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.