An Immigration Assault Trial

I am in the process of writing about my 4x Great Grandparents John Walker and Mary Wiseman. They left England and arrived in Sydney on the ship Carthaginian on January 28, 1842. I thought I would search Trove and see if I could find any articles about the ship…and that I did!

The Hunter River Gazette reported that 243 immigrants arrived with Captain Robertson and Superintendent Dr Nelson.

SYDNEY SHIPPING. (1842, February 5).The Hunter River Gazette; and Journal of Agriculture, Commerce, Politics, and News (West Maitland, NSW : 1841 - 1842), p. 3. Retrieved October 10, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228140877

I was surprised to discover that soon after arriving, Captain Robertson and Dr Nelson were taken to trial for assaulting female immigrant Margaret Ann Bolton during the voyage, by way of throwing buckets of water over her. Below is the beginning of a very lengthy article describing the trial and evidence, which you can read by clicking the link in the caption.

TREATMENT OF EMIGRANTS. (1842, April 19). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), p. 2. Retrieved October 10, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37113743

The verdict? Guilty. Captain Robertson and Dr Nelson were both sentenced to prison for six months and fined 50 pounds. I like this article published in The Sydney Herald as it assured future emigrants the possibility of obtaining compensation if they experienced ill-treatment.

ILL-TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS. (1842, April 23). The Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831 - 1842), p. 2. Retrieved October 10, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12874823

I wonder if John and Mary were acquainted with Margaret Ann Bolton during the voyage and were aware of the trial?