John Shaw Strange

75

iain Frazier on 15th May 2025

Family connections for John Shaw (Strange) are: STRANGE John Shaw (Strange) was born about 1794 in Warwickshire & became a boot & shoe maker. He married firstly unknown before 1820 in England & produced 4children. He was tried for high treason as a Cato Street Conspirator (attempt to murder several British Ministers-apparantly a minor player) at probably Old Bailey on 12 4 1820, sentenced to hanging & beheading commuted to Life, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW about October 1820 (offloaded from ship which was headed to Van Diemens Land) after a voyage of about 5months on GUILDFORD & sent, on 16 10 1820 to Newcastle on ELIZABETH HENRIETTA; he was Protestant 5'3.5" fair complexion dark brown hair hazel eyes. On 22 11 1823 he was to be sent to Sydney & on 5 1 1824 to Bathurst. He is reported as living with Elizabeth (Hanks) on 9 3 1824 at Phillip St Sydney. In September 1825 he was messenger & constable & took part in capture of thieves. He was issued his Ticket of Leave for Sydney about 1825. His Ticket of Leave was altered to Bathurst on 31 5 1827 when he was appointed Police Constable leading him to become Chief Constable. He was recorded in 1828 as police constable at Bathurst. He married secondly Jane (Baylis age16) on 24 4 1829 at Kelso. In 1832 he was issued his Conditional Pardon & purchased land for an Inn & a Tan Yard. He became a farmer & shoemaker also living at Fish River. He died on 14 1 1868 age about78 father of 14children, of old age/natural causes after 3year illness after suffering paralytic attack at Oberon/O'Connell & was buried at Dubbo. [Some details taken from this Website] [.Elizabeth (Hanks) was born on 21 4 1808 & baptised on 25 12 1811 age3 w/Phoebe at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She married firstly at age15 Joseph (Johnson) with permission on 11 8 1823 (from Smees records) or 10 9 1823 at Christ Church Newcastle. As her husband was soon transferred away to Port Macquarie, she apparantly sought transport & is reported as living secondly with John Shaw (Strange) on 9 3 1824 at Phillip St Sydney with whom she produced another child. She produced 2children in her lifetime.] [.Details of Elizabeth (Hanks)s family are given in entry for James (Hanks BARWELL 1798) on this Website.] Jane (Baylis) was born on 24 4 1813 in Sydney & baptised on 15 8 1813 at CofE Sydney. She perhaps was the child age13 who was accidentally poisoned by adulterated wine with her mother in 1826 & survived. She died on 24 9 1895 age82 at Narromine. Details of Jane (Bayliss)s family are given in entry for Ann/Nancy (Price EARL CORNWALLIS 1801) on this Website. John Shaw (Strange) & Jane (Baylis) produced 10children: 1.John Joseph (Strange) was born in 1832 at Bathurst. 2.William Henry (Strange) was born in 1834 at Bathurst. 3.Jane Elizabeth (Strange) was born in 1836 at Bathurst & baptised at Kelso. She married John/James (Leonard) on 8 10 1853 at Bathurst. She died in 1915 age about79 at Dubbo. 4.Henry (Strange) was born in 1841 at Bathurst & baptised at Kelso. He married Sarah A (Harris) in 1867 at Redfern. 5.William (Strange) was born on 30 7 1843 at Bathurst & baptised on 3 8 1843 at CofE Kelso. He married Martha (Delaney) on 6 9 1871 at Oberon. He was a tanner bookmaker & died on 10 5 1926 age82 at Mosman. ..William (Strange) & Martha (Delaney) produced 8children: mainly boys ..1.Edith Emma (Strange) was born in 1872 at Dubbo. ..2.William (Strange) was born in 1874 at Dubbo. ..3.Arthur (Strange) was born in 1875 at Dubbo. ..4.Louisa (Strange) was born in 1878 at Dubbo. ..5.Herbert (Strange) was born in 1880 at Dubbo. ..6.Charles Gordon (Strange) was born in 1881 at Dubbo. ..7.Henry Augustus (Strange) was born in 1887 at Dubbo. ..8.Herbert Claud (Strange) was born in 1891 at Dubbo. .. 6.Benjamin (Strange) was born in 1846 at Bathurst. 7.Mary Ann (Strange) was born on 23 9 1848 at Bathurst. She married firstly James (Williamson) in 1866 at Hartley.>>> ..Mary Ann (Strange) & James (Williamson) produced 1child: ..1.Emma (Williamson) .. >>>Mary Ann (Strange) married secondly Thomas (Sunderland) on 25 7 1881 at Dubbo. She died on 13 8 1915 age66 mother 3children at Dubbo. ..Mary Ann (Strange) & Thomas (Sunderland) produced 2children: ..1.Annie (Sunderland) was born in 1882. ..2.Joseph (Sunderland) was born in 1887. .. 8.Sarah (Strange) was born in 1850 at Bathurst. 9.Edith Emma (Strange) was born in 1853 at Bathurst. 10.Emily Louise (Strange) was born in 1857 at Bathurst. 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. Family History Group of Bathurst Inc.'Bathurst Pioneers-Register of Pioneer Families Of Bathurst NSW And District <1900' G S Oakes Venerable Archdeacon 'Pioneers of Bathurst-Kelso NSW and Bush Memories'

342

Maureen Withey on 3rd March 2021

1828 Census – Constables belonging to Police Office, Bathurst William Merrick, 28, BC. District Constable (and family) George Luck, 24, C, Asia 1825, Life, Constable Bathurst, protestant. Matthew Masefield, 32, C, Asia 1825, 14 years, Constable Bathurst, protestant John Fitch, 42, C Asia 1825, 14 years, Constable Bathurst, protestant Roger Keenan, 37, T.L., Mangles, 1822, 7 years, Constable Bathurst, protestant John Shaw Strange, 36, T.L Guildford, 1822, Life, Constable Bathurst, protestant John Marsh, 26, F.S. Baring, 1819, 7 years, Constable Bathurst, protestant Willm. Robinson, 29, C, Granada, 1819, Life, Constable Bathurst, protestant Michael Pearson, 30, C, Castle Forbes, 1823, 7 years, Constable Bathurst, protestant John Harrison, 39, C, Guildford, 1822, Life, Constable Bathurst, protestant John Clark, 36, T.L. Baring, 1819, Life, Constable Bathurst, protestant Jeremy Garfield, 48, F.S. Eliza, 1822, 7 years. Constable Bathurst, protestant. Date 25 Nov 1828.

342

Maureen Withey on 17th February 2020

https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-2$init=CON13-1-2p74 The five conspirators Guilty of High Treason numbered in this list, 98, 99, 100, 101, and 102, have been landed at Sydney under particular orders to be sent to Newcastle. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON13-1-2$init=CON13-1-2p64 102 – John Shaw Strange. Middx, GD, 12 April 1820 – life, age 26, native of Warwickshire, boot & shoe maker, 5ft 3 ½,hazel eyes, dark brown hair, fair complexion. General remark – Very well behaved. Note: Cato Street Conspirators. Landed at Sydney. _______________________________________________ Colonial Secretary Index. STRANGE, John Shaw. Per "Guildford", 1820; Cato Street conspirator 1820 Oct 16 - Transported with four others for high treason. Re transfer of these conspirators, considered still designing and dangerous men, to Newcastle (Reel 6007; 4/3502 pp.346-7, 349-51) 1820 Oct 16 - On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Elizabeth Henrietta" (Reel 6007; 4/3502 p.342) 1823 Jan 11 - Prisoner at Newcastle. Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3236; 4/1870 p.70) 1823 Nov 22 - Prisoner to be forwarded to Sydney from Newcastle (Reel 6011; 4/3509 p.600) 1824 Jan 5 - To be forwarded to Bathurst (Reel 6012; 4/3510 p.121) 1824 Mar 9 - Reported to be cohabiting with Elizabeth Hanks at the house of Peter Jackson in Philip Street. Petition of Joseph Johnson (Reel 6069; 4/1817 p.36) 1824 Apr 10 - On list of prisoners on establishment at Bathurst with sentences not transmitted (Reel 6028; 2/8283 p.102) 1825 Sep - Messenger & constable for Captain Fennell at Bathurst; had played a part in the capture of Weavers, Saddington, Williams, Clifford & other thieves. Petition for mitigation of sentence (Reel 6027; 4/1717.2 pp.234-7) 1825 Oct 25 - Instructions received re (Reel 6067; 4/1807 p.131) _________________________________________________ Married, By special license, at the residence of the Rev. C. Stewart, Hartley, Mr. James Leonard to Jane Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. John Shaw Strange, the only survivor of Cato Street notoriety. Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, 8 Oct 1853. ___________________________________________ [ We do not identify ourselves with the opinions of our correspondents.} To the Editor of the Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal. Sir, — In your last issue of the 24th December I saw a narration by the Rev. R. W. Vanderkiste relative to his labours in the Dens of London. Amongst those labours he said he was sent for to administer the Lord's supper, to the then dying Thomas Preston, the only survivor of tho Kato- street Conspirators. I beg leave to inform the rev. gentleman, and those who heard and read his statement that only a very few months ago (and I believe yet) three of the Cato-street Conspirators were living in this colony, namely James Wilson, Charles Cowper, and myself, John Shaw Strange. The rev. gentleman represents the late Preston as having been a very wicked sinner. In duty to the memory of Preston (his religious creed I was not acquainted with), I assure his reverence, and those who read his anecdote, that he was considered by all who knew him, to be a strictly honest man in all his dealings, sober, industrious, a kind father and a faithful friend; possessing, moreover, too powerful a mind to be duped en- snared and sacrificed like myself and others, by the notorious villain, Edward the Spy, and his employers. By giving this a place in your valuable journal you will much oblige Your obedient servant, J. S. STRANGE. Fish River, Jan. 1, 1857. Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, 14 Jan 1857. _________________________________________________ THE death of the last of the convicts concerned in the Cato-street conspiracy is thus reported in a Bathurst paper:-"An inquest was held at O'Connell, on the 14th January, before Dr. Busby, coroner, upon the body of John Shaw Strange, who about three years ago had a paralytic attack, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. About three weeks ago he took to his bed, and gradually sank till Saturday last, when he died. As no medical man had seen him during his last illness, it was doomed necessary to hold an inquest as to the cause of death. The verdict was, 'Died from old age and natural causes.' The deceased was one of the Cato-street conspirators, and was sent to this colony upwards of forty years ago for his participation in the conspiracy. So far as we can learn, Strange is the last of the conspirators, and died at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. During his residence in the colony he has been very industrious, and has borne a good character amongst his neighbours." The Argus, (Melbourne), 12 Feb 1868. ___________________________________________ The following is the last part of an article published in 1946, which is about the Cato Street Conspiracy: Transported Strange, Wilson and Harris were transported to New South Wales. In his "Reminiscences of Thirty Years' Residence In New South Wales and Victoria," published in 1865, Robert Therry, judge of the Supreme Court, tells us that these three men lived in the Bathurst District. Strange, who was only a minor participant in the plot, and rather weak-minded, was chief constable of the district, He had obtained a ticket of leave soon after his arrival for capturing a ferocious bushranger named Robert Story. As chief constable he proved a tower of strength to the peaceable section of the community and a source of terror to evil doers, who fled incontinently from the "Cato-street Chief," as he was called. He produced a large family, all prosperous and well respected. Wilson also served as a constable for some years, and was noted for his bravery and devotion to duty, Harrison set himself up as a baker. If the Cato-street Conspiracy had achieved its object, England would have lost Liverpool, Castlereagh, Wellington, Canning, Eldon, Bathurst, Harrowby and many other statesmen of brilliant talents. But far more disastrous would have been the revulsion of public sympathy from the movement for Parliamentary reform. The whole history of democracy might well have been changed. The Age, (Melbourne) 17 Aug 1946.

342

Maureen Withey on 17th July 2019

GOVERNMENT NOTICE. COLONIAL SECRETARY's OFFICE, MAY 31st, 1827. HIS EXCELLENCY the Governor has been pleased to approve of the following Alterations in the Police of the Colony, viz. -Bathurst.-John Shaw Strange, per Guildford, and Michael Pearson, per Isabella to be Constables. The Monitor, Sydney, Tues 12 Jun 1827

7

Kieran Hannon on 23rd May 2012

This record is NOT correct re where John disembarked. John Shaw Strange was one of six prisoners taken off the ship Guildford when it arrived in Sydney. The ship carried 194 convicts [190 from Portsmouth, and 4 more it picked up at Smith's Bay (British Naval Base in 1820, near Cape Town South Africa)]. The rest of the 188 convicts continued on to VDL. John was one of the respited Cato Street Conspirators who escaped being hung and beheaded on 1 May 1820 as he pleaded guilty to High Treason for his part in the Cato Street Conspiracy (an attempt to kill British Ministers including the Prime Minister on 23 Feb 1820). John threw himself on the mercy of the court which changed his sentence to transportation for life. He and the four other Cato Street Conspirators (Charles Cooper, James Wilson, Richard Bradburn and John Harrison) on the Guildford were immediately sent by boat to Newcastle Penal Settlement upon disembarking in Sydney. Another convict George Stewart was also taken off Guildford in Sydney. He was not a Cato Street Conspirator. He had a specialised skills (Copper plate engraver) which was required by John Oxley and taken to work for him in his Sydney office.