William Connelly

Level 75

iain Frazier on 8th April 2026

Family connections for William (Connolly) are: CONNOLLY William (Connelly) was born about 1760. He was tried for a felony at Bristol Gloucestershire Assizes on 3 2 1785, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a voyage of 12months on Fleet ship ALEXANDER (ship SCARBOROUGH-same Fleet- shown in Ref:'People...'). He married Elizabeth/Beth (Thomas her first (1of3) marriage) on 19 10 1788 at St Phillips CofE Sydney Cove. He arrived on Norfolk Island in August 1791; although this Website shows him arriving with his wife on 6 3 1790 on SIRIUS, arriving on 13 3 1790 (the date of its sinking on reef near Kingston Pier Slaughter Bay). In 1791 he was assigned as night watch at Middle Bay. On the 5 2 1791 he received 5 2month old pigs from government stores, as did his wife. By July 1791 he had cleared 1acre of timbered land. On 16 2 1792 he sold 3bushells of Indian corn & 1sow; & in January 1793 he sold 15bushells of Maize-he was now Free & had money. He left Norfolk Island on 26 10 1793 on SURPRISE. He was issued a Pardon; & left NSW to Bengal India on SUGAR CANE, possibly returning to England. [Some details taken from this Website] Elizabeth/Beth (Thomas), daughter of Robert (Thomas) & Jane (???) sister John, Robert & Mary, was born on 30 7 1769 at Llanddoget Denbighshire Wales & grew up in parish Balla Wales. She became housemaid for Hon. Richard (Jones) Esq. at Llay near Gresford Wales from about August 1785 to August 1786, when she moved to Chipping Lancashire. In 1786 she was tried for stealing a white apron etc of Ann (Freeman) of Aughton Ormskirk Lancashire at Wigan October Quarter Sessions on 11 1 1787 (she had also recently stolen a woollen cloak from Ann (Freeman) of Ormskirk), sentenced to 3months hard labour and a whipping at the Rogues Post in the House of Corrections at Preston. She was gaoled 3times for theft & was tried for stealing a printed cotton gown, on 25 12 1786, of Jennifer (Sturzacker) of Chipping Lancashire, on 24 8 1796, at Borough of Wigan (perhaps Preston) Lancaster Quarter Sessions, sentenced to 7years, held at Lancaster Castle Gaol near Preston then Portsmouth Hampshire (in a hulk?) & arrived in Botany Bay NSW as a convict on 22 1 1788 after a voyage of 9months on First Fleet ship PRINCE OF WALES. She & her husband were sent to Norfolk Island on 6 3 1790 on HMS SIRIUS, arriving on 13 3 1790 (the date of its sinking on reef near Kingston Pier Slaughter Bay). On 5 2 1791 she received 5 2month old pigs from Government Stores, as did her husband. On 26 10 1791 she was issued more pigs. She associated with Elizabeth (Thomas her third relationship), produced 5children & later married later married. She continued to work her land after her husband left. She had a second relationship (2of3) with Thomas (Hill). She was Free by Servitude by 1796. She is recorded in February 1805 as sentence expired on stores on Norfolk Island. She had 14.5acres when she left Norfolk Island with 5of her children as part of the first evacuation on 15 5 1808 on ESTRAMINA (her spouse James (Waterson) was also on the ship), arriving at Derwent Tasmania on 5 6 1808; to a grant at Clarence Plains. She married James (Waterson) on 30 4 1812 at St Davids CofE Hobart. She is recorded as off stores on 2 10 1818 at Hobart Town. She died on 28 7 1835 age65/8 at Hollow Tree mother of perhaps 12children mostly boys & was buried at St Matthews church Rokeby. [Some details taken from this Website; where there are 2entries with slightly different information-viz: her birth in 1766/7-being tried at Preston-a marriage in 1812-producing 5children-her death in 1766/7 age65] William (Connelly) & Elizabeth/Beth (Thomas) produced 3children: boys 1.William Thomas (Connelly) was born on 5 6 1789 & baptised on 5 7 1789 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He, as (Thomas/Connolly), left Norfolk Island with his mother as part of the first evacuation on 15 5 1808 on ESTRAMINA, arriving at Derwent Tasmania on 5 6 1808; to Clarence Plains. He died on 17 11 1789 age5m on Norfolk Island-recorded at St Phillips CofE Sydney. 2.a son (Connolly) was born in October 1791 on Norfolk Island. He died in 1791 age <1. 3.John (Connolly) was born on 24 10 1793 on Norfolk Island. He was recorded as leaving Norfolk Island (but not on the ship) with his mother as part of the first evacuation on 15 5 1808 on ESTRAMINA, arriving at Derwent Tasmania on 5 6 1808; to Clarence Plains. He is recorded as Wm (Waterson) off stores on 2 10 1818 at Hobart Town. 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'

Level 338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 18th November 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834 New South Wales. Convicts embarked. 1787. Name; William Connelly **** Trial; Bristol, Bristol - 3 Feb 1785 - 7 years Offence; Felony Ship; Alexander ***** Remarks; DIED; 9 April 1787 Name: William Connelly Age: 28 Birth Year: Abt 1760 Arrival year: 1788 Arrival State: New South Wales Trial Place: Bristol Ship: Scarborough *****