Esther Abrahams

75

iain Frazier on 22nd September 2025

Family connections for Esther (Abrahams) are: ABRAHAMS Esther (Abrahams/Abrams/Julian) daughter of Esther (Johnston) was born about 1767 and became a milliner. She had a first relationship with ??? (Julian) in 1786, later sometimes using the surnames (Julian, Juliano). She was tried for stealing lace of Joseph & Charles (Harrop) at Old Bailey on 30 8 1786, sentenced to 7years, held probably at London/Middlesex Gaol Delivery & at Newgate Gaol (where her child was born) & arrived at Sydney Cove NSW as a convict with her child on 22 1 1788 after a voyage of 12.5months on First Fleet ship LADY PENRHYN; she was Jewish, the first to arrive in Australia. She was sent to Norfolk Island, arriving on 14 3 1790 & leaaving on 14 5 1791.>>> [Some details taken from this Website, which agrees with Smees records & her on=line Biography; however, another entry on this Website shows she & her daughter arriving on 22 1 1788 on First Fleet ship PRINCE OF WALES.] Esther (Abrahams) & ??? (Julian) produced 1child: 1.Rosanna (Julian) was born on 18 3 1787 in Newgate Gaol England. She arrived in NSW with her mother on 22 1 1788 after a voyage of 9months on First Fleet ship PRINCE OF WALES; she was Jewish, the first free Jewish person to arrive in Australia. She married firstly Isaac (Nichols) on 18 2 1805 at St Phillips CofE Sydney-recorded in Sydney Gazette-& produced 2children. In 1809 she received land grants.>>> Isaac (Nichols) son of Jonathan (Nichols) droget maker & Sarah (???) was born on 29 7 1770 at Colne Wiltshire. He was tried for stealing brass pot of Thomas (Seagar) & silver watch of Robert (Oakford) of Colne at Warminster Wiltshire Quarter Sessions of Peace, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship ADMIRAL BARRINGTON. About 1793 he was appointed chief overseer of convict gangs. On 11 9 1796 he married firstly Mary (Warren her third marriage) at St Phillips CofE Sydney. His sentence expired in 20 12 1797 after which he was granted 50 acres at Concord, to which he later added more land here & at Hunters Hill & Petersham to a total of 1,400acres. In 1798 he obtained a spirit licence & opened an Inn in George St. On 12 3 1799 he was tried for recieving stolen property at Sydney Criminal Court, sentenced to 14years on Norfolk Island, which was suspended by the Governor, referred to English courts with the result that he was granted a Free Pardon in about 1801. At some point he was granted 0.5acre in Sydney on which he built a 'mansion'. In 1805 he built 33ton 'GOVERNOR HUNTER' at his Sydney shipyard which was used for the colony's trade. In March 1809 he was appointed Superintendent in charge of public works & in April 1809 as assistant to the Naval Officer; he also became colony's first mail officer & again Principal Superintendent of convicts. He is recorded as Postmaster Port Jackson in October 1813. He had many interests including nurture of gardening. He died on 8 11 1819 age49 father of 2known children & was buried at Sydneys new Burial Ground. [Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Rosanna (Abraham/Nichols) married secondly James (Stuart) farmer on 31 8 1820 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She produced 1known child in her lifetime. ..James (Stuart) arrived in NSW free on 31 12 1818 after a voyage of 5.5months on GENERAL STEWART. He was a farmer in 1820. .. .. >>>Esther (Abrahams-she sometimes used the surnames (Julian, Juliano)) had a second relationship with George (Johnston) whom she later married. She was Free by Servitude by 1804. During her partners absence of 4years from 1809 to 1814 she farmed the property 'Annandale'. She married George (Johnston) after his return on 12 11 1814, a former marine officer, at St Johns CofE Parramatta or St James CofE Sydney. She received 'Annandale' property from her husbands Will in 1823 to be passed to son Robert on her death, which was disputed by her son Robert who won. She was recorded in 1828 with some of her children at Annandale Petersham; Protestant at this time. She went to live with her son David. She died on 26 8 1846 age79 mother of 8children & was buried on 'Annandale' property. She is commemorated in Sydney Jewish Museum a pavilion in Bi-Centennial Park Sydney. George (Johnston) was born on 19 3 1764 at Annandale Dumfriesshire Scotland. He was son of Captain George Aide De Comp to Lord Percy (later Duke of Northumberland) & became a soldier. He was made second lieutenancy 45th company of marines on 6 March 1776. He served in New York and Halifax in 1777-78 & was promoted first lieutenant and spent two years recruiting in England. In 1781 he went on HMS SULTAN to serve against the French in East Indies, where he was severely wounded. He arrived at Sydney Cove NSW as 1st Lieutenant of Marines Aide De Comp for Governor (Phillip) on 22 1 1788 after a voyage of 12months on First Fleet ship LADY PENRHYNalso. He was a Captain Lieutenant in 1790 & went to Norfolk Island, arriving on 14 3 1790 where, as commanding officer, he settled the first recorded strike by troops, over rations. He returned to Sydney in May 1791. On 25 9 1792 he enlisted in NSW Corps as Captain charged with raising a new company. On 8 12 1792 he leased 2acres of land between Church land & Brick Field. On 12 2 1793 he was granted 100acres at Petersham Hill; on 11 12 1794 was granted 40acres at Hammond Hill; & on 7 1 1796 leased land '360" 70' west side of spring'. On 21 1 1796 he was sent again to Norfolk Island, taking over from (King), & left on 9 7 1796. He was in Sydney in October 1796 as Governor (Hunter)s Aide De Comp. He was involved in the Battle of Vinegar Hill in 1798 which he won against a superior number of insurgents. On 6 4 1798 he was granted 172acres at Bankstown & on 7 10 1799 290acres at Petersham. In January 1800 he was ranked as Brevet Major, quarrelled with Governors to maintain integrity of army units, & returned to United kingdom under arrest for smuggling spirits on 25 6 1800, he was not tried & arrived back in Sydney in 1801. In 1804 he was in charge of squashing Irish uprising & he was granted 72acres at Bankstown & a further 2,000acres at Cabramatta in March 1804. In 1806 he leased '340" 70' west side of spring'. He was leader of the 'Rum Rebellion' responsible for arrest of Governor (Bligh) on 26 1 1808-after which he was cashiered-taking the role of Lieutenant Governor until July 1808 & on 8 7 1808 he was granted another 2,000acres somewhere. On 7 4 1809 he was granted 100acres at Bankstown. On 9 11 1809 he was returned to United Kingdom for court martial, receiving mild punishment. He was cashiered & returned to the colony at Government expense after 4years about 1814. He farmed 'Annandale' farm west of Parramatta in 1817. He died on 5 1 1823 age about59 & was buried on the Annandale property, leaving property to his sons producing a dispute. He is commemorated in various places. Esther (Abrahams) & George (Johnston) produced 7children: 1.George (Johnston) was born on 12 1 1790 possibly on Norfolk Island & baptised on 4 3 1790 at St Phillips CofE Sydney, or recorded there. He died on 19 2 1820 age30. 2.Robert (Johnston) was born on 7 3 1792. He was to receive 'Annandale' property from his fathers Will after his mothers death, which he disputed & won. He was recorded in 1828 as head of Annandale Petersham, with his mother. He became a lieutenant in Royal Navy. He married Fanny (Weller) of Cleveland House in August 1831 at St James CofE Sydney. He died on 8 9 1882 age90. ..Fanny (Weller) was daughter of Joseph (Weller) Esq of Cleveland House. .. 3.Julia (Johnston) was born on 17 1 1796. She was recorded in 1828 with her mother at Annandale Petersham. She died on 16 12 1879 age83. 4.David (Johnston) was born on 28 12 1798. He received property from his fathers Will in 1823 & his mother came to live with him. He was recorded in 1828 as landholder. He was living at Georges Hall Bankstown when he married Selina (Willey) in February 1836 at St Lukes CofE Liverpool. He died on 3 6 1866 age65. ..Selina (Willey) was neice of Major Antill of Jarvis field. .. 5.Maria (Johnston) was born on 13 4 1800. She married Lieutenant Thomas (Brotheridge) on 19 2 (Smees records & Ref:'Garrison...') or 26 3 1824 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..Thomas Henry (Brotheridge) was born about 1874. He became involved with 48th Regiment as Lieutenant in European campaigns, being wounded at Albuera on 16 5 1811 during loss to overwhelming force of French cavalry; he was imprisoned at Inquisition Prison Seville Spain, where he lived fairly comfortably until 1814. He arrived in Australia as a soldier with 48th Regiment in 1817. He is recorded in December 1818 contesting a horse race on 'Boulter/Bolter in Sydney town. In February 1824 he took over (Morisett)s company in Sydney. He was recorded in 1825 at Sydney. He died as Captain 48th Regiment on 27 10 1827 age43 at Annandale & was buried in the family vault at Annandale-recorded at St James CofE Sydney. ..Maria (Johnston) & Thomas (Brotheridge) produced 1child: ..1.George Thomas (Brotheridge) was born on 30 12 1824 in Sydney & baptised on 23 1 1825 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He died on 5 6 1827 age2.5 & was buried at St Johns Cofe Parramatta. .. 6.Isabella (Johnston) was born in 1804. She died in 1806 age about2. 7.Blanche (Johnston) was born on 23 7 1806. She was recorded in 1828 with her mother at Annandale Petersham. She married George Edward N (Weston) Esq Lieutenant HEIC (Hon East India Company?) on 21 5 1829 at St James CofE Sydney. She died on 29 8 1904 age98. ..George Edward N (Weston) was born about 1800. He arrived in Australia free in 1828. He was a Lieutenant HEIC (Hon East India Company?) in 1829. REFERENCES Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony. Irene Schaffer & Thelma McKay 'Exiled Three Times Over! Profiles of Norfolk Islanders Exiled in Van Diemens Land 1807-1813' James Hugh Donohoe 'Norfolk Island 1788-1813-The People and Their Families' Reg Wright 'Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island & Van Diemens Land' Pamela Statham 'A Colonial Regiment-New Sources Relating to the New South Wales Corps-1789-1810' Clem Sargent 'Colonial Garrison 1817-1824-48th foot Northamptonshire Regiment in the colony of New South Wales'

45

Natalie Lonsdale on 20th January 2020

Esther Abrahams was the first Jewish woman to step foot on Australian soil. Her daughter Rosanna was the first ever free Jewish female in Australia. Esther’s story is told in the biography ‘Esther - the extraordinary true story of the First Fleet girl who became First Lady of the colony’ by Jessica North.

60

Eric Harry Daly on 8th January 2013

Abrahams was tried at the Old Bailey, in London on 30 August 1786 for stealing lace with a value of 50 shillings. Esther was found guilty of theft, although the evidence was circumstantial. She was 15 years old when tried; her occupation was listed as milliner. The teenager was imprisoned in Newgate Gaol, London, where she bore an illegitimate child named Roseanna, father unknown, on 18 March 1787. Esther's name is sometimes shown as 'Julian.' From 1800, instead of Abrahams she called herself Julian, originally Juliano, after a renowned Judeo-Spanish family. Esther and her daughter were transported to Australia with the First Fleet, which departed London in May 1787 and reached Sydney in January 1788). Sources show them as being transported on the ship Prince of Wales. http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t17860830-4-defend75&div=t17860830-4#highlight Esther took up a relationship with George Johnston, First Lieutenant of the Marines, who had accompanied the First Fleet. She bore him seven children, including their two sons David and Robert. Their house was probably a wattle and daub cottage built by convicts with local timber. On 26 January 1808, George Johnston led the 'Rum Rebellion', and overthrew Governor Bligh. Her daughter Roseanna (or Rosannah) grew up to marry emancipated convict Isaac Nichols (the first Postmaster of the colony), in 1805. Because of his rank, George Johnston received huge land grants. He was born in Annandale, Scotland, and named their farm after that place as was the custom. It is now a suburb of Sydney. George's River was named after him. Esther received land grants in her own right in 1809. Despite having led the rebellion, Johnston was able to keep his land when he returned to Australia after an absence of four years. Esther had been left in charge of the estate in his absence. When George Johnston finally married Esther Abrahams in November 1814, Roseanna and her husband were witnesses at the wedding. In 1823, George Johnston died. Disputes followed over inheritance of the properties. Her son David had been left property of his own. However, Robert was to inherit Annandale on Esther's death. He issued a writ (March 1829) against her, and proceeded to have her declared insane. Esther put up a strong fight, producing many witnesses to prove she was lucid. Robert won, and Esther went to live with her son David. Esther died in 1846, and was buried beside her husband in the family vault on the Annadale property. Esther was described by her grandson as "always a stirring industrious woman". Her portrait hangs in the Sydney Jewish Museum. While her husband is remembered in various geographic names, there was, until 2002, no such feature in Sydney named in Esther's memory. In 2002 a pavilion was dedicated in Bicentennial Park, in Johnston Street, Annandale, New South Wales, near the Anzac Bridge.