Find Ancestors

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Quick Search

Single word search

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

Convict William Summers to Western Australia

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Ellen

Ellen Report 25 Jul 2021 07:29

I am looking for any further information for a William Summers born abt 1816 died 13/4/1871 at Perth Western Australia, on his conviction that bought him to Perth Western Australia. He was tried at the Essex Chelsmford Qtr Sessions He left England on the "Minden" 16th July 1851 arriving in Fremantle 14th October 1851
Thank You Ellen

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it Report 25 Jul 2021 08:15

All I can find

William Summers

William Summers, one of 302 convicts transported on the Minden, 16 July 1851

Name, Aliases & Gender

Name: William Summers
Aliases: none
Gender: -
Birth, Occupation & Death

Date of Birth: -
Occupation: -
Date of Death: -
Age: -
Life Span
Life span
Median life span was 55 years*
* Median life span based on contributions

Conviction & Transportation

Sentence Severity
Sentence Severity
Sentenced to 7 years
Crime: -
Convicted at: Essex. Chelmsford Quarter Sessions
Sentence term: 7 years
Ship: Minden
Departure date: 16th July, 1851
Arrival date: 14th October, 1851
Place of arrival Western Australia
Passenger manifest Travelled with 301 other convicts

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it Report 25 Jul 2021 08:17

William Summers
Conviction Place: Essex. Chelmsford Quarter Sessions
Departure Date: 16 Jul 1851
Arrival Date: 14 Oct 1851
Arrival Place: Western Australia
Arrival Ship: Minden
URL: https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/summers/william/447

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 25 Jul 2021 12:15


I don't see a record of the death you mention.

There's this one on 13 March 1871 (not April as in the one you mention) - but he's not the man who arrived on the "Minden":

William Summers
in the Australia and New Zealand, Find a Grave Index, 1800s-Current
Name: William Summers
Death Date: 13 Mar 1871
Cemetery: East Perth Cemeteries
Burial or Cremation Place: Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Fall from a horse; Arrived 16/10/1866 per the "Fitzroy; Married Christian Newton 27/07/1836 Scarborough, Yorkshire, England.
Local and General 14/04/1871 The Perth Gazette and West Australian Times pg 3.


Presumably the same death:

William Summers
in the Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985
Name: William Summers
Birth Year: abt 1816
Age: 55
Registration Year: 1871
Registration Place: Western Australia
Registration Number: 4923




There's nothing on the conviction/transportation records to give any clue to your William's YOB.
"Median life span 55 years" doesn't apply specifically to William Summers - it just means that's the average lifespan of the convicts whose records are on that website
- Shirley posted a link.

It doesn't mean he was born in 1816.


ADDED:

In fact, it looks as if he was born c1831:

William Summers
in the Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930
Name: William Summers
Birth Year: abt 1831
Age: 20
Date: 14 Oct 1851
Record Type: Convict Department
Reel Number: FCN42
Reference Number: ACC 128/40-43

The image, which is of a list of convicts arriving on the "Minden", says

William Summers, age 20, height 5' 8.5", brown hair, blue eyes, oval face, fair complexion, healthy appearance, no distinguishing marks, brickmaker, single, no children.

His Register No was 896.

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 25 Jul 2021 12:49

I don't know how long after conviction it would be until transportation.
Don't know if this is relevant or not:


William Summers
in the England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892
Name: William Summers
Age: 15
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1833
Date of Trial: 15 Feb 1848
Trial Year: 1848
Location of Trial: Essex, England
Sentence: Transportation

Crime: "Larceny before convicted of felony"

There are numerous convictions of people named William Summers in Essex, of minor offences including larceny, but I don't know if they're all the same person, as most don't give ages.

This one may be the same boy:

William Summers
in the England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892
Name: William Summers
Age: 14
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1834
Date of Trial: 4 Jan 1848
Trial Year: 1848
Location of Trial: Essex, England
Sentence: Acquittal [ fraud ]

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it Report 25 Jul 2021 12:59

Name: William Summers
Age: 17
Birth Year: 1831
Arrival year: 1848
Arrival State: Western Australia
Trial Place: Chelmsford
Status: U
Ship: Minden
Occupation: Brickmaker

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 25 Jul 2021 13:04

Ah, well, not the same one who was transported in 1851.

Here's a medical record for the 1851 man - although the date 1854 doesn't quite fit the rest of the info -

William Summers
in the Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930
Name: William Summers
Birth Year: abt 1832
Age: 22
Date: 1 Dec 1854
Record Type: Convict Establishment, Medical
Reference Number: ACC 1156/M13

Register No 896 (as in the transportation record )
Occupation: brickmaker.
Employment in prison: quarry.

There's a note saying "Minden 14 months 2 days".
Not quite sure what that means - doesn't fit with arrival 1851.

On 1st Dec, there's an "Ordinary ophthalmic [something] to right eye", which was "going on well" on 2 & 3 Dec.
He was readmitted for the same thing on 6th Dec, and discharged on 17 Dec.


.

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 25 Jul 2021 13:25

How did you work back to this man?
What ‘further info’ are you actually looking for?

alviegal

alviegal Report 25 Jul 2021 20:04

Looks like the same boy you found ArgyllGran

William
Last name Summers
Birth year -
Departure year 1851
Ship name Minden
Where convicted Chelmsford, Essex
>>When convicted 1848 (15 Feb)
Sentence 7 Years
Country Australia
Record type Records
Folio 83
Page 160
Record set Convict Transportation Registers 1787-1870

alviegal

alviegal Report 25 Jul 2021 20:11

?? Pretty harsh sentence for the poor lad.

" BEFORE W. COTTON, ESQ. William Summers, 15, labourer, was convicted of stealing a pair of shoes from John Robinson, at Warley, and a prior conviction being proved, he was sentenced to 7 years transportation."

18 February 1848 - Chelmsford Chronicle - Chelmsford, Essex, England


and a possible previous one


"William Summers, 15, labourer, to stealing a pair of trousers and coat from Thomas Jackson of Upminster— seven days solitude and whipped."

26 November 1847 - Essex Standard - Colchester, Essex, England

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 25 Jul 2021 20:25



William Summers
in the England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892
Name: William Summers
Age: 15
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1832
Date of Trial: 23 Nov 1847
Trial Year: 1847
Location of Trial: Essex, England
Sentence: Imprisonment [ 7 days, and whipped ]

Crime: larceny.


I don't see him on the 1841 census, at least not in Essex.
There are lots of William Summers (or other similar spelling) of approx the right age in other places.

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 25 Jul 2021 21:13

Ellen -

to repeat ErikaH's question - how did you work back to William Summers?

Is the death on 13 March 1871 the one you meant?
If so, why did you think he was a convict arriving on the "Minden"?

This may be the marriage of the one who died in 1871, though it doesn't quite match the info added to the Findagrave record.:

William Summers
in the England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973
Name: William Summers
Gender: Male
Age: 20
Birth Date: 1816
Marriage Date: 22 Jul 1836
Marriage Place: York, England
Spouse: Christiana Newton
FHL Film Number: 1470319
Reference ID: item 1


Same marriage ??

William Summers
in the England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973
Name: William Summers
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 23 Jul 1836
Marriage Place: Scarborough, York, England
Spouse: Christiana Mewton
FHL Film Number: 919207
Reference ID: p 283



William Summers
in the 1861 England Census
Name: William Summers
Age: 44
Estimated Birth Year: 1817
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Christiana Summers
Gender: Male
Where born: Wola Preston, Yorkshire, England
Civil Parish: Falsgrave
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
View image
Registration District: Scarborough
Sub-registration District: Scarborough
ED, institution, or vessel: 20
Neighbors:
Household Schedule Number: 82
Piece: 3620
Folio: 9
Page Number: 12
Household Members:
Name Age
William Summers 44 - wheelwright and joiner
Christiana Summers 42
Sarah Summers 22


Daughter's birth:

SUMMERS, SARAH mmn NEWTON
GRO Reference: 1838 D Quarter in SCARBROUGH Volume 24 Page 418


William Simmers
in the 1851 England Census
Name: William Simmers
[William Summers]
Age: 33
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1818
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Christiana Simmers
Gender: Male
Where born: Wold Newton, Yorkshire, England
Civil Parish: Falsgrave
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
Disability:
View image
Registration District: Scarborough
Sub-registration District: Filey
ED, institution, or vessel: 2a
Neighbors:
Household Schedule Number: 64
Piece: 2368
Folio: 521
Page Number: 16
Household Members:
Name Age
William Simmers 33 - joiner employing 3 apprentices
Christiana Simmers 32
John Simmers 14
Sarah Simmers 12
Francis Bell 20 - apprentice
Seth Riby 19 - apprentice



Findagrave entry for the son John:

John Summers
Birth 1837
Scarborough, Scarborough Borough, North Yorkshire, England
Death 16 Aug 1885 (aged 47–48)
Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Burial
East Perth Cemeteries
Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Plot Wesleyan Grave # 73
Memorial ID 190446904 · View Source

Son of Christiana Newton and William Summers; Arrived 01/06/1858 per the "Lord Raglan"; Married Elizabeth Howlett 1861, Perth, WA; Child: Elizabeth 1867.
Convict # 4942; Conviction Leeds 1856; Possession of stolen goods; 6 years; Ticket of Leave 21/12/1860; Expired 20/01/1863; Carriage Builder Perth; 1868 Member of UIOOF Lodge; 1874 Perth Board of Education.
Funeral Notice 18/08/1885 The Daily News pg 3; News and Notes 19/08/1885 The West Australian pg 3.

Maddie

Maddie Report 26 Jul 2021 13:42

Christiana Newton Summers
Birth 1819
Scarborough, Scarborough Borough, North Yorkshire, England
Death 5 Jun 1878 (aged 58–59)
Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Burial
East Perth Cemeteries
Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Plot Wesleyan Grave # 73
Memorial ID 190446903 · View Source


Heart Disease; Arrived 16/10/1866 per the "Fitzroy"; Married William Summers 22/07/1836, Scarborough, Yorkshire, England; Children: John - coachbuilder 1837, Flixton, Yorkshire; Sarah 1839, Flixton, Yorkshire, England.
14/061878 The West Australian Times pg 2.
Family Members

Sarah Summers
Birth 1849
Scarborough, Scarborough Borough, North Yorkshire, England
Death 14 Mar 1889 (aged 39–40)
Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Burial
East Perth Cemeteries
Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Plot Wesleyan Grave # 73
Memorial ID 190446905 · View Source


Dementia, Colonial Perth Hospital; Daughter of Christiana Newton and William Summers; Arrived 16/10/1866 per the "Fitzroy".
Funeral Notice 15/03/189 The West Australian pg 2; Death Notice 13/04/1889 The Daily News pg 3.
Spouse

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 26 Jul 2021 14:32

The son John's arrival in Australia:

John Summers
in the Web: Australia, Convict Records Index, 1787-1867
Name: John Summers
Conviction Place: Yorkshire, Leeds General Quarter Sessions
Departure Date: 3 Mar 1858
Arrival Date: 1 Jun 1858
Arrival Place: Western Australia
Arrival Ship: Lord Raglan


John Summers
in the UK Surgeon Superintendents' Journals of Convict Ships, 1858-1867
Name: John Summers
Birth Year: abt 1835
Event Age: 23
Event Year: 1858
Ship Name: Lord Raglan

He had gone to both Sunday and day schools, and could read and write.


Ellen -
we need you to come back to your thread and let us know if this is the family you're interested in.

No point in finding records for the wrong family!

Ellen

Ellen Report 28 Jul 2021 07:11

Hello everyone, REALLY SORRY to tell you I was given the wrong name the Convict was John Summers born abt 1837 died 16/8/1885 at Perth

His parents were William Summers born abt 1816 died 13/4/1871 Perth West Australia & Christiana Newton born abt 1819 died 5/6/1878 at Perth.

John came out on the Lord Raglan arriving Fremantle 1st June 1858
He was charged with being found in the night with implements of Housebreaking Leeds Court 21 October 1856 received 6 years transportation

His parents William & Christiana Summers came out on the "Fitzroy" arriving October 1866

I am truly sorry for all of the time you put in to searching :-(

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 28 Jul 2021 10:20

We've posted all that for you.
But as already pointed out , William died in March 1871, not April.



William Swanner
in the 1841 England Census
Name: William Swanner
[William Summers]
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1816
Gender: Male
Where born: Yorkshire, England
Civil Parish: Scarborough
Hundred: Scarborough Borough
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
View image
Registration District: Scarborough
Sub-registration District: Scarborough
Neighbors:
Piece: 1266
Book: 11
Folio: 18
Page Number: 11
Household Members:
Name Age
William Swanner 25
Christiana Swanner 20
John Swanner 4
Sarah Swanner 2


William Simmers
in the 1851 England Census
Name: William Simmers
[William Summers]
Age: 33
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1818
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Christiana Simmers
Gender: Male
Where born: Wold Newton, Yorkshire, England
Civil Parish: Falsgrave
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
Disability:
View image
Registration District: Scarborough
Sub-registration District: Filey
ED, institution, or vessel: 2a
Neighbors:
Household Schedule Number: 64
Piece: 2368
Folio: 521
Page Number: 16
Household Members:
Name Age
William Simmers 33
Christiana Simmers 32
John Simmers 14
Sarah Simmers 12
Francis Bell 20
Seth Riby 19


William Summers
in the 1861 England Census
Name: William Summers
Age: 44
Estimated Birth Year: 1817
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Christiana Summers
Gender: Male
Where born: Wola Preston, Yorkshire, England
Civil Parish: Falsgrave
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
View image
Registration District: Scarborough
Sub-registration District: Scarborough
ED, institution, or vessel: 20
Neighbors:
Household Schedule Number: 82
Piece: 3620
Folio: 9
Page Number: 12
Household Members:
Name Age
William Summers 44
Christiana Summers 42
Sarah Summers 22

alviegal

alviegal Report 28 Jul 2021 20:13

Six Years Penal Servitude. —John Summers, having a "jemmy" with intent to break into the shop of Henry Terry.

25 October 1856 - Leeds Intelligencer - Leeds, Yorkshire, England


Between one and two o'clock yesterday (Friday) morning Sergeant Wainwright suddenly pounced upon a well-known character named John Summers, whom he detected loitering about the premises of Mr. Terry, silversmith, Briggate. A struggle ensued, but Summers was eventually overpowered. A formidable locking "jemmy" was found concealed under his coat. Two other suspicious looking men were observed standing at the end of Duncan Street but no sooner had the sergeant tackled his man than both made off with all possible speed. The borough magistrates have committed Summers to trial at the sessions.

09 August 1856 - Leeds Times - Leeds, Yorkshire, England

Ellen

Ellen Report 30 Jul 2021 02:09


To The Memory Of
William Summers
Who Died April 13th 1871
Aged 55 Years
Also
Christiana
Wife Of The Above
Who Died 5th June 1878
Aged 59 Years
Also Of
John Summers
Son Of The Above
Who Died 17th August 1885
Aged 49 Years
Highly Respected And Deeply Regretted
By All Who Knew Him
Also In Memory Of
Sarah
Daughter Of
William And Christiana Summers
Who Died March 14th 1889
Aged 50 Years
God Is Love

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 30 Jul 2021 10:04

Oh, OK - the transcription on Findagrave must be wrong.
Unfortunately there's no photo of the gravestone:

William Summers
in the Australia and New Zealand, Find a Grave Index, 1800s-Current
Name: William Summers
Death Date: 13 Mar 1871
Cemetery: East Perth Cemeteries
Burial or Cremation Place: Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia


EDIT:

Now I see that the cemetery has inscription records on its website:

https://www.eastperthcemeteries.com.au/explore/burial-search/burialsite/134536.html

Ellen

Ellen Report 30 Jul 2021 12:41

Thank you everyone for your messages ,you are always willing to help even when I stuff it up :-)