James Ansell

71

Robin Sharkey on 21st September 2025

From Ship indents: James Ansell aged 18 years, arrived in Sydney per ship ‘Atlas’ on 22 Jul 1816 Born at Cambridge. Labourer; Height in feet & inches: 5 ft 4&1/4 inches. Brown hair, hazel eyes, dark pale complexion. Tried: 17 Jul 1815 at Cambridge, England. Sentenced to death but respited to transportation for life. [SRNSW ref:, Vol. number 4/4005, Ship Atlas, 1816. Vol entry no.4] James Ansell lived all his colonial life at Parramatta and often recorded his name as ‘Hansell’. He received a Ticket of Leave in 1825, married another convict and had three children, but his only son died at the age of 4. Although he never got himself into trouble, and appears a steady man, James never received a Conditional Pardon even though one was recommended in 1837. [Note the Colonial Secretary’s papers in October 1819 incorrectly record James Ansell as having a gov servant, called James Spence who gave evidence in an inquest on Thomas Cooper found in the river at Lane Cove. The entry is incorrect and the master was Michael Ansell, landholder of Lane Cove]. Sept 1822 Muster: Gov Servant to W. Watkins, Parramatta. William Watkins (per ship Pitt’ in 1799) was a stonemason who had partnered with Isaac Peyton senior (stonemason per Barwell,) in tendering for the construction of Parramatta female factory. They won the tender and began work in 1821. It’s a likely bet, then, that convict James Ansell worked on the construction of the female factory in the service of Mr Watkins. A decade later he was in the paid service (as T/L) of Mr Peyton’s son. 1824 Married Sarah Maloney, or ‘Mallon’, then aged 19 and arrived per ‘Woodman’ in 1823 with a 7 yr sentence, Children: Mary Ann B.1825, married John Thurston 1848 (reg’d Bowenfels, Vale of Clywdd) Susannah, or Susan, B.18 July 1826, and James B.14 March 1829 and died aged 4 years in June 1833. June 1825 - William Watkins of Sydney – the stonemason to whom James was assigned – attested as to his character for a ticket of leave. 30 June 1825: Ticket of Leave granted, Number: 25/0344 James Ansell, born Cambridgeshire, England, in 1799. 5ft 5 inches tall, Ruddy Complexion, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, Labourer, Tried Cambridge 17 July 1815, given Life, arrived per Atlas 1816. Sept 1825 Muster – James Ansell, Ticket of Leave, Labourer, Parramatta Nov 1828 Census James Ansell (signed the Census page James “Hansell”). Aged 28 years, Protestant, Arrived Atlas ‘1815’ (incorrect – was 1816). Tkt of Leave, Occupation; Quarryman. He was the householder, at Parramatta Wife: Sarah Ansell, aged 23, Catholic, 7 year sentence per ‘Woodman’ in 1823, now Free by Servitude, wife of James Ansell Parramatta Children: Mary Ann Ansell aged 3 yrs. BC, Protestant, Daughter of James Ansell, Parramatta; and Susannah Ansell aged 2 yrs. BC, Protestant, Daughter of James Ansell, parramatta May 1829: Wife Sarah ‘Mallon’ (married Ansell), tried Spring 1822 Co. Armagh Assizes, given 7 yrs, Born Co Armagh 1805, employment: servant, aged 24, wife pf James Ansell Arr per ‘Woodman’ 1823. Certificate of Freedom dated 4 May 1829, no 29/0409. In June 1831, a Parramatta district Constable, named Waterworth, was found murdered in the bush near the Governor’s Arms (hotel) about three miles from Parramatta. James ‘Hansell’ was one of many witnesses who gave evidence about what they’d seen. From that evidence, we learn that James Ansell was a quarryman in the service of Mr Peyton of Parramatta, and on the relevant day he’d worked about 8am until after 4 o’clock in the afternoon. [Sydney Gazette, 10 Sept 1831, p.3] His employer was Isaac Peyton, a 30 yr old stonemason who was the son of Isaac Peyton senior, per “Barwell” 1899 (died 1829). Peyton senior had been the contractor stonemason with Mr Watkins (James Ansell's first boss) building the Female Factory from 1818 - Feb 1821 when it opened. 1837, 20 November recommended James Ansell for Conditional Pardon 1837, Decembr Muster – James Ansell, Parramatta, was still only a ticket of leave 1848:- SMH 19 January 1849, p. 2 - Letters unclaimed at the Post Office: “James Hansell, Government Domain” Died: 1848 Died, registered at Auburn NSW Conditional Pardons were awarded in 1850, and one was for James Ansell, but it was too late for him.

343

Maureen Withey on 18th June 2024

… and James Ansell, for breaking open the dwellinghouse of Henry Freeman, of Bolsham, and stealing a watch and money some amount, were found guilty, and received sentence of death, but were afterwards reprieved. Norfolk Chronicle, 29 July 1815. Convicts. -On Wednesday last,- James Ansell and William Bull, who received sentence of death at the last Cambridge assizes, were removed from the castle he conveyed on board the hulks in Portsmouth harbour, the former for transportation during the term his natural life, and the latter for fourteen years. Suffolk Chronicle, 23 Sept 1815.

20

Deidre Herring on 12th October 2014

Married Sarah Maloney/Mallan 25 Oct 1824 at St Philip's Sydney Reels 376/8 & 3444/3 Ticket of Leave No 344/1818, 30 Jun 1825 District of Parramatta