Person:Henry Pointon (1)

The following extracts from "Diary of a Village" relate to Henry Pointon:

1831, August 18 - Henry Pointon left his brother and went to Digswell. Returned the following Saturday or Sunday.

1832, November 20 - The Parish Constable, Mr Crane, took Henry Pointon to Hitchin for assaulting Joseph Winch, who had summoned him but did not appear.

1832, December 4 - (Tuesday) Henry Pointon went to Hitchin, the fortnight being then expired in which he was to have paid the money awarded by the magistrates for expenses etc in the matter of J. Winch. The money was 2 pounds and on his refusal to pay was committed to prison for 2 months.

1834, January 27 - The constable from Luton came in pursuit of H. Pointon and searched his father's house, but could not find him.

1834, March 8 - Henry Pointon returned from Bedford after his trial at the Assizes. With C. Hill, he had been tried for taking a horse and cart from the premises of L. Ames Esq, but they were acquitted.

1835 January 20 - Henry Pointon was committed to St Albans Gaol for 3 months for Bastardy.

1836 September 29 - Henry Pointon, F. Evered and J. Phillips went through Codicote to Hertford Gaol and on Sunday, October 16th Frederick Pointon and Charles Hill were removed from Bedford Gaol to the above place for trial the following day. On October 18th Frederick Pointon and Frederick Evered were sentenced to transportation for life, and Henry Pointon and C. Hill for seven years, on the evidence of Phillips, for stealing pigeons in the Parish of Lilley in the County of Hertfordshire. The Marquis of Salisbury and Lord Dacre presided.

Convict record for Henry Pointon, Convict No.1306, transported on the ship "Sarah":

1836, 17 October - Tried at Hertford quarter sessions, convicted for stealing 20 dozen tame pigeons.

Gaol report: very bad character, once in prison before.

Hulk report: Good, single, stated this offence stealing 20 dozen of pigeons, once for assault, two months, once for bastardry 3 months, again for stealing a horse & cart, imprisoned for 6 weeks & discharged, single.

Surgeon's report: The first man to give information to the surgeon of the intended mutiny, recorded in his favour, for his highly praisworthy conduct when the occassion of an attempt at mutiny on board the convict ship "Sarah," when upon her passage from England in giving information & maintaining the discipline of the ship by which the attempt was happily frustrated. Wide memo Principal Superintendant 6 Apr, 1837.

After his arrival Henry was still getting into trouble:

1839, 22 June - Constable: disorderly conduct reported & to be removed from Hobart Town.

1839, 1 October - Constable: misconduct, 14 days in a cell on bread & water, same date misconduct to be kept to hard labour for 1 month to commence at the expiration of his previous sentence.

1841, 1 January - Constable: Neglect of duty 14 days hard labour

1841, 8 Jul : Constable, misconduct, fined 10/-.

1841, Aug - Conditional Pardon No. 31527.

1852, 3 February - Certificate of Freedom.

1863, 2 June - Tried in the supreme court, Hobart, assault; acquitted.

Henry Pointon physical description: Trade, groom & labourer. Height, 5ft 7 1/4 inches tall, without shoes. Age 24. Complexion, fresh. Head, Large. Hair Black. Whiskers Brown. Visage Brown. Forehead High. Eyebrows Brown. Eyes Blue. Nose medium large. Mouth Medium width. Chin medium large. Remarks pockpitted, Scar on leg.

From the Tasmanian Convict CD, the following records relate to Henry Pointon: Convict Number: 61937. Ship Name: Sarah. Departure Port: London. Departure Date: 22/12/1836. Arrival Date: 29/03/1837. Conduct Record: CON31/35. Description List: CON18/20. Muster Roll: CSO5/19/398. Appropriation List: MM33/6, CON27/7.

1. ↑ Vital Records Index - British Isles - Second Edition.
2. ↑ Tas Death Reg. No. 1882/324.