I have previously written about Elias Sargeantson (1778-1812), my five times great grandfather who, was convicted of larceny at the East Riding of Yorkshire Quarter Sessions on 1 May 1810. Despite it probably being his first offence, he was sentenced to seven years transportation for stealing, as he was thought to be a member of the Snowden Dunhill gang. Elias didn’t make it to Australia. After his conviction he was moved to the prison hulk Laurel, moored in Portsmouth harbour. He died of hulk fever on the hospital ship on 11 April 1812.

The life of Snowden Dunhill has already been written about on the East Riding’s museum website and is worth a read. What is interesting to me is how he became connected to my five times great grandfather Elias. At the time of his conviction, he was probably living in Eastrington, just a few miles from Spaldington which is where Snowden and his family were living at the time.

In the early 19^th century Snowden and his gang were known for stealing grain from farmers and that is certainly the crime Elias was convicted of in 1810. Snowden himself was convicted of larceny on 6 March 1813 to seven years transportation. He only seems to have got a far as the prison hulks moored at Woolwich. He was discharged from the prison hulk Bellerophon with a free pardon on 16 June 1819.

While he had been in the prison hulk most of his family had committed crimes, been caught and sentenced to transportation. More on this can be found on the East Riding Museum website. I was somewhat intrigued by this family and their possible connection to mine so I have put together the following outline family tree and would like to know more about the people mentioned in this blog post. Do contact me if you have any further information which you are willing to share with me.

Bibliography:

Australian, Convict Transportation Registers – Other Fleets & Ships, 1791-1868.https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ : accessed July 2025.

Cambridge Chronicle and Journal. https://www.findmypast.co.uk/ : accessed July 2025.

England and Wales, Crime & Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935. https://www.findmypast.co.uk/ : accessed July 2025.

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England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1935. https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ : accessed July 2025.

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New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849. https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ : accessed July 2025.

Snowden Dunhill. https://www.eastridingmuseums.co.uk/museums-online/convict-connections/the-convicts/#er-convicts-tc4/ : accessed July 2025.

UK, Prison Hulks, Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849. https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ : accessed July 2025.

York Courant. https://www.findmypast.co.uk/ : accessed July 2025.

York Herald. https://www.findmypast.co.uk/ : accessed July 2025.

York, Yorkshire, England, Church of England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812. https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ : accessed July 2025.

Yorkshire, England, Quarter Session Records, 1637-1914. https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ : accessed July 2025.