Philip Gidley King kept a number of journals during his service in the Southern Seas. His Official journal, kept on Sirius became the basis of the Norfolk Island Report in some early books concerning Australia. It was purchased in 1897 for the Sydney Public Library and is now in the Mitchell Library there. Another journal written by King and referred to as the private journal was purchased by the Mitchell Library from the P.G. King estate in 1933. It is considered a rough copy Continue Reading »
John Small and Mary Parker
The Reverend Richard Johnson, Chaplain to the colony married convicts John Parker and Mary Small on 12 October 1788. The witnesses were convict Thomas Akers and servant to the Reverend Johnson, Samuel Barnes. As chaplain’s clerk, his name appears numerous times as witness to Port Jackson weddings. Mary Parker’s sentence did not expire until April 1792. John Parker was not alone when he committed the crime that original carried the sentence Guilty. To be hanged. A Royal Continue Reading »
Elizabeth Cole
It is an amazing coincidence that there were two young women who came to Australia on the First Fleet and were named Elizabeth Cole.This was at first most confusing, but eventually we found proof of which one was ours and her whole story fitted together. We have been told that our Elizabeth Cole was baptised on 25 May 1762 in the Parish Church of the small Devon village of Lamerton, not far from the western edge of Dartmoor and her parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Continue Reading »
Andrew Goodwin : Lydia Munro
ANZAC Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War, 100 years ago. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as ANZACS. Australia is commemorating this most important centenary period 2014 to 2018.The ANZAC centenary is a time for all present First Fleet descendants from Andrew Goodwin and Lydia Munro to honour their past descendants Continue Reading »
Henry Waterhouse
Midshipman Henry Waterhouse arrived with the First Fleet aboard HMS Sirius. He was the eldest son of William and Susanna (Brewer) Waterhouse, born 13 December 1770 and christened 28 December 1770 at St James Middlesex. William had be page to the Duke of Cumberland who was Henry’s god-father. He entered the navy at an early age (16) and on 20 November 1786 joined HMS Sirius as midshipman (having been recommended to Captain Phillip), raising to the rank of acting third lieutenant on 28 Continue Reading »
James Squire
Was sentenced to transportation for seven years at the General Sessions of the Peace for the Town and Hundred at Kingston upon Thames on 11 April 1785. His crime was theft of four Cocks, five Hens and divers other Goods and Chattels the property of John Stacey. He was held in Southwark gaol until the end of March 1787, when he was sent to Portsmouth, ordered to Friendship but embarked on Charlotte. This was the second time James Squire/s had been transported.James Squire's Continue Reading »
Rachel Early
Variations of her surname on official records are Hurley, Earley, Harley, Arily. Rachel was born on 23 April 1769 at Lambourne Berkshire England. Her mothers’ name is given as Christian Early, no fathers’ name is recorded. Rachel was unemployed of St Giles London, when she was tried at Reading on 24 July 1786 for stealing an ounce of tea, tabacco and sugar, 3 yards of silk ribband and a linen cap with a value of 3 Shillings, (30 cents today). Sentenced to 7 years Continue Reading »
Frances Davis : Mary Marshall
Many of the girls who arrived aboard the Lady Penrhyn became friends. They came from similar backgrounds and circumstances and supported each other during the long voyage and in Port Jackson. Two of these women were Frances Davis 22 and Mary Marshall 29, who is not to be confused with the other Mary Marshall, also on Lady Penrhyn. Early in the morning on 2 September 1785, Frances Davis, spinster, broke into the house of Agnes Bennett widow, and stole one Canvas Bag and Continue Reading »
Rebecca Boulton
Mother and child were buried within a week of each other at Sydney Cove in April 1788. The child Rebecca Bolton/Boulton was born in Lincoln Gaol around April 1786 as her mother Rebecca awaited embarkation on the Prince of Wales. It was stated at her trial, that as Rebecca Gibson, she had married Thomas Bolton at Panton Lincolnshire in 1778.Rebecca, was aged 23 when tried at Lindsey Quarter Session at Spilsby Lincolnshire on 16 July 1784. She gave a voluntary confession on 8 May Continue Reading »
Ann Daly : John Seymour
Port Jackson November 1788, convict girls Ann Daly (Warburton) and Amelia Levy were sharing a hut together. A fire was kept lit between their hut and Ann Farmer; sometimes in the evenings John Ryan and Bartholomew Reardon took advantage of the warmth from the fire.During the evening of 11 November a man had come into the girl’s hut and taken some clothing. Ann claimed that she was lying awake in her hut when the door opened and a man came in. She thought the man had come in after Continue Reading »