Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
William 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 | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 32 |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
Claims
No one has claimed William Watkins yet.
Photos
No photos have been added for William Watkins.
Convict Notes
Family connections for William (Watkins) are: WATKINS 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 (???) was born about 1759 in Hereford Herefordshire. (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. She 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. Rachel/ael (???/Watkins) married secondly (2of3?) John James (Williams) in November 1791 in a group ceremony on Norfolk Island. She 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 . [Some details taken from this Website; where 2entries are found] William (Watkins) & Rachel (???) produced 1child: 1.William (Watkins) was born on 3 12 1785 in Hereford Gaol. He arrived in NSW, presumably with his parents, 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 he was sent to Norfolk Island with his mother on SURPRISE, arriving on 7 8 1790, where he is recorded with his parents. 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; he would have been age about22. 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'
National Archives. HO 47/6/89 [1787] Certificate/memorial of Beaumont Hotham and Nash Grose on prisoners capitally convicted on the 'last' Oxford Circuit, but 'some favourable Circumstances' appeared on/after their trial now recommended to mercy on the conditions set against their names Gloucestershire Assizes at Gloucester David Jones alias James and William Watkins, for sheep stealing. 7 years transportation.