John Robley

75

iain Frazier on 14th May 2026

Family connections for John (Robley) are: ROBLEY John (Robley) was born about 1763/5 & became a blacksmith. He was tried for breaking & entering, on 26 1 1789, & stealing silk bonnet etc of Richard (Parliament) at Old Bailey in February 1789 or on 9 9 1789, sentenced to death commuted to Life, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship SCARBOROUGH; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate. He married Jemima (Wasker/Tasker/Wilson) on 11 10 1791 at St Phillips CofE Sydney/Port Jackson. He arrived on Norfolk Island with his family in 1801; he is recorded on Norfolk Island as Jonathan (Robley). He became Overseer of convicts on Norfolk Island by 1805 & working 10acres & is recorded in February 1805 as sentence expired Free by Servitude on stores as supervisor-Superintendent of Smiths. He had 10acres when he went to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) with his family as part of the first evacuation (for which volunteers apparantly had been called with appropriate compensation offerred & for which he may have tried to decline as some successful farmers were asked to stay) on 25 12 1807 on HMS PORPOISE, arriving on 17 1 1808; to Derwent. He commenced a partnership & was living with George (Simpson) about 1803sic at Kangaroo Point. He was issued a Free Pardon on 7 9 1816 at Hobart Town. He is recorded as off stores at Hobart Town on 2 10 1818. He had 44acres at Strangford/Bagdad/Jeric/ho; & in December 1818 tendered meat to His Majestys Stores. By 1833 his land was owned by George (Armitage). On 20 3 1834 he dissolved his partnership with George (Simpson) with a fight at Kangaroo Point, with George (Simpson) being charged with assault. In February 1835 his 10acre orchard farm house etc at Crawfish Point Queensborough Kangaroo Point was offerred for sale; he was also selling his house at Collins St Hobart. He died on 18 2 1840 age75 of dropsy at Kangaroo Point/Hobart Town. [Some details taken from this Website] Jemima (Wasker/Waster/Waskit/Wilson/Tasker) was born about 1772. She was tried at Old Bailey on 24 2 1790 sentenced to 7years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship MARY ANN. In 1798 she was accused by robbers before their execution of receiving property that they stole, of which she found it convenient to accuse others. She arrived on Norfolk Island with her family in 1801 [she is referred to as (Wasker) in Norfolk Island records & (Wilson) in Smees records]. She went to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) with her husband as part of the first evacuation on HMS PORPOISE, arriving on 17 1 1808; to Derwent. She is recorded as off stores at Hobart Town on 2 10 1818. She died on 1 4 1837 age65 at Kangaroo Point [Some details taken from this Website] John (Robley) & Jemima (Wasker/Waster/Waskit/Wilson) produced 2children: 1.Elizabeth (Robley) was born on 27 11 1792 at Port Jackson & baptised on 23 12 1792 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She arrived on Norfolk Island with her parents in 1801. She is recorded as child >2years on stores on Norfolk Island in February 1805. She married, perhaps firstly (1of3), at age13 (other records state 14&15) Michael Massey (Robinson age62) Pardoned in May 1806 on Norfolk Island & produced 3children. She returned to Sydney with her husband in 1807.>>> ..Michael Massey (Robinson) was born about 1744. He attended Oxford University in England & practised law. He wrote poetry & 1poem, attacking a Mr (Oldham), caused him being convicted at Old Bailey in February 1796, sentenced to death reprieved to Life, held at London Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 18 5 1798 after a voyage of 8months on BARWELL; he was allowed special considerations on the voyage due to his 'superiority of manners & behaviour'. On arrival he was appointed secretary to Richard (Dore), Deputy Judge Advocate, whom he met on the voyage & undoubtedly arranged his Conditional Pardon in June 1798. By November 1800 he was appointed Officer for Registration of Agreements, initiating legal documents for land grants. He could easily forge signatures & was caught & sentenced on 18 9 1802 to transportation to Norfolk Island, from which he easily secured a Pardon. By 1805 he associated with troublemakers & was sent to Norfolk Island to serve his sentence. He returned to Sydney with his wife in 1807. He was recorded as Free by Servitude by 1808. He composed the poem 'Ode on His Majestys Birthday' in 1810-published in Sydney Gazette. He was Free by Servitude in 1812. He died on 22 12 1826 age about82 at his home Castlereagh St Sydney; he left his property to his wife & children. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Elizabeth (Robley) had a second (2of3) relationship with William (Field his third relationship) & produced 3more children. She moved to (probably Derwent Tasmania) with her husband in 1807 (therefore on HMS PORPOISE 25 12 1807, arriving on 17 1 1808).>>> ..a William (Field) brother of Richard (Field) was born in Enfield near London & became a farmer & butcher. He married firstly Sarah (???) & produced 1child who remained in UK. He was tried for receiving sheep from his brother at probably Old Bailey in April 1800, sentenced to death commuted to 14years (or 7years), held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict without his family on 12 7 1806 after a voyage of 6months on FORTUNE. He was apparantly sent to Norfolk Island. He was sent to Port Dalrymple Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) on SOPHIA (can't find such a voyage for this ship)-probably about 1813 (& therefore perhaps to Derwent). He married Elizabeth (Richards)-not shown in Smees records. He was very successful; by 1828 he had become the main supplier of meat to Launceston area; he eventually owned 33% of property of Launceston. In 1833 he survived court challenge by George (Pyle). He died in 1837 age about63, after perhaps 3marriages father of perhaps 6children owner of 16,000acres. ..[Information taken from the 2entries for William (Field) on this Website] .. >>>Elizabeth (Robley) had a third relationship with William (Kelly his first relationship) & produced a child. She was recorded in 1828 with her family at Essex Lane Sydney. She may have produced 7children in her lifetime. ..William (Kelly) was born about 1795. He was tried at Westminster Middlesex Quarter Sessions, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1819 after a voyage of 6months on BARING; he was Protestant. He is recorded as being assigned on 6 3 1822. He was recorded in 1828 as Free by Servitude printer with his family at Essex Lane Sydney. He was a printer when he married secondly Elizabeth (Baker/Hayes her third marriage) on 13 12 1826 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He was a carpenter in 1827. It may be he who died on 12 10 1830 age about35 in Sydney father of perhaps 2children & was buried at St Marys RC Sydney. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 2.George Seymoure/Simon William/Wilson (Robley) was born on 6 5 1795 & baptised on 16 8 1795 at St Phillips CofE Sydney/Port Jackson. He arrived on Norfolk Island with his parents in 1801. He is recorded as child >2years on stores on Norfolk Island in February 1805. He went to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) with his parents as part of the first evacuation on HMS PORPOISE, arriving on 17 1 1808; to Derwent. He married Ann (Adams) on 10 10 1815 at St Davids CofE Hobart. He was granted 53acres next to his father at Strangford/Bagdad/Jerico & tendered meat to His Majestys Stores. Debts he incurred were reliecved by his wifes foster father William (Mitchell). He died <1836 age<40. ..Ann (Adams) was born on 11 5 1797 on Norfolk Island. She was placed in Mrs (Mithell)s care at the government orphanage by her father in 1801 & was baptised on 30 5 1802 age5 w/Maria on Norfolk Island. She was returned later to her father & later again she was returned to Mrs (Mitchell). She left Norfolk Island with Mr & Mrs (Mitchell) as part of the first evacuation on 26 12 1807 on HMS PORPOISE to Derwent Tasmania, arriving in 1808: to New Town Argyle. Her foster-father placed a caveat entrusting the property at Macquarie St Hobart to Robert Lathrop (Murray) as trustee for his adopted daughter Ann. In 1836 she was living at Macquaries St Hobart Town when a caveat was placed on it by Richard (Brownlow), who had been a lodger, to secure the property for himself-he was unsuccessful-the property remained with her & a succession of trustees maintained that status for her & she received 40lb per annum; ie.??? (Kevill) in 1838, George (Robertson) & Thomas (McDonald) late 1840s, John (Fisher see (Robley MATILDA 1791)) in 1850, Mary Ann (McDougall) & later Mr (Westbrok). She died on 20 4 1878 age86 at General Hospital Hobart. ..Details of Ann (Adams)s family are given in entry for Susannah (Hunt LADY JULIANA 1790) on this Website. Noted an Isabella N (Robley) is recorded as born in 1810-no parents given. References: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony. Irene Schaffer & Thelma McKay 'Exiled Three Times Over! Profiles of Norfolk Islanders Exiled in Van Diemens Land 1807-1813' James Hugh Donohoe 'Norfolk Island 1788-1813-The People and Their Families' Reg Wright 'Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island & Van Diemens Land'

342

Maureen Withey on 6th January 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 06 January 2020), February 1789, trial of JOHN ROBLEY (t17890225-8). JOHN ROBLEY, Theft > burglary, 25th February 1789. 189. JOHN ROBLEY was indicted, for burglariously and feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Richard Parliament , about the hour of seven in the night, on the 25th of January last, and burglariously stealing therein, a black silk bonnet, value 1 s. a linen frock, value 2 s. a pin cloth, value 6 d. a hat, value 3 s. a band made of gold lace, value 5 s. and a metal buckle, value 2 d. his property . SARAH PARLIAMENT sworn. I am the wife of Richard Parliament , I live at No. 13, Little Archer-street, Golden-lane , my husband is a housekeeper; on the 25th of January last, I went up about seven o'clock in the evening to make my bed, and while I was making my bed, to my great surprise, I heard my parlour window below thrown up, the bed room is over that parlour, it was a sash window, my shutters were opened, and I found my blinds and all thrown open; my shutters, which are outside shutters, before I went up I had put to, close, not fastened them, the sash was quite fast down, I am positive of it; I went out of doors to shut them to, as I always do, I am positive of it; upon hearing the noise of the sash being thrown up I immediately ran down as fast as possibly I could, and to my great surprise, I missed my things off the table which I had left there before I went up stairs; a child's black beaver hat, and a gold laced band, and a metal buckle; it is a child's that I have the care of; I have had her three years. Whose child is that? - The father of the child lives in Quakers Buildings by Smithfield Bars, the mother is dead, and I am paid a guinea a month for it; there was a black silk bonnet of my own, the child's white frock, and a pinning cloth; I missed nothing else; all that I lost of my own was the silk bonnet. Who paid for the child's clothes? - The father of the child finds her in every thing; I had put the sash quite close down, but had not fastened it any farther, I saw nobody in the house; I went to see what it was o'clock, I am sure it was about seven; I had the candle in my hand, the child wanted to go to bed at that time; I shut my shutters at six in the evening, and this happened at seven. Were the lamps lighted when you went out to put to the shutters? - No, I had a candle with me up stairs, the runners from the public office brought all the things mentioned, to me the next morning, how they got them I know not; the runners names are Shakeshaft, Armstrong, and another whose name I do not know. JAMES ARMSTRONG sworn. On Sunday night, the 25th of January, between the hours of seven and eight, I was in a little street that leads from Golden-lane into Whitecross-street, I cannot tell the name of it, me and Shakeshaft were about the middle of it, and Harpur was at one end; I observed the prisoner at the bar and a person (whose name I afterwards understood to be Buckingham) go into an entry, I followed them, Shakeshaft followed me, and I caught hold of them both; one was afterwards admitted an evidence, in Buckingham's hand was this bonnet; Shakeshaft came to my assistance immediately, and we pulled them out of the entry, and I saw Shakeshaft take a child's hat from the prisoner Robley, at that time we had got them to the street door of the entry, and something dropped from Robley which jingled, which was this large iron chissel, I picked it up, I am sure it dropped from Robley, because Buckingham was not on that side, he was on the right hand; Robley was at my left hand; I picked up this frock also, which was close by Robley's feet: we secured them and put them in the watch-house, and the next day we found where the lady lived; I saw Shakeshaft search Robley, and he found a pin cloth, which Shakeshaft has got; this was after we had brought him out of that neighbourhood; we let Mrs. Parliament know, and Buckinghamwas admitted on evidence, and we were bound over; I heard them before we took them in conversation together, they were in the entry, and I believe were going up stairs; I had scarcely seen them a moment before they went into the entry. JAMES SHAKESHAFT sworn. I belong to the public office, I was with Armstrong on this Sunday night the 25th, it was in Playhouse-yard, between seven and eight o'clock, one end of it comes into Golden-lane, and the other into White-cross-street; I perceived Mr. Armstrong run into an entry, I ran in after him, and he had got hold of the prisoner and Buckingham, I took hold of Robley from him, and took this hat from out of his hand, I pulled him towards the door, and there I held him by the collar; I saw him put his right hand down towards his pocket, he threw something down, and I heard a jingling of something like iron, I called to Armstrong, who looked down, and he picked it up, it was a large chissel, and the frock close by him, we took them under the lamp, and I searched Robley, in his coat pocket I found this pin cloth; the next day, seeing the hat-maker's name in the hat, I went to him, he sent me to a gentleman near Smithfield bars, I cannot recollect his name, and he said he had a child at Mrs. Parliament's, that the things were entrusted with her. (The things produced and deposed to by Mrs. Parliament.) I know the bonnet, having done it up that week, and put this hand on it; the frock I know by the tuck, which I had observed, and the pin cloth had been torn that evening under the arm; the hat I know, I sewed on the strings myself, she had it about a twelvemonth; it had a gold band and a metal buckle, I cannot swear to them. Was your sash wrenched up at all, did you see any mark on the sash? - No, I did not see any marks, I looked the next morning and saw no violence. What is the name of the child's father? - John Turner , her name is Sarah Turner , she is four years old; the father finds her in every thing, and these things I had from him; the child lives continually with me. Was you under any agreement with the child's father, to make good things that might be lost? - Yes, in any way that they were lost, I was to make them good; if these things had not been recovered, my husband must have made them good, the child's father told me so. - BUCKINGHAM sworn. Court. Now remember the situation in which you come here, and take care to speak nothing but the truth? - Yes, I will; I was going up Holywell-lane, I cannot say to the day of the month, it was on a Sunday, I believe about a month ago, there I saw a young man of the name of Robert Avery , standing at a public house, the Red Lyon, he asked me to drink, I went in, we had two pints of beer, I believe we might stay about half an hour; there I saw the prisoner Robley, he was in the house then, I believe he and the others had been drinking together; Robley said to me that they were going across Moorfields, we went together, they did not say what they were going to do; we went across Moorfields till we came to Grub-street, then we went into the Crispin and had a quartern of gin, we did not stay there; and when we came out we consulted to go to see for some place to rob; I proposed going to Barbican; and Avery said he knew a place in Little Archer-street, where he said he had looked at a house several times before; accordingly we went there, the house was fronting a passage, Avery went to the house and pulled open the window shutter, they were shut to, whether they were fastened or not I cannot really say, there was a fire in the room, but no candle; Avery shoved up the window, and shoved openthe blinds, Avery in shoving up the window made a noise, and I heard somebody coming down stairs; then Avery reached himself into the window, and took out the articles here mentioned; part of his body was in the window, I think these are the same things, I know the hat and bonnet, but I did not know what the other things were, they were laying very near the window, but I cannot positively say, he could reach them without going in entirely; Robley was at the distance of about twenty paces, I could just discern him: he was standing by, watching; Avery gave all the things to me, and Robley afterwards took the things from me, except the bonnet, he took them from me underneath the passage; when we got into Golden-lane, Avery told Robley and me to go to a place in Golden-lane to sell the goods, and going into the house we were apprehended by the officer. Who laid hold of you? - Armstrong; I had the bonnet, nothing more. Who laid hold of Robley? - Armstrong laid hold of him at the same time, and I let the bonnet fall; Mr. Shakeshaft came to his assistance, and brought us out, and another person came up of the name of Harper, then they handcuffed us, and took us to the justice; I did not observe what they took from Robley. Is all this true? - To the best of my knowledge it is. What became of Avery? - I cannot tell indeed, he stood at a distance off. Court to Mrs. Parliament. Is there an entry oposite your house? - There is a passage, but my house is not opposite, the passage goes into Great Archer-street, there are three doors difference between its being opposite. PRISONER's DEFENCE. My Lord, I happened to be at the Red Lion, Holywell-lane, when this Buckingham came in, he goes by two names, and we were talking together about going over Moor-fields, he said he had a friend in Grub-street that he wanted to see, and we all agreed to go together, he, Avery and me; when we came to Grub-street, he was not there, we had some gin, and went out towards Barbican; and when we came in this street where the robbery was committed, we were all together, I walking before them, I missed them; I being before them a great way I turned back to see for them, and as I came back again, Buckingham gave me the hat and some of the things, and I did not know where he got them from, I had not the presence of mind to ask him, I was a hundred yards from the place where they were taken, I did not know they were stolen, and when we came into Playhouse-yard, we were stopped by Mr. Harper and Armstrong, and the things were taken from us; I thought they had belonged to Buckingham; I have a person here that I have lodged with since I have been in London. The prisoner called two witnesses who gave him a good character. GUILTY , Death . Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. Baron THOMSON . HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR in CHIEF having been pleased to extend Conditional Emancipations to the undermentioned Persons, and the same having been lately transmitted to His Honor the LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, they may be received, on application being made at this Office, between the Hours of 10 A. M. to 3 P. M -- No. NAMES. l. John Robley (free pardon) Hobart Town Gazette, 7 Sep 1816. ROBLEY, John. Per "Scarborough", 1790 n.d. - On list of convicts who have received absolute pardons [May 1816] (Fiche 3292; 4/6974.1 p.79) This may be the same John Robson. Hobart Town Police Report. Thursday March 20th. George Simpson was charged with assaulting John Robley. Both these parties are old hands at Kangaroo Point, and after having lived together for thirty years or more, dissolved partnership by a mutual fight, and the payment of costs at this office. Colonial Times, Tues 25 Mar 1834 TO BE LET, A Farm of 10 acres, together with good a good dwelling house and other out-buildings, situate at Kangaroo point, lately the property of John Robley. The whole nearly enclosed, and part laid out as an orchard, in which are choice fruit trees, &c. and bounded by a stream of fresh water.-Possession can be obtained immediately_Apply to Mr. P. BUCHANNAN, Kangaroo point. Hobart Town Courier, 27 Feb 1835. Death in Hobart district, 18 Feb 1840 John Robley, age 75, farmer, cause, dropsy, informant, William Belpin, Hobart Town.