George departs from Sheerness on the ‘Gilmore’ on the 14-4-1843 as one of 254 adult male convicts and travels to Van Diemen’s Land via Cape Verde Island. It was generally an unpleasant journey on a leaky ship. There is some sickness on board as well as 5 deaths. The master seemed determined to mistreat the prisoners, despite the best efforts of the ship’s surgeon to improve things. The surgeon made some attempts to improve the living conditions of the convicts, and also taught some to read and write. It is believed George learnt some literacy skills on his journey to Van Diemans Land. For the last 3 weeks of the journey George is unwell, beginning on the 2-8-1843. He suffers from rheumatism and scurvy. He complains of nausea, feeling weak, having pain in the limbs, faintness, loss of appetite, irregular bowels, belly pains and sore/bleeding gums. He arrives in Hobart on the 19-8-1843 and is discharged to the Hobart Town hospital on the 20th.
George is listed as a Protestant who can read and write. His occupation is listed as a table knife handle maker. He is 5’5” tall with dark brown hair and dark hazel eyes.
Under the penal system convicts went straight to Hobart and were placed in work gangs (250-300 men) in unsettled areas working on government projects like bridges & roads. The average penal term was 18 months, after which he would receive a Probationary Pass. He could then work for wages for a settler or the local government. This became their source of income. This led to two stages; a Ticket of Leave (TOL), allowing them to choose their own master (as opposed to being assigned). Followed by a Conditional Pardon or Absolute Pardon.
During his stay in Hobart he, like other prisoners, spends time in the prisoners’ barracks and is seconded to local businesses for work duty. He appears to be a good convict, getting in trouble only once for misconduct (‘riding on a cart drawn by two horses without reins and not having any person to guide the same’). He receives three months hard labour for this offence.
George receives his ticket of leave on the 22-6-1847. He continues to live and work in Tasmania receiving his Conditional Pardon’ on the 1-8-1850.
On the 1-4-1852 he boards the ‘Esperanza’ in Hobart and travels to Melbourne.