John Wing

From trial of Awaan for manslaughter (April 1842).

Awaan, (a Chinese) was indicted fore manslaughter of Sarah Awaan, his child, on the 24th January last. he prisoner ws arraigned, and pleaded ‘Not Guilty.’ It was found necessary to procure the services of an interpreter, Awaan, not being sufficiently conversant with the English language to understand the proceedings. Another Chinese was present in Court, who after being catechised by his Honor, undertook to act as interpreter
Launceston Advertiser, 7 April 1842

A Chinese named John Wing, understanding a little more English than the prisoner, and professing to be a Christian, was sworn in as interpreter. . . The interpreter, who during this examination evinced a great deal more anxiety than the prisoner at the bar, seemed quite at a loss to convey the meaning of this last sentence ; and the Attorney-General was somewhat puzzled to simplify the answer. When at last the interpreter had explained the statement of the witness, the prisoner held up his hands and gazed around the Court with most graphic looks of astonishment, and an inexpressible appearance of horror in his features. The suspicions of the judge were immediately excited as to the faithfulness of the interpreter’s translation, and upon enquiry the prisoner’s astonishment was easily accounted for, the fertile imagination of his countryman having transmogrified the “corresponding injury” into a “leaden bullet,” and thus informed the wonder-stricken Awaan, “that upon opening the brain the doctor discovered a leaden bullet !” This trifling’ error having been rectified, the case proceeded.
Launceston Courier, 11 April 1842

Awaan

Presumably this is one of the carpenters who arrived on the Nimrod
Died 1846.

18 April 1837 married Sarah Fisher
1 March 1837 Henry born
23 May 1839 John born
17 October 1841 Harriet born
25 January 1852 Harriet died
26 January 1853 Inquest
6 April 1853 Trial for Manslaughter
30 December 1843 John (child) died
4 January 1846 John (adult) died


Marriages, Launceston1837 RGD 36/1/1
More…

Arrivals Louisiana, en route to Victoria

ARRIVALS LAUNCESTON


Cornwall Chronicle, 6 December 1856

CELESTIAL VISITORS.–The streets of Launceston were enlivened yesterday by groups of Chinamen who have arrived here in the Louisiana, and are on their way to Melbourne. They were generally dressed in the costume of their country, though one or two wore trowsers of a more civilised sort. They are mostly young men, and are under the guidance of a sort of chief, who determines their disputes. This worthy might be seen yesterday bearing aloft a blue calico umbrella. One of the party, however, carried a fan, and from his self-satisfied air and carefully arranged dress, he was doubtless a Chinese dandy.
The Courier, 8 December 1856

More…

Wetia Hong

Tried Port Louis, Maritius 6 November 1841
“For attempt at murder.”
Labourer, aged 50

Indent
Conduct Record

Ticket of Leave 10 November 1849
Revoked 2 July 1859
Restored 12 August 5?
Revoked 4 October 1853
Restored 28 February 1854
Conditional Pardon 13 February 1855


20 July 1854 TL/Hobart/ Misconduct in harbouring Chinese Seamen from the Victoria. Three months hard Labour

Atik Wong

Tried Hong Kong
“I broke into a brick house and took clothes from Captain Pedder the Harbour Master with 4 others”
Native place: China
Labourer, aged 30

Indent
Conduct Record

One celestial Robbing Another.
Wong Atick, notwithstanding a very voluble defence he made, was convicted of stealing a gold finger ring, the property of John Ahong, watchmaker, of Elizabeth street. Other articles had been stolen as well but that was the only one Mr Ahong could identify. The prisoner had been apprehended by Detective Constable Seabridge with the ring and other articles in his possession, and amongst them a key which opened all Mr. Ahong’s doors. Wong Atick had formerly been residing with Mr Ahong, but had been expelled. The bench sentenced him to six months imprisonment with hard labor.

Cornwall Chronicle, 22 October 1859
More…

Ayee Lowe

(Laon, Ayee)
Tried Hong Kong 1844. “Stealing 40 dollars from a house”
Native Place: China
Laborer & barber, aged 24


Conduct record
Ident

Married Matilda Mace (per Cadet) 1851. (Note one witness is Hannah Hong.)

Marriages, Launceston RGD37-1-10

Conditional Pardon 1852

“Low Ayee” departed for Melbourne, “Yarra Yarra”, 19 October 1853
Matilda Mace departed for Melbourne, “Yarra Yarra”, 20 November 1853

Osprey, from Hong Kong Supreme Court


The “Osprey.”-On Sunday morning, the three-masted schooner Osprey, arrived here from China, with ten Chinese prisoners, who have been sent here by the first sitting of the British Supreme Court, at Hong Kong ; we have received no papers, but we learn that Hong Kong is fast progressing as a British Colony ; and, we sincerely hope, that we may find a market there for some of our superfluous Produce, and even for our wool. The Osprey as a consignment of tea, &c, for, we believe, Messrs. Burns & White.
Colonial Times, 28 January 1845


The Chinese Convicts.- The ten Chinese convicts, recently arrived from Hong Kong, have been forwarded to Norfolk Island by the Sir John Franklin.
The Courier, 13 February 1845

Name/Native place
Acheong Chum, China
Atik Wong, China
Ayon Wong China
Fat Cephang, China
Akow Chaong, China
Ayee Low, China
Almas, China
Pono, ?
Piedro Soares/ Pedro Swareg, Portugal
John Brennan, Ireland

Indents
Conduct Records (images 104-113)

The first five are all from China (given as their Native Place). All five were laborers and had the same statement of offence.
“I broke into a brick house and took clothes from Captain Pedder the Harbour Master with 4 others”

Acheong Chum
Laborer, aged 40

From his conduct record, he died Norfolk Island, 9 March 1845, with the note “Report of Death, date 31/8/54”

Atik Wong
More here.
Labourer, aged 30

Conditional pardon 13 October 1863
Died 13 August 1865

Ayon Wong
Laborer, aged 27

Drowned Norfolk Island, 22 November 1845

Fat Cephing
Labourer, aged 34
After returning from NI, he was working in Launceston area, 1852-54.
Ticket of Leave granted 1854, revoked 1858
Also indexed in State Library records as Hing Fat Eep

Akow Chaong
Labourer, aged 19
After returning from NI, he was working in the north of the island (Paterson Plains, George Town, Longford)
Ticket of Leave granted 1854
Conditional Pardon 1856

There was one other in the group with China as the Native Place:

Aye Low
(More here.)
Laborer & barber, aged 24
“Stealing 40 dollars from a house”

Not sure he was sent to Norfolk Island, no mention on Conduct Records.

Almas
Tailor, aged 17
“Stealing a gold ring”
Native Place: Bombay.

Ticket of leave: 24 October 1848
Free Certificate: 25 November 1852
Might have been in the interior in 1848
There is a passenger “Almas” travelling to Melbourne on the Yarra Yarra 1852 & 1853 (on the second trip he is a “New Zealander”)

Pono
Seaman, aged 29
“I was working the Deck on Bd Ship a man struck me I stabbed him he was a black man a Lascar – he was killed – It was on Bd the Alice”
Lascar from “Saleh Bay”, which might be in Indonesia.
1856 working on Steamer Derwent
1852 working Colonial Marine Dept
Condtional Pardon: 1858

Pedro Suareg/Sorey also Peidro Soares
Med Attendent & Clerk, aged 20
“Stealing a Small Box at Hong Kong it was locked up & I do not know its contents.”
Native Place: Portugal

1850-51 New Norfolk area
Free Certificate 20 November 1852

John Brennan
Labourer, aged 21
“Bestiality with a Bitch. I was in the Hong Kong police at the time”
Native Place: Co. Roscommon (Ireland)

Working Fingal, Longford amongst other places.