George Carns

  General Notes:

It's possible he was a Convict, George Carnes, who appeared in the Lancaster Quarter Sessions, 17 Oct 1822 and sentenced to 7 years transportation on 20 Jun 1823. His crime was stealing 20 yards of ribbon. He was sent to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) on the Asia on 29 July 1823, arriving on 24 March 1824. He was single and aged 21. Given that son George was born in Tasmania in 1847 it seems very probable.

George was something of an habitual criminal in England with at least 5 convictions prior to the one that resulted in his Transportation.

His arrival record in Tasmania records that he was 5' 3 1/2" tall with brown hair and grey eyes. He was a Brickmaker by trade. He had a Hope and Anchor and the letters G. C. M. C. E. G. F. C. (presumably tattooed) on his left arm.

His prison conduct record shows that he had a few run-ins with the authorities while a convict: in 1825 he received 25 Lashes for "Improper conduct in pulling a jacket over the head of Wm. Smith ... and robbing him of his shoes". On another occassion he was absent from Muster and in a state of intoxication when he used threatening language against someone, presumably an official. At various times he was working on a chain gang and found to be absent from where he was supposed to be. On yet another occassion he was found to be gambling on a Sunday and had his sentence on the chain gang extended by 14 days. This record also suggests he had a brother named Michael back in England.

It is very likely that his wife Catherine was also a convict, there were at least two of that name who came out to Tasmania in the early 1840's.

It seems the family moved to NSW in about 1853, probably in the gold rush, as son John's death certificate records that he spent 3 years in Tasmania. I havent found a death record for either George or Catherine yet.

  Noted events in his life were:

• He worked as a Contractor.

George married Catherine Ryan.