Richard Bannister

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Maureen Withey on 24th October 2023

Principal Superintendent of Convicts' Office, Sydney, January 31, 1825. THE undermentioned Prisoners having absented themselves from their respective Employments, and some of them at large with false Certificates, all Constables and others are hereby required to use their utmost Exertions in lodging them in safe Custody :--- 2. Bannister Richard, Baring (2), 24, Leicester, 5 feet 4 and a half, hazle eyes, dark brown hair, fair ruddy comp, from Mr J. smith, Newcastle. Sydney Gazette, 1 Feb 1826.

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Kevin OReilly on 3rd January 2022

Richard Bannister was born in 1802, the son of a local butcher in the village of Earl Shilton, in Leicester England. At the age of 16 years, and listed as a “gardeners boy” on July 25 1818, at the Warwick Assizes, he was sentenced to death for the burglary of goods to the value of 2 pounds 7 shillings from Thomas Hands. This was then commuted to 14 years transportation, he was 5ft 5ins, of fair complexion, had brown hair and hazel eyes. He was transported on the ship “Baring” and suffered a long voyage to Port Jackson in New South Wales. The ship left Chatham in November 1818 but ran aground in the Thames estuary and had to return to Chatham for repairs. It was not until the following January that the ship sailed again which meant that the entire contingent of convicts were confined on board an extra two months. They were fortunate that the ship`s surgeon was a Scot from Argyle, Dr. David Reid, who would be instrumental in saving many lives in the ensuing years with his recommendations concerning voyage conditions and the diet given his charges. This doctor would later settle in southern New South Wales and will feature later in this story. On arrival in July 1818 at Port Jackson, Bannister was one of 40 prisoners taken by water to Parramatta, then overland to Windsor to await distribution as workers to free settlers. On January 2nd 1822, as a worker for a Mr Piesely, he was taken before the Parramatta magistrate accused of - “Gross misconduct in his masters service and damaging very much his horse and cart.” Resulting from this he was “Ordered to be sent to Port Macquarie for three years being an incorrigible character.” This was a feared place for secondary offenders who were used for heavy labour concerning the logging industry. On January 10 1822 he was taken to Newcastle on the “Elizabeth Henrietta,” a coastal cutter used for transporting prisoners and supplies along the coast to the settlements. At Newcastle he was again in trouble the following year and in January 1823 he and another received 25 lashes for “Leaving Smith`s Cedar cutting party.” The following September he was then transported to Port Macquarie on the “Mermaid” and remained there till returning to Newcastle in February 1825. In 1828 a census of New South Wales was taken and Richard Bannister is listed as an “Ostler,” a stable man responsible for the care of travellers horses at the Newcastle inn of John Smith, an ex-convict and now a successful businessman. Bannister`s census entry is listed at the beginning as an unusual occupation. It was here that he would first meet his future wife Jane although this was far in the future. The year is not known but he was then assigned to T.F. Hawkins at Bathurst until emancipated in 1832. In 1854 he married Jane Cameron ex "Louisa" in Melbourne and settled at Kilmore where he became a property owner.

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Kevin OReilly on 2nd January 2022

Came to Victoria 1842 with Jane Cameron "Louisa" Married St James Melbourne 1854 settled at Kilmore Died 1877 as a respected property owner. Further history available - Kevin O`Reilly C/O Kilmore Hist Soc.