http://norfolkislandfirstfleetersandfamilies.blogspot.com.au
Edward Garth and Susannah Gough |
| Edward Garth's story in HMS Sirius Museum, Norfolk Island. |
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| Edward Garth's name on First Fleet Wall in HMS Sirius Museum. |
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| First Fleet Wall in HMS Sirius Museum, Norfolk Island. |
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Lieutenant Philip Gidley King hoisted the English colours and took possession of Norfolk Island for His Majesty King George 111 on 6 March 1788. King had taken 22 persons - 7 freemen, 9 male convicts and 6 female.convicts. These included Edward Garth and Susan Gough.
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Edward Garth was convicted for feloniously stealing on 29 October 1784 two live cows, being the property of Thomas Rhodes the younger. He was reprieved on 3 March 1785 to transportation to Africa for 7 years, but following time spent in the prison hulk he was sent to Portsmouth for embarkation on "Scarborough" to Sydney Cove. Immediately on arrival at Port Jackson, Edward was selected to go with the first group to settle Norfolk Island, which included six female and eight male convicts. One of the female convicts being Susannah Gough.
Susannah Gough was born 1763 and died June 1841 in Hobart, Tasmania.
Susannah was convicted for feloniously stealing on 19 August 1783 nine guineas, (value 91 pounds 9 shillings) and one half guinea (value 10 shillings and sixpence). Susannah was drinking with Elizabeth Dudgeon and a man thought to be a seaman had just returned from Plymouth, possibly with his wages in his pocket. The man William Waterhouse was warned to be more moderate, but replied "I mean to be gay". Some of his money was found on Susannah and she also swallowed 8 guineas.
Susannah was tried by the First Middlesex Jury before Mr.Justice Recorder at Justice Hall in the Old Bailey at the Sessions which began on Wednesday 10 September 1783. During her trial Susannah pleaded "I have nobody to my character but God and you. I have not a friend in the world". Susannah was found Guilty of stealing and to be transported for 7 years.
Susannah was taken to Newgate and embarked on the "Mercury". On 30 March 1784, she was one of 66 convicts who scrambled down the side of the ship in Torbay when it was bought into port by mutinous convicts. Susannah was captured by the ship Helena, held in a small boat alongside overnight, then the next day was taken to Exeter. She was held on the "Dunkirk" hulk until her discharge to "Friendship" on 11 March 1787 where Ralph Clarke recorded her as being 24 years.
On the voyage, Susannah became better behaved and when she was transferred, with five other women, to the "Charlotte" at Rio, Clarke noted her as "one of the six very best women we have in the ship .....the(y) are the only women that can wash amongst them".
After the arrival of the First Fleet in January 1788 at Port Jackson, Susannah was included as one of the six women convicts to form a group of 23 under the command of Philip Gidney King who sailed on the "Supply" to establish a settlement on Norfolk Island on 6 March 1788. Also on board "Supply" was Edward Garth who had sailed on "Scarborough" with the first fleet.
Edward Garth was born 1763 in England and died 13 December 1823 in Sandy Bay, Tasmania.
Edward married Susannah Gough born 1763 in St Giles, England and died 24 June 1841 in Tasmania, on 1795 on Norfolk Island.
Together they had 8 children:
1. Edward Garth born 1794 on Norfolk Island and died 1873. Edward Garth married Ann Bellett on 4 November 1816 in Hobart, Tasmania, daughter of Jacob Bellett & Ann Harper. They had 12 children.
2. John Garth born 1800 on Norfolk Island and died 16 November 1816 in Hobart.
3. Susannah Garth born 18 May 1803 on Norfolk Island and died 5 May 1871 in Sorell, Tasmania. Susannah Garth married John Bellett on 27 January 1822 in Hobart, son of Jacob Bellett & Ann Harper. They had 7 children.
4. James Garth born 9 August 1791 on Norfolk Island and died 4 October 1872 in Franklin, Tasmania. James Garth married Mary Bellett born 30 April 1796 on Norfolk Island and died 23 January 1877 in Cygnet, Tasmania, daughter of Jacob & Ann Harper. They had 13 children.
Mary Ann Garth, William Garth, Richard Garth, Elizabeth Garth completed their family.
It is interesting to note that 3 of Edward & Susannah Garth's children married 3 of Jacob & Ann Bellett's children. James Garth married Mary Bellett, Edward Garth married Ann Bellett, Susannah Garth married John Bellett.
I noted that when Richard Morgan arrived on Norfolk Island, Colleen McCullough writes in her book "Morgan's Run", that Richard met an attractive and intelligent-looking couple, Eddy Garth and his wife Susan (refer to my post on Richard Morgan & Catherine Clark).
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| Edward Garth - Parcel No.29, 12 acres. |
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| Edward Garth's 12 acres (Parcel No.29) & 20 acres (Parcel No.89). |
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| Edward Garth Parcel No.89, 20 acres. |
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| Memorial in St David's Park, Hobart to First Fleeters and Norfolk Islanders who were resettled from Norfolk Island to Van Diemen's Land. |
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| Edward Garth, wife Susannah Gough and 6 children - Edward, James, John, Richard, Susannah and William arrived on "Porpoise" on 17 January 1808 as a result of being resettled from Norfolk Island to Van Diemen's Land. |
If you have any comments, corrections or additions, please contact the author, Joy Olney via email - joyolney@gmail.com
