Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
Lydia Astell was transported on the Janus, departing 23rd Oct 1819 and arriving 3rd May 1820 with 109 passengers.
Rig Type: S. Built: New York 1810 Size (tons): 308 The Janus was also a whaling ship. 1819/20 voyage: Female convicted women embarked in England and then in Cork, Ireland. One Rebecca Connolly embarked at Cork but due to ill health was returned to Depot. Sailed on 19 Dec 1819. Arrived at Port Jackson, NSW 3 May 1820. On 20th May, 68 of the women was boarded on the Princess Charlotte bound for Van Diemen's Land, to Port Dalrymple and Hobart. A formal enquiry was held as to the treatment of the women by the Captain and his crew. Note: Not all of the women from Ireland have been included yet on this Register. Currently being updated. Two of the Women convicts, Mary Long, and Lydia Elsden claimed to be in a pregnant condition on arrival. Mary Long claimed the Captain, thomas Mowat, was the father of her child, and Lydia Elsden claimed the Chief Officer, John Hedges, was the father of her child, to which they both swore before the Magistrate.
Janus (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/3, Page Number 243 (123); NSW Museums of History: State Archives Collection: Sydney Gaol Entrance Books 1820 |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
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Convict Notes
Correction to 13/09/1820: Factory entrance: Janus 1820
13/09/1820 Lydia Esdin per Janus 1818 sent to the Parramatta Female Factory for 3 months, from Sydney Gaol.
ASTELL/BROOMFIELD Family connections for Lydia Broomfield (Etherington/Espen/Astell) are: Lydia Broomfield (Etherington/Espen) was born in 1796 in Horsham Sussex & became a shosebinder. On 23 3 1810 she married firstly Benjamin (Esden) at St Martin in the Fields London; she became separated & associated with disreputable people, becoming a singer on the way. She was tried in March 1819 as Lydia (Astell alias Clayton), (a Cyprian) at Horsham Sussex Assizes for passing forged notes at Inns etc; sentenced to 14years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 3 5 1820 after a voyage of 6months on JANUS; where she was assigned to Nicholas (Brady/Bailey) at Bayly Park. On 19 7 1820 she declared her unborn child to be fathered by John (Hodges) Chief Officer of the South Sea whaler JANUS. She married Thomas (Barnes) [surname may have been (Esde/on)], in 1821 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. In 1824 she tried to escape the colony with a Mr (Williams) on RAMBLER; she was sent to the Female Factory. Afterwards she left her husband with Mr (Williams) & co-operated the Macquarie Tavern; later she ran the Trafalgar Inn at Meadow Flat & Golden Fleece at Kelso. Other liaisons seem to have also occurred in her life. She received her Certificate of Freedom as Lydia (Astell) on 15 8 1833. She died on 15 11 1859 age63 at Goulbourn. Lydia (Astell) has an entry on this Website [from where some of this information is taken]. Thomas (Barnes) alias Thomas (Wren), Thomas (Baker) was born in 1790 in Kent; he became a stonemason. He was convicted of burglary/stealing pork & beef from W (Heathfield) of Saleshurst at Sussex Assizes, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW or van Diemens Land as a convict on 5 4 1820 after a voyage of 5months on COROMANDEL. He had his Ticket of Leave/Conditional Pardon by 1821. For a while, in the 1820s, he was a gaoler at Bathurst. In 1824 he attempted to have his wife released from the Female Factory & returned to his safe keeping, before they separated. He is also recorded as receiving a Ticket of Leave in 1829 which was cancelled on 2 1 1830; & his Conditional Pardon in 1834. In 1840 he he bought land at Roxburgh-Honeysuckle Flats & became a farmer. He died on 24 4 1859 age69 at Lagoon St Bathurst. [Thomas (Barnes) has an entry on this Website] Thomas (Barnes) & Lydia Broomfield (Etherington/Esdon/Espen) produced 3children: 1.Lydia Broomfield (Barnes) was born in 1821. 2.John Thomas (Barnes) was born on 17 4 1829 at Meadow Flat & baptised on 10 5 1829 at Holy Trinity CofE Kelso. He was an Innkeeper & stock keeper. He married firstly Margaret (Burchett) on 2 3 1849 at Wesley church Meadow Flat. He died on 24 9 1900 age71 (father 14children) at Palisthan Condobolin & was buried at Condobolin. ..Margaret (Burchett) daughter of David (Burchett) & Charlotte (Lofty) was born on 28 10 1833 in Sussex. Details of Margaret (Burchett)s family are shown BELOW. ..John Thomas (Barnes) & Margaret (Burchett) produced 6children: ..1.Susanna (Barnes) was born on 18 5 1844 at Tamworth. ..2.Thomas (Barnes) was born on 11 4 1846 at Tamworth. ..3.James (Barnes) was born on 2 1 1848 at Tamworth. ..4.Anne (Barnes) was born on 2 8 1849 at Tamworth. ..5.John (Barnes) was born on 13 1 1851 at Taworth. ..6.Margaret (Barnes) was born on 17 2 1854 at Tamworth. ..John Thomas (Barnes) married secondly Ellen/Eleanor (Hearne her second marriage) on 9 11 1877 at Euabalong. He died on 24 9 1900 age71 father of 14children . ..John Thomas (Barnes) & Ellen/Eleanor (Hearne) produced 8children (apparantly commencing while still with his 1st wife): ..1.Elizabeth (Barnes) was born on 29 4 1853 at Kelso & baptised on 8 6 1853 at CofE Kelso. She married Hugh/Ewen (Swan/McSwain) on 24 12 1869 at Mulguthrie Station Condobolin. She died on 24 7 1895 childbirth? age42 at Forbes & was buried at Cadow. ....Elizabeth (Barnes) produced 12children with Hugh/Ewen (Swan/McSwain): ....1.Christina (Swan) was born on 23 7 1871 at Condobolin. ....2.Ellen (Swan) was born on 4 2 1873 at Bedgerabong. ....3.Lydia (Swan) was born on 4 6 1875 at Bedgarabong. ....4.Mary Ann was born on1 8 1877 at Burrawang ....5.Roderick (Swan) was born on 20 7 1879 at Burrawang. ....6.Janet (Swan) was born on 2 1 1882) at Bedgarabong. ....7.a female was born on 12 6 1884 at Carraboblin. ....8.Alice Maude (Swan) was born on 18 9 1886 at Forbes. ....9.Florence (Swan) was born on 8 12 1888 at Dairylands, Warroo. ...10.Gertrude May (Swan) was born on 9 5 1890 at Dairylands, Warroo. ...11.Hugh Neil (Swan) was born on 4 6 1892 at Dairylands, Warroo. ...12.a male was born on 20 7 1895 at Forbes. ..2.John Thomas (Barnes) was born on 29 8 1855 at Bathurst. ..3.Joseph (Barnes) was born in 1858. ..4.Mary Ann (Barnes) was born in 1860. ..5.Charles Edward (Barnes) was born on 16 8 1862 at Forbes. ..6.Lydia (Barnes) was born in 1866. ..7.Alice (Barnes) was born in 1870. ..8.Henry (Barnes) was born on 16 1 1872 at Cudgellico, Forbes. 3.Hannah (Barnes) was born on 28 3 1831 at Kelso & baptised on 25 9 1831 at CofE Kelso. She married Charles Edward (Blackman his first marriage) on 7 2 1848 at Presbyterian church Bathurst produced 7children. ..Charles Edward (Blackman) was born about 1824 at Richmond. He was a miner & horse trader. He married secondly Casiah Elizabeth (Hill) on 8 8 1870 at Beechworth Victoria. He died on 31 1 1914 age about89 father of 17children at Merewether & was buried at Sandgate. ..The (Blackman) family is mentioned in the entry for Robert (Davi/dson) MARQUIS OF HASTINGS on this Website.
Colonial Secretary Index. BARNES, Lydia. Per "Janus", 1820 as Lydia Astell; wife of Thomas Barnes 1820 Sep 4,19 - Re permission to marry James Nelson at Sydney; listed as Estill (Reel 6007; 4/3502 p.244) 1824 Jul 9 - Sentenced to Female Factory. On return of fines and punishments in the Police Office (Reel 6023; 4/6671 p.81) 1824 Dec 6 - Requesting to leave the Parramatta Factory for a few days to collect her property (Fiche 3076; 4/1836A No.33A p.163). Reply, 16 Dec (Reel 6014; 4/3513 p.107) 1825 Mar 10 - Copy of articles of co-partnership with William Charles in Macquarie Tavern (Reel 6017; 4/5782 p.321) 1825 Apr 29 - Memorial of her husband Thomas re her elopement and intention to leave the Colony (Reel 6063; 4/1786 p.58) 1825 May 3 - Copy of rental agreement for house at South Head Road (Reel 6017; 4/5782 p.322) 1825 May 12 - Re transfer of to the Factory (Reel 6014; 4/3514 p.277)
New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856 Copies of Letters Sent Within The Colony, 1814-1827. Letter seeking approval to marry and publish banns between James Nelson, free and Lydia Estill per ship Janus. Approved by Gov Macquarie 4/9/1820 NAME: Lydia Barnes EVENT DATE: 04/09/1820 ARRIVAL YEAR: 1820 VESSEL: Janus EVENT DESCRIPTION:Re permission to marry James Nelson at Sydney; listed as Estill COMMENTS:Per "Janus", 1820 as Lydia Astell; wife of Thomas Barnes PAGE: 244 New South Wales, Census and Population Books, 1811-1825 for Lydia Elsden Parramatta (Baulkham Hill), 1822, (Book 3) Listed as Lydia Elsden from the Janus (master Morewell) sentenced to 7 years off to her husband. New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930 for Lydia Barnes Entrance Book Sydney 1819-1833 9/7/1824, from the Janus and wife of Thomas Barnes. Attempting to stowaway in the ship Rambler with the intention of clandestinely leaving the colony. She was confined in the factory with hard labour at the pleasure of the Govenor Lydia Barnes in the New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856 Name: Lydia Barnes Event Date: 29 Apr 1825 Arrival year: 1820 Vessel: Janus Event Description: Memorial of her husband Thomas re her elopement and intention to leave the Colony Comments:Per "Janus", 1820 as Lydia Astell; wife of Thomas Barnes Page:58 Letter from Thomas Barnes to the Colonial secretary advising of his wife's departure. He asked the governor for a release from the factory and had a home and the means to support her. She left him and went to live with a man by the name of Williams who had a beer licence in Pitt Street Sydney. Mr Williams, it was asserted, wanted to leave the colony with Lydia
THE undermentioned persons have obtained Certificates of Freedom during the last week : viz. Janus - Lydia Astell. Sydney Gazette, 15 Aug 1833.
19 July, 1820. Proceedings of Bench of Magistrates re. prostitution on ship Janus. The Special Bench of Magistrates having re-assembled according to adjournment, this 24th day of June, 1820. Present: The Honble. the Judge Advocate: William Minchin, Esquire, J.P.; Simeon Lord, Esquire, J. P.; John Piper,Esquire,J.P. Lydia Elsden, being duly Sworn, states, I was one of the Prisoners that Came out in the Ship ” Janus.” I wrote a Letter to Mr. Bailey, whose Government Servant I am. I was particularly urgent with him to come down to Sydney to see one of the Officers of the Ship. I complained to him that I was pregnant by the Chief Mate of the Ship, John Hedges. I passed much of my time in his Cabin during the Voyage. I know so far. I have seen some of the Prisoners go down to the Sailors’ Birth. I was sometimes between Decks, sometimes in the Cabin. I am not Certain that several of the Women were out of the Prison during the night. I believe they were. I can’t say one way or the other. The Doctor has often said the Prisoners should be more Circumspect than they were when he saw them Come up and down from the Sailors’ Birth in the Day time; the Priests also saw them, and said so too. I went up and down openly; the other women did the same; we were well treated; nobody Complained; I am sure there was no Cause of Complaint. The Surgeon knew of my going up and down, and the other Women too, and did not peremptorily order us to our Prison, but only to be more Circumspect, and not to do it openly, lest the Priests should know it, for that his living depended on his Character; this I have often heard, and every Person on board heard the same, and he said that he would have a Woman in his Cabin, if it was not for the Priests. Sworn before us this 24th day of June, 1820. Jno. Wylde, J.-A. Wm. Minchin, J. P. The voluntary examination of Lydia Esden, singlewoman, taken on Oath before me to Wit. William Minchin, Esquire, a Magistrate of the Territory, etc. etc. in the Peace, and for the said Territory, the 24th day of June, 1820, Who saith that she is now with Child, and that the said Child is likely to be born a Bastard in the said County; and that John Hedges, Chief Officer of the South Sea Whaler Ship “Janus,” now lying in Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, in the said County and Territory, is the Father of the said Child. Lydia Esden. Taken and signed the Day and Year above written before me, Wm. Minchin, J.P. Source: HISTORICAL RECORDS OF AUSTRALIA. SERIES I. GOVERNORS' DESPATCHES TO AND FROM ENGLAND. VOLUME X. January, 1819 — December, 1822.
SUSSEX ASSIZES. Horsham, Saturday, March 27- Lydia Astell, dashing Cyprian, of prepossessing appearance, was indicted for having her possession forged Bank England note for the payment without lawful excuse, knowing it be forged. The Bank had preferred a capital indictment against her, for uttering a forged note, knowing be forged; but, in consideration her sex, and the peculiar circumstances of her case, it was thought advisable to abandon that charge, and proceed upon the indictment, for the minor offence of having forged note in her possession without lawful excuse. Yesterday the unfortunate fair one was put the bar for the purpose pleading to the indictment. This morning she was brought morning she was brought for trial. Her appearance was striking: she was in full dress; her hair in the first style fashion, covered with a handsome black veil, and the rest of her costume suited more to the a ball-room, than the awful solemnity of Court Criminal Justice. Mr. Andrews, her counsel, applied to the indulgence of the Court on her behalf permitted to retract her plea not guilty, and plead guilty to the minor offence. Mr. Gurney v Mr, Serjeant Taddy, the Common Serjeant, and Mr. Bulland, counsel for the Crown, consented this proceeding, and accordingly a plea of guilty was recorded. Mr. Justice Bayly, in passing the sentence of the law, addressed the prisoner in impressive manner and told her, that it was by means, of course, that the Bank England had forborne to prosecute her for a capital offence, and it was owing to their indulgence that she had been permitted to plead to the minor offence. It was their duty, before they made such a concession, to investigate the circumstances of her case; and having found that she was a fit object of mercy, they had forborne going to the extremity which they would have been warranted by by law. A young woman of her appearance being brought the bar to receive sentence for such offence, was a circumstance calculated excite the deepest regret, as there was but too much reason to believe that she had been the dupe of more artful offenders. He hoped that reflection would bring her a contrite of her past crimes, and he trusted that she would hereafter endeavour to conduct herself properly— The sentence the law was, that she be transported for the term of fourteen years. The prisoner was deeply affected, and retired from the bar in a pitiable state of wretchedness. —We understand that this unhappy creature was the daughter respectable parents in this town;—that during the residence of the military in this she been seduced, and taken to London, where she lived a state of concubinage with her seducer, by whose means she acquired knowledge of music; and after she had been abandoned, she got an engagement as a singer at Astley's Amphitheatre, where she performed where she performed for a considerable time with applause. Since then she had fallen into more discreditable mode of livelihood, and latterly had been living under the protection a horse-jockey, at whose instigation, in the prime of youth and personal attractions, she subjected herself to the ignominious punishment transportation, for some time past she had away in this neighbourhood meretricious splendour, procured means of passing forged notes, and was length detected in passing the note by a linen-draper in this town. Westmorland Gazette, 17 April 1819.
A young woman of genteel appearance and address, wearing a large white veil, was charged with uttering forged Notes, under peculiar circumstances. She appeared under the names of Lydia Astell, alias Clayton. On the 12th of February last, she drove to the Red Lion Inn, Asbendon Common, Washington, Sussex, where she remained about three hours, during that time she had four glasses of mulled wine, in payment for which she gave a 51. note, purporting to be a note of the Bank of England. Mr. Bristow the landlord, not having change, procured it of his neighbour, Mr. Baker, a grocer. In the course of the afternoon of that day, it was discovered that the note was a forgery and Mr. Bristow set off to pursue her, but failed in overtaking her; but he continued his journey to London, and gave information to the Solicitor to the Bank. On the afternoon of the same day she went to the Burrell's Arms Inn, at West Grinstead in a post-chaise, and uttered a 1l forged Bank-note to Mrs Margaret Monsey, the landlady. Bishop the officer was employed to trace out the prisoner, but he was not able to accomplish it till last Saturday, when he found her lodging with Mr. Finnigan, in Lumney-court, Queen- street, Bloomsbury, by the name of Clayton, and it has been ascertained that she has uttered a 11 forged note at a public-house in that neighbourhood. On her person was found 1l notes of the Guildford, Old Yeovil, Portsea, and other Banks, which it is supposed she has obtained in change for 51 forged Bank of England notes. She stated herself to be a married woman, but separated from her husband. She said she had lately been engaged at Covent Garden and Astley's Theatre as a singer. She was committed for further examination. Morning Chronicle, 13 March 1819,
She is my great great great great great great grandmother