was a soldier and writer, who was born at Chester on 6 October 1758 in the county of Cheshire in England. He joined the Royal Marine Corps, Plymouth division, as a Second Lieutenant in 1776, and served in the American War of Independence, during which he was a prisoner-of-war for some months. In December 1786, Tench’s offer to re-enter the Corps for a three-year tour of Botany Bay was accepted, and he sailed aboard Charlotte. Before sailing with the Fleet, he arranged with a London 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 »
Dorothy Handland / Gray
Dorothy Handland is claimed to be the oldest female convict to have sailed on the First Fleet and one of the most colourful. Arthur Bowes Smyth estimated Dorothy be 82 years old, but in Newgate Prison she was recorded as 60; another entry has her as 62, which is most likely correct. Bowes Smyth’s pen and ink side faced sketch of Mother Gray, depicts a woman with a very pointy nose and chin, wearing a bonnet. Shoemaker Robert Grey married Dorothy Coolley on 22 September 1766 Continue Reading »
Nancy Yates
Like many of his fellow officers, Captain David Collins who became the Colony’s Judge Advocate, took convict women as mistresses during his years in Sydney Cove and Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land. One of his mistresses was convict milliner Nancy / Ann Yates / Yeates. She was tried as a single-woman aged 17, at Yorkshire Summer Assizes held at York on 9 July 1785 with Jonathan Howard for burglary. Breaking and entering into the dwelling of John Strickland in the township of Milton Continue Reading »
Seamen
Seamen were are tough bunch of men. They crewed the First Fleet ships, fathered children to convict women, settled in the new colony, while others died on the inward and outward voyages. Life at sea during the age of sail was filled with dangers, even though these men were familiar with the discomfort and hardship of ship life. Seamen were separated from their homes and families for long periods at sea. They were crowded below decks in skimpy and cramped living conditions, Continue Reading »
Thomas Prior : Rebecca Davidson
In the Anglican Section of the Old Sydney (Devonshire/Sandhills) Burial Ground, was a very small headstone that marked the grave of Thomas Prior. The stone was embellished with several Masonic emblems and inscribed with the wording: Sacred to the memory of THOMAS PRIOR, who departed this Life, July 24th, 1836, Aged 88 Years, who Arrived in the first fleet 1788. Freemasonry has been associated with the British discovery and settlement of New South Wales from the beginning. Thomas Prior Continue Reading »
Jane Dundas
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 »
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 »
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