William Hodges

Level 72

Robin Sharkey on 12th July 2026

Margaret RAE /REA who William Hodges married: ––––––– Because she was Wm Hodge’s wife, Margaret Rae’s details are included here. She was not a convict and so does not have her own page on this convict website. How did she come to NSW? Gov Macquarie had ordered 2 Brigs to be built in England and to be sailed out to NSW for use in the colonial service. One was named the Emu, (seized by privateers on its voyage and women convicts on board were offloaded, eventually arriving NSW on Broxbournebury in 1816). The other was named ‘Kangaroo”. Kangaroo left for NSW on 2 June 1813 with five private settlers on board and many English wives and families of convicts already in NSW. It took 7 months to arrive. Gov Macquarie thought little of its commander Lieut Jeffreys, or his wife, and in future they would clash. The Chief Officer was John Martin who brought his family with him, having permission to be free settlers in NSW: wife Elizabeth Martin, son William & daughter Jesse, They also brought their servant, Margaret Rae, with them on the voyage to NSW. For archives refeence, See: “Names of the convicts, passengers, wives and children disembarked from HM Colonial brig ‘Kangaroo” the 12th day of January 1814. (at Sydney) Margaret REY Servant. (SR-NSW, Reel no 6044. [4/1729], p.10) Margaret Rae was aged 28 and SINGLE in 1814. On 20 January 1819 William Hodges married Margaret Rae at St Phillips church Sydney. In june that year the two were witnesses at another wedding - of William Morris & Sarah Winden. In 1821 they were the marriage witnesses for Richard Read & Eliza Hitchcock. In 1821, Hodges took over the licence of the pub 'Blue Lion' in Kent Street. RAE FAMILY :A family group named Rae arrived as free settlers in February 1823 on ship ‘Skelton’. These are the family of Mrs Margaret Hodges, formerly Rae. The family group head was Henry Rae, a saddler, with his wife Jean (sometimes recorded as Joan, and Jane). Also his father James, who was aged 69 at arrival (bec 76 in Nov 1828). Also William, child, parents being Henry and Jean. A child named William Rae died in 1826 (NSWBDM deaths 1/1826 V18261 102), registered Presbyterian Church. William Rae per Skelton is not in the 1828 Census. Henry and James Rae added their names to an August 1823 petition, shortly after arrival, calling for help in establishing a Presbyterian church. In Sept 1825 they lived at Kent Street, so possibly they were living at the ‘Blue Lion’ with Margaret's husband , or nearby(Margaret died in Sepy 1824). The parents of Henry Rae, on his death (reg’d Morpeth) in 1859, were James and Margaret. They are undoubtedly the parents also of Margaret, nee Rae, Mrs William Hodges. Therefore, her father and brother were in Sydney for 18 months before she died in 1824. Henry Rae sought a land grant a few months after arriving – in April 1823 - saying he had funds to employ five male convicts from the stores. In May 1824 he was told he would get 160 acres. He was at East Maitland in the 1830’s, was made insolvent in October 1844 (saddler, of East Maitland) and died in 1859. On 3 Sept 1824, Margaret Hodges DIED, "age 30" (this is not consistent with her age of 28 yrs in 1814 – she would be 38). REMARRIAGE In January 1825 William Hodges married again, to Harriet Board, the daughter of William Board, from whom he’d bought the licence of his pub, the ‘Blue Lion’ in 1821. They married without banns being called over a period of weeks and had to get a special licence which required an affidavit - sworn o 3 January 1825 - that neither was married and there were no impedimnets to the marriage. A witness at this second marriage was Jean Rae. This was deceased Margaret's sister-in-law, wife of her brother. Her presence as a witness shows that the Rae family approved William's re-marriage (note it was only four months after the death of Margaret).They must have all got along, especially the new bride Harriet with her husband's former in-laws.

Level 75

iain Frazier on 21st August 2025

Family connections for William (Hodges) are: HODGES William (Hodges) was born about 1782. He was tried for stealing, on 16 4 1799, silk spencers etc of John (Wright) at Old Bailey on 8 5 1799 (quick justice), sentenced to Life, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW on 20 11 1800 after a voyage of 8months on ROYAL ADMIRAL. He is recorded in 1806 as assigned to Mr (Arndell). He is recorded in 1814 as labourer off stores. He was Free by Servitude by 1818 & was a dealer when he married firstly Margaret (Rea) on 20 1 1819 at St Phillips CofE Sydney.>>> [Some details taken from this Website] Margaret (Rea nee Mansel) arrived in Australia married & free in 1816 on HMS KANGAROO. She died (convicts wife) on 1 9 1820. [Noted also Margaret (Hodges came free 1814 HMS KANGAROO wife of William (Hodges)) is recorded as dying on 3 9 1824 age30 & was buried at St James CofE Sydney. William (Hodges) & Margaret (Rea/Mansel) produced 1child: 1.female was born in 1818. She died on 6 3 1818 age<3m. .. >>>William (Hodges) was still a dealer & had been issued his Absolute Pardon before 1825. He married secondly Harriet (Board) on 20 1 1825 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. In 1828 he took on brother in law Gregory (Board) as lodger at Kent St Sydney. He was still a dealer in 1826 & 1828. He died on 3 4 1838 age56 father of at least 3children. Harriet (Board) was born in 1802. She arrived in NSW on 11 4 1806 after a voyage of 9months on WILLIAM PITT. Details of Harriet (Board)s family are given in entry for William (Board FORTUNE 1806) on this Website. Harriet (Board) & William (Hodges) produced at least 2children: 1.William (Hodges) was born on 21 3 1826 & baptised on 16 4 1826 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He died on 7 9 1879 age53. 2.Harriet (Hodges) was born on 17 1 1828 & baptised on 14 2 1828 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. Reference: 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.

Level 105

Denis Pember on 15th February 2016

Sainty & Johnson; 1828 Census of New South Wales: Page 193... [Ref H2006] Hodges, William, 42, absolute pardon, Royal Admiral, 1800, life, Protestant, Publican, Kent St Sydney. [Ref H2007] Hodges, Harriet, 26, came free, William Pitt, 1806, Protestant. [Ref H2008] Hodges, William, 30m, born in the colony. [Ref H2009] Hodges, Harriet, 9m, born in the colony.

Level 105

Denis Pember on 15th February 2016

William is mentioned in several of the Musters; 1806: [Ref A1964] William Hodges, Royal Admiral, Indented to Mr Arndell. 1811: [Ref 2825] William Hodges, Royal Admiral, Tried Old Bailey, May 1799. 1814: [Ref 4222] William Hodges, Off Stores, labourer. In none of these is he ever mentioned with a partner. However, in 1819 he did marry. William Hodges of Sydney was married to Margaret Rea a single woman by Rev. W. Cowper at St Philips, Sydney on 20 Jan 1819, a licence having been obtained 16 Jan 1819. Nothing at all has been located on Margaret Rea and it would appear that she must have died soon after the marriage. In 1825, William remarried: William Hodges a widower of Sydney was married to Harriet Board a spinster of the same place by Rev. W. Cowper in Sydney on 20 Jan 1825, the licence having been obtained 18 Jan 1825. Harriet was the daughter of William Broad (Convict, Fortune, 1806) and Elizabeth Broad (Convict, William Pitt, 1806). Harriet had arrived in the colony, free, accompanying her mother on the "William Pitt".

Level 105

Denis Pember on 15th February 2016

8 May 1799: (Old Bailey t17990508-3) WILLIAM HODGES was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 16th of April , a paper box, value 6d. two silk spencers, value 40s. a net handkerchief, value 12d. a muslin handkerchief, value 3s. four Norwich shawls, value 25s. four black silk handkerchiefs, value 16s. a half black silk handkerchief, value 2s. twenty-six coloured silk handkerchiefs, value 7l. 10s. and eight half coloured silk handkerchiefs, value 29s. the property of John Wright, in his dwelling-house. JANE WRIGHT sworn. - I am the wife of John Wright, who keeps a house in Southampton-street, Covent-garden, it is a dress warehouse, and haberdashery and millinery : On Tuesday the 16th of April, I saw the prisoner at the shop-door, between eight and nine o'clock in the morning, he had a box in his hand; I was in the parlour behind the shop, there was nobody in the shop, the servant came up with the breakfast-things, and said, ma'am, there is a man in the shop; she put down the tea-tray, and immediately ran out, and cried, stop thief; upon that, I went out and cired likewise; the prisoner at the bar had the box in his hand, walking up Maiden-lane, rather with a quick pace; I cried out - that man with the box; - upon which, the neighbourhood was alarmed, and he was stopped in Maiden-lane, by Mr. Stokes; he had endeavoured to turn down a narrow court, on the left-hand, in Maiden-lane; in turning that corner, I lost sight of him about half a minute, and when I came up, Stokes had hold of him, and I saw the box stand close at his feet; I took it up, it was my box; I sent the box to Bow-street with the prisoner, (they were produced); these are my husband's goods; I saw them the night before, when they were folded up and put in the box. Q. What are those spencers worth? - A. Forty shillings. Q. What is the value of the contents of that box? - A. Above seven pounds. SARAH PEARSON sworn. - I am an apprentice of Mrs. Wright's: On the 16th of April, between eight and nine o'clock, I saw the prisoner in the shop with this box under his arm; I am sure the prisoner is the person; I saw him go out of the shop, and I ran after him, and my mistress ran out too; I saw Mr. Stokes stop him. JOHN STOKES sworn. - I live at Mr. Clarke's, an accoutrement-maker, in Maiden-lane: On the 16th of April, I had been out; on my way home I heard the cry of stop thief; I saw the prisoner with a box in his hand, and I caught hold of him at the corner of Bullen-court, and he strove to get from me: then he forced himself into the court, I caught a second hold of him, and he said I hurt him; he thought I was going to strike him, and he dropped the box between him and me; I wrote my name on the box, and it was taken to Bow-street. EDWARD TREADWAY sworn. - I took charge of the box; I have had it ever since. Prisoner's defence. I leave myself to the mercy of the Court. The Prisoner called two witnesses to his character, one of whom was guilty of so much equivocation that he received a severe reprimand from the Court. GUILTY Death. (Aged 17.) Tried by the second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Justice GROSE.