Norfolk island Convicts information help

Question

Hi

I have found a great (4x) uncle of mine who was born here in Australia was convicted of murder in 1827 in Sydney. It appears  he was sent to Norfolk Island (I found a source on Ancestry but it is very hard to read). I was wondering if anyone had any ideas or other sites I might be able to find more about this.

Thanks

Comments

Hi Elayine, great question! I haven't had a lot of success finding much information about Norfolk Island online, so would also love to know more about where to find resources relevant to Norfolk Island. Hopefully there is a Norfolk Island expert out there who can enlighten us!

Were you looking at finding out more about his life on Norfolk Island, and/or if he married or died there? I think my first port of call would be the State Library of NSW, and probably the library at the Society of Australian Genealogists, which isn't that far from the State Library.

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Hi Elayine 

Perhaps these sources may assist:

• THE MONITOR. (1827, March 23). The Monitor (Sydney, NSW : 1826 - 1828), p. 4. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31758292
• No title (1827, February 21). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), p. 3. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37071380
• CRIMINAL COURT.—(Friday.) (1827, March 20). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), p. 3. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37074872

These reports suggest that William Puckeridge was condemned to be executed on 19 March 1827 but that the Governor issued a stay and then commuted the death penalty to seven years at Moreton Bay:

• A RIDE TO BATHURST. (1827, March 17). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), p. 3. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37072089
• No title (1827, March 20). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), p. 3. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37074870
• DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. (1827, March 30). The Monitor (Sydney, NSW : 1826 - 1828), p. 2. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31758309

See related:

• Queensland Chronological Register of Convicts 1824-1839, M to R, p. 7: https://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/api/download_file/DR23424

Answer 1

Hi Elayine

https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/norfolk-island-guide

Answer 2

Hi Elayine, I have now added the above sources to the WikiTree profile of William Puckeridge. I have linked to those which are accessible online. He was clearly sent to Moreton Bay rather than Norfolk Island.

Reference to copies of original registers and documents with the NSW State Library, NSW State Archives, and Queensland State Archives will no doubt assist further.