Jacob Porter

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Dennis Nightingale on 16th April 2016

Jacob Porter was aged 23 when he was sentenced at the Gloucester Assizes in 1820 to transportation for seven years for stealing two pounds from the breeches pocket of John Rose of Welford on the night of 11th October in the public house called ?The George? at Fairford. He sailed from Plymouth aboard the Asia (1)in Sep 1820 and arrived in Australia in Dec 1820. The Musters of 1823, 1824 and 1825 indicate that he was assigned to Nicholas Bayly at Liverpool. In 1825 he was granted a ticket of leave to Cabramatta but in 1826 fell foul of the law by receiving stolen property [a blanket] from the Cumberland bushrangers. As a result he was confined to the prison hulk Phoenix for three months and then sent to Norfolk Island for 7 years. Here he appears to have kept his nose clean as he received a certificate of freedom in 1832. He appears to have staid on at Norfolk Island as in 1834 he is shown in the wages despatch as "Overseer of Convict Works; 2/3 per day - these salaries and allowances are granted in conformity with the regulations for paying free convict overseers." Jacob appears to have returned to Sydney not long after this as on 30 June 1835 he was married by Banns to Grace Thomson (later known as Grace McLeish)who had also arrived in the colony as a convict. At the time his occupation was recorded as Journeyman Carpenter. Their first child, Ellen was born in Sydney Dec 1836 but died there aged nine weeks in Feb 1837. Between March, 1837, and November, 1839, Jacob and Grace moved to the Singleton area, where seven other children were born to them. Children of Jacob and Grace are: Ellen b1836 Sydney. Died 1837. Joseph b1839 Yellow Rock (now Broke) married Mary Ann Hanlon (my gg grandparents) Rosanna b1841 Wollombi married George Horniblow aka Walters Thomas b1843 Patricks Plains William b1845 Fordwich, married Mary Jane Smith James b1847 Fordwich Mary Ann b1848 Fordwich John, b1852, Cockfighter's Creek, Fordwich Jacob seems to have changed residences periodically as indicated by the Singleton Electoral Rolls and the Singleton Council's Rates? Ledger. In 1867, Jacob (his occupation recorded as ?Carpenter?), was living in John Street, Singleton. In 1869-72, he lived in the dwelling next door to the Wesleyan (Methodist) Parsonage in Elizabeth Street, Singleton. In 1874-5, Jacob was again living in John Street, Singleton and in 1875-1877, he was renting a different house in John Street. Jacob died in 1881 at the Benevolent Asylum in Singleton at the age of almost 84 years. His occupation was recorded as a carpenter. He was buried the following day at the Church of England Cemetery at Singleton (Whittingham), by the Rev. B.E. Shaw. Buried with him are three of his five sons, Thomas, John and William, and William?s wife, Mary.

7

Margaret H Richard on 15th April 2016

After getting his Tick of Leave he was Re convicted in Australia and sent to Norfolk Island