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First Fleet Fellowship Victoria Inc

Descendants of those who arrived with the First Fleet in 1788 with Captain Arthur Phillip

First Fleet Fellowship Victoria Inc

Descendants of those who arrived with the First Fleet in 1788
with Captain Arthur Phillip

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THE FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL

July 9, 2023 by Cheryl Timbury

By Anne Gibson.  The need for a female orphanage and education of the children of the colony had become apparent in Sydney. When Philip Gidley King returned to New South Wales as Governor, he and Mrs. King perceived the need to establish a class for girls similar to the one he had founded on Norfolk Island. After discussion with the Reverend Richard Johnson, King wrote to the Duke of Portland setting out his plans for an Orphan School. A committee was formed consisting of Rev. Johnson, Continue Reading »

Filed Under: Child Convicts, Convicts, Stories, Uncategory

THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERSHIP

June 9, 2023 by Cheryl Timbury

By Patricia Deering (Descendant of Mathew Everingham, William Roberts, Elizabeth Rhymes and Kezie Brown).  During the early days of settlement in NSW self-sufficiency was the mark of success.  But it was not achieved without commitment – a good sold partner/wife/husband.  I have been ‘gob smacked’ by the challenges that my first and second fleet ancestors faced – particularly the women.  They fulfilled multiple roles – as agricultural worker, homemaker, partner, mother, Continue Reading »

Filed Under: Convicts, Descendants, Female Convicts, Male Convicts, Uncategory

The Shoemaker (Cordwainer)

December 11, 2022 by Cheryl Timbury

By Anne Gibson.  At one time every large town and village was sure to have at least one shoemaker.  They rarely made a lot of money, even though a pair of shoes often cost a weeks’ wages.  History commenced with the early shoemakers guilds of Rome, quickly moving into the middle ages, when supple cordwain leathers were used (hence the term cordwainers). Heels started to be made in the 1520s, although separate left and right shoes were not to appear for another 250 years.  By Continue Reading »

Filed Under: Convicts, Uncategory

Sullivan Bay to Port Dalrymple

April 15, 2021 by Cheryl Timbury

Article written by member Geoffrey Humphries.Ref; ‘Narrative of a Voyage to Port Phillip and Van Diemen’s Land with Lieutenant Governor Collins.’ by AW Humphrey (1984) In late 1803 Lt. Governor David Collins decided to abandon the camp at Sullivan Bay (near present day Sorrento) and proceed to Van Diemen’s Land. Before   leaving he dispatched a party under William Collins to explore and report back on the Port Dalrymple area of Northern Van Diemen’s Land. The only ship available Continue Reading »

Filed Under: Non Commissioned Officers, Officers, Uncategory

1788 EARTHQUAKE, SYDNEY COVE

February 5, 2021 by Cheryl Timbury

The shock of an earthquake on Sunday 22 June 1788 was mentioned by several diarists.  The day was recorded as Clear with south-west winds.  Temperature 54° David Blackburn, Master of HMS Supplyat 20 minutes after 4 in the afternoon, a shock of an earthquake was felt through the camp.  The surgeon of ‘Supply’ and myself were then in the woods about a mile and a half from the camp & were both at the time standing still and silent examining some gum issuing from a large Continue Reading »

Filed Under: Convicts, Male Convicts, Marines, Officers, Uncategory

John Small and Mary Parker

May 26, 2019 by Cheryl Timbury

The Reverend Richard Johnson, Chaplain to the colony married convicts John Small and Mary Parker on 12 October 1788.  The witnesses were convict Thomas Akers and servant to the Reverend Johnson, Samuel Barnes.  As chaplain’s clerk, his name appears numerous times as witness to Port Jackson weddings.  Mary Parker’s sentence did not expire until April 1792. John Small was not alone when he committed the crime that original carried the sentence Guilty. To be hanged.  A Royal Continue Reading »

Filed Under: Convicts, Female Convicts, Male Convicts, Uncategory

Early Australian Freemasonry

February 3, 2019 by Cheryl Timbury

Kurrie KuKurrie Kurrie NSW old Masonic Hall

Freemasonry has been associated with the British discovery and settlement of Australia from the very beginning. Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820), the naturalist who sailed into Botany Bay with James Cook in 1770 became a Freemason prior to 1768 and was a member of the Old Horn Lodge No. 4 in England. Thomas Lucas (1759-1815) a Private in the 23rd Company Marine Corps and a member of Lodge of temperance No 225 in England, arrived with the First Fleet. Captain Matthew Flinders (1774-1814) Continue Reading »

Filed Under: Marines, Officers, Stories, Uncategory

Elizabeth Cole

January 30, 2019 by Cheryl Timbury

Australia Day Cake

It is an amazing coincidence that there were two young women who came to Australia on the First Fleet and were named Elizabeth Cole. This was at first most confusing, but eventually we found proof of which one was ours and her whole story fitted together.   We have been told that our Elizabeth Cole was baptised on 25 May 1762 in the Parish Church of the small Devon village of Lamerton, not far from the western edge of Dartmoor and her parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Continue Reading »

Filed Under: Convicts, Female Convicts, Male Convicts, Uncategory

First Fleet Scribes

November 7, 2018 by Cheryl Timbury

How fortunate we are to have journals, diaries, letters, reports and logbooks written by officers who arrived with Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788.  Without these scribes our knowledge of the voyage, the settlement, and its people would have passed into history unknown. David Blackburn (1753–1795) HMS Supply, Master A party of gentlemen with their servants and 4 soldiers were walking to Botany Bay … met with a body of 300 natives all armed with spears and targets. They did not seem too Continue Reading »

Filed Under: Marines, Non Commissioned Officers, Officers, Seaman, Uncategory

Maria Nash (Haynes)

September 11, 2018 by Cheryl Timbury

Her story, told by descendant Rosemary SMITH Rosemary joined the First Fleet Fellowship in September 1987 and holds certificate number 181.  When asked how and when she found out that she was a descendant of First Fleeters, she seemed a little surprised by the question and said “I guess it’s something we’ve always known.” Here is the story of her ancestor.  "This is the story of my four times grandmother, as we, her descendants know it.  A lot of Australian histories Continue Reading »

Filed Under: Marines, Stories, Uncategory, Wives of Marines

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