James Becket

74

iain Frazier on 18th December 2023

Family connections for James (Beckett) are: Some amendments added Jun 2025. BECKETT James (Beckett) son of James (Beckett) & Esther (maybe) (Evans) was born perhaps on 5 10 1757 at Shrewsbury Shropshire & baptised on 25 10 1757 & became a brickmaker. He was tried for highway robbery & stealing Hempen bag etc of Joseph (Tipton) at Shropshire Assizes Shrewsbury on 26 7 1788, sentenced to death reprieved to Life, held at Shrewsbury gaol & STANISLAUS hulk (from November 1789) on the Thames & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship SURPRISE. He was soon working as a master brickmaker at Rose Hill. He married Ann (Calcutt) on 30 1 1791 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & lived at Rose Hill. He was Free by Servitude by 1795. He is recorded in 1802 on 30acres at Concord. In 1806 he was granted 30acres at Toongabbie. He died in 1808 age50sic. [Some details taken from this Website] Ann (Cocutt/Calcut/t) was tried for stealing silver tablespoon etc at Stafford Assizes on 13 8 1788, sentenced to 7years, held at Stafford gaol & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship NEPTUNE. She was Free by Servitude by 1795. After her husband died in 1808 she worked the 30acre property at Toongabbie. She is recorded in 1814 at Parramatta with one child off stores. She died in 1820; at this time the 30acre property at Toongabbie probably passed to son Samuel. [Some details taken from this Website] James (Beckett) & Ann (Calcutt) produced maybe 6children: 1.Samuel (Beckett) was born in 1791 & baptised on 2 10 1791 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He died on 2 2 1793 age about2. 2.James (Beckett) was born on 15 7 1793 & baptised on 11 8 1793 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He is recorded in 1814 at Parramatta as a labourer. He married Mary (Mills sister of Thomas (Best) her second marriage) on 21/31 3 1823 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was recorded as farmer in 1827 & 1830. He inherited the 30acre property at Toongabbie which he sold in 1843. ..Mary (Best/Mills) was born in 1803 in the colony. She married firstly at age15 John (Mills) on 22 6 1818 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & produced 2children. After her husbands execution she married secondly James (Beckett) on 21/31 3 1823 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & produced 11 children. She died on 6 4 1876 age56 mother of 13children. ..Details of Mary (Best)s family are given in entry for George (Best WILLIAM AND ANN 1791) on this Website. ..James (Beckett) & Mary (Best/Mills) produced 11children: ..1.James (Beckett) was born on 1 5 1824 at Parramatta & baptised on 26 12 1824 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..2.Martha (Beckett) was born on 4 4 1827 at Seven Hills & baptised on 6 4 1827 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..3.Rebecca (Beckett) was born on 22 8 1828. ..4.Samuel (Beckett) was born on 22 11 1829 at Dura Hill & baptised on 7 2 1830 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..5.-11.??? (Beckett) .. 3.Samuel (Beckett) was born on 18 7 1795 & baptised on 9 9 1795 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He is recorded in 1814 at Parramatta as a labourer. He married Hannah (Dalton her first marriage) on 21 5 1820 at St Johns CofE Parramatta, in which year he probably received the 30acre property at Toongabbie from his mother. On 16 7 1821 he was acquitted of being member of bushranging gang which included his brother in law John (Mills). He is recorded in 1827 as farmer. He died on 6 10 1827 age32 or 9 10 1828 age34, at which time the 30acre property at Toongabbie was probably passed to his brother James. ..Hannah/Ann (Dalton) was born on 12 2 1793 & baptised on 9 4 1793 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. After 1809 she assisted her mother in running their farm. She had a second relationship with Robert William (Hathaway) & produced 1child. She produced 4known children in her lifetime.] ..Details of Hannah/Ann (Dalton)s family are given in entry for William (Kentwell ADMIRAL BARRINGTON 1791) on this Website. ..Samuel (Beckett) & Hannah/Ann (Dalton) produced 3children: ..1.Ann (Beckett) was born on 11 1 1823 at Parramatta & baptised on 28 12 1823 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..2.Elizabeth (Beckett) was born on 6 8 1825 & baptised on 2 10 1825 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..3.Jane Eliza (Beckett) was born on 25 4 1827 at Seven Hills & baptised on 20 5 1827 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. .. 4.Esther/Ester/Hester (Beckett) was born on 2 4 1798 & baptised on 19/29 4 1798 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She married firstly (1of3) at age13 John (Hendell/Hendle) on 20 1 1812 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & produced 1child. She is recorded in 1814 at Parramatta.>>> ..John (Chew later Hendell/le) was born on 5 6 1789 & baptised on 5 7 1789 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He (as John (Wendell?) was taken to Norfolk Island with his mother. He took the name (Hendell/le) further suggesting his living with his mother & perhaps step father. He is recorded in 1814 as John (Hindle) labourer at Parramatta with wife Ester (Hindle); & in 1814 John (Hendle/Hendall) was at Seven Hills, receiving cattle from the government herd, and received more by 1819. In 1822 he was a publican in Parramatta and in 1823 he was on the list of persons receiving allotments in Parramatta. He died on 22 2 or 19 6 1823 age33 at Parramatta & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..Details of John (Hendell/le)s family are given in entry for Sarah Mary (Pile LADY PENRHYN 1788) on this Website. .. >>>Esther/Hester (Beckett) had a second relationship (2of3) with George (Tuckwell).>>> ..George (Tuckwell) was born on 18 9 1803 & baptised on 14 7 1816 age12 w/Elizabeth, Frances at St Johns CofE Parramatta; he was baptised again on 15 2 1821 age17 at St Marys RC Sydney-which was a common practice when Catholic services became available. He had a relationship with Esther (Beckett/Hendle her third relationship). He was recorded as a coachmaker in 1827 & wheelwright in 1829. ..Details of George (Tuckwell)s family are given in entry for John (Small CHARLOTTE 1788) on this Website). .. >>>Esther/Hester (Beckett) married thirdly William (James) in 1832. She died on 24 8 1840 age42 mother of at least 4known children. ..William Bean (James) was born on 30 10 1808 & baptised on 23 1 1809 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He seems to have had a first (1of3) relationship with Johana (Deacey) & produced 1child. He married secondly (2of3) Mary (Lewis her second marriage) with permission on 17 12 1827 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was recorded with his wife in 1828 at Baulkham Hills. He died on 11 2 1878 age69 father of 2known children. ..Details of William Bean (James)s family are given in entry for Samuel (James PERSEUS 1802) on this Website. .. 5.Mary (Beckett) was born on 31 7 1800 at Parramatta & baptised on 6 4 1800sic at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She is recorded in 1814 at Parramatta. She married Thomas (Best brother of Mary) on 16 2 1818 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & produced 7children. She died on 2 12 1857 age57. ..Thomas (Best) was born on 20 6 1799 & baptised on 28 7 1799 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He became a farmer & accomodated his sister Mary after her marriage & husband John (Mills) in 1818 & later gave evidence in John (Mills)s trial in 1821. He was recorded as free on 50acres in 1820. He was recorded as a farmer in 1828 & 1829. He died on 26 1 1874 age74. ..Details of Thomas (Best)s family are given in entry for George (Best WILLIAM AND ANN 1791) on this Website. 6. At the 1806 Muster, Ann Calcut (Becket) was listed as having 2 legitimate sons and 3 legitimate daughters. 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'

12

Charmaine Hardy on 13th June 2021

Birthdate 5 Oct 1757, baptism 28 Oct 1757, son of James and Esther Beckett of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. ALL records of this convict have his birthdate 1757 /1758

7

Rory Cunningham on 15th April 2020

"Born 1751 in Radnor, Shropshire, England"--- there is no such place as Radnor, Shropshire, England; there are Old Radnor and New Radnor, which are in Radnorshire, Wales.

71

Robin Sharkey on 9th December 2016

ENGLISH CRIME IN DETAIL On 17 June 1788 James Becket was arrested and charged with the highway robbery of Joseph Tipton in the parish of Holy Cross and St Giles, Shrewsbury. (this is in county of Shropshire, also called Salop). The stolen items were: a hempen bag, a linsey waistcoat, two handkerchiefs (one cotton, one silk) nine shillings of money. *At 26 July 1788 Salop Assizes (held in Shrewsbury) found guilty, sentenced to death. *October 1788 - reprieved to life transportation. *Remained over one year in Shrewsbury gaol * early November 1789 sent to "Stanislaus" hulk on the Thames with three others. Age said to be 30 * 20 November embarked on "Surprize" transport ship.

71

Robin Sharkey on 9th December 2016

BRICKMAKING David Becket was working at Rose Hill by November 1790 and indicated to Watkin Tench when Tench visited Rose Hill ion 16th November, that he had been a brick maker in Birmingham. He was referred to by Watkin Tench of his book “A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson” on page 57 of the University of Sydney edition (http://setis.library.usyd.edu.au/ozlit/pdf/p00044.pdf) Becket had been in the colony only Five months when Watkin Tench visited rose Hill and had a conversation with him. He was employed as the only master Brickmaker at Rose Hill over 52 Brickmakers (from Tench’s diary with a “return of the number of persons employed at rose Hill, Nov 16th 1790”). Tench wrote: “"Brick kilns are now erected here and bricks manufactured by a convict by the name of Becket, who came out on the last fleet, and has fifty-two people to work under him. He says they are very good, and would sell at Birmingham, where he worked about 18 months ago, at more than thirty shillings per thousand." FARMING The 30 acres at Toongabbie was re-granted to James Beckett after being taken away from Edward Kelly. Th re-grant from Governor King did not happen until 1806 yet Becket was probably already in possession of it in 1803. - shown on a map drawn around 1803 showed eighty-four allotments at Toongabbie, including a holding for Beckett - referred to by Doris A Sargeant in 'The Toongabble Story’. The delay in the re-grant was possibly because becket had taken possession of it against government policy. there was an advertisement on 16 November 1806 in Sydney Gazette listing a lot of people who had not collected their land grant documents, and that if they hadn’t been”taken up” by the next Saturday 22nd November they would be cancelled and the lad revert to the Crown. No doubt that got James Becket into the Secretary’s Office quick smart. The land remained with him and his wife farmed it when widowed, (1814 Muster return) and her son and daughter-in-law farmed it after their1820 marriage. it was only sold in 1843 when the other son, James and his wife Mary sold it.

71

Robin Sharkey on 9th December 2016

JAMES BECKET transported on 'SURPRIZE' for LIFE. Initially received Death Sentence at trial in July 1788 at Salop Assizes in Shrewsbury for highway robbery; reprieved to life transportation. Hereford Journal - Thursday 07 August 1788 p 3 “At the assizes at Shrewsbury, seven prisoners received sentence of death, viz, James Becket, for assaulting Joseph Tipton on the highway .." Born 1751 in Radnor, Shropshire, England, son of James Beckett and Elizabeth Evans Departed on 'Surprize' 18 months later in mid January 1790. Arrived mid June 1790. MARRIED ANN CALCUT on 30th January 1791 at St Johns Church of England, parramatta. James made his mark. (Ann was convicted at Stafford, in 1789, of theft of a silver table spoon, a fan, a bonnet, an apron, a handkerchief and a pair of shoe buckles. She arrived in Australian in June 1790 on the Neptune') In 1792, he was witness at marriage of John Carver and Isabella Smith at St John's Parramatta. FAMILY First child born nine months after marriage: Samuel Beckett, son of James Beckett, Convict & Ann Beckett, Convict, Baptised 2 Oct 1791, Registered at St John's Church of England Parramatta. Samuel died aged 2 in 1793. (2) James born 15 July 1793 and baptised 11 August at St John's Parramatta. Elder Samuelmay have died after this. (3) Samuel (second one) Born 18 Jul 1795, Baptised 9 Sep 1795, at St John's Parramatta. (4) Ester - Born 2 Apr 1798, Baptised 29 Apr 1798 (5) Mary - Born 31 Jul 1800, Baptised 6 Apr 1801, At the 1806 Muster, Ann Calcut Becket was listed as having 2 legitimate sons and 3 legitimte daughters - bt only 2 daughters above. WORKING LIFE In 1802 James Becket is listed as having 30 acres at Concord, with 7 acres cleared & cultivated, and 4 chidlren and his wife off the stores. 1806 Muster - "JAMES BECKET, 1806 Aug 5 Granted 30 acres in the district of Toongabbie. Rent: 1 shilling per year commencing after 5 years. This is the cancelled farm of Edward Kelly which was cancelled for the reasons stated in folio 389, Register 2nd. P.G.K" 1806 -Occupation/Residence &c: Settler, 30 acres, . Arrived per "Neptune" Land - Cultivated, 19 acres pasture, 10 bushels maize held, 5 female goats 4 male hogs 5 female hogs; On/off stores: 1 Proprietor off, 1 woman off, 1 children off 1808 DEATH

105

Denis Pember on 3rd June 2015

Married Ann Calcut [Cocutt] (Convict; Neptune, 1790). 30 January 1791, Rose Hill, Sydney, NSW. 5 children.