Solomon Wiseman

75

iain Frazier on 3rd September 2025

Family connections for Solomon (Wiseman) are: WISEMAN Solomon (Wiseman) was born on 16 4 1777 in Essex & became a journeyman/lighterman on Thames River. He married firstly Jane (Middleton). He was tried for theft of timber from his employers at Old Bailey on 30 10 1805, sentenced to death commuted to Life, held at London Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict with his family on 12 7 1806 after a voyage of 6months on ALEXANDER. He was issued his Ticket of Leave in June 1810 & his Absolute Pardon in February 1812. From 1811 to 1817 he owned sloops HAWKESBURY PACKET, HOPE & MARY ANN for trading in cedar & farm produce & for sealing around Australia & New Zealand. He held a licence for sale of liquors in 1813 & ran the 'The Sign of the Packet' pub in 1815/6 in Bligh St Sydney. He became a landholder at Hawkesbury, receiving land grants-perhaps in 1818 & 1825. He had some law trouble in his life.>>> [Some details taken from this Website] Jane (Middleton) was born about 1776. She arrived in NSW with her family on 12 7 1806 after a voyage of 6months on ALEXANDER. She died on 21 6/20 7 1821 age45 after a long illness & was buried on the family property & reinterred to St Marys Church of St Mary Magdalene then to cemetery at Wiseman’s Ferry. Solomon (Wiseman) & Jane (Middleton) produced 5children: 1.William (Wiseman) was born in 1801 in England. He arrived in NSW with his parents on 12 7 1806 after a voyage of 6months on ALEXANDER. He married Matilda (Grono age13) on 18 11 1829 at (Scots/Presbyterian?) Ebenezer Kirk Portland Head. ..Matilda (Grono) was born on 17 11 1815 & baptised on 18 10 1825 age9 w/Thomas & nieces Frances, Jane at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She died in 1847 age about31. ..Details of Matilda (Grono)s family are given in entry for David (Harkenett DUKE OF PORTLAND 1807) on this Website. .. 2.Richard Alexander (Wiseman) was born illegally on 3 7 1806 at sea. He arrived in NSW with his parents on 12 7 1806 on ALEXANDER. He was baptised on 23 10 1806 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He married Mary Ann (Morey) on 17 5 1830 with her parents consent at St Thomas CofE Sackville Reach. He died on 24 5 1856 age49. ..Mary Ann (Morey) was born on 28 11 1809 & baptised on 14 12 1809 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. ..Details of Mary Ann (Morey)s family are given in entry for William (More/y HILSBOROUGH 1799) on this Website. .. 3.John (Wiseman) was born on 9 9 1809 & baptised on 29 10 1809 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. 4.Thomas (Wiseman) was born on 24 10 1811 & baptised on 6 11 1811 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He died in 1855 age about43. 5.Mary (Wiseman) was born on 3 12 1813 & baptised on 3 1 1814 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. She died in 1872 age about58. 6.Sarah (Wiseman) was born on 17 3 1816 & baptised on 19 5 1816 at St Phillips CofE Sydney. .. >>>Solomon (Wiseman) was an emancipist when he married secondly Sophia (Williams/Warner), widow of one of his employees, on 1 11 1826 with consent of the Governor at St Johns CofE Wilberforce. About 1827 he built Wisemans Ferry & 'Cobham Hall'. In 1828 he owneed 1,100acres. He died on 28 11 1838 age61 father of 6children at Lower Portland Head & was buried with his first wife on the family property & reinterred to St Marys Church of St Mary Magdalene then to cemetery at Wiseman’s Ferry. ..Sophia (Williams) was born about 1788. She apparantly married firstly William (Warner). She arrived in Australia free, apparantly following her husband, in 1812 on NEPTUNE. She returned to England in 1841 and died at Hammersmith in 1870 age about82. ..William (Warner) was born about 1774 in Essex & became a boatman/waterman. He was tried for stealing, on 23 4 1810, 120deals of John (Chatfield), Thomas (Arnott), Robert (Mercer) & Thomas (Arnott)-& 2other counts-at Old Bailey on 6 6 1810, sentenced to death respited to Life, held at London Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 29 9 1811 after a voyage of 6months on ADMIRAL GAMBIER. He was issued his Certificate of Freedom no.337 on 1 12 1818; he was 5'1.5" dark ruddy complexion black hair dark hazel eyes. He was recorded i 1825 with Absolute Pardon. He was working for Solomon (Wiseman) when he died on 27 5 1825 (stated age39) age about51 at Lower Branch & was buried on Solomon (Wiseman)s farm. [.Some details taken from this Website] 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.

342

Maureen Withey on 24th January 2023

Portsmouth Hulk records. HO 9-8_2. Received 30 prisoners from Newgate, London, 20 Dec 1805. Solomon Wiseman, age 30, Crime, Felony, Tried at London, 30 Oct 1805. NSW Life, pr ship Alexander.

342

Maureen Withey on 25th February 2020

Solomon Wiseman was a journeyman lighterman working on the river Thames when he was convited at the Old Bailey 30 October 1805, for stealing timber, and sentenced to Death, later commuted to transportation for Life. Trial at the Old Bailey: https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t18051030-55-defend624&div=t18051030-55#highlight ------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index: WISEMAN, Solomon. Per "Alexander", 1806; ticket of leave, Jun 1810; absolute pardon, Feb 1812; merchant and shipowner; landholder, Hawkesbury River 1810 Sep 1 - Juror at inquest on John Brown held at Sydney (Reel 6021; 4/1819 pp.51-2) 1811 Oct 14; 1817 Aug 16 - Mariner; owner of "Hawkesbury Packet". Bonds to Naval Officer (Fiche 3283, X702 pp.55-7; Fiche 3284, X702 pp.131-3) 1813 Aug 7 - Of Bligh Street. On list of persons holding licences for sale of wine & spirituous liquors (Reel 6038; SZ758 pp.405-7) 1815 Apr 1; 1816 Apr 6 - On list of persons licensed as publicans; for 1815 & 1816 at Sydney (Reel 6038; SZ759 pp.54, 192) 1815 Dec 7 - Seeking permission to cut own cedar for trading (Reel 6045; 4/1733 p.117). Reply, 11 Dec (Reel 6004; 4/3494 p.281) 1816 Jan 31 - Re dispatch of "Hawkesbury Packet" to Newcastle with wheat (Reel 6004; 4/3494 p.332) 1816 Oct 31 - Seeking permission to bring cedar from Port Stephens (Reel 6046; 4/1736 pp.158-9). Reply, 31 Oct (Reel 6005; 4/3495 p.240) 1816 Nov 9 - Vessel of engaged to import cargo of cedar from Port Stephens (Reel 6046; 4/1736 p.157) 1817 May 31 - Petition for permission to proceed per "Hope" with provisions for his men at Port Stephens (Reel 6047; 4/1739 p.208) 1817 Jun 20 - Engaged by Riley and Jones to procure cedar from Port Stephens in "Harriet" (Reel 6047; 4/1739 pp.221-3) 1817 Jul 23 - Two men from his vessel murdered by Aborigines at Port Stephen (Reel 6005; 4/3496 p.254) 1817 Jul 24 - Re permission to procure a remaining quantity of cedar at Port Stephens (Reel 6047; 4/1739 p.228) 1817 Aug 3 - Petition for permission to return to Port Stephens for cedar remaining there; ship lost while procuring cedar for Riley and Jones (Reel 6047; 4/1739 pp.231-2) 1818 Sep 10 - Of Sydney. On list of persons to receive grants of land in 1818 (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.44) 1819 Mar 19 - Master, "Mary". Accused of taking two cedar logs from Newcastle (Reel 6067; 4/1807 pp.15-6) 1819 Nov 22 - Petition to import cedar from Newcastle to build house (Reel 6020; 2/8130 p.421). Replies, 22 Nov [includes coy of petition] and 24 Nov (Reel 6007; 4/3501 pp.64, 66) 1820 Oct 24 - Re charge of fraudulent practices between Wiseman and Government blacksmith at Newcastle in making iron goods for sale (Reel 6050; 4/1747 pp.219-21) 1820 Nov 8 - Asking permission to bring 600 feet of cedar from Newcastle (Reel 6051; 4/1749 p.230). Reply, 10 Nov (Reel 6007; 4/3502 p.411) 1820 Nov 14 - Seeking permission to bring from Newcastle in own vessel 600 feet of cedar to complete buildings on his farm (Reel 6050; 4/1747 pp.243-4) 1820 Nov 24-1821 May 24 - Store receipts of for maize and wheat (Reel 6049, 4/1745 p.354; Reel 6051, 4/1748 pp.136, 172) 1821 Apr 9 - Permission to procure cedar at Port Stevens (Reel 6007; 4/3503 p.218) 1824 Jan 6 - Convicts landed from "Medina" assigned to at Windsor (Reel 6012; 4/3510 p.133) 1825 Nov - On list of persons who have received orders for grants of land (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.104); on list of lands granted and reserved by Sir Thomas Brisbane (Fiche 3269; 9/2740 p.32) 1825 Nov 3 - Landowner in the district of Castlereagh. Certifying landholding in district of Castlereagh (Fiche 3162; 4/1844C No.875 pp.1439-40) 1825 Nov 4 - To be victualled from the Store at Sydney for six months; with his six children and two convict servants (Reel 6015; 4/3515 p.528) -------------------------------------------------- Death - On Friday last, after a lingering illness, which she bore with much fortitude and resignation, Mrs. Wiseman, wife of Mr. Solomon Wiseman, a settler on the Banks of the Hawkesbury. She was much respected. Sydney Gazette, 28 July 1821 -------------------------------------------------- Death. On the 28th instant, at his residence, Lower Portland Head, in the sixty-second year of his age, Mr Solomon Wiseman, for many years an old and respectable Colonist; he was a man truly loved for his hospitality; in him the poor have lost a friend. He has left a widow and large family to deplore his loss. Sydney Herald, 30 Nov 1838 -------------------------------------------------- Wiseman, Solomon (1777–1838) by Vivienne Parsons This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 2, (MUP), 1967 Solomon Wiseman (1777-1838), merchant, born on 16 April 1777 in Essex, England, was a journeyman lighterman when convicted at the Old Bailey on 30 October 1805 of stealing from his employers 704 lbs (319 kg) of Brazil wood from a Thames lighter. His death sentence was commuted to transportation for life, and in August 1806 he arrived in New South Wales in the Alexander with his wife Jane, née Middleton, and two sons. In June 1810 he received a ticket-of-leave and in February 1812 an absolute pardon. In July 1811 the sloop Hawkesbury Packet, built for Wiseman, was launched at Cockle Bay; with it he entered the coastal trade and later added the sloop Hope. In December 1815 he was one of the merchants who petitioned Governor Lachlan Macquarie for permission to visit parts of the coast for cedar and coal to sell in Sydney; their request was refused, but during the next two years he received permission to bring cedar from Port Stephens on his own behalf and for other merchants. In July 1817 the Hope was wrecked at Port Stephens and two of the crew were killed by Aboriginals; two months later the Hawkesbury Packet was also wrecked. In August 1813 Wiseman had received a wine and spirits licence for premises in Bligh Street, Sydney. In 1817 he had agreed to sell them to Samuel Terry; after the wrecks he had to assign his property to Terry. Soon afterwards he was granted 100 acres (40 ha) which he selected on the Hawkesbury River near Wilberforce. He then acquired the Mary Ann which the government chartered in 1821 to go to Port Macquarie. In 1823 he received a further grant of 200 acres (81 ha) near Benjamin Singleton's Mill Farm and in 1828 held 1100 acres (450 ha), acquired by grant and purchase. In 1826 he obtained a licence for his house on the road to Newcastle. Next year he was given a lease of what became known as Wiseman's Ferry on the Hawkesbury River on condition that government horses and property were carried on it free of charge. Richard Jones took this over in 1827. Like many other officials Wiseman was accused of corruption and of contravening port orders, but there is no evidence that these complaints were justified. In his last years he became well known for his hospitality and in May 1833 entertained the governor. His wife Jane had died on 20 July 1821 after a long illness, leaving him with four sons and two daughters. On 1 November 1826 he married Sophia Warner, the widow of one of his employees at Wilberforce. He died on 28 November 1838, described as a respected colonist and friend of the poor. He was buried with his first wife on his property, reinterred first in the Church of St Mary Magdalene, and after that church was damaged by vandals, in the cemetery at Wiseman's Ferry. Sophia Wiseman returned to England in 1841 and died at Hammersmith in 1870.

4

Jane Mott Henriksen on 11th October 2016

Arrived with his wife, Jane Middelton and sons William and Richard on 20/8/1806 at Botany Bay. Received ticket of leave in June 1810. Built ferry crossing of Hawkesbury River at Wisemans Ferry (still operating today). Had a total of 5 children - 4 boys 1 girl. Married a second time to Sophia Warner on 1/11/1826 (first wife died 20/7/1821. Owned several sealing ships operating between AU and NZ "Hawkesbury Packet""MARY ANN". Ran a pub called "The sign of the Packet". Built large mansion house at Wisemans Ferry called Cobham Hall.

106

Carol Axton-Thompson on 1st April 2013

Ticket of Leave June 1810 Pardon Feb 1812 Merchant, shipowner, landholder at the Hawkesbury River.