John Wheeler

2

Donna Watts on 9th March 2023

He is found in the 1828 Census for NSW, George St, Sydney aged 30, so that puts his birth much earlier than is suggested in this record. His wife Ann & his son James (Jonas) are also recoreded along with Mary Makepeace, Ann's daughter from her first marriage is lodging with them.

53

Beth Taylor on 9th September 2019

John WHEELER John Wheeler (c1798-1847) had arrived in the Colony as a convict, in 1818, on the General Stewart, with a life sentence. John was tried at Dorset Assize in 1818 and was described as a gardener’s labourer, 5’11” tall, originally from Somerton, England. Wheeler was listed on a Prisoner Register for Dorchester Prison in 1818 after his trial for “highway robbery” with a sentence of “death reprieved and to be transported during his natural life”. He was aged 24, a native of the parish of Somerton, a married man with one child, 5’10½” tall, hazel eyes, and his behaviour in custody was noted as “disorderly”. He spent nearly one year in the gaol and was then discharged in May 1818 and “put on board the Laurel Hulk in Gosport Harbour” to await a transfer to the convict ship General Stewart. In 1823 Wheeler was first assigned to Mrs Maples, then a few months later to Robert Campbell, then transferred to Ann Terret (convict arr per Broxbornebury). Ann, a widow whose husband William Makepeace had died in 1823, was aged about 33, occupation dealer, and John, a 28 year-old labourer, were married in Sydney on the 3rd of July 1826 at St James Church with the Governor’s consent. Children of John and Ann WHEELER: • James WHEELER born June 1825, died ? • Jonas WHEELER born 01/12/1827 George St., Sydney, marr 1852 Liverpool to Rebecca Hoy, died c1877 Wentworthville Wheeler took over the business as a dealer and the family lived in George St., Sydney in 1826-1828. Ann was residing at Sutton Forest in 1840 when she placed the following notice in the newspaper: “CAUTION-The public are hereby cautioned from purchasing from any person whatever an allotment of ground, situate in the parish of St- Luke's, Liverpool, and granted to my husband, deceased. ANN WHEELER, formerly MAKEPIECE. Sutton Forest, December 8, 1840”. [Note: This would have been her first husband William Makepeace] John Wheeler held a Ticket of Leave Passport in March 1842 issued by the Liverpool Bench and he was “allowed to attend the Sydney Markets for 12 months.” John Wheeler died at Liverpool in 1847 still recorded as a convict, aged about 49 (52 in the register) and his Conditional Pardon was in the process of being granted. Ann Wheeler (nee Terret, formerly Makepeace) died at Liverpool on the 24th of March 1857 of “infirmity”, aged about 77 years-old. NOTES: 1818 – John Wheeler was listed on a Prisoner Register for Dorchester Prison, aged 24, native of the parish of Somerton, date of warrant 18/08/1817, date brought to prison 18/08/1817, tried at the Assize, crime highway robbery, sentence “death reprieved and to be transported during his natural life”, a married man with 1 child [Note: He later claimed he was a bachelor in 1826 when he wed Ann nee Terret], 5’10½” tall, hazel eyes, behaviour in custody “disorderly”, discharged 20/05/1818 “put on board the Laurel Hulk in Gosport Harbour”. (Source: www.ancestry.com.au Dorset, England, Dorchester Prison Admission and Discharge Registers, 1782-1901, NG PR1 D2 1) 1822 Muster - John WHEELER, convict, General Stewart, life, GS to Mr Haynes (?) Liverpool 1823, 14 Feb. to 10 Nov. – John Wheeler was first assigned to Mrs Maples, then a few months later to Robert Campbell, then transferred to Ann Terrett. (SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Special Bundle Fiche 3291; 4/4570D pp130&132) 1826 - Ann Makepeace, dealer, widow, married John Wheeler, labourer, bachelor, on 3 July 1826 at St James Church with the Governor’s consent. (John Wheeler, aged 29, Bachelor, Abode: Sydney, Labourer, Signed; & Ann Makepeace, aged 30, Widow, Abode: Sydney, Dealer, Signed X; married 03 Jul 1826, registered St James Church of England Sydney by Banns, with consent of Governor by Richard Hill; Witness: Charles Wilkins, of George Street, Sydney, Signed X; Witness: Elizabeth Wilkins, of George Street, Sydney, Signed X. Source: St James' Church of England, Sydney NSW: Church Register - Marriages; ML ref: Reel SAG 61-62 & V1826-3809-3B & 177-10) 1828 Census: & spouse – John WHEELER, 30, GS, General Stewart 1817 (?), life, prot, dealer, George St, Sydney (W1182) & spouse - Ann WHEELER, 30, FS, Broxbornebury, 7 years, prot, *(W1183) & children – James [Jonas?]WHEELER, aged 1, BC, Mary MAKEPEACE, 13, BC, prot, lodger at John Wheeler, George St, Sydney (M1548), John MAKEPEACE, same address 1842 - John held a TOL Passport in 1842 issued by the Liverpool Bench #42/986, dated 29/03/1842. He was “allowed to attend the Sydney Markets for 12 months.” (Source: SRNSW Convict Tickets of Leave, 4/4161; Reel 943). 1847 - John Wheeler aged 52 died in 1847 at Liverpool. (V1847-649-32B) 1847 - John Wheeler, per ship General Stewart, received a Conditional Pardon on 31/12/1847 (after his death). (Source: SMH, 22/03/1848, p3) 1857 - Ann Wheeler died at Liverpool on 24 March 1857, of “infirmity”. [DC #1857/3893] From the book “Journey to a New Life…” the story of the ships Emu & Broxbornebury by Elizabeth Hook (3rd ed. 2014). I am the author & can be contacted on hookey5609@yahoo.com.au for further info