Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
Thomas Cheshire 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 65 (34) |
| 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
"Thomas was my gggg grandfather"
"He is my 5x Great Grandfather - hes a direct line and i still carry his last name :)"
Photos
No photos have been added for Thomas Cheshire.
Convict Notes
Thomas did quite well and there are records of him selling grain and receiving grants of land. He suffered severe flood damage at one time and petitioned the governor for a further land grant. The Rev, Henry Fulton recommended him as 'an honest, industrious and sober man' and he was granted 50 acres at Kelso near Bathurst in 1823. His wife, Ann had died two years before in 1821. On the night of 25th January 1824, Thomas was sleeping in his home, at Yarramundi Lagoon, near Richmond, his daughter Maria and her husband Thomas Markwell were also in the home, it would appear they lived there too. Seven men broke into the home, with blackened faces and demanded money. In the ensuing period, Thomas was shot dead by one of the men... Sydney Gazette Thursday 21 Oct 1824: 'On Saturday last, several men were full committed to take their trial for the wilful murder of Mr. Thomas Cheshire: their names are Dennis Sweeney, Matthew Dwyer, Patrick Kinnear (all free), and Thomas Madden and Robert Bluitt (prisoners of the crown). No other facts appear to have been elicited since their former examination, but the depositions for so strong a mass of circumstantial and connected evidence, that it was held by the Bench sufficient to send these men before their country – and there we think our statement ought to close. Maddden was further committed on a charge of a robbery on Mr Richard Driver's farm...'
On 6th October 1790, Thomas Cheshire married one Ann Teasdel [AKA Hannah Gee] (Second Fleet Convict, 1790, "Lady Juliana"). The couple had 4 children: Maria, born 1st August 1792, George 1794, Sophia 1797 and William 1798. # Note Maria Cheshire later married Thomas Markwell (Second Fleet Convict, 1790, "Scarborough"), they married 5th October 1807, she was aged just 15 and he was 37. I also located information on young William who died from snakebite, aged just 10, at Evan, on the Nepean River in October 1809.
Thomas Cheshire was tried at Kingston, Surrey on 22nd March 1786. It was stated that Cheshire, aged 23 and his 19 year old brother in law, one Joseph Parry threatened a man at Worplesdon near Guildford. They took from him, a canvas bag, a knife and a sum of money totaling more than £5. They were both convicted and sentenced to death. Parry petitioned for a mitigation on the basis that he, the younger man had been influenced by his older brother in law. They both were granted mitigation and sentenced to transportation for life. Cheshire remained on the hulk "Censor" until 12th November 1789 when he was sent to the "Neptune" transport, to join the second fleet.