John Nicholls

John Nicholls was 29 years old when indicted. He worked for Thomas West and William Thomas, hair merchants and perfumers. He was a servant and assistant to the Porter. He stole razors, 48 hand of silk, 62 ivory combs 19 pound weight of human hair, 36 yards of wig ribbon and many other items, all of which he was trying to sell. John had a wife and family at Leominster. John was supposedly to be sent to Africa, but because of the unrest there was sent to Port Jackson on the First Fleet. 24/3/1788: John married Mary Carroll (Lady Penryhn), but they had separated by October 1788 when she was transported to Norfolk Island, in an attempt to alleviate the plight of the Colony caused by food shortages. Mary was sent back to Port Jackson by June 1794 and died in Sydney in 1803. By the end of April 1791, John had completed his sentence and took up the offer of a grant of land and became a settler at Prospect Hill. By 1798, John had become a constable and in the 1800 muster, he had 40 acres sown with wheat, 12 acres planted with maize, 110 sheep, 28 pigs and 1 horse. In 1803 John married Ann Pugh at Parramatta. They had 12 children. Sarah, John and Ann's 12th child was born about April 1822, and on 25/12/1822 John died. He was buried at the Devonshire Street Cemetery. His headstone read: Sacred to the memory of John NICHOLDS who departed this life 24/12/1822, Aged 67 years. Ann died 10/7/1849, and outlived John by 25 years. At the time of her death she had at least 66 grand children.