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Thomas Peters (1775–1839)

Thomas Peters and William Douglas were found guilty on 31 July 1802 at the Yorkshire Assizes of stealing ten silver pints and a tankard. Peters' death sentence was commuted to life transportation. He arrived at Port Phillip (Victoria) aboard the Calcutta in October 1803 and was sent on to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) on the Ocean, arriving in February 1804. His wife Ann née Hughes (or Hews) and young daughter, Elizabeth accompanied him on the journey.

Peters was granted an absolute pardon on 8 October 1810. On 1 January 1817 he was granted 100 acres at York Plains. Around this time he also ran the Duke of York hotel in Elizabeth Street, Hobart.

Citation details

'Peters, Thomas (1775–1839)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/peters-thomas-33518/text41891, accessed 29 March 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1775
Yorkshire, England

Death

21 July, 1839 (aged ~ 64)
Bagdad, Tasmania, Australia

Cause of Death

unknown

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Passenger Ship
Occupation
Key Events
Convict Record

Crime: theft
Sentence: death
Commuted To: life
Court: Yorkshire
Trial Date: 31 July 1802
(1802)

Pre-transportation

Occupation: labourer

Post-transportation

Children: Yes (8)