Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Transportation
Rachel Watkins was transported on the Neptune, Scarborough And Surprize, departing 30th Nov 1789 and arriving 26th Jun 1790 with 1084 passengers.
Neptune 809 tons built on the River Thames 1779. The largest ship of the Second Fleet.
Neptune, Scarborough And Surprize (generic)References
| Primary Source | https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/williams-rachel-30213 |
Claims
"Rachel Watkins is my 6th Great Grandmother."
"Rachel is my 4th great grandmother from her relationship with James Williams and their daughter, Sarah."
Photos
No photos have been added for Rachel Watkins.
Convict Notes
Family connections for Rachael (Watkins) are: WATKINS Rachel/ael (???) was born about 1759 in Hereford Herefordshire. She married firstly (1of3) William (Watkins) in England & produced 1child. (Smees records seem to indicate that these events occurred in Hertfordshire) She was accused of breaking entering & stealing clothes from 4properties (2 w/1other age11), held in private supervision until completion of her trial, tried at Hereford Lent Assizes in August 1784 or 17 3 1785, sentenced to 7years to America & held at Hereford Gaol. She was prevented from travelling to Australia on First Fleet ship PRINCE OF WALES by imminent birth of a child:>>> [Some details taken from this Website; where 2entries are found] William (Watkins) married Rachel (??? her first (1of3?) marriage) in England. He was tried, perhaps with 1other, for sheep stealing at Oxford circuit Assizes at Gloucester, sentenced to death reprieved to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict presumably with his family on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 7months on Fleet ship NEPTUNE; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate; & presumably was sent to Norfolk Island, where he is recorded with his family. He, probably not his son, was recorded on Norfolk Island's Adult Victualling List in December 1795. Noted a William (Watkins) is recorded as a pyeman in 1806. Noted a William (Watkins) is recorded as crew of schooner BROTHERS (owned by Messrs. Campbell, Hook & Co.) which departed Sydney on 4 6 1809 on a sealing operation; the schooner BROTHERS was found adrift in 1811-survivors of it were found in 1811 at Port William Stewart Island about 60miles from Solanders Island Foveaux Straits south of New Zealand-who had been attacked in October 1809-others of the crew had been devoured by cannibal natives. [Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Rachel/ael (???/Watkins) arrived in Port Jackson NSW, presumably with her family, on 26 6 1790 after a voyage of 7months on Fleet ship NEPTUNE; a voyage noted for extreme brutality of prisoners with a high death rate; & on 28 7 1790 was sent to Norfolk Island with her son on SURPRISE, arriving on 7 8 1790, where she is recorded with her family. She owned property at Charlottes Fields Queensborough & had cleared 47rods by July 1791. In 1794 she returned to Sydney & lived with her family at 28 Cumberland St The Rocks until 1803. She married secondly (2of3?) John James (Williams) in November 1791 in a group ceremony on Norfolk Island.>>> James (Williams) was born about 1760 in Wales & became a blacksmith. He served with 23rd (Portsmouth Hampshire) company of marines. He arrived in NSW as a marine 23rd Portsmouth company on 26 1 1788 on First Fleet ship HMS SIRIUS & was sent to Norfolk Island on the same ship on 2 10 1788, arriving on 13 10 1788; he was 5'8". On 12 2 1791 he returned to Sydney, then was returned to Norfolk Island on 26 10 1791. In 1792 he was granted 60acres on Norfolk Island. In September 1792 back he went to Sydney, where he enlisted in NSW Corps as private on 2 10 1792. He was sent to Norfolk Island again in February 1793. In 1794 he was detached to (Johnston)s company at Sydney, returned there & lived with his family at 28 Cumberland St The Rocks until 1803. He stayed with (Johnston)s company until discharged in October 1799. In 1800 he reenlisted & returned to (Johnston)s company until 1808 when he was detached to (Piper)s company. In 1803 he was still living with his family when he sold the Cumberland St house. He is recorded with his family in 1806. In 1809 he was detached to 3company & transferred to Veterans company in 1810. Ref:'People...' records him dying on 9 5 1796; the Ref:'Colonial Regiment...' states he died on 16 3 1820, therefore age about59, while on duty at South Head. Rachel (???/Watkins) & James (Williams) produced 4children-as shown in Port Macquarie records: mostly girls 1.Susannah (Williams) was born on 1 5 1792 on Norfolk Island. She is recorded living with her mother & Aaron (Davis) on Norfolk Island. In 1794 she was taken to Sydney by her parents & lived at 28 Cumberland St The Rocks until 1803. She is recorded with her parents in 1806. She had a relationship with John (Baxter). She was recorded in 1828 at Botany with her mother. She may have worked at Simeon (Lord)s tanning or soap factory at Botany. She died on 29 10 1842 age50. ..John (Baxter) arrived in Australia with 73rd Regiment on HMS DROMEDARY/HINDOSTAN. ..Susannah (Williams) & John (Baxter) produced 2children: ..1.John (Baxter) was born on 27 7 1813 & baptised on 25 12 1813 w/William at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He died on 27 6 1890 age76. ..2.William (Baxter was born on 27 7 1813also & was baptised on 25 12 1813 w/John at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He died on 10 1 1890 age76. .. 2.Ann (Williams) was born on 17 6/7 1794 on Norfolk Island. She is recorded living with her mother & Aaron (Davis) on Norfolk Island. In 1794 she was taken to Sydney by her parents & lived at 28 Cumberland St The Rocks until 1803. She is recorded with her parents in 1806. She married Thomas (Howard blacksmith his second marriage) on 5 10 1811 at St Phillips CofE Sydney & produced 13children. She may have worked at Simeon (Lord)s tanning or soap factory at Botany. She is recorded in 1828 with her family at Cornwallis. She died on 14 11 1855 age61. ..Thomas (Howard) was born on 4 2 1776 at York Yorkshire. He was apprenticed to Luke (Smith) whitesmith at St Michael le Belfry in 1790. He became Freeman of city of York on 23 4 1799. He married firstly Catherine (Rowley) on 29 8 1797. He started a hardware business until he lost a thumb. He then became landlord of Freemasons Arms at the Shambles of York. He was tried for thefts at York in 1803, sentenced to 7years & sent to hulk at Portsmouth Harbour; he was 5'7" dark sallow complexion dark brown hair hazel eyes. He was employed to do some repairs on Portsmouth docks & escaped to York to his wife & family & then to Glasgow Lanarkshire Scotland, where he seems to have changed his name to Charles (Jackson). As Charles (Jackson) he was again tried for multiple charges of stealing at Glasgow Court of Justiciary in January/February 1808 & sentenced to death. He then admits to his real name & history. His sentence was reprieved to Life & he arrived in NSW as a convict on 16 12 1810 after a voyage of 5.5months on INDIAN. He became a blacksmith before 1811 & is known for his work making quality skeleton keys & agricultural implements. He was issued his Conditional Pardon on 31 1 1818. He died on 3 10 1841 age65 father of 16children. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 3.Sarah (Williams) was born in 1798 on Norfolk Island-shown in Smees records. She is recorded with her parents in 1806. She married Stephen (Partridge) corporal on 1 9 1816 at St Phillips CofE Sydney & lived at Newcastle, where she was joined by her mother & brother Michael after 1822. She is recorded in 1828 with her husband. She died on 27 4 1830 age about29. EXPLORER ..Stephen (Partridge) arrived in NSW as Corporal with 46th Regiment on 7 2 1814 after a voyage of 6months on GENERAL HEWITT. In 1817 or 1818 he was assigned to an expedition by Surveyor-General John (Oxley) to explore the NSW river (Lachlan River & McLachlan River) systems, which led to the idea of an inland sea. He transferred to 48th Regiment as private. He was discharged honourably in 1818 & became overseer of lumberyard in Sydney. He became Superintendant of Convicts & Public Labour at Port Macquarie/Newcastle on 21 3 1821. He is recorded in 1822 as pursuing escaped convicts from Port Macquarie to Port Stephens-without success. He is recorded in 1828 with his wife & in 1828 & 1829 as a Superintendent. ..Sarah (Williams) & Stephen (Partridge) produced at least 8children: ..1.Thomas (Partridge) was born on 17 5 1817 & baptised on 5 10 1817 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. ..2.Stephen (Partridge) was born on 24 5 1817sic & baptised on 2 6 1817 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. ..3.Jane (Partridge) was born on 27 5 1819 & baptised on 4 7 1819 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. ..4.James (Partridge) was born on 4 4 1822 & baptised on 8 5 1824 age2 at St Thomas CofE Port Macquarie. ..5.Joseph (Partridge) was born on 2 9 1823 & baptised on 2 5 1824 at St Thomas CofE Port Macquarie. ..6.Susannah (Partridge) was born on 20 8 1826 & baptised on 29 6 1827 at St Thomas CofE Port Macquarie. ..7.Rachel Frances (Partridge) was born on 24 7 1827 & baptised on 24 2 1828 at St Thomas CofE Port Macquarie. ..8.Stephen William (Partridge) was born on 15 6 1829 & baptised on 20 9 1829 age15m at St Thomas CofE Port Macquarie. .. 4.Michael (Williams) was born in 1802. He is recorded with his parents in 1806. He moved to Newcastle after 1822, with permission as Newcastle was a prison, on ELIZABETH HENRIETTA with his mother to live with his sister Sarah. He is recorded in 1828 as carpenter for Simeon (Lord)s tanning or soap factory at Botany. He died on 17 12 1858 age about56. .. .. >>>Rachel/ael (???/Watkins/Williams) seems to have had a third relationship with Aaron (Davis his second (2of4) relationship) from about 1793-6 & produced 4children. She was Free by Servitude by 1802. In 1803 she was still living with her family when the Cumberland St house was sold. She is recorded (unmarried?) with her family in 1806. She was issued her Certificate of Freedom on 9 1 1810. In 1822 she was at Port Macquarie. She moved to Newcastle, with permission as Newcastle was a prison, on ELIZABETH HENRIETTA with her son to live with her daughter Sarah. By 1828 she returned to Sydney & is recorded as a labourer at Botany with her daughter Susan; she worked at Simeon (Lord)s tanning or soap factory. She died on 10 2 1840 age80 at St Lawrence Botany mother of 5known children & was buried at Elizabeth St burial ground-now Central Station-& may have been moved to Bunnerong cemetery in 1901 . Aaron (Davis/ies) became a baker. He arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 1 1788 after a voyage of 8months on First Fleet ship ALEXANDER; his faith was Jewish. He arrived on Norfolk Island on 20/28 7 1790 & married firstly (1of4) Mary (Walker) in November 1791 in a group ceremony on Norfolk Island; this relationshp apparantly occurred (Ref:'People...') during the time of birth of his second & third children with Mary (Walker)). He is recorded as previously been a baker in 1794. He was Free by Servitude by 1802. He had a third (3of4) relationship with Ann (Clark her second (2of3) relationship) & refused to marry her-possibly to avoid involvement in her incest case; a claim for upkeep of her child, as yet unborn, was made by Thomas (Hibbins) her future husband; Ref.'Forgotten...' is particularly helpful here. He had a fourth relationship with Elizabeth (Baker aka Hufnell/Hayes age14 her first (1of3) relationship). He is recorded as convict turned settler Collector of Duties on stores on Norfolk Island in February 1805 & continued with it until 1808. He produced 6known children in his lifetime. [Some details taken from this Website] Details of Aaron (Davis)s family are given in entry for John (Wheeler KITTY 1792) on this Website. 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' Pamela Statham 'A Colonial Regiment-New Sources Relating to the New South Wales Corps-1789-1810' Clem Sargent 'Colonial Garrison 1817-1824-48th foot Northamptonshire Regiment in the colony of New South Wales'
Digitised Indent for ship Neptune. Rachael Watkins, sentenced at Hereford, co. of Hereford, 17 March 1785, 7 years. Originally sentenced to be transported to America. Also included on the Indent for ship the Prince of Wales. Rachel Watkins, tried Hereford Lent Assizes 1785, 7 years.
Rachel Watkins born 1759 married to John James Williams. James was a private marine 23rd (Portsmouth) Company. He arrived in the colony aboard the ship Sirius.