John Larcombe

75

iain Frazier on 24th May 2026

Family connections for John (Larcolme) are: LARCOLME/LARKHAM John (Larcolme) was born about 1742 & became a general labourer. He was tried for theft of superfine dark blue woollen cloth, in October 1787, from an outdoor rack of William (Hart), John (Moggeridge) & John (Jones) of Bradford Wiltshire at Wiltshire Assizesn at Salisbury on 8 3 1788, sentenced to death reprieved to 7years, held at Fisherton gaol & hulk DUNKIRK in Portsmouth from June 1788 & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 7months on Fleet ship NEPTUNE; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate. He became prosperous & purchased 'The Ponds' farm from Anthony (Rope) with whom he was involved in a dispute in July 1797. He had a relationship with Mary (Peat/Weir). He purchased more land by 1802 totalling 40acres. On 24 6 1803 his farm & family were attacked & robbed by 4men at Field of Mars, involving cruel treatment of his wife. He purchased more land (80acres each) from James (Manning) & John (Carver) on the north bank of Parramatta River Hawkesbury District & in 1806 owned & was working 210acres. He was recorded in 1808 with his family & 14acres producing. He died on 22 10 1808 age67 from an internal complaint at his residnce at Kissing Point & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta. [Some details taken from this Website]; where a Peter (Larkman) is also found. ++ a Peter (Larkman) was born about 1760. He was tried for stealing barley from boat GOOD INTENT at Norwich city Assizes Norfolkshire, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 7months on Fleet ship NEPTUNE; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate. He, Peter (Larkam), married Ann (Thompson) on 18 3 1799 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was an emancipist when he died in 1799 age39. [Some details taken from this Website] ++ Mary (Weir/Wear) was born on 15 4 1754. She was tried for stealing a womans petticoat at General Quarter Sessions of the Peace Hexham Northumberlandshire, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 30 4 1796 after a voyage of 7months on INDISPENSIBLE; she was Protestant. She was Free by Servitude by 1799. She may have associated firstly with a Mr (Peat). On 24 6 1803 she was cruelly treated during a an attack & robbery on the family farm by 4men at Field of Mars. She was recorded in 1808 with her family. She was living at Kent St Sydney in 1824 when she petitioned on behalf of her son for land at Bung Bung for her cattle. She was recorded, as (Larkin), in 1828 as householder in Kent Street. She died on 10 3 1841 age86 in Sydney. [Some details taken from this Website] John (Larkam) & Mary (Peat/Weir) produced a child: 1.John Samuel (Larkham) was born on 3 1 1799 & baptised on 28 7 1799 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was recorded in 1808 with his parents-on stores. He was a servant when he married Mary (Benton age16) on 30 4 1822 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He had 60acres in 1824. He sought land on Cowpastures River on 28 3 1825. He seems to have been given temporary occupation of some land about December 1825. He was recorded in 1826 as a farmer & in 1830 as a settler. ..Mary (Benton) was born on 4 9 1806 & baptised on 25 12 1806 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. ..Details of Mary (Benton)s family are given in entry for Thomas (Benton ALBERMARLE 1791) on this Website. ..John Samuel (Larkham) & Mary (Benton) produced at least 3children: ..1.Mary (Larkham) was born on 15 6 1823 at Bringelly & baptised on 17 8 1823 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. It may be she who married Mary Ann (Larkham) in 1839 at Yass. ....James (Davis) was born on 10 8 1819 in Sydney & baptised on 2 1 1820 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He was recorded in 1822 in Sydney with his parents. In 1825 he was recorded at John (Piper)s property 'Alloway Bank' Bathurst with his parents. He was recorded in 1828 with his parents at Goulburn Plains. He died on 8 2 1899 age80 at Yass. ....Details of John (Davis)s family are given in entry for George (Davis EARL SPENCER 1813) on this Website. .. ..2.John Samuel Pate (Larkham) was born on 7 10 1825 at Argyle & baptised on 12 2 1826 at St James CofE Sydney. ..3.Margaret (Larkham) was born on 24 12 1828 at Sutton Forest & baptised on 27 6 1830 at All Saints Sutton Forest. Reference: 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.

54

Phil Hands on 28th January 2018

John was tried and convicted at the Wiltshire Assizes in Salisbury on 8th March 1788 for cutting and stealing 17 yards of superfine dark blue woollen cloth from an outdoor rack at Bradford, Wiltshire, belonging to William Hart, John Moggeridge and John Jones. He was sentenced to death, he was reprieved before the end of the Assizes to seven years transportation. He had been described as a labourer of Bristol when committed to Fisherton Gaol in Salisbury and charged with the crime in early October 1787. On 14th June 1788 he was conveyed by wagon to be taken aboard the 'Dunkirk' hulk moored at Plymouth, his age was given as 29. There he remained till he was to embark on the 'Neptune' in late November 1789, were he would of been secured with irons. Left England on 19th January 1790. Ship:- the 'Neptune' sailed with 424 male and 78 female convicts on board of which 147 males and 11 females died during the voyage. Arrived on 28th June 1790. The 'Neptune' formed part of what is known as the second fleet, arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on 13th April, after a passage of 84 days. They refreshed at the Cape for 16 days and sailed again arriving in the Colony 28th June 1790. The 'Neptune' was said to be the most brutal convict ships ever to arrive in Sydney. Convicts suspected of petty theft were flogged to death, most were kept chained below decks for the duration of the voyage; scurvy and other diseases were a endemic; and the food rations were pitiful. During the voyage 158 convicts died and 269 were sick when landed. Reverend Richard Johnston described the convicts on the 'Neptune' as "all were in a indescribably filthy state, covered almost with their own nastiness, their heads, bodies, clothes, blankets all full of filth and lice". Both the Neptune's Master and Surgeon were later tried for grose neglect at the Old Bailey, no punishment was recorded. John prospered rapidly in the colony and had saved a considerable sum of money within two years of the expiry of his sentence in 1795. In July 1797 he became involved in a dispute with first fleet convict Anthony Rope over the farm at 'The Ponds' he bought from Rope for the value of crops and won the case at the Sydney Court Civil Jurisdiction. He married convict Mary Weir ('Indispensible' 1796) in January 1799 at Parramatta, John was 58 and Mary 43, they had one child John b1799. In 1808 John was recorded with 14 acres sown in wheat and 11 in maize. Already prosperous, he owned a horse and 15 pigs, and with Mary and the child was receiving Government rations. He had purchased more land by 1802, totalled 40 acres. As the couple became steadily more prosperous they suffered a series of robberies and setbacks. In spite of these setbacks the years 1802-1806 saw a rapid expansion of Larkham's farming interests. In 1806 he held 210 acres by purchase at 'The Ponds' and in the Hawksbury district. Only six were sown in wheat and half acre in potatoes, while 130 acres were in pasture. He owned 17 sheep, 4 goats and 6 pigs, and supported a woman and child. Two farms, each of 80 acres, James Manning's and John Carver's were situated on the north bank of the Parramatta River. Sydney Gazette Sunday 3rd July 1803 p. 1 Notice. Whereas a most daring robbery and burglary were committed on the 24th instant about midnight, by four men present unknown, on the dwelling and property of John Larkham, settler at the Field of Mars; which was aggravated by the most inhuman and cruel treatment of Larkham's wife, by the ruffians who committed the above crimes. In order to bring the offenders to justice His Excellency is pleased to offer a conditional emancipation, and the privilege of settling, with future hopes of a free pardon to either of the accomplices, prosecuting to conviction, excepting the two principals, who are known to be an elderly and young man... Sydney Gazette Sunday 7th August 1803 p. 2 Druce and the other persons taken into custody at Hunter's River, were re-examined, on suspicion of the burglary and robbery committed in the house of Thomas Larkham at the Field of Mars; Markham;s wife, who was on that occasion used with much cruelty being requested to survey the prisoners attentively, in order to ascertain whether any among them had assisted in the depredation, positively identified one of the parties and entertained a strong suspicion of two others among the number: in consequence they were all remanded to be further examined upon this charge. John passed away on 22nd October 1808 in Parramatta, New South Wales, at the age of 67. Obituary Notice Sydney Gazette 22nd October 1808. On Saturday the 22nd instant, John Larkham settler and resident of Kissing Point, in his year 67th year- He was seized with an internal complaint on Wednesday proceeding, and died about four in the afternnon on Saturday. ( probably meaning he suffered a stroke) A headstone survives in St. Johns Cemetery Parramatta recording John LARKIM (spelling is incorrect) 22nd October 1808. Sydney Gazette Sunday 30th October 1808 p. 2 DIED. On Saturday, the 22nd instant, John Larkham, settler, residing at Kissing Point, in his 67th year - He was seized with an internal complaint on the Wednesday evening and died about 4 in the afternoon on Saturday. Mary died on 11th March 1841 in Sydney age 84.