Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
George Spurway was transported on the Claudine, departing 19th Aug 1829 and arriving 6th Dec 1829 with 180 passengers.
The 'Claudine' was an East Indiaman built in Calcutta in 1811 from teak wood with a tonnage of 452 tons. In 1820 she ran from London to Hobart Town, Sydney, Batavia and back to England. After leaving Sydney on 10 May 1820 under the command of John Welsh, she discovered the Claudine Reef in the Coral Sea, before making her way past Murray Island in Torres Strait on her way to Batavia. The Claudine made two voyages to Australia as a convict transport. Departing Woolwich 24 August 1821 mastered by John Crabtree with Henry Ryan as ship's surgeon. She arrived in Port Dalrymple, van Diemen's Land after a passage of 113 days via Teneriffe, on 15 December, landing 40 convicts. She then sailed on to Hobart Town and landed the remaining 119 male convicts, one prisoner having died en route . On 24 August 1829 the Claudine departed London, arriving in Sydney on 6 December 1829 after a voyage of 104 days; her Master was William Heathorne, the surgeon William H Trotman. On this voyage she sailed with 180 prisoners and their guard; two prisoners died en route. she then sailed on to Madras on 30 December. The Claudine returned to merchant service and on Monday 21-22 November 1840 under the command of captain Brewer was deliberately beached with another East Indiaman 'Westminster' during a storm off the Kent coast near Margate. This stranding was the subject of a famous engraving by William Henry Bartlett and a pencil and chalk sketch by J.M.W. Turner. The 'Westminster' successfully unloaded 6000 chests of tea into two steamers which delivered it to the East India Docks and was refloated on 7 December. 'Claudine' which was beached onshore unloaded into 200 carts the following day 23rd November and was then refloated on a spring tide after 7 December. Both ships having been dismasted in the storm, were repaired and put back into the trade. The Claudine appears to have been sent to the wreckers in 1849.
Claudine (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/7, Page Number 168 |
| 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 |
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Convict Notes
Tried and convicted at the Devon Assizes for stealing 4 gold sovereigns, 2 gold guineas and other items, he was sentenced to transportation for life. left England on 24th August 1829. Ship:- the 'Claudine' sailed with 180 male convicts on board of which 2 died during the voyage. Arrived on 6th December 1829. George had been assigned to Gregory Blaxland to work as the leading orchardist at Brush Farm House on arrival, where he ended up as the convict overseer. At Brush Farm, George met convict Frances Johnson (nee Pratt, 'Lucy Davidson' 1829), they were married on 26th April 1835 at Ryde, they had 6 children between 1835-1843. He obtained his ticket of leave on 30th May 1838 and received a pardon on 2nd March 1846. By the early 1840s George had established himself as a leading fruit and vegetable grower in the Field of Mars. Frances died of heart disease on 22nd February 1857 at Ryde. Sydney Morning Herald Monday 23rd February 1857, page 8 FUNERAL.-The Friends of Mr. GEORGE SPURWAY are requested to attend the Funeral of his late wife. The procession to move from her late residence, Field of Mars, TUESDAY, the 24th February, at 2 o'clock. No circulars will be sent. GORDON SPARKES, undertaker,Parramatta. George then married Ann Hughes, daughter of convict Matthew Hughes ('Britannia' 1797) & his wife Mary, on 25th January 1859 at Ryde, there were no children from this marriage. Ann Hughes was the sister of Thomas Hassall Hughes, who was married to George's daughter Eliza. George died on 30th April 1885 aged 79 at Field of Mars, NSW. Sydney Morning Herald, 4th May 1885, p 7 On Saturday last the remains of a very old colonist, the late Mr. George Spurway, one of the oldest residents of the Field of Mars, who died on the 30th ultimo, were interred in Ryde cemetery. The Rev. Mr, Macintosh read the burial service, and the grave was surrounded by a very large number of the inhabitants of the district, who gathered together to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased. At the time of his death Mr. Spurway was in his 84th year, and he had resided in the district for upwards of 60 years. He was held in universal esteem. Sydney Morning Herald, 1st May 1885, p 12 THE FRIENDS of Mrs. GEORGE SPURWAY, Sen., are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of her late beloved HUSBAND ; to move from the residence of Mr. Thomas Hughes, Field of Mars, on SATURDAY NEXT, at 2 o'clock, and proceed to Ryde Cemetery. WHITE, Undertaker, Parramatta. THE FRIENDS of Messrs. WILLIAM, JAMES, and GEORGE SPURWAY are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of their late beloved FATHER ; to move from the residence of Mr. Thomas Hughes, Field of Mars, on SATURDAY NEXT, at 2 o'clock, and proceed to Ryde Cemetery. WHITE, Undertaker, Parramatta. THE FREINDS of Messrs. THOMAS HUGHES and GEORGE DRURY are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of their late FATHER-IN-LAW, George Spurway, sen. ; to move from his late residence (Mr. Thomas Hughes', Field of Mars) on SATURDAY NEXT, at 2 o'clock, and proceed to Ryde Cemetery. WHITE, Undertaker, Parramatta. Ann Spurway died on 15th November 1902 age 88.
When George departed England in 1829 he left behind his mother, 2 sisters and a step brother.
George Spurway married Ann Hughes, two years after his first wife, Frances Spurway died in 1857. Anne Hughes was the older sister of Thomas Hassall Hughes, who was the husband of George's daughter, Eliza Hughes(Spurway). Ann Hughes was 45 yrs and no prior marriage.
His first child to Frances Johnson( nee Pratt) was in 1834. Born George (1834- 1835). Aged 4 and a half months. Buried in an unmarked grave at St Johns church Parramatta NSW
After working for many years at Blaxland House at Brush Park, he was granted a pardon and received land holdings from Marsden Rd down Kissing point Rd Dundas, including the current location of Lotty Stewart Hospital. His Son George Spurway Jnr, built the historic home " Riverview" on the corner of Marsden Rd and Rutledge S Dundast in 1872.
Seconded to Gregory Blaxland upon arrival to work as the leading orchardist at Brush Farm House.
George married secondly Ann Hughes at St Anne's Church, Ryde NSW on 25 Jan 1859. There was no issue of the marriage. With his first wife Frances, George had six children and 45 grandchildren.
married convict Frances Johnson nee Pratt 1803-1857 both are buried at St Annes Church Ryde N.S.W.