Rachael Sladen

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Naomi Parsons on 15th December 2025

In 1828, Rachael and Thomas experienced a serious break-in with the perpetrator breaking through the wall of their house to steal a container of money hidden in the ground. Further drama took place that year with Thomas again announcing he would not be responsible for Rachael with her placing a counter advert stating that she and all respectable citizens knew he had a wife back home in England at which she was ignorant of at the time of their marriage and she no longer considered him her lawful husband In 1831, the drama continued when Rachael's husband who had been employed as a watchman at the dockyard absconded and was believed to have escaped New South Wales, leaving her abandoned. By 1833, Rachael (now aged 59) applied for permission to marry the twenty year younger Richard Roper (ship- Larkins) which as granted but not seen out. Three years later and time elapsed, the couple again applied. The application was refused as the permission was put through as Clayton (and names had to match those on the original ship's manifest). The couple after this time remained a common law one and Rachael passed away at Botany (as Roper) aged 79 on the 8th July 1852 and was buried in Camperdown Cemetery.

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Maureen Withey on 13th September 2021

CAUTION. — Whereas my Wife, Rachael Clayton, alias Sladen, has absconded from her home without any just cause or provocation, this is to give the Public notice, that I will not be responsible for any debts she may contract; and all persons found harbouring, maintaining, or concealing her, will be prosecuted to the utmost rigour of the law. Parramatta, Oct. 25, 1824. THOS. CLAYTON. The Australian, 28 Oct 1824.

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Robin Sharkey on 19th October 2016

Rachel Sladen was found guilty of uttering forged notes, at the Lancaster Assizes that commenced Wed 31 August 1814, and was sentenced to 14 years transportation (per Lancaster Gazette - Saturday 3rd September 1814). "Rachel Sladen, having uttered to Thos. DIxon and others at Bury, three forged bank notes." Bank of England Freshfields correspondence [M314–15: 14 June, 23 Sept. 1814]. * She was held at Lancaster castle until sent to the ship Northampton at Deptford in November 1814 She was on board "Northampton" at Deptford by 17 November 1814, and wrote to the Bank of England saying: * inform you of my distressed situation * Confined these 7 months in the Castell at Lancaster * Leaving 4 poor desolate children behind and taking ONE with me * we are both in the utmost of distress * having no one to send me money or clothes * being confined for the Bank business (forgery) I hope you will consider my distressed situation grant me some relief as am now lying on board the Northampton going to the Bay. The bank gave her £5 to help towards her necessaries for departure. Rachael Sladen, Aged: 41 years Born: Bury [Bury St Edmunds] Servant, Tried: 31 Aug 1814, at Lancaster She travelled on 'Northampton' ship with a child named Rob aged 2 (according to the written list prepared by surgeon Joseph Arnold, on arrival in NSW). He arrived as Robert Sladen junior. She gave birth to George SLADEN on/after arrival in NSW. 1815 - On list of female convicts on board "Northampton"; with her son Robert. Listed - as Sladon. * On list of convicts disembarked from the "Northampton" to be employed at the Factory at Parramatta; with one child. * 1820, Oct 11th - Petition to have son George (age about 6) put into the Male Orphan School was rejected. * 1821, 11 April and 10 October- Petition from Rachel submitted to the Committee of the male Orphan School * 1821 3 Nov - George Sladen admitted to Male Orphan School, parent Rachel Sladen of Pitt Street (Sydney) servant/ * 1822, January 22 T/L request - Trade or Calling: Servant of Frederick Drennan. Petition for ticket of leave; * 1822, Sept: ovt Servant, Sydney ,, [to] Judge Advocate Wylde 1822 - George Sladen, Age: 8, Arrival status: BC (Born in Colony); Occupation/Residence &c: Orphan School, Sydney * 1824, May 20th - Re permission to marry at Parramatta; listed as Slayden. * 1824, 20th September MARRIED at St Johns Parramatta (Extracted from Kerrison James) * 1825, September. Wife of Thomas Clayton, residence: Parramatta. Convict 1825 - George Sladen age 11, still in Orphan School. * 1826, 13 December - Witness to marriage at St John’s of John “WROE” free of Liverpool ad Ann Adams age 27 per “Midas”, at parramatta St Johns. Rachel Clayton Witness signing with an X. Other witness James Buckley, Parramatta, SIGNED. * 1828 Census -Rachel Clayton. Age 53. Protestant FbyS (14 yrs). Housekeeper to Thomas Clayton. Sydney Certificate issued: Ticket of Leave number 30; Certificate of Freedom. No record of Rachel's Death. Her son George Sladen was indentured out as an apprentice when he left the orphanage. Sydney Gazette - 29 March 1834 Caution to Apprentices.-A native youth named George Slade, was sentenced to four- teen days hard labour in the Sydney gaol, on Tuesday last, for unbecoming behaviour in his indented service. George married in 1841 age about 26 yrs to Maria Ballard. They had ten children at least from 1844 to 1860, two dying in 1860, the eldest aged 16 anda a 4 yr old. George Died in 1876, aged 62 years, at Parramatta area.

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Robin Sharkey on 19th October 2016

Rachel Sladen was found guilty of uttering forged notes, at the Lancaster Assizes that commenced Wed 31 August 1814, and was sentenced to 14 years transportation (per Lancaster Gazette - Saturday 3rd September 1814). "Rachel Sladen, having uttered to Thos. DIxon and others at Bury, three forged bank notes." Bank of England Freshfields correspondence [M314–15: 14 June, 23 Sept. 1814]. * Held Lancaster castle until sent to Northampton, Dec. 1814 She was on board "Northampton" at Deptford by 17 November 1814, and wrote to the Bank of England saying: * inform you of my distressed situation * Confined these 7 months in the Castell at Lancaster * Leaving 4 poor desolate children behind and taking ONE with me * both in the utmost of distress * having no one to send me money or clothes * being confined for the Bank business (forgery) I hope you will consider my distressed situation grant me some relief as am now lying on board the Northampton going to the bay The bank gave her £5 to help towards her necessaries for departure. She travelled on 'Northampton' ship with a child named Rob aged 2 (according to the written list prepared by surgeon Joseph Arnold, on arrival in NSW). He arrived as Robert Sladen junior. She gave birth to George SLADEN on arrival in NSW. 1822 - George Sladen, Age: 8, Arrival status: BC (Born in Colony); Occupation/Residence &c: Orphan School, Sydney 1825 - age 11, still in Orphan School. Rachael Sladen, Aged: 41 years Born: Bury [Bury St Edmunds] Servant, Tried: 31 Aug 1814, at Lancaster Sentence: 14 years, Embarked from: England; Arrived per Northampton 19 Jun 1815, at Sydney; Certificate issued: Ticket of Leave number 30; Certificate of Freedom 1815 - On list of female convicts on board "Northampton"; with her son Robert. Listed - as Sladon. On list of convicts disembarked from the "Northampton" to be employed at the Factory at Parramatta; with one child. 1820, Oct 11th - Petition to have son George (age about 6) put into the Male Orphan School was rejected. 1821, 11 April and 10 October- Petition from Rachel submitted to the Committee of the male Orphan School 1821 3 Nov - George Sladen admitted to Male Orphan School, parent Rachel Sladen of Pitt Street (Sydney) servant/ 1822, January 22 T/L request - Trade or Calling: Servant of Frederick Drennan. Petition for ticket of leave; 1822, Sept: ovt Servant, Sydney ,, [to] Judge Advocate Wylde 1824, May 20th - Re permission to marry at Parramatta; listed as Slayden. 1824, 20th September MARRIED at St Johns Parramatta (Extracted from Kerrison James) 1825, September. Wife of Thomas Clayton, residence: Parramatta. Convict 1826, 13 December - Witness to marriage at St John’s of John “WROE” free of Liverpool ad Ann Adams age 27 per “Midas”, at parramatta St Johns. Rachel Clayton Witness signing with an X. Other witness James Buckley, Parramatta, SIGNED. 1828 Census -Rachel Clayton. Age 53. Protestant FbyS (14 yrs). Housekeeper to Thomas Clayton. Sydney