John Stephen Hampton R. N.,
Convict Ship Surgeon-Superintendent
Marriage
He married Mary Essex, in Devon on 31 August 1832. Their son George Essex Hampton was baptised on 24 April 1835 at East Stonehouse, Devon. [1]Australia - First Voyage
John Hampton first came to Australia on the Immigrant ship Florist arriving in Sydney on 26 October 1839.Surgeon Superintendent
He was employed as Surgeon-Superintendent on three convict ship voyages to Australia:Mexborough in 1842
Constant in 1843
Sir George Seymour in 1844
Mexborough 1842
The Mexborough departed Dublin 12 August 1841 and arrived in Van Diemen's Land on 26 December 1841 with 143 female prisoners. Medical Journal from 28th July 1841 and 4th January 1842.Constant 1843
The Constant departed Dublin on 9 May 1843 and arrived in Van Diemen's Land on 29 August 1843. Medical Journal from 12 April to 18 September 1843.Sir George Seymour
The Sir George Seymour departed Woolwich on 9 November 1844. Medical Journal from 23rd September 1844 to 26 April 1845.Comptroller-General of Convicts - VDL
John Hampton next came to Australia on the Maitland in 1846 having been appointed Comptroller-General of convicts in Tasmania, a post he held until 1855 when he returned to England on the Nimrod. [5]1861 Census
He remained in England long enough to be included in the 1861 Census. which revealed that he and wife Mary were both born in Scotland. He was 50 years of age and Mary 51. Their son George Essex, age 24, was born in Stonehouse Devon and was employed as an office clerk. They resided at 44 Queen's Gardens Marylebone, London. [2]Governor of Western Australia
In February 1862 he arrived in Western Australia on the Strathallen having been appointed Governor of Western Australia, a position he held until 1868 when he returned to England.Death
John and Mary Hampton returned to England in November 1868. He died on 1st December 1869 in Sussex -The Will of John Stephen Hampton, late of St. Leonard's-on-Sea in the County of Sussex, formerly Governor of the Colony of Western Australia who died 1st December 1869 was proved by the oath of George Essex Hampton, the sole Executor. [3]
Notes and Links
1). Biography - Canberra times -John Stephen Hampton was Governor of Western Australia from 1862 to 1868, John Stephen Hampton administered the colony in an arbitrary fashion and created unrest among the free settlers. Nevertheless, his handling of the convicts was good and his public works programme was of lasting value to the colony. Hampton was born in 1809 and entered the medical branch of the Navy. In 1843 he visited Tasmania as surgeon-superintendent of the convict ship Constant. In 1845 he again visited Tasmania, and this time reported adversely on the conditions under which convicts served in the colony. The following year he was appointed comptroller - general of convicts, a post in which he was effective but also coldblooded.
In 1855, when the Tasmanian Legislative Council opened an inquiry into the conduct of the convict department, Hampton refused to give evidence on the grounds that the department was under Imperial, not local, control, and in this he was eventually upheld by the Privy Council. He was appointed Governor of Western Australia In 1861, reaching the colony in 1862. In 1868, when transportation to Western Australia ended, Hampton retired from office. He died in England the following year. - Canberra Times 12 October 1963
References
[1] England, Devon Bishop's Transcripts, 1558-1887,' , FamilySearch, John Stephen Hampton in household of George Essex Hampton, East Stonehouse, Devon, England; citing Baptism, The Devon Record Office, Exeter.[2] 1861 Census. Class: RG 9; Piece: 11; Folio: 149; Page: 41; GSU roll: 542556
[3] Ancestry.com. England and Wales, National Probate Calendar Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. London, England
[4] Australian Dictionary of Biography
[5] Australian Medical Pioneer Index
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