Humphrey Thorn

74

iain Frazier on 7th January 2025

Family connections for Humphrey (Thorn) are: THORN Humphrey (Thorn/e/Thome) was born about 1758 & became a blacksmith. He spent time on Man-of-Wars. He was tried for stealing, on 8 5 1788, an iron chest etc of Jeremiah (Smith) on 25 6 1788 at Old Bailey, sentenced to 7years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 1 1790 after a voyage of 7months on Fleet ship NEPTUNE; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate. He married Rebecca/cka (Richards) on 8 7 1792 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He worked as a smith in the lumberyard. He was Free by Servitude by 1798. In 1803 a colt of his was destroyed by a neighbour. By 16 7 1804 he had grants & leases in Sydney Town. In 1807 he was a blacksmith with (financial?) support from Gregory (Blaxland). He is recorded on 5 6 1810 as a member of Parramatta Loyal Associates & as a juror several times from 1814 to 1820. He had property at Prospect, Parramatta & Argyle. He died on 10 4 1823 age65 at Parramatta & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta, leaving his properties to his sons. [Some details taken from this Website] Rebecca (Richards) daughter of Harold (Richards) & Ann (Innes) was born about 1763/71. She was tried for stealing a silver cup of Mary (Ball) at Bristol Gloucestershire/Somerset Oyer & Terminer Assizes on 13 6 1789, sentenced to death reprieved to 7/14years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 6months on Fleet ship MARY ANN/E. She was Free by Servitude by 1798. She was apparantly in attendance at baptisms in 1801 & 1806 at St Johns CofE Parramatta-she was off stores. She is recorded in 1806 with her children, in 1811, in 1814 with 3children & in 1822-5 as widow housekeeper at Parramatta. She died on 28/31 1 1826 age55/63 at Parramatta & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta. [Some details taken from this Website: including Harold (Richards) was born in 1751 & died in 1821 age about70: Ann (Innes) was born in 1751 & died in 1837 age86] Humphrey (Thorn/e) & Rebecca (Richards) produced 5children: 1.John (Thorn) was born on 4 1 1794 & baptised on 18 2 1794 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He is recorded in 1806 with his mother. He married Jane Matilda (Humm) on 6 12 1815 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was recorded at Parramatta as chief constable in 1827 & 1829. He died on 3 8 1838 age44. ..Jane Matilda (Humm) was born on 28 9 1796 on Norfolk Island & baptised on 28 8 1803 age6. She died on 23 1 1879 age83. ..Details of Jane Matilda (Humm)s family are given in entry for Mary (Hook LADY JULIANA 1790) on this Website. ..John (Thorn) & Jane Matilda (Humm) produced at least 7children: ..1.John (Thorn) was born on 18 9 1817 & baptised on 19 10 1817 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..2.James (Thorn) was born on 18 2 1819 & baptised on 24 12 1819 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..3.Mary/Maria (Thorn) was born on 20 6 1821 at Parramatta & baptised on 18 7 1821 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..4.William Joseph (Thorn) was born on 4 12 1823 at Parramatta & baptised on 28 12 1823 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..5.Daniel Humphrey (Thorn) was born on 11 11 1825 at Parramatta & baptised on 18 12 1825 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..6.Jane Matilda (Thorn) was born on 2 6 1827 at Parramatta & baptised on 25 11 1827 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..7.George Howey (Thorn) was born on 13 4 1829 at Parramatta & baptised on 10 5 1829 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. .. 2.Elizabeth Mary (Thorn) was born on 1 9 1796 & baptised on 23 9 1796 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She is recorded in 1806 with her mother. She married William (Tuckwell) on 11 6 1816 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & produced 7children. She died on 24 2 1879 age82. ..William (Tuckwell) was born on 26 5 1795 & baptised on 2 7 1795 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He was recorded at Parramatta as a clerk in 1826 & a bookkeeper in 1828 & 1829. ..Details of William (Tuckwell)s family are given in entry for John (Small CHARLOTTE 1788) on this Website. .. 3.Mary Ann (Thorn) was born on 8 11 1798 & baptised on 11 11 1798 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She is recorded in 1806 & 1814, off stores, with her mother. She married Thomas (Reynolds) on 18 7 1820 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & produced 2children. She died on 10 6 1831 age32. ..Thomas (Reynolds) was born about 1787/98 in Ireland & became a shoemaker. He was tried at Somerset Assizes, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 1 1 1818 after a voyage of 4.5months on OCEAN. He was Free by Servitude by 1821. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 4.Humphrey (Thorn) was born in 1802. He is recorded in 1806 & 1814, off stores, with his mother. He received a land grant in 1823-he was a butcher. He married Harriet (Fairweather age16) of Sydney on 5 9 1826 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. In 1828 he received 150acres at Prospect, 60acres at Argyle & half of 100acres at Parramatta from his fathers Will. He is recorded in 1828 as a yeoman with land at Parramatta. In 1842 he was in debt & abusing alcohol & was several times taken to court including on 14 9 1842 when he was fined by the Parramatta Police Office. In 1843 he was living at Marsden Parramatta. In June 1844 he was discharged from bankruptcy. He was living at Parramatta when he died about 5 4 1849 age about44 from chest pain at Parramatta. ..Harriet (Porteous/McManus/Fairweather) was born on 21 8 1810 & baptised on 25 8 1811 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She seems to have had her name changed to her stepfathers-(Fairweather). She was living in Sydney in 1826. She died on 5 1 1895 age93. ..Details of Harriet (Porteous/McManus/Fairweather)s family are given in entry for Jane (Poole CHARLOTTE 1788) on this Website. ..James (Thorn/e) & Harriet (Fairweather) produced 3known children: ..1.Elizabeth Mary (Thorn) was born on 7 8 1827 at Parramatta& baptised on 9 9 1827 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..2.John (Thorn/e) was born in 1833. ..3.Elizabeth (Thorn/e) was born in 1837. .. 5.James (Thorn) was born on 3 9 1804 & baptised on 14 10 1804 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & became a butcher. He is recorded in 1806 & 1814, off stores, with his mother. In 1828 he received half of 100acres at Parramatta from his fathers Will. He was recorded as a butcher at Parramatta in1827. He married Elizabeth (Pye) on 21 7 1829 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was recorded as a publican at Parramatta in 1830. In 1849 he was living at Fish River. He died on 27 2 1855 age50. ..Elizabeth (Pye) was born on 31 5 1804 & baptised on 24 6 1805 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She is recorded in 1828 as living with her parents at Seven Hills. She died in 1839 age about35. ..Details of Elizabeth (Pye)s family are given in entry for John (Pye BRITANNIA 1791) on this Website. ..James (Thorne) & Elizabeth (Pye) produced at least 1child: ..1.Mary (Thorne) was born on 28 6 1830 at Parramatta & baptised on 12 9 1830 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. 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'

43

Darryl Buley on 21st March 2024

Male colt destroyed - 23 Dec 1803 The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) Sun 25 Dec 1803 Page 2 Text: Criminal Court. At ten o'clock on Monday last a Criminal Court assembled, and proceeded to the trial of Morgan Morgan, on a charge of feloniously killing and destroying a male Colt, valued at 16 pounds sterling, the property of Humphrey Thorn, on the 23rd day of October last. Humphrey Thorn being sworn, deposed, that the foal in question together with a mare, also his property, had frequently gone on to the grounds occupied by the prisoner, who, in consequence thereof, had often times secured tham in a pound, and had also threatened to kill and destroy them; that on the 22d of October, the prisoner had complained to him that his cattle were all night upon his premises, declaring at the same time that let them be whose they might, he would make them dear horses to somebody; and that on the following morning the mare and foal were seen going towards the prisoner's grounds, but after three in the afternoon the colt had not, upon every search and enquiry, been again visible. Strongly suspecting that the prisoner had actually put his threats into execution, he had acquainted the Magistrates of the circumstances that led to his suspicion, and was advised to search the grounds adjacent to the prisoner's house, in compliance with which, he had himself examined without effect; but at the expiration of a month one of his working men gave him information that he had found the colt; and desiring that the deponent would follow him, hed him to the mouth of a pit about 200 yards distant from the prisoner's house, in which it had been concealed with boughs, which being removed, he saw the colt in a mangled state, the head severed from the body, and one of the legs broken, but positively declared it to be his property. John Merrit deposed, that on Saturday morning, the 22d of October, the prisoner went into the prosecutor's work-ship, the deponent being then present, and after complaining of some person's cattle being on his farm all the preceding night, declared he would kill them if they came on to his wheat, or upon his farm; that after the lapse of a month he, the deponent had provided himself with an iron-rod, with intent to discover, if possible, where the colt was buried; and upon examining a pit 200 years distant from the prisoner's house, found there the colt in the state described by the prosecutor, which this witness also identified to have been the prosecutor's property. R. Dowling deposed, that at three o'clock on Sunday the 23d of October, he saw the foal pass towards the prisoner's grounds, but had not seen it afterwards. Here the evidence for the prosecution closed, and the Judge Advocate desired that the prisoner would enter upon his defence, which he delivered to the following effect: On Saturday morning going towards Parramatta about 7 o'clock, he saw that horses had been feeding on his wheat, and immediately repaired to the shop of Humphrey Thorn, of whom he enquired where his horses were, describing at the same time the state in which his wheat was, owing to persons suffering their cattle to run upon his grounds; to this Thorn replied, that he was certain they were not his horses that had done the damage; after which he, the prisoner at the bar, had, he acknowledged, made use of the expression "he would make them dear horses to somebody", that he had frequently had the prosecutor's horses caught and pounded, but had also always restored them without exacting any recompense for the damage sustained by them; and generally denied having seen the colt, upon which the charge had been brought, on the 23d of October, and consequently disavowed all knowledge if its death. In support of which he called several witnesses, one of whom positively affirmed, that upon the 23d the prisoner had never been 20 minutes absent from her during the whole of the day, and another declared, that from 2 in the afternoon till half-past five he had been employed in griding wheat, and was assisted by the prisoner, who was never absent from him during the whole interval. The prisoner's defence being closed, the Judge Advocate thought it incumbent on him to speak to his character during a period of twelve years in his service, in the whole course of which, he had uniformly maintained an unimpeachable propriety of conduct; after which the Court was ordered to be cleared, and when reopened, the prisoner was acquitted. The Judge Advocate afterwards addressing the prisoner, admonished him against at any time resigning himself up to the dictates of an ungovernable passion; for although on the present occasion the evidence had not been considered as sufficient to continue what was requisite to a conviction, yet upon deliberately comparing the circumstances of the case, it would be very difficult for the mind thoroughly to acquit him of the charge; and as the laws were intended for the protection of property as well as of persons, to every infraction of the law required a retribution, against the necessity of which it was the duty of every one incessantly to guard himself by a conduct which it was in his power to adopt. He trusted, therefore, that his future behaviour would be such as to prevent a possibility of his being again compelled to appear at the bar of a Court of Justice. Petition to Governor - 29 Jan 1810 Memorials To The Governor, 1810-1826 Text: "Received 29 Jan 1810... to be confirmed. L.M." "...May it please Your Excellency Your petitioner has been on this colony near twenty years and during the term of his sentance [sic] he served in the lumber yard in the capacity of a Smith at the expiration of his time through his good behaviour Governor Hunter put me in to business which I have followed till this time and still supporting a good character and having a wife and five children three of wich [sic] are boys and having some cows and horses and no land and before our late Governor granted me this land wich [sic] I trust will mete [sic] Your Excellency's fatherly goodness to me to hold for the benefit of my children for wich [sic] both me and they may be bound to pray for Your Excellencys helth [sic] welth [sic] and prosperery [sic] for ever Humphrey Thorne Parramatta" Family himself Humphrey Thorn 1758–1823 wife Rebecca Richards 1771–1826 son John Thorn 1794–1838 daughter Elizabeth Mary Thorn 1796–1879 daughter Mary Ann Thorn 1798–1831 son Humphrey Thorn 1802–1849 son James Thorn 1804–1855

71

Robin Sharkey on 4th November 2016

HUMPHRY'S RESPECTABILITY In NSW Humphry gained respectability. In his death, there was a short death notice in the newspaper: Sydney gazette, 10 April 1823 page 3 "Family Notices DIED - At Parramatta, on the 4th instant, Mr. Hum- phrey Thorn, in the 65th year of his age. The de- ceased had resided in Parramatta for 32 years." His wife Rebecca died in 1826 He had two sons and daughter. Mary Ann Thorn, Born 1798 and married in 1820 to another 7 yr transportee from the Old Bailey, Thomas Reynolds. Her father was a marriage witness and signed his name, as did his daughter and her husband, born in Ireland. They lived in Parramatta and he was a master Shoemaker. James Thorn Born 1804, and in 1828 described as a yeoman and holder of land at parramatta, married 1829 t Parramatta to Elizabeth Pye. Humphrey Thorn Jnr born 1802. Received his own allotment in Parramatta in 1823, aged 21, was a butcher. Married 1826 to 16 yr old Harriet Fairwether BC. He had land - in 1828 had 60 acres at Argyle, and his father's land was now with him: * 150 acres at Prospect tenanted by John Wyatt; * 100 acres at Parramatta shared equally with hsi brother James * 60 acres at Argyle with 200 cattle on it. However Humphry Junior got into trouble with debts at the time of the economic collapse df 1842, and into trouble with drinking: THE TEETOTALLER NEWSPAPER Wed 14th September 1842, page 1: " Parramatta Police Office. — Humphrey Thorn was brought before the bench, charged with being drunk and disorderly in St. John's Church, on Sunday, the 21st ultimo. He was found guilty, and sentenced to pay a fine of forty shillings, and five shillings cost, or to be confined in the cells 120 hours. This being the fifth offence, the Police Magistrate reproved him very severely for his conduct : he spoke to him qf the sin of entering God's presence in a state of drunkenness, and next, on the miserable state into which he had brought himself and family, by an habituul course of intemperance. ( This man, who was a short time ago, independent in his circumstances, is now an insolvent ; he has by his conduct, reduced an excellent wife, and two fine children, to a state of destitution. Although it was generally known that he wasted his substance, as stated above, yet he has obtained the benefit of the Insolvent Act. ," In 1843 he lived at Marsden t, Parramatta In June 1844 he finally got hsi certificate of discharge from Bankruptcy, although it was opposed by Mr Hugh Taylor: The Australian 8th June 1844: "Humphrey Thorne [Jnr], opposed by Parry Long, on behalf of Hugh Taylor, on these grounds: — First, of concealing his property; secondly, of not making a full and fair disclosure of his effects ; thirdly, contracting debts, without reasonable prospect of paying them ; fourthly, diminishing his estate by extravagance j fifthly, disposing of his property otherwise than in a bonajide transaction ; sixthly, unjust preference to some of his creditors; and seventhly, contracting debts under false pretensions. Mr. Long examined him, at some length ; but the greater part of the depositions are similar to what were taken some time ago. It appeared, also, that he had borrowed £200 from Mr. Dunlop. of Parramatta, leaving him, whether intentionally or not, was undecided, under the impression that the farm of 100 acres, left by his father, was wholly his, whereas fifty acres were left to his brother, James Thome, and the other fifty left to himself, with the proviso that it should not be sold out of the family. The Commissioner considered that the grounds of opposition, though formidable in number, were not sustained." Humphrey Junior Died in 1849: rThe Goulburn Herald 14 April 1849 page 5: "SUDDEN DEATH,-An awfully sudden death has occurred in our neighbourhood. Mr. Humphrey Thorn, of Parramatta, left home on the 29th ultimo on a visit to his brother, Mr. James Thorn, of tlhe Fish River, at which place he arrived on the 1st of April. On the following morning he complained of great pain in his chest, but refused to have any medical assistance. Three days afterward, Mr. James Thorn had to proceed to Yass on business, but was soon followed by a messenger with the sad tidings that Mr. H. Thorn died an hour after he left home. The mortal remains having been placed in a metal coffin, were forwarded to Parramatta. We under stand that deceased has left a wife and two children to lament their loss. An inquest was held on the body, although the deceased had been ill for four days." Children: John Thorn B 1833 and Elizabeth born 1827

71

Robin Sharkey on 4th November 2016

Thorn's London employer, Jeremiah Smith, was not a man to be meddled with. He was a blacksmith, and the iron and tools around his business were ripe for stealing and re-sale in the lanes and courts of the London Rookeries. It also seems he was a mean and hard employer. Before Thorn's prosecution, he had in 1793 prosecuted John Jones for stealing 500 iron brads. Smith said he employed several men at the time and thought they were all honest. He found himself “robbed daily: so even before the accused Jones got to work at 5am, Smith hid himself in a room beside the shop to watch what Jones did. The brads were hidden in his breeches. Jones didn’t get transported because he'd been in prison 13 weeks already and was ill. However, when Humphrey Thorn was discovered as a thief by Smith on 8th May 1788 he then employed one John Robothem. Only four weeks after Humphrey’s thievery, Smith found Robothem also to have iron concealed on him. Smith said that Robothem had only worked for him about three weeks; and a few days after he came Smith started to miss many pieces of new iron, and other articles. He watched Robothem and saw the man hide iron in his breeches. Robothem said that Smith owed him 7s 7d and he had asked him for 1 s but Smith refused Robothem was “… faint with working hard, and I went home and pawned a shirt; I went there on Friday and asked Mr. Smith for a shilling, and I took this iron to get me a little dinner, thinking to pledge it till I should get some money from Mr. Smith on his return; and in the mean time he took me; if I had chose to have sold it, I passed several old iron shop; my master owes me seven shillings and seven pence”. Robothem was only whipped, a the jury found the value of the iron to be less than Smith claimed.

3

Jo Jennings on 27th April 2016

Humphrey married another second fleet convict. Rebecca Richards

221

D Wong on 28th March 2015

Proceedings of the Old Bailey, On 25 Jun 1788: HUMPHREY THORNE was indicted for stealing, on the 8th of May last, an iron chest, lock, and key, value 1 s. a pair of leather half-boots, value 1 s. a mahogany watch-case, value 6 d. a rule, value 1 s. a key, called a blank, value 6 d. an iron pick-lock, value 3 d. two brass images, value 3 d. one iron screw driver, value 6 d. and four pounds weight of iron, value 4 d. the property of Jeremiah Smith. JEREMIAH SMITH sworn. I know the prisoner; he worked for me about six months; I found a parcel of things, as many as a man can stand under, at his lodgings, by a search warrant. (All the things produced and deposed to.) The prisoner was taken into custody; he fell a crying, and begged for mercy; said he would be a faithful servant to me, and never serve me so again; he said, I should have no reason to repent of overlooking it, if I would be so good to forgive him, and take him into my service again; I asked him how he could expect forgiveness from me, when I had been so very much distressed; I told him, I could not do any such thing; I had been almost ruined; I was present at the apprehending of the prisoner, and I knew the things. PRISONER's DEFENCE. No man upon earth can swear to that piece of iron; it is a piece of new bar-iron; that watch-case that lays there, the boy brought out one day to burn, and he gave it me; I took it home, and had it repaired, and kept it on the mantle-piece, and the half-boots he was going publicly to sell to the shop's company; they were all mouldy; I bought them for six pence; the witness knows that; as to the other tools, Mr. Smith knows that he never checked me for carrying tools in my pocket; I had several articles; I was paid off from a man of war; I have a whole chest of tools; and I did my endeavour to do a little business for myself when I was out of work; I never took any thing with intent to keep it; the Monday before I was taken, I went to six a gate, and I did not return to the shop that night, there is a whole chest of tools now at the justices. Court. Did the apprentice boy offer to sell the half-boots? - I did not hear him. Were these half boots left about the shop, mouldy and not used? - I never saw them mouldy. Were they left in the shop for the apprentice to do what he pleased with? - No, they were left off to be mended, and the apprentice might wear them; I cannot say he did not; I never saw him wear them; he seldom works with me; I know nothing of the watch-case. Did you ever see it in pieces? - The prisoner put this bit on. JOHN HARPER sworn. I apprehended the prisoner and found the property; some of the things were in a chest locked with two lock. The prisoner called one witness to his character. GUILTY . Transported for seven years . Colonial Secretary: THORN, Humphrey (Senior). Per "Neptune", 1790 1804 Jul 16: On list of all grants & leases of town allotments registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3268; 9/2731 p.206) 1807 Jun 16, Nov 24: Blacksmith. On statement of capital advanced by Gregory Blaxland in his concerns from 27 Dec 1806 to 14 Sep 1808 (Reel 6043; 4/1727 pp.192, 194, 204) 1810 Jan: Of Parramatta. Memorial (Fiche 3009; 4/1822 No.310) 1810 Jun 5: Member of Parramatta Loyal Association (Reel 6042; 4/1725 p.15) 1814 Nov 26-1819 Oct 29: Juror at inquests on Mary Brown, Owen Dalton, Thomas Gorman & John Williams held at Parramatta (Reel 6021; 4/1819 pp.57, 145, 233, 717) 1820 Jul 21: Juror at inquest on Patrick Fanning held at the Field of Mars (Reel 6021; 4/1819 p.199) 1822 Jul 18: Signatory to memorial from inhabitants & stockholders of Parramatta re common land on the Sydney road known as the Dog Traps (Reel 6055; 4/1761 p.22b) 8/7/1792: Married Rebecca Richards (Mary Ann 1791) at Parramatta. 10/1/1823: Humphrey died aged 65 and is buried along with Rebecca a St Johns Cemetery, Sydney.