John Randall, a 6 foot high, well-made black American Negro labourer, came to Australia aboard the transport ship Alexander with the First Fleet on 26 January 1788. John was sentenced to seven years transportation on 14 April 1785 at Manchester Quarter Sessions for stealing a steel watch chain, the property of Joseph Wardle. Sent to the Ceres Hulk early in 1786, aged 21, he was delivered to the transport Alexander on 6 January 1787, mustered on board by Major Robert Ross in March as Reynolds, 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 »
Richard Morgan
Richard Morgan arrived in Van Diemen’s Land with his family on 7 October 1806. He was a First Fleeter and Norfolk Islander.Richard Morgan was born in England. He was convicted in 1785 at Gloucester on the oaths of ‘John Trevillian Ceely Trevillian Esq and others’. The offence was, stealing in the dwelling house of the said Richard Morgan (sic) one metal watch value three pounds and also charged with assaulting the said John Ceely Trevillian and threatening to murder him and by force Continue Reading »
John Nicols
was indicated as John Nicholls at the Old Bailey on Wednesday 21 April 1784 for feloniously stealing a large quantity of goods from a hair merchant and perfumer in London, where he worked as a servant and porter’s assistant. Sentenced to seven years transportation he spent time on the Censor Hulk before embarkation on the Scarborough. Following his arrival in Port Jackson, John who was recorded as a Gardner, became a very successful landholder of various properties by grant and purchase up Continue Reading »
James Morrisby
was sentenced to seven years transportation at the Old Bailey on 7 July 1784 for theft of a ten pound iron bar, value 10d, and for wrenching it from the house. He was a blacksmith and said to have served for ten years in the guards. On 6 September 1784 he was received on the Censor hulk and three years later sent by wagon for embarkation on the Scarborough. Following the Fleets arrival James was sent by Sirius to Norfolk Island and took up farming. In June 1794 he was living with Ann Brooks Continue Reading »
Nathaniel Lucas : Olivia Gascoigne
Nathaniel Lucas was sentenced at the Old Bailey on 7 July 1784 to transportation for seven years for theft of a few items of clothing. Said to be a carpenter and joiner, he spent time in the Ceres and Censor hulks before being sent to Scarborough on 27 February 1787. On 14 February 1788 after the Fleet’s arrival, Lucas was sent to Norfolk Island with the group to settle the island, and making himself a valuable assert as a carpenter in the new community. Amongst the group sent to Norfolk Continue Reading »
Thomas Kidner
THOMAS KIDNER was committed to Newgate prison for feloniously stealing four pieces of Irish Linen valued at £6, the property of Mr Wm Overend, in the parish of St John, Bristol. Sentenced to seven years transportation on 30 October 1782, he spent time on the Censor hulk before being transferred to the Alexander on 6 January 1787. Thomas was sent to Norfolk Island by Supply and at 11 July 1791 he was subsisting himself on a Sydney Town lot and was sharing a sow, which produced a litter of Continue Reading »
Edward Miles
Sentenced as Edward Moyle, to seven years transportation at Launceston Cornwall on 19 March 1785 for theft of two cloth coats, value 50s and other goods value 17s 8d, from the dwelling house of Benjamin Barrett. Moyle and his partner John Rowe, were found guilty of stealing the goods, but not guilty of breaking and entering the house in the day. Moyle was on the Dunkirk hulk early in 1786 before embarking aboard Charlotte, but later transferred on 6 April 1787 to Scarborough, a month before Continue Reading »
Susannah Gough
SUSANNAH’S STORY Susannah GARTH/GRAH/GRATES/GOUGH Born c.1763, died June 1841, Hobart, Tasmania.Her Crime Feloniously stealing, on the 19th day of August 1783, nine guineas, value 91. 9s. and one half guinea, value 10s. and sixpence.Susannah was drinking with Elizabeth Dudgeon and a man thought to be a seaman who had just returned from Plymouth, possibly with his wages in his pocket. The man, William Waterhouse was warned to be more moderate, but replied “I mean to be gay”. Some of Continue Reading »
George Guest
(1757-1841) born in Prestbury, Gloucester, was sentenced to death at Gloucester Lenten Assizes on 24 March 1784 on two counts of theft for stealing ten live pigs and a chestnut mare. The sentence was reduced to seven years transportation to America. Initially the 17 year old was taken to the hulk Censor where he stayed for 3 years and at the end of February 1787 transferred to the Alexander to leave for New South Wales with the First Fleet. After almost a year at Sydney Cove, Continue Reading »