Dorchester Assizes (Shire Hall, Dorchester) - Site of Trial of Joseph Feltham & George Smith

Old Shire Hall, High West St, Dorchester
Old Location of Dorchester Assizes and Crown Court
[Copyright Nigel Mykura, reuse under Creative Commons Licence.]

Joseph Feltham and George Smith were tried for housebreaking at Dorchester Assizes on the 13th March 1850. At that time the courthouse was at the Old Shire Hall. This location was also the site of the court trial for the 'Tolpuddle Martyrs' in 1834. The actual courtroom used for my trial and also earlier for the 'Tolpuddle Martyrs' is shown below. The judge for our trial in 1850 was Thomas Noon Talfourd.


Old Shire Hall Courtroom

Tasmanian History Timeline 1850-1859

The following are a list of important dates in Tasmanian history dating from the decade of Joseph Wheeler Feltham's arrival in Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land.

• 1850 – First Van Diemen's Land secular high school built at the Domain in Hobart Town.
• 1850 – Hobart Town’s Constitution Dock is officially opened.
• 1851 – The Black Thursday bushfires occur in February 1851.
• 1851 – A major influenza epidemic hits Van Diemen's Land.
• 1851 – First election for 16 non-appointed members of Legislative Council.
• 1851 – Hobart Town’s Chamber of Commerce is established in 1851.
• 1851 – The first Australian inter-colonial cricket match is hosted in Launceston between Van Diemen's Land and Victoria.
• 1851 – Van Diemen's Land Darlington penitentiary abandoned on Maria Island.
• 1852 – Elections for first Hobart and Launceston municipal councils are held.
• 1852 – Gold discovered near Fingal
• 1852 – The convict ship the 'Equestrian' arrives in Hobart Town.
• 1853 – Arrival of last convict ship, the St Vincent.
  
• 1853 – Jubilee festival in Hobart celebrates the end of convict transportation.
• 1853 – The first Tasmanian adhesive postage stamp issued.
• 1854 – The Legislative Council wrote to Queen Victoria requesting that the name of the colony be changed to Tasmania.
  
• 1854 – Severe floods and fires hit Hobart.
• 1854 – The Mercury newspaper is founded as bi-weekly publication.
• 1855 – The first horse-drawn 'buses' (in reality they were large carts) began services - mainly on the Hobart city to nearby New Town route.
• 1855 – Henry Young becomes first vice-regal representative to have title of Governor of Van Dieman's Land - later Tasmania.
• 1856 – Name of Van Diemen's Land officially changed to Tasmania after grant of responsible self-government.
• 1856 – New two-house Parliament opens after elections, William Champ becomes colony's first Premier.
• 1856 – Norfolk Island transferred from Tasmanian to New South Wales control.
• 1857 – Hobart's municipal Incorporation
• 1857 – Hobart-Launceston telegraph line opens for first time.
  
• 1857 – Hobart starts using coal gas - Hobart streets get gas lighting.
• 1858 – Hobarts Marine Board has it's first meeting - becoming Australia's oldest port authority.
• 1858 – Hobart and Launceston councils form municipal police forces.
• 1858 – Council of Education established in Tasmania.
  
• 1858 – The Hobart Savings Bank founded in 1858.
• 1858 – Tasmanian Parliament passes Rural Municipalities Act
• 1859 – Hobart Town Council appoints a health officer.
• 1859 – The new Government House at Domain occupied for first time, by Governor Henry Young and Lady Young.

Joseph Wheeler Feltham - I Was A Parkhurst Boy

Parkhurst Boys Prison (Isle of Wight) early 1800s:

I was a member of a select group of boys known as the 'Parkhurst Boys'. We were found guilty of various crimes and sent to Parkhurst Boys Prison (Isle of Wight) for a period of rehabilitation, including learning a trade. Following this we were sent to the colonies of New Zealand, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and Norfolk Island; to be apprenticed to local settlers.

It is interesting that both myself and George SMITH, who was convicted with me for the same crime at Dorchester Assizes on the 13th March 1850, were both sent to Parkhurst Boys Prison, and then both transported on the 'Equestrian' to Van Dieman's Land. On leaving the Equestrian, I stayed in Hobart Town, whereas George SMITH was transferred to Campbell Town.

The other Parkhurst Boys transported with us on the 1852 'Equestrian' voyage to Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania), are listed below.

Carr, Samuel:
Age 17 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Manchester - 25th November 1849 (25.11.1849)
Crime - larceny
Notes - Listed as a vagrant.

Clark, Charles:
Age 15 years
Sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Tried Leeds - 30th November 1849 (30.10.1849)
Crime - stealing
Notes - Listed as a flax dresser with 9 previous convictions.

Cornivall, William:
Age 14 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Lewes - 23rd February 1848 (23.02.1848)
Crime - house breaking & larceny.
Notes - Trial year questionable.

Cowell, William:
Age 16 years
Sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Sentenced to 10y 16
Tried Bolton - 20th December 1849 (20.12.1849)
Crime - larceny
Notes - Listed as a bricklayer with 8 previous convictions

Cuthbertson, William:
Age 12 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Glasgow - 24th April 1849 (24.04.1849)
Crime - theft
Notes - Listed as having 7 previous convictions and with a father, mother, 2 brothers & 1 sister lately in prison.

Dancey, Alfred:
Age 14 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Gloucester - 29th March 1850 (29.03.1850)
Crime - manslaughter
Notes - Listed as able to read well and having previous convictions.

Davey, Samuel:
Age 16 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Cambridge - 20th July 1849 (20.07.1849)
Crime - robbery
Notes - Listed as a pick pocket who was frequently in jail.

Dun, William:
Age 14 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Bolton - 20th December 1849 (20.12.1849)
Crime - larceny
Notes - Listed as a comb maker with 3 previous convictions; refer - Parkhurst Register '105/11'; trial year is questionable

Feltham, Joseph:
Age 16 years
Sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Tried Dorchester - 13th March 1850 (13.03.1850)
Crime - burglary
Notes - Listed as a baker.

Glendenning, Alex:
Age 14 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Edinburgh - 28th January 1850 (28.01.1850)
Crime - theft
Notes - Listed as a rope & sail maker.

Hoy, John:
Age 16 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Glasgow - 28th August 1849 (28.08.1849)
Crime - theft
Notes - Listed as having learnt to weave in prison and having 5 previous convictions.

Johnson, Frederick:
Age 16 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Cambridge - 1st January 1849 (01.01.1849)
Crime - larceny
Notes - Listed as having previous convictions; trial year is questionable.

Kennedy, Michael:
Age 16 years
Sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Tried Hull - 5th January 1850 (05.01.1850)
Crime - stealing a canvas skylight cover.
Notes - Listed as a shoemaker with previous convictions.

Linto, Walter:
Age 13 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Bridgewater - 3rd July 1849 (03.07.1849)
Crime - housebreaking & theft.

Marlin, John:
Age 15 years
Sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.
Tried Chester - 22nd January 1849 (22.01.1849)
Crime - highway robbery.
Notes - aka [LYNN; HAMILTON]; listed as a weaver with 6 previous convictions.

Marsden, Charles:
Age 17 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Nottingham - 1st April 1850 (01.04.1850)
Crime - stealing
Notes - Listed as a lacemaker

McCafferty, William:
Age 15 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Edinburgh - 29th January 1850 (29.01.1850)
Crime - theft
Notes - Listed as a sailor with 4 previous convictions.

McCarthy, Justin:
Age 16 years
Sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Tried Middlesex - 6th March 1847 (06.03.1847)
Crime - stealing

McClure, John:
Age 15 years
Sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.
Sentenced to 14y 15
Tried Glasgow - 14th August 1849 (14.08.1849)
Crime - house breaking
Notes - Listed as a cotton spinner; age is questionable.

McKecknie, William:
Age 15 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Glasgow - 24th August 1849 ( 24.08.1849)
Crime - theft
Notes - Listed as having learnt to weave in prison and having 7 previous convictions

Newton, George:
Age 15 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Gloucester - 1st January 1850 (01.01.1850)
Crime - stealing
Notes - Listed as a fisherman.

Rolands, James:
Age 18 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Harwick - 3rd July 1849 (03.07.1849)
Crime - stealing a watch.

Smith, George:
Age 14 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Dorchester - 13th march 1850 (13.03.1850)
Crime - burglary
Notes - Listed as a pipemaker.

Stockwell, J.:
Age 16 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Central Criminal Court - 4th March 1850 (04.03.1850)
Notes - Crime - larceny

Taylor, George:
Age 17 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Clerkenwell - 23rd November 1847 (23.11.1847)
Crime - stealing boots etc.
Notes - Listed as having 10 previous convictions

Thompson, John:
Age 17 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Glasgow - 14th January 1850 (14.01.1850)
Crime - house breaking
Notes - Listed as a cloth capper.

Tompkins, Henry:
Age 18 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Worcester - 6th May 1849 (06.05.1849)
Crime - house breaking.

Ward, John:
Age 15 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Devon - 1st January 1850 (01.01.1850)
Crime - stealing
Notes - Listed as a vagrant and thief.

Warner, Thomas:
Age 16 years
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Tried Central Criminal Court - 4th March 1850 (04.03.1850)
Crime - stealing £5


Related Posts:
Joseph Wheeler Feltham 'Equestrian' 1852 Parkhurst Boy

The Blog Of Joseph Wheeler Feltham dec.

I am Joseph Wheeler Feltham dec., born Joseph Feltham 1831, originally from England, near Wimborne. I was tried and convicted of burglary at Dorchester on the 13th March 1850 and spent time in prison before being sent to Tasmania as a convict. I was shipped to Tasmania on the convict ship the Equestrian, leaving Plymouth on the 1st of September 1852 and arriving in Hobart on the 16th of December 1852. I was never to return to mother England.

This blog is about my life, ancestors, descendents and perceptions.