George Ransley

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Robin Lee on 9th February 2024

George's son Edward married Elizabeth Higgins, daughter of convict Richard Foord Higgins. Edward & Elizabeth's daughter Lavinia Ransley married Charles Fleming, the son of convict Thomas Fleming & his wife Ann Griggs, the granddaughter of convict Sarah Griggs.

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Kerry Couchman Swinnerton on 14th September 2018

George Ransley, alias Captain Batt, was supposedly the leader of a group known as The Aldington Smugglers. He, along with 13 other men, were captured and tried for the murder of a government revenue agent and for "aiding and abetting the crime of smuggling". All 14 men pleaded guilty and none of them was specifically charged with the murder as there was insufficient proof as to who may have actually fired the lethal shot. Not all men were armed at the time, and reports stated that George Ransley was no armed. George Ransley farmed, but he also kept an unlicenced drinking house, and it was supplied by the goods that were smuggled from France - untaxed brandy and gin - and whilst the men in his smuggling gang were well paid, they were then encouraged to spend their money in Ransley establishment. Ransley's wife and children joined him in Tasmania after a few years and he farmed land at New Norfolk in Tasmania, where he died - reportedly aged 77 years in 1856. His wife's brother was Samuel Bailey, who along with his nephew, John Bailey, were part of the smuggling gang and were also transported on the same prison ship "Governor Ready"

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D Wong on 16th August 2014

George was transported for 'Aiding and abetting smugglers'. He was actually the ringleader and the murder of Richard Morgan occurred when he sighted them on the beaches carrying their smuggled goods. 1802: Married Elizabeth Bailey. From Wikipedia: In 1792 George Ransley was born at Ruckinge, and started work as a ploughman then a carter. The story goes that he found a stash of spirits hidden by the smugglers and with the proceeds of the sale bought his house The Bourne Tap, from where he frequently sold spirits that he had landed. Another location regularly frequented by the Gang at this time was an Augustine Priory, which was actually used as a farm house, at Bilsington which they would use as a store house. Ransley took over the gang of smugglers after the Battle of Brookland, and employed a doctor, with an allowance paid to a man's family if he was ill, a policy that avoided the capture of injured men by the revenue forces and helped to ensure loyalty. The gang became stronger and landed goods all along the coast from Rye to Deal. In July 1826 they were caught on the beach at Dover and a Midshipman, Richard Morgan, was killed. In October 1826 Ransley was arrested at Aldington by the Bow Street Runners on suspicion of murder, but as it took place in the dark, the death sentence was converted to deportation along with his brother-in-law Samuel Bailey as was fellow gang members Thomas Gillham and James Hogben. Ransley was sent to work on a farm in Tasmania where his knowledge of farming was a great benefit to him. Two years later his wife Elizabeth followed with their ten children - only nine survived the journey. He was assigned to his wife in 1833. He was finally granted a pardon in 1838 and farmed 500 acres (2.0 km2) at River Plenty, Hobart. He died in 1856 and is buried in River Plenty, New Norfolk, along with his wife.

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Tim Flynn on 16th August 2014

Check out this video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/pevgq4-QXdw Sent from my iPad