John Harper

341

Maureen Withey on 9th January 2023

1828 Census Index. William Reynolds, age 26, C.F. per Grenada, 1827, protestant, Butcher, with John Harper, George Street, Sydney. ---------------------------------------------------- According to the Police Case in Jan 1828, (reported above) William Reynolds was the brother of Charlotte Bradley. This implies Charlotte was Charlotte Reynolds at birth. --------------------------------------------------- Death of John's wife, Charlotte: Death. HARPER—February 28th, at the residence of her son, Mr. Richard Harper, Parramatta, Charlotte Harper, aged 80 years. HARPER—February 28th, at the residence of her son, Mr. R. Harper, Parramatta, Mrs. Charlotte Harper, aged 80 years, the beloved mother of Mrs. Sandoe, Castlereagh-street, Sydney, and Mrs. H. Watsford, Parramatta. Sydney Morning Herald, 21 Mar 1865. -------------------------------------------------- Marriages of her children: Marriage of Henry Watsford to Sarah Reynolds, 1846. Ref No 60/184660. Marriage of Eleanor Harper to Francis Sandoe, 1853, Reg No 255/1853 V1853255. Marriage of Richard Harper and Mary A. Hughes, 1848 Reg No 192/1848 V1848192

341

Maureen Withey on 8th January 2023

Mar 1, 3, 1817. Re permission to marry Charlotte Bradley at Parramatta. John Harper, prisoner, per Earl Spencer and Charlotte Bradley, prisoner, per Broxbornbury. Applied for permission for Banns at St Johns’ , Parramatta, by Samuel Marsden, the principal chaplain. 5 Jan 1818. On list of prisoners to be sent to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta" John Harper, per Earl Spencer, convict, Convicted by Mr Marsden, 29 Nov 1817, 2 years sentence. 1821, Petition for mitigation of sentence. https://content.archives.nsw.gov.au/delivery/StreamGate?dps_pid=FL4154715&dps_dvs=1673189662790~211 To His Excellency Governor Macquarie ... That Petitioner during his residence here has been five years assigned Government servant to John McArthur, Esq., and the remainder of it in the employ of Government. That petitioner has been these four years married to a free woman by who he has three children, and being a Butcher by trade, most humbly solicits Your Excellency to grant him a Ticket of Leave or such indulgences Your Excellency in your wisdom may think proper to enable him to support his large family. …. I believe the Petitioner to be an active industrious tradesman, supporting his wife and family by his exertions in his business. Signed ???? Oct 25, 1824. Recommending free passage for family of his assigned servant. The petitioner who is my assigned servant is a sober industrious man, and fully capable of supporting his wife and children. Signed, John Harper. https://content.archives.nsw.gov.au/delivery/StreamGate?dps_pid=FL4137384&dps_dvs=1673190664384~157 The Petition of John Harper, of George Street, Sydney, butcher, most humbly sheweth. That your Petitioner is a Free man, well settled in business on his own account, and possessed of upwards of one hundred head of cattle. That petitioner never yet has had the indulgence of any grant of Land; He therefore humbly hopes and …, that his present application to Your Excellency for a Farm will not be decried presumptuous or made in vain. Petitioner begs to mention that he is a married man, with 3 children; and conducts himself in that upright and correct manner, that he trusts his character will bear the strictest enquiry – and having supported two prisoners of the Crown at his own Expense, ( a Certificate of which is annexed to this petition) He flatters himself that your Excellency will not hesitate to Grant the Indulgence he solicits, ... 21 Nov 1825. From Col Sec Office, To John Harper, George Street, Sydney. The records of this office having been examined in consequence of your late memorial, it appears that the convicts named in the margin were in your service at both the last musters, I am instructed therefore to acquaint you that a Grant of two hundred acres of land is to be allowed to you. (Names in Margin: ? Abbott, and ? Wood) Thomas Wood, per Malabar. John Abbott, per Guildford 1824. -------------------------------------------------- Sydney Police, Monday. Timothy Watts, was charged, that he had conveyed certain articles, the property of Mr. Harper, Butcher, George-street, from his master's house, to the premises of a person. on the Rocks, without Mr. Harper's permission. The prisoner acknowledged having conveyed two boxes and other articles to the place above-named, but informed the Bench it was by order of Mrs. Charlotte Bradley, who had cohabited with Mr. Harper for a considerable, time, and who was considered by the domestics as the wife of complainant, she being mistress of the house. Mr. Rowe pleaded for Mr. Harper, who wished to drop the prosecution of Watts, and to receive him as an evidence against a man named W. Reynolds, who arrived free in the Colony, and who had been employed by Mr. Harper for some time as a clerk. It appeared on the evidence of Watts, that Reynolds had assisted him in placing the boxes on the cart, consequently must have been aware that an intention existed on the part of Mrs. Harper, alias Bradley, to abscond. This took place, and shortly afterwards the prisoner Reynolds also disappeared. It was proved by the person at whose house the boxes were, left, that Reynolds had called to see the female several times, which coming to the ears of Mr. Harper, he obtained a search warrant, and discovered at Mr. -'s several articles which be swore positively to have been stolen from him; Mr. - stated on oath they were left at his house by Charlotte Bradley. - A female servant of Mr. Harper said she always considered Charlotte Bradley to be Mrs. Harper, and obeyed her commands as such. Mr. Harper, himself had desired her to do so. Col. Morriset remarked, he was sorry to say, Mr. Harper had placed too great confidence in this woman, who it appeared had been robbing him for a length of time, but Mr H. having always introduced her as his wife, prevented in a great measure the law from taking its course. The Bench ordered a warrant to be drawn out to commit the said Charlotte Bradley and Wm. Reynolds to take their trial at the Criminal Court. Mr. Harper now interfered, and begged their Worships to permit the, case to be dismissed, which: was granted upon the mutual promise of the parties, to be joined in the holy state of matrimony! (It came out in the course of the examinations, that the man Reynolds, against whom the prosecution was directed was the brother of the female prisoner.) The Monitor, 31 Jan 1828. -------------------------------------------------- The 1828 Census Index lists: 1828 Census Index. John Harper, age 46, C.P. Earl Spencer, 1812, Life, protestant, Butcher, George Street, Sydney. John Harper, jun. age 11, B.C. Richard Harper, age 7 ½, B.C. Ellen Harper, age 3, B.C. and Charlotte Bradley, age 34, F.S. Wanstead, 1814, 7 years, protestant, Housekeeper, John Harper, butcher, Sydney.

341

Maureen Withey on 8th January 2023

On Tuesday, John Harper, a Butcher, of Bolton-le-Moors, was apprehended at Skipton for issuing forged Ludlow Bank Notes, which he had also done at the preceding Fortnight Fair; and on Wednesday he was committed by the Magistrates at Otley to York Castle. Leeds Mercury, 19 Jan 1811. Gaol Delivery. George Richardson, for burglary. Guilty; Death. John Harper, for uttering counterfeit notes, Guilty, Death. York Herald, 23 March 1811. On Wednesday morning the following eight male convicts left the Castle, in order to be delivered on board the Hulks, laying up the river below Portsmouth :— James Whitehead, George Richardson and John Harper, to be transported during the term of their natural lives;— Also Timothy Hill, Jonathan alias Solomon Arlington, Elias Arlington, William Blackburn and William Pinder, to be severally transported for the term of seven years. York Herald, 8 June 1811. --------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. HARPER, John. Per "Earl Spencer", 1813. 1817 Mar 1,3 Re permission to marry Charlotte Bradley at Parramatta (Reel 6005; 4/3496 pp.25-6) 1818 Jan 5 On list of prisoners to be sent to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta" (Reel 6005; 4/3497 p.273) 1821 Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3208; 4/1862 p.80) 1822-1823 Sep 30 Of George Street. On list of persons receiving an assigned convict (Fiche 3290, 4/4570D p.82; Fiche 3291, 4/4570D pp.125, 137) 1822 Jan 7 Butcher of Sydney. Petition to be allowed to sell meat on Sundays (Reel 6054; 4/1759 p.70) 1822 Sep 30 Of George Street. On lists of persons to whom convict mechanics have been 1823 Sep 30 assigned (Fiche 3296; X53 pp.30, 40, 60, 75) 1824 c.Apr, Oct 8 Of Sydney. On lists of defaulters in payment for assigned convict mechanics (Reel 6061, 4/1778 p.265e; Fiche 3293, 5/3821.1 p.4) 1824 Oct 5 Recommending free passage for family of his assigned servant (Fiche 3288; 4/1112.1A p.414) 1825 List of convicts mustered in his employ in 1824 and 1825 (Fiche 3135; 4/1842A No.351 p.283) 1825 Nov Butcher of George Street, Sydney. Memorial (Fiche 3135; 4/1842A No.351 pp.281-2). Reply, 21 Nov (Reel 6016; 4/3516 p.27) 1825 Nov 21 On list of persons who have received orders for grants of land (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.93)