Joseph Horler of Oakhill
A Tasmanian Convict
His parents were Joseph & Mary Horler nee Ransom.
A typical Prison Hulk of the 19th Century.
During the 19th century one of our ancestors was unfortunate enough to spend time on one of these despised floating examples of Hell on earth, I am trying to discover his life story, this is what is known so far;
Joseph Horler of Oakhill
Joseph was 24 years old when he appeared at the Wiltshire Assize court, he was committed by R.Pollen, esq. charged on the oath of William Croome, with Highway Robbery at Easton Grey, Wiltshire, the warrant was dated May 14th 1834
He was found guilty as charged & sentenced on the Thursday 17th July 1834 to be hanged this was commuted to transportation for life.
The proceeds of his crime totalled, 3 half Crowns and other monies.
His term of imprisonment may have started in a prison hulk.
Sometime prior to Thursday, 20th November 1834, he was transferred to the vessel "Waterloo" a 414 tons vessel, armed with 4 guns,
The
Waterloo had sailed from London to Portsmouth,
her
Master was John C(r)ow,
also on board was Surgeon Superintendent Geo. Roberts.
The guard comprised of men of 50th Regiment, There were free passengers and some 224 convicts on board when she departed Portsmouth. The ship's arrival on Tuesday 3rd March 1835 at Hobart Town, was reported in Hobart Town Courier and Hobart Town Advertiser.
Below is a transcription of what I believe is written on the prisoners report papers and that which I have been able to decipher so far, I am hoping to be able to reduce the number of my question marks and replace them with the many missing terms and initials of the the official authors. 1910 Horler Joseph
Waterloo 2 nd March 1835
Wiltshire Assizes 15th July 1834 Life
Transported for robbery. Goal Report - Not Known
Hulk Report - Good
Single stated this offence - Highway Robbery, Single
Surgeon's Report - Conduct orderly and quiet throughout the voyage
Page 342
Sepr. 16th 1835 ?? Being absent from the ???? the whole of the Sunday night and telling Mr Gunn a falsehood reprimanded / P S
April 13th 1836 Road Party / Neglect of work.reprimanded/
Re April17th 1836 Kennedy / Drunkenness insolence & disorderly conduct. 6 mths hard labour in a Road party/ Recommend, not to be again assigned in Launs.n or Hobart
/P.A.W & A. B.J/ 6 months Spring Hill Road, Vide Lieut. Decisn. 21st April 1836.
April 20 1837 ?awl / Neglect of duty & general carelessness, 25 lashes/ F. Roper
July 18 1837 Neglect of duty, 3 mths hard labour rid of chains - not yet / FR/ Bagdad, Road Party after assigned by the board Vide Lieut.Govrs Decision.
Nov 9 1837/ I A Thompson/ Recom'd to be placed 6 mths on probation on the Road having been considered by his Master as perfectly useless it being known at the same time to the P. S. that he was scheming to get to a Public house / P S / Spring Hill Road Party & conduct to be reptd for assignt,but not in Hobart Town, Vide Lieut.Govr.
11th Nov 1837/ ?? June 29 1839 /T.L/ Misconduct Tread Wheel 48 hours/APM /
Octo 1st 1839 T.L Being drunk and using obscene language & other misconduct. deprived of his T.L and kept to hard labour ?????Road /APM Cleveland then to Camp????? for assign. ???? vide L.Gov decision 4 Oct1839. January 21st 1840 /Erskine/ being drunk, 2 hours stocks/D.E
At the recommendation of the convicting magistrate to be reinstated after ?????????? 3mths probation at Malcolm's Hut (near Richmond )and conduct reported.
Vide LG desc 18th Dec 1840.
Page2
342
HORLER Joseph
August 10th1841 The Constables/ Misconducts in being absent from his posts one month's hard labour ???????????????????????? and recommends to????????? dismissed the ???????????? /????????????? New Norfolk Ridges party?????????????? vide Leiutenant Govenors Decision 13th August 1841 T.L to be restored at the cessation of punishment. ????????????????? 16/9/41
Octr 5th 1841 TL/ drunkeness and out after hours 3 days & nights solitary confinement /J.F. Dec17th 1841 Drunk fined 5/- NHB
Feb 18th 1842 TL Misconduct Admonished
Sept. 7th 1842 TL disorderly & fighting admonished / GBF /
December 13th 1842 Misconduct ?? days solitary confinement with the ???? /PM
April 13th 1843 Drunk & disorderly 3months hard labour New Town Bay, T.L suspended Vide Leiut. Govenors decis. 21/4/43
Jan.1st 1844 TL / drunk and using obscene language fined 10/- /RM/
June 2nd 1844 Assaulting Geo.Frost? fined One Pound /MHB /
18th Nov 1844 ??????????? /Using obscene language fined 5/- /AG/ LGD 4th March 1845 TL/ furiously driving fined 20/- MHB /
3rd Sept 1845 TL/ drunk fined 5/-/MHB/
Aug 31st 1846 Drunk & using obscene language fined 8/- ?M
Joseph's physical description was listed as;
Trade........................... Kitchen Gardener & Groom
Height without shoes ........... 5/6
Age ............................. .25
Complexion..................Pale Oakhill
Head............................ .Small Somerset
Hair.............................. }
}Black
Whiskers..................... }
Forehead. ....................M.H.
Eyebrows. ...................Black
Eyes. ...........................hazel.
Nose...........................M.S.
Mouth.........................M.W.
Chin............................M.L.
Remarks......................Scar rht side upper lip.
The official documents finish at this point,
Joseph
was 24 years old when he was sentenced in Wiltshire, where & how
he ended his days are the mystery which I intend to try and solve.
UPDATE
16th May 2003
He was given a Conditional Pardon
during 1849
Tasmanian Pardons 1847-1848 Film 85 document
dated 10th July 1847
states;
Horler / Joseph / Waterloo / Wilts / July / 1834 / Life / 12
"no words against him of any importance and for the last year and three quarters has been quite free from offence"
He then disappears and has not been heard from since !!
Many of the names of Tamanian Convicts can be researched at the following link;
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~austashs/convicts/conintro.htm
Updated 29th October 2003
© The Horler One Name Study 2/.06/07
