Richard Palmer

3

Elizabeth Cooper on 11th September 2024

Richard was tried at the Summer Assizes in Chelmsford, Essex on 17 July 1820, charged with burglary in the house of Ann Cooper of Shellow Bowels. He was found guilty of larceny only, and was one of seven who were sentenced that day to seven years transportation to the colony of New South Wales.

54

Phil Hands on 27th May 2017

Tried and convicted at the Essex Assizes, sentenced to transportation for 7 years. Left England on 8th October 1820. Ship:- the 'Prince Of Orange' sailed with 136 male convicts on board of which 1 died during the voyage. Arrived on 12th February 1821. In February 1823 at about the age of 22 years, as a serving convict, he applied for the Governor's permission to marry 31 year old Sarah Atkins, an emancipist (a convict who had served her time), the couple were married that year at Liverpool. The next record in the Colonial Secretary's papers about Richard Palmer is that he assigned out as a labourer. Two assignment papers exist, one dated 29th August 1823, and the other dated 19th December 1823. Then due to improper conduct in the performance of his duties for which he received fines and punishment it was decided on 8th October 1824 to sent him to Port Maquarie, and he was transported to the secondary punishment penal settlement of Port Maquarie aboard the 'Amity' on 16th October 1824. Port Maquarie had been established as the destination for convicts that had committed secondary crimes in New South Wales in 1821, a place to send intractible criminals. It had isolation, thick bush that made escape difficult and also provided hard labour in timber-getting, tough terrain and local aboriginals that were keen to return escaping prisoners in return for tobacco and blankets. The first commandment of Port Maquarie, Francis Allman, under whom Richard Palmer served, was fond of flogging. Convicts had limited liberties, and the place became regarded among the convicts who served there as a "living hell". It is not known when Richard Palmer returned from Port Maquarie, but the newspapers of the day record that he received his Certificate of Freedom in August 1827 at about the age of 27. His sentence had been served, and as an emancipist he was now free to begin a new life for himself. His wife, Sarah died in 1829. In 1833 at about the age of 33 years he married 16 year old Frances Gutsell, who had been born in the Colony the daughter of convicts. Richard & Francis were married until his death 41 years later, and Frances was still presenting him with newborn children into his old age, 11 children were born between 1837-1862. Richard Palmers life was successful in that he became a licensed victualler and an omnibus proprietor (owner of a horse-drawn vehicle for public transport). It was not uneventful, however, and he was often before the courts. He was before the Insolvency Courts on more than one occassion. He also received a number of fines for various offences. He was fined at various times for allowing goats, a cow, and pigs to stray. In 1853 he warned for trespass. In 1857 he was convicted and fined for perjury; in 1858 of loitering; in 1864 for taking grass from the sand hills; in 1867 for "careless driving" (of a horse), in 1868 for "furious driving" (of a horse); in 1870 for "suffering his" (horse-drawn) "vehicle to loiter" on the road; and in 1872 for "cruely ill-treating a horse by driving it with sore shoulders". Richard died on 16th January 1875 at Wollahra. Evening News (Sydney) Monday 18th January 1875 p. 2 On January 16th, at his late residence, Eliza Street, Woollahra, after a long and painful illness, Richard, the beloved husband of Frances Palmer, leaving a large family to mourn their loss, aged 75.