Lot 3221

Description

Van Diemen's Land, Conditional Pardon on vellum for Vincenzo Bucchieri, signed at Hobart Town on 6 January 1841 by Sir John Franklin, with registration seal. Writing very faded and some toning, otherwise very good.

Vincenzo Bucchieri was born in Sicily. He was a soldier in the Sicilian Army serving with the British when he deserted in Malta and was convicted at La Valette to transportation for life. He arrived in New South Wales on 18 January 1812. He was then sent to Van Diemen's Land and arrived on 19 February 1812. On 29 October 1842, an inquest into his death found that he died of water on the chest, a natural death.^^Sir John Franklin was a British Royal Navy officer and an Arctic explorer. He was Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land from 1837 to 1843. He is featured on the Australian five pounds banknote of 1954 and 1961.