A Battle against the odds, Chapter 12, part 10

 My transcription of the NSW family history book A Battle against the odds, Chapter 12, part 10.

This part deals with some additional information on John and Mary Smith.

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John and Mary Smith, additional data

Quite a deal of additional material is available concerning John and Mary Smith and it seems worthwhile to include some of it in the book. Hilda and Eric have given a good account of them and other writers have given good coverages of their children. The eldest of their family, Margaret does not have a chapter especially devoted to her but she is detailed in the chapter entitled "William Mason (Jnr.) and Margaret Smith".

Data established by the late Mary Gwyther in 1981 from the Archives Office of N.S.W., gives a character reference for John in his application for a "Ticket of Leave". This was subsequently granted on 24.3.1825 – see Hilda and Eric Lukeman's story.

ARCHIVES OF NEW SOUTH WALES 4/3/81 (Mary Gwyther)

JOHN SMITH - Servant age 21, height 5/7 1/2, complexion sallow, hair black, eyes black, arrived by ship "Sir William Bensley" 10th March 1817. Servant of Samuel Terry of "Chain of Ponds" (later and now "Box Hill" on Windsor Road opposite turn off to Riverstone) attests to his character for A.T. of A.

1825/No 158 of 1632 - 4/1716 .2.

Court House, WINDSOR -CERTIFICATE OF CONDUCT 19th March, 1825.

WE, certify that John Smith who came by ship "Sir William Bensley" which arrived in the year 1817, has not been convicted of any crime or misdemeanour in this Colony, but is to our certain belief, an honest, sober, and industrious character, having served faithfully, Mr. R. Fitzgerald residing in Windsor from March 1817 to March 1820, and Mr. Samuel Terry on his farm in the district of the "Chain of Ponds" from March 1820 to March 19th 1825.

MIDDLESEX JAIL 3rd April 1816-Life

Wm.Cox - Magistrate.

John Cross - Chaplain

Masters R. Fitzgerald - (3 years) present

Samuel Terry - (5 years) attested.

Mr. F. Sullivan

Colonial Secretary

Blk Book

exd J.W. Horne

C.C. LONDON

 

The next few pages give details of John's indictment, details re crimes and punishments, and John and Mary's (Tully) marriage certificate. 

Greenfield Road and Commercial Road London E1 is not far from the Tower of London. In this street in 1816 the young John Smith in a moment of inebriated indiscretion took the action which almost caused his execution. He was reprieved and sent to Sydney Town instead. He arrived here in 1817.

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Transcription of the NSW family history book A Battle against the odds, Chapter 12.

To be continued...