Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Thomas Biggers was transported on the Boddingtons, departing 15th Feb 1793 and arriving 7th Aug 1793 with 129 passengers.
The Boddingtons was Built in 1781. She departed Cork Ireland on 15 February 1793 bound for New South Wales.
Boddingtons (generic)References
| Primary Source | Irish Convicts to New South Wales; Mayberry, Peter Census of New South Wales, 1828; [Ref: B1155] |
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Convict Notes




Family connections for Thomas (Biggers) are: BIGGERS Thomas (Biggers) was born about 1752. He was tried probably for political crimes at Cavan co. Ireland in 1790, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 8 1793 after a voyage of 6months on BODDINGTON; he was Protestant. He was Pardoned in 1794 & farmed on 50acres at Petersham. He had a relationship with Elizabeth (Fitzgerald). He was Free by Servitude by 1799 & overseer for Major George (Johnston) by 1799. In 1800 he gave information about a suspected Irish plot and by 1802 had been issued his Absolute Pardon. He was also supervisor for Commissary John (Palmer), against whom he initiated litigation. He rescued 150people in floods of 1806 & more in 1809 floods. He supported the (Johnston) faction during the (Bligh) takeover about 1807. His activities seem to be pasture for horned cattle & production of meat. In 1808 part of his land at Hawkesbury was sought for the Orphan Institution. He was recorded in 1828 with his wife (Smees records show a defacto relationship) as overseer for his son in law Cyrus (Doyle) at Portland Head Upper Hunter District.He died on 19 5 1830 age78. [Some details taken from this Website] Elizabeth (Fitzgerald) was born on 25 1 1768. She was tried at Cavan co. Ireland in 1791, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 8 1793 after a voyage of 6months on BODDINGTONalso; she was Protestant. She had a first relationship with Thomas (Wright).>>> [Some details taken from this Website] CCONVICT?done a Thomas (Wright) was born about 1747. He was tried for horse theft at Derby Assizes,sentenced to Death remitted to Life & arrived in NSW as a convicton 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 7 months on Fleet ship SURPRISE. He died in 1790 age about43. [These details taken from this Website] .. >>>Elizabeth (Fitzgerald) was Free by Servitude by 1806. She was recorded in 1828 with her husband. She died on 10 7 1836 age68 mother of 7known children. Thomas (Biggers) & Elizabeth (Fitzgerald) produced 7children: 1.George (Biggers) was born on 16 6 1794 & baptised on 31 6 1794 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He died on 6 3 1798 age3 & was buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney. 2.Ann (Biggers) was born in 1796 & baptised on 13 10 1796 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She married firstly at age16 Thomas (Prosson/Rosson/Prosser from DUKE OF PORTLAND 1807) on 21 12 1812 at St Matthews CofE Windsor & produced perhaps 2children. She was recorded in October 1814 with her daughter at Windsor. In 1819 she intended to travel with a child to Batavia-to join her husband?.>>> [2xThomas (Prosser)s were present in the colony] A.Thomas (Prosser) was born about 1779 & became a labourer. He was tried at Brecon Wales in 1803, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 27 7 1807 after a voyage of 6months on DUKE OF PORTLAND. B.Thomas (Prosser) was born about 1774 & became a weaver/cotton & linen printer. He was tried as an Irish rebel at Cork co. Ireland, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 11 1 1800 after a voyage of 4.5months on MINERVA. ..Details of the Thomas (Prosser) families are given in their entries on DUKE OF PORTLAND (recorded in Smees records) & MINERVA on this Website. .. >>>Ann (Biggers) married secondly, with consent of her parents, George (Young), perhaps a farmer, on 15 10 1827, the same day as baptism of daughter Elizabeth, at St Johns CofE Wilberforce. She was recorded in 1828 as Protestant. She died, possibly in 1831 age about35, at the Benevolent Asylum mother of 2known children. ..George (Young) was born about 1800. He was tried w/7others for possession of forged notes at Old Bailey in May 1819, sentenced to 14years, held at London Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 27 1 1820 after a voyage of 4months on PRINCE REGENT; he was Protestant. He was recorded in 1827 as a farmer & in 1828 as householder 100acres Lower Portland Head. ..[Some details taken from this Website .. 3.Frances (Biggers) was born on 14 6 1798 & baptised on 7 7 1799 age1 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She married at age16 Cyrus Matthew (Doyle his first marriage) om 18 10 1814 at St Matthews CofE Windsor & produced 2children. She died on 13 4 1827 age28. ..Cyrus Matthew (Doyle) was born on 27 11 1793 in Dublin Ireland. He arrived in NSW with his parents on 12 5 1803 after a voyage of 6months on ROLLA. He was living at Windsor near Baulkham Hills when he married secondly Elizabeth Maria (McDougall) on 1 1 1828 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. In 1828 his father in law was recorded as overseer on his land at Portland Head Upper Hunter District.He produced 2known children in his lifetime. ..Details of Cyrus Matthew (Doyle)s family are given in entry for Andrew (Doyle ROLLA 1803) on this Website. .. 4.Sarah (Biggers) was born in 1798. She died in 1798 age<1. 5.Elizabeth (Biggers) was born in 1799 & baptised on 8 9 1800 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She married Robert (Thompson) on 15 10 1827 with consent of the Governor, on the same day as sister Ann) at St Johns CofE Wilberforce. She died on 9 11 1840 age about41. ..Robert (Thompson) was born in 1784 in England. He is recorded as arriving in NSW with his father on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship NEPTUNE; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate. ..[His father Robert (Thompson) was tried at Beverley Yorkshire Quarter Sessions, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW with his son on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship NEPTUNE; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate; & it is suggested he died on the voyage.] ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 6.Andrew (Biggers) was born in 1802 or 1806 (from Smees records). He had a relationship with or married Sarah (Taylor). He died on 9 6 1881 age about74. ..Andrew (Biggers) & Sarah (Taylor) produced at least 1child: ..1.Ann (Biggers) was born at Lower Hawkesbury in 1829 & baptised in 1829 as Wesleyan Methodist. .. 7.Thomas (Biggers) was born in 1803 or 1807 (from Smees records). 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'




NSW 1828 Census Index. Thomas Biggers, age 65, C.P. per Boddingtons, 1794, Life, protestant. Overseer, Cyrus Doyle, Portland Hd, Upper Hunters ? District. Elizabeth Biggers, age 64, F.s. Per Boddingtons, 1794, 7 years, protestant.




Family - according to Australian Royalty himself Thomas Biggers 1752–1830 wife Elizabeth Fitzgerald 1764–1836 son George Biggers 1794–1798 daughter Ann Biggers 1796–1831 daughter Frances Biggers 1798–1827 daughter Elizabeth Biggers 1800– son Andrew Biggers 1802–1881 son Thomas Biggers 1803–




From Colonial Secretary's Index BIGGERS, Thomas. Per "Boddingtons", 1793 1794 Nov 11; 1804 Aug 11; 1809 May 10 On list of all grants and leases of land registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3267, 9/2731 p.28; Fiche 3268, 9/2731 pp.146, 176) 1802 Apr 10 Particulars of arms in possession of (Reel 6041; 4/1719 p.84) 1802 Sep 11 Michael Robinson convicted of demanding bribe from Biggers (Reel 6040; SZ997 pp.21-2) c.1805 On list of settlers, formerly prisoners, nominated as witnesses by Martin Mason in his complaint against Denis McCarty (Reel 6040; ML Safe 1/51 p.62) 1806 c.Feb On list signed by Martin Mason re defamation case of Marsden v Mason (Reel 6041; 4/1720 p.170) 1808 Dec 28 Re surrender of portion of land (Fiche 3309; 4/7186.1 pp.1, 4-6) 1809 Mar 7 On list of claims against John Palmer as Commissary (Reel 6041; 4/1722 pp.50, 52) 1809 Mar 8 On list of claims said to be due to individuals on the suspension of John Palmer, Commissary (Reel 6041; 4/1722 p.57) 1809 Apr, May, Jul Produce received from at the Hawkesbury Stores (Reel 6040; 9/2673 pp.31, 38, 71) 1809 Jun 17 Respondent in action against John Palmer; appeal from decision of Court of Civil Jurisdiction to be heard by Governor as Judge of the High Court of Appeal (Reel 6037; SZ993 p.67) 1809 Jul 10 Proposed purchase of land at Hawkesbury from, for Orphan Institution, 1808-1809 (Reel 6001; SZ757 p.53b) 1810 Jan 29 Memorial (Fiche 3001; 4/1821 No.18) 1811 Mar 30 Purchased goats at an auction by John Howe of Windsor; sold for Mathew Kearns (Reel 6040; ML C197 p.25) 1816 Jun 22 On list of persons to be issued with horned cattle from the Government Herds (Reel 6038, SZ759 p.212; Reel 6031, 4/7028A p.32) 1816 Jul 20 On return of horned cattle issued from the Government Herds between 8 May 1814 and 9 Jan 1819 (Reel 6048; 4/1742 p.43) 1819 Jan 9, Apr 30 On return of persons indebted to Government for cattle issued from the Government Herds, to be paid for in cash or grain (Reel 6048; 4/1742 pp.29, 252)




https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/627063?searchTerm=flood Thomas Biggers Account of the Floods and Thomas Biggers role in rescuing people.




Thomas Biggers, 50 acres, arrived 1793 on the ‘Boddington’ from Cavan Ireland, tried 1790, sentenced for life, probably for political crimes. Pardoned in 1794, he began farming at Petersham. He was overseer for Major George Johnston by 1799. He gave information in 1800 about the suspected Irish plot and by 1802 had received an absolute pardon. He became a supervisor for Commissary John Palmer for a while before returning to Johnston. In the 1806 floods he rescued 150 people and again in the 1809 floods. He was very much a supporter of the Johnston faction during the Bligh takeover.




Thomas Biggers, 50 acres, arrived 1793 on the ‘Boddington’ from Cavan Ireland, tried 1790, sentenced for life, probably for political crimes. Pardoned in 1794, he began farming at Petersham. He was overseer for Major George Johnston by 1799. He gave information in 1800 about the suspected Irish plot and by 1802 had received an absolute pardon. He became a supervisor for Commissary John Palmer for a while before returning to Johnston. In the 1806 floods he rescued 150 people and again in the 1809 floods. He was very much a supporter of the Johnston faction during the Bligh takeover.




Thomas married Elizabeth Fitzgerald (Convict, Boddingtons, 1793) soon after they both arrived in Australia. Over the next 10 years they had a family of 6 children.