Abraham Hutchinson

6

Philip W Hill on 8th March 2024

Contemporary researchers have tried to establish a link between Abraham Hutchinson, who was born in England in 1742, and William. On 25 March 1794, at 52 years of age, Abraham was tried and convicted of theft at the Magistrates Court, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey. He was sentenced to 14 years transportation, arriving in the colony on 18 May 1798 on the Barwell. By 1803 he was established in a relationship with Elizabeth Johnson. On 17th May, 1804 Elizabeth gave birth to a daughter who was christened Charlotte Elizabeth Hutchinson at St Phillip's Church of England which was, at the time, Sydney's only Anglican church. Elizabeth also had a son to Abraham on 9th October, 1807. He was christened John Abraham. St Phillip's register also records the boy's death ten years later. Abraham was appointed Superintendent of Government Mills, from the 22 July, 1816, to the 22d of January, 1817 a position he held until he was forced to retirement 1820 due to poor health. He died on 6 May 1822 in his eightieth year, a few months before the taking of the 1822 muster. Up until this time there does not appear to be any records which connect the two convicts. Abraham was certainly old enough to be William's father or his uncle. Circumstantial evidence does however suggest some possible connection: a. Both were tried in London; Abraham at Kingston-upon-Thames in Surrey and William at Middlesex. b. William buried Abraham in what he intended to be the family grave. c. Abraham named his daughter Charlotte Elizabeth, while William named his first two daughters Charlotte and Elizabeth. d. Abraham's circumstances seemed to improve considerably after William returned to Sydney from Norfolk Island. More direct evidence is found in the 1822 Muster where the records clearly indicate that William had taken into his care Abraham's two children. The Muster shows: Gibbons, Matthew Gibbons, Charlotte wife of Matthew (this is William's daughter) Hutchinson, William Hutchinson, Charlotte, 19 (Abraham's daughter) Hutchinson, Elizabeth, 16 Hutchinson, Hannah, 12 Hutchinson, Sarah, 10 Hutchinson, John, 15 (Abraham's son) Hutchinson, Richard, 6 All the children are shown in the family group of William, so it can be presumed that William might have adopted Abraham's children. Three of the children are missing - William, Mary and Martha. Gravestone inscriptions, N.S.W. Volume 1. Sydney burial ground : Elizabeth and Devonshire Streets "The Sandhills” '(Monuments relocated at Bunnerong) / compiled by Keith A. Johnson and Malcolm R. Sainty, the compilers, 1973 Text: Mr Abraham HUTCHINSON for many years Superintendent of Government Mills died 6th May 1822 aged 81 years also Thomas ROBERTS died 31st January 1836 aged 10 months also William Hutchinson ROBERTS died 17th March 1841 aged 8 months also Hannah wife of Thomas ROBERTS and mother of the above two children died 5th July 1841 aged 29 years. also William HUTCHINSON Esq. died 26th July 1846 aged 73 years also Mr. William HUTCHINSON Junior died 17th July 1849 aged 41 years also Elizabeth wife of Arthur HUFFINGTON died 30th August 1849 aged 43 years also mary HOLDEN wife of John Rose HOLDEN Esq. died 19th September 1849 aged 40 years also Richard Thomas HUTCHINSON brother of the above died 18th September 1849 aged 32 years