When 19 years old William Kingsley left England in June 1827 as one of 180 unwanted people on the convict ship “Prince Regent”, he could not have envisaged the evolution of his “family” or perhaps even consider the idea of having one. The records for his temporary home, the prison hulk “Justitia”, indicate that William was of “bad character and disorderly”. England was rapidly heading into the industrial revolution and the military was downsizing after the Napoleonic wars so times were turbulent, especially for the working class. The English political class could not develop adequate policies to handle the overflowing prisons and so a “Pacific Solution” was decided upon.
William came from the Pirton area of Hertfordshire, England and was part of a large family struggling to earn a rural living. He was removed from his “detention centre” hulk and after 108 uneventful days at sea the “Prince Regent” arrived at the Sydney processing centre. After a short period at Hyde Park Barracks, William was despatched to the Goulburn area to serve his 14 year sentence. Out of sight and never to see England again.
The “Prince Regent I” left from Deal in Kent and whilst we will not go there during this trip in 2011, we plan to stay a few days in the area where William was raised, particularly Pirton, to check out how things have progressed since he left. The area is not far from London and our research says that it is now a commuter feeder area for London workers with any number of “created” decentralised towns around. The accommodation options for us are not all that great it seems; typical old fashioned English pubs with cheap 1960's accommodation, over-priced and underachieving hotels catering for English travelling salesmen and cheaper wedding parties or outdated hotels with lazy staff for travellers using Luton or Stansted airports. Maybe our William was lucky to be taken out when he was.
William's Australian soul-mate, Eliza Sandford, came from County Cavan or County Meath, Ireland. She was convicted for vagrancy in 1834. The 1815 overthrow of Napoleon removed any possibility of France supporting the Catholic Irish and so this underclass of Ireland, including Eliza Sandford, had a particularly tough time in those days.
After several years in Cork prison Eliza was one of 192 women convicts despatched to the Sydney processing centre on the “Roslin Castle”. She arrived in Sydney in February 1836 and put to work in the female factory at Parramatta. We know very little else about Eliza's Irish background but we hope to learn something about her and the conditions she endured when we visit County Cork in June.
Charles Dewhurst came to Australia on the Roslin Castle in 1828 He was my GGGG Grandfather who i have been researching for a project
ReplyDeleteBest of luck in your research and thanks for the note
ReplyDeleteMy name is Kim Cummins nee Gleeson, my GGGG Grandfather is William KINSLEY (Convict) b. 1808 Hertfordshire England or Liverpool England, d. 13th May 1875 (1875/29648/25) aged 66 years, Aberdeen, New South Wales, Australia, bur Presbyterian Cemetery, Section J, Row 1, Grave No. 2, Muswellbrook, NSW, m. 16th September 1841 (1841/628/25), Scone New South Wales to Anne “Agnes” McMILLAN b. 1809 Airdgow, Arglyshire Scotland, d. 2nd June 1892 (8764) Muswellbrook NSW, bur. 3rd June 1892, Presbyterian Cemetery, Section J, Row 1, Grave 3, (no Headstone), Muswellbrook, NSW. They had 3 daughters of which the eldest, Judith married Murdoch McDonald, who was my mother's great grandfather.
ReplyDeleteWilliam KINSLEY arrived in Australia in 1827 aboard the “Prince Regent 1 (3)” as a Convict and was sent to “Kayuga Station”, Kayuga, via Muswellbrook NSW to work as a Labourer for Mr Donald & Mary McINTYRE. He later became Superintendent for Miss McINTYRE, making him the overseer of the convicts on the property.
William was sentenced at the Bedford Assizes on the 13th March, 1827 to 14 years Transportation for sheep stealing and had already had two prior convictions.
According to the Convict Indent, William was aged 19 when he was sentenced. He could read & write, was 5ft. 2 ½ inches tall, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a ruddy complexion. Each second toe on both feet was crooked and he had a small mark on the corner of his right eye. His religion was Protestant and his occupation was a Ploughman/Shepherd.
In the 1828 Census it appears that William KINSLEY & KINGLSEY are the same person.
He obtained his Ticket of Leave (TOL No. 43/893) at Wollondilly. He obtained his Ticket of Freedom on the 13th March 1843; the letter was dated 3rd June 1842 at Braidwood Bench.
After he left Kayuga Station he went to live at Scone, where he met and married Anne McMILLAN
Extracts from the Newcastle Public Library recorded William KINSLEY of Rowan Parish, Durham County- Bachelor and Anne McMILLAN/McMULLIN of Rowan Parish, Durham County- Spinster, marrying on the 16th September 1841 at St. Luke’s Parsonage, Scone NSW by John MORSE A.M (Anglican Minister), Chaplain of Scone NSW. There witnesses were James McMILLAN/McMULLIN of Muswellbrook NSW and Eliza RONISON of Kayuga NSW.
William KINSLEY took over the running of Aberdeen’s first local store which was owned by his son-in-law Murdoch McDONALD.
William KINSLEY died after an eight month battle with cancer. His occupation at the time of his death was recorded as Labourer/Storekeeper. The Undertaker was Andrew BUSSELL and the Official was the Rev. James S. LAING (Presbyterian). The Witnesses were Murdoch McDONALD & James GOOGE.
It is recorded that William had been in the Colony for 47 years and at the time of his death he had 3 living female children, 1 deceased male child and 1 deceased female child. The Informant at the time of his death was his wife Ann KINSLEY of Aberdeen NSW. After William’s death Ann continued to run the store. It was later purchased by the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney NSW.
Ann McMILLAN/McMULLIN sailed to Australia as a “Free” person aboard the “Hebor”. She was sponsored by Miss McINTYRE. Anne’s parents were recorded as Donald McMULLIN & Mary McINTYRE. Anne died of natural decay. The Informant was John H. McDONALD, grandson, Registrar was J. V. FOLEY, registered on the 2nd June 1892. She was buried on the 3rd June 1892 at Muswellbrook NSW and the Undertaker was Andrew BUSSELL. The Presbyterian Minister’s name was H. GRANT and the witnesses were John McDONALD & William GREEN (?). Anne KINSLEY came from Scotland and was recorded as living in the Colony for 53 years
I HAVE A PHOTO OF WILLIAM KINSLEY'S HEADSTONE, AND A COPY OF HIS CONVICT INDENT. MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS - kjcj@hotmail.com IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT ME
Thanks for the note and have tried to email but seems inbox is full so message rejected. Think you have blended two lives and that William Kinsley and William Kingsley are two separate people. Can explain if you see this note and respond.
ReplyDeleteThis is so very interesting! William Kingsley was my 4g grandfather, and I have been researching that line very recently. I have only traced back to 1575 Andrew Kingsley in Hertfordshire, and was wondering if you have any other information? Thanks so much for your notes.
ReplyDeleteAs William was my GGG Grandfather, then I would be interested in knowing how you and I are related. Then we could see how/if William and Andrew Kingsley were connected. Thanks for your comment and, if interested you could contact me on rykingsley@netspeed.com.au. And yes, I do have other infromation on the family.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Kingsley and Eliza Sandford were my ggg grandparents...thank you so much for this insight. I only wish we knew more about Elizas irish heritage. I've been told the charge of vagrancy was trumped up because she was fighting with the rebels aginst the british. I belive she ended up in a lunatic alsylum in Sydney and is buried under the Sydney Railway Station.
ReplyDeleteThanks Luke and your comments on Eliza are interesting. Where did you get that from? Irish history is quite difficult to track I have found.
ReplyDeleteHi stumbled across your webpage searching for convict ship prince regent. My ancestor came to Tasmania on this ship in 1830. Could you tell me where you found the picture. Clive
ReplyDeleteThanks for the note Clive. The pic came from book " A record of some early South Australians by Leonard John Ewens, apge 19. I am not a sailor but I believe the pic is of barque Prince Regent built Rochester and not the larger ship Prince Regent that both my ancestor and yours came to Australia. Yet to prove either way. But there were two Prince Regents bringing convicts Good luck.. Randall
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