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 »
Elizabeth Bruce : John Anderson
John Anderson, a former seaman, was committed to gaol at Exeter Devon, on 24 July 1785 for breaking into a house and stealing a linen handkerchief, other goods and money. Sentenced to seven years transportation, he spent time in the Dunkirk hulk before embarkation aboard the Charlotte. At Sydney Cove he married Elizabeth Bruce on 16 March 1788, signing with a mark. On 4 October, both were sent to Norfolk Island on the Golden Grove. On the Island he was employed to help John Altree and Thomas Continue Reading »
Mary Allen
Mary Allen, sentenced on 25 October 1786 at the Old Bailey to transportation for seven years, was recorded as being one of the lowliest women to be transported. Mary, thought to be a previous offender, was found guilty of theft of a watch and money, was sent to Newgate prison and was embarked on Lady Penrhyn on 6 January 1787, her age recorded as 22. Mary’s first protector in this harsh new land of Sydney Cove, was Frederick Meredith, a seaman steward from Scarborough. They had a daughter Continue Reading »
Nathaniel Lucas : Olivia Gascoigne
Amongst the many descendants of convicts Nathaniel Lucas (Scarborough) and Olivia Gascoigne (Lady Penrhyn), were men who were born into this large extended family. Brothers and cousins became of age when WW1 was declared. They joined the various contingents to leave Australia for overseas. These men saw action in France and Turkey, were wounded and hospitalised. Those that did not return home, are buried in Commonwealth War Graves or honoured on Memorial Walls. You can follow their lives by Continue Reading »
