The Sydney Gazette 11 March 1806 listed Wearing Apparel and other property of the late Mrs J Dundas, to be sold at Auction by Mr David Bevan on 2 April. Jane Dundas had accumulated considerable personal effects in her 15 years as servant to the King household. From her trial at the Old Bailey, Jane Dundas at the end of her life, was given a public funeral at which His Excellency Governor King and family attended. Jane Dundas was in service as laundry maid to the Hon Sir John Skinner when Continue Reading »
Elizabeth Clark
and Ann Beardsley were the only two female convicts tried at the Derby Assizes. Elizabeth being 19 at the time of her time trial, was possibly the daughter of Humphrey and Mary Clark whose baptism was registered at Scopton, Derbyshire, in August 1766. On 11 January 1785, at the Derby Epiphany Sessions, Elizabeth Clark, late of the parish of Ashbourne in this County, Spinster, in the custody of Blyth Simpson, keeper of his Majesty's Gaol for this County and being brought before this Court and Continue Reading »
Ann Mather
Was a young offender, possibly no more than 14 years old at the time of her trial at the Old Bailey on 18 April 1787, for feloniously stealing, on 10 April, one pair of velvet breeches value 4s, two cloth waist-coats value 1s, being the property of John Carter. At the trial, John Carter swore, I lodged, the 10th instant at No.11 in Fleet-lane; I lost a pair of velveret breeches, and two cloth waistcoats; they were taken out of the room where I lodge; I saw them there on the 9th at night; in Continue Reading »
Walter Batley : Martha Baker
Convict Walter Batley whose aliases were Walton Batley or John Rowse, Rouse or Rous, was aged 28 when he was discharged into Friendship. Ralph Clark noted that he was a bricklayer born in Norfolk. At the Old Bailey Sessions which began on Wednesday 29 October 1783, Walter Batley was indicted for feloniously stealing on the 24 September 1783, seven woollen sailor’s jackets value 20s, two woollen sailor’s jackets value 10s, seven white flannel jackets value 3s, six pair of breeches value 12s, Continue Reading »
Susannah Blanchet
Monday 24 March 1788, a day described as foggy until 9 a.m., then clear, easterly winds with the temperature reaching 72°. One this day, four weddings took place, and Susannah Blanchard (sic), a convict, was buried. At the Surrey Lent Assizes 1787, which commenced on Monday 2 April 1787 at Kingston upon Thames before Sir Henry Gould Kent, Susannah Blanchet was tried for burglary on 29 December 1786. Her occupation was given as servant, with an age of either 23 or 25 years. The crime “… Continue Reading »
John Baughan : Mary Cleaver
John Bingham or Baughan, alias Innis Baffin, cabin maker, was convicted at Oxford England, in 1783 for having stolen five woollen blankets being the goods of John Shorter. Sentenced to seven years transportation to America, he was delivered aboard the ship Mercury on 22 March 1784 with 21 other convicts. The ship was seized by the convicts off Torbay Cornwall; he was one of 66 recaptured and held on Dunkirk Hulk until being transferred to the First Fleet transport Friendship. The Reverend Continue Reading »
The Second Fleet
The Second Fleet Arrives at Sydney Cove Horrifying Conditions says Chaplain Richard Johnson Long awaited ships from England have arrived bringing with them a load of problems far outweighing their aid to the Colony. Lady Juliana arrived June 3, 1790, was found to carry not food but female convicts, mainly elderly and infirm. Justinian, arrived June 20, brought food and news that the principal store ship, Guardian, had founded off the Cape of Good Hope. The ships carried the Continue Reading »
Mary Phillips
Was tried at the Somerset Lent Assizes, held at Taunton Castle on 30 March 1786, for feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Nathaniel Shorney at the parish of Over Stowey on the 24 September 1785 and stealing two linen aprons and other goods valued at 18 shillings, being the property of Jane Shorney. Sentenced to be hanged, but later reprieved to 7 years transportation, Mary was ordered to the Dunkirk hulk aged 32, on 13 April 1786. When the fleet sailed, Mary was amongst Continue Reading »
John Arscott : Catherine Prior
John Arscott was a carpenter and a native of Truro, Cornwall, England, being baptised on 22 March 1767, as the probable son of Samuel Arscott and Mary Barnes. John was sentenced at Bodmin Assizes Cornwall, on 18 August 1783 to seven years’ transportation to America, for three crimes: (a) For burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Philip Polkinghorne about 1 in the night and stealing 2 silver watches value 40s. (b) For burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Continue Reading »
Owen Cavanough : Margaret Darnell
Owen Cavenaugh (Cavanough) aged 25, arrived into Sydney Cove as an Able Seaman, aboard Sirius. After Sirius was wrecked on Norfolk Island in 1790, he was discharged to become a settler obtaining land at Cascade Stream, Phillipsburg. By 1794 Owen was living with Margaret Darnell who was indicated for stealing, on 30 March 1787, one dozen desert knives and forks, value 6s, being the property of James White. Sentenced at the Old Bailey on 18 April 1787, to seven years transportation, Margaret Continue Reading »