George Lowe convicted and Transported - Day 7/50 Day Family History Blogging Challenge
A Male Convict in My Family Part 1
George Lowe was born around 1783 in England. Details about his early life remain scarce, but his later actions suggest he may have been involved in petty crime from a young age. At approximately 18 years old, George was convicted of housebreaking, a serious offence in early 19th-century England.
He was sentenced to transportation for life, a common punishment at the time for various crimes, reflecting the British government's practice of sending convicts to penal colonies to alleviate overcrowded prisons and supply labor to its colonies .1
The Voyage on HMS Glatton
In September 1802, George boarded the HMS Glatton, a former warship repurposed for transporting convicts. The ship departed England on 23 September 1802, carrying 271 male and 130 female convicts. The voyage lasted 169 days, with stops at Madeira and Rio de Janeiro.
Conditions were harsh, with overcrowding and disease, and the death of twelve convicts during the journey. The Glatton arrived in Sydney on 11 March 1803, and George disembarked four days later2.
 Assignment in Van Diemen's Land
In early 1805, George was transferred to the settlement of York Town at Port Dalrymple in northern Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania). He arrived there on 4 April 1805 aboard the Buffalo. George was assigned to work on a farm. His duties likely included arduous tasks such as land clearing and timber gathering. At the time, York Town was a fledgling community with 301 residents, including 135 male convicts, 18 women, and 2 children
Escape and Recapture
Just three months after his arrival, in June 1805, George became involved in an escape attempt with a group of convicts. They fled into the bush along the Tamar River, engaging in raiding activities. George surrendered after a few days, claiming he had been coerced into joining the escape and feared for his life if he refused. He provided authorities with a detailed statement about the group's plans and activities,
Transcript of George Lowe's statement:
County of Cornwall to wit . . .
Information on Oath of George Lowe Convict taken this day before me one of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the County of Cornwall.3
Informant being duly Sworn deposits that on the Nineteenth day of June instant and for some time previous thereto he Informant lived as a Government Servant with Richard Wilson Settler. That on the morning of the above day William Russell, Terence Flinn, Bartholomew Foley, John Fitzgerald and John Murphy Convicts rushed into his Masters House. That Russell, Flynn and Foley took from out said House a Musket some powder, Ball, provisions, a Tin Pot and a Tomahawk, that Informant found the aforesaid Convicts and went with them as he supposes Sixty Miles up the River. That on the following Monday Informant and his Companions determined to return to the Camp for the purpose of procuring more dogs and provisions and that on the night of the next ensuing Friday they discovered the Fires of the prisoners Huts in Camp when John Fitzgerald one of the party ran away and took with him one of the dogs they had taken with them on their first leaving camp. That previous to his going Fitzgerald sayd it was his intention to get provisions at the Government Stock Yard that Informant and the rest of the party Slept that night about half a Mile from Camp. That at day break the following Morning they agreed to go first to Wilsons the Settlers to Tie the Hands of himself and his men and to take what provisions and Dogs they might have. That Informant and his Companions were then to go to Centonys Devines Bullocks and Williams Hutts and in like manner secure the persons who might be there and take from thence whatever dogs or provisions they could find after doing which it was the determination of Informant and his party to go to Mr Riley’s Farm and take what provisions be at his Stock Shed. That in Consequence of this determination the rest of the party sent Informant to look out about Wilson House whereupon Informant took that opportunity to escape from them which before he attempted to do but was prevented by their threatening to Shoot him. Informant further says that previous to their going yesterday morning to Wilson Farm, Terence Flinn went to John Murphy the Sawyer and discovered to him that Informant and the other men who had ran away were near the Camp whereupon Murphy informed Flynn there was a Reward for apprehending them and advised them to take the best means in their power to Escape. Informant also says that John Clifford was to have been one of Number who made their escape from Camp. That Clifford told Informant he would take with him Mr Mountgarretts three dogs which he always had at his Command and that he Clifford had Three pounds of powder secured for the purpose of taking with him. Informant also says that Patrick Langton one of Mr Riley’s Servants told him that he Langton meant to run away with the party and to take Mr Riley’s Musquett. That Edward Wood a Servant to Williams Settler says he could procure five or six charges of powder and a Pair of Pistols; that William Servant to Centony a Settler was to have gone but that he refused on the Wednesday morning having given a Fishing Line to John Murphy to assist them; that John Brown Servant to Philip Devine had always intended to escape with them and had got for that purpose a Flint and Tinder Box with a palm and Sail needle to make a Sail of his Bed Case; Informant further says that not one of the five men who with himself ran away have ever been near the Camp since the day they left it untill last Friday night; That Russells intention was that if they could not procure any more dogs in their return to Camp they would build a Canoe and by crossing the water take Mr Pipers Dogs and provisions at Outer Cove and also the Dog the Soldier had at Low Head who they were to surprise when asleep and Informant further says that their intention now is to prepare some kind of Bark Canoe to Cross the water and thinks he can discover where they are.
Sworn before me on this 30th day of June 1805 George his x Mark Lowe.
Alexr Riley J.P.
George Lowe returned to Sydney on the Lady Nelson with the other absconders. No record has been found of a court case relating to the escape attempt.
In August, 1806 convict George Lowe is listed on a muster in Sydney, occupation 'Boat Crew', which would have entailed bringing goods and passengers to and from ships in Sydney Cove.
On 20 March 1808 Lowe and another convict John Bingham escaped on the American Brig Jenny, under Captain William Dorr, enroute to China via Fiji. The Jenny apparently needed to take on extra seamen, who might have been hard to find in Port Jackson at that time.
It was a decision Lowe may have come to regret. The Jenny was headed for Fiji via Tonga. The area had many unchartered reefs, and the natives had a reputation for cannabalism.
The Jenny was damaged in a gale soon after leaving Tonga. Fortunately the weather was then fine and they were able to continue very slowly through the islands. There were several encounters with hostile natives in canoes, many of whom were armed, and some of whom tried unsuccessfully to board and take the ship.
Eventually they arrived at Sandalwood Bay. Shortly after their arrival, the Elizabeth, which was also there, sent a whaleboat ashore with three Europeans and two Tahitians, to procure sandalwood. They were run down by a canoe from the Island of Taffeia; the Europeans were murdered and one later eaten, the Otaheitans were spared and left on a remote island from where they were later rescued.
Soon after, on 28th July, the Jenny, with a good load of sandalwood onboard, suddenly sailed off, leaving behind some crew members who were stationed on shore. Her ultimate destination was Canton in China, where sandalwood was in great demand and where the opium trade was active, but she was seized by a British frigate soon after leaving Guam where she had put in to procure new masts.
On arrival back in Port Jackson in October 1808, the Captain handed Lowe and Bingham back to the Government. No records have survived as to how or whether they were punished for their escape. 4
More to come on the story of George Lowe
Day7/50 Family History Challenge
See From Convict Rags to Riches for details of George and Hanorah's children
https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t18010114-7
Statement on Escape of Convicts, 1805 30 June. Tasmanian Archives - SC195/1/1/62
1808 'SHIP NEWS.', The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), 23 October, p. 2. , viewed 14 Jun 2025, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article627611
I am not sure that running off to sea was his wisest choice!