Joshua Booby

Level 46

JD Stubbs on 28th January 2023

Joshua Booby (alias Joseph, alias Boothby), he was born in Manchester, England, in 1793 and at the age of 28 whilst living at Sutton, was arrested for highway robbery. He was convicted at the Derby Lent Asizes on 21st March, 1821 and sentenced to death. This was repealed to a life sentence in the colonies. He was transported to Australia on the vessel MINERVA (4), under Master John Bell. He sailed from Downs on 1st August 1821 and arrived in Sydney on 16th December, 1821. A total of 80 male convicts made the voyage. The log book of the Minerva describes Joshua Booby as a labourer and ploughman, 5'6 1/4" tall, sallow complexion, brown hair and with grey eyes. His religion was that of Protestant. On disembarking he was moved along the Parramatta River to Parramatta where he was held for distribution. The Colonial Secretary assigned 16 of the convicts to Bringelly for distribution. Joshua (Joseph) Booby was assigned to Rev. Thomas Hassal at Bathurst as a Labourer and Government Servant. Hassal had a property called 'Denbigh' at Cooke (Bathurst). The 1828 Census mentions that at age 35 Joshua Booby was still a labourer with Rev. Thomas Hassal at Bathurst. On 31st January, 1830 he was granted a conditional pardon (must stay in the district) in the District of Cooke on the recommendation of the Bathurst Bench. On 31st August, 1830 he was granted a ticket of leave (No. 30/540). On 9th January, 1838, following the Posting of Banns by Rev. Thomas Hassal, Booby married Jane Pattinson, a free woman aged 47 who claimed to have arrived in Australia on the 'Northampton' yet an examination of the passenger list shows the names of the 106 female convicts, 21 convict children, 30 female settlers, 42 settlers children and 3 male passengers. However Jane Pattinson was not mentioned. The 'Northampton' left England (Deptford) on 7th November, 1814 and arrived in Sydney on 18th June, 1815 under Master J.A. Tween. The female convicts were assigned to the 'Factory' at Parramatta. His wife, Jane Booby died at Berrima on 4th April, 1842. No gravesite headstone can be found at Berrima Cemetery. Later that year he married Mary Toohill at Camden. By this time his occupation was that of 'Carrier'. At some time in 1848 Joshua and Mary had a son, Charles, who was born at Sandy Creek in Victoria. During that same year he purchases a block of land at Gundagai on the river flat. Colonial treasurer letter of 25th October, 1848 described the purchase. In 1849 he had a second child, Mary Ann. The following year, on 16th September, 1850 he purchased an adjoining block of land on the river flat. On 25th June, 1852 the Gundagai township was wiped out by a flood. Joshua Booby died on 9th July, 1882 at Gundagai. By then he had a considerable number of grandchildren.

Level 116

Tony Beale on 1st February 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Convicts' Applications to Marry, 1826-1851 Refused 6/7/1842 Mary Ann Parker 49 per ship Sarah and Elizabeth refused permission to marry Joshua Boothby 49 per ship Minerva (4) due to Mary Ann being since returned to Government