Real Lives - A Stable Lad c1822

Early in 1999 Craig, an aircraft engineer in Melbourne, Australia, made contact through the internet with Stony Stratford. Craig was researching information on John Hooton, his great great great grandfather, a stable lad at The Bull, who had been transported to Australia in 1822. 

The catalogue of John Hooton's misdemeanours started with his conviction for stealing £40 from a dwelling house. We know that John was18, with grey eyes and brown hair, the son of William and Alice Hooton of Stony Stratford. He was tried at Bucks Assizes, condemned to death (a sentence which was commuuted) and transported on the convict ship Caledonia. Its Master was Robert Carns and John embarked on either 10 or 12 June 1822 at Woolwich. His conduct on board was orderly.  

The Caledonia sailed from Portsmouth via Rio to Hobart, a voyage of 140 days. In Hobart John was assigned to various people and received various forms of punishment: 1823 Public Works, ie. building roads and bridge, probably wearing chains. In 1825 he was given 25 lashes for neglect of duty and disobedience. Found drunk and disorderly in 1828 John was put on the treadwheel for 7 days. The same year for being absent from his master, John was sent to the Penitentiary Block. In 1829 he was sent to Maria Island, a Penal Station where, for being disorderly after hours, he was sent to the Penitentiary Block. After absconding from Maria Island in 1831 John was imprisoned and given hard labour for a year. In 1832 he was working for the Survey Department but was given 10 days on the treadwheel in 1833 for being drunk and out after hours. A further 25 lashes followed in 1834 for the crime of insubordination, and a further 6 months hard labour on Public Works for disobedience in 1834. 

However in that year he received his 'ticket of leave' and in 1840 he gained a Conditional pardon which meant he was free but could never return to England. That same year he married another convict, Sarah Ferguson and they had at least three children.