married William Henry Smith
this branch of
the
Jillett/Bradshaw Family Tree.
Overview
From previous research when doing
the website, and based on the original Jillett research, it seemed that the
story of Charlotte Daisy Jillett and William Henry Smith was very vague indeed
with scant details.
However what a story has unfolded about the families
associated with William and Charlotte, and without a doubt, the research
regarding Charlotte and her husband, has
been most intriguing.
The immediate family are
intertwined with the original "First Fleeters" on Norfolk Island.
There were only 13 of them, and
nearly all feature in this lineage at some point. If they weren't convicts they were marines of
the "Calcutta".
A famous person once said "There were
three in this marriage", it applies
aptly to William's grandmother Ann Brooks.
She had two children before marriage to James Morrisby.
One in England, one conceived on
landing in Sydney and the remainder born on Norfolk Island.
How then was she labelled Ann
Brooks, Ann Lavendar or Ann Morrisby?.
Why
then was her second child born Richard Brooks, known as Richard Lavendar, and
then Richard Larsom.?
A mystery
no doubt. One without proof, but plenty
of speculation
From
Norfolk Island to Clarence Plains, they certainly have placed their stamp on
Colonial Tasmania.
From the original Jillett Family
Research in the Jillett Family Tree compiled by Dr John Jillett and other
family members c1990
.8 Jillett, Charlotte
Daisy
b 25AUG1815 bap1 15SEP1815, St. David's, Hobart, TAS {JBJ}
bap2 01JAN1829
S. Matthew's, New Norfolk TAS [1829:3328]
m 30NOV1836
[1836:3211]
to SMITH, William Henry (X his mark), eldest son of George and Grace
(neé Morrisby, b. Norfolk Island 28JAN1797) Smith. George had been a Marine, butcher and
landholder on Norfolk Island, arr VDL per Lady
Nelson/Ocean 1804, granted 120 acres at Herdsman's
Cove and 110 acres at Clarence Plains.
Grace arr VDL per Porpoise 1808.
Sig - William Young and William
Holdship lived at Bruni Island (William, whaler -1839)
m2? ---------,
Ann, in which case,
d 07OCT1868
@ 49
d 04AUG1852
[1852:1588 notified by brother William Bradshaw and described as a whaler's wife]
@ 37 years, buried St. David's,
Hobart TAS
Charlotte Daisy
Jillett m William Henry Smith
Charlotte Daisy Jillett was born 25th August 1815 and she was baptised twice, once in St David's Hobart, and again in St Matthew s New Norfolk, although that may have been a confirmation service.
She married William Henry Smith, on 30th November 1836. His father had been a marine butcher and landholder on Norfolk Island. After the marriage they lived at Clarence Plains, where William is described as a farmer, and on Bruny Island, where he was a whaler.
Clarence Plains is an area of land that covers most of the
eastern shore just across the Derwent River from Hobart.
It's a large area of land that includes sites such as the first camp site by
Europeans at Risdon Cove and the area often at the centre of a modern Tasmanian
debate at Ralphs Bay.
Charlotte died on 4th
August 1852, and was buried at St David s Hobart
Charlotte's death was registered by her
brother William Bradshaw. She was noted as being a Whaler's wife.
William married a second time to
Ann Belbin. He died in 1898
One was married to a lady named
Sophia.
WOOD-SMITH. -On the 19th December
by the Rev. Wm. Nicolson, D.D., Anthony Wood, to Sophia, relict of the late
Captain William Smith.
Previous research reveals
One of the log books of William Smith has survived and is in the possession of the Crowther Collection in Hobart. . Norman in his book Pioneer Shipping refers to the Maurie Laure as being captained by Sherwin from 1879 to 1883 and probably longer by William Smith
It deals mainly
with the voyage of the Maid Of Erin in 1871.
SMITH, William
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|||
n.d.
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In index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land
(Fiche 3262; 4/438 p.84)
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||
SMITH, William
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n.d.
|
In index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land
[1813] (Fiche 3262; 4/438 p.81)
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||
1819-22
|
On list of persons owing quit rents in Van
Diemen's Land; for land in the District of Clarence Plains (Fiche 3270; X19
p.22)
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||
In 1842 they gave evidence at a court case regarding a fire at Mr
Stanfield's property at Clarence Plains.
William's sister Grace had married William Stanfield, who died in
1838. William was the brother of Daniel
Stanfield who owned the property. Daniel
Stanfield married John Morrisby's daughter.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10.
Mary Ann Topham was arraigned under charge of having, on the 7th instant, maliciously and feloniously set fire to a hay-stack, the property of Mr. Daniel Stanfield, at Clarence Plains.
Mr. D. Stanfield deposed, that on the evening of the day in question, having received information that one of his hay-stacks, standing at some distance from his house, was on fire, he hurried to the spot, and found some men endeavouring to extinguish the flames ; he saw the prisoner there ; she resided only a few yards from the spot, with her husband, a miller.
Miss Elizabeth Stanfield had accompanied her father to the spot where the stack was burning; after remaining there rather more than an hour, she saw the prisoner throw something out of her hand, on that part of the stack which was not on fire, at the same time exclaiming to the men who were on the stack endeavouring to extinguish the flames, that their efforts were useless, " as every straw should be burnt down before the morning ;" Miss Stanfield thought her under the influence of drink, and distinctly saw her scatter something from her hand, though, in consequence of the smoke, she could not tell what it was.
William Smith, farmer, residing at Clarence Plains, on some property contiguous to Mr. Stanfield's, deposed that, at about six o'clock in the evening of the 7th instant, he heard the prisoner quarrelling with her husband, close to their cottage ; shortly after, perceiving a quantity of dry grass, lying scattered round the stack, on fire, he endeavoured to put it out, but did not succeed ; he then sent some men to apprise Mr. Stanfield of what was taking place; the prisoner was present and appeared to be intoxicated, and did not offer to render any assistance ; she had something in her hand, which she said was brim-stone, and kept throwing some on the fire, saying
" Here is more brimstone, I'll keep it going !" She also added that it was of no use striving to save the stack, as what was not burnt then "should be so before the morning ; Mr. Lackey should not have a fire alone, for Mr. Stanfield should be a mate of his ;" the prisoner's husband did everything in his power to save the straw.
Mrs. Charlotte Smith, wife of the preceding witness, stated, that at the time of the fire the prisoner pointed to her husband, saying, " that is the villain, that is the wretch who has set the stack on fire ;" she observed, that when a man of the name of George Taylor went with a bucket to Mrs. Topham's water-cask to procure water to pour on the stack, she seized an axe, and swore she would split open the head of anyone who would attempt to take any from her premises ; she then upset the cask, saying," let it burn."
James Langley, reaper in Mr. Stanfield's service, was at work at a distance of about 200 yards from the stack :he saw the prisoner leave her house with a fire-brand in her hand ; she held it up to the wind and flung it towards the stack ; he remained for about a quarter of an hour after, tying up some wheat sheaves, but having some alarm for the stack he went down to ascertain that it had not ignited ; he found that the fire had not communicated, but searched in vain for the brand ; he saw the hay on fire lit about dusk the same evening.
George Taylor was called to certify to what had fallen from Mrs. Smith's lips with reference to the threat held out to him by the prisoner on the subject of obtaining water from her cask.
Mary Ann Wood deposed that, as she was returning from Hobart Town to Clarence Plains in Mr. Stanfield 's cart, the prisoner, who was lying at the bottom quite tipsy, said, during a conversation on the misfortune of Mr. Lackey's fire, that " Mr. Stanfield's stack might be burnt down before their return for all she knew, though a few days might elapse first."
The prisoner, at the same time that she protested her innocence of the charge preferred against her, called for mercy at the hands of the jury. She stated that, in a spirit of determination to make her out the guilty party, the various witnesses had perjured themselves, as she had never thrown either fire or sulphur near the hay-stack, of the burning of which she was not aware until struck by the reflection of the blaze through her window ; that her reason for not allowing the water to be taken was, that it was difficult to be obtained where she lived, and that salt water could have been obtained quite as readily.
The jury having retired at about half-past two o'clock to deliberate on their verdict, a new one was empanelled.
William Henry Smith
was declared insolvent in 1846. This record can be found in Tasmanian
newspaper archives
Notice is hereby
given that the above-named William Henry Smith, having presented his petition
to Edward Macdowell Esq the Commissioner of Insolvent Estates for Hobart Town,
under the Act of this Island..................................
Insolvencies, in the
matter of the Insolvency of William Henry Smith of Bruni Island in Van Diemen's
Land, farmer.
After the death of Charlotte,
he married Ann Belbin
William Smith's land
grants at Clarence Plains
George Smith m Grace
Morrisby
George Augustus Smith was a
Marine on the Calcutta. Grace was born on Norfolk Island
They married in 1810, in
Hobart. George died in January 1855 and
Grace died in 1827
The
children
Grace
Smith 1812 1897
m William Stanfield and James Staples
William
Henry Smith 1814 1893 m Grace Morrisby and
Ann Belbin
George
James Smith 1816 1854
m Ann Kidner
James
Smith 1819 1896
m Eavies Eagar
Richard
Smith 1821 1886
m Sydney Iles
Henry
Smith 1823 1900
m Lucy Ann Kingston
Ann
Smith 1825 m Henry Mears
From Cathy Dunn
SMITH
George Private of Marines1 7 Oct 1803
List 1:1 - Persons
Victualled from 17 October 1803 at Port Phillip to 31 December 1804
at the River Derwent
George
Smith Private
List 3:2
List 3:2
Return of Detachment
of Royal Marines,
Hobart Town, Van
Diemen's Land,
18 December 1805
6 Sep 1806 paid for
George Smith .....................
Cash paid to the
detachment from 6 April to 6 September 1806 for transport of Private Smith and
four guards for court martial in Sydney:
George Smith Settler,
Late Royal Marine Corps
LIST
7:7b - Signatures of Inhabitants from outside Hobart Town for Establishment
of Criminal Court at Hobart Town District, 1815
From the
Colonial Secretary Papers
SMITH, George. May be more than one person
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n.d.
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In index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land
[first grant 1813] (Fiche 3262; 4/438 pp.82, 85, 86)
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1814 Feb 2
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Royal Marine. Re assignment of land in Van
Diemen's Land (Fiche 3261; 4/433 pp.50-1)
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1815 Aug 15
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Of Clarence Plains, Van Diemen's Land. Agreement
with Charles Simpson re sheep (Fiche 3261; 4/433 pp.89-90)
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1819-22
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On list of persons owing quit rents in Van
Diemen's Land; for land in the District of Melville (Fiche 3270; X19 p.22)
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1821 May 25
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Indebted to the Government at Hobart (Reel 6054;
4/1757 p.64b)
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1823 Feb 7-Mar 5
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John Gwynne convicted by Court of Criminal
Jurisdiction of stealing from Smith (Reel 6023; X820 p.79)
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The Smith Family
George
Smith m Ann Kidner
Ann Kidner, was the daughter of
Thomas Kidner and Elizabeth Burkett. She
was the niece of Annie Whiting Kidner who married Richard Brooks/Larsom
George died in 1854. He was a farmer at Clarence Plains.
He was born in 1780 in Kingston, Portsea Hampshire, and had
been enlisted in the
1st (Or Royal Scots) Regt Of Foot
3rd Battalion and was discharged in 1801
Mercury (Hobart,
Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Monday 12 April 1880, page 3
SORELL.
[From our
own Correspondent.]
The "Topographical
Papers" of Mr. James Erskine Calder, which appear occasionally in The
Mercury, are read with much interest and highly appreciated by the people of
Sorell, where there are still living men who have seen every Governor from first
to last, who has represented Royalty in Tasmania since the colony was founded;
and it has occasioned me some little surprise that a gentleman of Mr. Calder's
tastes does not take a run down to Sorrell where he can converse with men who
have conversed with Governor Collins and were eye witnesses of the outrages
perpetrated in the cruel days when he and the lash bore sway, who "can a
tale — a tale unfold" , of those days of cruelty for ever gone.
"Lynx," in his Echoes of the Day, in the last number of The Tasmanian
Mail, pays a well-merited tribute to Mr. Calder for. the invaluable service he
has done in presenting historical facts, almost forgotten, in "an easily
understandable conversational style," to the public at large through the
medium of the press.
But " Lynx" goes too
far when he credits Mr. Calder with having recently discovered in our old and
respected fellow-colonist, Mr. James Belbin, of Cambridge, that mythical being,
"the oldest inhabitant." "Lynx," though always sharp, is
not always right, and I cannot return him the same compliment which he pays Mr.
Calder, when he says — "Mr. Calder is known to be invariably right in his
facts." If "Lynx" should take a trip across the Causeway, and
favour me with his card, I can in five minutes prove that he is "not always
right in his facts, by introducing him to an inhabitant of Sorell who arrived
in the colony in Her Majesty's sloop of war Buffalo, in the year 1805, three
years before Mr. Belbin came to Tasmania. I refer to Mr. Thomas Kidner.'' If he
will trust himself five miles out of "sweet sylvan Sorell" (where the
people are very anxious to see him) I can introduce him to old Tom Wiggins, who
came to the colony with Governor Collins in 1804, and is, I believe, "the
oldest inhabitant" of Tasmania now living. "Lynx" could also
find out who was "the man in the cell," about; whom he has thrown so
much mystery. He has been a fighting man in his day, but is perfectly harmless
now; delights to talk of what he once could do, and rejoices in the name of "
Cockey."
James
Smith m Eavies Eagar
James Smith 1819 1896 m Eavies Eagar
Eavies Eagar was the daughter of
George Eagar and Eavies Day. The family
arrived on the ship "Midas", and he was a Government employee.
1825
Dec 23
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Govt passenger landed at Sydney
from the "Midas"; with his wife (Reel 6016; 4/3516 pp.298, 301)
|
William Williams was then brought to the bar, charged with having forged a £2 cheque, purporting to have been drawn in favour of himself by Mr. A. Eagar, and also with uttering the same, knowing it to hate been forged, with intent to defraud one James Middleton, a publican, residing at Brighton.
It appeared that the prisoner had spent a night at the public-house in question, where he ran a score for refreshments and a bed, in payment of which he tendered the cheque above-mentioned, and of which the writing was so recent as to cause suspicion. It was, however, taken ; but payment of the change deferred until inquiries should be made on the subject.
Mr. Eagar pronounced the signature, purporting to be his, a forgery and stated that he never had any dealing with the Derwent Bank, at which the cheque was made payable.
Verdict-Guilty on the second count of the information, no testimony having been adduced to trace the fabrication of the cheque to the prisoner. Seven years' transportation.
Richard
Smith m Sydney Iles
Sydney was born 1835 and she died
in 1920 in Victoria. She was the
daughter of Samuel Isles, and his wife Catherine Maguire, from Ireland. They married in 1854. The family arrived from London on the ship
Tasman in 1852. Richard died in 1886 at
Port Albert in Victoria
DEATH
OF AN OLD IDENTITY.- Our Sorell correspondent writes:- "Mr. Samuel Iles,
whose name has been as familiar as a household word at Sorell for the last 30
years, has just passed away, in the 73rd year of his age. Although not so old a
resident as some who still live in this district, and can count their 60 years
of active work at Pittwater, Mr. Iles, perhaps, has been as much to the front
in all matters of local interest as any man at Sorell.In politics he always took the liveliest interest, his closing effort being in Mr. Gunn's election. In business he was ever active ; and it was the fault of nobody but himself that in his declining years he had not a fortune to comfort him, for few men had better chances of securing a competency of life. Faultless he was not ; but his generosity knew no bounds, and many who have passed over to the "vast majority" have experienced the bounty of his hands, and not a few who still live have experienced his kindly help in the hour of need in his palmy days when he made money freely, and parted with it as if it were as valueless as dross.
In him the turf once had a rich supporter, which in the end left him poor indeed; and for the past twelve months he had been living in quiet retirement with his daughter, Mrs. Edward Birchall, at the Sorell Rivulet. Naturally powerful, and blessed with a wonderful constitution his altered appearance had lately excited the fears of those most dear to him ; and, a few weeks ago he proceeded to town for medical attendance.
But it was too late ; and no remedies could stay the decay of nature. He wished to die at Sorell, and on Wednesday started from this city, homeward bound. At the half-way house his strength failed him, but he received every attention from Mr. King and his daughters, at the Horse Shoe Inn.
The following morning he was gently driven by his son, Mr. John Iles, towards Sorell but ere he reached the "old familiar place," his spirit passed away, in the presence of his son John and his daughter Margaret, to the God who gave it. Mr. Iles was a native of Enniskillen, and leaves behind him four sons, John, William, Christopher, and Samuel, and two daughters (Mrs. Edward Birchall and Mrs. Smith), all of whom are natives of the Emerald Isle, Mr. Christopher Iles being one whose name is well and favourably known as an indefatigable explorer in the gold and tin-mining districts of Tasmania, whose services have in no small degree helped to develop the hidden wealth of the colony, and bring about its present state of material prosperity. Mr. Iles was buried in the same grave as his wife, at Sorell, on Sunday, and his remains were followed to their last resting place by a large concourse of his old friends."
Ann
Smith m Henry Mears
Henry was a convict, transported
on Countess of Harcourt in 1821. He was tried aged 15.
He applied for permission to
marry Mary
Connor 30 April 1832 Pardoned 1844
He had
two children with Mary then married in 1848, Ann Smith. They had 3 more children before he died in
1855. Ann died after 1853
HENRY MEARS, Theft > theft
from a specified place, 9th September 1818.
Reference Number: t18180909-10
Offence: Theft > theft from a specified place
Verdict: Guilty
Punishment: Death
1071.
HENRY MEARS was indicted for stealing, on the 24th of July , at St. James,
Westminster, in the dwelling-house of Sir Charles Morgan , Bart., one
promissory note for the payment of and value 10l.; two 20l., one 10l., and two
5l. bank notes , the property of Thomas Neat .Offence: Theft > theft from a specified place
Verdict: Guilty
Punishment: Death
THOMAS NEAT . I am coachman to Sir. Charles Morgan , Bart, who lives in the parish of St. James, Westminster . The prisoner was his servant . My property was in a drawer, in the servants' hall, which was locked, but the key left in it by accident. On the 24th of July, I lost 70l., out of a little box, which was in the drawer. I had seen it all safe, about half an hour before. I saw the officer find two 20l. bank notes, one 10l. Stroud bank note, one 5l., one 2l. and one 1l. bank notes, upon him - I lost more. I know the Stroud note by the number, which I took particular notice of when I received it.
Cross-examined by MR. ADOLPHUS. I had 470l. in the drawer - I never told any person of it.
GEORGE POPLE. I am a police-officer. I searched the prisoner, and found the money on him; he said that the whole of it belonged to the prosecutor, and he was sorry for it immediately after he had done it.
The prisoner made no defence.
GUILTY . - DEATH . Aged 15. First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Bayley.
Richard Brooks/Larsom
Richard Brooks known as Richard Larsom married Anne Whiting Kidner. Ann was also born on Norfolk Island and was
the daughter of Thomas Kidner and Jane Whiting.
She was born 1st October 1798
Richard
and Ann were married in 24 February 1812
In 1840, they were living at
Lexington Cottage, in Ralph's Bay, and he was issuing notices about cattle that
strayed.
True Colonist Van Diemen's Land Political Despatch, and Agricultural and
Commercial... (Hobart Town, Tas. : 1834 - 1844), Friday 25 September 1835, page
6
To the Editor of the True Colonist.
I have to relate a circumstance that happened at Muddy Plains on Tuesday
last, near the residence of Mr. R. Larsom. There was something seen in the salt
water by one of his children, shortly after day-light, which frightened the
child so, that she ran to the house and acquainted her father, Mr. L., of what
she had seen ; he being an old sealcatcher, suspected what it was. He and Mr.
William Cooly, (who then was at his house) armed themselves with two garden
hoes, and attacked the animal, and after a severe struggle, succeeded in
killing .it. It proyed to be a sea elephant, measuring fifteen feet nine
inches in length, weighing 400lbs ;
turned out upwards of twenty gallons of oil. Just at the time they commenced
the attack, a Gentleman came along, whom they' requested to assist in killing
the animal ; he seeing a large bludgeon laying on the sea beach, seized it, and
made boldly towards the frightful beast; but when he opened his immense jaws,
the Gentleman dropped his stick, and ran away, swearing ' By J ? s he would eat
forty men if he was in the water.' You may rely on this as a fact, and as such
animals are not often seen so near to Hobart Town, I think it will be
interesting to the public. — I remain, Sir, &c. A Subscriber? Kangaroo
Point, Sept. 23, 1835.
LARSOME, Richard
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n.d.
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In index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land
(Fiche 3262; 4/438 pp.53, 56)
|
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1819-22
|
On list of persons owing quit rents in Van
Diemen's Land; for land in the District of Gloucester (Fiche 3270; X19 p.15)
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Thomas Kidner and Jane
Whiting
The story of Thomas Kidner and
Jane Whiting has so many parallels to the Jilletts. Both Jane and Robert were
pardoned and sentenced for life. The
information is from two sources.
http://simonkidner.co.uk/chetenore/australia/firstfleet.html http://chetenore.com
and The life and times of Thomas Kidner and Jane
Whiting 2008 Author
- Steve Quinn
Thomas Kidner was born in 1765
and baptised on 16th November at St. Mary’s Church, North Petherton in
Somerset. His father James, was a farm labourer and his mother’s name was Mary
(nee Ridon)
At 18 years of age, Thomas Kidner
along with four accomplices, was accused of stealing four pieces of Irish
linen, valued at £6, from William Iverend, a resident of the parish of St. John
in Bristol.
The trial was held on 30th
October, 1782 and Thomas was sentenced to Transportation for 7 years. Of his co-accused,
W. Northcote was found not guilty, J. Barry, W. Bendall and T. Webber were
publicly whipped. Elizabeth Pollard was found guilty of receiving stolen goods
Thomas had served more than four years of his sentence when he was transferred
to the ‘Alexander’ on 6th January, 1787.
The Alexander was the first ship
in the eventual fleet of eleven vessels to receive its ‘cargo’.
Along with Thomas, the Alexander
carried 194 male convicts and was the largest ship to join the First Fleet to
sail to Botany Bay in New Holland.
Prior to departure 11 prisoners
died. On 22nd March, the prisoners on Alexander were taken off again while she
was whitewashed all day. This failed to wipe out the virulent virus.On 29th
March, Alexander was again smoked and washed as the medical men conducted their
running battle against a situation beyond their medical capability.
Early in April the lighters were
taken away from the much-fumigated Alexander and the prisoners re-boarded.
Newly-sentenced prisoners still arrived.
On 6th May, as the last full
return was made of convicts about to be transported, three men died on Alexander.
On 20th July 1789, Thomas was
charged with three others, with buying "necessaries" from private
marine Mark Hurst. Hurst maintained that Kidner had offered to give him two
bottles of liquor in exchange for a white shirt. Thomas gave the shirt to another
convict in exchange for two pounds of flour. Hurst said that he had returned
the flour to Kidner for baking, but Kidner had swapped the flour for a pair of
trousers, which he had returned to Hurst.
Thomas Kidner maintained that
Hurst had asked him to sell the shirt for flour. He had given the shirt to Mary
Davis in exchange for two pounds of flour, one of which he would give to Hurst.
Hurst had also sold two bottles
of liquor to Thomas Bryan for a pair of shoes and a white shirt. Joseph Morley
gave fish to Hurst expecting to receive liquor in return, but received white
stockings instead. John Hall was to give Hurst some tobacco for a pair of
worsted stockings, but received a pair of white stockings that were rotted and
full of holes.
For this illegal trading Hurst
received 300 lashes, Morley 100 lashes, Hall 50 lashes.
Thomas
Kidner and Bryan received 150
Thomas Kidner was sent to Norfolk
Island aboard the Supply, 11th November 1789.
On Sunday 6th December Thomas was
disembarked from the Supply at Norfolk Island. This was to be his home for the
next 18 years.
Aboard Lady Juliana was a young
girl, just turned 14, who had been sentenced to Transportation for Life. Her
name: Jane Whiting Little is known of the early life of Jane Whiting. She was
born in early 1775.
Late in 1788, at age 13, it is
known that she lived with her mother in Peter Street, Westminster.
On 5th October 1788, Jane, in the
company of a 10 year old girl named Mary Wade, had
been begging in the area of the
Treasury building on Whitehall. They coerced an 8 year old girl named Mary
Phillips to take off her dress, cap and tippet. Later they pawned the dress for
18d.
For this offence, Jane and Mary
were tried at the Old Bailey on the 14th January 1789. The
crime was “theft with violence:
Highway robbery”.
The verdict –Guilty. The penalty
–Death.
Jane was taken to Newgate Prison.
For the next ninety-three days she awaited the gallows.
However, on 17 April King George reprieved her from the hangman's
noose and ordered her
transported for the term of her
natural life. Six weeks after arriving at Port Jackson Jane was placed aboard
the recently arrived Surprize, along with 37 male and another 156 female convicts,
for transfer to Norfolk Island.
7th August 1790, The Justinian
and the Surprize arrive at Norfolk Island from Port Jackson, with desperately
needed supplies. Jane was now approaching her 15th birthday.
Thomas, meanwhile, was laboring
for the colony. By July 1791 he was subsisting on a lot at Sydney Bay. He had
cleared 50 rods and felled 30 rods of timber.
He shared a sow with Robert Nunn
and Mary Carter. The sow had a litter of 4 on 25th March 1792, enabling him to
go ‘off-stores’ for meat.
By mid-1792 he had his own
allotment (No.14) of 15 acres overlooking Ball’s Bay and by October 1793 he had
four acres cultivated. Thomas was employed as a stone-cutter and Jane was now
living with him. but it is believed, and highly probable, that Thomas and Jane
were married by Rev. Marsden early in 1795.
On 30th May, 1795 Jane gave birth
to a son that they named Thomas.
In October, 1798 Thomas and Jane
had a daughter that they named Ann.
On 15th October 1805 Thomas,
Jane, Thomas Jnr. and Ann left Norfolk Island on the Buffalo
and disembarked at Port Jackson.
The purpose of this trip is unclear
but may have related to Jane’s status (convict with a life sentence) and
attempts to petition the authorities for a ticket of leave or a pardon.
The Sydney Gazette of 25th May
1806 reported that Thomas had been granted a permit to leave the colony.
Thomas and his son, by then aged
11, apparently returned to Norfolk island, probably with the intention to
gather their meagre belongings and make their way to Van Diemen’s Land.
It appears that Jane may have
stayed in Sydney and eventually made her way directly to VDL
on the King George. Thomas and
his son finally embarked on the Lady Nelson arriving in Hobart on 28th November,
1807, the first of many voyages bringing the people of Norfolk Island to
VDL.
By 30th April 1809, Thomas had 22
acres at Brown’s river and was later granted 30 acres at Sandy Bay and was
living on this plot by 1810 despite the grant not being official until 20th
September 1813. Meanwhile, Jane and Ann had arrived in the colony aboard the
King George and joined the two Thomas's.
Jane was granted a full pardon on
9th June 1810 and it appears that she was ‘assigned’ to a George Clark of
Collins Street Hobart as a housekeeper.
Thomas was ‘involved’ in an
incident on his Queenborough property when two convicts absconded from a road gang
and, in the area near Thomas’ home, got into an argument which resulted in one
shooting the other.
Thomas and four other witnesses
were required to go to Sydney for the trial of Terrence Flynn who was subsequently
hung at the site of the crime.
Thomas also held 60 acres of land
at Sussex.
There is some evidence to suggest
that Thomas was lost at sea whilst on a whaling or sealing trip in 1813.
In 1817, Jane was subsequently
given a house and land by George Clark in consideration of her services. She transferred
half the land to her son, Thomas Jnr.
Ann Kidner married Richard Larsom
on 24th February 1812 and Thomas Jnr. married Elizabeth Burkett on 7th January
1822 in Hobart.
Jane Kidner died in Hobart on
14th September, 1826 and is buried in St.Davids Cemetery.
In 1827 Thomas Jnr. sold the Queenborough
property to a Mr. James Moody.
http://simonkidner.co.uk/chetenore/australia/firstfleet.html
Within the research there is information that indicates that Thomas Kidner was at a trial in Sydney giving evidence. The trial is the one as follows:
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) Saturday 2 June 1810 p 2
TERENCE FLYNN (a prisoner who had escaped from this Colony), alias Peter Hay, alias John Manchester, charged with the wilful murder of Thomas Dawson, the 17th of February last, at Hobart Town, was tried on Thursday when of the evidence that appeared the following is a brief detail:
Elizabeth Walford deposed, that she lived at or near Hobart Town, and knew the prisoner at the bar as she had also known one Thomas Dawson the deceased; that shortly after sun-set upon the evening of the 17th of February she was at the house of one Garth, about two miles from Hobart Town, from which she went towards her father's house, it being about a quarter of a mile distant; that in the course of 10 or 15 minutes after her leaving Garth's she heard the report of a musket, in about 5 minutes after saw a man whom she thought to be the prisoner, running across a stubble field upon her father's farm, with a musket in his hand; that she followed the man, and saw two men meet each other in a path-way, where a scuffle took place between them about a musket, each endeavouring to force it from the other; that she heard the piece discharged, and saw the flash, which proceeded from between the two men; that she went towards them, and enquired what was the matter; to which the prisoner replied that some soldiers had shot Tom (meaning the deceased) who fell, and rising again, ran towards the house of deponent's father; that deponent saw another man go across the stubble field shortly after, but did not who it was; that deponent went home much terrified at what she had seen, and there again saw the man whom she knew to be Thomas Dawson, and the identical person who had been shot in her presence; that he was leaning against the side of the house, wounded in the head, and bleeding fast; that when the gun went off she saw no person whatever but the prisoner and the deceased.
Question by the Court. - Had the prisoner a gun in his hand when he told you the soldiers had shot
Tom. - Answer. Yes.
Bernard Walford (the father of the foregoing evidence) deposed, that he left the house of Garth in company with the foregoing evidence, and proceeding homeward, heard the report of the two pieces, that shortly after the last his daughter who had left him and gone forward, returned and told him what had happened; that when he reached his own house he there saw the deceased in a leaning posture, bleeding fast, his face much blackened with powder; and that it afterwards proved the contents of the piece had entered the right eye, and lodged in his head; that the deceased acquainted him Peter was the man who shot him; and that the prisoner was known there by the name of Peter Hay; that he put the deceased to bed in his house, where he continued till the following noon, when he was removed to the General Hospital at Hobart Town, where he lived about 14 days, and then expired. - The deponent further stated, that Mr. Surgeon Anson attended the deceased at his house as soon as sent in for, and that while considered to be in a dying state his deposition had been taken by a Magistrate in deponent's presence, but not witnessed by him
This deposition was produced, but not admitted as evidence, it appearing that the prisoner was not present when it had been taken. [Here the Judge Advocate laid down several points of law, rejecting the nature of such evidence, upon which it was rejected.] That deceased had uniformly declared in presence of the deponent, that Peter (meaning the prisoner) had shot him, and begged repeatedly on the night he was shot that he might not be admitted near him, for fear that he should kill him outright.
Thomas Skinner deposed, that he lived two or three farms from Garth's at Sandy Bay, that on the night of February 17, as he lay in bed, he heard a gun fired; that shortly after he heard a man saying "is that Peter?" to which "yes" was answered; and that one of the persons then said "here are fifty soldiers after us; we'll faik them as they pass;" to which the other replied; "no we'll take no life if we can help it:" -
That the other then said "if you run I will shoot you;" that he immediately after heard the report of a musket, and getting up, ran out to alarm a neighbour, with whom he went to Walford's; where he saw the deceased bleeding as before described; that another man, who he knew not, shortly after approached the deceased with a gun in each hand, saying, "is it you, Tom, the soldiers have faked you;" to which the wounded man replied "no, Peter, it was not them, but it was you, and I'm a dead man!"
Serjeant Gangel, of the Royal Marines, doing duty at Hobart Town, corroborated the testimony already given, and added that the deceased was sensible when he declared the prisoner at the bar to have been the man who shot him; that a day or two prior to his dissolution he enquired whether he was yet in custody for the offence or not; that Peter, (meaning the prisoner) had shot him in a quarrel, and that the piece was loaded with slugs.
Here closed the evidence against the prisoner; who delivered in a written paper, which the Court admitted, and it was read accordingly; but notwithstanding the ingenuity of many of the observations it contained, yet nothing appeared that could in any degree shake the strength of evidence to the prisoner's guilt. He called Captain Bunker to his character while on board his vessel and his close intimacy with the deceased; on which points Capt. B. stated that he behaved well on the voyage, and seemed in friendly habits with the deceased.
No other witness being called, the JUDGE ADVOCATE summed up the evidence in a clear and truly interesting manner; and in explaining the several points of law that bore upon the evidence displayed an equal share of learned talent, and impartiality. When he concluded, the Court cleared, &
after a long deliberation re-opening, the prisoner was pronounced Guilty of Murder!
The JUDGE ADVOCATE then proceeded to the awful duty of pronouncing sentence; and previously admonishing him to turn his thoughts seriously aside from the objects of this life and to endeavour by an earnest repentance to evince a solicitude for his welfare in a World which is eternal, the following sentence was pronounced on the criminal:-
That he should be forthwith taken to His Majesty's gaol at Sydney, there to be securely kept until an opportunity should offer of conveying him to Hobart Town, there to he kept closely confined in gaol until he could be taken to the place where at the murder had been committed; there to be executed and his body afterwards given for dissection.
Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Saturday 23 June 1810, page 2
Terence Flynn and Job Stokes, two of the criminals under sentence of condemnation, were on Tuesday last put on board the King George, for Hobart Town, there to be executed in pursuance of their respective sentences. Flynn for the murder of Thomas Dawson, and Stokes for burglary, both offences having been perpetrated at the above Settlement. Of these unhappy men the following is a short account.
Flynn was tried at about 13 years of age, at Lancaster, for robbing a bleach ground, of which offence being convicted together with his father, who was his accomplice, the latter was executed, and the son sentenced to be transported 14 years; under which sentence he arrived here in the 2d Royal Admiral, in November 1800; in his approach to manhood appeared most to delight in acts of atrocity, and has frequency been heard to boast of his having been the projector and principal in the crime which had proved fatal to his misguided parent.
Shortly after his arrival he was placed in the Dock Yard, to learn the art of boat building, under the humane presumption that with the advantages of a profession he might, be enabled to obtain an honest livelihood, and that the youthful mind might by habits of industry be gradually alienated from those propensities with which he had at so early a period been assailed; but notwithstanding every effort to reclaim this hardy boy, his vices strengthened as his age matured, and clemency and severity at length were equally lost upon him. He was one of the desperadoes who practically took away the Harrington in May, 1808, and was apprehended in India with the man for the murder of whom he is to atone, and shipped on board the Venus to be returned to this colony: but on the vessel's arrival at the Derwent both effected their escape.
With the events that followed, the trial (contained in our Paper of the 2d instant) already has informed our Readers.
Stokes, the present unhappy companion of the above delinquent, formerly a marine, was sent hither in 1808 from Hobart Town, to be tried for a robbery committed on board the Ferret, captain Skelton, and sentenced to be transported 7 years: since which he has by repeated offences evinced a turpitude of disposition, which upon his last conviction precluded him the slightest hope of clemency.
James Davis was on Tuesday last executed at Portland head, whither he was conveyed in a boat that morning from the Green Hills, attended by the Rev. Mr. MARSDEN. He appeared but little affected by the awfulness of his condition, yet never attempted to deny his guiltiness of the offence for which he suffered.
Thomas Kidner Senior's land
KIDNER, Thomas
|
|
n.d.
|
In index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land
(Fiche 3262; 4/438 pp.49, 51)
|
1796 Mar 23
|
On list of all grants and leases of land
registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3267; 9/2731 pp.60, 68)
|
1819-22
|
On list of persons owing quit rents in Van
Diemen's Land; for land in the District of Queenboro' (Fiche 3270; X19 p.14)
|
1821 May 25
|
Indebted to the Government at Hobart (Reel 6054;
4/1757 p.64a)
|
WHITING, Jane. Per "Lady Juliana", 1790
|
|
n.d.
|
On list of convicts who have received absolute
pardons [Jun 1810]; listed as Whighting (Fiche 3292; 4/6974.1 p.78)
|
1811 Jun 12
|
Of Prospect. On list of persons to receive grants
of land in different parts of the Colony as soon as they can be measured (Fiche
3266; 9/2652 p.9)
|
Old Bailey Records
MARY
WADE, JANE WHITING, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 14th January 1789.
Reference
Number: t17890114-58
Offence: Violent Theft > highway robbery
Verdict: Guilty
Punishment: Death
155. MARY WADE and JANE WHITING were indicted
for feloniously assaulting Mary Phillips , on the King's highway, on the 5th of
October , and putting her in fear, and feloniously taking from her person, and
against her will, one cotton frock, value 3 s. one linen tippet, value 2 d. one
linen cap, value 2 d. the property of John Forward .Offence: Violent Theft > highway robbery
Verdict: Guilty
Punishment: Death
MARY PHILLIPS .
Court. How old are you? - Eight years old.
Do you know what you are come here for, child? - Yes.
What are you come here for? - About my frock.
Will you tell me the truth about it? - Yes.
Do you know the difference between what is true and what is false? - No.
Let us try if we cannot go on without her. Call the next witness.
JANE FORWARD sworn.
I am wife of John Forward . When I came home from my labour, on Friday, I enquired for my child, and a boy told me he sent her to the Treasury for a bottle of water; that was the 5th of this month. I came home at half after five; I live in Charles-street, Westminster; the child was not at home.
Does she live with you? - She is my child; she is eight years old next April.
Is she a sharp child of her age? - Yes.
Have you taught her any thing? - She has been in the country from me four years; I fetched her home in August last.
Have you taught her to say her prayers? - Yes, she can say her prayers.
Have you taught her to say her catechism? - Yes. I sent the boy to look for her; he went, but could not find her: then I went myself. When I came to the door, to go out, I met her at the door crying, saying, mother I have been robbed. She had no frock, no cap, no tippet. I asked her where; she said at the privy, in the Treasury .
And I asked her how she came home; she said, there was a gentlewoman came with a light, and two boys; then she knew where she was. The boy's name is John Phillips .
JOHN PHILLIPS sworn.
I am brother to the girl. She went out, that afternoon, a little before five; my mother came home about half after five. The girl went out for a bottle of water; I sent her out: she had a frock, cap, and tippet on. I saw her no more, before my mother came home; I saw her afterwards, without her frock and cap.
CATHERINE M'KILLAN sworn.
I was standing at the bottom of New Pye-street, Perkins's Rents, where we live. At the bottom of New Tothill-street I met the two prisoners; and we used to go to the Treasury very often, to get two or three halfpence; and I asked them why they did not go; and the big one made answer, I will not go for this good while; and the little one said she would not. Then I asked them what they had done, and they said, nothing; but I promised them I would not tell; and they told me they took a frock, a tippet, and a cap, off a little girl, in the Treasury. And says the little one, (that is, Mary Wade ) here is the cap and the tippet; and she said the frock was at Mr. Wright's, in the Almonry, in pawn for eighteen-pence, and she had tore the duplicate; I did not see the duplicate. Then Wade said, I wish I had not not done it, to the big one; and the big one said, it was your own fault. Then the little one said, I was in a good mind to have chucked the child down the necessary; and I wish I had done it.
How long have you known these two girls? - I have known the little one a twelvemonth, and the other about ten months. The little one was taken up before, for stripping a child, and chucking her into a ditch; only she was too young. This was the Monday evening, the Monday before last, between six and seven o'clock; it was the same night it was done.
Did they give you any part of the eighteen-pence? - No, Sir; I never had a farthing.
When did you tell of this? - The Saturday.
Who did you tell it to? - This gentlewoman; I went to her.
How came you to go to her? - They told me the child lived in Charles-street, at the shoemaker's; and there is but one shoemaker's in Charles-street.
Had you and they quarrelled between that day and the Saturday? - No, Sir; we did not quarrel at all.
How came you to go? - I only went because I thought the gentlewoman would have her property again, the child's frock, and cap, and tippet.
Had you no other reason for going than that? - No, Sir.
Who advised you to go? - Nobody advised me to go, and nobody told me; but the woman that took the cap off her head, that little one, robbed her of everything she had; and Mrs. Matthews took the cap off the little one's head, and said she would ask the gentlewoman.
Them two girls, and a boy that was in Bridewell, were telling of it; and Mrs. Drummond, Mrs. Matthews's mother, heard them talking of it; and when they robbed her, she went to the board to try to get a shilling or sixpence; and she tied a string about her door, and the little one owned she untied it and took her things; then Mrs. Drummond asked her where they were, and she would never tell; so she told me; both the prisoners, and another boy that is in Bridewell, told Mrs. Drummond themselves; and when the little one would not pay Mrs. Matthews a shilling, she took the cap off her head, and said she would tell this prosecutrix. I know Mrs. Matthews; she did not advise me to tell the woman in Charles-street.
MARGARET TINDALL sworn.
I was getting things ready for washing, and I took a light down to the wash-house, that joins to the privy; there were two children, one ran by me. I went into the yard to see if there was any water, and I heard a child cry, and I went into the privy, and there I saw a child stripped of her frock, tippet, and a cap. I asked the child how she came there, she told me a girl brought her there and stripped her; I told her I thought she knew them, and belonged to them; she said she did not; I let her out of the place, and told her to be a good girl and go home. There was a girl run out by me very quick.
JAMES KIMBER sworn.
I took the frock in pledge on Monday, the 5th of January, in the evening, between six and seven; I think it was a person like the tall prisoner, but I cannot swear positively to the person; it was pledged in the name of the shortest, Mary Wade ; I do not recollect seeing any more than one, nor I cannot recollect the person.
Do you recollect the dress and appearance of the person who pledged it? - No.
A stranger to you? - Yes.
Are you a servant to Mr. Wright? - Yes.
What kind of a frock was this? - Here it is, a dark cotton.
Was it a young person? - Yes; a young person, and like the tall prisoner.
Look at Catharine M'Killan ; was it her? - No, it was not.
Was it a decent person, or a ragged person? - I cannot recollect; I could not recollect when I was before the magistrate.
Do you make a point of taking in everything, from everybody? - No; we ask them many questions when we take them in; it being a week afterwards, I could not recollect the person; I endeavoured before?
Court. In the way you carry on that business, it is a very dangerous one to the publick; your house may become the repository of all the stolen goods in the town.
JOHN TAYLOR sworn.
I am an officer of St. Margaret's parish. This M'Killan, and this little girl, came to my house about a quarter past ten last Saturday night, and M'Killan telling me the story she has related, I said, are you sure you are right; she said I will shew you. I went to apprehend the parties. I went to the woman that had the cap, the corner of the court, just by where the other girl lived; I do not know her name; then I went to the lodgings of the little prisoner, thinking to get it out of her; there I found the child's tippet in the room; from there, the girl went along with me, and we apprehended the tall prisoner; and the little prisoner told me, that the big one wanted her to put the child down the necessary. I put them both into Bridewell. I went to the pawnbroker's that night, and saw the frock.
(The things deposed to.)
To the child's mother. I suppose your child at present is maintained by your husband? - Yes. They are all the things that she lost that night.
Court to the child. Has your mother taught you to say your prayers? - Yes.
And your catechism? - No; I cannot say my catechism.
You have told me, do not you know, the difference between telling a lie, and telling the truth? - Yes.
Will you be sure to tell me the truth, to tell me all you know about this? - Yes.
You know, when you say your prayers, you pray to God to take care of you, and to protect you? - Yes.
Well, and he will be good to you, if you speak the truth? - Yes.
And if not, you must expect to be punished? - Yes.
Now, remember, you are going to promise before God, that you speak the truth? - Yes.
Court. Give her the oath.
(Sworn.)
Now tell me how you lost your frock, and your cap, and your tippet? - John sent me to the Treasury-yard for a bottle of water, there I saw these two girls, and they asked me to fill the bottle for me, and so they broke it; and they took me into the necessary, both of them, and said they would get me another bottle, and bid me not cry; and the little girl pulled off my cloaths, and the biggest girl staid with the boy; and the little girl pulled off my petticoats, and put them on again; and the great girl staid till the boy came with the bottle of water.
Had you ever seen the girls before? - I saw the little girl sweeping the streets.
How often? - A good many days; almost every day I went to the Treasury.
Had you ever seen the great girl? - No.
You did not know her? - No.
Do you know either of them now? - I know the little girl.
When did you see them afterwards? - Not for a good while.
Did you ever see her again? - No.
Was you before the Justice? - Yes; and the big girl too.
Were the two girls that were before the Justice either of them that stripped you? - There was the little girl that stripped me.
Was that the same little girl that you saw before the Justice that stripped you? - Yes.
As to the great girl, you do not know any thing about her? - No.
How came you to let them strip you? - I did not know but they would give me another bottle; they bid me not cry; the little one did.
But you knew very well they had no business with your cloaths? - Yes.
Why did you let them? How came you to let them take away your cloaths? - I thought they were going to put on my cloaths again; and they ran away with my cloaths instead of putting them on again.
How came you to let them take them off? - I did not know they were going to strip me.
But you know they did take off your frock? - Yes; and they took off my two petticoats, and my pocket, but they put them on again.
That was all that they did to you? - Yes.
Nobody beat you? - No.
Nobody hurt you? - No.
Court to Mary Wade . How old are you? - Going of eleven.
Are not you older than that? - No.
Have you no friends? - Yes.
Are they not here? - No; they live at Westminster; they was here to-day, only they could not come in to me.
PRISONER WHITING's DEFENCE.
I am going in fourteen: I have no friends.
Have you a mother? - Yes; she lives at Westminster, in Peter street.
- WADE.
Are you the mother of that child? - Yes, I am indeed; she was ten years old last December. I have a husband, he is a drover.
Court. I hardly can ask you how your child has behaved; for I am afraid you are as much in fault as she is, by not taking proper care of her, and keeping her at home, and making her industrious; letting her run about the streets, was the sure way to lead her to the place where she is now; therefore I ought rather to ask you, what you can say for yourself then for her? - It is the other girl that induces her out, when my back is turned, to go a begging with her. I never brought her up to go a begging; all the butchers know me well. I have a great family of them.
I hope you will take better care of the rest, or else they will all come to the gallows.
Court to Jury. Gentlemen, I am distressed how to state to you, that this is a less crime than robbery; because, though there is no such violence as would affect the constancy of a grown person, or alarm them; yet the very circumstance of such a child falling into the hands of two strangers, young as they are, standing over her and stripping her, does seem to me to be equivalent to holding a pistol to the breast of a grown person; therefore, I cannot state it to be anything less than robbery; the consequence of that is, that they must answer it with their lives.
Therefore you are to consider, whether the fact is sufficiently established against both or either of these prisoners. Now, that this child was drawn away into this privy by somebody, and was there stripped of her cloaths, stands so clearly established, that there can be no doubt about it, upon the evidence of Mrs. Forward.
Here the learned Judge summed up the evidence, and then added -
For the sake of example, I cannot recommend to you, if you should be of opinion that the crime is sufficiently fixed upon them, I cannot recommend to you to say, it is of a less degree of atrociousness than robbery: the tender years of these persons may be a circumstance to be attended to in other views; but as to the denomination of the crime, I think it would be a dangerous thing to society, if you were to be induced, by any humanity, to lower the offence at all below the rank of actual robbery. So that if you say, that they are both, or either of them guilty, I think you must say they are guilty of the crime for which they stand indicted, robbery, and not larceny.
MARY WADE , JANE WHITING ,
GUILTY , Death .
Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before the LORD CHIEF BARON.
They accepted the King's pardon, and were transported.
Some Morrisby Family
George
had a few brushes with the law, and died in a cart race!
Diana married Thomas Risby who was also born on Norfolk Island. He was the son of Edward Risby and Ann Gibson
Edward Risby was born in 1755
into a family who had lived in Uley in the Cotwolds area of Gloucestershire for
at least 30 years, an important town with Cottage Industry, weaving, as its
main industry.
Edward
married Hannah Manning in 1777 and they had 3 children, Ephriam, James and
Hannah. This was at the very beginning of the Industrial Revolution in Britain
when machines powered by steam replaced the Cottage Industries in the weaving
of cotton and wool.
Edward
was arrested in 1780 for “stealing and carrying away by force of arms, three
yards of broadcloth valued at 30 shillings”. He was arrested again in 1783 and
at his trial in 1784 was sentenced to seven years with transportation to
Australia. Perhaps these misdemeanours were a result of his family being robbed
of its source of income. He did not see his wife Hannah and his children again.
He
was imprisoned in the hulk “Censor” on the Thames and deported in 1788
to complete his sentence in 1791. He survived the First Fleet voyage on the
convict transport “Alexander”, the largest and unhealthiest ship in the
Fleet. 11 convicts died of scurvy in the first stage of the voyage from the
Thames to Portsmouth. The ship had to be cleaned, limed and creosoted before
continuing the voyage.
From Tenerife to Rio de Janeiro a further 16
convicts died, including 11 on the “Alexander”.In Port Jackson, Edward worked as a sawyer on the “Sirius” until he was among the first group of convicts sent to Norfolk Island. He became a free man in 1791 and was granted 12 acres of land to grow maize, wheat and raise pigs. He married Ann Gibson, a second fleet convict. They had 5 children [1 stillborn] and developed their farm to the extent they could exist without Government “stores”. The surviving children were Thomas, Susannah, Joseph and Benjamin.
When
the British Government decided that Norfolk Island would be closed the family
was resettled in Van Diemen’s Land where they were given 30 acres of land for
farming. They built their new home and developed their land grant to grow
beans, 2 acres of potatoes, had pigs and a small flock of sheep and again became
self sufficient, as they has been on Norfolk Island.
Edward’s
eldest son Thomas married in 1815 and had 2 children before Edward died in
1823. Edward was in poor health for a few years before his death and the
property was worked by Thomas’ brothers Benjamin and Joseph.
Edward
had lived a life of misery, survived a terrible sea voyage between decks on the
very unhealthy ship “Alexander”, also a lot of very hard work, and to
live to an age of 67 was almost unbelievable. Unfortunately he did not live long
enough to see the beginning of the very outstanding Tasmanian Company, Risby
Timber Industries. The history of this great Company in Tasmania is documented
fully in the Limited Edition Book “Above The Odds”.
Joseph,
Edward’s second eldest son moved away from Tasmania when the “farm” was sold
and settled in Maitland in 1826. He built a small brick-making plant and built
a two storey home in Sempill Street near the Hunter River which he called the
“The Falls” which later became the first hotel in Maitland and continued to
operate as a hotel until 1923. Joseph married Mary Robson in 1838. They had 11
children [3 died in infancy]. This branch of the family has lived in Maitland
and Newcastle ever since.
Mary
made a christening robe for her children. The robe has been used over the
generations for many Risby children up to the present day. The robe is still in
excellent condition and will be used in the future.
It was only very recently that a kind
relative returned two very old photos of Risby ancestors, Mary and Joseph Risby
taken probably in about 1860.www.firstfleetershunter.com.au/uploads/.../Edward%20Risby%20(web).pdf
ANN
GIBSON, Theft > grand larceny, 25th June 1788.
431. ANN GIBSON was indicted for stealing, on
the 22d of May , ten yards of chintz cotton, value 15 s. and ten yards of
muslin, value 15 s. the goods of William Edward Dalton , and John Barber .WILLIAM EDWARD DALTON sworn.
I am a linen draper , in partnership with Mr. John Barber; on the 22d of May, I lost the goods mentioned in the indictment; I know no more; I only came to prove the property.
THOMAS BARBER sworn.
I am shopman to the prosecutors; on the 22d of May, about three o'clock, I was in the back ware-house; and a young man, fellow for handcuff shirt, requested me and said, there were two women and a girl in the shop in company together, whom he had suspicion of; I came forward, and the prisoner was being served with some Irish; I looked at them for about two minutes, and not observing any thing, I went to the other side of the counter, and saw the girl pick a piece of chintz cotton up from off the ground, and on her being observed she put it on the counter, and said it had fallen down; this confirmed my suspicions, and I desired them to walk backwards that I might send for a constable to search them; on the prisoner's going backwards, she went rather stooping as if endeavouring to conceal something; I desired her to walk along, and on her rising, I saw the piece of muslin which her clothes hid before; there was nothing else found on her, or the other two; I sent for a constable, and they were all taken to the compter; I delivered the goods to the constable; the grand jury, I have been informed, did not find a bill against the other two.
- DANIEL sworn.
I am another servant of the prosecutor's; the prisoner came into the shop with another woman and a little girl; they went to the apprentice for half a yard of Irish, and he being busy, desired me to serve them, which I did; when I had served them, they desired to look at some muslins which were lying on the counter with some other goods; after they had looked a while, I missed the girl, upon which I looked over the counter, and saw the girl stooping, and she looked at me, and was very much confused; I then whispered one of my fellow-servants to go for Mr. Thomas Barber , who was in the back warehouse, as I then had my suspicions;
Jones (the woman that was with the prisoner) says, why do not you get up; she did not; I looked over the counter again, and she appeared much confused indeed, the third time I did so, and then she lay this piece of chintz on the counter, which was very dirty; then the witness Barber jumped over the counter, and shut the shop doors, and told them they were his prisoners, and desired them to walk backwards; I followed, and just before they got to the warehouse, I saw the witness Barber pick up this piece of muslin; it was close by the prisoner.
Court. How far was Jones, the other woman, from the prisoner? - About two or three yards; the muslin was given to the constable, and the chintz was put in a cupboard; the constable's name is Jones; I know the property by the shop mark.
Thomas Barber , being called again, also swore the property to be the prosecutor's by the shop mark upon it.
WILLIAM BRITTAIN sworn.
I was standing behind the counter; I saw the prisoner and two others come into the shop; they asked to look at some Irish; I took down some pieces; there was another lady on the other side of the counter, who bought some muslin; the muslins were left on the counter; while I was folding up the Irish Mr. Barber went on the other side of the counter, and I heard him say, ladies, you have got something you have no business with; and he took them backwards to search them; and as they were going to be searched, I saw him with a piece of muslin in his hand, which had dropped from the prisoner, and he said,
"ladies, I have caught you," and they were taken into custody; the muslin was given to Jones the constable; I know the property.
EDWARD JONES sworn.
I am a constable; (produces the muslin) it was given to me when I was sent for to take the prisoners.
The property sworn to by Dalton and Barber.
GUILTY .
Transported for seven years .
Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. ROSE.
Crime:
|
|
Convicted at:
|
Middlesex Gaol Delievery
|
Sentence term:
|
7 years
|
Ship:
|
|
Departure date:
|
|
Arrival date:
|
3rd June, 1790
|
Place of arrival
|
New South Wales
|
Sharon Green on 24th August, 2017 wrote:
Sent to
Norfolk Island on the Surprize on 1 Aug 1790, 5 weeks after arriving in
Sydney. Married to Edward RISBY on 17 Nov 1791 at Norfolk Island,
probably by Rev. Richard JOHNSON but records of that time are assumed lost.
They had 7 children - Thomas b. 30 Jan 1792; Susannah b. 13 May 1796; Joseph b.
20 May 1800, d. 1 Nov 1863; Benjamin b. 25 Sep 1801, d. 24 Dec 1875; Charles b.
6 Sep 1804, d. 25 Mar 1805; Edward b. 1810; Hannah b. 1 Mar 1794, d. 20 Jun
1795. Edward and Ann RISBY (need Gibson) were allocated Plot #22 of 12 acres on Town Creek, Grenville Vale on Norfolk Island which they farmed (somewhat unsuccessfully) until moving to Hobart in Van Diemen's Land in Sep 1807, being granted 30 Acres at Argyle in the Derwent Valley.
He also lived at Muddy Plains
Henry Morrisby m Elizabeth Mary (Betsy) Mack m Christina
Smith
Elizabeth Mary Mack, was born in August 1808,
baptised in September 1808, and her mother died in October 1808.She was "adopted" by Rev Knopwood, and lived at "Cottage Green" his house in Hobart.
Their
two children
Robert
Henry Morrisby 1825
Elizabeth
Sarah Morrisby 1830 -
1909
After her death he married Christina Smith, who was the daughter of Robert Smith
John Morrisby m Emmaline Sophia Carter Alomes
Sophia
was the daughter of Robert Carter Alomes and Elizabeth Bellett
He
seemed to work in conjunction with his brother
ADDISON V. MORRISBY.
This was an action of trespass on land and for goods. The Attorney General appeared on behalf of the plaintiff, and Mr. Gellibrand for the defendant. Mr. Attorney General, for the plaintiff, called
John Hook, who deposed, I know the defendant, John Morrisby ; I served the notice produced about seven o'clock last night, at his own house.
James Wood examined.-I searched the Registry Office to see if the defendant had left any notice, where any notices might be left for him ; he had not left any ; I left there the notice now produced, to produce certain papers this day.
Jacob Brothers examined.-I know both parties in this case ; I was, in September and October, overseer to the plaintiff, who was carrying on tanning, currying, and shoemaking, at Clarence Plains ; plaintiff had twelve men employed, both in September and October; Mr. Addison was arrested on the 3d of October; I then remained in charge of the property; on the 6th of October, Mr. Morrisby came and said he had lost enough by Mr. Addison, and he had nothing to show yet for his rent ; he then removed everything of any value into a room, and locked it up ; he then told the men what to get on with, and then he left on the 9th ; he ordered me off the premises; Mr. Addison had five assigned servants ; one of them Morrisby turned into Government, and had the others transferred to himself, and they have since been carrying on the business for Mr. Morrisby ; on the 6th of October, in the evening, I received a written order from Mr. Addison to keep possession ; I showed it on the 7th to Mr. Morrisby; he said he should take no notice of it ; I have seen in the house a sealed lease ; when Mr. Morrisby took possession the lease was in Mr. Morrisby's box ; Mr. Morrisby has now got possession of that property; three days after I left I had permission from Mr. Morrisby to look in the box for the lease; I did not find it.
Cross-examined by Mr. Gellibrand.-I am sure Mr. Morrisby did not tell me that Mr. Jemott had ordered Mr. Addison's men to be turned in, because Mr. Addison was not there to look after them.
Mr. J. J. Holland examined.-I prepared and witnessed a lease to Mr. Addison, from Mr. Morrisby, of certain premises at Kangaroo Point ; this is an examined copy of the lease; the rent purports to be £50 per annum, to be paid by equal quarterly payments; the first payment to fall due on the 20th day of October. The copy of the lease was here put in.
Mr. J. C .Stracey examined.-I received a letter from Mr. Morrisby, relative to selling some properly-here it is; the signature is Mr. Morrisby's ; it is dated the 26th of October, in pursuance of which note I advertised this is the advertisement. On the 3d of November I proceeded to the place of sale ; Mr. Morrisby put me in possession ; I sold ; Mr. Morrisby was the chief purchaser; there were thirteen lots sold; the whole fetched £4 18s. 9d.
By Mr. Gellibrand.-I do not think the whole of the articles worth more than £7 at a fair valuation ; I resold some of the shoes for Mr. Morrisby at 1s. per pair.
John Wright examined.-I was working for Mr. Addison in October last; Mr. Morrisby came on the 6th and took possession of the property, and discharged me by giving me in charge to a constable. Witness here enumerated the various articles on the premises when Mr. Morrisby took possession; he then stated there was a great deal of business carried on.
By Mr. Gellibrand.-Many of the skins, &c. were on the premises when I first came; I do not know what became of the kip.
By a Juror.-I was employed as a house servant, and had the provisions under my charge.
John Pagden examined.-I was in the employ of Mr. Addison when Mr. Morrisby came and took possession; remember Mr. Morrisby coming there ; I remember Jacob Brothers going away; afterwards most of the men worked for Mr. Morrisby ; I know there were skins and hides on the premises when Mr. Morrisby took possession, and they were afterwards used by us for Mr. Morrisby.
By Mr. Gellibrand.-I went to gaol to Mr Addison and showed him the paper with the advertisement ; Mr. Addison said he did not believe it, for the name was Hanson in the paper. Mr. Morrisby sent me to Mr. Addison to say, that if he (Mr. A.) would give up half the property on the premises, he would take it for the rent ; he did not tell me to say the property was going to be sold.
Mr Gellibrand, on behalf of the defendant, admitted that his client had acted illegally in taking possession in the way he had done.
The Jury assessed the damage for the plaintiff, £50.
n.d.
|
In index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land;
also listed as Allome (Fiche 3262; 4/438 pp.1, 3)
|
1819-22
|
On list of persons owing quit rents in Van
Diemen's Land; for land in the District of Gloucester. Listed as Allome
(Fiche 3270; X19 p.2)
|
1821 Jun 1
|
Indebted to the Government at Hobart; listed as
Alomes (Reel 6054; 4/1757 p.64)
|
He was the first man as sergeant of marines under Lieutenant-Colonel David Collins, R.M. (afterwards Lieutenant-Governor) to plant the Union Jack at Hobart Town at the spot where Risby Bros’ mill was formerly located. A full list of those who arrived with Lt. Gov. Collins was placed on the monument at Macquarie Wharf and unveiled on the 20th February 2004 by the First Settlers Association.
On 21 August 1809, as Robert Carter, he married Elizabeth Bellett (or Billett) the daughter of Jacob Bellett who was transported on The Scarborough in the First Fleet. Jacob Bellett (senior or junior) and Francis Barnes were witnesses to the marriage which was celebrated by Rev.R. Knopwood.(NS 282/8/1).
http://micktopfer.com/familyhistory/146.html
While none of the stories
concerning Robert’s pre-colonial life can be verified, his
ambivalence towards his identity
continued for twenty years after his arrival in Van Diemen’s Land.
He married Elizabeth Bellett in
1809 as Robert Carter but a month later they, apparently, were married
again as Alomes. Robert and Elizabeth had eleven children and the first
five (Emmaline, Eliza, William, Jacob, and Mary) were baptised as Carter,
the sixth (Robert) as Alomes, the next two (John and Edward) as Carter
and then the final three (George, Amelia and Elizabeth) as Alomes.3
It is quite likely that the authorities were aware of aspects of Robert’s past
because the well-known colonial Chaplain, Reverend Robert Knopwood, officiated
at each of his weddings and, at least, eight of the eleven baptisms.
With one exception, all of Robert
and Elizabeth’s children had adopted the Alomes name by the time they were
married.4
Award-winning family historian
and Bellette descendant, Thais Mason, was told when
researching her bicentennial
books on the Bellette family, that when Robert and Elizabeth married in 1809,
they were given ‘a sumptuous wedding at Government House and that Governor
Collins gave the couple 50 sheep and several lambs as a wedding gift and a
large grant of land’. Of course, in those days, Government House would have
been a relatively humble sort of abode but, after spending six months on the
‘Calcutta’ in such confined quarters, followed by several difficult months at
Port Phillip, then five even more arduous years at the early settlement in
Hobart, (including officiating at two court martials in which Robert was
demoted in rank as a marine) Collins must have been quite familiar with
Robert’s personal character and, possibly, was also privy to the reason(s) why
Robert could not decide which surname to adopt. It is probably safe, however,
to assume that he left Britain
for personal reasons.
He was stationed on Norfolk Island on military duties sometime after coming here in 1804. By the Governor’s orders he was brought her to Van Diemen’s Land and was married on 21 Aug 1809 in St. David's Church, Hobart Town. They were one of the first couples married in Tasmania and when the event took place they were entertained to a wedding breakfast by Governor Collins at Government House, the latter on that occasion presented him with 50 sheep, including several lambs. He received a grant of land at Pittwater 2 miles from Sorell and was a prosperous colonist. He became a farmer at Pittwater owning 30 acres in 1809. As Robert Carter he married Elizabeth Bellett. Some of their children were baptised as Carter and some as Alomes, also spelt as Allomes.
A census return for Richmond in 1842 shows Richard Allums (sic) at Ralph's Bay, property by the name of Home Fields. On the return are:
1 married male aged above 60 years, arrived free.
1 married female aged above 45-60 years, born in colony.
3 single males aged 21-45, born in colony.
1 single female, aged 7-14, born in colony.
1single female, aged 14-21, born in colony.
1 single female, aged 21-45, born in colony.
All were Church of England.
Three of Robert Alomes' sons were
early settlers at South Arm. John and George Alomes were listed on the
electoral roll in 1856, leasing land from George Gellibrand. Later both owned
farms. Their brother Robert arrived later after farming at Clarence Plains.
George's first wife was Janet McKay and he later married Agnes Musk. His
descendants are now living at South Arm, Launceston and the mainland. John
Alomes and his wife Rosina Davidson owned the property now called 'Ralphdene'
which is presently owned by their great grandson, Don Calvert. John Alomes
youngest son Henry inherited the farm. The eldest son Frederick who married
Elizabeth Blatherwick after farming at South Arm, moved to a farm in Glenorchy.
John James, who married Mary Ann Musk, worked as a draper's assistant in
Hobart. Robert Charles Alomes was only on South Arm for a few years before his
death in 1860 when his family moved to the farm known as 'Green Island' at
Clifton. His wife was Jane Wood of Sorell
Emmaline Sophia
Eliza
William Frederick
Jacob Ernest
Mary Carter
Mary Ann
Robert Charles
John James
Edward Henry
George Thomas
Amelia Matilda and
Elizabeth Ann.
2-Emmaline Sophia Alomes was born on 29 Jul 1810 in New South Wales, Australia, was christened
in Jul 1810 in Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land, died on 3 Jul 1898 in Bellerive,
Tasmania, Australia at age 87, and was buried in Jul 1898 in Rokeby,
Tasmania. Emmaline married John Moresby's on of convict James
Morrisby and Ann Brooks, on 9 Sep
1828 in Sorell, Van Diemen's Land. John was born on 9 Dec 1805 in Norfolk
Island, New South Wales, Australia, was christened on 27 Mar 1806 in Norfolk
Island, New South Wales, Australia, died on 25 Oct 1852 in Clarence, Van
Diemen's Land, Australia at age 46, and was buried in Oct 1852 in Rokeby, Van
Diemen's Land. They had 13 children:
Emmaline
John Robert
Charles Brown
Sophia
William Edward
Edwin
Alfred Henry
Tasman
Orlando
Arthur
Alfred Rowland and
Angelina Rosina Lavender.
HARPER, Ann
|
|
1796 Dec 30
|
On list of all grants and leases of land
registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3267; 9/2731 p.80)
|
BILLETT, Ann
|
|
n.d.
|
In index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land
(Fiche 3262; 4/438 p.12)
|
1823
|
On list of persons owing quit rents in Van
Diemen's Land; for land in the District of Gloucester (Fiche 3270; X19 pp.3,
7)
|
BILLETT, Jacob
|
|
1796 Dec 30
|
On list of all grants and leases of land
registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3267; 9/2731 p.80)
|
1810 Mar 16
|
Re claim for stock left on Norfolk Island (Reel
6020; 4/6977A pp.79-80)
|
1811 Nov 27
|
Signatory to letter to Captain Murray requesting
compensation for stock left on Norfolk Island (Reel 6020; 4/6977A p.57)
|
1813 Feb 15
|
On list of settlers who have left livestock at
Norfolk Island (Reel 6020; 4/6977A p.27)
|
n.d.
|
In index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land
(Fiche 3262; 4/438 pp.5, 6)
|
1823
|
On list of persons owing quit rents in Van
Diemen's Land; for land in the Districts of Gloucester and Queenboro' (Fiche
3270; X19 p.3)
|
BILLETT, Jacob
|
|
1824 Jan 8
|
On list of persons in Van Diemen's Land
recommended for grants of land being young men native born (Reel 6017; 4/5782
p.29)
|
BILLETT, John
|
|
n.d.
|
In index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land
(Fiche 3262; 4/438 p.13)
|
1821 May 25
|
Indebted to the Government at Hobart (Reel 6054;
4/1757 p.64)
|
BILLETT, William
|
|
1824 Jan 8
|
On list of persons in Van Diemen's Land
recommended for grants of land being young men native born (Reel 6017; 4/5782
p.29)
|
Jacob Bellett
a Silk Weaver, made off with 51 ells of
half-ell lining, one pound of unwound black silk, and 32 ounces of double black
silk would, and was chased by the worker who missed them. Found later by
searchers, he was sentenced at the Old Bailey on 12 January 1785 to seven
year’s transportation. Following time spent in the prison hulks he
embarked on 24 January 1787 on Scarborough. In March 1790, Jacob
was sent to Norfolk Island, where he successfully farmed and was selling grain
to the public stores.Ann Harper had been sent to the Island, having arrived in the Sydney Cove aboard Lady Juliana and in mid June 1794 was living with Jacob. On 2 September 1808 Jacob, as a second class settler, with Ann and their eight children were evacuated to VDL (Tasmania) by City of Edinburgh. Following their arrival Jacob was granted land in vicinity of Hobart at Queenborough (Sandy Bay) and Gloucester. Jacob Bellett was buried at St David’s Cemetery, Hobart, aged 47, on 2 December 1813. Ann was aged 70 when she died in 1842.
On Christmas Eve 1784, he was accused by William Cole, his supervisor, of stealing, " Fifty one Ells of half Ell Lining Manufactured, Thirty two Wooden Bobbins with silk wound on them (weight sixteen Ounces neat silk) and Thirty two Ounces of Double black silk unwound." (6) The trial is one man's word (William Cole) against Jacob. At no time did he say that he saw Jacob steal the items. William Cole's testimony stated that he found his work missing and, "I said, the prisoner was the person that robbed me." (7) Cole went to Jacob's house but Jacob wasn't there. He was found in Balls -ally keeping company with a girl that he regularly saw. Cole heard a scuffle inside the house and Jacob followed Cole home, threatened him and ran away. Cole chased him over roof tops followed him to the hatch to Jacobs bedroom, dropped in and searched it, finding the stolen goods. Cole then searched again for Jacob, finding him 2 hours later concealed in a cupboard at Helda's. Cole said Jacob confessed.
This court account is different from his sworn statement seen in Image 2. The statement says Cole, "had a suspicion" about Jacob. He went to Jacob's house where his brother-in-law let him search and found the silk in the workshop. They then found Jacob at a house in Baileys Court. There was no mention of chasing across roof tops, hiding in cupboards or Jacob confessing. Because Jacob was unrepresented in court, Cole was not cross examined. Despite the fact that Jacob called, "Five more witnesses who all gave him a good character," (7) Jacob was pronounced guilty, to be transported for seven years, on the 12th January 1785.
https://www.ourfamilypast.com/article/person/10861/haa007-main-story-jacob-bellet
JACOB
BELLETT, Theft > grand larceny, 12th January 1785.
228. JACOB BELLETT was indicted for
feloniously stealing on the 25th of December last fifty one ells of half-ell
manufactured lining, value 3 l. 8 s. two pounds of unwound black silk, value 20
s. thirty-two ounces of double black silk wound, value 3 l. 12 s. the property
of John Gearing , John Vaux , and Thomas John Taylor .JOHN VAUX sworn.
I only prove the property, my partners names are John Gearing , and Thomas John Taylor .
WILLIAM COLE sworn.
On the 25th of December, which was Christmas-day, between three and four in the afternoon, we had fifty-one ells of work cut out of the loom, two pounds of unwound silk, and thirty two ounces of double silk, it was silk lining, I worked for Messrs. Gearing, Vaux, and Taylor; about four I was informed my shop window was open, I went up to see and took the key of the stair foot door, that goes up to my work shop, and found all my work was taken away, the stair foot door was locked as I left it; I said, the prisoner was the person that robbed me, I went to the prisoner's house and asked for him, nobody was at home but the sister and a girl; I found the prisoner in Balls-alley, with a girl that he kept company with, I heard a scuffle with inside the house, I heard them shove up the window, and they kept me at the door for a minute or a minute and half, then the door was opened; he threatened to punish me, he followed me home, but upon my mentioning to search the loft the prisoner ran away directly; in searching the lofts we run over four houses, I found no property there, but I found one trap door open that went into the prisoner's house, and I dropped down upon the prisoner's bed, which was under that trap door; I there made a strict search, and his brother in law came down, and I looked behind an old pair of drawers, there was a net and this bag, and a shoot, and the unwrought silk, I pulls up the end a little more, says I, thank God here is my piece; the Justice ordered me to subpoenea this brother-in-law, but he is got out of the way, I carried the subpoenea, I went to search for the prisoner and found him at one Helder's, which was about two hours after he run away, I found him concealed in a closet, I asked him how he came to do such a wicked thing; he said, for God's sake have mercy upon me, you have your property let me go; says I, I cannot, it is my master's property, I brought him to the Crown alehouse, and sent for an officer and gave charge of him, and in my hearing he confessed he did it himself and nobody else; I made him no promise, he was going to tell us of one Jones, the father and son who were waiting for him, at the corner of Cox's-square, in Petticoat-lane, a man that buys stolen silk, little or much; I have never enquired after him, Mr. Wilmot said we could do nothing to him, without he had bought any thing, he uses a publick house the corner of that square.
JOHN GRAY sworn.
On
the 25th of December, I was sent for by this young man and the prisoner, I said
to the prisoner, was there any body along with you? - And he said, no, there
was not, he was sadly distressed, and did it through necessity.
Where
does Jones live? - I cannot tell, only he said he used a public house, the
corner of Cox's-square.
Do
not you know where that Jones lives? - No, upon my oath I do not, I never heard
of any such name before.
Where
do you live? - In Shoreditch.
(The
wound silk deposed to.)
Cole. I can swear they are them that were
taken out of my looms, I can shew you, I have in my pocket a pattern of the
quill that we head them with.PRISONER's DEFENCE.
The man came and charged me, and swore he would hang me, I told him I would punish him, I went to see his work, and his wife collared me? says I, what do you collar me for, I have money of my own; I went to Mr. Helder's and this man came up, there was no string to latch the door, and the woman bid me get a plate out of the closet, and he came and swore I was shut up there; I am innocent.
The Prisoner called five more witnesses who all gave him a good character.
GUILTY .
Transported for seven years .
Tried by the second Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER.
The Belbin Family
James
Belbin
From the
Old Bailey JAMES BELBIN, Theft > burglary, 9th January 1788.
Reference
Number: t17880109-11
Offence: Theft > burglary
Verdict: Guilty > with recommendation
Punishment: Death
Offence: Theft > burglary
Verdict: Guilty > with recommendation
Punishment: Death
108. JAMES BELBIN was indicted,
for burglariously and feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of
Sarah Gosling , widow , about the hour of eight in the night, on the 27th of
December last, and burglariously stealing therein, a silk petticoat, value 5 s.
a flounced stuff ditto, value 3 s. a striped cotton gown, value 4 s. a silk and
stuff gown, value 5 s. two pair of breeches, value 4 s. a coat, value 3 s. a
shawl, value 3 s. two handkerchiefs, value 3 s. a cotton a counterpane, value 5
s. her property .
I live in Vere-street, Clare-market ; I keep a chandler's shop ; I am a housekeeper; my house was entered at the parlour window, on Thursday, the 27th of December, I found it out; about ten my daughter went to put my child to bed in the back parlour, and she found the window up, and two drawers moved; that back parlour opens into a small yard at the back of the house; it is the room that I sleep in; I had not been in that room that evening; my daughter was there, she is here; out of two drawers I lost the things mentioned in the indictment; the persons who stole them came into the window, by the assistance of a water tub; I traced them by bits of silk and things that were scattered down my own passage and up the cellar stairs, and through my own passage into the street; it was snow at - that time, and there was the mark of a foot on the top of the water-tub; mine is a lodging-house, and the door is always open; I found two gowns again at the pawnbroker's, Mr. Cooper's; I know the prisoner very well, he was bred and born the next door to me, I have no reason for charging him with this, but his pawning the two gowns.
SARAH GOSLING , Jun. sworn.
I went into this back parlour between seven and eight; I was in the room, and all was safe; it is a sash window, the window was down, there was only a small hook to it; I do not know whether that hook was in it; there was no shutter; I went into the room again exactly at ten, then I observed the drawers were both open and moved, and the sash thrown up to the top; we never leave our sashes up after dark, particularly at that time of the year; I lost the things in the indictment out of the drawers; I observed a mark on the water-tub, and one on the sill of the window in the room; the bottom of the passage opens into the yard; there is one door into the passage; we always keep that room locked, and it was locked that night, and when I came to go in at ten, it was locked; the people who got in, got in at the window; my mother ran down stairs to see which way they had gone; I know the prisoner.
WILLIAM GARDNER sworn.
I am servant to Mr. Cooper, in Great Wild-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields; I produce two gowns, I received them on the evening of the 27th of December, from the prisoner, to the best of my knowledge; I think it was about eight, he pledged them for nine shillings; I had seen the prisoner before, and I perfectly knew him again; the prisoner said he brought the things from one Susannah Hambro , a person that uses our shop, and whom we always found to be a very honest woman.
(The gowns deposed to.)
SUSANNAH HAMBRO sworn.
I know nothing about this.
PRISONER's DEFENCE.
I
was going through the streets between seven and eight in the evening, and I saw
a person go out before me, and drop somewhat; it was two gowns, I kicked it
with my foot; it was a sloppy night, and I took them in my hand, and being
rather short of money, I pawned them.
Court.
What account do you give the Jury of yourself? - I had been lately to service,
and I was out of place at this time.
Can you satisfy the Jury that you
bore a good character? - I can, but my friends are not here.
Court.
Gentlemen, in construction of law, the raising a sash, which is put down for
the protection of a house, is in the idea of law, breaking the house.
The
Jury retired for a short time, and returned with a verdict,
GUILTY
, Death .
He
was humbly recommended to mercy by the Jury.
(Aged
sixteen.)
Court
to Clerk of Arraigns. Take the recommendation; I have no sort of objection,
gentlemen.
Tried
by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Baron EYRE .
He was transported
in the Third Fleet, Salamander
eprints.utas.edu.au/6467
The Norfolk Island Victualling Book [8] confirms BELBIN's arrival on the Island during September 1791. He received no pardons and his Certificate of Freedom, No 15/1047, [55] showed that his sentence expired 9 September 1796, 7 years after a 9 September 1789 conviction at the Old Bailey London.
James Belbin kept a diary, it can
be downloaded from the Tasmanian Archives.
It covers his some of his time on Norfolk Island.
He mentions among a lot of other
items, that his daughter Elizabeth was seduced by W. Sherrard while he was
locked for 10 weeks in the Guard house.
James
Belbin had relationships with at least three ladies.
Ann
Meredith He acknowledged 5 daughters.
Ann
Brookes Not the Ann Brooks who was the
grandmother of William James Smith
Elizabeth
Poulter, whom he married in England when he went to restore his reputation.
Sarah mother of James?
From Belbin
Family Researchers
Luckily, James recorded the names of his Norfolk Island
family, with some birth and death dates, in a diary possibly composed
between 1809-1811. These notes [24], which are now held in the University of Tasmania Library, read as follows :
James
BELBIN, born
February 11, 1771
Mary Ann Meredith February 10, 1793 Elizabeth BELBIN February 26, 1795 Sarah BELBIN January 29, 1795 Harriot & Catherine September 12, 1798 Susanna BELBIN June 27, 1801 James BELBIN August 30, 1803
Mary Brooks BELBIN July 31, 1807 Left at Norfolk Island with
her mother
Ann Merredith (sic) BELBIN died in childbirth May 31, 1805, aged 35 years. Harriot BELBIN twin died June 19, 1805, aged 6 yrs, 9 mths 7 days. Both buried at Norfolk Island. |
The Mutch Index [47] is very silent on births, deaths and marriages in the BELBIN family on Norfolk. The solitary reference reads :
BELBIN or MEREDITH, Hariott.
Norfolk Island.
(child)
bur. June 19, 1805
149/270
The Norfolk Island Victualling Book
notes that Private Thomas Ashbury first went to Norfolk on the Atlantic,
4 November 1791, and received stores throughout 1892 until Kitty left
for Port Jackson on 9 March 1793. Although not really significant, the 1828
Census of NSW names two Ashbury families. The youngsters at that time were
called Mary and Thomas Ashbury.Norfolk Island.
(child)
bur. June 19, 1805
149/270
BELBIN is understood to have served as a constable at Phillipburgh until 5 March 1802. On that day Constable BELBIN was removed from the Stores and the Victualling Book where he had stood under Settlers from Sentences Expired. On the same day Ann Meredith and her 6 daughters, from the eldest, Mary Ann Meredith, down to young Susan Meredith, were also removed from the Stores [13].
Several of the Merediths were reinstated on the Stores from June 1805 onwards, after the death of mother Ann Meredith. Elizabeth, Sarah, and Catherine were included in "Children Above 2 Years of Age" in the Victualling Book from 1 June to 31 December 1805.
However, on 15 August 1806, Sarah and Catherine Meredith are shown as "Orphan Children", while Elizabeth is still listed under "Children Above 2 Years of Age".
Sarah and Catherine are still "Orphan Children" in February 1808. Throughout all of this period James BELBIN, Susanna, and young James Meredith do not appear on the Stores. It is of course possible that Sarah and Catherine were orphaned on the death of their mother, and one assumes that orphans gained some small benefit not available to children with parents.
It would not have been beyond James BELBIN to cheat the Stores in some fashion, however these "orphans " were among the five children who went to VDL with him, were known as BELBINs at the Derwent, and constituted his household.......................
In the meantime a group of Norfolk Islanders had prepared a petition to
be sent to Governor Bligh, which was circulated for signature, and was held by James
BELBIN when news of it reached Lieut. Lord's ears. The suggestion is that
this petition may have been the work of James Dodding and James BELBIN
together. Although the last wave of Norfolk Islanders had arrived six months
earlier, BELBIN and his children were still billeted in the house of
convict Daniel Ankers and his wife. Fanny Ankers and Hannah Power, the wife of
another convict, were said to have shared the gunroom aboard Calcutta on
the passage from England [39].
On the voyage out, they reputedly became the mistresses of Deputy
Commissary Fosbrook and Lieut. Governor Collins respectively, and continued in
that capacity at the settlement. It was perhaps not surprising that the
location of the petition could be pinpointed by local Officers. Any subversive
activities beneath the Anker roof would have reached Collins' ears in an
extremely short time.
On 24 April 1809, an antagonistic Lieut. Lord, dressed in full dress
uniform, presented himself at the Anker/BELBIN house and searched until
he found the Islander`s petition. A scuffle then took place in the mud outside
the hut, during which the petition was torn to pieces and the Lieutenant's
uniform was muddied. BELBIN was marched off to the lockup to be charged
as a mutineer, with the promise that he would hang as a mutineer. He was held
for several days until he appeared before the court of Rev. Knopwood and Lieut.
Lord on 26 April.
BELBIN may have been surprised at finding himself freed, on giving an assurance that he would observe a General Order made the previous day by Lieut. Governor Collins. [40].
BELBIN may have been surprised at finding himself freed, on giving an assurance that he would observe a General Order made the previous day by Lieut. Governor Collins. [40].
Hobart
Town, 25th April, 1809.
The Lieut. Governor, understanding that several
of the Norfolk settlers and several other Persons have presumed to address
Letters and Petitions to Governor Bligh since his arrival in this Settlement,
without the knowledge and consent of the Lieut Governor, as he is willing to
ascribe this conduct of theirs to Ignorance, he thereby informs them that
they are not on any account to address or present any Letter, Paper, or
Petition to Governor Bligh without the previous knowledge of the Governor of
this Settlement, and if, after the publication of this Order, any person or
persons are found offending therein, he or they will be brought before a
Bench of Magistrates to answer for the same.
DAVID COLLINS,
Lieut. Governor |
Of a
few poor unfortunate settlers, who attempted to get off a few fowls and some
mutton to my daughter, some where seized and flogged and one poor man, whose
name was BELBIN, received, I believe, 400 or 500 lashes and was
imprisoned for the relief he had given my daughter.
|
BELBIN stated that son James was injured on 23 December and thereafter he felt it necessary to keep the lad in the Guardhouse with him. According to BELBIN, Governor Bligh and Porpoise sailed for Port Jackson on 3 January, some 9 days earlier than the date usually quoted in the history books. On the following day Mrs Ankers locked the BELBIN children out of the house and Kitty, Susan, and James then slept in the Guardhouse with their father.
BELBIN was told that he would have been released on 10 January, however on that day he refused a request from the Governor's household that he allow his 11 year-old daughter Catherine, to live at Government House and nurse Collins' child by his young Norfolk Island born mistress, Margaret Eddington. The day of freedom was therefore delayed.
The daughters were left at Hobart
to fend for themselves while 8-year-old James travelled with his father.
However the ADB again errs, as on 16 November the Sydney
Gazette, in
accordance with the practice of the day, carried this notice:
Once back in Hobart, James BELBIN (sen) commenced a second
family, which can be identified from the St. David's Church records.
Maria daughter of James and Elizabeth Belvin
(sic) (married in England) b. 24 Nov 1814, bap. 26 Dec 1814. Married David
Garside.
Frances daughter of James and Elizabeth BELBIN (married England) b. 1 Feb 1817, bap. 4 March 1817. Married Richard Fleming. Ann daughter of James and Elizabeth BELBIN (married England) b. 11 July 1819, bap. 9 August 1819. Married William Henry Smith. Jane Mary born 3 April 1822, married William Short. William born 7 Feb 1823, Married Rebecca Dowdell. |
It seems unlikely that BELBIN would have escaped the attention of the remaining Governor, Sir John Franklin, as the diarist G.T.W.Boyes, who made such cutting remarks about James BELBIN, was the Colonial Secretary during Sir John's period of administration. BELBIN did not live to bask in the achievements of his youngest son, William, who became and remained a Member of Parliament for 19 years, and held the office of Mayor of Hobart for 3 years. Today James BELBIN has a street named after him in the National Capital, Canberra, but in Tasmania, where he lived and experienced so many troubles, only a minor creek at Cambridge bears his name near land once held by the BELBIN family.
The Mercury of Saturday 12 July 1884
carried news of James Belbin's (Jun) death on 10 July.
Belbin - At his residence, Cambridge, in the 82nd year of his age, James Belbin. The funeral will leave the "Horse & Jockey", Rokeby, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 12. Friends are respectfully invited to attend. The Personal column of the paper on the same day had the following: Death of a Wellknown Colonist - Mr James Belbin who arrived in Tasmania with his parents in the beginning of the present century, expired at his residence, Cambridge, yesterday, after a residence in the colony of over 70 years, in the 82nd year of his age. The family name has been associated with Tasmania from its earliest days, the father being the first Inspector of Stock in Tasmania, and his youngest son, the present Mayor of Hobart. In early life the deceased was actively engaged in business pursuits in this city; but, preferring rural independence, he settled in the district of Cambridge over a quarter of a century ago, where, until shortly before his death, he was actively engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits. He was the father of a large family, and highly esteemed by all who knew him, and few were better acquainted with the history of Tasmania than the late James Belbin, to whom the late Mr Calder was in no slight degree indebted for the valuable information contained in the Historical Records of Tasmania, which appeared in the columns of the Mercury (until his death) two years ago. Mr James Belbin adds one more to the many octogenarians who have died in the last month. The following comments apply to the family of James (Jun) : Daughter Eliza Jane (22) married William Young (25), the son of James Young of Rokeby, 30 August 1855, at St. George's Church, Battery Point. At that time James Belbin (Jun) was listed as a "Contractor of Liverpool St.". Eliza Jane lived her married life at Droughty Point, and the Claremont property at Rokeby. where she died, 19 October 1917, a mere 10 days after her husband's death. Since they are considered in some detail elsewhere, her eleven children are only briefly noted here:[2] |
An amazing amount of information
about the Belbins who are intermingled throughout generations with the Jillett
Family
MEREDITH, Anne: 1 Jun 1805
Norfolk Island. Died in childbirth on Norfolk Island 31 May 1805, age 35 years.
Convict, Neptune 1790 was with George Thomas Plyer First Fleet Marine
and James Belbin, Convict, Salamander 1791, who was constable on
Norfolk Island. Her headstone still stands today in Norfolk Island Cemetery.
MEREDITH, Harriett: 17 Jun 1805 Norfolk Island. Born 12 Sep 1798 Norfolk Island, twin to Catherine. Listed as Harriet Meredith, daughter of Belbin, child in the Rev Fulton burial records. Fa: James Belbin, Convict, Salamander 1791 Mo: Ann Meredith, Convict Neptune 1790. Headstone still exists today at Norfolk Island Cemetery.
It would
appear that James Belbin, was the son of a lady named Sarah.
William James Smith m Ann Belbin
Ann was born 11th July 1819, in
Tasmania, the daughter of James Belbin a First Fleeter, and his English wife
Elizabeth Poulter.
The life of James Belbin is most
interesting. He fathered children with
several ladies.
The ladies also bore children
from different partners.
Which proves, that the Military
were certainly involved in many aspects of life among the prisoners on Norfolk
Island.
Any wonder they called the Julianna
the "Floating Brothel", the
men took that literally!!!!
From Wikipedia:
Lady Juliana gained the reputation for being a floating brothel.
Nicol recalled that "when we were fairly out to sea, every man on board
took a wife from among the convicts, they nothing loath." At the ports of
call seamen from other ships were freely entertained, and the officers made no
attempt to suppress this licentious activity. No provision had been made to set
the convicts to any productive work during the voyage, and they were reported
to be noisy and unruly, with a fondness for liquor and for fighting amongst
themselves. The low death rate during the voyage was due to Edgar and Alley's
care. Rations were properly issued, the vessel kept clean and fumigated, the
women were given free access to the deck, and supplies of fresh food were
obtained at the ports of call. This treatment was in sharp contrast to that
meted out on the infamous Second
Fleet.When Lady Juliana arrived at Port Jackson she was the first vessel to arrive at Port Jackson since the First Fleet's arrival almost two and a half years before. With the colony in the grip of starvation, and with HMS Sirius having wrecked at Norfolk Island, Judge Advocate David Collins was mortified at the arrival of "a cargo so unnecessary and so unprofitable as 222 females, instead of a cargo of provisions". Lieutenant Ralph Clark was more blunt, lamenting the arrival of still more "damned whores". The ship carried letters bringing the first news of events in Europe to the settlement since the First Fleet had sailed in May 1787. Two weeks later the storeship Justinian arrived, followed a week later by the three ships of the Second Fleet with their shameful cargo of starved and maltreated convicts. Because Lady Juliana was the first ship to arrive after the First Fleet, some consider her part of the Second Fleet, but some do not. A transportation register can be seen at The UK National Archives.[9]
Probably all children born on
Norfolk Island in 1789, were fathered by the crew!
On Norfolk:
By the standards of those times, Philip
Gidley King was a relatively benign man and far worse were to follow him. A
twentieth century mind, however, might find his methods blood-curdling. Six
weeks after the landing, King meted out his first punishment. Seaman John Batchelor
was accused of stealing rum from King's own tent and received three dozen
lashes.Undeterred by being forced to watch the flogging of Batchelor, young Charles McLennan went on a rum search and found it in Surgeon Jamieson's tent. For this he received 50 lashes. He had just recently turned sixteen.
The Commandant lost no time in taking to himself a mistress, choosing an ex-dressmaker named Ann Inett who, for stealing a few clothes, had been sentenced to death by hanging, but reprieved and given seven years transportation.
Encouraged by King's example, Edward Garth, a young man who had also had his death sentence reprieved, paired off with Susannah Gough, an ex-prostitute, while Nathaniel Lucas, a carpenter, settled down with 25-years-old Olivia Gasgoine whose crime was rather more serious than the others - 'stealing with force and arms'.
In a very short time, all three ladies were pregnant and a new generation was beginning, a people whose origins were in the South Pacific.
On the 8th of January, 1789, Ann Inett presented Commandant King with the settlement's first child, which he proudly named 'Norfolk'.
https://www.discovernorfolkisland.com/norfolk/early.html
This article was published
in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 1, (MUP), 1966
James Belbin (1771-1848), convict and settler,
was born in London. Convicted at the Old Bailey in September 1789 and his death
sentence commuted to transportation for seven years, he reached Sydney in the Salamander
in August 1791. In due course he transferred as a settler to Norfolk Island, where he received land and by 1796 was selling pork to the government. When the colonists of Norfolk Island were deported, Belbin moved to Hobart Town in 1808; he was then a widower with five daughters, the eldest aged 16, and a son of 5.
Next year he got into trouble for his support of the deposed Governor William Bligh who had come to Hobart. Twice arrested, Belbin refused to acknowledge any person but Bligh as governor-in-chief of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land. He was ordered 500 lashes but, because of his poor physical condition after a month in gaol he was incapable of receiving more than fifty.
His only offence had been in persisting in his loyalty to the King's representative. After ten weeks in custody he was released but was victimized by having his children and himself removed from the list of persons entitled to rations.
He decided to seek justice in London. Accompanied by his son he sailed from Hobart on 16 November 1811, working his passage to England; there he petitioned for the restoration of his rights as a free settler
On Bligh's recommendation, the Colonial Office ordered that Belbin and his son be given free passages back to Hobart, and a land grant and the other concessions to which he was entitled as a Norfolk Island evacuee.
In June 1813 he sailed in the Earl Spencer and obtained letters about his grant from Governor Lachlan Macquarie before proceeding to Hobart; for all that, it took him two years to get his affairs settled.
He received land at Cambridge, between Hobart and Pittwater, where he built a home, made a prosperous farm and brought up a second family. In 1819 he was appointed stock inspector and in 1844 was given a pension of £75. He died at Hobart on 8 May 1848.
Victualing
Order for Convict James Belbin's wife and son from Lieutenant Governor Thomas
Davey, 29th April 1814
from Linc Archives
George Plyer, Private,
Marine, Friendship 1788[3]
George Plyer was born c1759 at Tewkesbury,
Gloucestershire, England. He arrived in NSW as a private of the Marines 30th
(Plymouth) Company aboard the Friendship in 1788. he was assigned to assigned to Captain
Shea’s Company Port Jackson Garrison.As George Player he was sent to Norfolk Island aboard HM Supply in June 1789.
Spelling variations of surname includes aka Player, Plyar, Pleyer.
On 25 Mar 1791, George Plyer was charged with contempt of orders, Ralph Clark wrote: “a Court Martial 24 Sat to day for the Trial of Geo. Plyer for contempt and disobedience of orders to Capt. Johnstone of which Court I was a Member he was sentenced to Receive 150 Lashes walked out to Charlotte Field. 25: Friday 25 the Sentence of the Court Martial held yesterday was carried into Execution and he received the whole of his Sentence”. [1]
In Jan 1792 he left the marine detachment, and became a settle on Norfolk Island. On Norfolk Island he formed a relationship with Ann Meredith, Convict Neptune 1790, who had arrived on Norfolk Island aboard the Surprize in Aug 1790. There was one daughter from this relationship. Ann Meredith eventually formed a relationship by 1795 with James BELBIN, convict Salamander 1791 on Norfolk Island. She died in childbirth May 1805 on Norfolk Island.
George Plyar (sic) enlisted into the 102nd Regiment in Sydney in May 1800, returning to Norfolk Island aboard the Hunter in July 1800 with Joseph Foveaux NSW Corps Company with the rank of private
George Whitaker a private of the NSW Corps purchased on 4 Sept 1802, a 30 acres piece of land at Norfolk Island from George Plyer, this been a part of George Plyer’s original 60 acre land grant of Mar 1791 of Lot 41, which today is located north of Cascade.[2]
George was discharged from the NSW Corps on Norfolk Island in Feb 1807, he remained on Norfolk until his departure on the City of Edinburgh in Sept 1808 for VDL.
In 1834 George Plyer stated that he was 85 years of age and that he had come to New South Wales, as a marine, with the original settlement of the Colony by Governor Philip. [3] George Plyer, died 1 Sept 1839 Hobart, age 96 years.
George Plyer and Ann Meredith’s daughter Mary Ann Meredith was born Feb 1793 Norfolk Island. Mary left Norfolk Island aboard Lady Nelson for Port Jackson, with Private 102nd Regiment Thomas Ashbury.
[1] Clark, Ralph. The Journal and Letters of Lt. Ralph Clark 1787-1792.
[2] SRNSW Colonial Secretary’s Papers 1788-1828, Fiche 3267; 9/2731 p.69.
[3] Colonial Times (Hobart), 29 July 1843, p. 7.
Marines Friendship Jan 1788
Captain Shea’s Company: Port Jackson Marines 1788
HM Supply to Norfolk Island June 1789
NSW Corps 1802 Norfolk Island
NSW Corps 1804 Norfolk Island
In 1834, he was a witness in a
court case
His land grants were also
Clarence Plains
PLYER, George
|
|
1796 Mar 23
|
On list of all grants and leases of land
registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3267; 9/2731 pp.60, 68)
|
PLYER, George
|
|
1816
|
On list of persons who have had lands measured in
Van Diemen's Land but have not received their grants (Reel 6048; 4/1742
p.297)
|
n.d.
|
In index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land
(Fiche 3262; 4/438 p.71)
|
PLYER, Samuel
|
|
n.d.
|
In index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land
[1813] (Fiche 3262; 4/438 p.71)
|
1823
|
On list of persons owing quit rents in Van
Diemen's Land; for land in the District of Argyle (Fiche 3270; X19 p.20)
|
http://www.australianhistoryresearch.info/george-plyer-private-marine-friendship-1788/
[3] Cite
this article as: Cathy Dunn, 'George Plyer, Private, Marine, Friendship 1788',
Australian History Research, http://www.australianhistoryresearch.info/george-plyer-private-marine-friendship-1788/,
accessed 9th Oct 2017
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