George Watts

14

Richard Lord on 26th February 2025

George Watts had been sentenced to 7 years' transportation in March 1803 at Gloucester. He came to NSW on the second voyage of the Coromandel, arriving 7 May 1804. The voyage took only 112 days, which was fast for those times. The Coromandel was 522 tons, built in India of teak in 1793. Watts was sent down on the Lady Barlow from Port Jackson, arriving in Hobart in Aug. 1804. In May 1811 Margaret Eddington (daughter of Elizabeth Thomson - convict, separate entry; and Thomas Eddington - convict, separate entry) married George Watts. In the 1811 muster he was listed among the "men who have been convicts". In May 1811 he married Margaret Eddington, and their daughter Maria, known as Mary, was christened on 3 May 1812. In 1813 Watts and 3 others were charged with stealing promissory notes worth £18/17/6, and were sent to Sydney for trial. George Watts was sentenced to transportation to the Coal River (Newcastle) for 7 years. By 1815 he had escaped and was back in Tasmania, living the life of a bushranger, burning haystacks and barns and stealing horses, and in 1816 Macquarie complained to Davey that it was known that he was back on the Derwent, and more effort should be made to catch him and return him to Newcastle. On 5 July 1817 Governor Sorell offered a reward of 80 guineas for his capture, much of the money for this reward being offered by public subscription. In Oct. 1817 George Watts was killed by the bushranger Michael Howe. Apparently Watts had decided that he would attempt to capture Howe, both for the reward on Howe's head of 100 guineas, and also in the hope that the authorities would look more kindly on him. He enlisted the aid of a stockman called Drewe. Drewe had arranged to meet Howe, and took Watts with him. When Watts came within 90 yards of Howe, he asked him to knock out the priming of his gun, promising to do the same; this was accordingly done by both, and after proceeding 30 or 40 yards they made a fire. Then Watts caught hold of Howe and threw him down; Drewe tied his hands, and took from his pockets two knives. Watts and Drewe next prepared breakfast, which Howe refused to eat. Drewe then went back and informed his master they had captured Michael Howe and were taking him to Hobart Town, declining help, as Howe was secured. So the three of them proceeded to Hobart Town, Watts with his gun loaded walking before Howe, with Drewe behind. After walking about 8 miles Howe got his hands loose, and stabbed Watts with another knife which he still had. Watts fell, Howe grabbed his gun and shot Drewe dead. Howe escaped, Watts managed to reach a settler's house, and called for the District Constable, who took him to Hobart. He was very weak from loss of blood. As he was a runaway from Newcastle, he was sent to Sydney on the Pilot, but died in the General Hospital a couple of days after he arrived.

74

iain Frazier on 27th April 2024

Family connections for George (Watts) are: WATTS George (Watts) was born about 1785 & became a labourer. He was tried for grand larceny at Gloucester Assizes on 9 3 1803, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 8 5 1804 after a voyage of 6months on COROMANDEL. He was sent to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) in August 1804 on LADY BARLOW. He married as emancipist Margaret (Eddington her third (3of4) marriage) on 9 5 1811 at St Davids CofE Hobart. He was Free by Servitude by 1812. In 1813 he was sentenced to 7years for stealing promissory notes of John (Ingle) of Hobart; he was sent to Penal Settlement at Newcastle about October 1813, from which he had absconded with others before 18 11 1813. He was returned to Van Diemens Land by 1816; where he again broke out & became a bushranger. He was then wounded by fellow bushranger William (Howe) & later recaptured & sent to trial in Sydney. He died on 14 12 1817 age32 & was buried at St Phillips CofE Sydney. [Some details taken from this Website] Margaret (Eddington) was born on 10/16 11 1792 on Norfolk Island; she was listed with her mother in 1792 Victualling Report. She had a first relationship (1of4) at age14 with John (Piper his third relationship) captain & produced 1child in 1806-who was brought up in family of John (Piper). She left Norfolk Island on 15 5 1807 to Hobart with her mother. She had a second relationship (2of4) in 1808 age16 with Lieutenant Governor David (Collins) & produced 2 children. She had a fourth marriage with Charles (Connelly) emancipist on 17 1 1819 at St Davids CofE Hobart. She died in December 1822 age30 mother of maybe 5children. Details of Margaret (Eddington)s family are given in entry for Thomas (Eddington ALEXANDER 1788) on this Website. George (Watts) & Margaret (Eddington) produced 1child: 1.Maria (Watts) was born in 1812 & baptised on 3 5 1812 at St Davids CofE Hobart. She married James (Lord) in 1832. She died in 1884 age about72. 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'

46

Heather Stevens on 6th May 2021

George Watts was born about 1785 In England. George Watts, a labourer, was found guilty on 9 March 1803 at Gloucester, Gloucestershire, and sentenced to 7 years transportation. He arrived at Sydney aboard the Coromandel in May 1804. He was sent to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) on the Lady Barlow in August 1804. George Watts married Margaret Eddington on 09 May 1811 at Hobart Town, Tasmania, Australia. They had a child, Maria Watts in 1812. (Maria/Mary Watts married James Lord in 1832). George Watts was sentenced to 7 years transportation in late September 1813 for stealing promissory notes from John Ingle's house in Hobart. He was sent to the Newcastle penal settlement but on 18 November was on the list of convicts who had absconded. He returned to Van Diemen's Land where in 1816 he broke out of gaol and became a bushranger. A reward of 80 guineas was offered for his apprehension in 1816. He was wounded in an exchange with fellow bushranger William Howe in October 1817. He was captured and sent to Sydney to stand trial. Death: George Watts age 32 died 14 December 1817 and his burial 15 December 1817 was recorded in the register of St Phillips, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The burial register has "George Watts, aged 32 yrs convict ex ship Coromandel 2, dec'd 14 Dec"