Convicts
CONVICTS
BUTTERFIELD
HISTORY
BUTTERFIELD CONVICTS
For as long as I can remember, there was a tale in our family that our ancestors had descended from a convict who had been transported to Australia for poaching rabbits. This story apparently horrified my grandmother who would strongly deny that there was any truth in it. Whenever the subject was raised, my father would taunt her by saying that he (the convict) was the only Butterfield he admired!
In the end, it turned out that dear old granny was right. However, denial of our convict origins by Australians was a common practice for a long time in this country, and convict tales should not be dismissed out of hand too quickly.
This page traces Butterfield convicts who arrived in New South Wales via Botany Bay and Morton Bay (which was in NSW at the time that transportation took place).
Transportation
Transportation to Australia began in 1787 and ended in 1868.
Transportation punished both major and petty crimes in Britain and Ireland from the 17th century until well into the 19th century. At the time it was seen as a more humane alternative to execution, which would most likely have been the sentence handed down to many of those who were transported, if transportation hadn't been introduced. The British colonies in North America received transported British criminals in the 17th and 18th centuries, the biggest penal colony being Georgia which was opened in 1732. The American Revolutionary War brought an end to that means of disposal, and the British Government was forced to look elsewhere.
The gaols became more overcrowded and dilapidated ships were brought into service, the 'hulks' moored in various ports as floating gaols.
In 1787 penal transportation from Britain commenced to New South Wales, a colony (now a state) in Australia. The First Fleet's arrival there is considered the founding event in Australia's history.
Transportation from Britain ended officially in 1868, although it had become unusual several years earlier.
Between 1788 and 1850 the English sent over 162,000 convicts to Australia in 806 ships. The first three fleets between 1788 and 1791, acknowledged as the Founders of Australia, did not carry any Butterfield convicts. However, one marine called Jeremiah Butterfield possibly arrived with the first fleet.
The first convict Butterfield (John) arrived aboard the Pitt in 1792.
INDEX of BUTTERFIELD CONVICTS
Name: John BUTTERFIELD
DOB:
Ship: Pitt
Arrival date: 1792
Arrival place: Port Jackson, NSW
Trial Shire/Town: Bedford, 1791
Offence:
Trial term: 7 years
Sentence age:
Native place:
Trade or calling:
Religion:
Remarks:
Name: John BUTTERFIELD
DOB: 1789
Ship: Lord Sidmouth (2)
Arrival date: 1821
Arrival place: Port Jackson, NSW
Trial Shire/Town: Queens County, 1820
Offence:
Trial term: 7 years
Sentence age: 32
Native place: Kildare County
Trade or calling: Soldier labourer (Source: Irish Convicts to New South Wales 1791-1831)
Religion: Catholic
Remarks:
1. Granted a Certificate of Freedom, noted in the Sydney Gazette 1827.
2. Appointed as constable/Bathurst. Noted in Govt.notices. [Many convicts opted to work in the police force to enable a quick rise through the convict class system. Those serving in the police force also were generally paid a small wage, and were eligible for bonuses and awards for apprehensions and information which resulted in court convictions.]
3. Noted in - Census of NSW November 1828 - John Butterfield, Age: 40, Free/Bond: Government Servant, Occupation: Overseer, Employer or Remarks: John Wood, Residence: Bringelly at Cox Reserve, Ref. No.: B3604.
4. Noted in - General Muster List of New South Wales 1823, 1824, 1825. - John Butterfield,
Occupation: Constable, Where: Parramatta,(Ref.14237)
5. Notes from – State records of NSW - Colonial Secretary Index, 1788-1825
BUTTERFIELD, J, 1821 Sep 8, Employed at Pennant Hills. On list of all persons victualled from H.M. Magazines (Reel 6016; 4/5781 p.90)
BUTTERFIELD, John, 1825, Requesting that he be paid an allowance (Reel 6065; 4/1799 pp.229-30)
BUTTERFIELD, John. Per "Lord Sidmouth", 1821, 1824 Aug 27, On list of prisoners lately received at Bathurst (Reel 6028; 2/8283 p.109)
6. Noted in Index to Certificates of Freedom, 1823-69, State records NSW – John Butterfield, CFNo: 27/0733, Date: 24 Jul 1827, SRRef: 4/4290, Film: 982.
Name: Joseph BUTTERFIELD
DOB: 1804
Ship: Champion
Arrival date: 1827
Arrival place: Port Jackson, NSW
Trial Shire/Town: York, 1827
Offence:
Trial term: Life
Sentence age: 23
Native place: Leeds
Trade or calling: Weaver
Religion: Protestant
Remarks:
1. Noted in NSW Convict Tickets of Leave, 1810-1875 – Joseph Butterfield, District: Penrith, Ticket no.: 36/403, State Records shelf ref: 4/4102, State Records reel no: 924. Joseph Butterfield, District: Bathurst, Ticket no.:39/1204, State Records shelf ref: 4/4130, State Records reel no: 933.
2. Index to Convict Pardons, State Records NSW – Joseph Butterfield, Pardon No: 44/024, Pardon Type: CP, Date of Pardon: 1 Feb 1843, Item: [4/4443], Reel: 780, Page: 297.
Name: Thomas BUTTERFIELD
DOB: 1800
Ship: Eliza II (4)
Arrival date: 1832
Arrival place: Port Jackson, NSW
Trial Shire/Town: Kilkenny, 1832
Offence:
Trial term: 7 years
Sentence age: 32
Native place:
Trade or calling:
Religion:
Remarks:
1. Noted in Index to Certificates of Freedom, 1823-69, State records NSW – Thomas Butterfield, CFNo: 39/1755, Date: 9 Oct 1839, SRRef: 4/4352, Film: 1004.
Name: Julia BUTTERFIELD
DOB: 1792
Ship: Surrey II
Arrival date: 1833, 9 Mar. (from Cork)
Arrival place: Port Jackson, NSW
Trial Shire/Town: Cork City, 1832
Offence:
Trial term: 7 years
Sentence age: 40
Native place:
Trade or calling:
Religion:
Remarks:
1. Noted in Convicts Permission to Marry 1826-1852 – Julia Butterfield, Status: Bond, Married in 1833, to Patrick CORORAN, Age 45, Ship – Archduke Charles, Sentence 7 years, Status – Free, Clergy Ullathorne, District, Sydney. Source - Indexed by Lesley Uebel (2000).
Name: Ann BUTTERFIELD
DOB: 1796
Ship: Elizabeth IV
Arrival date: 1836, 12 Oct. (from London)
Arrival place: Port Jackson, NSW
Trial Shire/Town: CCC, 1836
Offence:
Trial term: 7 years
Sentence age: 40
Native place:
Trade or calling:
Religion:
Remarks:
1. Noted in NSW Convict Tickets of Leave, 1810-1875 – Ann Butterfield, District: Windsor,
Ticket no.: 42/551, State Records shelf ref: 4/4160 State Records reel no: 943.
2. Convict Death Index 1828-1879 - Ann Butterfield is noted as died at Parramatta Hospital in 1841 while still under sentence. No age or cause of death is listed) Source – Convict Death Index 1828-1879, Indexed by Lesley Uebel (2000).
Name: Thomas BUTTERFIELD
DOB: 1821
Ship: Mangles (8)
Arrival date: 1837
Arrival place: Port Jackson, NSW
Trial Shire/Town: Middlesex, 1836
Offence:
Trial term: 7 years
Sentence age: 15
Native place:
Trade or calling:
Religion:
Remarks:
1. Noted in Index to Certificates of Freedom, 1823-69, State records NSW – Thomas Butterfield, CFNo: 43/1365, Date: 22 Aug 1843, SRRef: 4/4384, Film: 1014.
2. NSW Convict Tickets of Leave, 1810-1875 – Thomas Butterfield, District: Muswellbrook, Ticket no.: 41/1621, State Records shelf ref: 4/4153, State Records reel no: 941.
Name: George BUTTERFIELD
DOB:
Ship: Mount Stewart Elphinstone
Arrival date: 1849
Arrival place: Moreton Bay, QLD (from Cork)
Trial Shire/Town: Cambridgeshire, 20 Mar. 1844
Offence:
Trial term: 10 years
Sentence age:
Native place:
Trade or calling:
Religion:
Remarks:
1. Noted in NSW Convict Tickets of Leave, 1810-1875 – George Butterfield, District: Moreton Bay,
Ticket no.: 49/682, State Records shelf ref: 4/4219, State Records reel no: 963.
2. Index to convict exiles, 1849-50, State records NSW – George Butterfield, Year: 1/11/1849.
Name: William BUTTERFIELD
DOB:
Ship: John Barry *
Arrival date:
Arrival place:
Trial Shire/Town:
Offence:
Trial term:
Sentence age:
Native place:
Trade or calling:
Religion:
Remarks:
The John Barry made 5 trips to Australia including 4 to Port Jackson in 1819, 1821, 1836, 1839.
1. Notes from – State records of NSW - Colonial Secretary Index, 1788-1825 -
BUTTERFIELD, William. Per "John Barry", 1825 Sep 5, Convict servant of Charles Martin. To be victualled from the Store at Parramatta for six months (Reel 6015; 4/3515 p.273)
Name: Richard BUTTERFIELD
DOB: 1820
Ship: Eden
Arrival date:
Arrival place:
Trial Shire/Town: York Assizes 5/12/1846
Offence:
Trial term:
Sentence age: 26
Native place:
Trade or calling:
Religion:
Remarks:
1. Noted in Index to convict exiles, 1849-50, State records NSW – Richard Butterfield, Year 5/12/1846
Name: James BUTTERFIELD
DOB:
Ship: Bangalore
Arrival date: 1850
Arrival place: Moreton Bay, QLD (sailed from Spithead)
Trial Shire/Town: Yorkshire / Otley, 28/6/1847
Offence:
Trial term:
Sentence age:
Native place:
Trade or calling:
Religion:
Remarks:
1. Noted in Index to Certificates of Freedom, 1823-69, State records NSW – James Butterfield,, CFNo: 54/0069, Date: 24 Aug 1854, SRRef: 4/4416, Film: 1027.
2. NSW Convict Tickets of Leave, 1810-1875 – James Butterfield, District: Moreton Bay, Ticket no.: 50/327, State Records shelf ref: 4/4223, State Records reel no:964.
3. Index to convict exiles 1849-50, State records NSW – James Butterfield, Year: 30/04/1850.
Name: James BUTTERFIELD
DOB: 1803
Ship:
Arrival date:
Arrival place:
Trial Shire/Town:
Offence:
Trial term:
Sentence age:
Native place:
Trade or calling:
Religion:
Remarks:
1. Noted in - Census of NSW November 1828 - James Butterfield, Age: 25, Free/Bond: Convict, Occupation: Labourer, Employer or Remarks: Australian Agricultural Co., Residence: Port Stephens, Ref. No.: B3605.