Henry Benson

Summary

Henry Benson, one of 300 convicts transported on the Aurora, 18 June 1835
Born
Jan 1815
Conviction Larceny from a person (including picking pockets)
Departure Jun 1835
Arrival
Oct 1835
Death
Mar 1892
Personal Information
Name: Henry Benson
Aliases:
Gender: Male
Born: 1st Jan 1815
Death: 6th Mar 1892
Age: 77 years
Occupation: Plasterer and tiler
Crime
Convicted at: Central Criminal Court
Sentence term: 14
Voyage
Departed: 18th Jun 1835
Ship: Aurora
Arrival: 27th Oct 1835
Place of Arrival: Van Diemen's Land

Transportation

Ship: Aurora
Departed: 18th Jun, 1835
Arrived: 27th Oct, 1835
Passengers: 300

1851 Voyage No of women embarked - 232. Relanded 0, Deaths; 3. Actual arrived; 229. No of children embarked - 35. Births; 1. Actually arrived. 33

Aurora

References

Primary SourceAustralian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 90, Class and Piece Number HO11/10, Page Number 90
Source DescriptionThis record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro
Original SourceGreat Britain. Home Office
Compiled ByState Library of Queensland
Database SourceBritish convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database

Claims

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Convict Notes

Contributed by on 18th March 2014

Henry Benson was transported, along with William Elford (Susan 1836 NSW) for stealing, on the 21st of November, one handkerchief, value 2s., the goods of George Hepplewhite, from his person. Henry was a plasterer, from Kingsland Road, 5'2" tall, fresh complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair, scorbatic eruption on face, single, could read and write and was protestant. Father: Joseph, a japanner 3 Brothers: Joseph, William and John all at native place. 1835 Muster: At Public Works. 1838: A plasterer at the Customs House gang. 21/11/1841: TOL 24/9/1844: Recommended for a CP July 1845: CP approved. 12/8/1845: Extended to the Australian Colonies. 18/6/1846: married Harriet Brown/Browne in Hobart. They had 9 children, 1 born in Tasmania, 5 in Geelong, 1 in Ballarat and the last 2 in Melbourne. 6/3/1892: Henry died at Fitzroy aged 77 27/8/1898: Harried died in Fitzroy.

Contributed by on 18th March 2019

Henry Benson was born in 1816 in London, England to Joseph & Jamima Benson. Henry Benson and his friend William Elford were indicted for stealing a handkerchief value of 2 shillings, which belonged to a George Hepplewhite, who was a mariner. John Nicholas, a policeman, saw Henry Benson and a lady companion follow George Hepplewhite on the 21st November 1834. They stopped at a fishmongers shop where Henry Benson took the handkerchief from George Hepplewhite and gave it to his friend William Elford who was close to him. A James Porch, policeman, followed Henry Benson for 50 yards (45 metres) where he arrested him. Henry Benson's defence was - "I had just come from work, and went to have a pint of beer - I was walking along - The police man seized me." Henry Benson and William Elford were Transported for 14 Years. Henry was transported to Van Diemens Land or Tasmania. He was transported on the Aurora on the 8th October 1835 with 300 other male convicts. One dieing in transport. On his convict record on 24th March he was found in a public house and absent from his gang. He was ordered Hard Labour at his trade for 3 months. Henry worked as a plasterer in the custom house gang which is now the Tasmanian Parliament House. Henry was approved for a Conditional Pardon in July 1845. He was extended to the Australian Colonies on the 12/08/1845. On the 18th June 1846 Henry Benson married a Harriet Brown/Browne in Hobart, Tasmania. They had 9 children together. Henry Benson died on the 06/03/1892 in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia. Submitted by Researcher (Hannah Brown) on 14 March 2019

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Revisions

ContributorDateChanges
27th Mar 2023date of birth: 1815 (prev. 0000), date of death: 6th March, 1892 (prev. 0000), gender: m, occupation, crime
Anonymous12th May 2011none