John Harris

Level 75

iain Frazier on 14th September 2024

Family connections for John (Harris) are: HARRIS His convictions are recorded again here in order to add some details: John (Harris) was born about 1758 in Ireland & became a wax chandler. He married & produced 2children. He was tried for stealing, on 30 12 1782, table spoons etc of Peter (Livies) Esq-Chief Justice of Quebec Canada (he seems to have been physically punished before being handed to police)-in London at Old Bailey on 15 1 1783, sentenced to death reprieved to 14years in Americas, held on hulk on Thames River then sent to Americas on 26 3 1784 on MERCURY- a mutiny occurred on this ship after which the occupants reached shore at Torbay/Torquay? Devonshire. He made his way to Exeter then to London where he was captured at Hammersmith on 17 4 1784-many other mutineers/escapees were held on hulk DUNKIRK & he may have been also. He was tried for escaping from transportation at Old Bailey on 26 5 1784 claiming to have voluntarily returned to custody &, after the court seemingly made genuine efforts to determine his culpability in the mutiny, he was sentenced to Life in Africa & was held on hulk CAESAR/CERES from 3 3 1785. He was also held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery at some point. He arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a voyage of 12months on First Fleet ship SCARBOROUGH. In Port Jackson it was he who proposed the idea of forming a nightwatch of prisoners to protect & deter criminal & civil disturbance-which commenced on 8 8 1789. He was sent to Norfolk Island arriving on 29 1 1790 on SUPPLY. He had a second relationship with Mary (Green), (was living with her & his son on 100acres at Sydney Town on 1 7 1791-a statement that I am unable to verify) & married her on 5 11 1791 in group ceremony on Norfolk Island. In December 1791 he was working with the nightwatch at Greenville Vale. He was granted 2more acres, which was taken from him, seemingly unfairly, by the soldiery. On 7 9 1793 he was appointed constable on Norfolk Island. He had a farm in June 1794 where he lived with his wife & son John. He applied for a Pardon which was issued on 6 12 1794, partly in recognition of his nightwatch service. He left Norfolk Island with his family on 19 2 1796 on RELIANCE. He was issued his Absolute Pardon in September 1796. He gained a lease of 6.5acres at Mulgrave Place Hawkesbury on 1 1 1798. He was recorded as a licensed victualler in June 1798 & operated Cross Keys tavern at Toongabbee & became an agent of John (Macarthur). He obtained a lease of 4acres at Parramatta on 12 3 1800. Governor (King) asked him to return to the police force, which he declined not wanting to abandon a lucrative business. Soon afterwards Gov (King) declared that he had acted against government regulations by buying rations from convicts with liquor- he was taken into custody by Samuel (Marsden) & while detained the governor had one wall of his house torn down, his liquor casks staved open and his spirit licence withdrawn & later deprived him of his land grant. He was not formally tried & was released. In January 1801 he returned to England with his son John, perhaps to seek recompense form authorities in UK, on EL PLUMIER via New Zealand and Fever Islands then damaged on a reef-the ship reached Guam where she was taken as a wartime prize with he & his son being sent to Manilla as prisoners where they were freed & eventually reached England in October 1803. He produced 5children in his lifetime & suffered many unfair deprivations as well as successes. [Some details taken from this Website] Mary (Green) was tried for stealing, on 1 3 1787, a china teapot etc of Hannah & Robert (Corrack) at probably Old Bailey, sentenced to 7years, held at London Gaol Delivery & Newgate & arrived in Botany Bay NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a voyage of 9months on First Fleet ship PRINCE OF WALES. She was sent to Norfolk Island arriving on 3 12 1789. She was living with John (Harris) & her son (at Sydney Town on 1 7 1791-a statement that I cannot now verify). She was living with her husband & son John on a farm in June 1794. She left Norfolk Island with her family on 19 2 1796 on RELIANCE. She died about 1801 perhaps. [Noted a Mary (Harris) is recorded as dying on 22 12 1826 at Sydney General Hospital by visitation of God & buried at St James CofE Sydney & another died in 1841 age70.] [Some details taken from this Website] John (Harris) & Mary (Green) produced 3children: 1.John (Harris) was born on 20 10 1790 on Norfolk Island; he is also recorded as born on 17 2 1796 on Norfolk Island. He was living with his parents at Sydney Town on 1 7 1791-maybe not this person. He was living with his parents on a farm in June 1794. He left Norfolk Island with his parents on 19 2 1796 on RELIANCE. In January 1801 he was taken to England by his father on EL PLUMIER which he reached after some adventure in October 1803. He must have returned to Australia as he married Martha (Simmonds/Thorbourn her second marriage) emancipist at St Matthews CofE Windsor on 1 9 1816. He died on 29 5 1844 age53. ..[Martha (Simmon/ds) was born about 1787. She was tried at Essex Assizes, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on (recorded 1807) 20 12 1808 after a voyage of 5months on AEOLUS. She married firstly William (Thorburn) emancipist on 16 8 1813 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She was Free by Servitude by 1816. ..[Some details taken from this Website] ..[William (Thorburn) was tried at probably Old Bailey, sentenced to Life, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 11 3 1803 after a voyage of 6months on HMS GLATTON. He died on 23 1 1814 at Castlereagh & was buried at St Matthews CofE Windsor. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 2.Elizabeth (Harris) was born on 24 12 1794 on Norfolk Island. She left Norfolk Island with her parents on 19 2 1796 on RELIANCE. She was taken into care of James Larra (Convict Scarborough 2 1790) as an orphan about 1801-as she was deemed too young to travel with her father to UK. She married firstly Walter (Lang) free settler of Sydney on 17 6 1812 at St Johns CofE Parramatta.>>> ..Walter (Lang) was born in 1789. He arrived in Australia as ships master in 1812 on MARGARET. He was a free settler in Sydney in 1812. He died on 2 4 1816 age27 & was buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney. ..Elizabeth (Harris) & Walter (Lang) produced 2children: ..1.Walter (Lang) was born in 1814 & baptised on 29 5 1814 at St Davids CofE Hobart. ..2.John George (Lang) was born on 19 12 1816 & baptised on 19 1 1817 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He died on 20 8 1864 age47. .. >>>Elizabeth (Harris) may have accompanied Joseph (Underwood) to England (possibly on a trading trip) with his children whom she is recorded as marrying secondly (his second marriage) in 1819 in Kent; she is also recorded as marrying Joseph (Underwood) of Ashfield on 20 8 1829 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She died on 31 8 1858 age63 mother of 8known children. ..Joseph (Underwood) was born about 1789. He married firstly Charlotte (Suter) in London. He arrived in NSW as a settler some of his family on 18 6 1807 after a voyage of 5months on SYDNEY COVE. He became a merchant. On 26 2 1811 his brother consigned wine on UNION (Josephs ship & without his knowledge) to Hobart. He was living at Ashfield in 1829. He was recorded in 1831 at Ashfield Park as a gent. He produced 12children in his lifetime. ..Details of Joseph (Underwood)s family are given in entry for James (Underwood ADMIRAL BARRINGTON 1791) on this Website. .. 3.Hannah (Harris) was born on 24 8 1797.>>> >>>[It seems to be she who is recorded as Susannah (Harris) born on 1 1 1797 & baptised on 12/25 5 1797 at St Johns CofE Parramatta to John (Harris) & Mrs Mary. She was taken into care of James Larra (Convict Scarborough 2 1790) as an orphan about 1801-as she was deemed too young to travel with her father to UK.>>> >>>Ann/Hannah (Harris) had a relationship with Thomas (Ritchie). She died on 25 8 1882 age85+. ..Thomas (Ritchie) arrived in NSW as an officer on 14 4 1818 after a voyage of 6months on GREYHOUND. ..Ann/Hannah (Harris) & Thomas (Ritchie) produced maybe 1child: ..[Noted a George (Ritchie) is recorded as born in 1817 & baptised in Van Diemens Land (Tasmania)] ..1.Thomas (Ritchie) was born on 1 2 1820 & baptised on 6 3 1827 age7 at St Johns CofE Launceston. She died on 31 12 1894 age74. [Noted a John (Harris) infant is recorded as dying on 11 4 1808 & buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney] James (Larra) is quoted as being a cousin of John (Harris): James (Larra) was tried at probably Old Bailey, sentenced to Life, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 11months on Fleet ship SCARBOROUGH. Sometime after 1801 he became carer for John (Harris)s orphan daughters Elizabeth & Susannah/Hannah. [Some details taken from this Website] 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'

Level 81

Gail Robyn Newman on 10th October 2023

The ship called at New Zealand and Fever Islands but was damaged on a reef. However the ship managed to reach Guam where she was taken as a wartime prize. Palmer died there with Harris his son John and the other passengers being sent to Manilla as prisoners. Fortunately they were freed soon afterwards and Harris and his son reached England by means unknown in October 1803. Next month, backed by Macarthur, Harris sought relief from the Colonial Office, but his memorial apparently remained unanswered and the ultimate fate of John Harris and his son John is not known. Harris left Mary and his two daughters behind, claiming he wrote ‘as not being old enough to travel’. The two daughters were then taken into the care of his cousin James Larra (Convict Scarborough 2 1790), as they were then orphaned.

Level 81

Gail Robyn Newman on 10th October 2023

A lease of six and a half acres was received at Mulgrave Place on 1st January 1798, but by June 1798 John was recorded as a licensed victualler and appears to have move to Toongabbee to operate a tavern called the Cross Keys and soon became one of the trusted agents of John Macarthur in his trade. A small lease of about four acres was obtained at Parramatta on 12th March 1800. But it was here after a disagreement with Governor King, who had asked Harris to return to the police force, but he declined, not wanting to abandon a lucrative trade which afforded him and his family a better living than a government appointment Soon afterwards King declared that he had acted against government regulations by buying rations from convicts with liquor. He was taken into custody by Samuel Marsden, and while he was detained the governor had one wall of his house torn down, his liquor casks staved open and his spirit licence withdrawn; later he deprived him of his land grant. Harris was never formally tried, and was soon released, but he estimated the value of the destroyed liquor at more than £400. Deprived of his livelihood and afraid of King, he decided to leave the colony. In January 1801 John returned to England on "El Plumier" taking with him son John, on a vessel chartered by Dr Thomas Fyshe Palmer .When his sentence expired Palmer, Boston and Ellis had bought the decrepit Spanish prize El Plumier and, with William Reid, a former seaman of the Sirius, as captain, sailed from Sydney for England in January 1801

Level 81

Gail Robyn Newman on 10th October 2023

In December 1791 John was a member of the night watch at Grenville Vale, and throughout following years he sold grain and meat to Government Stores. . He was granted a further two acres (.8 ha), but deprived of them when Lieutenant John Townson (NSW Corp Scarborough 1790) and other officers chose the land for their leases Disgusted by this treatment, Harris pressed Lieutenant-Governor Philip Gidley King for a pardon. This was granted by Lieutenant-Governor Francis Grose before Grose left on 6 December 1794 and after Harris had returned to Sydney in February 1796 it was confirmed by Governor John Hunter on King's recommendation 'in consideration of good services as Principal of the Nightwatch at Norfolk Island'. On 7th September 1793 John was sworn as a constable at Norfolk Island, serving for the next few years. In June 1794 he was still with Mary Green and son John and employed a convict on his farm. He received his Conditional Pardon on 12th December 1794 and an Absolute Pardon in September 1796. A daughter Elizabeth was born in 1795 on Norfolk Island. The family of John, Mary and children John and Elizabeth left Norfolk Island by Reliance on 20th February 1796. On 1st January 1797 another daughter Susannah (called Hannah) was born, and she was christened on 25th January 1797

Level 81

Gail Robyn Newman on 10th October 2023

On 7th January 1790 John was sent to Norfolk Island on HM Brig Supply with Mary Green (Convict Prince of Wales) also on board On 1st July 1791 he was maintaining himself and two others - They were Mary Green (Convict Prince Of Wales) and their son John was born on 20th January 1790 – on a one acre lot in Sydney Town, of which 100 rods had been cleared, and 49 rods of timber felled.

Level 81

Gail Robyn Newman on 10th October 2023

At Port Jackson, John proposed to Judge-Advocate David Collins to establish a night watch, 'to be selected among the convicts for the purpose to stem the frequent commission of offences in the settlement'. This was agreed to. The first attempt at a police force in the settlement began on 8 August 1789, with Harris as one of its principal members. They had the authority to secure all persons of that description who should be found straggling from the huts at improper hours. The regulations for the watch were drawn up and were signed by Phillip and Collins-they read ‘The following regulations to be observed by the night-watch appointed for more effectual preservation of public and private property, and for preventing or detecting the commission of nightly depredations’

Level 81

Gail Robyn Newman on 10th October 2023

GUILTY, (Death.) Tried by the second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice Ashurst. John, a wax chandler, was sentenced to Death at the Old Bailey on 15th January 1783.Harris, with a wife and two small children, petitioned for mercy ON 28th January 1783, supported by two petitions from Livies himself, who felt there had been too rigorous a sentence (‘there had been no Violence in the Case’) and that his own steward in his absence had prosecuted Harris ‘with a great severity’ On the 12th September the sentence was reduced to transportation to America for 14 years John was sent to a Thames hulk on 14th October 1783 and thence to the Mercury transport on 26th March 1784. Following the Mercury mutiny he escaped to Exeter, Devon, where he took a coach to London. He was rearrested at the Hammersmith turnpike, with John claiming that ‘he had been forced ashore and was on the way to surrender’ At his retrial at the Old Bailey on 26th May 1784 the court ordered a letter to be sent to the captain of the Mercury to confirm John’s story. JOHN HARRIS was indicted for feloniously returning from transportation, and being found at large within this kingdom on the 17th of April last, without any lawful cause, and before the expiration of the term for which he was transported . Prisoner. I was obliged to come on shore, and were the captain and the people here they would say so; it was from the last ship. I was taken off the coach box of the Exeter coach; I was coming to surrender myself to the Justice, in hopes of finding mercy; when I was taken they found nothing on me: my Lord, I plead guilty. Court. If this man was not active I would report him accordingly; let a letter be written to the Captain, who is now at Exeter, to enquire into his behaviour. Court to Prisoner. I will take your plea, and enquire into the circumstances of your case before I report you to the King. GUILTY, Death .Tried by the second Middlesex Jury before Mr. Recorder At the end of the sessions which began on 26th February, his sentence was remitted to transportation to Africa for life. On 3rd March 1785 John was sent to the ‘Caesar’ (Ceres) hulk, his age given as 25 on the 5th April1785. He was sent to Portsmouth on 24th February 1787 for embarkation on the Scarborough transport.

Level 81

Gail Robyn Newman on 10th October 2023

JOHN HARRIS was indicted for feloniously stealing on the 30th of December last, eight silver table spoons, value 3£. the goods of Peter Livies, Esq who was Chief Justice of Quebec (and was living in London as an absentee official after conflict with Sir Guy Carleton); in his dwelling house. (The witnesses examined apart at the desire of the prisoner.) He was tried at the Old Bailey on 15th January 1783