Susannah Uffnell

Level 105

Denis Pember on 23rd April 2022

On 4th March 1790, Susannah and the baby, Elizabeth, went to the new settlement of Norfolk Island. They went aboard ‘Sirius’. She then appears to have formed a relationship with a James Clark. There is some confusion about exactly who this was. In Mollie Gillen’s book ‘The Founders’, page ref: 182. She clearly states -- “At 5th February 1791, she and her daughter shared a nine month sow with James Clark (not the First Fleeter). It produced a litter of three in May, making them independent for meat. A daughter, Sarah, was born on 18th July 1795, a daughter Frances had been born in 1793.” This would seem pretty clear, however, on page ref:70, in the entry for James Clark/Hosier Gillen states – “On 4th March 1790 he was sent (as James Clark) by ‘Sirius’ to Norfolk Island. There at 1st July 1791 he supported himself and three other persons on a Sydney Town lot with 30 rods of timber felled and sharing a sow supplied by the lieutenant governor with Susannah Huffnell and her daughter Elizabeth.” Very confusing! This is the First Fleet convict; James Clark (AKA John/Charles Clark/Hosier) who had been transported on ‘Scarborough’. In Raymond North’s book; ‘Norfolk Island’: There are details of the children. Huffnell, Elizabeth (Baker); arrived 17/03/1790, child of a marine or ex-marine. Considered as an adult in later victualling books, departed NI -/02/1805. Huffnell, Frances (Baker); born NI 11/01/1792, child of a marine or ex-marine. Died, date unknown. Huffnell, Frances (Baker); born NI 29/07/1793, child of a marine or ex-marine, departed NI -/02/1805. Huffnell, Sarah (Baker); born NI 18/07/1795, child of a marine or ex-marine, NO details of departure from Norfolk Island or death. It is interesting to note that the children are not acknowledged as the children of Clark and are given the family name of Baker? Susannah is listed in a separate section: Huffnell, Susannah, Lady Penrhyn arrived 13/03/1790, arrived as a convict. Partner to a marine or ex-marine, lived as a married woman on Norfolk Island. Departed 19/03/04. This is possibly not correct, since Susannah was victualled on an irregular basis up to 1805 and her two daughters left Norfolk in 1805, probably aboard ‘Investigator’. It is also amazing that the family name is given as ‘Baker’. William Baker was not resident on Norfolk, he had returned to England aboard ‘Atlantic’. He did come back to NSW in October 1794, but was then storekeeper at the Hawkesbury Settlement. Susannah, was mustered in Norfolk Island in 1800: CA273; page 142. Free; Sentence Expired. Susannah Huffnell. Susannah, Elizabeth and Frances were mustered in NSW in 1805/1806: D0486; page 194. Woman from Sentence Expired. Susannah Huffnell. D0450; page 194. Free Woman, Off Stores, Elizabeth Huffnell. D0889; page 203. Child, Off Stores, Francis Huffnell. Susannah, was mustered in NSW in 1811: 5932; page 128. Free; Uffnell, Susannah, Lady Penrhyn, tried 1787, Worcester, 7 years. Susannah was now living with John Wheeler (Convict, ‘Kitty’, 1792); possibly in Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Susannah died in 1814, aged only 49 but lived to see a crop of little grandchildren commenced by the union of Elizabeth with Michael Hayes (Convict, ‘Friendship’, 1800). They had 8 children, before he died in 1824. Elizabeth then married William Kelly (Convict, ‘Baring’, 1819). Elizabeth can be located in the 1828 Census (K0418-page 221) as Elizabeth Kelly, 38, BC. At Essex Lane, Sydney. Several of her children are living with her, and others are now married and living with their partners or siblings.

Level 105

Denis Pember on 15th April 2022

Susannah was baptised the daughter of William and Elisabeth Uffnell, 13th January 1765, St Peters, Worcester. She was tried at Worcester on 27th October 1786, for stealing wearing apparel and sentenced to transportation for 7 years. Initially she was received at the 'Dunkirk' hulk on 26th October 1876. Susannah embarked on the 'Friendship' on 11th March 1787. She was either not recorded or the entry was deleted when she was transferred to 'Lady Penrhyn' at Portsmouth. However, her name does not appear in the indent lists for this vessel either. The first record of Susannah in the colony was on 1st January 1789, when she baptised a daughter Elizabeth, the child of Corporal William Baker who had arrived on 'Charlotte'. Susannah and the baby were then sent to Norfolk Island on 'Sirius' 4th march 1790. It would appear that she had no further association with Baker.