http://norfolkislandfirstfleetersandfamilies.blogspot.com.au
Rev. Robert Knopwood
Rev. Robert Knopwood (1763-1838) arrived on “Calcutta”, which entered Sullivans Bay (Sorrento, Port Philip Bay) on 9 October 1803 under the command of Lieutenant David Collins.The first child born on the settlement of Port Phillip on 25 November 1803 was baptised by Rev Knopwood on 25 December 1803. The first Victorian marriage was conducted by Rev Knopwood on 28 November 1803.
“Calcutta” had 299 convicts on board and most famous of them was William Buckley who escaped and lived with local indigenous people for 32 years before giving himself up. The saying “You’ve got Buckley’s chance” came from William Buckley’s vanishing act into the bush with no change of survival. Our family connection with William Buckley is that Archibald C. Macdougall published the book “The life and adventures of William Buckley” in 1852.
Another person of note on board “Calcutta” in 1803 was John Pascoe Faulkiner (later changed to Fawkner). He was the son of a metal refiner, sentenced to 14 years transportation for robbery. His wife with their son John and daughter Elizabeth were enabled to accompany him in the “Calcutta.” Young Fawkner loved the First Settlement and he grew up in Van Diemen’s Land a pugnacious, hardworking and self-willed lad. His shrewdness and tenacity brought financial results.
John Fawkner returned to Port Phillip, arriving just later than Batman and became one of the founders of Melbourne. He brought with him all that he had accumulated and used it to help in the establishment of this new colony. He built the first hotel in Melbourne and published Melbourne’s first newspaper, the first few copies being issued in manuscript form. He was elected to the first electoral body in Melbourne, also to the first Town Council and the first Legislative Council. He was a Justice of the Peace and held almost every position of honour in the State.
The “Calcutta” moved on to Hobart Town departing 30 January 1804.
Rev. Knopwood was appointed the 1st Clergyman and Magistrate in Tasmania in 1804. He was known for his kindness and generosity but he became a heavy drinker and loved his women. There is even a Pub named after him at Salamanca (Joy & Darren went there!). Rev Knopwood was given 30 acres Parcel No.41 in Hobart. Rev Knopwood is buried at St Matthew’s Anglican Cemetery in Rokeby along with so many of the Morrisby, Stanfield & Calvert families.
Our family interest in Rev Robert Knopwood is because he adopted a "poor orphan child" Elizabeth Mary Mack. Elizabeth was born 23 August 1808 in Hobart. Her mother Mary Mack died on 16 October 1808. About a year later in 1809 Elizabeth Mack became a Ward to Rev Robert Knopwood, the first Chaplain for Van Diemen's Land. Rev.Robert Knopwood was very fond of Elizabeth and had her best interests at heart. Rev. Knopwood's diaries on-line are very interesting reading.
Elizabeth Mary Mack married Henry Morrisby, a son of James Morrisby and Ann Brooks on 20 October 1824. Henry Morrisby was born 11 May 1803 on Norfolk Island and died 25 March 1856 in Rokeby, Tasmania.
Elizabeth Mack and Henry Morrisby had 2 children:
Robert Henry Morrisby, born 15 October 1825 in Hobart, Tasmania.
Elizabeth Sarah "Betsy" Morrisby, born 19 October 1830 in Clarence, Tasmania and died 12 December 1909 in Hobart. Elizabeth married Daniel Stanfield, son of Daniel Stanfield and Alice Harmsworth.
Rev.Knopwood helped to secure a grant for Henry & Elizabeth Morrisby to purchase a property called "Woodland Green". Elizabeth was living with Rev.Knopwood for most of her pregnancy with Robert in 1825 as she was very sick. Elizabeth died on 19 October 1830 as a result of giving birth to her second child Elizabeth at the age of 22 years.
After Elizabeth died, Henry Morrisby married his niece, Christina Smith, the daughter of Grace Morrisby and George Smith on 15 June 1831 and they lived at "Woodland Green".
Together they had 11 children, including Catherine Morrisby who married William Thomas Calvert and Eliza Walker Morrisby who married David Calvert.
(Refer to Henry Morrisby & Christina Smith Blog).
Rev. Knopwood was appointed the 1st Clergyman and Magistrate in Tasmania in 1804. He was known for his kindness and generosity but he became a heavy drinker and loved his women. There is even a Pub named after him at Salamanca (Joy & Darren went there!). Rev Knopwood was given 30 acres Parcel No.41 in Hobart. Rev Knopwood is buried at St Matthew’s Anglican Cemetery in Rokeby along with so many of the Morrisby, Stanfield & Calvert families.
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| Tombstone in memory of Rev Robert Knopwood in St Matthew's Anglican Cemetery, Rokeby, Tasmania. |
Our family interest in Rev Robert Knopwood is because he adopted a "poor orphan child" Elizabeth Mary Mack. Elizabeth was born 23 August 1808 in Hobart. Her mother Mary Mack died on 16 October 1808. About a year later in 1809 Elizabeth Mack became a Ward to Rev Robert Knopwood, the first Chaplain for Van Diemen's Land. Rev.Robert Knopwood was very fond of Elizabeth and had her best interests at heart. Rev. Knopwood's diaries on-line are very interesting reading.
Elizabeth Mary Mack married Henry Morrisby, a son of James Morrisby and Ann Brooks on 20 October 1824. Henry Morrisby was born 11 May 1803 on Norfolk Island and died 25 March 1856 in Rokeby, Tasmania.
Elizabeth Mack and Henry Morrisby had 2 children:
Robert Henry Morrisby, born 15 October 1825 in Hobart, Tasmania.
Elizabeth Sarah "Betsy" Morrisby, born 19 October 1830 in Clarence, Tasmania and died 12 December 1909 in Hobart. Elizabeth married Daniel Stanfield, son of Daniel Stanfield and Alice Harmsworth.
Rev.Knopwood helped to secure a grant for Henry & Elizabeth Morrisby to purchase a property called "Woodland Green". Elizabeth was living with Rev.Knopwood for most of her pregnancy with Robert in 1825 as she was very sick. Elizabeth died on 19 October 1830 as a result of giving birth to her second child Elizabeth at the age of 22 years.
After Elizabeth died, Henry Morrisby married his niece, Christina Smith, the daughter of Grace Morrisby and George Smith on 15 June 1831 and they lived at "Woodland Green".
Together they had 11 children, including Catherine Morrisby who married William Thomas Calvert and Eliza Walker Morrisby who married David Calvert.
(Refer to Henry Morrisby & Christina Smith Blog).
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| Tombstone in St Matthew's Anglican Cemetery, Rokeby in memory of Elizabeth Morrisby (1830-1909) and Daniel Stanfield (1829-1902). |
Rev. Robert Knopwood, Betty Thackery & Samuel King.
Betty Thackery was a “First Fleeter” Convict, arriving on “Friendship”, and reportedly the first white woman to set foot in Australia. Betty was sentenced in Manchester on 4 May 1786 to seven years transportation (for stealing two black silk handkerchiefs, valued at one shilling). She was known as Elizabeth Thackery, wife of Thomas Thackery, soldier, 15th Foot. Betty was a troublesome convict and by the time the fleet reached Cape of Good Hope she was transferred from “Friendship” to “Charlotte”. By the time of arrival at Botany Bay, Betty was acting as a lady’s maid to the Officers wives. The Officer’s wives were to be the first white women to land but did not like the look of the surf through which they had to be carried, with the possibility of getting wet. Just to be reassured, they asked that a maid (Betty) be carried ashore first as a rehearsal.
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| Flagstaff Hill near where James Dodding & Elizabeth Thackery had land on Norfolk Island. (Parcel 38, 10 acres). |
James Dodding and Elizabeth (Betty) Thackery were resettled to Van Diemen’s Land on “Porpoise”, departing on 25 December 1807 and arriving 17 January 1808. The names of James Dodding and “his wife” Elizabeth Thackery are recorded on the Memorial in St David’s Park but they never married.
A Memorial to Betty King was erected by Henry Shoobridge in Back River, Tasmania in 1963. Betty left her property to Ebenezer Shoobridge, the father of Louis M. Shoobridge. Betty died 7 August 1856 at 90, and was the last known female survivor of the “First Fleet”. She was buried next to her husband in the Methodist Chapel churchyard in Lawitta Road, Magra, Tasmania (3 km north of New Norfolk).
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| Betty King (Thackery) died 7 August 1856 in New Norfolk, Tasmania. |
Samuel King was a “First Fleeter” ex-Marine, who arrived in Port Jackson on “Sirius”. He was given 60 acres (Parcel 13) on Norfolk Island and was married, yet when he departed Norfolk Island on 3 September 1808 on “City of Edinburgh” and arriving in Van Diemen’s Land on 2 October 1808, he was alone.
Samuel King was given 28 aces Parcel No.13 at New Norfolk (Back River) and Rev Robert Knopwood married Betty Thackery on 28 January 1810. They called it “King’s Rocks”. By 1815 Samuel owned 28 acres and Elizabeth had 20 acres in her own name at New Norfolk. Samuel died on 21 October 1849 at 86 and the last male survivor of the “First Fleet”. Samuel King’s name is recorded on the Memorial in St David’s Park.
Samuel King was given 28 aces Parcel No.13 at New Norfolk (Back River) and Rev Robert Knopwood married Betty Thackery on 28 January 1810. They called it “King’s Rocks”. By 1815 Samuel owned 28 acres and Elizabeth had 20 acres in her own name at New Norfolk. Samuel died on 21 October 1849 at 86 and the last male survivor of the “First Fleet”. Samuel King’s name is recorded on the Memorial in St David’s Park.
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| Samuel King was relocated to Van Diemen's Land on "City of Edinburgh" on 3 September 1808. Memorial to First Fleeters and Norfolk Islanders is found in St David's Park, Hobart. |
Louis M.Shoobridge had 4 sons who were tutored by Leslie Macdougall between 1897 and 1900. Leslie tutored at Leslie House School, New Town in 1900. The Principal Samuel Clemes was living at “Sunnyside” New Town in 1900. Samuel’s daughter Gertrude was married by Rev A Brain (Fiona Olney-Fraser's great grandfather) at St George’s in 1909. Isabelle Clemes married Marcus Shoobridge in 1910 (nephew of Louis Shoobridge). Louis Shoobridge lived at “Sunnyside” New Town 1910-1939. Leslie Macdougall visited Samuel Clemes and Louis Shoobridge while they were living at “Sunnyside” New Town 1900-1939. Darren & Joy visited friends who now live at “Sunnyside” in September 2017.
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| When Darren and I visited "Sunnyside" I knew there was something special about this home. |
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| Darren found Arthur Circus - part of an original grant to Rev. Robert Knopwood. |
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| Arthur Circus in Battery Point, Hobart. |
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| "Preachers Pub" in Knopwood Street, Battery Point, Hobart. |
If you any comments, corrections or additions to make, please contact the author of this blog, Joy Olney via eamil - joyolney@gmail.com
