James Unwin

Level 14

Jennifer Round on 22nd February 2022

James William Unwin is my great great great grand father on my mother's father's side of my family You could say that a taste for turkey brought my ancestor James Unwin to New South Wales. James was tried at the Chelmsford Lent Assizes on the 13 March 1829 for poaching; stealing fowls or Turkey and transported to Botany Bay for life; two previous convictions would not have helped his cause. He set sail on board the ship "Sarah" from London on the 29th August 1829 and arrived at Port Jackson on the 6th December 1829. The voyage took 100 days despite short calls at Tristan d’Acunha and St Paul's Island. James Unwin otherwise know as Onion was 23 years old, five feet seven and three quarters inches tall, with a dark ruddy to pitted complexion, dark hazel eyes and brown hair. He was able to read and write, his religion was Protestant, his native place Essex. His skills were the usual ones of a farm worker, milking, shearing and reaping. A scar under his right eye, the lid of which was injured, tempts one to surmise that his encounters with the law may have involved some fighting. According to his indent papers he left behind a wife and child he was never to see again. James was assigned to work on the property called "Dunheved” west of Sydney Town near the present day St Mary's, owned by Mrs Harriet King nee Lethbridge and Captain Phillip Parker King. Mrs King ran the farm while her husband was serving in the Royal Navy. "Dunheved" was named after a 13th century castle in Cornwall. In 1834 Captain King acquired property at Bungendore near Lake George, which he named "Gidleigh" after an old castle in Devon. James Unwin was transferred to "Gidleigh" and continued to serve the King family. Convict labour was used to construct the early buildings in the area which was near the village of Bungendore NSW. James was to spend the rest of his life in the Bungendore area. James obtained his Ticket-of-Leave on 1st March 1838 and continued to work at "Gidleigh" In March 1846 he was granted a Conditional Pardon, Second Class. On the 21 April 1847 James married Anna Letitia Atkin whose family also worked at Gidleigh. James and Anna raised eight children; they settled in the area and are buried in the Bungendore cemetery. (information written by Kerrie Metcalfe) James and Anna had 8 Children Jemima Catherine Unwin 1848-1898 Thomas Unwin 1848-1934 James Unwin 1852-1925 Michael Joseph Unwin is my great great grand father 1855-1941 William Unwin 1858 -1924 John William Unwin 1858 -1924 Edward Richard Unwin 1860-1924 Henry Clinton Unwin 1866-1927 Think I've found his first wife and child. He had a daughter she wasn't even one when James was sentence when she turned 20 she married a chap in England with the last name John South they moved to Australia as free settlers and had 8 or so children they lived in Victoria along with them was one of James brothers Nathan Unwin 1807-1892

Level 221

D Wong on 11th May 2019

7/4/1829 Essex Herald Essex, England: LOCAL INTELLIGENCE John Dean and James Unwin, alias Onion, for stealing turkeys at Arkesden. 17/3/1829 Essex Herald Essex, England: GANG OF POACHERS POACHERS. John Hollingsworth, Adam Bond, Thomas Barker, Richard Boyton, James Bailey, John Wisbey, John Brown, John Graves, Thos. Graves, Joseph Burgess, James Onion, alias Unwin, George Burgess, Thomas Martin, John Martin, John Pledger, John Sell, Joseph Gates, John Pickitt and James Baker were indicted for maliciously and feloniously shooting at Richard Warren, with powder and shot, with intent to kill and murder. **This trial was lengthy so will put in relevant excerpts only..... The examinations of Unwin, the two Martins, and James Baker, were put in and read. Mr. Serjeant Andrews objected to the confessions of the above prisoners being exhibited against them, as those confessions were made at a time when the prisoners were not charged with a capital offence, they were then only charged with poaching...... The Jury after a consultation of more than an hour, returned a verdict of not Guilty for all the prisoners.__ The following morning the same prisoners (with the exception of three who were indicted for fowl stealing) were arraigned under the 9th Geo.4, c.69, s.9, for being found armed in a certain wood, for the purpose of destroying game...... All found guilty. John Hollingsworth - it was clear he was the leader and contriver of these affrays, and therefore sentenced him to 14 years transportation. James Bailey, John Brown, Richard Boyton, Thos. Barker and John Wisbey..14 years. John Graves, Thos. Graves, John Pledger, and John Pickitt...14 years. Adam Bond, Joseph Blurgess, George Blurgess, Thomas Martin, John Martin, John Sell,. and Joseph Gates, otherwise Thomas Gates, 7 years transportation. James Baker was sentenced to two months' imprisonment and hard labour. James Unwin was listed as 23 years old on arrival. Native Place: Essex. (Chelmsford) James could read, was married with 1 child, was 5'7¾" tall, dark ruddy and pockpitted complexion, brown hair, dark hazel eyes. Father: James UNWIN Onion b: 1768 in Arkesden, Essex, England Mother: Jemima MASON Assigned to Mrs. King, Parramatta. 1838: TOL, Goulburn. 1844: Recommended for a CP by P S King; F Macarthur JP. 2/3/1846: Second class Conditional Pardon. 1847: Bank Warrant: Condition: Free by Conditional Pardon. 1847: Married Anna Letitia Atkins (1831-1884 at Canbury (Almost certainly Canberra); Lake George; Queanbeyan. Children: Thomas 1848-1934 Michael 1855 John 1858 Edward 1860 Henry 1866 There was also Jemima Catherine Unwin C1855. James and Anne were buried at the bungendore Cemetery, NSW.