George Neal: The Troubled Life of a Convict

The Woeful Tale of George Neal, Convict: Part-printed Convict Record document on vellum providing extensive details of the trials and tribulations of one George Neal, a chimney sweep from Coventry who was sentenced to be Transported for 10 years at the Warwick Assizes in July 1839. He had broken in to a house and stolen 2 shirts. He arrived in Van Diemen's Land aboard 'Asia' in April 1840 along with 275 other convicts. Both sides of the closely written document recount the many instances of absconding, insolence, neglect of duty, disgraceful conduct, disobedience, refusing to work, idleness, larceny, disorderly conduct, disrespectful conduct, use of improper language, having a knife blade in his possession and the like which, during the next 10 years resulted in his many punishments: periods of hard labour in chains, periods in solitary confinement on bread and water, periods on a tread wheel, lashings, extension of his sentence and ultimately having his period of Transportation extended. The recitation of his crimes and punishments makes astonishing reading. Neal (or Neale or Neill) gained his freedom in July 1849 but was subsequently sentenced to Life Imprisonment in December 1855.