Lee Elkington Crime

Australia's Second Fleet

A second fleet of six ships left England - Guardian, Justinian, Lady Juliana, Surprize, Neptune, Scarborough. The Guardian struck ice, and was unable to complete the voyage. She was stocked with provisions. Only 48 people died in the first group of ships, but this time 278 died during the voyage. This time transporting the convicts was in the hands of private contractors.

	CHARLES ELKINGTON - TRANSPORTED


	Australia's Second Fleet A second fleet of six ships left England - Guardian, Justinian, Lady Juliana, Surprize, Neptune, Scarborough. The Guardian struck ice, and was unable to complete the voyage. She was stocked with provisions. Only 48 people died in the first group of ships, but this time 278 died during the voyage. This time transporting the convicts was in the hands of private contractors.

	From the "SYDNEY COVE CHRONICLE", 30th June, 1790 At last the transports are here DIABOLICAL CONDITION OF THE CONVICTS THEREON 278 died on the fearsome journey to Sydney Cove -----" The landing of those who remained alive despite their misuse upon the recent voyage, could not fail to horrify those who watched. As they came on shore, these wretched people were hardly able to move hand or foot. Such as could not carry themselves upon their legs, crawled upon all fours. Those, who, through their afflictions, were not able to move, were thrown over the side of the ships; as sacks of flour would be thrown, into the small boats. Some expired in the boats; others as they reached the shore. Some fainted and were carried by those who fared better. More had not the opportunity even to leave their ocean prisons for as they came upon the decks, the fresh air only hastened their demise. A sight most outrageous to our eyes were the marks of leg irons upon the convicts, some so deep that one could nigh on see the bones. ---- ----- We learn that several children have been borne to women upon the Lady Juliana, the cause for which were the crews aboard African slave ships which met up with the transport at Santa Cruz.--- " ------" So the Guardian is lost and with it our provisions. What, in the name of Heaven, is to become of us ? ----- "

	A LIST OF THE CONVICTS WHO SET SAIL FROM OLD ENGLAND'S SHORES Hereunder our Readers will find the names of convicts who were to have sailed, or did sail, in the transports Neptune, Surprize, Scarborough and Lady Juliana. The information was compiled by our Correspondent in London and is complete in so far as it lists all the convicts who were recently landed upon our shores. An excerpt from ‘The Second Fleeters' by Michael Flynn. ELKINGTON, CHARLES (c1758- ) Charles Elkington was arrested on 14 April 1787 after becoming involved in two disputes at Sheffield market with a stallholder over some eggs and with a shopkeeper over a piece of bacon. Both alleged he had stolen 4 shillings and 3 shillings respectively by claiming falsely to have been given the wrong change or counterfeit coin. Elkington was committed to York Castle and signed a statement denying his guilt. He said he was a mercer and draper and had lived in Liverpool until three weeks prior to his arrest, when he traveled to Gainsborough mart before moving on to Sheffield to buy some lace. It seems likely that he was the man of this name acquiited of shoplifting at the March 1786 Nottingham Assizes. His turbulent co-accused, Mary Brammer (qv), was whipped and imprisoned and later transported on the Second Fleet for another offence. Elkington was sentenced to seven years transportation at the July 1787 York Assizes and was held in York Castle for more than a year. In mid-June 1788 he was sent on board the Dunkirk hulk at Plymouth, age given as 29, and was embarked on the Neptune transport at the end of November 1789. ON 1 august 1790, five weeks after landing at Sydney Cove, Elkington was among 194 male and female convicts sent to Norfolk Island on the Surprize. From at least early 1791 he was allowed to cultivate a small piece of land near the island's main settlement, Sydney Town, where he probably kept poultry and grew maize and vegetables; in February he was issued with a sow under Major Ross's plan to encourage as many convicts as possible to become self-supporting. Although still subject to convict discipline and required to labour for government, he was allowed some time off to work his land. By 1 July he had cleared 50 rods. He remained on the island until November 1794 when he sailed for Sydney on the Daedalus, his sentence having expired. His absence from later colonial records suggests that he may have left the colony soon afterwards.