Martha Morris

74

iain Frazier on 22nd May 2026

Family connections for Martha (Morris) are: MORRIS Martha (Morris) was born about 1782 at Shrewsbury Shropshire. She was tried for housebreaking & stealing wearing apparel of Elizabeth (Kelsal) of Astley Abbots at Shropshire/Salop Assizes on 19 3 1803, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 5 1804 after a voyage of 6months on EXPERIMENT. She was recorded in 1806 with Ticket of Leave with Thomas (Benton) soldier. She had a relationship with Thomas (Benton his first relationship) emancipist of 73rd Regiment, produced perhaps 3children later married, as Martha (Morris/on), on 18 6 1810 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She was recorded on 25 5 1812 at Parramatta as wife of Thomas (Benton) private in 73rd Regiment. She was issued a Pardon on 31 1 1813. She died on 3 12 1821 age about39 in Sydney & was buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney. [Some details taken from this Website] Thomas (Benton) was born in 1771. He arrived in NsW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship ALBERMARLE. He enlisted in NSW Corps as a private in 1801 (stated as an ex-convict) & detached to Prentice)s company. He was detached to (Grose)s company in 1802. He was detached to (Kemp)s company in 1805. He was recorded in 1806 as a soldier with Martha (Morris). He was detached to 6Company in 1809 & transferred to 73rd Regiment on 24 4 1810. He was recorded on 25 5 1812 at Parramatta as private in 73rd Regiment husband of Martha (Morris). He married secondly Hannah (Hitchi/ens her first marriage) on 15 3 1826 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was recorded in 1827 & 1829 as a labourer. He, named (Benson), died in August 1832 age35 in Lunatic Asylum Liverpool father of at least 6children-mostly girls Thomas (Benton) does not have an entry on this Website as yet: added by me. 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. Pamela Statham 'A Colonial Regiment-New Sources Relating to the New South Wales Corps-1789-1810'

43

Darryl Buley on 3rd August 2024

Birth 1782 • Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England Trial 19 Mar 1803 • Salop (Shropshire), England Martha Morris, one of 338 convicts transported on the Coromandel and the ship Experiment, November 1803. Details: Sentence details: Convicted at Salop Assizes for a term of life on 19 March 1803. Vessel: Coromandel and Experiment. Sentencing report in Chester Courant - Tuesday 05 April 1803 5 Apr 1803 • Salop (Shropshire), England "At Shrewsbury, Martha Morris, for breaking into the dwelling house of Elizabeth Kelsal at Astley Abbots, and stealing therefrom carious articles of wearing apparel... received sentence of death but reprieved to 14 years transportation before the Judge left town." Departure 2 Jan 1804 Set sail 2nd Jan 1804 In transit for 162 days New South Wales 12th Jun 1804 Arrival 7 May 1804 • Sydney Name Martha Morris Date of Conviction 19 Mar. 1803 Place of Conviction Salop Vessel Coromandel Port of Arrival Sydney Date of Arrival 7 May 1804 Arrival 12 Jun 1804 Convict Name: Martha Morris Trial Place: Salop Trial Date: 1803 Sentence: Life Arrival Details Ship: Experiment I Arrival Year: 1804 The ship Experiment (1) arrived in NSW 24 Jun 1804 Residence 1804 BENTON, Martha (Per "Experiment", 1804; wife of Thomas Benton) see MORRIS, Martha Birth of daughter Sarah Morris Benton (1805–1813) 15 Apr 1805 • Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia MORRIS SARAH 516/1805 V1805516 148 JOHN MARTHA CB Baptism 27 Apr 1806 • St John's Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Sarah Morris daughter of John Sheaman and Martha Morris was born 15 Apr 1805 and christened 27 Apr 1806 Birth of daughter Mary Benton (1806–) 4 Sep 1806 • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia BENTON MARY 1669/1806 V18061669 1A JOHN MARTHA (MORRISON) CA Census 1806 1806 muster Martha Morris, Experiment, ticket of leave, lives with Thomas Benton Soldier Birth of daughter Susannah Benton (1809–) 15 Mar 1809 • Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia BENTIN SUSANNA 683/1809 V1809683 148THOS MARTHA CB Marriage 19 Jun 1810 • Sydney, New South Wales Name Martha Morris Marriage Date 1810 Marriage Place Sydney, New South Wales Registration Date 1810 Registration Place Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Spouse Thomas Benton Residence 25 May 1812 • Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia MORRIS, Martha. Per "Experiment", 1804; of Parramatta 1812 May 25 Wife of Thomas Benton, private in 73rd Regiment. Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3171; 4/1848 pp.240-1) The humble petition of Martha Morris most respectfully sheweth That your petitioner was tried at Salisbury in March 1803 and came to this Colony in the ship Experiment Capt Withers. That your petitioner ever since her arrival has conducted herself with propriety, never having her name called in question in any instance whatsoever. That your petitioner was married to Thomas Benton a private in the 73rd Regiment on the nineteenth day of June 1819, and now resides at Parramatta, and has three children. Your petitioner therefore begs leave to approach Your Excellency and most humbly prays you will be generously pleased to take into consideration the number of years she has been in this colony, together with the character she has maintained and grant her an emancipation and Petitioner as in duty bound... "I have never known the petitioner guilty of any misconduct since she has been in this settlement Samuel Marsden". Pardon 31 Jan 1813 Name Martha Morris Trial Location Shropshire, England Conviction Date 19 Mar. 1803 Arrival Year 1804 Pardon Date 31 Jan. 1813 Vessel Name Experiment Record Type Absolute Death of daughter Sarah Morris Benton (1805–1813) 6 May 1813 • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia BENTON SARAH 3024/1813 V18133024 2A INFANT CA Death 1821 • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Name: Martha Benton Death Date: 1821 Death Place: New South Wales Registration Year: 1821 Registration Place: Sydney, New South Wales Volume Number: V1821615 8 BENTON MARTHA 615/1821 V1821615 8 AGE 39 CA BENTON MARTHA 5262/1821 V18215262 2B AGE 39 CA Funeral 1821 • St Phillip's, Church of England BENTON, Martha ED 60615 Death Age at Death: 39 Index Year: 1821 Reg Year: 1821 Reg State: New South Wales Ref Number: V1821615 8 Parish: Sydney, St Phillip's, Church of England