Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Thomas Henderson was transported on the Sugar Cane, departing 12th Apr 1792 and arriving 17th Sep 1793 with 102 passengers.
Sugar Cane, was a 403 burthen ton merchantman and convict ship that was dispatched in 1793 from Ireland to Australia. She was launched in 1786 upon the Thames River. Under the command of Thomas Musgrave, she sailed from Cork, Ireland, on 12 April 1793, with 110 male and 50 female convicts. During the voyage a mutiny by the convicts was put down and a convict executed. She arrived at Port Jackson, New South Wales on the 17 September 1793. The Sugar Cane left Port Jackson for Bengal in late 1793.
Sugar Cane (generic)References
| Primary Source | Convict index, via Ancestry.com, Settlers Muster book 1800 CO201/21, 45-67. Freemans Journal (Dublin) 18 December 1792 p4 "Trials at the Tholsel". |
Claims
"From the information my daughter and I have found, Thomas is my 4th Great Grandfather."
Photos
No photos have been added for Thomas Henderson.
Convict Notes
Reference to Glen's comment above There is a long-lasting relationship between the Henderson family and Thomas 'Dally'. Thomas Dally was co-accused at the 1812 trial for stealing. In the 1828 Census, Thomas Daley, 68, Matilda 1790, was employed by Robert 'Anderson' at Brisbane Water. This employer is Thomas's son Robert Henderson. Thomas Dally was buried at the Henderson family cemetery at Saratoga in 1837 aged 85. These records tie together as Thomas Dally, arrived Matilda 1791. Details of his trial etc come from records of his Certificate of Freedom.
In consequence of information a search for distilling implements was made on Fridav se'nnight on the premises of Anderson, a settler at the North Rocks, for a still, &c.; when several hundred gallons of fermenting liquid were found, composed of peach cyder, with wheat and maize intermixed. The owner of the premises was immediately taken into Parramatta, and committed for examination. Sydney Gazette, 22 June 1806. PARRAMATTA, JUNE 27, Yesterday fe'nnight ... The same day Thomas Anderson who was confined upon strong presumptive evidence of his having a still in his possession, thought proper to render up to the Magistrates the still and its apparatus before undiscovered; and was still detained for further examination. Sydney Gazette, 29 June 1806. The Rewards prescribed by General Orders were last week ordered by HIS EXCELLENCY to be paid to the persons who had detected and brought to conviction Thomas Anderson, for the nefarious practice of distilling. Sydney Gazette, 13 July 1806. Colonial Secretary Index. ANDERSON, Thomas. Per "Sugar Cane", 1793 1812 Nov 19 On list of prisoners to be sent to Newcastle per "Estramina" (Reel 6003; 4/3492 p.164) Thomas Anderson, per Sugar Cane, free, Convicted by Crim Court, 6 Nov 1812, 5 year sentence, sent by schooner Estramina.
Recorded as Thos Anderson in the 1800 muster of NSW as prisoner working a 12 acre grant at Field of Mars (near Ryde) with a wife and 1 child off stores, along with another convict Thos Daily (likely Thos Doyle) sharing the same land. Both men are stated as arrived per Sugar Cane 1793
17/11/1791: Tholsel Court House, Dublin, Thomas was convicted for stealing an iron bar, the property of Mary QUINN and sentenced to 7 years transportation. No date of death found. Margaret, his wife was born 1758 and died 3/10/1803, the same date as her daughter, also Margaret, died.
Thomas Henderson was in his 40s when he was convicted in Dublin of stealing an iron bar. He was sentenced to transportation for seven years and sailed aboard the convict ship Sugar Cane, arriving in Sydney in 1793. He was transported with his wife, Margaret, who had been convicted of a separate offence. Thomas and Margaret had at least one child, Robert Henderson who was born in Parramatta in 1796. While some sources suggest two other children, I have not seen any evidence to support this. Margaret died in 1803 Thomas also lived with Margaret Broughton (arrived Experiment 1804). She testified in 1812 that she lad lived with Thomas Henderson 'as man and wife' for nine years. Thomas worked as a tenant farmer near Parramatta. In 1812 he was convicted of stealing a pig from Rev. Samuel Marsden, a prominent colonial citizen. He was sentenced to five years hard labour at Newcastle. He completed his sentence in 1816 and was returned to Sydney. He was 64. The following year he is recorded as a witness at his son Robert’s wedding in Sydney. he was listed in the 1818, 1820 and 1821 Settler and Convict lists as 'Thos Anderson, Sugar Cane'. He probably died about 1822, before the 1822 Convict and settler list was compiled. Thomas Henderson was at best an Irish rogue and at worst a petty criminal. He does not seem to have contributed greatly to the Colony himself, but his son Robert Henderson became a very successful landowner and businessman.