John Liquorish

343

Maureen Withey on 3rd August 2021

Colonial Secretary Index. LIQUORISH, John. Per "Barwell", 1798; of Toongabbie. 1810 Jan 30 Memorial (Fiche 3006; 4/1822 No.192) 1816 Recommended C Wiltshire as teacher at Toongabbie (Reel 6046; 4/1736 pp.97-100) 1816 Nov 4 Petition for free pardon (Fiche 3173; 4/1849 p.58) 1818 Sep 10 On list of persons to receive grants of land in 1818 (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.48) 1820 Sep 18 On list of persons for whom grants of land have been handed over to the Surveyor General for delivery (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.59) 1821 Jan 24, May 24 Store receipts of for wheat and fresh meat (Reel 6051; 4/1748 pp.144, 177) 1824 Jul 17 Memorial for additional grant (Fiche 3098; 4/1838A No.584 pp.429-32) LIQUORISH, Rachel. Wife of John Liquorish of Toongabbie 1816 Nov Memorial (Fiche 3012; 4/1822A No.54 pp.195-6) -------------------------------------------------- LOST, from the Residence of JOHN LIQUORICE, Toongabbee, the following ARTICLES; viz. A Conditional Pardon, granted by Governor KING to John Liquorice; a Grant, of 50 Acres of Land, to John Liquorice by Governor MACQUARIE ; Deeds of 60 Acres of Land, purchased from John Leadbeater; Deeds of 30 Acres of Land, of Robert Bolton ; Deeds of 34 Acres of Land, of Thomas Needham ; Deeds of 30 Acres of Land, of William Skinner; a Note of Hand, drawn by John Pike in favor of John Liquorice, or Order; together with a Number of other Papers of no use to any one but the Owner.—The above Papers were lost on the 22d Instant, and whoever may have found the same and will bring them to John Liquorice, at Toongabbee ; or, to John Hendle, Parramatta, shall receive a Reward of £5, within fourteen days from the date hereof; but the Person, in whose possession they may be found after that period, will be prosecuted according to Law. Sydney Gazette, 27 Oct 1821. ------------------------------------------------------

53

Beth Taylor on 24th August 2019

John Liquorish arrived in Sydney in 1797 as a convict on the ship Barwell with a life sentence. He had been tried at Northampton Assize Court (UK) in 1796. Liquorish received a Conditional pardon in 1802, after only serving 6 years of his life term. He was given two land grants, one of 50 acres in the parish of Prospect in 1819, near Seven Hills railway station on a modern-day map. In 1818 John Rowe was a convict servant to John Liquorish. Neighbour Robert Bolton leased his 30 acre farm for 99 years to Liquorish in 1821. He received £12 ($24) for his trouble. The property was later sold in entirety to another neighbour John Pike. In 1821 a notice was placed by John in the Sydney newspaper stating that several papers and deeds of land belonging to him were “lost” and offering a £5 ($10) reward. Robert Bolton was charged with the theft, when some of the papers were discovered in his house. I guess we can conclude that Bolton and Liquorice were not friends, at least not after this incident! The 1823-25 Muster shows William Beams as a free man employed by Liquorish at Parramatta. In 1825 Liquorice paid £25 as part of the bond to guarantee the next Court appearance for John Pitches. John Liquorish was a witness at the March 1826 wedding at Parramatta of Jane Bolton to William Beams. John’s first “spouse” Rachel died early in 1826 but he did not stay a widower for very long. Sarah Luke became Liquorish’s second wife on their marriage in October 1826 at St John’s Church Parramatta. Witnesses were James Core and his wife Maria nee Bolton. In 1828 Liquorish was listed in the Census as a farmer of Seven Hills, in what seems to be a partnership with John Rowe. He had 200 acres, 3 horses and 30 cattle. John Liquorish, aged about 87, died at Parramatta in 1846. I have found no record of children born during his life with Rachel or Sarah.