George Matthews

71

Robin Sharkey on 5th May 2016

BURIAL Buried 1 Dec 1806 at Sydney - ; Registered at St Philip's Church of England Burial Register.

71

Robin Sharkey on 5th May 2016

George Matthews, convict, arrived NSW on "Barwell" with 14 year sentence for sheep stealing, after a trial at York Castle in March 1797. "LEEDS, March 20th "On Saturday sen’night, the assizes for this county were opened at York, by the Hon Sir Giles Rooke, Knight, one of his Majesty’s Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, before whom the following prisoners have taken their trials, viz; " George Matthews, found guilty of receiving stolen goods, to be transported for fourteen years." [per The Leeds Intelligencer, Monday, March 20, 1797; pg. 3] * mid June 1797 - removed from York Castle to the hulks near Portsmouth. “ Last week were removed from the castle of York the following eight male convicts, to be put on board the hulks at Spithead, Joseph Morton, John Clark, William Henderson, Jonathon Holdsworth, sentenced to be transported for life; George Matthews for fourteen years, William Benson, Edmund Fathy, and Thomas Storr, for seven years, where they are to remain until their respective sentences can be carried into execution.” [ The Leeds Intelligencer, Monday, June 26, 1797; pg. 3] "The hulks at Spithead" which is the eastern area of the Solent between the Portsmouth coast and the Isle of Wight could mean any of the hulks in the Portsmouth area - Portsmouth harbour, Gosport, or Langstone Harbour. During 1797, when George was on the hulks, convicts at Langston Harbour - on hulk "Fortunee" - were employed at Cumberland Fort; convicts on the hulks at Portsmouth Harbour ("Lion" at Gosport, and "Leviathan", "Laurel" "Captivity" and "Portland" ) were employed at Weevil Lines. At both they were bricklayers, stone masons, & carpenters; and labourers in removing earth, mud and gravel, and forming Glacis ( a bank sloping down from a fort). They could only be employed in fine weather because of the risk of escape in dark foggy weather. [House of Commons Report, convicts in hulks 1797] * 15 Oct 1797 the "Barwell" arrived at Portsmouth to embark the convicts. * 6 November 1797, " Barwell" departed. * 18 May 1798 "Barwell" arrived Sydney Harbour. In NSW he remained friends with his ship-mate, James Wild who had also been tried at York, but three years earlier in 1794 (See below) * 4 June 1803 -Conditional Pardon. SRNSW -Item [4/4430], Reel 774 page 022. Sydney Gazette, Sunday 19 June 1803 page 4: NOTICE. WHEREAS His Excellency was pleased to Grant Free Pardons and Conditional Emancipations to the Following Persons on His Majesty's late Birth-Day, some of whom have not yet received them ; Notice is hereby given, that such as are Included in the following List may have their respective Deeds, on Application at the Secretary's Office. D. D. MANN, Clerk ... "CONDITIONAL EMANCIPATIONS .... George Matthews" * From 1806 Muster - Member of Loyal Association. Having got a Conditional Pardon, George became a member of the Loyal Association, which was formed by Governor King with free men to bolster the military in the event of the French arriving. Loyal Association members were supposed to be men of respectability so George had perhaps come up in estimation in NSW. * But by end of 1806 George was dead. Would be aged about 46 years. He had his 'Barwell' friend, James Wild, as his executor. Sydney Gazette, 1 March 1807 page 2. " LETTERS of Administration to the Estate and Effects of the late George Matthews being obtained by me, all persons indebted to the said George Matthews at the time of his death are required to settle their accounts within 21 days from the date hereof ; and persons holding legal Claims on the Estate and Effects of the deceased are also required to present their Claims within the period above specified to me, at my House in Back Row East."