Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
Charles Cross 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 62 |
| 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
"Charles is my g,g,g,g grandfather"
"Charles Cross is my 6th great grandfather."
Photos
No photos have been added for Charles Cross.
Convict Notes
Fanily connections for Charles (Cross) are: Some amendments added Jul 2025. CROSS Charles (Cross) was born about 1749 & became a farmer. He was tried for theft of a silver spoon of James (Hyde) at Somerset Assizes, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship NEPTUNE; he was Protestant. He married Rose Hannah (Flood) on 21 11 1790 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & was living at Parramatta in July 1791 when charged with receiving stolen clothing, for which he was acquitted (the burglar James (Chapman) was hanged the day after trial). On 12 6 1792 he is recorded as living at Prospect Hill. He was Free by Servitude by 1797. During the 1790s he acquired 2farms at Hawkesbury & in 1800 he is recorded as having 30acres sown, before financial difficulties arose. In March 1801 he assigned 2farms to Thomas (Hobby). In 1802 he was still farming 60acres. In December 1804 he owned Robinsons Lagoon/Bushells Lagoon farm at Wilberforce. In August 1806 he sold 100acres near Cattai Creek. He is recorded in 1827 as a farmer. He is recorded in 1828 on 50acres (18acres cultivated) at Wilberforce. In 1831 he was living at Lower Pitt Town when granted 50acres at Little Cattai Creek/Wheeny farm-his sons also. He died on 13 10 1836 age86 at Wilberforce. [Some details taken from this Website] Rose (Flood) was born about 1755. She was tried for stealing an apron etc, on 14 8 1790, of William (Connell) at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship NEPTUNEalso; she was Catholic. She was Free by Servitude by 1797. She died on 4 11 1836 age78 & was buried on 6 11 1836 at Wilberforce. [Dates prove a problem here as Smee records their ages at their marriage as 35 & perhaps12] [Some details taken from this Website] Charles (Cross) & Rose (Flood) produced 7children: 1.Sarah (Cross) was born in 1791 & baptised on 28 8 1791 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She married at age16 Humphrey (Taylor) emancipist on 3 8 1807 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..Humphrey (Taylor) was born about 1777. He was tried at Middlesex Westminster Quarter Sessions, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 10 1792 after a voyage of 4.5months on ROYAL ADMIRAL. He was recorded in 1828 as Free by Servitude & a farmer on 40acres at Lower Portland Head Hawkesbury. He died on 11 12 1838 age61. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 2.Susannah (Cross) was born in 1792. She married firstly Anthony (Richardson) emancipist on 3 2 1812 at St Matthews CofE Sydney & produced a child.>>> ..Anthony (Richardson) was born about 1776. He was tried for stealing goods of John (Hampsher) at Surrey Lent Assizes Kingston on 2 4 1787 (sentenced to (death? initially commuted) 14years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6months on SURPRIZE. He was issued his Certificate of Freedom on 9 2 1811. He died on 22 5 1815 or 4 2 1816(Smees records) age39or43 at Wilberforce & was buried at St Matthews CofE Windsor. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Susannah (Cross) married secondly Richard (Rose) on 16 8 1817 at St Matthews CofE Windsor & produced at least 8children. She died on 27 8 1872 age about80 mother of at least 9children. ..Richard (Rose) was born in 1789 in Dorsetshire. He arrived in NSW with his parents on 16 1 1793 after a voyage of 6months on BELLONA. He was recorded in 1823 as a settler, in 1826 as a carpenter & in 1828 as a farmer. ..Details of Richard (Rose)s family are given in entry for Jane (Topp BELLONA 1793) on this Website. .. 3.Mary Ann (Cross) was born in 1793. She married at age16 William George (Douglas/s his second relationship) in 1809 (not shown in Smees records) & produced 12children. ..William George (Douglass) was born about 1768 & became a stockman. He was tried w/1other for stealing tankards etc of Mr (Gamble) of Leeds at Crown end York Assizes about August 1802, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 5 1804 after a voyage of 5.5months on COROMANDEL; he was Protestant. He had a first relatioship with Ann (Peat) from about 1808. He was recorded in 1824 as a farmer, on 6 1 1825 as District Constable Lower & Upper Pitt Town with duty at Windsor & Hawkesbury. He was recorded in 1826 as district Constable. He died in 1852 age84 father of maybe 13children.] ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 4.William (Cross) was born on 2 10 1797 & baptised on 18 3 1798 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. It may be he who is recorded in 1828 as living with his family near his father at Wilberforce. 5.Edward (Cross) was born on 6 5 1799. He was living at Pitt Town when he married Margaret (Stubbs age15) of Wilberforce on 28 1 1821 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. He was recorded in 1824, 1826 & 1827 as a farmer. It may be he who is recorded in 1828 as living with his family near his father at Wilberforce. He was recorded in 1829 as a farmer. In 1831 he was granted 50acres at Little Cattai Creek/Wheeny farm-his father & brother Christopher also. He died on 29 6 1860 age61, 9days after his brother. ..Margaret (Stubbs) was born on 22 12 1806 & baptised on 27 10 1811 age4 w/Thomas at St Matthews CofE Windsor. ..Details of Margaret (Stubbs)s family are given in entry for Joseph (Stubbs ALBEMARLE 1791) on this Website. ..Edward (Cross) & Margaret (Stubbs) produced 4children: ..1.Edward Mason (Cross) was born on 12 4 1822 at Pitt Town & baptised on 2 3 1823 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She was recorded in 1821 at Wilberforce. ..2.Joseph (Cross) was born on 27 12 1824 at Lower Pitt Town & baptised on 7 5 1826 at St James CofE Pitt Town. ..3.Jane (Cross) was born on 12 2 1827 at Lower Pitt Town & baptised on 26 8 1827 at St James CofE Pitt Town. ..4.Thomas Alexander was born on 29 12 1828 at Lower Pitt Town & baptised on 18 5 1829 at St James CofE Pitt Town. .. 6.Christopher (Cross) was born on 8 4 1802. He married Mary Anne (Peckham) on 14 4 1828 at St James CofE Pitt Town. It may be he who is recorded in 1828 as living with his family near his father at Wilberforce (although the 1828 recording shows this person as a farmer actually at Lower Pitt Town). In 1831 he was granted 50acres at Little Cattai Creek/Wheeny farm-his father & brother Edward also. He died on 20 6 1862 age60, 9days before his brother. ..Mary Ann (Peckham) was born in 1805. ..Christopher (Cross) & Mary Anne (Peckham) produced at least 1child: ..1.Sarah (Cross) was born in 1829-also recorded at Scots Kirk Wilberforce. .. 7.Elizabeth (Cross) was born on 18 7 1805 & baptised on 11 2 1827 age21 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She was living at Wilberforce when she married at age16 Richard (Hayes) of Pitt Town on 21 5 1821 at Windsor & produced 6children. She died on 10 11 1878 age73. ..Richard (Hayes) was born about 1791. He was tried for sheep stealing at Buckinghamshire Assizes, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 29 9 1811 after a voyage of 5months on ADMIRAL GAMBIER. He was Free by Servitude by 1821 & living at Pitt Town. He is recorded in 1826 as a settler, in 1827 as a farmer, in 1828 with a Ticket of Leave as landholder 50acres Wilberforce & again in 1828 as a farmer. He died on 11 1 1842 age51. ..[Some details taken from this Website] Reference: 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.
On 21st November he married convict Rose Hannah Flood ('Neptune' 1790) at Parramatta, they had 7 children between 1791 & 1805. In July 1791 the couple were living in a hut at Parramatta in July 1791 when Charles was charged with receiving some clothing, the proceeds of a burglary there. Two constables searching for the burglar arrested James Chapman and Cross as they were walking together along Parramatta Road at 4 am. Chapman confessed to the burglary and named the First Fleet convict Joseph Hatton as the man who had received the stolen clothes and hid them in the bush. Hatton said Rose Cross had begged him to warn her husband that constables were searching for the burglar. The court accepted the belief of the constables that, although his behaviour was highly suspicious, Charles had not known that the property was stolen. Chapman strongly asserted that Charles was innocent. He was acquitted. Hatton was ordered 800 lashes and Chapman was hanged the next day. On 12th June 1792 Charles gave evidence relating to an enquiry into the murder by aborigines of a man at Prospect Hill. Charles appears to have been living at Prospect at this point and stated that he had been carrying a bag of corn to Parramatta on foot) when five or six aborigines, including one woman, had taken some cobs from him. He also related an incident in which an aboriginal girl had apparently attempted to persuade an old man with her to throw his spear at him. He said he had found this 'extraordinary' as only a week before he had given her some food at his house. In the 1790s Charles acquired two farms in the Hawkesbury district. In 1800 he had 15 acres sown in wheat and another 15 in amize. The couple owned 4 pigs and 24 goats and with their five children were supported by government stores. In 1802 the family were no longer maintained by government stores, and with 6 children and one free worker to support, were slightly worse off. They may have been adversely affected by flood damage and the withdrawal of government rations. In March 1801 Charles assigned two farms in the Hawkesbury district to Thomas Hobby Esq. to secure a debt of 69 pounds. He held 60 acres at the time of the 1802 muster with 12 acres sown in wheat and 8 in amize they owned 8 pigs and held 8 bushels of maize in store. They appear to have sold the goats and were recorded as being in debt to government. Their financial problems worsened and in June 1803 Charles was on a list of persons whose effects were sold at an auction sale by execution. In Dec 1804 he lodged a notice warning trespassers off his farm known as Robinson's Lagoon farm lagoon was later known as Bushell's Lagoon, situated just west of Wilberforce) In Aug 1805 he was again in debt, with his land and effects advertised as for sale by execution unless his claims were settled. In Aug 1806 he sold a 100 acre farm execution) for 120 pounds. This land, situated on the east side of the Hawkesbury River near Cattai Creek was purchased by the First Fleet emancipist Catherine Johnson. In the muster of that year Charles was recorded as holding 150 acres, all or part purchased from one Burgess, of which he had 18 acres sown in wheat and a half acre orchard and garden. He owned 50 goats and 6 hogs and held 3 bushels of maize in store. In 1822 Charles was holding 50 acres by grant (5 acres down in wheat, 10 in maize, 5 in barley, 3 in oats and a half in orchard and garden) He owned 3 cattle and 20 pigs, holding 10 bushels of wheat and 20 of maize in store. In 1828 Charles and Rose were recorded as residents of the Wilberforce area, with 18 acres under cultivation and one cow. He was a protestant and she was a catholic. They employed a convict labourer, Charles aged 63 and Rose aged 70. In 1831, Charles, described as a resident of Lower Pitt Town, was granted 50 acres on Little Cattai Creek known as Wheeny Farm. His sons Christopher and Edward each were granted 50 acres adjoining their father's grant. They were charged quit rent from Jan 1827 which probably indicates that they had a right of occupancy on the land from this date. The Little Cattai Creek area seems to have been known at Lower Pitt Town and Christoper and Edward were both there in 1828, but may have been living on Wheeny farm by 1831. Charles died on 13th October 1835 at Wilberforce aged 70. Rose died on 4th November 1836 also at wilberforce aged 78.
When buried: 14 October 1835. Ceremony performed by M.D. Meares, Parish of Wilberforce, County of Cumberland, New South Wales. Quality of Profession: Farmer Burial Registration #2329 Vol 19.
Sentenced to 7 years transportation for the theft of a silver spoon which was the property of James Hyde.
Sainty & Johnson; 1828 Census of New South Wales: [Ref C3079] Cross, Charles, 70, FS, Neptune 1790, Farmer at Wilberforce. 50 acres, 20 cleared, 18 cultivated with 1 cow. # Also [Ref C3080] Cross, Rose, 70, FS, Neptune 1790. The 2 sons live with their familes as farmers nearby and the 4 daughters are all recorded with their families.
In the colony, Charles married Rose Hannah Flood (Convict, Neptune, 1790). They married at Parramatta 21 November 1790, only 5 months after arrival in the colony. Did the relationship start onboard "Neptune"??. Charles and Rose had 6 children, 4 daughters and 2 sons.