h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi everybody. I'm back at work now, hopefully a quieter day than yesterday . Just going to get 'tooled up'reasdy to unlock the for breakfast, tis always a lively time.
We have loads of ledgers here, in the records room, with details of the and their Majesty's shipped out to Oz. It's a wealth of info. Details of the 'trap door and short rope trips' as well. Some were quite tragic, but highly detailed entries of procedings.
19 are still 'resting' out the back by the kitchen, a bit longer in hieght than when they were last alive.

Hi nortirascal

Please look up George Ransley then if you can

Bob...

Happy to mate, be patient with me. Was he an Exeter gaol con, do you know?
As a little aside, the last public hanging at Exeter was that of Mary Ann Ashford. Mary had been sentenced to death for the murder of her husband. On the morning of the execution she was in such a state she had to be bound to a chair and carried to the scaffold erected on the existing gatelodge.
The executioner William Calcraft bungled the job. Tragically, Mary was very much alive after being put through the drop and struggled violently. Calcraft finished the job by swinging on her legs, much to the delight of the crowd numbering thousands who were watching from Northernhay Hights.
She is one of the 19 residing within the prison walls at the back of the current kitchen.

In July 1826 they were caught on the beach at Dover and a Midshipman, Richard Morgan was killed (shot by George Ransley). In October 1826 George Ransley was arrested at Aldington (in bed in a Pub) by the Bow Street Runners for of murder, but as it took place in the dark, the death sentence was converted to deportation. George Ransley was sent to work on a farm in Tasmania.

Canterbury or London I should think due to the location of the crime any ideas.

Bob, so far I have been unable to find anyone of that name being transported to Australia as a convict. Do you have any more details?



Peeb

Sorry mate no thats about it, byut he was subjuct of a programme on the TV introduced by Vic Reeves.

Here is an interesting link, Bob...http://www.smuggling.co.uk/gazetteer_se_14.html

George Ransley is mentioned in the article if you scroll down a bit.

It seems that we have started a little project amongst ourselves....




Peeb

Excellent link thanks. now a project thats interesting.

Even better,Bob..I have just discovered this link as well....

And read the other threads at the bottom. It seems there are others who have been seeking info. Maybe long lost relatives...

http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS/2006-02/1139036957



Peeb

His name also appears on this list....http://users.bigpond.net.au/convicts/page68.html

...this can lead anywhere. Should make an excellent entry for you, Bob



Peeb

Oh Lord!!!


Get him to finish his other projects first!!

Surely this project is much more important than housework, lil.....



Peeb

That's what I keep telling Hubby..