John Ryan

Upon arrival in Australia on First Fleet, immediately sent to Norfolk Island. Met & married Sarah Woolley (another convict) & had 4 children, one of which was born on N.I. About 1800 after last child was born,he either left colony or died.No record of either.

14/1/1784 The Old Bailey: JOHN BRYANT and JONATHAN DARLINGTON were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 10th of January , one woollen cloth coat, value 10 s. and one man's hat, value 3 s. the property Richard Price . JOHN BRYANT , JONATHAN DARLINGTON , GUILTY . Each to be transported for seven years . Other Names - BRYANT Occupation - Silk Weaver March 1784 - Embarked on the 'Mercury' transport bound for America. The ship was taken over by the convicts in a mutiny and many of them escaped. RYAN was recaptured at Torbay and sent to Exeter Gaol. He was remanded to his former orders and embarked on the 'Friendship' on 11 March 1787 27 Feb. 1788 - Accused of robbing the Public Stores. He was sentenced to 300 lashes but this was rescinded, his irons were removed and he was sent back to work. Nov. 1788 - Accused of theft again. The charge was dismissed 4 March 1790 - Sent to Norfolk Island on the 'Sirius' 16 Dec. 1791 - Settled on 10 acres at Mount Pitt Path, Queenborough, NI March 1793 - Left Norfolk Island on the 'Kitty'. His wife Sarah Woolley and daughter followed a year later March 1795 - Received a 30 acre grant on the banks of the Hawkesbury River John had either died or left the colony by 1800 and has not been traced in later records

previously confused on this site with John Ryan per Neptune 1790. The first fleeter John Ryan is noted as deceased at Parramatta, 2 Mar 1815 aged 57 on the index to convict indents SANSW 12188 4 4003 0407-408

I have a document from the Colonial Secretaries Office dated 8 October 1824 that states John Ryan, convict from Friendship was given permission to proceed to Port Macquarie for his health. He accompanied Charles Frazer, Colonial Botanist and Celia and Catherine Frazer who were going to Port to be with their father James Alexander Frazer who had been sent there as a convict. The document has been signed by Captain Rolland, Commandant Port Macquarie and T. Goulburn.

John, a silk weaver was nearing his nineteenth birthday when he was tried at the Old Bailey on the 14 January 1784. He was indicted as “John Bryant” for the theft of a woollen cloth coat and a man’s hat with a value of 13 Shillings. Many people appearing before the courts used alias so it was not an uncommon occurrence at the time in England. He was found guilty and sentenced to seven years Transportation to the USA. However on the 30 March, he was sent to the Transport ship “Mercury” from Newgate. Ryan ?(recorded as this henceforth)? escaped at Torbay during a convict mutiny. He was recaptured on the 13 April at Helena, committed to gaol at Exeter and then imprisoned on the Prison Hulk, “Dunkirk” at the end of June. This was the custom at that time in England as prisons were increasingly becoming overcrowded as transportation of convicts to America was coming to an end due to their Independence. Thus “floating” prisons were created utilising redundant war ships to help solve the overcrowding problem. Whilst on the Dunkirk, he was reported as "in general, tolerably well behaved but troublesome at times". He was discharged to the "Friendship" on the 11 March 1787. To put an end to this overcrowded prison problem England looked to other parts of the Empire to empty out the prisons. Therefore, on 13 May 1787 John Ryan along with 750 to 780 other convicts and around 550 crew, soldiers, and their families on board eleven ships Portsmouth Harbour on the 250-day journey. Ryan was on board the "Friendship" Transport ship, one of the smallest in the fleet, with the Master, Francis Walton overseeing 76 males and 21 females convicts. The Fleet arrived in Sydney Cove on the 21 January 1788. Ryan had barely arrived in the Colony before he was accused and tried with three other convicts for the theft of butter, 'pease' and pork. On Wednesday, 27 February 1788, he was tried for this offence in the Criminal Court along with the three other men. "At 1 o clock their sentence was read, the charge being clearly proven of their stealing butter, pease, and pork." John's three accomplices were sentenced to death whilst he was sentenced to receive 300 lashes. Later that day when the hanging was to take place, two of the men were granted a 24-hour respite. The other was considered to be "a most vile character" and was hanged. The governor pardoned them based on a petition that the three had written to him, begging to be forgiven, Ryan thus avoiding the 300 lashes as well. They promised that if they were forgiven, the Governor would "have no reason to find fault with" any of them again. Then in November of 1788 he was again accused of stealing but was acquitted. On the 21 July 1789, John was found on the other side of the hospital contrary to an “Order” to that purpose (notices had been placed on trees between the hospital). The notices said that any person found past these notices would be punished. John said that his overseer had not told him to keep away from the area but as he couldn’t read, he didn't know of the notices. He was sentenced to receive fifty lashes. Again, on the 19 September 1789, John Ryan (recorded as Pat Ryan) and a Benjamin Ingram having been charged on Saturday 12 September "with creating a Riot and Drunkenness" were each sentenced to receive one hundred and fifty lashes. John worked as a servant to a fellow prisoner (as was the practice, depending on their ranking) named Robert Sedaway in 1789 and the following year he departed Sydney on the 5 March 1790 on board the 'Sirius' bound for Norfolk Island which was being used to grow food for the struggling colony. On 19 March 1790 the “Sirius” was wrecked at the entrance to Sydney Bay Norfolk Island. John Ryan for his continued good behaviour and helpfulness at the time of the "Sirius " saga and not the least having been freed by servitude became a free settler. By some accounts he had helped in salvaging some of the items on board the ship before it broke up. John settled on ten acres of land on the Mt. Pitt Path Queensborough, the date being 16 December 1791. Just prior to receiving this land grant and with married men receiving preference over single men to receive same, on the 5 November 1791 he married Second Fleet convict Sarah Woolley at Norfolk Island, both almost certainly among a large group of about one hundred couples married by the Reverend Richard Johnson when he visited the island in November 1791. No actual records exist. They were probably living together by February 1791 when each was issued with a pig under Major Ross's scheme designed to encourage convicts to become self-sufficient. The couple lived on a 10-acre farm at Charlotte Field. John was not much of a farmer and sailed for Sydney in March 1793 aboard the “Kitty” preparing a home in the Paramatta area where he was followed by Sarah and Elizabeth in March 1794.Three more children were born, Mary (1 Feb 1796), John (15 May 1798) and Sarah (1 Nov 1800). John Ryan was almost certainly the man of this name receiving a fifty-acre land grant on the banks of the Hawkesbury River in March 1795. By 1800 it is unclear as to what happened to John Ryan, he had either died, with no record of his burial surviving, or he had left the colony. He has not been traced in any later records. To complicate matters, by that time there were multiple “John Ryan’s” in the colonies.

Family connections for John (Ryan) are: RYAN John (Ryan/Bryant) was born about 1759/67 & became a silk weaver. He was tried, as John (Bryant), w/1other for stealing, on 10 1 1784, cloth coat etc of Richard (Price) at Old Bailey on 14 1 1784 (quick justice), sentenced to 7years in Americas & held probably at London/Middlesex Gaol Delivery & definitely at Newgate He was sent on 30 3 1784 to American colonies as a convict on MERCURY, from which he returned to UK after mutiny on the ship achieving landfall at Torbay/Torquay? Devonshire, was captured at Helena then held at Exeter Gaol & on hulk DUNKIRK. He was reassigned & arrived in NSW as a convict on 21 1 1788 after a voyage of 8months on First Fleet ship FRIENDSHIP. On 27 2 1788 he was tried w/3others for robbery of butter, pease & pork from Public Stores & sentenced to 300lashes which were not administered by Conditional Pardon meaning he was returned to his convict life. In November 1788 he was accused of theft again, a charge which was dismissed. On 21 7 1789 he was found in a prohibited area & sentenced to 50lashes, a sentence that was superseded on 12 9 1789 by a charge of drunk & riotous behaviour resulting in 150lashes. He worked for Robert (Sedaway convict) in 1789. He was sent to Norfolk Island on 5 3 1790 on HMS SIRIUS, arriving on 17/9 3 1790 when the ship was wrecked at entrance of Sydney Bay at the island-he was very helpful in salvage of the ship, received his Freedom (by Servitude?) & was allowed to become a free settler. He married Sarah (Woolley her first marriage) on 15 11 1791 in group ceremony on Norfolk Island. On 16 12 1791 he was granted 10acres at Mt Pitt Path (Charlotte Field) Queensborough in the centre of Norfolk Island. In 9 3 1793 he left Norfolk Island on KITTY. In March 1795 he was granted 30/50acres at Hawkesbury River. He was Free by Servitude by 1796. He may have left Port Jackson on 13 9 1796 to UK=Ref:'Forgotten...'. [a John (Ryan convict FRIENDSHIP) was given permission to proceed to Port Macquarie for his health on 8 10 1824.] [Some details taken from this Website; for whom there are 2entries] Sarah (Woolley) was born on 6 1 1768. She was tried w/1other for theft of printed cotton from linen shop at Old Bailey on 28 10 1789, sentenced to 7years, held probably at London/Middlesex Gaol Delivery & Newgate & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 6 1790 after voyage of 6months on Fleet ship NEPTUNE; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate. On 1 8 1790 she was sent to Norfolk Island on SURPRISE, arriving on 7 8 1790. On 22 3 1794 she left Norfolk Island with her daughter, following her husband. She was Free by Servitude by 1798.>>> [Some details taken from this Website] John (Ryan) & Sarah (Woolley) produced 4children: 1.Elizabeth (Ryan) was born on 28 11 1792 at Charlotte Field Queensborough Norfolk Island. On 22 3 1794 she left Norfolk Island with her mother. She was recorded in 1800 & 1802 with her mother & at Hawkesbury in 1806 with her mother. On 12 4 1809 she was taken on a drive by Henry (Kable) with her mother who was killed when all fell from the tumbling cart at MacKellars Creek Pitt Town. In 1809 part of 40acres at Nelson was held in trust for her by her father in law. She may have married at age16sic Roger (Connor) farmer on 8 1 1810 at St Phillips CofE Sydney & produced perhaps 2children. ++ The entry for John (Pearson MARQUIS OF WELLINGTON 1813sic) advises 'young Elizabeth (Pearson) was age15 when she married Thomas (Norris) (1807?) at Cornwallis Cudegeong N.S.W. So Elizabeth (Norris nee Connor) was John Pearson's first cousin, their mothers Elizabeth and Mary were sisters'. ++ ..Roger (Connor) was born in 1778 in England. He arrived in NSW with his mother in 1793 on NEPTUNE. He enlisted in NSW Corps on 25 11 1800 as a private & was detached to (Townson)s company with which he went to Norfolk Island in 1801/2. In 1805 he transferred to (Grose)s company until his discharge in 1808. He is recorded as a landholder in 1811. ..Details of Roger (Connor)s family are given in entry for Michael (Connor SCARBOROUGH 1790) on this Website. .. 2.Mary (Ryan) was born on 1 2 1796 & baptised on 12 5 1797 age15m at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She was recorded in 1800 & 1802 with her mother & at Hawkesbury in 1806 with her mother. In 1809 part of 40acres at Nelson was held in trust for her by her father in law. It may be she who is recorded with Catherine (Frazier/er) in 1811 & 1814 in Sydney. She married John (Pearson) shoemaker on 25 9 1815 at St Phillips CofE Sydney & produced maybe 4children. She died on 6 8 1825 age29 in Sydney & was buried, as (Pearson), at St James CofE Sydney. ..John (Pearson) was born about 1789 & became a shoemaker bootmaker cordwainer. He was tried w/1other for possession, on 4 3 1814, of forged notes at Old Bailey on 20 4 1814, sentenced to 14years, held probably at London/Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 27 1 1815 after a voyage of 6months on MARQUIS OF WELLINGTON (Smees records consistently show MARQUIS CORNWALLIS 1815). He was Free by Servitude by 1825. He was recorded in 1826 as a shoemaker. In Australia shoe & bootmaking was regarded as a vulgar & idle trade, which he was a part of. In September 1826 he was fined 5shillings for intoxication. He was a boot maker when he died on 8 7 1829 age42. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 3.John (Ryan) was born on 15 5 1798 & baptised on 7 8 1798 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was recorded in 1800 & 1802 with his mother & at Hawkesbury in 1806 with his mother. In 1809 part of 40acres at Nelson was held in trust for him by his father in law. It may be he who is recorded with Catherine (Frazier/er WILLIAM PITT 1806) in 1811 & 1814 in Sydney. He was living at Pitt Town when he married Elizabeth (Cooper) of Pitt Town on 18 10 1821 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. In 1833 he was overseer of John (McDonnell)s 2,250acre property 'Summer Grove' at Pitt Town, Luskintrye. ..Elizabeth (Cooper) was born in 1795 in the colony-no parents given. .. 4.Sarah (Ryan) was born on 1 11 1800. She was recorded in 1800 & 1802 with her mother & at Hawkesbury in 1806 with her mother. In 1809 part of 40acres at Nelson was held in trust for her by her father in law. It may be she who is recorded with Catherine (Frazier/er) in 1811 & 1814 in Sydney. She married William (Stanley) on 20 4 1818 at St Davids CofE Hobart & produced 10children. She died on 3 6 1854 at Picaninny Gully Bendigo. ..William (Stanley) was born on 8 8 1796. He was tried for hose theft at Southampton Assizes Hampshire on 23 7 1811, sentenced to Life & arrived in Hobart Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) as a convict on 19 10 1812 after a voyage of 5.5months on INDEFATIGIBLE travelling with MINSTREL. He was issued his Conditional Pardon about January 1818. He died on 18 7 1887 age90 at Bendigo. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. .. >>>Sarah (Woolley) was recorded as a landholder in 1800 with 3children & as a farmer in 1802 with 4children. She was granted land (100acres) at Mulgrave Place Hawkesbury River on 4 6 1804 near McKenzies Creek/Pitt Town Rd-which may be the land of her now-deceased husband-which became known as 'Woolleys Farm'. She had a second relationship with William (Mason his first relationship) whom she produced 2children & later married. In 1806 her land was merged with William (Mason)s in his name at Hawkesbury. She was recorded at Hawkesbury in 1806 with her family. She married William (Mason) on 20 4 1807 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She was living at Green Hills when she died on 12 4 1809 age41 by a fall from an overturning cart at MacKellars Creek Pitt Town mother of 3children-she had been taken on a drive by Henry (Kable) with her daughter Elizabeth. William (Mason) was born about 1767 in Cork co.Ireland. He was tried for burglary of Samuel (McBurney) of Gloughhoge & stealing articles at Armagh in April 1791, sentenced to hang reprieved to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 8 1793 after a voyage of 6months on BODDINGTONS. He purchased 25acres in 1802. He was Free by Servitude by 1803. In 1806 he merged his wifes land with his own in his name at Hawkesbury. He was recorded at Hawkesbury in 1806 with his family. He purchased 30acres in 1807. He became agent/rent collector for businessman Henry (Kable). In 1809 he was granted 40acres at Upper Nelson, to be held in trust for the 'orphan children' of Sarah (Woolley) & another 50acres, to be held in trust for his 2sons. He was recorded in 1828 as farmer at Pitt Town with his sons & Catherine (Frazer) housekeeper-with whom he seems to have had a second relationship (her second relationship). It seems he was recorded in 1823 as husband Catherine (Frazier) at Windsor, in 1824 at Richmond & in 1825 at Castlereagh. He cared for his step-granddaughter Catherine (Pearson) age6 after death of her parents at West Rocks Pitt Town from about 1829. In 1831 he was reduced to renting & sought grant of land. He died on 21 12 1839 age about72 father of 2known children at Pitt Town Windsor. [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. 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'