board.
1865
- Robert Bateman, for deserting bis wife; age 32 years, medium height and build, brown hair, high forehead, cut in one of his ears, caused by a cart running over him; supposed to have married another woman; was heard of in June last near Smithfield. Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904) 2 September 1865
- at Grumeracha, against Joseph Smith, otherwise Robert Bateman, for deserting his wife; (as above)
- at Port Adelaide warrents for: Herbert Reader, James Anderson, Frederick Smith, and Andrew Bowman, for deserting from the barque Norman Morrison;
- at Port Adelaide, against James Harris, for being absent without leave from the barque John Stephenson; TOPICS OF THE DAY. (1865, September 2). The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), p. 2.
1875
Merchant Navy
FROM THE SHIP " APPELLES," AT PORT ADELAIDE AUGUST '10 AND 21ST, 1875.
- John Smith, aged 23, 5ft. 5in. high, slight build, fair complexion, no whiskers or moustache, blind of the left eye ; Irish.
- John Lewis, aged 25, 5ft. 5in. high, medium build, fair complexion, no whiskers or moustache ; English.
- Leon Alleyne, aged 24, 5ft. 7in. high, thin build, boyish appearance, brown hair, no whiskers or moustache ; a Frenchman.
£3 each reward for all deserters from this ship.
FROM THE SHIP "DARRA," AT PORT ADELAIDE AUGUST 15, 1875.
- James Somerville, aged 19, 5ft. 6in. high, fair complexion, slight build, small fair whiskers and moustache.
FROM THE SHIP " PROGRESS," AT PORT ADELAIDE AUGUST 17, 1875.
- Neils Christensen, a Norwegian, aged 25, 5ft. 6in. high, black beard and whiskers, dark complexion, no moustache, face slightly swelled. £10 reward.
1935
- 25th October 1935 Frederick William Kruse: prohibited immigrant: deserted from the m.v. Columbia at Port Adelaide. Described as native of Argentine (of Danish extraction), born 1912 about 5 ft 8 inches tall, slim build, dark complexion, grey eyes, baker and cook by occupation, speaks Spanish and English.
Resources
- South Australian Gov Gazettes 1839 - 1918 PDF
- State Government Guides Police Gazette
- SA Lost and Found Database 1838 - 1920
This project is included in The History Link Project - Trace your ancesters! you can add projects here