Anthony Rope

75

iain Frazier on 11th October 2024

Family connections for Anthony (Rope) are: Some amendments added Oct 2025. ROPE Anthony (Rope) was born about 1758, but was baptised on 1 8 1755 at St Marys Norton Subcourse Norfolk & trained as a carpenter/bricklayer following his fathers profession. He was a labourer at Rochford, when tried for breaking & entering, on 2 9 1784, & stealing cotton gowns etc of Robert (Gosling) & Robert (Bradley) at Essex Lent Assizes at Chelmsford on 10 3 1785, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 1 1788 on First Fleet ship ALEXANDER; he was employed at brickworks near Central Station (now). He married Elizabeth (Pulley) on 19 5 1788 at St Phillips CofE Port Jackson Sydney. He received a grant of land at The Ponds which he later sold. He bought land at the Ponds from Elizabeth Ann (Clark) in 1794. He was Free by Servitude by 1795. He approached the government for debt assistance in 1802. He was a landholder at Castlereagh in 1816. He sold the land at The Ponds to William (Bowman) in 1818. He built many private & public buildings & moved about to various farming properties & is recorded in 1828 as a farmer at Evan with his son William & a James age6. He died on 20 4 1843 age about87 at Castlereagh where he was buried. [Some details taken from this Website; where 2entries are found-the other entry (arrival 1787) should also be considered] Elizabeth (Pulley/Pooley/Powley) daughter of Tobias (Pully) & Alice (???) was born about 1763 at Felthorpe & baptised on 21 2 1762 at St Margarets Felthorpe. Before age6 she & her 3brothers were orphaned. She was tried for theft in July 1799 (acquitted) & in 1780 for stealing clothes for which she was held at Wymondham Bridewell prison for 3weeks; then for burglary, on 24 12 1782, of cheese etc of Elizabeth (Mimms) at Thetford Norfolk Sessions on 14 3 1783, sentenced to death by hanging reduced to 7years, held at Norwich Castle for 3years & DUNKIRK hulk Plymouth Devonshire & arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a journey of 8months (having left England on First Fleet ship FRIENDSHIP & being transferred to PRINCE OF WALES at Cape of Good Hope); she was possibly assigned to domestic duties. She was Free by Servitude by 1795. She died on 9 7 1837 age about75 at Castlereagh where she was buried. [Some details taken from this Website] Anthony (Rope) & Elizabeth (Pulley) produced 8children: 1.Robert (Rope) was born in 1788 (first child conceived in colony?) & baptised on 2 11 1788 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He married Esther Mary (Gamble/bol age16) on 19 2/9 3 1812 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. He died in 1835 age about22. ..Esther Mary (Gamble) daughter of John (Gamble) & Ann (???) was baptised on 21 6 1795 at St James Paddington London. She was first tried at age about12 for stealing curtains etc, on 11 9 1809, of John (Ritchie) at Middlesex, sentenced to 6months & fined 1shilling. She was tried secondly at age13 for stealing veils etc, on 11 6 1810, of Charles (Harris) at Old Bailey on 18 7 1810, sentenced to death reprieved to Life, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 29 9 1811 after a journey of nearly 9months on FRIENDS. She died on 11 4 1825 age30. .[Some details taken from this Website] ..Robert (Rope) & Esther Mary (Gamble) produced 3children: ..1.George (Rope) was born in 1812. ..2.William (Rope) was born in 1814. ..3.John (Rope) was born in 1816. .. 2.Mary (Rope) was born in 1791 & baptised on 31 7 1791 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She had a first relationship (1of3?) with Thomas (Hobby) & produced 3children.>>> ..Thomas (Hobby) was born in 1774. He enlisted in NSW Corps on 9 11 1797 as Lieutenant & arrived in Sydney on 26 4 1798/9 on HMS BUFFALO. He was detached to (Prentice)s company. On 8 12 1799 he was granted 100acres at Mulgrave Place Hawkesbury? used for livestock. In 1799 the company moved to Hobart. In 1799 he was also granted 100acres at Mulgrave Place-perhaps as replacement for the first grant-used for livestock. In 1801 he was at Headquarters Sydney & moved to Hawkesbury in December still with (Prentice)s company. In 1802 he transferred to (McArthur)s company at Parramatta where he leased, on 31 3 1802, 60rods at North Pitt Row which he later sold. He was disgraced in 1802 over the 'scandal sheets' & given leave. In 1803 he apparantly relieved (McArthur) who went on leave becoming Commandant in the Hawkesbury District. He was discharged/resigned after a riding accident in 1802or5. He was one of the ringleaders of the Rum Rebellion against Governor Bligh in 1808, actually one of the officers who went to Government House to arrest the Governor; but he was cold-shouldered by other officers because of the company he kept. On 4 11 1809 he leased 72rods at Parramatta & on 14 12 1809 he was granted 640acres at Mulgoa. He sufferred in the 1809 floods. He was Mr (Cox)s deputy in building the road over the Blue Mountains. He was in the colony in 1811 & died here. ..Details of Thomas (Hobby)s family are given in entry for John (Shute MALABAR 1819) on this Website. .. >>>Mary (Rope) married secondly (2of3?) John Michael (Ryan) on 6 8 1816 at St Johns CofE Parramatta/Christ Church Castlereagh & produced 6children. She is recorded in 1828 with her family at Evan.>>> ..John Michael Tobin/Tobias (Ryan) was born in 1796 & became a painter & glazier. He was tried w/2others for stealing, on 20 6 1814, a handkerchief of Henry (Lownds) at Middlesex Gaol Delivery, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 4 1815 after a voyage of 6months on INDEFATIGIBLE; he was Catholic. He was Free by Servitude by 1823. He is recorded in 1826 as a farmer & in 1828 as having his Conditional Pardon & farming 40acres with his family at Evan. He died on 25 11 1853 age57. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Mary (Rope) is recorded by Smee as having a third relationship with John (Bevan). She died on 24 10 1872 age about81 mother of perhaps 11children. ..John (Bevan) was born on 24 11 1805 & baptised on 11 5 1806 at st Phillips CofE Sydney. He died in 1860 age about54. ..Details of John (Bevan)s family are given in entry for John (Bevan PITT 1792) on this Website. ..Mary (Rope) & John (Bevan) produced these children: [during her continuimg relationship with John Michael (Ryan). ..1.Eliza Jane (Bevan) was born on 28 1 1822 at Pennant Hills & baptised on 6 6 1824 age2 w/Elizabeth at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She may have assumed the name (Ryan). ..2.Elizabeth (Bevan) was born on 9 5 1824 at Parramatta & baptised on 6 6 1824 with Eliza Jane at St Johns CofE Parramatta. .. 3.Elizabeth (Rope) was born on 7 2 1794 & baptised on 18 2 1794 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She died in 1794 age <10months. 4.John (Rope) was born on 22 12 1795 & baptised on 2 1 1796 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He married Maria (Field) on 17 2 1817 at Christ Church Castlereagh. He was recorded in 1826 as a farmer. He & his family are recorded in 1828 at the farm at Evan with his father. He was recorded in 1829 as a farmer. He died on 11 7 1845 age49. ..Maria (Field) was born on 1 11 1801 & baptised on 24 1 1802 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She died on 28 8 1842 age40. ..Details of Maria (Field)s family are given in entry for Betty (Mitchell MARY ANN 1791) on this Website. ..John (Rope) & Maria (Field) produced at least 6children: ..1.Ann (Rope) was born on 14 5 1818 & baptised on 14 6 1818 at Christ Church Castlereagh. She died on 17 7 1886 age68. ..2.Robert (Rope) was born on 28 12 1821 & baptised on 27 1 1822 at Christ Church Castlereagh. He died on 15 7 1892 age70. ..3.George (Rope) was born on 28 3 1824 & baptised on 11 7 1824 at Christ Church Castlereagh. ..4.Maria (Rope) was born on 27 1 1826. ..5.Thomas (Rope) was born on 27 1 1826also at Evan & baptised on 29 10 1826 at Christ Church Castlereagh. He died on 9 12 1907 age81. ..6.Elizabeth (Rope) was born on 17 8 1829 at Evan & baptised on 27 9 1829 at Christ Church Castlereagh. .. 5.Sarah (Rope) was born on 1 3 1798 (22 3 1799 on gravestone) & baptised on 26 6 1798 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She married Thomas (Frost) on 14 3 1815 at Christ Church Castlereagh & produced 11children. She died on 17 8 1882 age84. ..Thomas (Frost) was born on 25 1 1786 (or 26 1 1733 on gravestone). He was an agricultural labourer at Farnham Royal parish Buckinghamshire when tried for stealing money, on 13 4 1807, of John (Nash) at Buckingham Buckinghamshire Summer Assizes on 13 7 1807, sentenced to death reprieved to 14years, held at His Majesties Gaol at Aylesbury & arrived in NSW as a convict on 16 12 1810 after a voyage of 5months on INDIAN. He was Free by Servitude by 1823. He was recorded in 1826 as a farmer. He had a large farm, much of which he divested to his sons [are we saying here 'in name only'?], & is recorded in 1828 as being Free by Servitude, farming 15acres & a Constable. He was recorded in 1829 as a constable. He died on 13 10 1862 age76or90. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 6.Susannah (Rope) was born in 1801. She married John (Bradley) on 7 9 1818 at Christ Church Castlereagh & produced at least 4children. She is recorded in 1828 as a washerwoman at Evan with 3children. She died on 23 12 1883 age82. ..John/James (Bradley) was born in 1789 & became a weaver. He was tried for desertion from Army in Spain & stealing money at Isle of Leon Court Martial, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 9 1815 after a voyage of 5months on BARING. He was free by Servitude by 1821. On 10 6 1823 he, as John (Bradbury), was directed to take charge of the grazing run of William (Walker) Wesleyan Missionary at Macquarie River. He was assigned as servant to his wife when he was sent to Port Macquarie for one year on 6 7 1824 after being convicted of embezzlement- he travelled on HMS LADY NELSON. oN 31 10 1825 he was employed by Rev Henry (Fulton). He was recorded in 1829 as a labourer. He was issued his Ticket of Leave no.32/649 on 31 12 1831 at Evan. His Conditional Pardon 40/6 was presumably issued on 1 5 1839, recorded as cotton weaver, & received on 6 7 1840. He presumably lived until 1859. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 7.William (Rope) was born in 1805. He is recorded in 1828 at the farm at Evan with his father. He died on 18 12 1833 age about28. 8.Elizabeth Ann (Pope)sic was born on 24 3 1808 & baptised as (Rope) on 15 9 1811 age3 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She had a first relationship with William (Jones).>>> ..William (Jones) arrived in Australia free in 1823 or 19 1 1824 after a voyage of 4months on CASTLE FORBES. ..Elizabeth Ann (Pope)sic & William (Jones) produced 1child: ..1.James (Jones) was born on 12 12 1824 & baptised on 9 1 1825 at Christ Church Castlereagh. A James (Rope age6) is recorded in 1828 at the farm at Evan with William & Anthony. He died on 4 5 1895 age70. .. >>>Elizabeth Ann (Pope sic) married secondly Thomas (Player) on 30 10 1826 at Christ Church Castlereagh & produced 4children. She died on 23 8 1889 age81 mother of 5children. ..Thomas (Player/Piyer) was born in 1792. He was tried peppermint at Bristol Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions, sentenced to 7years, held at Newgate prison & hulks in Portsmouth & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 9 1815 after a voyage of 5months on BARING. He was Free by Servitude by 1827. He was recorded in 1828 as a bricklayer. He is recorded in 1828 as tenant of 5acres at Evan. He is recorded in 1830 as a labourer. ..[Some details taken from this Website] 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. Pamela Statham 'A Colonial Regiment-New Sources Relating to the New South Wales Corps-1789-1810'

54

Phil Hands on 20th July 2017

Anthony was baptised on 1st August 1755, at St Marys, Norton Subcourse, Norfolk, England. He was illiterate and a labourer. Anthony came from a family of Carpenters and Brickmakers, handy skills which he brought with him to Sydney Cove. He was tried at Chelmsford on 10th March 1785 he was found guilty of stealing clothing and coin to the value of 35 shillings from Robert Gosling and Robert Bradley; he was sentenced to transportation for 7 years. Left England on 13th May 1787. Ship:- the 'Alexander', before she left Portsmouth, a fever broke out on board that killed 16 convicts. She left carrying 195 male convicts, 15 more convicts died on the journey, the most for any ship in the first fleet. Arrived on 26th January 1788. Upon the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove, all the convicts were put to work in various jobs necessary to build shelter and feed all the people. Anthony Rope was sent to work in the brickfields, which were located near what is now Central Station in Sydney. In Anthony's small amount of spare time he built a hut there for himself and this was finished by May 1788. Elizabeth, along with other women, would have been put to work sewing, cleaning, washing and cooking. Anthony and Elizabeth met on the first night that the women of the Fleet were set down at Sydney Cove on 6th February 1788. They were married on 19th May 1788 by the Reverend Richard Johnson, celebrating with meat from a goat that one naval officer reported as missing. They had 8 children between 1788-1808, their son Robert Rope was possibly one of the first children conceived and born in the settlement. Anthony was given a grant of land at The Ponds which is now part of the Sydney suburb of Dundas, but this later had to be sold to repay debt. Farming was very harsh and the settlers were constantly deluged by floods and ravaged by fires and droughts. The family moved to various farms out in the west of Sydney as they looked for land that would safely grow crops. It should be noted that although the farms were granted to the owners, Anthony was the first settler at all of the farms he moved to, so he first had to clear the land before he could put crops in. He also had to build the family home every time they moved. Anthony did extra jobs to make money along the way. At one stage he was employed to build a dwelling for the workers on Elizabeth King's farm Dunheved in 1807. Recent research by Rope family historians has identified at least five sites where the family lived as they moved from leasehold to leasehold: Rope's Farm at The Ponds, now Dundas; a farm at Toongabbie; Tumbledown Barn at Mulgrave Place, now Riverstone, near Windsor; Badgery's Farm on the Nepean River near Richmond; and Jordan Hill in what is now Llandilo, on the west bank of South Creek. The stretch of land leading to this leasehold was known as Rope's Paddock for many years. The new suburb, Ropes Crossing, has been named after him as it lies near where the family farmed at Jordan Hill. Elizabeth died on 9th August 1837 at Castlereagh, Greater Sydney aged 75 years. Anthony died on 20th April 1843 aged 88 years. Both are buried at Castlereagh.

105

Denis Pember on 24th September 2015

Sainty & Johnson; 1828 Census of New South Wales: [Ref R1329] Rope, Anthony, 65, FS, Alexander, 1788, 7 yr, Farmer at Evan, 11 acres all cleared and cultivated, 5 cattle. # Also [Ref R1330] Rope, Elizabeth, 64, FS, Prince of Wales, 1788. [Ref R1331] Rope, William, 24, BC. (This would be their yougest son, born 1805). [Ref R1332] Rope, James, 6, BC (This may be a grandchild) Also located on the census at Evan is another son, Rope John, 32, BC, included with his own family. The daughters are presumably all married and with their own families.

105

Denis Pember on 24th September 2015

Anthony married Elizabeth Pulley (First Fleet Convict, Friendship/Prince of Wales, 1788). They married at Port Jackson May 19 1788. They had a long lasting marriage and had 8 children born between 1788 and 1808.

105

Denis Pember on 24th September 2015

Anthony was tried at Essex Lent Assizes which began at Chelmsford on Mon 7 Mar 1785. He was tried on Thurs morning 10 Mar 1785. "Anthony Rope late of the parish of Rochford in the co. of Essex labourer": Burglary by breaking and entering the house of Robert Gosling "about 7 in the forenoon" on 2 Sep 1784, and stealing: 2 printed cotton gowns of the value of 20 shillings one petticoat made of silk and worsted of the value of 5 shillings. one silk neck handkerchief of the value of 18d. one pair of women's leather shoes of the value of one shilling. one pair of metal buckles plated with silver of the value of 6d. one man's hat of the value of 6 shillings. one fustian frock of the value of 5 shillings. one pair of men's leather shoes of the value of 2 shillings. one pair of metal silver plated buckles of the value of 1s. one hempen sack of the value of 6d. Of the goods and chattels of the said Robert Gosling. one pair of men's leather shoes of the value of 5 shillings one pair of silver plated buckles value of 3 shillings One cotton waistcoat of the value of 2 shillings. one linen shirt of the value of 6d. 2 silk handkerchiefs of the value of 2 shillings. one piece of silver coin of the proper coin of this realm called an Half Crown of the value of two shillings and sixpence. one piece of the proper silver coin of this realm called a Shilling. Of the goods and monies of Robert Bradley in the same dwelling house". He was found not guilty of breaking and entering, guilty of stealing goods to the value of 35s. No Chattels. The sentence was seven years transportation. He was transported aboard the ship 'Alexander'.