janilye on Family Tree Circles

1. RETURN of all persons condemned to Death at the Supreme Criminal Court, Sydney,
from the year 1840, to 1st September, 1859, inclusive.
1840.
February 4. James Hunt, for murder, executed 10th March.
February 24. Thomas Whitton, murder and arson, executed 19th March.
May 2. John Bright, murder, pardoned.
May 4. Martin Ryan, intent to murder, transportation for life in irons.
August 6. Thomas Williams, cutting and maiming, transportation for life.
August 12. Tallboy (an aboriginal), murder, transportation for life.
November 7. James Martin, murder, executed 8th December
John Walker, murder, transportation for life with hard labour in irons.
James Mason, accessory to murder, executed 8th December.
Neville Billy (an aboriginal), murder, three years at Cockatoo.
Michael Minighan, murder, executed 11th December.
November 5. Enoch Bradley, murder, executed 11th December.
November 6. Francis Legg, rape, executed 11th December.
William Newman, murder, executed 8th December.
1841.
February 24. Edward Davies, Robert Chitty, James Everett,
John Shea, John Marshall, Richard Glanville, for murder and
felony, executed 16th March.
May 13. Michael Lynch, murder, executed 4th June.
May 14. Bemmatto and Nungavil (aboriginals), murder, ex-
ecuted. (Sent to Moreton Bay, 18th June, for execution.)
October 21. Michael McMullin, rape, transportation for life.
George Stroud, murder, executed 29th October.
October 14. Robert Hudson, murder, executed 29th October.
1842.
October 1. John Solomon, sodomy, transportation for life.
October 1. William Williams, sodomy, transportation for life.
October 20. Stephen Brennan, murder, executed 9th November.
James Wolfe, Thomas Whelan, intent to commit murder and piracy, transportation for life.
John Jones, Michael Lewis, George Beavon, Henry Seen, assault with intent to commit murder,
executed 3rd November.
1843.
January 12. James O'Donnell, murder, transportation for life.
July 8. Michael Keefe, rape, transportation for life.
1844.
January 15. Michael Moore, murder, transportation for life.
January 24. John Knatchbull, murder, executed 13th February.
July 15. George Vigors, Thomas Burdett, murder, executed
13th August; John Rankin, murder, transportation for life.
1845.
January 10. John Vidall, murder, executed 7th February.
January 16. George Byford, murder, transportation for life
with hard labour in irons.
July 11. John Ahern, murder, executed 12th August.
1846.
April 1?. Hendrick? Wiwwuuii, rape, transportation for life.(illegible)
1847.
March 4. John Kean, murder, executed 30th April.
1848.
June 5. William Fyfe, murder, executed 4th July.
August 26. Francis Dermott, rape, executed 22nd September.
1849.
March 8. James Richardson, murder, executed 7th May.
August 28. Owen Molloy, murder, executed 18th September.
1850.
October 7. Mogo (an aboriginal), murder, executed 5th November.
October 8. James Whelan, murder, executed 5th November.
1851.
December 3. William Burns, murder, to Cockatoo Island,
1852.
August 4. Thomas F. Green, murder, executed 21st September.
1853.
June 6. John Flannary, William Fitzgerald, rape, fifteen
years' hard labour on the roads or public works, the first three years in irons.
1854.
June 8. James Gray, murder, fifteen years' labour on roads.
August 12. James Ross, murder, two years' imprisonment.
1855.
February 9. William Ryan, murder, executed 28th February.
February 7. John Holland, rape, fifteen years' labour on roads.
June 7. Samuel Wilcox, murder, executed 5th July.
William Preston, rape, three years' labour on roads.
June 8. William Rogers, murder, executed 5th July.
August 7. John Lakeman, rape, ten years' labour on roads.
1856.
April 10. James O'Donnell, murder, fifteen years' labour on roads.
June 8. Jose Pareires, murder, fifteen years' labour on roads.
1858.
April 22. Joseph Wilkes, murder, imprisonment for life.
August 3. James Moyes, murder, executed 7th September.
1859.
April 16. Mary Ann Perry, murder, fifteen years' imprisonment.
June 10. John Norris, rape, executed 22nd July.
2 RETURN of all persons condemned to death at Berrima and Goulburn, from the year, 1840 to 1st
September, 1859, inclusive.
1841. BERRIMA
Thomas Leary, murder, transportation for life.
Patrick Curran, murder, executed 21st October.
1842.
Patrick Clearhan, murder, executed 22nd April.
John Lynch alias Dunleavy, murder, executed 22nd April.
Martin Beech, murder, executed October.
Lucretia Dunkley, murder, executed October.
1844.
James Reeves, murder, transportation for life, April 3rd.
Henry Atkins, murder, executed 8th October.
Francis Hughes, violent assault, transportation for life, 29th
October.
1845.
James Gorman, rape, transportation for fourteen years, 12th
September.
Owen Walsh, murder, transportation for fourteen years, 8th
October.
1846.
John Hourigan, murder, transportation for life, 3rd April.
Thomas Randall, rape, transportation for life, 15th December.
Bridget Mitchell, murder, transportation for three years, 23rd
December.
1847.
George Bolton, murder, transportation for life, 17th March.
1849. GOULBURN
Edward Thornett, rape, fifteen years on roads, &c., 5th September.
1853.
Thomas Fox, murder, fifteen years on roads, &c, 10th August.
John McSpadden, murder, fifteen years on roads, &c., 6th September.
1854.
James Talbot, murder, executed 30th May.
John Webber, rape, ten years on roads, &c, 16th November.
1855.
Mary Ann Brownlaw, murder, executed 11th November.
Lawrence King, murder, fifteen years on roads, &c., 12th September.
Patrick Maher, murder, fifteen years on roads, &c. 10th September.
1857.
Patrick Walsh, murder, executed 4th November.
1858.
Joseph O'Halloran, murder, six years on roads, &c., 24th
March.
William Henry McDonald (a man of colour), sodomy, hard
labour for life, 27th September.
1859.
Harry (an aboriginal), rape and attempt to murder, executed
18th May.
Jeremiah Martin, murder, five years on roads, &c,
2nd May. John Torpy, murder, two years on roads, &c., 2nd May.
3.RETURN of all persons condemned to death at
Bathurst, from the year 1840 to 1st September, 1859, inclusive.
1840.
April. Charles Cameron, murder, executed May 25th.
1842.
March. John Walsh, murder, executed May 3rd.
1843.
March. Matthew Whittle, firing with intent to kill, executed May 2nd.
1844.
September. Abraham Gasten, murder, executed October 31st.
1845.
March. Henry Hogan, murder, transportation for life.
September. Lawrence Power, murder, ten years' hard labour
on the roads.
1847.
February. Michael Butler, murder, transportation for life.
July. Joseph Murphy, murder, removed to Sydney gaol on the
ground of insanity, by order of the Governor.
1848.
September. Charles Henry Mackie, rape, executed November
10th. Patrick White, murder, seven years' transportation.
1849.
September. Patrick Walsh, murder, executed October 26th.
1850.
August. William Gleeson, murder, fifteen years hard labour
on the roads, &c.
1851.
February. Peter (an aboriginal), rape, fifteen years' hard
labour on roads, &c.
1852.
February. Thomas Wilmore, murder, executed April 14th.
August. Timothy Sullivan, murder, executed September 30th.
Newing (Chinese), murder, executed September 30th.
1853
February. Patrick Mccarthy, murder, executed April 8th.
Paddy (an aboriginal), rape, executed April 8th. Thomas Daffy,
murder, ten years' hard labour on roads, &c. Christiana Boddy,
murder, ten years' hard labour Parramatta gaol.
1854.
February. James McLaughler, murder, executed April 24th.
Billy Palmer (aboriginal), murder, executed April 25th.
August. Adam Young, murder, ten years' hard labour on
roads, &c.
1855.
September. William Johnson Miller, murder, fifteen years'
hard labour on roads, &c.
1856.
March. Billy Morgan (an aboriginal), murder, fifteen years'
hard labour on roads, &c.
September. Henry Carroll, rape, fifteen years' hard labour on roads, &c.
1857.
March. Henry Curren, rape, executed May 7th. Addison)
Mitchell, murder, executed May 7th. John Linden, murder, fif-
teen years' hard labour on roads, &c.
September. Samuel Rhodes, stabbing with intent fitteen years'
hard labour on roads, &c.
1858.
March. George Roberts, murder fifteen years' hard labour on
roads, &c. Charles A. Woollenwebber, murder, fifteen years'
hard labour on roads, &c.
1859.
April. John Arrow, murder, executed May 11th. Thomas
Ryan (or Martin), murder, executed May 11th.
4. RETURN of all persons condemned to death at
Newcastle and Maitland, from the year 1840 to the
1st September, 1859, inclusive.
1841.
Michael Bradley, murder, executed at Newcastle.
Eugene Quinn, opening a letter, and abstracting money there-
from, fourteen years' transportation.
1842.
Thomas Homer, murder, executed at Newcastle.
Hugh Bannon, manslaughter, transportation for life.
Stephen Waters, beastiality, fifteen years' hard labour on roads.
1843.
George Wilson, shooting with intent to murder, executed at
Newcastle.
Thomas Forrester, murder, executed at Newcastle.
Melville (an aboriginal), murder, executed at Maitland.
Harry (an aboriginal), murder, executed at Maitland.
Therramitchie (an aboriginal), murder, executed at Port Macquarie.
1844.
Benjamin Harris, murder, executed at Newcastle.
Mary Thornton, murder, executed at Newcastle.
Joseph Vale, murder, executed at Newcastle.
1845.
Benjamin Stanley, murder, executed at Newcastle.
John Fitzpatrick, murder, executed at Newcastle.
1846.
James Johnston, murder, fourteen years' transportation.
William Shea, no record, executed at Newcastle.
1847.
John Purcell, murder, hard labour for life ; three years in irons.
1848.
Charles Robinson, unnatural crime, twelve years' hard labour
on the roads or public works.
Patrick Ryan, no record, executed at Newcastle.
1849.
George Waters Ward, murder, executed at Maitland.
Joseph Marsh, murder, ten years' hard labour on roads, &a. ;
first two years in irons.
1850.
William Hayes, murder, executed at Maitland.
1851.
Michael Collihane, alias " Mickey-bad-English," rape, executed
at Maitland.
Thomas Ballard, murder, ten years' hard labour on roads, &c.
1852.
Patrick Macnamara, murder, executed at Maitland.
1854.
Daniel or Thomas Gardner, murder, executed at Maitland.
Christopher Walsh, murder, executed at Maitland.
Ambrose Graves, murder, fourteen years' hard labour on roads ;
first three years in irons.
1855.
John Shephard, murder, fifteen years' hard labour on road ;
first three years in irons.
Harry Brown, alias Yarry (aboriginal), rape, fifteen years'
hard labour on roads : first three years in irons.
1856.
Jemmy (aboriginal), murder, free pardon granted.
Roger (aboriginal), murder, free pardon granted.
5. RETURN of all prisoners who were condemned to death, and against whom death was recorded in her
Majesty's Gaol, Brisbane, since the commencement of the Criminal Court in 1850.
1852.
May 17. William Wild, carnally knowing a girl under ten years : Death; commuted to fifteen years' hard labour on the roads.
1853.
May 22. Micki (aboriginal), murder : Death recorded ; com-
muted to seven years' hard labour on the roads.
1854.
May 20. Davy, (aboriginal), murder : Death ; executed August
22nd.
May 22. John Hanley, murder : Death ; commuted to five
years' hard labour on the roads.
November 20. Dundalli (aboriginal), murder : Death ; executed January 5th, 1855.
1856.
September 15. Robert McCoy, murder : Death ; commuted
to fifteen years hard labour on the roads.
1857. ?
1858.
April 26. O'Young (Chinese), feloniously stabbing : Death
recorded ; commuted to five years' hard labour on the roads.
1859.
May 31. Dick (aboriginal), rape : Death, executed August 4th.
Chamery (aboriginal), rape : Death, executed August 4th.
June 1. James Burns, feloniously assaulting : Death recorded,
commuted to fifteen years' hard labour on the roads

Alexander MUNRO was born in Ardersier in the Scottish Highlands, on the Moray Firth, east of Inverness, near Fort George, and Nairn,Scotland on the 18 July 1812 the son of George MUNRO and Isabel MAIN.

On the 3 September 1829 Alexander was transported for seven years, he had been sentenced the day before in Inverness, where the family had moved after the death of his father. Along with two other boys, Alexander robbed a grocery store.

He arrived with 200 other convicts onboard the ship, York on the 7 February 1831. Measuring only 5'3" tall, he could read and write and his occupation was given as a Farm Boy. Alexander was assigned to John BROWNE a settler of Patricks Plains.

Alexander gained his Certificate of Freedom in 1836 and soon began buying up depasturing licenses all around the Singletom Area.

On the 6 July 1838 the Reverend HERRINGTON at Whittingham married Alexander MUNRO to Sophia LOVELL 1812-1889, Sophia, a convict sentenced to seven years had come from Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, on the 'Diana', arriving in 1833.

Sophia and Alexander failed to have children of their own and in 1840 adopted 3year old Harriet. Harriet was the natural child of Thomas PHILLIPS and his wife Catherine.

Harriet 1837-1873 became known as Harriet MUNRO and married Walter COUSINS 1829-1904.

Alexander in 1839 began a successful carrying business in 1839 and with his depasturing licenses soon began to acquire wealth. In 1841 he built the Sir Thomas Mitchell Inn on the corner of Cambridge and George Streets in Singleton and managed several other hotels and began his mail coach service from Singleton.

In 1851 Alexander built Ness House in George St., Singleton which is still standing today and he replaced the old Sir Thomas Mitchell Inn with the large Caledonian Hotel. In the 1868 Rate Book it was stated as "two,story,brick iron roof,13 rooms". The Singleton Argus 9th November 1901 advertisement stated" 14 bedrooms, 2 dining rooms, 2 parlours, sample room,kitchen,bathroom, laundry, pantry, man's room, stables, 4 stalls, buggy house etc". It had a 73ft frontage to George St, 73ft to High St, and 332ft to Cambridge St. The sale was on account of Mrs R.H.LEVIEN his grandaughter Harriet Emma COUSINS 1860-1946

MUNRO began the 'Bebeah' Vineyard and his wines won more than 2000 prizes all over the world; more than 500 first prizes. He built his house 'Ardersier House' on the grounds of Bebeah.

Alexander MUNRO was elected the first mayor of Singleton in 1866, when Singleton became a municipality.

Alexander MUNRO was a good man with a big heart, always putting back into the community and always helping those less fortunate than himself. He was very much admired by both the wealthy and the not so wealthy.

When the council in 1884 was not interested in building a gas making plant themselves, they passed an act on the 16 May 1884, to allow him to build it himself thereby giving the town light. He then turned the plant over to the town at cost price.

He donated the land for the Glenridding Church and Cemetery, the Masonic Hall and was a huge benefactor in the building of the Singleton Grammer School. He was the founder of the Oddfellows Lodge and his Hunter River Building Society financed the building of a north wing on the hospital in John Street and gave money to the hospital. He had a beautiful fountain made in Glasgow and gave it to the Town

In 1878 Alexander Munro retired from politics and was given a large banquet by the town, he returned to Scotland with Sophia for a short holiday.

On the 2 February 1889 Alexander MUNRO died at Ardersier House. Two days later on the 4 All the shops in Singleton were closed at 1:00pm to allow the town to mourn in what was to be the largest ever funeral Singleton had ever seen. The cortege being a half a mile long.

Sophia followed on the 26 July 1889.

Alexander in his will left 6,000 to various lagacies and 500 to the Singleton Benevolent Society. All this from a man who had been transported for stealing groceries.

The Maitland Mercury paid homage to Alexander Munro with this stirring obituary
in their newspaper on the 5 September 1889

SINGLETON.

"DEATH OF MR. ALEXANDER MUNRO.The kind and sympathetic voice is
hushed for ever, and the noble eye will no longer speak the sentiments
of a heart that for three-quarters of a century was beating full of
truly Christian love.
Alexander Munro is no more-the Great Conqueror claimed him to join
the silent majority.
Singleton has lost one of its greatest citizens, and the colony,
a prominent philanthropist and one of Nature's gentlemen.
The sad event took place at the residence of the deceased,
Ardesier House, near Singleton, on Saturday, the 26th instant, at half-past
two o'clock in the afternoon. For more than a week all hope had been
abandoned by Mr. Munro's medical attendants, and it was only a
question of time when the end should come. During nearly the whole
of that period the deceased was in a comatose state, but when
consciousness returned at intervals he appeared to suffer much pain.
Life, however, ebbed gradually away until the last grain
had dropped out of the glass and a merciful Providence ended
the earthly troubles of our noble friend and fellow townsman.
Mr. Munro was born at Ardesier, Invernesshire, Scotland, in the
memorable year 1812, and arrived in the colony in 1831, and has
resid ed here ever since, with the exception of a trip to his native
land about 11 years ago.
Arriving here when quite young, he soon adapted himself to the
rough mode of life then prevailing in New South Wales, with that
readiness and endurance for which the national character of Caledonia's
sons has so eminently qualified them as the best colonizers in
the world.
One of his first ventures in Singleton was to build the Caledonia Hotel.
Having made some money at hotelkeeping, he subsequently took up stations
in the Liverpool Plains district, where he was squatting for many years.
In all his undertakings he was singularly prosperous, and wealth flowed
in from all sides.
About thirty years ago Mr. Munro, being fully convinced
that viticulture as an important industry would eventually take root
as an important industry in the valley of the Hunter, he started
to work with that determination and enterprise so characteristic of
the man, and having obtained a suitable piece of land-a portion of the
well-known Kelso estate, near Singleton-planted there the Bebeah vineyard,
now so famous throughout the length and breadth of the Australian colonies.
At an early period of the establishment of Bebeah, Mr. Munro
engaged the services of Mr. Mackenzie, under whose excellent management
Bebeah wines attained such a celebrity that at length
they appeared at the table of the gracious Sovereign who rules the
destinies of this great Empire. The late Emperor William of Germany also
patronised Bebeah wines, and expressed himsnlf in approving terms of
their excellent character.
As the demand for Bebeah wines was increasing at a rapid rate, in
order to add to the supply, Mr. Munro about a dozen years ago purchased
the adjoining Greenwood Vineyard from Mr. James Moore, and between
the two vineyards there are now about eighty acres in full bearing.
After purchasing the Greenwood Vineyard, Mr. Munro built there, on
an excellently elevated site, the residence where he ended his days.
When in England some eleven years ago, Mr. Munro ordered a gas plant
for Singleton, and, having subsequently got an Act passed through
Parliament, the gas works were established.
the first lamp in Burdekin Park being lit by Mr.James P. Quinn, then
Mayor of Singleton, in October, 1881.
Throughout his long residence in Singleton, Mr. Munro took an active
part in all public matters. On the establishment of the municipality
in the year 1867, he was elected the first mayor, and was twice re-elected
after wards, thus remaining in office for three years.
The subject of this notice took an active part in the establishment
of the Singleton and Patrick's Plains Benevolent Society some forty-five
years ago, and throughout that long period Mr. Munro was always, we believe,
on the Committee of Management,
He was subsequently for many years Vice-President of the Society,
and on the retirement of the late President, Mr. J. C. S. M'Douall,
Mr. Munro was elected as President, an office which he held up till
his death.
Mr. Munro's sympathetic disposition made him at all times take a
deep interest in the poor inmates of the Asylum and nothing gave him greater
delight than to provide an ample feast for the old men and women on holidays,
namely Christmas and New Year, Easter, and Queen's Birthday, etc.,
making it a point to be present at the meal and enjoying
the hearty manner in which the old people appreciated his kindness.
Many years ago Mr. Munro showed his deep interest in the welfare of
the Benevolent Society by giving a munificent donation of 1000 towards
completing the Benevolent Asylum in accordance with the original design
prepared by Mr. Rowe, architect, Sydney.
In order to recognize this noble act the people of Singleton determined
to perpetuate Mr. Munro's memory by erecting a marble bust of the
generous donor in that building, and the ceremony of unveiling it
was performed last year by Miss White, eldest daughter of the
Rev. Dr. J. S. White, in the presence of a large number of people;
the day having been made a half-holiday in Singleton.
Mr. Munro was an ardent Freemason, and took an active interest
in masonic affairs. He joined the first lodge established in Singleton
in the year 1864, and passed the chair, and remained in connection
with various lodges here ever since.
Some time ago he presented the brethren with an allotment of land
in a central position in John-street for the purpose of erecting
there on a Masonic Hall, and further contributed a donation of 100
towards the building fund.
Mr. Munro was also one of the founders of the Oddfellows' Lodge
in Singleton many years ago, and remained a consistent member till
his death.
He took great interest in the Northern Agricultural Association from
its establishment in the year 1868, and for several years was one
of the vice-presidents ot that society.
He was a liberal contributor to the funds of the Mechanics' Institute
and all public movements which in his opinion were worthy of support.
Quite recently he gave the handsomesum of 1000 to the funds of
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church for the purpose of building
a new church ; but although a consistent supporter of the church of
his forefathers, he was at all times ready to support any calls made
upon him by other denominations, and his charitable feelings made no
distinction between creed or country : no poor man was ever turned
away from the door of good Alexander Munro without a crust of bread.
An instance of the genuine charitable character of Mr. Munro was
lately conveyed to us from a trustworthy source, and it may not be
out of place to give it here. It appears that when in Scotland
some 11 years ago he ascertained that some of his relatives were
rather reduced in circumstances, and in order to provide against
want for the rest of their lives he built four cottages, one for each,
and allowed each an annuity of 40 per annum, the money having been
remitted regularly since then.
All honor to the noble departed. May a glorious resurrection be his reward."

Singleton, 3rd February, 1889.




researched, written and transcribed
by janilye 1999


Family Note:

Thomas EATHER 1824-1909 established a vineyard which was soon producing wine grapes of good quality and Thomas sometimes sold Alexander grapes from his vineyard at "Meerea" to help his growing business. Family legend has it that his wife, Eliza nee CROWLEY threatened to leave Thomas if he persisted in selling grapes to MUNRO for his "immoral liquor trade". Faced with this threat, Thomas is said to have dug out his wine grapes and replaced them with table grapes. However later on the family again began to grow good wine grapes as you see here in Meerea Park Today
The photograph below taken in George Street, Singleton around 1900 shows The Caledonian Inn on the left and the horses drinking from Munro's fountain.

The Voyage
When the first HEATHER's had settled at Chislehurst, the civil war had been raging in England, with Charles I and the Royalists battling against Cromwell and the Roundheads. By the time the fourth Robert Heather died in 1780, a hundred and forty years had passed. The Commonwealth had come and gone. The restoration which followed had seen the return of the Stuarts who in turn gave way to the House of Hanover. Wars had been fought in Europe and America and the American war of independence was currently in progress. Times had changed and people tended to travel more.

Thomas HEATHER reached adulthood and found employment as a labourer at Chilsehurst, the birthplace of three of his forefathers.

We do not know when or where Robert & Thomas's mother Elizabeth died, but if she was alive in 1787 she must have been appalled by the events which overtook the family. Younger son Thomas, then twenty three years of age and working at Chislehurst, was arrested in October 1787 & held in goal to answer a charge of having robbed a man of money and possessions. Five months later, on 17 March 1788, when the home circuit held it's next sitting at Maidstone, Thomas HEATHER appeared before the judge & jury. He defended himself as well as he was able without the assistance of any legal adviser, but was found guilty of the charges of having robbed one George COTTON of a silver watch and fifty shillings in a field near the Kings highway. He was sentenced to be hanged. On 18 April 1788 the Justices of the Assizes at Whitehall in London reviewed the sentences of the Home Circuit, and Thomas HEATHER was one of those who had their death sentences commuted to fourteen years transportation to a penal settlement beyond the seas.

Thomas spent the first two years of his sentence in goals in England. The first 14 months were probably spent in goal at Maidstone, where most Kent convicts were confined.

In May 1789, Thomas was moved from Maidstone goal to one of the hulks on the Thames river near Gravesend. These hulks were derelict ships tied up in the river to house prisoners who toiled in the nearby dockyards. About mid November, he was transferred to the ship NEPTUNE , the transport ship aboard which he was to make the voyage to New South Wales.

The ship "Neptune" was a vessel of 792 tons which had been built on the Thames in 1779. It was a three-masted, square rigged wooden ship, and was twice as large as any previous convict transport. On 14 November 1789, it left it's anchorage at Longreach and moved down the Thames to Gravesend. Three days later, with it's consignment of convicts on board it sailed for The Downs, the roadstead about five miles North-East of Dover. The part of the ship set up as the Convict's prison was the Orlop deck, the lowest on the vessel, well below waterline, so they had no portholes, no view of the outside world, and very poor ventilation.

There were four rows of one-storey high cabins, each about four feet square, two rows being on each side of the ship from the mainmast forwards, and two shorter rows amidships. Into these cabins no fewer than 424 male and 78 female convicts were crowded.

The appalling conditions under which these convicts were forced to live can be better appreciated when it is remembered that, immediately they had come on board, all convicts had been placed in leg-irons and these were not removed throughout the entire voyage. Into each of these tiny cabins were crowded four to six persons, chained in pairs.

Chained below, Thomas HEATHER would not have been able to take in the scenery as the ship "Neptune" had moved out of the Thames and come to anchor at The Downs, there to spend four days while stores and equipment were taken of board. Then anchors were weighed and the vessel left for Plymouth, a slow voyage which took six days after the ship overshot that port and the error wasn't detected until she was off The Lizard, from where a retreat was made back up The Channel. At Plymouth a series of disputes arose, involving the military, the contractors and the captain of the ship "Neptune". Amongst the military was Captain John MACARTHUR who was on his way out to the Colony for duty there. Accompanying him was his wife, Elizabeth, who kept a diary of events during the voyage. A feature of the dispute was a formal duel between MACARTHUR and Captain GILBERT of the ship "Neptune". As a result of the duel Captain GILBERT was replaced by Captain TRAILL, of whom Mrs MACARTHUR wrote prophetically that "His character was of a much blacker dye than was even in Mr GILBERT's nature to exhibit".

The ship "Neptune" stayed at Plymouth until 10 December and then sailed back along the coast to Portsmouth where it anchored in Stoke's Bay on the 13th. There she met up with two other vessels of the Second Fleet, the "Surprize" and the "Scarborough". The convicts endured the cold weather for twenty-four days before the West winds abated and allowed her to sail on 5 January 1790. She anchored at Spithead until the 8th, but then the winds proved "Faithless" and the vessel arrived back at Mother Bank on the 15th.

At last, on Sunday 17 January 1790, more than two months after leaving The Thames, the ship "Neptune" left Portsmouth and moved down the English Channel. In chains below, Thomas HEATHER would not have had the opportunity to gaze for one last time upon the land of his birth. The voyage was really under way and the convicts became well aware of this fact two days later when they crossed the Bay of Biscay. The sea was so rough that Mrs MACARTHUR recorded in her diary, "It could not be persuaded that the ship could possibly long resist the violence of the sea which was mountain high".

After a month or so the MACARTHUR's succeeded in being transferred to the ship "Scarborough" after they had had a series of disputes withe John's superior, Captain NEPEAN. Captain TRAILL might have been relieved to see them go. The voyage was nothing new to Donald TRAILL. He had been First Mate on the ship "Lady Penrhyn", one of the transports of the First Fleet. Apparently he had learned a few tricks from his earlier experiences.

Historical records indicate clearly that he deliberately starved the convicts on the ship "Neptune" so that he could draw extra rations for himself, and in addition, enrich himself by disposing of surplus rations on the foreign market at ports of call. One convict wrote later to his parents, "we were chained two and two together and confined in the hold during the whole course of our long voyage, without as much as one refreshing breeze to fan our langous cheeks. In this melancholy situation we were scarcely allowed a sufficient quantity of victuals to keep us alive, and scarcely any water".

Sickness was prevalent right from the beginning of the voyage. Heavily ironed and without adequate access to fresh air and sunlight; inadequately fed and without sufficient bedding for warmth at night, the convicts soon began to succumb to the ordeal of their conditions. By the time the ordeal of the cold weather was over they found that they were faced with another which was just as trying - the heat and humidity of the tropics as the ship "Neptune" crossed the Equator and continued south down the coast of Africa. By the time The Cape of Good Hope was reached after 87 days, no fewer than 46 of the convicts had died. Anchoring in False Bay at Capetown on 14 April, the ship "Neptune" stayed for fifteen days, taking on board food, water, a large number of cattle, sheep and pigs, and also twelve convicts from the ill-fated ship "Guardian".

The HMS "Guardian" had been dispatched with supplies for the infant colony of New South Wales in response to an urgent plea sent home by Governor PHILIP with the last returning vessel of the First Fleet. Unfortunately, after the ship "Guardian" had left Capetown on its voyage eastwards, the skipper, Lieutenant RIOU, had taken it too far to the south in his quest for the Roaring Forties, and the ship had run into an iceberg. Two months later RIOU had brought his crippled vessel back into the port at Capetown. The mishap had played a large part in the food shortages which Sydney Town suffered in 1790.

After its stay at Capetown, the ship "Neptune" departed on 29 April to commence its run across to Van Diemen's Land. The existence of the strait we now know as Bass Strait was unknown at that time, so all vessels heading out to Sydney Town via Cape of Good Hope sailed around the south of Van Diemen's Land. More deaths occurred amongst the convicts on board during this leg of the voyage, and while the ship "Neptune" beat its way up the east coast of New South Wales. By the time the ship made its way up Sydney Harbour and dropped anchor in Sydney Cove on 28 June 1790, it had built up the worst record of all convict ships of all time. In all it had lost 147 male and 11 female convicts, and upon its arrival landed 269 others who were sick.

Into Sydney Cove on the same day as the ship "Neptune" arrived, came also the ship "Scarborough". The ship "Surprize" had arrived two days previously. Fortunately the convicts on those ships had fared much better than had the unfortunate souls on the ship "Neptune". The arrival of the Second Fleet was a source of interest for those already in the colony, and many were attracted to the shore to take in the scene. What they observed as the prisoners disembarked was a shocking spectacle. Great numbers of those who came off the ship "Neptune" were not able to walk, or even move a hand of foot. These were slung over the ship's side in the same manner as a box would be slung over. Some fainted as soon as they came out into the open air. Some dropped dead on the deck, while others died in the boat before they reached the shore. Once on the shore some could not stand or walk, or even stir themselves. Some were lead by others and some crept upon hands and knees. All were shockingly filthy, with their heads, bodies, clothes and blankets full of filth and lice.

Somewhere amongst those who came ashore was Thomas HEATHER. It was a scene which he undoubtedly remembered for the remainder of his life. Whether he was one of the sick we do not know, but if he was he soon recovered. He had arrived in a settlement which was so short of food that the hours of public work had recently been shortened, and even the soldiers had pleaded loss of strength. Amongst those who witnessed the shocking spectacle down at the shore that day was Governor PHILIP himself. Not surprisingly, he ordered that an inquiry be held into the conditions on the ship "Neptune".

Thomas HEATHER arrived in the colony when the settlement at Sydney was 2 years old. A second settlement was also being developed on a tract of land at the head of the harbour, and ground prepared for sowing corn. The farm so established became known as Rose Hill. By June 1790 Rose Hill had a population of 200, and in the following month a town was laid out there under the Governors instructions. During that first year that Thomas spent in the colony, many convicts were transferred from Sydney to Rose Hill. It is most likely that Thomas was one of those at the new town before 1790 was out.

The following, is a letter published in the London Morning Chronicle on the 4 August 1791 from a female convict at Sydney Cove, dated 24 July 1790.

"Oh! If you had but seen the shocking sight of the poor creatures that came out in the three ships it would make your heart bleed.
They were almost dead, very few could stand, and they were obliged to fling them as you would goods, and hoist them out of the ships, they were so feeble; and they died ten or twelve a day when they first landed.
The Governor was very angry, and scolded the captains a great deal, and, I heard, intended to write to London about it, for I heard him say it was murdering them. It, to be sure, was a melancholy sight.."


Convict Women on the Neptune
Ships of the Second Fleet

Souces;
A History of THE EATHER FAMILY:
Thomas EATHER and Elizabeth LEE
by John St PIERRE
for the EATHER Family history committee.
The Women of Botany Bay, by Portia Robinson
Australia's Second Fleet - 1790 by Jenny French
janilye
The children of Thomas and Elizabeth LEE :-

1. Ann EATHER 1793 - 1865
2. Robert EATHER 1795 - 1881
3. Charlotte EATHER 1797 - 1862
4. Charles EATHER 1800 - 1891
5' Thomas EATHER 1800 - 1886
6. John EATHER 1804 - 1888
7. Rachel EATHER 1807 - 1875
8. James EATHER 1811 - 1899
for some of my family tree images

Richard NORRIS, was born in Dublin, Ireland 1776. As an adult he was 5'6" (167.6 cm) in height and had a fresh complexion and hazel eyes. On his lower left arm he had the tattoo of a mermaid.
An Irish rebel convicted and sentenced to death for Robbery in Dublin in 1797, the sentence was commuted in 1798 and he was transported to Australia on the conditon that he never return to Ireland. Richard arrived fron Cork to the Colony of New South Wales aboard the ship "Minerva" on 11 January 1800.

As early as 1801, he was granted a provisional ticket of leave which was common because farming was proving to be a major problem in the Colony and farmers were needed.

In 1802 he found a wife in Mary WILLIAMS. She had arrived on the ship "Nile" on 14 December 1801. She had been born at Bath in Somerset England about 1778, Mary was convicted at the Wells Assizes, Somerset Summer Circuit on the 16 August 1800 for stealing 4 muslin handkerchiefs and 3 check aprons the property of Elizabeth Ann COX Widow, Hestor CATTERSON Spinster, and Frances MOUNTEREY Spinster' in the parish of Stone Easton and sentenced to 7 years.

Richard and Mary's first child, John, was born at Cornwallis in the Hawkesbury district in 1803. There does not appear to be a baptism record for him, but when the general census was taken in November 1828, John stated that he was 25 years of age.

By 1805, when the muster of convicts was held, Richard NORRIS was renting Barrington's Farm of about 8 acres near Green Hills. He had the whole of the farm under wheat, and he had three pigs. In storage were 6 bushels of wheat and 2 of maize. Mary WILLIAMS, who had arrived on the ship "Nile", was described as his housekeeper, and they had two children.

1806 NSW General Muster shows Richard had a ticket of Leave and his occupation was that of farmer.

It's believed that Richard and Mary were married by the Reverend Samuel MARSDEN when he visited Windsor in 1806

When the general muster was held in 1814, Richard NORRIS was described as a landholder. Mary WILLIAMS was his wife and the number of their children had increased to six. At that time, Richard had two convicts, Patrick McGUINIS and Thomas HEWITT, assigned to him.

At the 1822 Muster, Richard NORRIS was a landholder with a farm of 50 acres near Windsor. At that time 20 acres were under maize, 16 under wheat, 4 under barley, and he had 2 acres of potatoes. He also had a herd of 24 cattle, and owned 4 horses and 60 pigs. He was doing well with his farming pursuits and had in storage 200 bushels of maize and 20 of wheat. He and Mary then had a family of 11.
The age of their eldest son John was recorded as 20, but it is more likely that he was 19. According to NORRIS family records, Richard NORRIS owned two 30 acre farms (one that had been originally granted to Michael DOYLE, and the other originally granted to Jane EZZY at Cornwallis, and also a town allotment in Brabyn Street, Windsor as a place of refuge in time of flood.

On 3 May 1838 at the Sydney Supreme Court, Richard with two very successful farms and a house in Windsor pleads 'not guilty' to a charge of stealing his neighbour's pig.- He was found guilty and sentenced to death - later commuted to 'life' on Norfolk Island. He was transported on "Phoenix" where his crime is recorded as "robbery.

Mary and Richard Norris had 14 children; 11 boys & 3 girls; and about 92 grandchildren.

On the 19 February 1843 at the Norfolk Island General Hospital Richard NORRIS died. He is buried in the cemetery by the beach at Kingston. The grave is unmarked.

Mary NORRIS, nee WILLIAMS died on 26 January 1863 at Cornwallis and is buried at the Windsor Catholic Cemetery.


The children of Richard NORRIS and Mary, nee WILLIAMS were:-
1. John NORRIS b:1803 Cornwallis, NSW d:26 Sept. 1864 at Sally's Bottoms. m. Rachel EATHER 1807-1875 on 17 Dec. 1823 at St.Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Sydney, New South Wales.
The children of this marriage were:-
1. Maria NORRIS 1824-1903 m. (1) Patrick DUNN 1823-1850 (2) Peter PAGE 1816-1878
2. Harriet NORRIS 1828-1841
3. Michael John NORRIS 1832-1909 m. (1) Jane COLBRAN 1838-1875. (2) Barbara Ellen GRUBB 1842-1895
4. Elizabeth NORRIS 1834-1894 m. Cornelius MCMAHON 1824-1894
5. Thomas NORRIS 1836 - 1903 m. Catherine LONDON 1843-1911
6. Rachael NORRIS 1839-1915 m. John Michael COLBRAN 1836-1914
7. Ann NORRIS 1842-1931 m. Henry GREEN 1839-1916
8. Rebecca NORRIS 1844-1936 m. John COOK 1843-1915
9. Stephen NORRIS 1846-1888 m. Ellen MCGUINESS 1855-19--
10.Susannah Mary NORRIS 1852-1940 m. (1) Isaac COOK 1846-1895 (2) Alfred T DRUITT 1859-1934


2. Thomas NORRIS b:1805 Cornwallis d: 16 January 1890 at Old Cullen m. Elizabeth Sarah CONNOR 1810-1876 at Cornwallis 4 April 1826.
The Children from this marriage were:-

1.Elizabeth Maria NORRIS 1827-1891 m. Henry POWER in 1847
2.Richard William NORRIS 1829-1905 m. Mary WEAVERS 1831-1912 in 1850
3.Mary NORRIS 1831-1891
4.John William Joseph NORRIS 1833-1887 m. Margaret FOLEY 1837-1919 in 1857
5.Sarah NORRIS 1836-1838
6.Harriet NORRIS 1838-1915 m. Michael LEHANE 1840-1917 in 1873
7.Maria NORRIS 1841--
8.Michael NORRIS 1842-1928 m. Rachel MITCHELL 1846-1916 in 1863
9.Esther NORRIS 1845-1890 m. Richard Francis CURTIS
10.Anne NORRIS 1848-1858
11.Caroline Annie NORRIS 1850-1923

3. Richard NORRIS b:1807 Cornwallis d:11 April 1868 Windsor m. Mary Ann COSTELLO 1815-1853 at Sydney on 3 September 1835.
The children of this marriage were:-
1.Julia Ann NORRIS 1836- -
2.Mary NORRIS 1837- ?
3.Ellen Ester NORRIS 1839-1927
4.Richard NORRIS 1840-1877
5.Louisa Mary NORRIS 1845-1918
6.John Jeremiah NORRIS 1849-1921
7.Albert Joseph NORRIS 1851-1918
8.Infant NORRIS 1853-1853


4. James NORRIS b:1810 Cornwallis d: 7 March 1875 Windsor m.Ann BROWN 1818-1883 in 1834.
The children of this marriage were:-

1.William NORRIS 1835-1885
2.Rachael NORRIS 1836-1930
3. Ann NORRIS 1838-1933 m.
4.James NORRIS 1841-1845
5.Edward NORRIS 1843-1876
6.Mary Ann NORRIS 1845-?
7.James NORRIS 1847-1926
8.David NORRIS 1850?1893
9.Emma NORRIS 1852 - 1874
10.Charles NORRIS 1856-1858
11.Elizabeth NORRIS 1856 - ?


5. Christopher NORRIS b:6 December 1811, Cornwallis d: 18 May 1898 at Orange m. (1) Mary CRABB/SHRIMPTON 1814-1854 in 1834.
The children of this marriage were:-

1.Joseph NORRIS 1835-1899
2.Thomas NORRIS 1836-1899
3.Jane NORRIS 1838 - 1902
4.James NORRIS 1840-1893
5.Maria Matilda NORRIS 1842-1892
6.Robert NORRIS 1846-1924
7.Charles NORRIS 1848-?
8.Mary A NORRIS 1850 - ?

(2) Mary Jane GIBBONS, nee DOUGLASS 1806-1856 at ST Matthews Catholic Windsor 1855 NO children


6. William NORRIS b:18 Nov.1813, Cornwallis. d:25 September 1843 Windsor. m. Lucy UPTON, nee BROWN 1814-1876 at Windsor in 1836 Lucy had been married to Jesse UPTON 1806-1872 and after Williams death went on to marry Laban WHITE 1794-1873.
The children of this marriage were:-

Alfred James NORRIS 1837?1875
Jane Emma NORRIS 1838?1916
Emma Amelia NORRIS 1840??
William NORRIS 1840?1887
Henry NORRIS 1843?1876


7. Harriet NORRIS b: 6 Oct.1815 Cornwallis d: 17 August 1894 Nelson, NSW. m. Samuel MASON 1806-1880
at Windsor on 15 May 1831.
The children of this marriage were:-

1.Sarah MASON 1832-1833
2.William MASON 1833-1833
3.Samuel MASON 1836-1909
4.Frances MASON 1839-1839


8. Maria NORRIS b:1818 Cornwallis d:10 September 1853 Cornwallis. m. William Henry MELLISH 1809-1858 at St.Matthews Catholic church Windsor on the 2 August 1835.
The children of this marriage were:-

1.Maria MELLISH 1837-1909
2.Caroline MELLISH 1840-1902
3.William Henry MELLISH 1844-1922
4.Francis Charles MELLISH 1846-1905
5.John Frederick MELLISH 1848-1935
6.Edward MELLISH 1850-1913
7.Samuel MELLISH 1853-1854


9. Michael NORRIS b:1820 Cornwallis d:25 September 1854 Cornwallis. m. Margaret DONNELLY 1820-1838
at Windsor on 27 August 1837


10. Ann NORRIS b: 14 September 1821 Cornwallis d:2 March 1906 at Bulli, NSW m.Andrew Alexander FRAZER 1817-1886
at Ebeneza on the 13 Feb. 1837.
The children of this marriage were:-

1.Elizabeth FRAZER 1838-1881
2.Andrew A FRAZER 1840-1922
3.George FRAZER 1843-?
4.James Christopher FRAZER 1845-1938
5.Sarah FRAZER 1846-?
6.John Thomas FRAZER 1848-1917
7.Richard FRAZER 1850-?
8.Ann FRAZER 1853 - ?
9.Francis Stephen FRAZER 1855-1950
10.Amelia Jane FRAZER 1857-1912
11.Alice Maria FRAZER 1859-1932
12.Emily Unah FRAZER 1862-1948


11. Francis Stephen NORRIS b:14 September 1821 Cornwallis. d: 9 October 1901 at Windsor. m. Mary Ann ELLIOT 1821-1903 at St.Matthews Catholic Church on 14 June 1845.
The children of this marriage were:-

1.Christopher John NORRIS 1846-1925
2.Harriet NORRIS 1848-1919
3.Maria NORRIS 1850-?
4.Francis NORRIS 1853-1903
5.Stephen Francis NORRIS 1853-?
6.Patrick Joseph NORRIS 1855-1930
7.William NORRIS 1857-1864
8.John NORRIS 1860-1879


12. Patrick NORRIS b:1823 Cornwallis. d:9 March 1890 at Windsor. m. Eliza WILSON 1826-1905 at Windsor on 27 October 1845.
Children of this marriage were:-
Stephen NORRIS -?
Maria NORRIS 1844-1891


13. Paul NORRIS b:12 December 1826 Cornwallis d: 19 Feb. 1827 Cornwallis

14. Joseph NORRIS b:1835 Cornwallis d:4 February 1899 at Kogarah, Sydney, New South Wales

The daughter of William L LEE born at Portscatha, Cornwall, England in 1744 and died in England in 1827. Her Mother was Margaret born in 1750 in England. A birth name or a death date has not been found for Margaret.
Elizabeth LEE was born on 7 September 1771 and christened at Cocky Moor Presbyterian Church, Ainsworth Lancashire on the 15 September 1771. In the cemetery adjoining the Cocky Moor church there is one grave marked 'Lee' with, unfortunately no other information.

In 1789 when Elizabeth LEE ( sometimes known as Elizabeth Johnson) was about 17, she was employed by Elizabeth BUCKLEY as either a domestic servant or shop assistant.

On 4 December of that year Elizabeth LEE was arrested and committed for trial on the charge of "having stolen and carried away a grey cloak out of the dwelling house of Elizabeth BUCKLEY of Manchester".

The trial was at the Epiphany Quarter Sessions at Manchester 21 January 1790 - "Indictment charges that Elizabeth LEE late of the Parish of Manchester in the said County Singlewoman on the thirtieth day of November in the thirtieth year of the reign of our Lord George the third now King of Great Britain and so forth with force and Arms at the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid one Woman's Cloak to the value of six pence of the proper Goods and Chattels of one Elizabeth BUCKLEY then and there being found feloniously did steal and take and carry away against the Peace of our said Lord the King his Crown and Dignity" - sentence 7 years.

The trial was reported in the Manchester Mercury newspaper.
Elizabeth LEE pleaded guilty to the charge.

Elizabeth LEE was returned to the goal in the Lancaster Castle and incarcerated there until February 1791. She was then conveyed from Lancaster to the ship "Mary Ann" at Gravesend on the Thames River.

The ship sailed to Portsmouth under the command of Captain MUNRO and departed from there for the voyage to the NSW Colony 23 February 1791. She arrived in Sydney on 7 July 1791.
Elizabeth LEE was probably transferred on arrival to Parramatta.She completed her sentence in 1797.

Elizabeth LEE married Thomas EATHER formerly HEATHER 1764-1827 in 1791. They had eight children.

1.Ann EATHER 1793 ? 1865 m.(1)Joseph ONUS 1782-1835 (2) William SHARP 1810-1897
2.Robert EATHER 1795 ? 1881 m. (1)Mary LYNCH 1802-1853 (2) Elizabeth BROWNE nee CREAGH 1802-1873
3.Charlotte EATHER 1797 ? 1862 m. (10 Joseph WINDSOR (2)Robert WILLIAMS 1795-1839 (3) William James MALONEY 1818-1883
4.Charles EATHER 1800 ? 1891 m. Ann GOUGH nee CAIN 1797-1871
5.Thomas EATHER 1800 ? 1886 m. Sarah MCALPIN 1805-1884
6.John EATHER 1804 ? 1888 Never Married
7.Rachel EATHER 1807 ? 1875 m. John NORRIS 1803-1864
8.James EATHER 1811 ? 1899 m. Mary Ann HAND 1815-1894

Thomas EATHER died on the 22 March 1827 at Windsor, New South Wales.

Elizabeth Died on the 11 June 1860 at Richmond, New South Wales.

The number of her decendants was reckoned at that time to be 157.

The son of Charles Eather 1800-1891 and Ann CAIN 1797-1871
Charles Eather was born at Richmond, New South Wales in May 1825 and married twice. His first wife was Frances Emma WATT 1829-1866 whom he married on the 3 December 1849, at the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Windsor.

His second wife was Mrs. Maria SOMMERS nee NORRIS, Maria was the daughter of Patrick NORRIS 1823-1890 and Eliza WILSON 1827-1905. They married in Queensland in 1868. Maria's first husband had been George Sydney SOMMERS 1840-1918 with whom she had one son -George Patrick Sommers born in Cornwallis in 1865 and died in 1948.

In the early 1890's Charles moved to Queensland to live and his many decendants have since made the name familiar in that state. Although by trade a cabinetmaker, he spent much of his life in Farming. have since made the name familiar in that state. Although by trade a cabinetmaker, he spent much of his life in Farming.

Charles age 74 died at the Blackall Hospital from the effects of arsenic poisoning. He was camped at Ravensbourne Station at Blackall and it was supposed that arsenic was accidently mixed with the flour supplied by the station. Several others in the same camp were taken ill after eating damper made with the flour

One of his daughters, Frances Emma, 1854-1866. had married Captain Henry Alban Gray, a ship's pilot in Sydney, and they seem to have led the migration to Queensland for they were living at Bundaburg in 1889. In that year, Mrs. Gray's half sister, Lavinia Eather b:1869 visited them and met another shipping man, Capt. Hugh McIntosh whom she married at Bundaberg on 26 December 1889.

The children of Charles EATHER 1825-1899 and Frances Emma, nee WATTS were:-

1.Edward Charles EATHER 1850 ? 1937 a saddler, never married, died on Stradbroke Iseland.

2.John James EATHER 1852 ? 1920

3.Frances Emma Eather 1854 ? 1946

4.Albert E EATHER 1857 ? 1857

5.Maria W EATHER 1858?1939 m. Charles Frederick ROSE in 1882.

6.Louisa EATHER 1860 ? 1860

7.Charles Olinzo EATHER b: 1864 d: 2 June 1949, Petersham. m. Emma Ellen OBORNE 1866-1943 at Penrith in 1886.


The Children of Charles EATHER 1825-1899 and Maria NORRIS 1844-1891:-

1.Annie EATHER 1867 ? 1867

2. Emily EATHER 1867 ?

3. Lavinia Eliza EATHER 1868 ? 1955

4. Frederick Charles EATHER 1872 ? m. Ellen RICE 1872-1938

5. Eva Louise EATHER 1881 ?

6. Ada Florence EATHER 1883 ? 1958

The Family of Rachel Eather 1807-1875
and
John Norris 1803-1864

Rachel Eather, youngest daughter of the pioneers, Thomas EATHER and Elizabeth nee, LEE
On the 17th December, two months after she turned sixteen, she was married to John Norris, the eldest son of Richard NORRIS 1776-1843 and Mary Norris, nee WILLIAMS 1778-1863 who had a farm at Cornwallis. Witnesses at the wedding were John's brother Richard, Rachels brother Thomas Eather and Sarah McAlpin, who became her sister-in-law the following year.

John Norris was a Catholic and the wedding was conducted at Cornwallis by the rites of the Roman Catholic faith. The wedding was registered at St.Mary's in the register of Roman Catholic Marriages.


John NORRIS met a violent death at Sally's Bottoms, Kurrajong, on the 26th. September 1864 when he was thrown from a loaded cart and crushed beneath the wheel. His widow later went to Spring Creek, near Orange, where Rachel died on 3 August 1875.

One of the NORRIS children Rebecca (who married John COOK) spent nearly 40 years after their marriage at Coonamble where they kept the "Morning Star" hotel.

1. Maria NORRIS b: 1824, married (1) Patrick DUNN 1823-1850, on 30 January 1843. The children of this marriage were:-
Elizabeth Leticia Dunn 1843 ? 1845
Rachel Anne Dunn 1845
(2) Peter PAGE 1816-1878 on the 4 September 1859. The children of this marriage were :-
Maria Amelia Page 1851 - 1924
Peter John Page 1856 - 1922
Thomas Page 1862
Catherine Emma Page 1865 - 1869


2. Harriet NORRIS b:15th. December 1824 d:10 October 1841. buried 11 October 1841 Windsor Catholic Cemetery.

3. Michael John NORRIS b:1832 in Cornwallis, NSW and died 1909, Wellington New South Wales married (i) Jane COLBRAN 1838-1875 at St.Matthews Catholic Church Windsor in 1854 The children of this marriage were:-
John Joseph Norris 1854
Thomas Norris 1856 - 1857
Mary Jane Norris 1858 - 1948
James M Norris 1860 - 1943
Dominick J Norris 1862
Agnes R Norris 1864 - 1865
Francis S Norris 1866
Herbert Norris 1868
Walter Norris 1872
Alice Lavinia Norris 1874 - 1970
Garrett Norris 1875 - 1877
Abraham Norris 1876 - 1971
Unnamed Norris 1877 - 1877
(ii) Barbara Ellen PASCOE, nee GRUBB 1842-1895 married in 1878 in Orange NSW one child Kathleen Ada b:1881

4. Elizabeth NORRIS b:27 October 1834 in Hobart, Tasmania. d: 25 August 1894 at North Richmond. Married in 2 November 1854 Cornelius MCMAHON b:1824-1894 at St.Matthews Catholic Church, Windsor. The children were:-
Thomas McMahon 1855 - 1890 John McMahon 1857 ? 1865
Mary Elizabeth McMahon 1859 - 1919
Rachael Louise McMahon 1862 - 1950
Michael Stephen McMahon 1864 - 1914
Peter Matthew McMahon 1866 - 1922
James Joseph McMahon 1868 - 1940
Catherine Jane McMahon 1871
Abraham Michael McMahon 1873 - 1954
Harriet Cecelia McMahon 1876 - 1932
George Stephen Cornelius McMahon 1878 - 1949

5. Thomas NORRIS b: 17 July 1836 Derwent, Tasmania d: 26 July 1903 married Catherine London 1843-1911 on 30 October 1861 in Richmond New South Wales. The children of this marriage were:-
Percival Norris 1865 - 1926
Henrietta Norris 1868 - 1899
Frederick Joseph Norris 1869 - 1940
Nell Norris 1869 - 1869
Marie Josephine Norris 1873 - 1959
Rachel L Norris 1875 - 1957
Thomas H Norris 1878 - 1903
Ada Alice Norris 1880
John Norris 1882

6. Rachel NORRIS b:3 November 1839 Tasmania d:1 July 1915 in Dubbo, married John Michael COLBRAN 1836-1914 on the 27 June 1855 the children of this marriage were:-
Michael John Colbran 1857 - 1934
Robert Colbran 1859 - 1929
Mary Jane Colbran 1861 - 1911
James Colbran 1863 - 1864
Rebecca Colbran 1866 - 1866
Stephen Colbran 1867 - 1870
Emily Colbran 1868 - 1937
Sarah A Colbran 1871
Caroline Colbran 1873
Angelina Colbran 1876 - 1947
Thomas Henry Colbran 1878 - 1948
Clara L Colbran 1881 - 1883
Frederick William Colbran 1884 - 1962

7. Ann NORRIS b:19 March 1842, Kurrajong, d:25 August 1931. Married Henry F. GREEN 1839-1916 on 27 May 1862 at Richmond. The children of this marriage were:-
John H Green 1863
William T Green 1865 - 1944
Robert Michael Green 1867 - 1949
Mary Ann Green 1869
Margaret R Green 1871 - 1934
Eva Jane Green 1873
Ernest Sydney Green 1875
James Stephen Green 1877 - 1927
Minnie Emma Green 1880 - 1968
Esther Cecelia Green 1883 - 1971

8. Rebecca NORRIS b: 30 June 1844, Kurrajong and died in Oatley,26 January 1936. Married John COOK 1843-1915 on 31 May 1865 at Richmond. Yhe children of this marriage were :_
Michael William Cook 1866 - 1928
Agnes Rachel Cook 1868
Ada Cook 1869 - 1949
Amy Cook 1871 - 1953
Amos John Cook 1872
Emily A (Bette) Cook 1874
Minnie Ann Cook 1877 - 1957
Esther Cecilia Cook 1879 - 1882
Richard Henry Cook 1881 - 1924
Louisa Jane Cook 1883 - 1953

9. Stephen NORRIS b:1846 Kurrajong and d: 18 September 1888 in Dubbo N.S.W. married Ellen MCGUINESS 1855-1962 in Dubbo in 1875. The children of this marriage were:-
Stephen John Norris 1876 - 1959
Caroline Amelia Norris 1879
Ethel M Norris 1882
James Norris 1885
Stephen Norris 1887

10. Susannah Mary NORRIS b:7 March 1852 Kurrajong and died 9 September 1940 married (1) Isaac Cook 1846-1895 on the 13 September 1870 in Orange N.S.W.The children of this marriage were:-
Frederick Cook 1871 - 1947
Libby (Matilda)Ann Cook 1873
Isaac John Cook 1874 - 1953
Esther Cook 1876 - 1877
Albert Stephen Cook 1877 - 1925
Michael Amos Cook 1880 - 1941
Elsie Eva Rubina Cook 1892 - 1969
(2) Susannah Mary next married Alfred T DRUITT 1859-1934 in 1898 at Dubbo, New South Wales.