Charles Smith

Level 75

iain Frazier on 24th September 2025

Family connections for Charles (Smith) are: SMITH Charles (Smith) was born about 1758. He may have been tried at Hampshire Quarter Sessions, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship SURPRISE; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate; & was sent to Norfolk Island arriving on 7 8 1790. He married Mary (Christmas her first marriage) in November 1791 in group ceremony on Norfolk Island. He died on 2 2 1795 on Norfolk Island [Smees records show ship as SCARBOROUGH (same Fleet)]. [Smees records also show a Charles (Smith 1790 SURPRISE age61 Absolute Pardon) as dying on 9 7 1818 & buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney.] [Some details taken from this Website. However, a second Charles (Smith) who was born about 1757 also travelled on the SURPRISE: he was tried at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & was also sentenced to 7years. It may be he who died, with Absolute Pardon, on 9 7 1818 age61 & was buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney] Mary (Cowcher/Christmas) was born about 1770. She was tried for theft of a silver spoon probably Old Bailey on 24 10 1787, sentenced to 7years, held at London Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 3 6 1790 after a journey of 12months on Fleet ship LADY JULIANA-a ship with 228females who easily entertained the whole crew & also sailors at Teneriffe stopover; she was sent to Norfolk Island on SURPRISE arriving on 7 8 1790. She had a second relationship with Thomas Risdale/Ristell/Russell (Crowder his second relationship) from 1794 &, as a widow, married him on 22 12 1799 on Norfolk Island-the same day as the birth of one of her children-can't be right?. She is recorded as sentence expired off stores on Norfolk Island in February 1805. On 25/6 12 1807 she moved with her family as part of the first evacuation to Derwent Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) on HMS PORPOISE, arrivig on 17 1 1808. She was Free by Servitude in 1819. She died on 28 5 1830 age60 mother of 8children & was buried at St Davids CofE Hobart. [Some details taken from this Website] Charles (Smith) & Mary (Christmas) produced 4children: 1.Charles (Smith/Christmas) was born on 9 1 1791 on Norfolk Island. He may be the Charles (Smith infant) recorded as dying on Norfolk Island on 26 12 1795 age4, recorded at St Phillips CofE Sydney. 2.Sarah (Smith/Christmas) was born on 16 2 1793 on Norfolk Island. She perhaps died on the Island-noted a Sarah (Smith child) is recorded as dying on 21 4 1804 age11 on Norfolk Island. 3.Susannah (Smith) was born in 1794. She died in 1790s on Norfolk Island. 4.Elizabeth (Smith/Christmas/Crowder) was born on 16 1 1794 on Norfolk Island. She is recorded as off stores on Norfolk Island in February 1805. On 25 12 1807 she was taken by her parents as part of the first evacuation to Derwent Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) on HMS PORPOISE with stepfather Thomas Restil (Crowder), arriving on 17 1 1808. She married firstly at age14 John (Herbert his third marriage) on 15 5 1808 at St Davids CofE Hobart & produced 5children. She is recorded on Government stores in 1819, owning 37sheep.>>> ..John (Herbert) was born about 1772. He was tried at probably Old Bailey in September 1791, sentenced to Life, Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 10 1792 after a voyage of 4.5months on ROYAL ADMIRAL. In 1795 he was one of the 50convicts (which included James Bryan (Cullen SCARBOROUGH 1788or1790) & Thomas (Fowles ATLANTIC 1791) who stowed away on ENDEAVOUR at Port Jackson. He was sent to Norfolk Island on 16 1 1796 on FANCY or PROVIDENCE (wreck of ENDEAVOUR). He had a first relationship with Deborah (Davis her second (2of3)). He was Free by Servitude by 1799. He had a second relationship with Hannah (Bolton her first). a John (Herbert) was recorded as settler/baker on stores on Norfolk Island in February 1805. He arrived in Hobart Town in January 1808 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) on HMS PORPOISE, arriving on 17 1 1808. His property included 50acres Strangford/Brighton & 30rods Elizabeth & Bathurst St Hobart. He is recorded as off stores in Hobart Town on 2 10 1818. He died on 16 7 1821 age49 father of 6children & was buried at St Davids CofE Hobart. ..[The story here is that the unseaworthy ENDEAVOUR left Port Jackson on 18 9 1795 headed for India via New Zealand & Norfolk Island & was scuttled at Dusky Bay south New Zealand where the marooned PROVIDENCE was found which provided passage for the souls on the ENDEAVOUR to Norfolk Island] ..[Some details taken from this Website] ..Details of John (Herbert)s family are given in entry for John (Herbert ROYAL ADMIRAL 1792) on this Website. .. >>>Elizabeth (Smith) married secondly Mark (Green) on 24 2 1823 at (St Davids CofE?) Hobart. She owned 80acres Cambridge & 39perches Liverpool St Hobart. She died on 2 6 1827 age33 mother of 5known children; she left 39 perches Liverpool St to her daughter Emmila. ..Mark (Green) was born about 1794. He arrived in Hobart Town as a free person; he was a shoemaker. In 1827 he fostered Elizabeth/Herbert)s children. He died on 12 1 1830 age36. 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'