Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
Richard Cornelius Burrows was transported on the Neptune, Scarborough And Surprize, departing 30th Nov 1789 and arriving 26th Jun 1790 with 1084 passengers.
Neptune 809 tons built on the River Thames 1779. The largest ship of the Second Fleet.
Neptune, Scarborough And Surprize (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 59 (31) |
| 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 |
Claims
"4 x GG Grandfather"
Photos
No photos have been added for Richard Cornelius Burrows.
Convict Notes
Elizabeth (Cole)-shown as on PRINCE OF WALES-was actually transported on LADY PENRHYN SCARBOROUGH OR ALEXANDER.
Family connections for Richard Cornelius (Burrows) are: Some amendments added Jun 2025. BURROWS Richard Cornelius (Burrows) was born on 13 6 1767 & became a farmer. He was tried w/1other for stealing a sheep of Thomas (Shortland) & Samuel (Hartford) of Rothwell Northamptonshire at Northampton Assizes on 17 7 1787, sentenced to death reprieved to 7years, held on hulk LION at Portsmouth from June 1788 & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6.5months on Fleet ship NEPTUNE (or SCARBOROUGH): a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate. He was sent to Norfolk Island on 4 7 1791 arriving in September 1791, where he was soon sentenced to 50lashes on 11 10 1791 for repeatedly absenting himself from work. He had a relationship with Elizabeth (Cole her third (3of4) relationship) who joined him in 1796 & later married. In 1800 he purchased 60acres which he sold most of in 1802. He was Free by Servitude by 1803. He was recorded in February 1805 as landholder sentence expired off stores. In 1807 he farmed 8acres & was employed by the government. He still had those 8acres when he went to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) as part of the first evacuation (for which volunteers apparantly had been called with appropriate compensation offerred & for which he may have tried to decline as some successful farmers were asked to stay) with his family of wife & 4children on 3 9 1808 on CITY OF EDINBURGH; arriving on 3 10 1808; to 40acres later granted at New Town/Glenorchy. He was recorded in 1809 as farming 16acres at New Town. He married Elizabeth (Cole) on 25 2 1810 at St Davids CofE Hobart. He died on 27 2 1818 age50 by drowning while ferrying 12persons (1survived) on his boat near Black Snake on the Derwent River & was buried on 10 3 1818 age59sic at St Davids CofE Hobart. [Some details taken from this Website] Elizabeth (Cole) was born about 1758/60. She was tried for burglary & stealing a womans gown from William (Cox) at Exeter Devonshire Assizes, sentenced to 7years, embarked on First Fleet ship CHARLOTTE, transferred to FRIENDSHIP at Rio de Janeiro as one of the disruptive women on board, & transferred again to PRINCE OF WALES at Cape of Good Hope & arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a journey of 8months. She had a first relationship (1of4) with William (Ellis) at Port Jackson. She was sent to Norfolk Island on HMS SIRIUS arriving on 13 3 1790 (the date of its sinking on reef near Kingston Pier Slaughter Bay), with William (Ellis). She had a second (2of4) relationship with James (Tucker perhaps his second relationship) on Norfolk Island. She was Free by Servitude by 1795. She left James (Tucker) in 1796. She was recorded as off stores sentence expired in February 1805 on Norfolk Island. She went to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) with her family as part of the first evacuation on 3 9 1808 on CITY OF EDINBURGH, arriving on 3 10 1808; to 40acres at New Town/Glenorchy. An Elizabeth (Coles) had a relationship with William (Harvey) soldier. She died on 31 1 1821 age about63 mother maybe of 21known children & was buried with her husband at St Davids CofE Hobart. [Some details taken from this Website] ++ [Noted that another Elizabeth (Cole) daughter of James (Cole) & Mary (White) was born about 1767 & baptised on 9 5 1767 at St Lawrences London. She became a milliner. She was tried w/1other for stealing mens stockings, on 1 4 1786, from Griffith & John (Humphrys) at Old Bailey on 26 4 1786, sentenced to 7years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a voyage of 12months on First Fleet ship PRINCE OF WALES. She married Joseph (Marshall) on 13 2 1788 at St Phillips CofE Sydney whom she wished to leave in June 1788 due to his mistreatment. On 2 10 1788 she was sent to Norfolk Island on GOLDEN GROVE as Elizabeth (Marshall). [Noted Ref.'People...' records her arriving on LADY PENRHYN also of the First Fleet on 13 10 1788} She left for Port Jackson on 9 3 1793 on KITTY. She is stated to have left Sydney in November 1793 on BRITANNIA to India & maybe home.] [Some details taken from this Website] [Joseph (Marshall) was born about 1756. He was tried at Middlesex Gaol Delivery, sentenced to 14years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a voyage of 12months on First Fleet ship SCARBOROUGH. He died on 2 1 1819 age62 & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta.] [Some details taken from this Website] ++ Richard Cornelius (Burrows) & Elizabeth (Cole) produced 4children: 1.Richard Cornelius (Cole/Burrows) was born on 13 6 1798 on Norfolk Island & baptised on 10 4 1803 age4 w/Ann & John & hsi.Maria (Tucker) on Norfolk Island. He was recorded as off stores in February 1805. He went to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) with his parents as part of the first evacuation on 3 9 1808 on CITY OF EDINBURGH, arriving on 3 10 1808; to 40acres later granted at New Town/Glenorchy. He married Charlotte (Hornsby?/Loveridge later Dargin her third marriage) on 20 1 1817 at St Davids CofE Hobart & lived at New Norfolk Tasmania. He is recorded on 2 10 1818 as on stores in Hobart Town. He died on 12 9 1878 age80. ..Charlotte (Hornsby?/Loveridge later Dargin) was born in June 1792 at sea & arrived in NSW with her mother on 7 10 1792 on ROYAL ADMIRAL. She had a first relationship (1of3) with David (Dundas) & a second relationship (2of3) with Thomas (Walker). She produced at least 4children in her lifetime.] ..Details of Charlotte (Hornsby?/Loveridge later Dargin)s family are given in entry for Mary (Loveridge ROYAL ADMIRAL 1792) on this Website. ..Richard Cornelius (Burrows/oughs) & Charlotte (Loveridge) produced at least 2children: ..1.Henry (Burroughs) was born on 29 10 1817 & baptised on 29 11 1817 at St Davids CofE Hobart. ..2.John (Burroughs) was born on 25 10 1819 & baptised on 13 11 1819 at St Davids CofE Hobart. He died on 8 6 1820 age7m (mothers name shown as Charlotte nee (Somerville) & was buried at St Davids CofE Hobart. .. 2.Ann (Cole/Burrows) was born on 8 5 1800 on Norfolk Island & baptised on 10 4 1803 age2 w/Richard & John & hsi.Maria (Tucker) on Norfolk Island. She was recorded as off stores in February 1805. She went to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) with her parents on 3 9 1808 as part of the first evacuation on CITY OF EDINBURGH, arriving on 3 10 1808; to 40acres at New Town/Glenorchy. She married firstly at age12 Silvester (Lush his second marriage) emancipist on 8/28 12 1812 at St Davids CofE Hobart & produced 5children. She was recorded as off stores with 2children at Hobart Town on 2 10 1818. She received mistreatment from her husband, as a result of which she received the family farm from him-which was later confiscated to pay mortgage debts & perhaps sold to John (Veale).>>> ..Si/ylvester (Lush) was born about 1772 at Gillingham Dorsetshire & baptised on 20 3 1772. He married a person who remained in UK after his sentence. He was a labourer at Cuckleton near Wincanto Somersetshire when tried w/1other for stealing sheep of Edwin (Hawkins) of Gilingham at Dorchester Dorset Spring Assizes, sentenced to death reprieved to Life, held in the county gaol with employment in making hats until displaying disorderly behaviour & transferred to hulk CAPTIVITY at Portsmouth & arrived at Port Phillip (now Victoria) as a convict on 4 10 1803 after a voyage of 7+months on HMS CALCUTTA (an expedition that settled in Tasmania)-; he would have camped at what is now Sorrento/Sullivans Bay; he was 5'7" fair complexion brown hair hazel eyes prominent bruise under jaw near left ear literate. This expedition rejected Port Phillip for a settlement at this time & he was probably moved to Risdon Derwent Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) on 27 1 1804 (arriving on 15 2 1804) on OCEAN or HMS LADY NELSON or leaving on 24 3 1804 (arriving on 25 6 1804) on OCEAN. On 4 12 1806 he was charged with stealing sheep of John (Downes of New Town & was placed on ESTRAMINA bound for Sydney (for trial) from where he is known to have absconded & perhaps escaped punishment. He was recorded as off stores at Hobart Town on 2 10 1818. He was Free by Servitude by 1812, was issued his Conditional Pardon in January 1814 & acquired 30acres at Black Snake Glenorchy. He also subscribed to the Auxiliary Bible Society; he attempted to educate his children. A Silvester (Lush convicted Hereford 1802) is recorded on stores on 2 10 1818 at Hobart Town. In February 1822 he was charged with assaulting & beating his wife & bound to keep the peace; he took legal action against John (Vale) for harbouring his wife; he transferred his farm to her. In June 1824 he was found guilty at Supreme Court of Criminal Jurisdiction Hobart of receiving 36ewes of William (Walkingshaw) & sentenced to 14years at Macquarie Harbour; as a result of petitioning by his wife he was returned & assigned to her in 1829. He received his Ticket of Leave in 1832 & Absolute Pardon sometime later. He died on 15 7 1839 age67/74 father of 5known children & was buried at St Davids CofE Hobart. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Ann (Burrows) left her husband with daughter Sarah in 1822 to have a second relationship with John (Veale/Veil). After 1824 she was successful in petitioning to have her husband released fron incarceration at Macquarie Harbour to be assigned to her in 1829; but not successful in petiitions for return of her property. She died >1840 age>40 mother of perhaps 5children. ..Noted a John (Vale) was born about 1790. He was tried w/1other for theft of a gelding in Smithfield London, on 5 12 1817, of Joseph (Pennington) of St Sepulchres at Old Bailey in January 1818, sentenced to death reprieved to Life, held at London Gaol Delivery & arrived in Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) as a convict on 17 12 1818 after a voyage of 5months on LORD MELVILLE. He apparantly became servant to George (Evans) perhaps at Glenorchy. He may been instrumental in relieving his partner Ann (Burrows/Lush) of her property. ..[These details taken from this Website] 3.John (Cole/Burrows) was born on 7 3 1803 on Norfolk Island. He was recorded as off stores in February 1805. He went to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) with his parents as part of the first evacuation on 3 9 1808 on CITY OF EDINBURGH, arriving on 3 10 1808; to 40acres at New Town/Glenorchy. He is recorded on 2 10 1818 as off stores in Hobart Town. He died on 5 9 1859 age56. 4.Michael (Burrows) was born in 1804 on Norfolk Island. 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' Pamela Statham 'A Colonial Regiment-New Sources Relating to the New South Wales Corps-1789-1810'
National Archives. HO 47/6/88 1787 Aug 8 Certificate/memorial of William Henry Ashhurst on prisoners capitally convicted on the Midland Circuit, but 'some favourable Circumstances' appeared on/after their trial and recommended to mercy on the condition set against their names: Northamptonshire Summer Assizes at Northampton Thomas Ward and Cornelius Burrows, for sheep stealing. 7 years transportation.
drowned in the derwent river tasmania, when the ferry he was operating sunk, along with all the passengers
From The Hobart Town Gazette, vol. 111-IV, 1818-19, page 2, column a:- "AWFUL AND MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE - It is with the most poignant feelings of sorrow we have to relate to our Readers one of the most shocking accidents that ever came under our notice in this Island. Yesterday a boat, the property of RICHARD BURROWS, sen., who plied the ferry at the Black Snake, left town for the purpose of returning home; in which there were twelve passengers besides the boatman, together with a heavy cart and other luggage belonging to MT PETERS. It appears, from the intelligence already received, that the boat ran up the river with a strong sea-breeze; and by some accident or other, about MR AUSTIN'S, upset; when, melancholy to relate, the whole of the unhappy souls except one were consigned to a watery grave. The names of the unfortunate persons are, John Taylor, James Price, John Taylor and his wife Ann Taylor, respectable settlers, and all late of the Royal Marine Corps; Mary Ann Williams, wife of James Williams, settler and district constable at Jerico, with her infant child in her arms; Elizabeth Ashbold, a near relation to the last mentioned sufferer; Mary Smyth, a young woman who only landed a few days ago from the Duke of Wellington; Richard Burrows, the owner of the boat; Joseph Pocock, a shoemaker; Peter Doran, assigned servant to R. Burrows, jnr.; and a fine little girl about 6 years of age, the daughter of Mr William Williams of Macquarie street. Charles Clarke, the only survivor, was picked up in a most exhausted state, by Mr Austin and John Dacres, a constable; who, on seeing the accident, hastened to the spot. Thus have twelve fellow creatures been launched into eternity! When this Paper was put to press, only the bodies of Mrs Taylor, the two children, and Mary Smyth, had been found; which were brought to town. A Coroner's Inquest was immediately summoned, and adjourned till Monday, in the hope that, by the exertions of the relatives and others of the persons drowned, more of the bodies might be found. The melancholy fate of the before-mentioned sufferers strongly points out to persons who are in the habit of proceeding in boats in the Derwent river how careful they ought to be, both in regard of the lives of passengers and the quantity of luggage they receive on board. When accidents of this kind occur, from the few boats at hand on the river, it is often out of the power of individuals, however humane their inclinations might be, to render any assistance. We should, therefore, be glad to hear of the Apparatus, recommended by the Humane Society for the recovery of drowned persons, being left in some convenient house on the banks of the river." From The Hobart Town Gazette, Saturday March 14, 1818, page 2, column a:- "On Tuesday last Richard Burrows, another of those twelve unfortunate persons who were drowned in the River Derwent on Friday the 27th ultimo, was picked up within a few yards of his own house at the Black Snake, floating on the surface of the water, and brought to town, when a Coroner's Inquest immediately convened to view the body - Verdict Drowned by Accident. He was buried the same day, and followed to the grave by his widow, four children, and a number of Norfolk Island settlers."
From The Second Fleet: Britain's grim convict armada of 1790, pages 182-183:- "BURROWS, Richard Cornelius (c1764-1818) Cornelius Burrows was sentenced to death with Thomas Ward (qv) at the Northampton Assizes of 17 July 1787 for stealing a ewe hoggerel (a year old sheep) belonging to Thomas Shortland and Samuel Hartford of Rothwell, Northamptonshire. A few days later both were reprieved to transportation for seven years and in June 1788 Burrows was sent from gaol to the Portsmouth hulk Lion, age given as 23. On 29 November 1789 he was embarked on the Scarborough transport... After more than a year at Sydney, he was sent to Norfolk Island in September 1791. He arrived on the 4th and was in trouble about five weeks later on 11 October when Lieutenant Ralph Clark sentenced him to receive 50 lashes 'for Repeatedly absenting himself from the work he is order(ed to do)'. Around 1796 the First Fleet convict Elizabeth Cole (b. c1760)... left James Tucker and began living with Burrows. She bore three children by Burrows: Richard Cornelius (1798), Ann (1800) and John (1803). By around 1800 Burrows was sufficiently prosperous to be able to purchase a 60 acre farm. He sold most of the land around 1802 and in 1807 was working 8 acres with five and a half sown in grain, owning 3 hogs and holding 20 bushels of maize in store. He was also employed by the government and the family received public rations. They lived in a boarded, thatched house measuring 20ft x 12. With five children he and Elizabeth were among the first settlers transferred to Van Diemen's Land in September 1808 where they farmed 40 acres in the Glenorchy area. In 1809 Burrows was mustered holding 16 acres at New Town (2 sown in wheat); he, his wife, and two children were publicly rationed. The couple were married at Hobart on 25 February 1810, 'verifying the old adage better late than never', commented the Derwent Star (stating that they had lived together for 14 years). Both signed the register with a mark X. Burrows drowned on 27 February 1818 when the ferry he operated capsized in the Derwent while carrying 12 passengers. His burial on 10 March was registered at St David's, Hobart [aged about 53]. His widow died in February 1821 and was buried with her husband.