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Cadet lines in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), 1821+

Andrew Baskerville, 1820s

Andrew Baskerville was born about 1824, possibly in Clerkenwell in London's East End. By 1841 he was living in the household of Gerorge Mason in Montague Street, Tower Hamlets in Whitechapel. Mason was a french polisher, and Andrew was apprenticed to him as a cabinetmaker. [1841 Census, HO 107/710/15/35/22]

Andrew Baskerville, aged 25, and James Anderson, aged 18, were convicted in the Old Bailey on 23 October 1848 of housebreaking and larceny and sentenced to 7 years transportation. The court report states that they had entered the house of John Holland Ray and stolen a shawl and other articles to the value of 11 shillings. They both pleaded guilty. His convict record elaborates a little further: the men were apprehended on the Kent Road for having housebreaking tools on them, and originally jailed for 3 months for that offence. Andrew Baskerville, cabinetmaker, arrived in Van Diemen's Land on 9th December 1852 aboard the "Lady Montague".

While serving his sentence in Hobart he was twice convicted for drunkeness and disorderly conduct, but in February 1854 he was recommended for a Ticket of Leave. Within a year his sentence has expired.

Andrew Baskerville married Elizabeth Smith at Hobart in 1855. Elizabeth was the daughter of convicts William Smith and Elizabeth Taylor. William Smith, like Andrew, was a cabinetmaker, and it was perhaps through this connection that the two had met.

There are scattered references to Andrew and Elizabeth after this date, although it is not certain that these refer to the same couple. They seem to have left Tasmania and emigrated to New Zealand, as in April 1867 they arrived in Melbourne from New Zealand on the "Princess Alice". Possibly they came to join Elizabeth's mother who, after the expiry of her sentence, had re-married and emigrated to Victoria, settling in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond. In October 1868 an Elizabeth Baskerville died in the 'Hospital, Melbourne'. An Andrew Baskerville, cabinetmaker, was still living at 20 Somerset Street in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton (now Richmond) in 1903 and 1906.

The references to Andrew and Elizabeth after 1855 appear to be the same people, although in each case there are variations in details to raise uncertainty. However, it is not unreasonable to assume that they attempted to escape the 'convict stain' by circuitous means including the falsifying of details on legal documents.

My thanks to Judith Smith of New South Wales for bringing Andrew to my attention and providing a number of historical sources referencing him.

References and reading