William Silk

74

iain Frazier on 18th May 2024

Family connections for William (Silk) are: Some amendments added Nov 2025. SILK William (Silk) married Margaret (Keefe) in Ireland. He was tried for horse theft at Waterford Ireland, sentenced to be hanged reprieved to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict with his family on 27 5 1797 or 18 7 1798 after a voyage of 5or6months on BRITANNIA. In September 1800 he was tried at Sydney City Court for making Pikes for the Bobbie Rebellion, sentenced to 1,000lashes & sent to Norfolk Island, arriving in 1801. He is recorded as Free By Servitude bull carrier (bullock driver) in February 1805 on Norfolk Island. In 1809 his Conditional Pardon was cancelled after he was found working an illegal still. He returned to Sydney on 31 3 1810. In 1833/4/5 he held a Ticket of Leave and was a landholder/farmer? in Prospect, Parramatta District. He died in 1835 & was buried at St John’s CofE Parramatta. [Some details taken from this Website] Margaret (Keefe) was born about 1771. She arrived in NSW with her family on 27 5 1797 or 18 7 1798 after a voyage of 5or6months on BRITANNIA. She did not move to Norfolk Island. She died on 13 8 1827 age56 at Pitt St Sydney & was buried at St James CofE Sydney. William (Silk) & Margaret (Keefe) produced 2children: 1.Patrick (Silk) was born about 1793 in Ireland. He arrived in NSW with his parents on 27 5 1797 after a voyage of 5months on BRITANNIA. He did not move to Norfolk Island. On 3 3 1813 he married firstly Jane (Wilson) at St Johns CofE Parramatta-not shown in Smees records.>>> ..Jane aka Jean (Wilson) was born about 1791. She was tried at Cumberland Quarter Sessions, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 19 10 1812 after a voyage of 5months on MINSTREL. She lived after 1814 with Robert (Forrester) on 30acres at Hawkesbury. She died on 4 12 1815 age24 & was buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney. ..[Some details taken from this Website] ..Robert (Forrester) was born about 1758. He was tried w/1other for man robbery (stole money from bedfellow Simon (Hughes)), on 29 4 1783, at Old Bailey, sentenced to death commuted to 7years, held probably at London/Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after being on board for 12months on First Fleet ship SCARBOROUGH. He may (as (Foster WILLIAM AND ANN 1791)) have married firstly Mary/Frances (Frost) on 19 10/11 1791 (they are not shown as married in 1791 in group ceremony on Norfolk Island) at St Phillips CofE Sydney-although Smees records show Robert (Forrester) married Mary (Frost LADY JULIANA 1790) on that date. They both were moved to Norfolk Island arriving on 4 11 1791, where it may be he who was granted land & bacome a farmer-although this may be Robert (Forester) also recorded on this Fleet on this Website, if indeed they are 2separate people-Noted this Website now makes it clear that the 2 are the same person. He left Norfolk Island on 7 3 1793. By 1794 he had a second? relationship with Isabella (Ramsay/Manning her second relationship) & settled on 30acres at Mulgrave Place Hawkesbury in 1794. He was Free by Servitude by 1795. He is said to have had a farm at Parramatta. In 1806 he is recorded as having 130acres somewhere. After 1814 he lived with Jane (Wilson) on 30acres at Hawkesbury. He was a farmer when he died on 14/15 2 1827 age69 at Cornwallis father of 8children & was buried at St Matthews CofE Windsor. ..Details of Robert (Forrester)s family are given in entry for Robert (Forrester SCARBOROUGH 1788) on this Website. ..[Noted a Francis (Frost) & unknown produced a child:] ..[1.Sarah (???) was born in 1791 & died on 13 10 1795 age4 on Norfolk Island].. >>>Patrick (Silk) married secondly Margaret (Dalley) in 1824 at St Marys RC Sydney-not found in Smees records. He produced 2children in his lifetime. ..Patrick (Silk) & Margaret (Dalley) produced 2children: ..1.Henry (Silk) was born in 1824 at Richmond & baptised on 26 11 1824 at St Marys RC Sydney. ..2.Joseph (Silk) was born on 9 8 1826 at Richmond & baptised on 18 11 1826 at St Marys RC Sydney. [.also a Margaret (Brien) daughter of Margaret (Daley) & William (Brien convict from ADMIRAL CHARLES 1813 Free by Servitude) was born on 11 6 1830 in Sydney & baptised on 26 9 1830 at St Marys RC Sydney-may be related. ] .. 2.Thomas (Silk) was born about 1794 in Ireland. He arrived in NSW with his parents on 27 5 1797 after a voyage of 5months on BRITANNIA. He did not move to Norfolk Island. He married Sarah (Roberts) on 15 5 1815 at St Matthews CofE Sydney. He was recorded in 1826, 1829 & 1831 a a farmer. ..Sarah (Roberts) was born on 15 6 1795 & baptised on 6 9 1795 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She died on 29 9 1851 age56. ..Details of Sarah (Roberts)s family are given iin entry for William John (Roberts SCARBOROUGH 1788) on this Website. ..Thomas (Silk) & Sarah (Roberts) produced at least 8children: mostly boys ..1.Mary (Silk) was born on 29 3 1816 & baptised on 18 1 1818 age2 w/William at St Peters CofE Richmond. ..2.William (Silk) was born on 7 7 1817 & baptised on 18 1 1818 w/Mary at St Peters CofE Richmond. ..3.Sarah (Silk) was born on 10 9 1819 & baptised on 7 11 1819 at St Peters CofE Richmond. She died in 1891 age about71. ..4.John (Silk) was born on 3 1 1822 & baptised on 27 1 1822 at St Peters CofE Richmond. He died on 28 1 1826 age4 at Richmond & was buried at St Matthews CofE Windsor. ..5.Margaret (Silk) was born on 29 7 1824 & baptised on 26 12 1824 at St Peters CofE Richmond. ..6.Robert (Silk) was born on 26 11 1826 at Richmond & baptised on 21 6 1829 age2 w/Edward at St Peters CofE Richmond. ..7.Edward (Silk) was born on 22 5 1829 at Richmond & baptised on 21 6 1829 w/Robert at St Peters CofE Richmond. He died on 8 12 1829 age6m & was buried at St Matthews CofE Windsor. ..8.James (Silk) was born on 29 11 1830 at Richmond & baptised on 28 12 1831 age1 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. 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'

29

Marilyn Guy on 29th March 2024

1800 Bobby Rebellion, William must have continued his rebellious ways in the Colony as he was named, in September 1800, in an enquiry into the aborted uprising of convicts, named who had planned to attack the soldiers attending Divine Service at Parramatta. Edward Byrn (q.v.) stated that ‘there were 100 pikes at Parramatta and 50 at Toongabbie and part of these 100 were in the possession of Silk and that Silk had 50 Englishmen to join them’. William Silk was sentenced to 1000 lashes at Parramatta. He was then ordered to be transported to Norfolk Island. In the muster of 1806 Silk was a convict on stores working on the bull carriage on Norfolk Island. His wife who accompanied him to NSW had remained in Sydney and was self assigned. 1809 Silk had his Conditional Pardon Cancelled as he was working on an illegal still. 1833/4/5 Muster, Silk held a ticket of leave and was a landholder in the Parramatta District. 1835 when Silk died his funeral was officiated by Rev. Samual Marsden. He was buried at St John’s Cemetery Parramatta.

105

Denis Pember on 31st August 2021

Saunders's News-Letter - Thursday 30 July 1795 p. 2 Text: "Saturday the assizes of Waterford ended, when William Silk, for horse stealing, received sentence in the City Court to be hanged on the 30th of November next. Deatgh sentence reprieved and transported for Life on Brittania." William's wife, Margaret (Keefe) and 2 sons, Patrick and Thomas arrived on the same ship. In September 1800 Silk was charged with making pikes and with being one of the ringleaders of the Bobbie Rebellion. He was sentenced to 1000 lashes and sent to Norfolk Island. He returned to New South Wales in 1810. On page 338 of the Census [S0901] he is listed... Silk, William, 65, ticket of leave, Britannia, 1797, life, Catholic, settler, Prospect. # His sons Patrick and Thomas are also listed on the same page, with their families. His wife, Margaret, had died the previous year.