Pierce Collets

75

iain Frazier on 7th October 2024

An amend to above is: Edward (Field) was recorded as Protestant in 1817.

75

iain Frazier on 20th June 2024

Family connections for Pierce (Colletts) are: COLLETTS/COLLITTS/COLLET Pierce (Colletts) was born in 1765 at Thomastown near Kilkenny Ireland & became a porter in London. He married Mary (Hardwick) on 15 11 1795 at St Dunstans in Stepney London. He was tried for stealing/receiving cloth w/1other of John Robert & James (Read) (arrested on 29 6 1800) at Old Bailey on 15 7 1800, sentenced to 14years, held at London Gaol Delivery & Newgate Prison & arrived in NSW as a convict with his family on 14 12 1801 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship MINORCA; he was 5'8" fair complexion brown hair dark eyes. He was issued his Conditional Pardon on 11 5 1811. For a while from 1816 the family helped care for daughter Maria & her children. On 17 8 1819 he was granted 50acres at Prospect (where he employed convict Thomas (Rawshorne-future soninlaw), but later moved to 200acres at the foot of Mt York where he built the Golden Fleece Inn: later named Royal Garter Inn in 1830 & known as Collit's Inn. He died on 19 9 1846 age83. [Some information taken from this Website] Mary (Hardwick) arrived in NSW with her family on 14 12 1801 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship MINORCA (shown in Smees records). Pierce (Colletts) & Mary (Hardwick) produced 12children: 1.male who died as infant. 2.male who died as infant. 3.Maria (Colle/itts) was born in London on 1 9 1796. She arrived in NSW with her parents on 14 12 1801 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship MINORCA. As Maria (Collits age15) she married firstly Philip (Strickland) emancipist on 4 9 1811 at St Matthews CofE Windsor.>>> ..Philip (Stickland) son of John (Stickland sic) & Miriam (???) was baptised on 1 8 1784 at Corfe Mullen Dorsetshire. He was tried for breaking & entering & stealing money from Thomas (White) of Corfe Mullen at Dorchester Lent Assizes Dorsetshire on 13 3 1801, sentenced to be hanged reprieved to Life, held at Dorsetshire Gaol Delivery & arrived in Hobart as a convict on 9 9 1803 after a voyage of 8months on HMS CALCUTTA headed for Pt Phillip now Victoria; he would have camped at what is now Sorrento/Sullivans Bay. This expedition rejected Port Phillip for a settlement at this time & he was 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. He was employed by & stole from, w/others, the Governor-to which he confessed on 6 8 1807. For his own safety, from his fellow offenders whom he had named, he was sent to the whaling ship ALBION, arriving on 21 9 1807 from when he became known as Philip (Strickland). He was taken off stores at Hawkesbury in Mar 1809. He became a Police constable in NSW. He was recommended for a grant of land at Windsor in 1814. He died on 6 11 1816 age about32 presumed shot by a bushranger & buried at Old CofE cemetery. [Noted a Phillip (Stickland HMS CALCUTTA 1803) with Conditional Pardon is recorded as dying on 9 11 1816 age26 & buried at Christ Church Castlereagh] .[Some information taken from this Website] ..Maria (Collits) & Philip (Strickland) produced 3children: all boys ..1.Pierce (Strickland) was born on 14 12 1811 & baptised on 5 4 1812 at At Matthews CofE Windsor. He died in 1883 age about71. ..2.Josiah (Strickland) was born on 28 1 1813 & baptised on 3 7 1814 age18m at Christ Church Windsor. He died in 1884 age about71. ..3.John (Strickland) was born on 28 5 1815 & baptised on 23 7 1815 at Christ Church Castlereagh. He died on 13 10 1849 age34. .. >>>Maria (Collitts/Strickland) was helped after her husbands death by her parents & siblings for a while. She married secondly Edward (Field) on 6 10 1817 at Christ Church Castlereagh & produced 7children. She died before 1830, childbirth?, age about34 mother of 10children & was buried with her husband (Philip (Strickland) at Old CofE cemetery. ..Edward (Field) was born on 16 9 1797 & baptised on 24 12 1797 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. On 23 6 1852 he employed convict James (Wilcox BARING 1819) at Nepean. He married secondly Esther (Lees/Leers) on 18 10 1830 at Christ Church Castlereagh on 18 10 1830. He died on 7 12 1846 age49 father of 7children. ..Details of Edward (Field)s family are given in entry for Nathaniel (Lucas SCARBOROUGH 1788) on this Website. .. 4.Sarah (Colle/itts) was born in London on 10 9 1797. She arrived in NSW with her parents on 14 12 1801 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship MINORCA. She married firstly John (Watkins-Trimby) on 6 10 1817 at Christ Church Castlereagh.>>> ..John (Watkins-Trimby) was born in 1793 in the colony. He disowned his wife on 15 2 1822 for desertion. He died in 1844 age about51 at Mt York Vale of Clwyd Blue Mountains. ..Sarah (Colle/itts) & John (Watkins) produced 3children: ..1.James (Watkins) was born on 8 8 1817 & baptised on 7 9 1817 at Christ Church Castlereagh. He died on 5 10 1853 age36. ..2.Mary Ann (Watkins) was born on 6 6 1819 & baptised on 7 5 1820 at Christ Church Castlereagh. ..3.Maria (Watkins) was born on 4 3 1821 & was baptised on 1 4 1821 at Christ Church Castlereagh. She died on 20 8 1892 age71. .. >>>Sarah (Colletts/Watkins) had a second relationship with Michael (Scott) whom she married on 1 1 1846. She died on 18 5 1867 age69 mother of 12children at Forbes. ..Michael (Scott) was born about 1800 & became an indoor servant. He was taken to Clonmel Gaol for stealing a sheep, was convicted at Tipperary Lent Assizess Ireland sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 1 1821 on PRINCE REGENT; he was assigned to John (Watkins) & his wife Sarah (Collitts) just after the birth of her 3rd child. He was issued his Ticket of Leave for Grace on 2 5 1825, which was revoked on 20 6 1826 for staling a pig; his sentence was extended for 2years. He was issued his Certificate of Freedom in April 1829. He immediately started a relationship with Sarah (Collitts) in 1821. In 1844 he was noted as a farmer. He died on 1 6 1875 age75 at Carrowobity near Forbes. .[Some information taken from this Website] ..Sarah (Colletts/Watkins) & Michael (Scott) produced 9children: mostly girls ..1.Ann (Scott) was born in1823. ..2.Elizabeth (Scott) was born in 1824. ..3.Sophia Sarah (Scott) was born in 1824also. ..4.Michael (Scott) was born on 11 10 1826 & baptised on 26 10 1826 at St Marys RC Sydney. He died on 6 3 1849 age22. ..5.Eleanor (Scott) was born in 1830. ..6.-9.??? (Scott) .. 5.John Pilmore (Collitts) was born on 8 2 1803 at Hawkesbury & baptised on 11 8 1805 age2 with Frances at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He married Hannah (Lees) on 22 1 1822 at Christ Church Castlereagh. He died on 21 6 1886 age83. ..Hannah (Lees) was born on 26 5 1804 & baptised on 5 1 1806 age19m at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She died on 25 12 1874 age70. ..Details of Hannah (Lees) family are given in entry for Mary (Stevens EARL CORNWALLIS 1801) on this Website.NEXT IS UPGRADES. ..John Pilmore (Collitts) & Hannah (Lees) produced at least 3children: girls ..1.Maria (Collitts) was born in 1824. ..2.Mary (Collitts) was born on 8 12 1826 & baptised on 22 7 1827 at Christ Church Castlereagh. ..3.Susannah (Collitts) was born on 5 5 1829 & baptised on 31 5 1829 at Christ Church Castlereagh. .. 6.Frances (Colli/etts) was born on 26 9 1804 at Hawkesbury & baptised on 11 8 1805 with John Pilmore at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She married Thomas Michael (Pembroke) Ticket of Leave with permisson on 25 7 1822 at Christ Church Castlereagh & produced at least 7children. In 1828 she is recorded with her family at Evan. She died on 19 8 1869 age64. ..Thomas Michael (Pembroke) was born about 1789/91/94/96 at Tralee Kerry county Ireland & became a linen draper. He enlisted with East India Corps & arrived as a Mattros horse cavalry/clerk in Madras? India in 1814 on SURREY. He was convicted at Madras on 7 10 1818, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW via Van Diemens Land as a convict about 9 11 1818/9 after a voyage of 4months on ST MICHAEL; he was Catholic 5'7" fresh/ruddy complexion long visage brown hair hazel eyes. On 12 5 1825 he was sent to Evan; he gained his Certificate of Freedom on 18 10 1825 & he was on list of possible grantees on 15 11 1825. In 1828 he is recorded as Protestant a farmer at Evan with 20acres. In July 1835 he was granted 50acres at 20mile Hollow County Cook on road to Bathurst which he put up for sale as 50acres with Woodman Inn in October 1838-he was living there. He died before 1842. .[Some information taken from this Website] .. 7.James (Collitts) was born on 21 3 1806 & baptised on 24 6 1810 age4 with Joseph & Sophia at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He died on 30 12 1880 age74. 8.Joseph (Collitts) was born on 1 3 1808 & baptised on 24 6 1810 age2 with James & Sophia at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He died on 2 11 1888 age80. 9.Sophia (Colli/etts) was born on 16 1 1810 & baptised on 24 6 1810 with James & Joseph at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She married firstly at age16 Thomas (Rawsthorne) Ticket of Leave on 20/30 10 1826 at Christ Church Castlereagh & produced 3children.>>> ..Thomas (Rawsthorne) was born about 1795/99. He was convicted of housebreaking at Lancaster Assizes, sentenced to 14years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 18 12 1819 after a voyage of 5months on RECOVERY; he was assigned as labourer to Pierce (Collits), his future father in law, at Prospect. He was issued his Ticket of Leave 34/2170 for Bathurst on 2 2 1826. He died on 15 6 1837 age about42. .[Some information taken from this Website] .. >>>Sophia (Colli/etts) married secondly Thomas (Morris) after 1837 & produced 6children. She died on 25 1 1868 age58- mother of 9children. ..Thomas (Morris/Morrice) was born on 14 6 1817 & baptised on 27 7 1817 at Christ Church Castlereagh. He died on 11 8 1878 age61. ..Details of Thomas (Morris)s family are given in entry for James (Morris MINORCA 1801) on this Website. .. 10.Amelia (Collitts) was born on 27 9 1812 & baptised on 25 10 1812 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She died on 8 10 1896 age84+. 11.William (Collitts) was born on 13 6 1815 & baptised on 25 2 1816 at Christ Church Castlereagh. He died on 26 12 1867 age52. 12.??? 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. Family History Group of Bathurst Inc.'Bathurst Pioneers-Register of Pioneer Families Of Bathurst NSW And District <1900' 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'

3

Ian Taylor on 4th December 2023

Old Bailey transcript shows Pierce indicted with another for receiving goods that the other person stole

105

Denis Pember on 18th September 2015

Pierce and Mary had a further 8 children in the colony, 12 in all. Sainty & Johnson; 1828 Census of New South Wales: [Ref - C1704] Colletts, Pierce, 57, FS, Minerva? 1801, Publican at Mt York, Bathurst. 200 acres, 54 cleared 36 cultivated, 8 horses, 360 horned cattle and 300 sheep. # Also Colletts, Mary 57, Came Free. and 2 of the children. Amelia Colletts, 16, and William Colletts, 13, both born in the colony.

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Denis Pember on 18th September 2015

Pierce was granted a Conditional Pardon on 11th May, 1811, therefore not serving his full 14 year sentence. Conditional Pardons were granted on the condition that the person receiving the Pardon resided in the Territory. Pierce received his first land grant on 17th August, 1819, of 50 acres at Prospect. This land can be easily viewed today, as Horsley Road runs right through it, just after the Warragamba/Prospect water pipeline. The view of Sydney from around this area is magnificent. In 1823 Pierce and his family settled at the foot of Mount York, on the western edge of the Blue Mountains, where he had his first Inn. It was origianlly called "The Golden Fleece", then renamed "The Royal Garter", but today it is commonly known as "Collits Inn". The Inn was first licenced in 1830 under the name of "The Royal Garter", and renewed in 1831. Collits Inn became the first stop after the descent of the Mountains. An article appears in the "Sydney Gazette" dated 25th March, 1824, describing a travellers stay at the Inn. Governor Bourke also mentions his visit to the Inn in his journals. The Inn is believed to have been built by Pierce Collits in 1823, and to this day the house is still occupied. It is of weatherboard construction and has its original shingle roof under the present corrugated iron roof. The old water well is visible at the rear of the Inn.

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Denis Pember on 18th September 2015

Pierce Collits had married Mary Hardwick on 15th November, 1795 at St. Dunstan Church, Stepney, London, by Banns. Pierce signed his name and Mary made her mark, in the presence of Paul Brice. They had 4 children, 2 daughters and 2 sons before he wasd transported. However, both the sons died as infants. Mary and her two daughters must have also arrived on board the "Minorca", as there were 11 women and 26 children on board. However, no lists of passengers survive. According to the 1822 Census, Mary, Sarah and Maria all "came free by ship Minerva". In actual fact, it was the "Minorca" not "Minerva". This error is also evident in the 1828 Census.

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Denis Pember on 18th September 2015

Pierce Collet (note the change in spelling - this happened right throughout the Collits' lives) was taken into custody along with Edward Baldwin, at about six o'clock on 29th June, 1800 by Thomas Sapwell. Sapwell went to Pierce's house, No. 7, Two Swan Yard, Bishopgate Street and found in his house 12 yards of mode, 12 yards of muslin, 18 yards of lace and two pieces of handkerchiefs, all the property of John, Robert and James Read. Edward Baldwin was charged with stealing the above and Pierce for receiving them, knowing them to be stolen. When Robert Read questioned Edward Baldwin as to why he did it, he said that Collett was continually after him, telling him to do it. Pearce (sic) Collett and Edwin Baldwin were tried at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 15th July, 1800. They left their defence to their Counsel and called six witnesses who gave them good character. Baldwin was found Guilty and received seven years transportation and Pierce was found Guilty with 14 years transportation. Pierce was "transferred unto the Sherriff" on 28th September, 1800, committed to Newgate Gaol and delivered on board the "Minorca" on 16th May, 1801. His age at the time was 38, and he was described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, fair complexion, brown hair and dark eyes. The records state he was born at Thomastown near Kilkenny, Ireland, and was working as a porter. The "Minorca" set sail from Spithead for Port Jackson on 21st June, 1801 in the company of two other transports - the "Canada" and "Nile". The ship carried a total of 195 people on board and only two (convicts) did not survive the voyage. The "Minorca" arrived at Sydney Cove on 14th December, 1801, having sailed via Rio de Janiero, where it took on fresh supplies.