aka Convicts

On these pages I have put together a number of pieces of information that might be useful to other people researching the same family lines as myself.

A page of photos of the early settlers.

My first ancestor to be born in Australia was Elizabeth LEES. She was born in Sydney on 17th June 1802.

Her parents were both convicts. John LEE and Alice NICHOLSON
John LEE arrived on the "Gorgon" part of the 3rd fleet in 1791
Alice NICHOLSON was a married woman when sentenced in Salford Assises Her husband is named as Joseph Nicholson. He apparently stayed in England.
She arrived on the "Britannia" in 1798?

John LEE and Alice NICHOLSON had at least 4 children but I have been unable to find a marriage for them.
Children that I have found are:
Sarah         b 11 May 1799
Elizabeth    b 17 June 1802
James         b 20 Aug 1804
Mary          christened 17 Sept 1820
 
 

Sarah married John NEALE at St Phillips Church Sydney on 1 January 1816
She and her husband are witnesses to Elizabeth's second marriage.

Elizabeth married James DONOHUE at St Phillip's Church on 1st October 1821. James was a convict and was a rope maker by trade. They had 3 children
John b1821  d 1823
Sarah b 1824  d 1910   married Ferdinand Napoleon MEURANT**
Eleanor b 1826  d 1827

** Ferdinand Napoleon MEURANT was the son of Ferdinand MEURANT who was born in 1765 in Champaigne France and transported from Ireland for forgery. He died in 1844. Here is a picture of him. The picture and a short bibliography was found on the Blacktown City Council website
The MEURANT family and descendants of Ann GIBBONS intermarried for a number of generations!

James DONOHUE died in 1826 and Elizabeth married Benjamin BAKER at St Peter's Cumberland on 26th April 1827.
Their children are:
Charlotte b 30 March 1828 Liverpool, NSW, Australia
Williams b 1830
Benjamin b 24th June 1832 Lower Mint, NSW, Australia
Elizabeth Jessie b 5 Feb 1834  Newcastle,NSW, Australia
Emma   b 1836
Anne Rebecca    b 20 March 1840
Helena        b 1852

*** Apparently Elizabeth has another child. Robert HOWE b 11. Jan 1820 to Elizabeth and Robert HOWE before she married James This information has come from Robyn Fleming on 10.3.02. Robyn's email is on the researchers page if you would like more information on this line.

Benjamin BAKER was the son of Ann GIBBONS a single female convict. She became pregnant while in a women's prison in Worcseter. Benjamin was born at sea on the trip over. He was born at Table Bay South Africa on 20th January 1086. Who the father was is as yet unknown and will probably remain so.

A Letter from the East India Shipping Office.. was the first indication of just where Benjamin Baker was born. Malcolm Cram mentioned in the bottom of the letter is a fellow researcher.

Benjamin BAKER died 19th February 1868 at Pyrmont. and was buried at Rookwood Necropolis on the 21st Feb. His wife Elizabeth died on 16th August 1878 and was buried beside Benjamin on 17th August. Photo of the headstone.

Ann GIBBONS born in Worcester tried in Worcester and sentenced for 7 years. She was transported on the "William Pitt" and arrived in Australia with her son Benjamin BAKER. She had children by a number of different men and they are listed below. Not all children were baptised as the children of the correct father.

Quoted from the "Berrows Worcester Journal" Wednesday March 15th 1804 (Source- Worcester County Record Office)

"Committed to our city goal by John Forrest Esq,
John Drew, charged with stealing cask of peppermint water from the shop of James Clarke, in this city :- and, on Monday last(?) by T. Carder, Esq , Ann Gibbins, charged with stealing several articles of wearing apparel from the dwelling house of John Haynes of this city, his property.

Quoted from the "Berrows Worcester Journal" Wednesday March 15th 1804 (Source- Worcester County Record Office)

"Committed to our city goal by John Forrest Esq, John Drew, charged with stealing cask of peppermint water from the shop of James Clarke, in this city :- and, on Monday last(?) by T. Carder, Esq , Ann Gibbins, charged with stealing several articles of wearing apparel from the dwelling house of John Haynes of this city, his property."

Quoted from the "Berrows Worcester Journal" Wednesday March 29th 1804 (Source- Worcester County Record Office)

A lengthy piece about persons charged - at the bottom of the list of offenders is Ann. The piece starts..... "The Commission for holding the Assize for this county and city was opened at the Guildhall on Saturday last by Mr Serjeant Williams, Sir Soulden Lawrence and Sir Simon La Slaitie??? (name is hard to read) not arriving till late in the evening after which the court was adjourned till Monday." The number of prisoners for trial amounted to 28 of whom....... (names left out here) Fredric De Savoure Bancroft, alias Fredric Taylor, and Richard Taylor, for obtaining goods under false pretences, from several tradesmen to this city; and Ann Gibbins for taking several articles of wearing apparel in the dwelling house of John Haynes, of this city, were severally sentenced to be transported for seven years; ...... against John Drew for stealing a cask of peppermint water from the shop of James Clarke, in this city, no bill was found.

Her first relationship in Australia was with Abraham WHITAKER who was a fellow convict. I have been unable to find a marriage for them.
There are 2 children christened to them:
Maryann WHITAKER b 10 July 1808 christened 27 January 1811
William WHITAKER b 10 December 1810 christened 27 January 1811
Elizabeth WHITAKER b c 1812 d 1855 aged 42 buried St Johns, Cambelltown, New South Wales, Australia. Married 21 December 1829 St Peter's Cambelltown New South Wales, Australia to Robert WOODBRIDGE. They had 14 children and Elizabeth apparently died during the birth of her last child.

Her second relationship was with Joseph SMITH another convict. They were married in 1819-after the first 2 children were born. Joseph died in 1824.
Children christened to this relationship are:
Joseph SMITH b 15 June 1815  christened 5 November 1815
Hannah SMITH b 14 December 1817 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. christened 25 February 1818
Thomas SMITH b 25 May 1820 christened 29 April 1827

She was however buried as Ann VERNAL in 1844 at St Peter's Cambelltown, New South Wales, Australia. I have not been able to find a marriage for Ann and John VERNAL.
 
 

RESEARCHERS