MORRISON FAMILY CONNECTIONS - Convicts, Settlers and Immigrants to Australia

While looking into the histories of our various connected families, including where they came from and how they lived, much of the emphasis of this website is on my homeland, Australia.

Australia's indigenous people have lived on this island for an estimated 60,000 years. However modern Australia is a country of immigrants such that by 2016 the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated that Australian Aboringinals and Torres Strait Islanders made up only 3.1% (a total of 759,705 people) of Australia's population.

Looking back at world history, it was inevitable during the period of European colonisation that traditional owners of the various lands invaded and occupied would experience degrees of genocide and be displaced from their homelands. This happened in Australia and accordingly I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land I call home.

Convicts transported to Australia

European settlement of Australia started in 1788 when convicts were transported from Great Britain. Transportation continued to some states for the next 80 years resulting in more than 160,000 men, women and children being shipped to the southern continent.

The following is a list of those transported who are most closely related to our Connected Families.

Person	Arrived	Date	Transported	History
Buckton, Thomas	at Sydney	14-Oct-1818	Arrived in Sydney in the convict ship "Tottenham"	sentenced to life for stealing
Davis, Eleanor		7-Jul-1791	arriving in Sydney on "Mary Anne" in the Third Fleet, and became pregnant on the voyage	Tried in London and convicted for stealing clothing and sentence to 7 years transportation for stealing some clothing and other items, to the value of 26s. 7d.
Hogsflesh, Charles Richard	at Sydney	1815	arrived as a convict on the "Baring"	Convicted and sentenced at Surrey Assizes to 7 years for stealing linen-drapery goods
Mahon, Andrew	at Sydney	24-Dec-1818	arrived Sydney "Martha", and was assigned to Robert Sherringham	Convicted of sheep stealing and sentenced to 7 years
Russell, Jacob		21-Aug-1791	arriving in Sydney "Salamader" as a prisoner on the Third Fleet	sentenced to 7 years transportation for a 7 year term for stealing some shoes and tools from a shop in his home town at age of 18 years
Seaton, Alexander	at Sydney	28-Jun-1790	on "Scarborough" (Third Fleet), prisoner 46th Regiment, NSW Army Corp transferred Parramatta to Tasmania	Tried in London with George Lee and George Connoway for theft of 2 bullocks valued at £20. He was aged 16 years at time. Sentenced to death, later commuted to transportation for life.
Sherringham, Robert		14-Dec-1801	arriving in Sydney on the ship "Minorca" as a convict	charged with stealing from the shop of Edmund Sinclair of Little Walfingham, 2 pairs of half-boots, 2 pairs pumps or shoes and several working tools.
				convicted and sentenced to 7 years transportation
				his certificate of emancipation was issued

Settlers and Immigrants

Since 1788, Australian history is one of immigration and as a result our connected families have many ancestors who travelled to Australia to find a better life. Hence the bulk of the modern Australian population come from all corners of the world through various waves of immigration.

The following list may not be complete but represents those immigrants who are some of our closest relations.

Person	Where Born	Arrival	At	Details
Amor, Mary Ann	Chard, Somerset, England^B	27-May-1857	at Sydney	Departed from Plymouth on the ship Herefordshire on 23 February 1857.
Amor, Mary Ann	Chard, Somerset, England^B	27-May-1857	at Sydney	Arrived on the "Herefordshire", a ship of 1,354 tons.
Andrews, Samuel	Seaford, Sussex, England^B	27-Jul-1839	at Sydney	Samuel and Harriett departed Plymouth on the bounty ship "Strathfieldsaye" with their three children
Andrews, Samuel	Seaford, Sussex, England^B	27-Jul-1839	at Sydney	The Colonial Times, Hobart, reported : "By the Strathfieldsaye from London, 205 Bounty Emigrants have arrived, besides a great number of respectable cabin passengers. The whole, we are happy to say, in a healthy condition."
Armitage, Joseph	Ashton under Lyne, Lancashire, England^B	27-Jul-1849	at Sydney	Departed Plymouth on the 6 April 1949 on the Mary Bannatyne, a barque of 535 tons with Master McKirdy, and as steerage passengers under assisted passage.
				A daughter was born in the English Channel shortly after sailing and was named after the ship "Mary Bannatyne".
				and relatives in the colony listed "cousin George Hyde at Port Phillip"
Austen, Ann	Kent, England^B	26-Jun-1838	at Sydney	Departed London on 26 March 1837 on the ship 'Westminster" which was classified as a barque (bark), weighed 610 tons and was captained by a Mr Mollison. Shipping records state that the ship carried " 280 emigrants, mainly agriculture workers from Kent ". On ship "Westminster" and the log recorded the Bryant family of parents and seven children with their ages.
Austen, Ann	Kent, England^B	26-Jun-1838	at Sydney	The 'Westminster's log also shows that another Bryant family was on board at the time. Samuel Bryant, a farm labourer, aged 38, his wife Sarah 32, and children - Jane 15, Mary Ann 14, William 9 (died at sea), Rhuben 6, and Samuel 1. He was engaged by James Norton Esq. of Sydney.
Birkett, Mary	Burnley, Lancashire, England^B	11-Jan-1887	at Brisbane	assisted immigration on the ship Merkara out of London
Black, Andrew	Ballymena, Antrim, Ireland^B	19-Oct-1838	at Sydney	Departed Belfast
Black, Andrew	Ballymena, Antrim, Ireland^B	19-Oct-1838	at Sydney	Andrew Black, Ann McClusky, their three children, John, Agnes and Hugh emigrated to Australia as government assisted migrants on board the 'Mandarin', arriving on the 19th October, 1838. The total passenger count was: Adults:145 Children 7 to 14 years:36 Children under 7 years:97 TOTAL:278 There were, however, 11 deaths on the voyage.
Bray, Cornelius	Southampton Row, Portsea, Hampshire, England^B	28-Jul-1853	at Sydney	on barque "St George"
Briscoe, Annie	Kilkenny, Ireland^B	29-Jan-1888	at Brisbane	from County Kilkenny, Ireland
Briscoe, Annie	Kilkenny, Ireland^B	29-Jan-1888	at Brisbane	on the ship "Maryborough"
Briscoe, Helena	Kilkenny, Ireland^B	18-Sep-1890	at Brisbane	from County Kilkenny, Ireland
Briscoe, Helena	Kilkenny, Ireland^B	18-Sep-1890	at Brisbane	on the ship "Jumna"
Briscoe, Henry Harrison	Tramore, Waterford, Ireland^B	circa Mar-1865		Based on his death certificate stating about 50 years in New South Wales and 1 year in Victoria. In early 1865 Annie had developed a lung disease and the young Briscoes migrated to Australia arriving in Melbourne in about April of that year. They lived at 2 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy, where Annie’s condition deteriorated and she died on 1 January 1866. The following day she was buried in Melbourne cemetery. She was only 27 years old. Annie’s death certificate also indicates that she had a child, Henry Harrison, who had died but no other record of this child has been found.
Briscoe, Wilhemina	Kilkenny, Ireland^B	6-May-1885	at Brisbane	from County Kilkenny, Ireland
Briscoe, Wilhemina	Kilkenny, Ireland^B	6-May-1885	at Brisbane	on the ship "Duke of Argyll"
Bruce, Thomas	Perth, Scotland^B			Details not known
Bryant, William	Kent, England^B	26-Jun-1838	at Sydney	Departed London on 26 March 1837 on the ship 'Westminster" which was classified as a barque (bark), weighed 610 tons and was captained by a Mr Mollison. Shipping records state that the ship carried " 280 emigrants, mainly agriculture workers from Kent ". On ship "Westminster" and the log recorded the Bryant family of parents and seven children with their ages.
Bryant, William	Kent, England^B	26-Jun-1838	at Sydney	The 'Westminster's log also shows that another Bryant family was on board at the time. Samuel Bryant, a farm labourer, aged 38, his wife Sarah 32, and children - Jane 15, Mary Ann 14, William 9 (died at sea), Rhuben 6, and Samuel 1. He was engaged by James Norton Esq. of Sydney.
Cavanagh, Mary Jane	Armagh, Ireland^B	circa 1839		Recorded as being "56 years in New South Wales" at her death.
Cole, William	Tonbridge, Kent, England^B	1-Jul-1838	at Sydney	Departed Plymouth on 28 March 1838 as free Assisted Emigrants on the ship Amelia Thompson.
Cole, William	Tonbridge, Kent, England^B	1-Jul-1838	at Sydney	Arrived as part of 238 immigrants on the "Amelia Thompson". The Sydney Gazette reported that there had been 33 deaths during the voage from typhus and smallpox, and the Medical Board decided that the vessel should be "detained in quarantine". The ship and its passengers were released from quarantine on 23 July.
Crook, Albert	Stroud, Gloucestershire, England^B			Details not known
Davies, John	Doddiscombs Leigh, Devonshire, England^B	13-Feb-1857	at Sydney	John, Anne and daughter Sarah Elizabeth arrived on the ship "Plantagenet"
Dawson, John Henry Roberts		11-Jul-1884	at Sydney	on ship "Abergeldie"
Dollin, Henry	Dunster, Somerset, England^B	27-Jul-1855	at Sydney	Henry arrived with wife Sarah and son William as assisted passengers on the ship Gloriana
Dollin, Robert	Dunster, Somerset, England^B	Sep-1857	at Sydney	on the "Lady Catherine" from California
Dollin, Thomas	Dunster, Somerset, England^B	27-May-1857	at Sydney	Departed from Plymouth on the ship Herefordshire on 23 February 1857.
Dollin, Thomas	Dunster, Somerset^B	27-May-1857	at Sydney	Arrived on the "Herefordshire", a ship of 1,354 tons.
Donkin, William	Rothbury, Northumberland, England^B	31-Aug-1837	at Sydney	the City of Edinburgh departed London under captain Ryan
Donkin, William	Rothbury, Northumberland, England^B	31-Aug-1837	at Sydney	Arrived on board the City of Edinburgh with his wife Jane and children Edward, Mary, Ann (Barbara) and Isabella. Isabella having been born only six days before they arrived.
Fowler, Jane	Tudley & Cape, Kent, England^B			Alfred and Jane Skinner (plus a George Skinner, presumably Alfred's younger brother) arrived in Sydney as Assisted Passengers on 1 April 1857 on the ship FitzJames. Adverising in the Empire (Sydney, Sat 4 Apr 1857, Page 6, was: "IMMIGRANTS TER FITZ-JAMES.-Notice is hereby given, that the undermentioned persons for whom passages were provided to this colony in pursuance of deposits made in the Treasury hereunder the Remittance Regulations, have arrived in the ship Fitz James, and that they will be prepared to join their friends; the single females from the Institution, Hyde Park Barracks, on and after, their arrival there, and the married families and single men from the Ship, on Saturday next, the 4th instant, at 12 o'clock." The Skinners names were listg and their Depositir given as Harry Dibley.
Gilbert, William	Kent, England^B	1-Sep-1839	at Sydney	Departed London on 12 May 1839 on the ship Cornwall.
		9-Sep-1839		Arrived in Sydney on the ship Cornwall. The Sydney Herald reported: "The Cornwall arrived from London, yesterday, with 374 Government emigrants, all of whom are in a healthy state, and out of so many we have only to announce the death of 18 infants ; 5 were born during the voyage. The leanliness of the vessel, and general good conduct of every one on board, show how efficient must have been the management of the Captain, Surgeon and Officers. The emigrants, consist principally of farming men and laborers, there are also a few mechanics, the greater part appear to be very respectable."
				The Sydney Herald reported on the "Committee on Immigration"and in response to the question "Have the Immigrants who have arrived generally obtained employment in the capacities under which they are designated in the list?" It was answered: "Take, for example, the ships which have recently arrived, and which are now discharging their Emigrants, do they afford a confirmation of the view you have here expressed ? They certainly do. There are three Government Emigrant ships recently arrived. The Cornwall, with agricultural labourers, from the Counties of Kent and Sussex, who are rapidly engaging, although only landed four days. There were nearly four hundred men, women, and children."
Gledhill, Joseph William	Fawley, Yorkshire, England^B	12-Apr-1886	at Sydney	from Plymouth with 543 Government immigrants and 2300 tons of general merchandise
				"The time occupied was 44 days 7¾ hours, including stoppages, and the actual steaming time was 43 days 23 hours...this performance stamps her as one of the best and fastest vessels of her class afloat"
				Joseph, Ann and their children arrived at Sydney on the steamer "Aberdeen"
Goodburn, William Ambrose	Folkestone, Kent, England^B	circa 1835		"70 years in Australia"
Hayles, Mary Ann	Hampshire, England^B	28-Jul-1853	at Sydney	on barque "St George"
Hodge, Priscilla	Kent, England^B	1-Sep-1839	at Sydney	Departed London on 12 May 1839 on the ship Cornwall.
Hodge, Priscilla	Kent, England^B	1-Sep-1839	at Sydney	Arrived in Sydney on the ship Cornwall. The Sydney Herald reported: "The Cornwall arrived from London, yesterday, with 374 Government emigrants, all of whom are in a healthy state, and out of so many we have only to announce the death of 18 infants ; 5 were born during the voyage. The leanliness of the vessel, and general good conduct of every one on board, show how efficient must have been the management of the Captain, Surgeon and Officers. The emigrants, consist principally of farming men and laborers, there are also a few mechanics, the greater part appear to be very respectable."
Hoogerdijk, Bastiaan	Waddinxveen, Netherlands^B	28-Mar-1951		Bastiaan Hoogerdijk and wife Neeljte plus their 2 children Pieter and Dirk emigrated to Australia on 28.3.1951 and arrived in Australia 5.5.1951 on the ship Johan van Olden Barneveld. They left from Amsterdam and arrived in Sydney. They were boarded in a camp at Bathurst on 6.5.1951 and stayed there for approx 4 weeks then went to Greta and stayed for almost a week. They then settled in Bowral No. 2 Funston St. They lived here for approx 2 years before moving to Chipchase Park near Bowral where they built their first family home. After this they moved to Moss Vale where they lived on a property called Trelm which was owned by Sir Malcolm Ritchie. They moved to Berrima roughly about 1959 (Melbourne St) and moved to Unanderra in November 1961.
Hubber, Matilda	Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, England^B	28-Jan-1869	at Melboune	On 31 October 1868, the clipper ship Southern Empire departed London via Plymouth with 440 Government and bounty warrant passengers.
Hubber, Matilda	Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, England^B	28-Jan-1869	at Melboune	Matilda arrived as an unaccompanied 20 year old servant under the assisted passenger scheme on the ship Southern Empire at Hobsons Bay, Vic., Australia
Hutchison, Jane	Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, Scotland^B			It appears that Jane's two children from before her marriage did not go with the family to New Zealand
Judge, Harriett	Sussex, England^B	27-Jul-1839	at Sydney	Samuel and Harriett departed Plymouth on the bounty ship "Strathfieldsaye" with their three children
Judge, Harriett	Sussex, England^B	27-Jul-1839	at Sydney	The Colonial Times, Hobart, reported : "By the Strathfieldsaye from London, 205 Bounty Emigrants have arrived, besides a great number of respectable cabin passengers. The whole, we are happy to say, in a healthy condition."
Leech, Edward	Wellington, Herefordshire, England^B	9-Jan-1855	at Sydney	Departed from the Port of London on 30 September 1854.
				Edward Leech and his family arrived on the "Queen of England"
				on the Wonga Wonga with his wife and family to Sydney
Lewis, William Robert	Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England^B	30-Dec-1856	at Sydney	departed Liverpool on 21 September 1856 on the ship Conway of 849 Tons, Master, W H Duquid.
				on board the Conway ..."the official diet for the votage for ach person per week is made out in ounces, as follows: beef, 6oz; pork 18oz; preserved meats 24oz; preserved potatoes 8oz; peas 3/4 pint; oatmeal 21 oz; rice 8oz; tea 1 oz; coffee 1 1/2oz; butter 4 oz; water 3 quarts daily"
				The Conway’s 1856 journey to Sydney was under Captain Duguid of James Baines & Co. The Emigration Commissioners had issued a charter to take emigrants to Sydney, New South Wales and the Conway was contracted in addition to carrying the mails for Australia and New Zealand. She sailed on 21st September 1856 with 443 emigrants, arriving in Sydney on 30th December, after a passage of 100 days and docked at the Circular Wharf. The ship was said to be in a remarkably clean state.
Livingston, James	Argyllshire, Scotland^B	18-Sep-1852	at Port Phillip	Set out on the Marco Polo's maiden voyage to Australia.
Livingston, James	Argyllshire, Scotland^B	18-Sep-1852	at Port Phillip	Arrived with family at Port Phillip on ship "Marco Polo" The Marco Polo was the first clipper-style vessel constructed for bringing immigrants to Australia. The ship was built in Canada in 1851 and had a hull made of the best softwood. Captained by James Nicol Forbes, the Marco Polo made its first voyage from Liverpool to Port Phillip Heads in 1852 in the record time of 68 days. Forbes pioneered the 'Great Circle Route', sailing far south in the Southern Ocean, where he could catch the strong, icy Antarctic winds. Captain J.N. 'Bully' Forbes became renowned in shipping circles for record sailing times and for compromising passenger well-being. On this first voyage an outbreak of measles and influenza in icy conditions led to the deaths of 51 children and two adults. The Marco Polo offered luxury for first-class passengers, whilst below deck the majority were squeezed into cramped and uncomfortable steerage berths where food and hygiene were of poor quality. (http://museumvictoria.com.au/journeys/ships_1850_70s.asp) After three weeks she returned to London in another 76 days. This was the first recorded round trip in less than six months, or to be exact 5 months 21 days.
Maddigan, Michael	Ennistymon, Clare, Ireland^B	1-Apr-1852	at Sydney	Arrived on the ship "Agincourt", and paid 7 pounds 10 shillings for family's passage. There were 145 immigants on board.
McCarthy, Arthur	England^B	circa 1920	at Sydney	Approximate arrival in Sydney
McFarlane, Charles	Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland^B	circa 1831	at Sydney	Approximate date of arrival in Sydney
Morrison, Ronald Stewart	Reading, Berkshire, England^B	1964	at Broadmeadows
Morrison, William Ernest	Ballaquaggan, Malew, Isle of Man^B	23-Nov-1907	at Sydney	He jumped ship from the HMS Powerful (refer to William's "military service" section).
Murdoch, George	Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland^B	9-Oct-1848	at Sydney	Arrived on the ship "Castle Eden" (total of 302 immigrants).
Murray, Peter	Monaghan, Ireland^B	circa 1860		death certificate stated 8 years in Ausrtalia most likely initially in Victoria
Northey, Alfred	Kea, Cornwall, England^B	12-Oct-1864	at Adelaide	The South Australia Register reported: "The Emigration Commissioners have chartered the ship Adamant for the conveyance of emigrants to South Australia, to sail from Plymouth about the 14th July, 1864."
Northey, Alfred	Kea, Cornwall, England^B	12-Oct-1864	at Adelaide	In: Supplement to the Adelaide Observer. ARRIVAL OF THE ADAMANT, WITH 370 GOVERNMENT IMMIGRANTS. The barque Adamant, under the command of Lieut. B. Lodwick, R.N.R, arrived on Wednesday evening from London, via Plymouth, after a passage of 86 days from the latter port. She has on board 370 Government immigrants, under the care of Dr. William G. Gunn, Surgeon-Superintendent, who has the good fortune to report her arrival with a clean bill of health. Two births occurred during the passage, but no deaths. The following is the official list of the immigrants:-English —...Alfred Northey..."
Pocknall, James	Eynsford, Kent, England^B	18-Oct-1855	at Sydney	The ship Gilmore departed Southampton on 12 June 1855 with 280 Government Immigrants.
Pocknall, James	Eynsford, Kent, England^B	18-Oct-1855	at Sydney	Arrived on the ship Gilmore.
Skinner, Alfred	Southborough, Kent, England^B	1-Apr-1857	at Sydney	Depart Plymouth on the ship Fitz James on 23 December 1856 with 429 people on board.
Skinner, Alfred	Southborough, Kent, England^B	1-Apr-1857	at Sydney	Alfred and Jane Skinner (plus a George Skinner, presumably Alfred's younger brother) arrived in Sydney as Assisted Passengers on 1 April 1857 on the ship FitzJames. Adverising in the Empire (Sydney, Sat 4 Apr 1857, Page 6, was: "IMMIGRANTS TER FITZ-JAMES.-Notice is hereby given, that the undermentioned persons for whom passages were provided to this colony in pursuance of deposits made in the Treasury hereunder the Remittance Regulations, have arrived in the ship Fitz James, and that they will be prepared to join their friends; the single females from the Institution, Hyde Park Barracks, on and after, their arrival there, and the married families and single men from the Ship, on Saturday next, the 4th instant, at 12 o'clock." The Skinners names were listg and their Depositir given as Harry Dibley.
Skinner, George	Kent, England^B	1-Apr-1857	at Sydney
Thomson, James	England^B	11-Apr-1806	at Sydney	Departing on 1 September 1805, the ship William Pitt carried both female convicts and free settlers bound for Botany Bay. Among the settlers was Gregory Blaxland who later became one of the first to cross the Blue Mountains.
				Oral history suggests that James was "recommended as a settler by the Duke of York, possibly under pressure from the Duke's then mistress Mary Ann Clarke (nee Thompson). She was most likely a niece or cousin of James Thompson."
				James, Eliza and 5 children arrived as free settlers on the "William Pitt". The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser also reported in the SHIP NEWS. "On Friday arrived the William Pitt Extra ship, with [117] female prisoners, in a general state of good health. She sailed from England the first of September last; made the island of Madeira the 1st of October and stopped three days. In company with an out-ward bound East India convoy she reached the Cape of Good Hope early in January, and from thence sailed for this port."
Trott, John Dollin	Dunster, Somerset, England^B	30-Aug-1882	at Sydney	The ship Colwyn with crew member able seaman John D Trott, born 1859 in Somerset arrived from London.
Trott, William Henry	Dunster, Somerset, England^B	Dec-1884	at Sydney	Possibly immigrating on board the ship Kildare
Ward, Emily	Nether Hallam, Yorkshire, England^B	11-Jul-1884	at Sydney	on ship "Abergeldie"
Warren, Richard Robins	Bristol, Gloucestershire, England^B	12-Dec-1852	at Port Phillip	The ship Washington Irving was advertised to be leaving London for Sydney via Port Phillip on 23 August 1852. Richard was about 16 years old at the time.
Warren, Richard Robins	Bristol, Gloucestershire, England^B	12-Dec-1852	at Port Phillip	The Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer reported: "Washington Irving, ship, 900 tons, from London September 5th. 278 passengers." Richard's possible arrival although his age is shown as 21 years (not RR Warren's age of 16).
Welsh, Elizabeth	Cork, Ireland^B	circa 1839		Approximate date of arrival in Sydney, base on death certificate.