CO 37/156/1. Acknowledges the receipt of a circular of 21 November announcing the appointment of H Lebouchere as Secretary of State. Executive, No. 120, folio 2.CO 37/156/2. Acknowledges the receipt of a despatch granting a conditional pardon to a convict named Cornelius Shea. Reports that Shea had been sent home on board the Barque Pearl on 8 December. Convicts, No. 121, folios 3-5.CO 37/156/3. Forwards a requisition for medicines and other articles required for service of the Tenedos convict hospital hulk for the year ending 31 March 1857 [not included in volume]. Convicts, No. 122, folios 6-7.CO 37/156/4. Forwards correspondence concerning the Naval Clerk of Works John D Anderson's interference with convict discipline. Convicts, No. 123, folios 8-34.CO 37/156/5. Forwards the convict labour returns for December except for the return from the naval clerk of works. Convicts, No. 124, folios 35-40.CO 37/156/6. Forwards further correspondence with the naval commander-in-chief concerning the naval clerk of works' interference with convict discipline. Convicts, No. 125, folios 41-52.CO 37/156/7. Return of all Legislative and Privy Council members holding office during the half year ending 31 December. Unnumbered, folios 53-54.CO 37/156/8. Return of colonial officers present and execution of officer during the quarter ending 31 December. Unnumbered, folios 55-56.CO 37/156/9. Return of steam vessels built and registered during the half year ending 31 December. Unnumbered, folios 57-58.CO 37/156/10. Reports that a convict named John Murray died on 10 September 1853 leaving 8 0s 11d gratuity. Explains that his widow was not entitled to receive the money as it was forfeited to the public. Convicts, No. 126, folios 59-60.CO 37/156/11. Forwards the attested list and return of convicts for the quarter ending 31 December. Convicts, No. 127, folios 61-66.CO 37/156/12. Reports no objection to the appointment of Mr McPhee Lee as French Vice Consul. Convicts, No. 128, folios 67-68.CO 37/156/13. Forwards the account of gratuity and private cash due to convicts about to proceed to Portsmouth and Cork in the ship Castle Eden. Convicts, No. 129, folios 69-72.CO 37/156/14. Reports that two convicts named Gilbert McDonald and Henry Smith were kept back from going home on the ship Castle Eden due to large sums of money being found in their possession. Adds that the money was forfeited. Convicts, No. 130, folio 73.CO 37/156/15. Return of Convict Department officers showing their ages, date entering the service, salary and allowances per year. Convicts, folios 74-81.CO 37/156/16. Forwards a letter from the deputy superintendent concerning the 'great misconduct' of the convicts conveyed to Bermuda on the Castle Eden. Explains they had been informed before their departure that they would not receive reduced sentences for good conduct. Convicts, No. 131, folios 82-86.CO 37/156/17. Forwards the convict and nominal lists of English and Irish prisoners proceeding to Portsmouth and Cork in the ship Castle Eden [not included in volume]. Convicts, No. 132, folios 87-93.CO 37/156/18. Forwards correspondence from Colonel Henry Poole, Lieutenant Colonel Montgomery Williams and Storekeeper W L Penns concerning encroachments made by the Convict Department on parts of Boaz Island set aside for the War Department. Convicts, No. 133, folios 94-98.CO 37/156/19. Forwards a letter from Roman Catholic Convict Chaplain P L Madden concerning the case of a convict named Edward Sheehan. Encloses a copy of Sheehan's conviction list. Convicts, No. 134, folios 99-104.CO 37/156/20. Forwards the convict labour returns for the month of January and the return from the Naval Works Department for December. Convicts, No. 135, folios 105-112.CO 37/156/21. Forwards a report made by the deputy superintendent concerning the use of the steamer Siren for the Convict Service. Convicts, No. 136, folios 113-116.CO 37/156/22. Reports that on 23 February John Harvey Darrell and D Stewart were sworn in and assumed office as Chief Justice and Attorney General respectively. Executive, No. 137, folios 117-118.CO 37/156/23. Forwards a report by the deputy superintendent concerning promises made to certain officers when they were hired. Convicts, No. 138, folios 119-150.CO 37/156/24. Forwards the annual reports of the Convict Establishment deputy superintendent, medical officer, and chaplain. Convicts, No. 139, folios 151-322.CO 37/156/25. Forwards a requisition for 116 iron bedsteads for convict wardens [not included in volume]. Convicts, No. 140, folios 323-324.CO 37/156/26. Forwards a letter from the deputy superintendent concerning the rate of prison officers' gratuities, known as exertion money. Convicts, No. 141, folios 325-328.CO 37/156/27. Forwards the convict labour returns in February. Convicts, No. 142, folios 329-335.CO 37/156/28. Forwards a letter from the deputy superintendent concerning the property of a deceased convict named William Hawkins. Convicts, No. 143, folios 336-338.CO 37/156/29. Acknowledges the receipt of despatches. Unnumbered, folio 339.CO 37/156/30. Reports that the Royal Mail Steamer Curlew was wrecked on the reefs to the north of Bermuda on 17 March. Adds that the despatches were recovered but were unfit to be kept as records. Requests that duplicates be sent. Separate, No. 1, folio 340.CO 37/156/31. Acknowledges the receipt of despatches. Unnumbered, folio 341.CO 37/156/32. Reports that there were vacancies for 205 convicts. Urges that they be sent out at once. Convicts, No. 144, folios 342-345.CO 37/156/33. Forwards a copy of a letter from the deputy superintendent covering an application from Assistant Overseer Robert Belvin for permission to retire on a pension due to ill health. Convicts, No. 145, folios 346-349.CO 37/156/34. Forwards a printed form is needed in connection with Quarter Master Thomas Pearce's application for a pension [not included in volume]. Convicts, No. 146, folios 350-351.CO 37/156/35. Forwards a letter from the deputy superintendent recommending that the superior officer of the Convict Department should be placed on 'some footing' with naval and military officers. Convicts, No. 147, folios 352-354.CO 37/156/36. Forwards a letter from the deputy superintendent concerning the employment of convicts as shoemakers and tailors for officers. Convicts, No. 148, folios 355-359.CO 37/156/37. Forwards a letter from the deputy superintendent concerning the remission of convicts' sentences before their expiration. Encloses a petition from a convict names George Taylor [not included in volume; sent to the Home Office]. Convicts, No. 149, folios 360-366.CO 37/156/38. Forwards a letter from the medical superintendent concerning the appointment of another medical officer. Also encloses a letter from the deputy superintendent concerning the matter. Convicts, No. 150, folios 367-372.CO 37/156/39. Forwards a report from the attorney general concerning importing and exporting saltpetre and other chemical salts. Convicts, No. 151, folios 373-376.CO 37/156/40. Forwards the attested lists and the return of convicts for the quarter ending 31 March. Convicts, No. 152, folios 377-380.CO 37/156/41. Forwards a letter from the attorney general applying for appointment as Queen's Advocate. Convicts, No. 153, folios 381-386.CO 37/156/42. Forwards a letter from Thomas Butterfield concerning the wording of the Writ of Mandamus received by the last mail reappointing him to the Council. Convicts, No. 154, folios 387-390.CO 37/156/43. Calls attention to the imperfect state of the island's defences. Convicts, No. 155, folios 391-394.CO 37/156/44. Reports granting six months leave of absence to the Reverend M K S Frith, Rector of Paget and Warwick Parishes, to allow him to travel to England. Encloses the official leave of absence report. Convicts, No. 156, folios 395-398.CO 37/156/45. Forwards a letter from the deputy superintendent stating the terms on which he had obtained the services of a carpenter. Convicts, No. 157, folios 399-400.CO 37/156/46. Forwards a letter from the deputy superintendent enclosing a tender from the owners of Sir George Seymour for the use of the ship to convey convicts to and from England. Encloses a return of the number of convicts eligible for return to the United Kingdom. Convicts, No. 158, folios 401-408.CO 37/156/47. Return of colonial officers present and execution of officer during the quarter ending 31 March.

Unnumbered, folios 409-411.CO 37/156/48. Forwards a letter from the deputy superintendent pointing out an error concerning convict Michael Madigan's sentence. Encloses Madigan's conviction list. Convicts, No. 159, folios 412-417.CO 37/156/49. Forwards a letter from the deputy superintendent explaining the reasons for which convicts William Emer, George Materhouse, Peter Hurstwitt, Joshua Nelson, and Samuel Mills were sent home to the Castle Eden. Encloses the conviction list of Thomas F Webster and G Waterhouse as well as a petition from Webster. Convicts, No. 160, folios 418-425.CO 37/156/50. Forwards the convict labour returns for March and April. Convicts, No. 161, folios 426-439.CO 37/156/51. Forwards and recommends a letter from the deputy superintendent covering a copy of a petition from convict Thomas Assem [Asim] requesting a pardon to proceed to Montreal rather than to England. Encloses Assem's conviction list. Convicts, No. 162, folios 440-444.CO 37/156/52. Forwards a letter from the deputy superintendent explaining the circumstances attached to the retirement of former Second Mate Walter Willcocks. Convicts, No. 163, folios 445-449.CO 37/156/53. Reports the appointment of Nathaniel Butterfield and J W Foggo as Assistant Judges of the Court of General Assize. Explains that they replaced W Harvey and J Outerbridge, who resigned due to old age and infirmity. Encloses an extract from the Royal Gazette of an address of the Grand Jury to the Bench showing that the recent law appointments had been satisfactory to the general public. Executive, No. 164, folios 450-453.

AMDigital Reference: CO 37/156.

Series: CO 37 Colonial Office and predecessors: Bermuda, Original Correspondence.

The National Archives, UK

Colonial Caribbean Module 3: Economic Change and Indentured Labour, 1850-1870

Bermuda Islands > Politics and government > 19th century > Sources.

Great Britain > Colonies > Administration > History > Sources.