Sarah Donnelly

75

iain Frazier on 2nd January 2025

Family connections for Sarah (Donnelly) are: DONNELLY Sarah (Donnelly) was born about 1759. She was tried for stealing ribbon from Ann (Everett) & Rebecca (Grant) at Portsmouth Hampshire Quarter Sessions on 14 7 1789, sentenced to 7years, held at Winchester Bridewell prison & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 5months on Fleet ship MARY ANNE. She had a first relationship (1of3) on board with Alexander (Williams).>>> [Some details taken from this Website] Alexander (Williams) arrived in Australia as a seaman on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 5months on Fleet ship MARY ANNalso. Sarah (Donnelly) & Alexander (Williams) produced 1child: 1.Ann (Williams) was born on 21 12 1791 & baptised on 12 2 1792 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She married firstly John (Smith) on 29 2 1808 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & produced 6children.>>> ..John (Smith) was born about 1771. He arrived in Australia as a seaman in 1800 on HMS PORPOISE. He died in 1829 age57. ..Details of John (Smith)s family are shown in entry for Richard Allen (Alcorn GLATTON 1803) on this Website. .. >>>Ann (Williams) married secondly John (Chave his second relationship) on 2 8 1830 at St Matthews CofE Windsor & produced 2children. She died on 17 7 1853 age61 mother of 6known children. ..John (Chave) was born about 1774 at Tiverton Devon & became a shoemaker. He was tried for possessing forged notes, on 16 2 1813, at Old Bailey on 7 4 1813, sentenced to 14years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 2 1814 after a voyage of 5.5months on GENERAL HEWITT. He was issued his Certificate of Freedom on 10 5 1827 when he was in his first relationship with Margaret (Kelsey). He was recorded as with Mary/Margaret (Kelsey) working as a shoemaker in Windsor in 1828. He died in 1838 age64 father of 2known children. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Sarah (Donnelly) had a second relationship (2of3) with Andrew (Fishhburn) whom she married on 24 5 1795/6 at St Phillips CofE Sydney.>>> [Andrew (Fishburn) was born about 1770 & became a carpenter. He arrived in NSW as a marine on 2 11 1788 after a voyage of 7.5months on First Fleet ship FRIENDSHIP. He joined the NSW Corp & was sent to Norfolk Island on 4 3 1790. He was in Sydney on 23 4 1791. On 6 4 1792 he was a private & was granted 25acres at Petersham Hill on 13 2 1794. He served at Parramatta in 1796 where he (a former marine) died on 23 7 1796 age about26; he was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ] [Sarah (Donnelly) & Andrew (Fishhburn) produced 2children:] [1.Andrew (Fishburn) was born on 14 9 1793 & baptised on 1 9 1793 at St Phillips CofE Sydney.] [2.William Henry (Fishburn) was born on 28 7 1795 & baptised on 6 9 1795 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He had a first relationship with Mary (Arlow/Harlowe her first relationship).>>>] [..Mary/Amelia (Harlow) was born about 1786. She was tried at Bristol Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions of Peace, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 1 1814 after a voyage of 5months on WANSTEAD; she was Protestant. She married secondly Joseph (Huff his second marriage) on 2 4 1816 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & produced 7children. She is recorded in 1828 as Free by Servitude with her family at Parramatta. She died on 20 3 1841 age55 mother of 8known children.] [..Some details taken from this Website] .. [..William Henry (Fishburn/bourn) & Mary (Arlow/Harlowe) produced 1child;] [..1.Mary (Fishburn/bourn) was born on 21 9 1815 at Windsor & baptised on 29 10 1815 at St Matthews CofE Windsor.] .. [>>>William Henry (Fishburn) married secondly Catherine (Ash) on 7 8 1816 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was recorded in 1826 as farmer at Baulkham Hills & as settler there in 1827. He was recorded in 1828 as publican at Baulkham Hills & later in muster 1828 with his family as publican Baulkham Hills. He was recorded in 1829 as farmer a Baulkham Hills. He produced at least 10children in his lifetime.] [..Catherine (Ash) was born in 1796 probably in Ireland. She arrived in NSW with her mother on 10 1 1814 on HMS KANGAROO. She is recorded in 1828 with her family at Baulkham Hills. [..Details of Catherine (Ash)s family are given in entry for Christopher (Ash GUILDFORD 1812) on this Website. [..William Henry (Fishburn) & Catherine (Ash) produced at least 9children: [..1.Elizabeth (Fishburn) was born on 14 5 1817 & baptised on 10 8 1817 at St Johns CofE Parramatta.] [..2.William (Fishburn) was born on 1 3 1819 at Nelson District & baptised on 29 3 1819 at St Matthews CofE Windsor.] [..3.Eleanor Margaret (Fishburn) was born on 3 10 1820 & baptised on 24 12 1820 at St Johns CofE Parramatta.] [..4.Andrew (Fishburn) was born on 2 2 1822 at Parramatta & baptised on 14 4 1822 at St Johns CofE Parramatta.] [..5.Amelia Ann (Fishburn) was born on 24 11 1823 at Parramatta & baptised on 28 3 1824 at St Johns CofE Parramatta.] [..6.John (Fishburn) was born on 9 2 1825 at Baulkham Hills & baptised on 1 1 1826 at St Johns CofE Parramatta.] [..7.Sarah (Fishburn) was born on 14 4 1826 at Baulkham Hills & baptised on 7 1 1827 at St Johns CofE Parramatta.] [..8.Ann (Fishburn) was born on 14 2 1828 at Baulkham Hills & baptised on 9 3 1828 at St Johns CofE Parramatta.] [..9.James (Fishburn) was born on 4 8 1829 at Baulkham Hills & baptised on 13 9 1829 at St Johns CofE Parramatta.] .. >>>Sarah (Donnelly) was Free by Servitude by 1802 & had a third relationship with George (Mellon his first (1of3? marriage) whom she married on 21 5 1810 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & produced 4children. She is recorded in 1828 on 30acres at Windsor with her son Edward. On 22 1 1831 she was charged with killing a male child whom she had delivered on 26 9 1830 as a midwife at Windsor; she was found not guilty although the described circumstances seem damning. She died on 15 8 1849 age 90 mother of 7known children.] George (Mellon/Millin/an) arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship WILLIAM AND ANN. He was Free by Servitude by 1802. He had enlisted in NSW Corps in Sydney on 14 10 1800 as a private & was detached to (Johnston)s company & went with the company to Parramatta in 1804. In 1808 he was detached to (Piper)s company; in 1809 to 3company & was transferred to 73rd Regiment on 24 4 1810.>>> [George (Mellon) does not have an entry on this Website as yet-addeded by me; although an Edward (Million) is found on WILLIAM AND ANN]-his entry is added by me] 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'

105

Denis Pember on 27th January 2016

# A Further Note of Interest: Extract from The Monitor of 22 January 1831: "......... Before Mr Justice Stephen and the usual Commission - Sarah Mellon, alias Fishburne, was indicted for killing and slaying a male child at Windsor on 26 September. It appeared in evidence that the prisoner acted as midwife and delivered to Mrs Slaney the infant in question. On the evening of the same day she returned to the house, intoxicated, and taking the child in her arms, gave it two or three pieces of sugar and butter. She then took the child by the heels and gave it two or three shakes. Shortly after the child expired. The doctor gave it as his opinion that the child met its death from bleeding, in consequence of the umbilical cord being negligently tied.... There being no proof of malus animus, the case was put to the jury by the learned judge, who found her not guilty and she was discharged by proclamation after a proper caution in all such future cases ......."

105

Denis Pember on 27th January 2016

Sainty & Johnson; 1828 Census of New South Wales: [Ref M2408] Millen, Sarah, 58, free by servitude, Mary Ann, 1791, Protestant, housholder, Windsor. 30 acres, all cleared and cultivated, 2 cattle. [Ref M2409] Millen, Edward, 22, born in the colony.

105

Denis Pember on 27th January 2016

Onboard ship, it seems likely that Sarah formed a liaison with one of the seamen, Alexander Williams, she subsequently had a daughter Ann Williams, born 1791. In the colony, Sarah married Andrew Fishburn (First Fleet Marine, Alexander, 1788). They married May 24th 1795. Sarah and Andrew had two sons, Andrew 1793 and William Henry 1795. Andrew (snr) died in 1796, leaving Sarah a widow with two young sons. She then married George Mellon (NSW Corps, 1792). They married May 21 1810. George Millin of this parish and Sarah Fishburn were married in this church by permission of his Excellency Fovernor Macquarie this twenty first day of may in the year one thousand eight hundred and ten by me Samuel Marsden. George Millin signed the register and Sarah made her X mark in the presence of High Owens and Rosetta Owens who both made their X marks. George and Sarah had 4 children, George 1797, Mary 1802, Sarah 1803 and Edward 1806.

105

Denis Pember on 27th January 2016

Documents in the Hampshire Records Office, England,show that in the Calandar of Prisoners dated 1789, Sarah Donnelly aged 24 had been committed for trial on 15 May 1789 by a William Fletcher Esq. and was brought to Winchester Bridewell prison on the 18 May. She had been charged, on the oath of Ann Everett of Gosport, with feloniously taking and stealing from the shop of Ann Everett and her partner Rebecca Grant, three pieces of ribbon. The ribbon measured 22 yards and was valued at 10 shillings. Sarah was convicted at Portsmouth Quarter Sessions on 14 Jul 1789 and sentenced to transportation for seven years. She sailed in the ship 'Mary Ann' which departed England on 16 Feb 1791 and reached Port Jackson on 9 Jul 1791.