William Singleton

75

iain Frazier on 15th September 2025

Family connections for William (Singleton) are: SINGLETON William (Singleton) was born in 1752 in Cheshire & became a warehouse porter in London. He married Hannah (Parkinson) on 8 2 1778 at Manchester Cathedral Lancashire. He was tried for stealing, on 30 5 1791, calico of Matthew & Thomas (Pickford) at Old Bailey on 6 8 1791, sentenced to 7years, held at London Gaol Delivery & hulks on the Thames River & arrived in NSW as a convict with his family on 14 2 1792 after a voyage of 8months on PITT; much fever & attempts to escape from the ship resulted in deaths of convicts-of the 450convicts on board only 29 were alive at muster in May 1792 (or perhaps only this many could be mustered); he was assigned to his wife. He was Free by Servitude by 1802. He gained his Absolute Pardon on 23 4 1795. In 1797 he was living on a grant of 90acres at Musgrave Place Hawkesbury. In about 1823 he moved to live with his son Benjamin at Patrick Plains. He died on 25 5 1835 at Singleton age83 & was buried on Patrick Plains. [Some details taken from this Website] Hannah (Parkinson) was born about 1757. She arrived in NSW with her family on 14 2 1792 after a voyage of 8months on PITT. She died on 19 8 1813 age56 & was buried, as (Singleton), at St Matthews CofE Windsor. William (Singleton) & Hannah (Parkinson) produced 10children: mostly boys 1.James (Singleton) was born in 1777 in England. He stayed in England when the family was transported to NSW & emigrated on AEOLUS arriving in NSW as a settler on 26 1 1809 (20 12 1808 according to this Website) after a voyage of 6months. (Smees records show him as arriving on PITT in 1792 in birth records for his first 3children). He married Mary (Rose her third marriage) on 13 6 1814 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. He was recorded as a farmer in 1823. ..Mary (Rose) was born about 1781. She arrived in NSW with her parents on 16 1 1793 after a voyage of 6months on BELLONA. She married firstly (1of3) William (Green) on 7/15 2 1800 at St Philips CofE Sydney. She married secondly (2of3) Henry (Murray) convict/free settler on 9 2 1807 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She died on 25 1 1838 age about56 mother of perhaps 10children at Wilberforce. ..Details of Mary (Rose)s family are given in entry for William (Crew ALBEMARLE 1791) on this Website. ..James (Singleton) & Mary (Rose) produced perhaps 7children: ..1.James (Singleton) was born on 17 10 1814 at Wilberforce & baptised on 19 2 1815 at St Matthews CofE Windsor, ..2.Joseph (Singleton) was born on 10 11 1816 at Wilberforce & baptised on 15 12 1816 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. He died on 17 8 1866 age49. .[3a.Noted a Mary (Singleton) is recorded as born in February 1817, died on 11 9 1818 age19m & was buried at St Phillips CofR Sydney] ..4.Henry (Singleton) was born in 1819 & baptised at Wesley Methodist Windsor. He died on 24 4 1892 age about72 & was buried at Wesley Methodist Windsor. ..5.John (Singleton) was born on 21 6 1822 at Wilberforce & baptised on 30 3 1823 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. He died on 4 9 1874 age52. ..6.Mary Ann (Singleton) (or is she Mary below?) was born in 1820s. ..7.Isaac (Singleton) was born in 1820s. .. 2.Sarah Ann (Singleton) was born on 27 8 1786 in London. She was brought to NSW by her parents in 1792 after a voyage of 8months on PITT. EXPLORER 3.Benjamin (Singleton) was born on 7 8 1788 in London. He was brought to NSW with his parents in 1792 after a voyage of 8months on PITT. He married Mary (Sharling age15) on 4 2 1811 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. He became a miller. In 1817 he went with William (Parr) & led an expedition to the Hunter in April 1818. He accompanied John (Howe) explorer on both of the expeditions to the Hunter River. In 1818 they discovered the Hunter River & later Patrick’s Plains (now Neotsfield). In 1821 he was granted land in the Hunter area as reward. He was recorded in 1821 as a settler. He obtained a farm at Patrick Plains where his father joined him in about 1823. He was recorded in 1826 as a farmer, in 1828 as a victualler & in 1829 as a settler. ..Mary (Sharling) was born at sea on 28 12 1796 & arrived in NSW on 27 5 1797 after a voyage of 5months on BRITANNIA. ..Details of Mary (Sharling)s family are given below. ..Benjamin (Singleton) & Mary (Sharling-Lane) produced at least 10children: ..1.Elizabeth (Singleton) was born on 9 5 1812 & baptised on 13 9 1812 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She married at age15 George (Yeomans) on 21 3 1827 at Christ Church Newcastle. She died in 1894 age about82. ....George (Yeomans) was born on 7 6 1801. He had firstly a relationship with Mary Jane (Lisson her first marriage). He was described as a farmer in 1824. He died on 13 10 1853 age52 father of at least 1child. ....Details of George (Yeomans)s family are given in entry for William (Crew ALBEMARLE 1791) on this Website. .. ..2.Hannah (Singleton) was born on 22 9 1813 at Wilberforce & baptised on 14 8 1814 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She died on 30 10 1853 age40. ..3.William (Singleton) was born on 20 2 1815 at Wilberforce & baptised on 28 5 1815 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. He died on 30 4 1888 age73. ..4.Benjamin (Singleton) was born on 15 8 1817 at Wilberforce & baptised on 12 4 1818 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. He died on 30 7 1889 age71. ..5.Mary (Singleton) was born on 15 5 1818 at Ricmond & baptised on 25 2 1821 age2 w/Sarah at St Matthews CofE Windsor. [She is also recorded as born on 16 5 1819 at Wilberforce & baptised on 27 6 1819 at St Matthews CofE Windsor.] She died on 13 12 1894 age76. ..6.Sarah (Singleton) was born on 7 1 1821 at Richmond & baptised on 25 2 1821 w/Mary at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She died in 1852 age about31. ..7.John (Singleton) was born on 24 1 1823 & baptised on 28 3 1824 at Christ Church Newcastle. He died in 1862 age about39. ..8.Emma (Singleton) was born on 26 4 1825 at Patricks Plains & baptised on 1 3 1826 at Christ Church Newcastle. She died on 13 1 1898 age72. ..9.Louisa (Singleton) was born on 28 9 1827 at Patricks Plains & baptised on 5 2 1828 at Christ Church Newcastle. She died on 15 4 1908 age80. .10.George Australia (Singleton) was born on 1 6 1829 at Wallis Plains & baptised on 27 9 1829 at St Peters Anglican East Maitland. He died on 20 1 1900 age70. .. 4.Joseph (Singleton) was born about 1790 in London. He was brought to NSW with his parents in 1792 after a voyage of 8months on PITT. He married Agnes (Neale age14) on 10 2 1829 at Christ Church Newcastle. ..Agnes (Neale/Neil) was born on 9 7 1815 & baptised on 25 2 1824 age8 w/Jane at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She died on 22 1 1863 age47. ..Details of Agnes (Neale)s family are given in entry for John (Neale HMS GLATTON 1803) on this Website. .. 5.Ann Maria (Singleton) was born on 25 10 1793 & baptised on 5 11 1793 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She married William (Clarke) on 1 10 1810 at St Matthews CofE Windsor & produced 7children. She was recorded in 1814 off stores with her family. She died on 31 12 1862 age69. ..William (Clarke) was born on 28 10 1770. He was convicted for receiving stolen glass cruets etc of John (Few) at Old Bailey on 24 4 1805, sentenced to 7years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 12 7 1806 after a voyage of 6months on FORTUNE. He was Free by Servitude by 1814 when he was recorded as a landholder off stores with his family. He was recorded in 1821 as a settler, in 1828 as farmer & labourer & in 1831 as a farmer. He died on 12 6 1848 age77. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 6.Sarah Maria (Singleton) was born on 6 12 1795 & baptised on 23 10 1796 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She married firstly at age16 Thomas (Sibree/Sibury/Sibrey/Bray) on 4 2 1811 at St Matthews CofE Windsor & produced 4children.>>> ..Thomas (Siberry) was born about 1778. He arrived in Australia as a seaman in 1800 on HMS PORPOISE. He died suddenly on 31 12 1818 age30 at Wilberforce & was buried at St Matthews CofE Windsor. ..Details of Thomas (Sibree/Siberry)s family are given in entry for Robert (Farlow CANADA 1801) on this Website. .. >>>Sarah Maria (Singleton) had a second relationship with Edward (Reynolds) & produced 5children. She died on 6 2 1828 age33 at Wilberforce mother of 9children & was buried, as (Sibree), at St Johns CofE Wilberforce. ..Edward (Reynolds) was born on 28 5 1794 & baptised on 22 6 1794 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He was recorded in 1821 as a settler & 1827 as a farmer & builder. He died on 5 11 1832 age38. ..Details of Edward (Reynolds)s family are given in entry for Edward (Reynolds ATLANTIC 1791) on this Website. .. 7.Susannah ((Singleton) was born on 16 3 1798 & baptised on 13 5 1798 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She married Joseph (Hibbert) on 19 10 1818 at St Matthews CofE Windsor & produced at least 3children. She was recorded in 1828 with her family at Wilberforce. She died on 25 9 1885 age87. ..Joseph (Hibbert) was born about 1789. He was convicted at Derby Assizes, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 7 2 1814 after a 4month voyage on GENERAL HEWITT; he was Protestant. He was recorded in 1827 as a farmer, in 1828 as a farmer at Wilberforce with his family & in 1830 as a farmer. He died in 1871 age82. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 8.Hannah (Singleton) was born on 16 3 1802 & baptised on 1 8 1802 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She married at age16 James Zadock (Bellamy) on 15 6 1818 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & produced 11children. She was recorded in 1828 with her husband. She died on 14 10 1869 age67 at Parramatta. ..James Zadock (Bellamy) was born on 9 5 1798 & baptised on 18 9 1798 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was recorded in 1828 with his wife. He died on 6 3 1875 age75. ..Details of James Zadock (Bellamy)s family are given in entry for William (Bellamy ACTIVE 1791) on this Website. .. 9.William (Singleton) was born on on 11 4 1805 & baptised on 6 4 1806 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. 10.Elizabeth (Singleton) was born in 1806. She produced a child with father unknown: although the unnamed father is shown as a settler in Smees Baptism records. ...1.Eve (Singleton) was born on 29 5 1822 at Wilberforce & baptised on 16 6 1822 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. SHARLING Thomas (Sharling) married Lucy (Lane her first marriage (1of3)) in 1796 in England. He arrived in NSW as a soldier with his family on 27 5 1797 after a voyage of 5months on BRITANNIA. Lucy (Lane) arrived in NSW with her family on 27 5 1797 after a voyage of 5months on BRITANNIA.>>> Thomas (Sharling) & Lucy (Lane) produced 1child: 1.Mary (Sharling) was born about 1796. She was born at sea on 28 12 1796 & arrived in NSW on 27 5 1797 after a voyage of 5months on BRITANNIA. She married at age15 Benjamin (Singleton) on 4 2 1811 at St Matthews CofE Windsor & produced at least 10children. She died on 4 2 1811 age15 & was buried at St Matthews CofE Windsor-not shown in Smees records. ..Benjamin (Singleton) was born about 1788 in London. He was brought to NSW with his parents in 1792 after a voyage of 8months on PITT. He became a miller. In 1817 he went with William (Parr) & led an expedition to the Hunter in April 1818. He accompanied John (Howe) explorer on both of the expeditions to the Hunter River. In 1818 they discovered the Hunter River & later Patrick’s Plains (now Neotsfield). In 1821 he was granted land in the Hunter area as reward. He was recorded in 1821 as a settler. He obtained a farm at Patrick Plains where his father joined him in about 1823. He was recorded in 1826 as a farmer, in 1828 as a victualler & in 1829 as a settler. ..Details of Benjamin (Singleton)s family are given above. .. >>>Lucy (Lane) married secondly (2of3) John (Rousseau his second relationship) on 23 7 1798 at St Phillips CofE Sydney.>>> John (Rousseau/ean) was born about 1780. He enlisted on 15 7 1792 as a private at Savoy UK & deserted in that year. After being recovered on 12 11 1792 he embarked on 2 1 1793 & arrived in NSW as a soldier on 17 9 1793 after a voyage of 5/17months on SUGAR CANE. He had a first relationship with Mary (Burn her first of 5known relationships). He was granted 425acres with16others in 1796. In 1798 he was detached to (Abbott)s company & went with the company to Norfolk Island in 1802. He left Norfolk Island on 4 10 1794. In 1806 he returned to the UK & India on furlough until 1809 & remained with (Abbott)s company until his discharge on 24 4 1810 when he is recorded as returning to UK. He was father of 6known children in his lifetime. Mary (Burn) was born about 1771/5. She was tried for stealing cotton (or a silver pocket watch) at Dublin Ireland, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 17 9 1793 after a voyage of 5months on SUGAR CANE. She was sent to Norfolk Island where she produced another child. She was recorded in February 1805 as sentence expired on stores on Norfolk Island. She left Norfolk Island with 2children on 3 9 1808 on CITY OF EDINBURGH to Derwent Tasmania, arrivig on 5 10 1808. She was an emancipist when she married thirdly (3of5) James (Bendall) shopkeeper on 2 10 1810 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She produced another child. She had a fifth relationship with & married John William (Leach) emancipist on 3 6 1816 at St Davids CofE Hobart. She produced perhaps 6children in her lifetime.] [Some details taken from this Website; where 2xMary (Burns) have entries: information that follows may refer to one or other of them, or may be there was only one] .. >>>Lucy (Lane) & John (Rousseau) produced 5children-males:>>> 1.John (Rousseau) was born on 19 2 1799 on Norfolk Island & baptised on 14 7 1799 at St Phillips CofE Sydney-or recorded there. It may be he who was recorded in February 1805 as child >2yrs on stores on Norfolk Island. He left with his mother on 3 9 1808 on CITY OF EDINBURGH to Derwent Tasmania, arrivig on 5 10 1808. He died on 23 11 1848 age49. 2.William (Rousseau) was born on 30 5 1801 on Norfolk Island & baptised on 21 6 1801 at St Phillips CofE Sydney-or recorded there. It may be he who was recorded in February 1805 as child >2yrs on stores on Norfolk Island. He left with his mother on 3 9 1808 on CITY OF EDINBURGH to Derwent Tasmania, arrivig on 5 10 1808. He died on 29 7 1885 age84. 3.Anthony/Antonia (Rousseau) was born on 23 6 1803 & baptised on 25 12 1803 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. 4.Peter (Rousseau) was born on 13 1 1805 & baptised on 25 4 1805 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He died on 13 3 1875 age70. 5.Thomas (Rousseau) was born in 1806. He died on 4 5 1806 age<1 & was buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney. .. >>>Lucy/Louisa (Lane) associated thirdly with James (Neale/neil) & produced 3children. She produced 9children in her lifetime. James (Neale) was born about 1781/5. He was tried w/William (Neale age27) & 1other (both of whom were executed as a result) for stealing horses of James (Waters), Stephen (Stains) & James (Bellingham) at Kent Assizes in March 1801, sentenced to death by hanging reprieved to Life (age16) & arrived in NSW as a convict on 11 3 1803 after a voyage of 6months on HMS GLATTON. He was Free by Servitude by 1810. He was issued his Conditional Pardon before July 1823. He was assigned to Appin District in February 1824. He was recorded as a settler & farmer in 1824. He died on 19 10 1820 age39. [Some details taken from this Website] Details of James (Neale)s family are given in entry for John (Neale HMS GLATTON 1803) on 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' Pamela Statham 'A Colonial Regiment-New Sources Relating to the New South Wales Corps-1789-1810'

2

Lesly Singleton on 21st September 2020

My research is unable to connect William Singleton convict to John Singleton horse trainer (if it is John Singleton still living referred to in the addits) There was a reputabal horse trainer in the 1800's from the Singleton family.

15

Margaret on 11th August 2013

William should have been hung for his crime, but as he was caught leaving the store, he stated "go easy on me master" I believe this was his plan for a new life. Benjamin Singleton the Explorer is a decendant, as is John Singleton the Horse owner. The woman who grafted Granny Smith Apples is also surposedly in this tree. the Apple being named after her.

5

Peter Morris on 9th February 2012

William Singleton: b. 1752 d. May 28, 1835 Arr. February 14, 1792 Of Scottish ancestry William Singleton was born in Cheshire, England and while working as a warehouse porter in London he was charged, on June 8, 1791 that “he did upon the thirtieth day of May in that year did feloniously steal twenty-seven yards of calico, valued at twenty-seven shillings, the property of Matthew and Thomas Pickford”. William was sentenced at The Old Bailey to transportation for 7 years. ‘William was lucky in some respects – he spent only a short time in the hulks moored in the Thames … before he went aboard the Pitt to await its departure.’ ‘The Pitt originally embarked 443 men and women’ but there was an investigation as to overcrowding which concluded that the maximum limit was 410 prisoners. “in the prison the space of a cube of six feet is all that is allowed to eight men … if a sickness should happen, a sick and a person in health must touch each other.” Actually, when she sailed from Yarmouth Roads on July 17, 1791, she seems to have carried 344 male and 58 female convicts, a total of 402 prisoners’ ‘The Pitt’s passage was protracted as she did not reach Port Jackson until February 14, 1792, 212 days out from Yarmouth Roads. Smallpox … made its appearance shortly after her departure [and] the prisoners developed ulcers on their bodies and legs and showed signs of scurvy but otherwise remained comparatively healthy. Among the seamen and military guards and their families, however, a malignant fever appeared … her crew was so depleted, indeed … some of the convicts had to be recruited to help navigate her.’ ‘We have no evidence of the conditions of William’s health, nor that of Hannah and their two little sons, but it seems that they were not only able to survive the long and painful voyage but they were sufficiently healthy to go ashore and take their place in this wretched community.’ William Singleton had previously married one Hannah Parkinson on the 8th February, 1778 at Manchester Cathedral and she and two of their small children, Benjamin and Joseph travelled with William aboard the Pitt as free settlers. From the earliest moment in the colony William was assigned to his wife, Hannah and had gained an ‘absolute pardon’ on April 23, 1795, a little under four years from his original conviction. By 1797 the Singleton family had settled on a 90 acre grant at Mulgrave Place on the northern banks of the Hawkesbury River. ‘When granted land, ex-convicts were supplied with provisions (the same quantity as working convicts), clothes and medical assistance for 18 months from the day on which they settled on the grant. To clear and cultivate the ground, he received a hatchet, two tomahawks, two hoes, a spade and a shovel for each man and woman and a certain number of cross-cut saws among the whole. To stock the farms, each settler was promised two sow pigs, which were sometimes a long time in arriving. Grain for growing for the first year was also given.’ On one occasion a “servant of William Singleton, Hawkesbury, seeing natives destroying hops near the house, desired them to desist, at which they became enraged and with a tomahawk, wounded the man in the legs, crippling him. William’s sons (Benjamin was then 18, Joseph about 17) hearing the cries, ran out and fired on the natives, killing one and wounding others.” William and Hannah had had three children, all sons, in England and prior to William’s conviction. There was also daughter, Sarah Ann, being born August 27, 1786. It should be remembered that this was still the times for relatively high infant mortality. As mentioned, Benjamin and Joseph accompanied their parents on the voyage to New South Wales. There was another and elder son, James, aged about 14 at the time who had stayed on in England. In those times children aged over about 5 or 6 years were not welcome as emigrants with convict parents as they were an unnecessary cost burden on the shipping system and Government stores. James eventually followed his parents and emigrated to the colony aboard the Aeolus which arrived on the 26th January, 1809. After Hannah’s death in 1813, William ‘continued to live on the Hawkesbury for about another decade before joining Benjamin at St. Patrick’s Plains after selling his “back farm” near Reibycroft (Mary Reiby’s farm) and other possessions.’ William died in May 1835 at Singleton and was buried “on the Plains”