Lydia Parker

43

Darryl Buley on 14th February 2025

Birth 14 May 1765 • Sherborne, Dorset, England Daughter of David Childs and Mary (Wellman) Childs Baptism 14 May 1765 • Melbury-Sampford, Melbury-Osmond, Dorset, England Name Lydia Chiles Gender Female Baptism Date 14 May 1765 Baptism Place Melbury Osmond, Dorset, England Father David Chiles Mother Mary FHL Film Number 1239212 Marriage 23 Oct 1785 • Melbury Sampford, Dorset, England Name Lydia Childs Gender Female Marriage Date 23 Oct. 1785 Marriage Place Melbury Sampford, Dorset, England Spouse William Parker Residence 14 Mar 1790 Lydia's first brush with the law was on 14 Mar 1790 when she was charged with stealing. Parker Children 1790 • Sherborne, Dorset, England Their children were baptised in Sherborne, Dorset: Mary Parker, 11 Feb 1786 [3] Elizabeth Parker, 07 Dec 1787 [4] William Parker, 28 Nov 1789 [5] George Parker, 18 Oct 1791 [6] Residence 1794 Lydia was the widow of William Parker who had died in 1794. Lydia and William Parker's marriage had produced 5 children, four of whom died during the year following William's death. Records show she produced an illegitimate daughter Maria in 1795 and in 1796 she had her first incarceration. What happened to the two surviving children is uncertain for she was transported alone on the Earl Cornwallis arriving in the colony in 1801. Residence 26 Jun 1796 • Dorchester, Dorset, England Name Lydia Parker Age 30 Birth Year 1766 Received Date 26 Jun. 1796 Place of Origin Sherborne Record Type Prisoner Register Year range 1782-1808 Reference Number NG PR1 D1 1 Residence 1796 • Dorset, England Name Lydia Parker Event Date 1796 Event Place Dorset, England Session Midsummer Reference Number QSM 1/11 Residence 1796 In 1796 Lydia was sentenced for stealing clothes. Her occupation was given as Silk Throwster and her age stated as 30. She got 2 years hard labour and was discharged on 13 July 1798. Residence 28 Jan 1799 She was back in prison on 28 January, charged with stealing and sentenced to transportation for seven years. She was convicted as Dorset Quarter Sessions. Residence 2 Apr 1799 • Dorchester, Dorset, England Name Lydia Parker Vessel Earl Cornwallis Convicted Date 2 Apr. 1799 Voyage Date Aug. 1800 Colony New South Wales Place of Conviction Dorset, England Departure Aug 1800 Lydia Parker Gender: Female Birth Date: 18 Aug 1765 Occupation: Silkwinder Conviction Place: Dorset Quarter Sessions Crime: Stealing Departure Date: Aug 1800 Arrival Date: 12 Jun 1801 Arrival Place: New South Wales Arrival Ship: Earl Cornwallis Residence 13 Oct 1800 Name Lydia Parker Event Date 13 Oct. 1800 Arrival Year 1801 Vessel Earl Cornwallis Event Description On list of convicts on board the "Earl Cornwallis" Comments Per "Earl Cornwallis", 1801 Page 23 Arrival 12 Jun 1801 • New South Wales Thomas Barber arrived on the ship 'Earl Cornwallis' on 12 Jun 1801 as a member of the New South Wales Corps. Also on that ship was convict Lydia Parker, a widow. Marriage 9 Jan 1802 • St John's Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Thomas Barber of the parish of Parramatta and Lidia Parker of ditto were married by banns this ninth day of January in the year one thousand eight hundred and two by me Samuel Marsden. Lidia made her X mark and Thomas signed the register Thomas Barber 1759–1838 Birth of son David Childs Barber (1802–1811) 25 Aug 1802 • Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Birth of daughter Lydia Barber (1803–1835) 13 Oct 1803 • Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Birth of son Samuel Barber (1805–1890) 1805 Birth of daughter Ruth Barber (1809–) 1809 • Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Certificate of Freedom 30 May 1810 Name Lydia Parker Arrival Year 1801 Vessel Earl of Cornwallis Certificate Date 30 May 1810 Residence 1810 PARKER, Lydia. Per "Earl Cornwallis", 1801 1800 Oct 13 On list of convicts on board the "Earl Cornwallis" (Reel 6028; 2/8283 p.23) 1810 Jun 9 Granted certificate of freedom (Reel 6038; SZ758 p.52) Death of son David Childs Barber (1802–1811) 7 Nov 1811 Residence 1811 • Australia Name Lydia Parker Vessel E Cornwallis Province New South Wales Title General muster Year(s) 1811 Place of Conviction Dorchester Residence 1821 • Australia Name Lydia Parker Arrival Date Jun. 1801 Vessel E Cornwallis Province New South Wales Title Female Year(s) 1821 Place of Conviction Dorchester Census 1828 • Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Barber, Samuel 23 born in the colony [son of Thomas and Lydia] Barber, Mary 18 born in the colony [wife of Samuel] Barber, Lydia Jr. 17mo born in the colony [daughter of Samuel and Mary, aged 17 months] Census 1828 • Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Barber, Thomas 67 came free El. Cornwallis 1801 Protestant, shopkeeper Parramatta 350 acres 7 horses 100 horned cattle Barber, Lydia 65 FS Earl Cornwallis 1801 Protestant Residence 1828 • Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Name Lydia Barber Estimated Birth Year 1763 District Parramatta Residence Age 65 Residence New South Wales, Australia Residence Date 1828 Death of daughter Lydia Barber (1803–1835) 11 Oct 1835 • Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Death of husband Thomas Barber (1759–1838) 22 Jun 1838 • Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Death 27 Nov 1838 • Parramatta, New South Wales Name Lydia Barber Death Date 1838 Death Place Parramatta, New South Wales Registration Date 1838 Registration Place Parramatta, Australia Volume Number V18382840 22 Inscription 1838 Sacred to the memory of Thomas Barber who departed this life 22nd June 1838 aged 80 years. Also of Lydia wife of the above who departed this life 27 November 1838 aged 75 years. Burial St John's Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Name Lydia Barber Maiden Name Childs Gender Female Death Date 27 Nov. 1838 Cemetery St. John's Cemetery Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia Spouse Thomas Barber Children David Childs Barber

105

Denis Pember on 26th January 2016

Sainty & Johnson; 1828 Census of New South Wales: [Ref B0293] Barber, Thomas 67 came free El. Cornwallis 1801 Protestant, shopkeeper Parramatta. 350 acres 7 horses 100 horned cattle. [Ref B0294] Barber, Lydia 65 came free El. Cornwallis 1801 Protestant. (# Came Free? No!) [Ref B0295] Barber, Samuel 23 born in the colony [son of Thomas and Lydia] [Ref B0296] Barber, Mary 18 born in the colony [wife of Samuel] [Ref B0297] Barber, Lydia Jr. 17 born in the colony [daughter of Samuel and Mary, aged 17 months]

105

Denis Pember on 26th January 2016

Lydia was a bit of a 'lass'! Lydia's first brush with the law was on 14 Mar 1790 when she was charged with stealing. In 1796 Lydia was sentenced for stealing clothes. Her occupation was given as Silk Throwster and her age stated as 30. She got 2 years hard labour and was discharged on 13 July 1798. She was back in prison on 28 January, charged with stealing and sentenced to transportation for seven years.

Born: 14/08/1765, Melbury Osmond, Dorset, England. She was the daughter of David Childs & Mary Wellman. First marriage to William Parker, 23/10/1785, Melbury Bubb, Dorset, He died 1794 in England. She was tried at Dorset Quarter Sessions, Dorchester, 2/04/1799 for stealing. She was transported for 7 years on the ship 'Earl Cornwallis' She met Thomas Barber on the ship. He was a member of the NSW Corp (Rum Corp) in transit to NSW. She married Thomas Barber, 9/01/1802 at Parramatta, NSW. She gained her Certificate of Freedom, 9/06/1810. She died at Parramatta, NSW, 27/11/1838.

Lydia's maiden name was Lydia Childs. She is also the first cousin (twice removed) of famed poet and novelist Thomas Hardy. The relationship is explained here: Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928) is Lydia's 1st cousin 2x removed Jemima Hand (1814 - 1904) Mother of Thomas Elizabeth Betty Swetman (1778 - 1847) Mother of Jemima Maria Childs (1735 - 1799) Mother of Elizabeth Betty Joseph Childs (1703 - 1770) Father of Maria David Childs (1729 - 1809) Son of Joseph Lydia Childs Daughter of David

Lydia married Thomas Barber B Cir1760/1 Manchester Lancashire Velvet Dresser Arrived 12Jun 1801 Ship Earl Cornwallis Private NSW Corps Shopkeeper Paramatta D22Jun1838 and had a daughter Lydia Barber Born in the colony B10Oct1803 D1835