John (Royle) Riley, Convict "Eliza" 1822

GEDCOM Note

No record of a marriage between Mary Ann and John Riley/Royle has ever been found. Mary Ann's death certificate lists only one marriage spouse John Riley and John' s Certificate lists his name as both Riley and Royle.

John was 40 when he married.

GEDCOM Note

John Royle was tried at the Lent Assizes in Lancaster 23rd March 1822 for breaking and Entering the house of Charles Grenville Smart with intent to steal. He had an accomplice - John Holland. He was sentenced to death but was given a reprieve and transported to Australia for the 'period of his natural life (PRO 2767 - 1822 p.559)

He was 18 years of age, a groom and was described as being five feet two and a quarter inches in height, pale complexion, black hair and grey eyes. His native place was Eccles. There are 3 Eccles in England, one in Kent, one of the Borders with Scotland and one in LANCERSHIRE. More than likely the latter is the country he come from. They were three others tried and given "life" on the same day at the Lancaster Assizes and one wonders if they were all convicted of the same crime.

John Royle arrived at Port Jackson in Australia aboard the "Eliza 1" on the 22nd November 1822 (Assignment Reel No 6009 4/3506 p.473 Reel 1033 Assignment/distribution. Surgeon Superintendant's journal PRO Reel 3194 PRO Reel 88 pp 187-195 convict Transportation Register, lists :Eliza's" convicts names, where and when tried and sentence. Source Ian Brothers of Grenfell)

The ship was a 2nd class, 2 decked Vessell built in 1806. it sailed from Sheerness 20th July 1822. The master was James Hunt and the Surgeon was Mc Rae There were no deaths on the voyage which took 125 days.

"The Convict Ships" by Charles Bateson on page 74 re convict ships in general..... only one set of keys to the prison doors was furnished. Rai's journal.... In the Eliza in 1822, the second mate having just locked up the prison, was swept overboard and the keys went with him. The only way the prison doors could be unlocked, was by 'picking the lock. There were 160 male prisoners on board as well as stores for the colony. Source: Ian Brothers. He was not considered by the Surgeon to be deserving of receiving religious books, given to those who were well behaved. There was no mention of a John Royle in the "Eliza" Surgeon journal. He was assigned to a Mr. Chippendale of Minto.

On 7th June 1825 John Royle appeared in the Liverpool court. The charge is unknown at this stage, but the following information was found in the Colonial Secretary's papers/ Reel 6019 - 4/3864 ppp522-3. Calling: Baker Original Crime: burglary Where: Lancaster 23.3.1822 Ship: Eliza No: 1256 Where: Liverpool By Whom: Thomas Moore Esq Term: 3 Years

He was sent to Port Macquarrie aboard the "Elizabeth Henrietta" and was still there when the 1828 census was taken.

Port Macquarrie was a penal outstation set up in 1821 for Lifers who had committed a second offence, and "specials" The second offence was known as a colonial Crime.

John Royle was given a ticket of leave in 1845 (No 45/1310) to the Dungog district by the Raymond Terrace Bench April 1845 changed to the Scone district September 1845 and was granted a Conditional Pardon on 24th December 1849. Government Gazette 1850 P132 (no 49/1588) The conditional pardon forbade him to return to the British Isles or Ireland and stated his sentence was for the period of his natural life.

At the time he was convicted John was 18 years of age, a Groom height 5'2", pale complexion, black hair and grey eyes.