was indicted for feloniously stealing on the 6 May 1784, two-hundred and eighteen pounds weight of lead, value 40s belonging to William Rothwell. Tried in the Old Bailey on 26 May 1784, he was found guilty and sentenced to seven years transportation. Joseph spent the next three years on the Censor Hulk before embarkation aboard Scarborough; he was then aged around 20. The next recorded entry on Joseph was when he married Eleanor (Ellen) Gott (Neptune 1790) at St Phillip Church Sydney on 13 Continue Reading »
John Martin
Our Caribbean Negro convict John Martin, was born circa 1755 and died with is family around him as his time came to an end in 1837. Nothing is known about him prior to his conviction, nor is it likely we will ever find more. By following history, the African Negro, 'Caribbean' at that time, with his parents or grandparents, would have been slaves sent to the American colonies. In those days and later many Negroes joined ships as sailors or as stowaways, during the American War. This Continue Reading »
John Randall
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
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 »
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 »