Thomas Massey

341

Maureen Withey on 14th April 2024

DEATHS. At his residence, Ellerslie, on the 7th inst., Thomas Massey, Esq., aged 99 years. Friends will meet at Campbell Town Church at 4 o'clock on Saturday, 9th inst. Launceston Examiner, 7 Jan 1858

341

Maureen Withey on 14th April 2024

Colonial Secretary Index. MASSEY, Thomas (Senior). Per "Gorgon", 1791; Superintendent at Port Dalrymple n.d. In index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land (Fiche 3262; 4/438 pp.61, 62, 63, 66) 1802 Apr 10 Particulars of arms in possession of (Reel 6041; 4/1719 p.86) 1804 Apr 7 Subscribed to the rules and orders of the Sydney Loyal Association (Reel 6041; 4/1719 p.192) 1809 Apr 13 Dismissed as Superintendent at Port Dalrymple (Reel 6037; SZ993 p.28) 1809 Nov 14 On list of all grants and leases of town allotments registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3268; 9/2731 p.232) 1810 Jan 22 Memorial (Fiche 3007; 4/1822 No.215) 1810 Jan 29 To be restored as Acting Superintendent at Port Dalrymple (Reel 6003; 4/3490A p.37) 1810 Jan 29 Confirmed as Superintendent of Government Stock, Port Dalrymple; to receive allotment of land (Reel 6003; 4/3490A pp.132-3) 1810 Jan 29 To be re-instated as Superintendent (Reel 6042; 4/1723 p.172) 1810 Oct To receive two cows and six ewes from the Government Herds (Reel 6003; 4/3490A p.98-9) 1810 Oct 23 Evidence of re cases of prisoners from Port Dalrymple transmitted to Ellis Bent, Judge Advocate (Reel 6002; 4/3490D p.30) 1810 Nov 3 Appointed Superintendent of Government Stock at Port Dalrymple (Reel 6038; SZ758 p.126; Reel 6039; 4/426 p.45) 1812 Jun 25 On list of names of persons residing in Port Dalrymple to whom the Governor had promised grants of land there in 1812 (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.12) 1816 Jan 1 On list of persons holding civil and military employments in New South Wales & its dependencies, as Superintendent at Port Dalrymple (Reel 6045; 4/1734 p.12) 1816 On list of persons who have had lands measured in Van Diemen's Land but have not received their grants (Reel 6048; 4/1742 p.297) 1819-23 On list of persons owing quit rents in Van Diemen's Land; for land at Port Dalrymple (Fiche 3270; X19 pp.38, 46) 1822 Feb 3 Chief Constable, Launceston. Re whereabouts of C Rumley (Reel 6018; 4/3521 p.302) 1824 Jan 8 On list of persons in Van Diemen's Land recommended for grants of land in extension or addition to first grants (Reel 6017; 4/5782 p.26)

341

Maureen Withey on 14th April 2024

Digitised Indent of Gorgon. Thomas Massey, tried at Chester Gen Sess. 3 Sep 1789, Life. --------------------------------------------------------------- At our assizes, which ended on Wednesday last, George Moston, Matthew Pierpoint, Peter Maddock, and Thomas Massey, for burglaries, were all convicted, and received sentence of death ; Chester Chronicle, 11 Sep 1789.

59

greg petersen on 20th April 2019

1831 19th March,Hobart Town Courier entry, We regret to learn from the Launceston Advertiser, that the blacks in the neighbourhood of Ben Lomond have renewed their sanguinary attacks upon the stock-keepers and others in exposed situations. Two sawyers, named John Taylor and Edward Sharpe, in the employment of Mr. Massey, had been attacked by them while at work, and Sharpe was wounded so severely that his life was despaired of. After which they attacked a hut in which was a Mrs. Cunningham and child, whom they wounded so severely that little hopes were entertained of their recovery.. Same article appeared in Van Dieman's Land News (From the Hobart Town courier) Tuesday 19th April 1831 Page 3 "On the 29th February, .1831, "as two sawyers were at work near Mr. Massey's: in the vicinity of Ben Lomond, they were attacked by the natives. The blacks took from the place some blankets 'and a gun, but the men-John Taylor arid Edward Sharpe-escaped, though severely wounded by spears and bruised by waddles."

2

Rutherford Browne on 21st May 2018

A fully documented 448 page biography of Thomas Massey was published in January 2018. A website introducing this volume is available at: https://www.thomasmasseylaunceston.brbsoft.com/ (Copy this link direct into the address line of your browser if your search engine fails to find it). The biography "From Convict to Chief Constable" The story of Thomas Massey, and the first 50 years of Launceston by Rutherford J Browne is available from Amazon.com. The price US$28. https://www.amazon.com/Convict-Chief-Constable-Launceston-Birthright/dp/1539077136

2

Rutherford Browne on 29th January 2012

Thomas Massey born Cheshire, England, 1758 Thomas Massey was committed for desertion as a soldier in the 47th Regiment (given a life sentence for desertion) and then charged in company of two others with breaking and entering the house of Thom.Hammon near Knutsford in 1789. Massey was not charged with the act of burglary, but with being in the company of two ‘felon’ burglars. One stole a shirt, value 5/-, from Hammons house. Massey was sentenced to death at Chester, England on 3rd Sept 1789. Sentence was reprieved on the condition of transportation for life. Massey sailed, along with 29 other male convicts, from Spithead, the 15th March 1791 on board the Royal Navy Frigate ‘HMS Gorgon’. The Gorgon was converted to bring out stores and provisions. Her lower deck guns were left in England and her complement reduced to 100 men including officers. No doubt Massey learned something about sailing – due to the reduced complement, the 30 male convicts assisted in working the ship. The Gorgon stopped at Teneriff, St.Jago, and the Cape of Good Hope. At the Cape she took on extra cargo belonging to the ‘Guardian’, together with 3 bulls, 23 cows, 4 rams and 62 ewes; sailing for Sydney on 30th July. Also passenger on the ‘Gorgon’ was Philip Gidley King (2nd Lt to Captain Arthur Phillip, HMS Sirius - First Fleet). King who had been sent by Philip to establish a colony on Norfolk Island had returned to England to report on the difficulties of the settlements at New South Wales. King was now returning on the ‘Gorgon’ to take up his post as Lieutenant-Governor of Norfolk Island. King later became the third Governor of New South Wales on 28 September 1800, and was Governor from 1800-1806. King considering that ex-convicts should not remain in disgrace forever, appointed emancipists to positions of responsibility, regulated the position of assigned servants, and laid the foundation of the 'ticket of leave' system for deserving prisoners. In view of the rapid ‘preferment’ Massey received, starting with his conditional pardon in 1800, it is logical that King may have formed opinions as to his character on the voyage out. The Gorgon arrived in Sydney on the 21st September 1791, at a time the colony was suffering extreme privation. While 3 bulls, 6 cows, 3 rams and 9 ewes died on the passage it appears the crew, the convicts, the several passengers all arrived alive and well. No doubt there was plenty of meat to boost rations. This is in sharp contrast to other ships arriving at the time as Hunter reports;… “for though the number of sick convicts was not considerable when landed from the ships, they were, in general, greatly emaciated and appeared starved, and worn out with confinement.” Massey formed a de facto relationship with Ann Simmons (b. London England 1768, Transported “Surprise”, d. .). Ann had a prior child - Jane Ann was born in the colony on 19 June 1795 and baptised at Sydney 17 Jan 1796. The date of birth indicates that the child had been conceived on the voyage. The father, John Bunn was almost certainly a crew member of the "Surprise".