http://norfolkislandfirstfleetersandfamilies.blogspot.com.au
Samuel King and Betty Thackery
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| Samuel King information at HMS Sirius Museum, Norfolk Island. |
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| Samuel King's name was on the First Fleet Wall at HMS Sirius Museum. |
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| First Fleet Wall in HMS Sirius Museum, Norfolk Island |
Samuel King was a “First Fleeter” Marine, who arrived in Botany Bay on “Sirius”. He was given 60 acres (Parcel No.13) 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 and Betty Thackery were married by Rev.Robert Knopwood on 28 January 1810.
By 1815 Samuel owned 28 acres (Parcel No.13) at New Norfolk (Back River) and Elizabeth had 20 acres in her own name at New Norfolk. They called it "King's Rocks". Samuel died on 21 October 1849 at 86 and the last male survivor of the “First Fleet”.
Betty Thackery
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 Port Jackson, 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.
Betty was transported to Norfolk Island on “Sirius” on 4 March 1790. There she continued to get into trouble and was reportedly given 25 lashes on 14 July 1791 for coming in from her settlement without permission. In mid-June 1794, Betty was living with settler James (John) Dodding who had
10 acres Parcel No.38. By 1800 Betty was free and able to purchase
ten acres of land on Norfolk Island from Samuel King. Betty also purchased 10 acres from Jacob Bellett on 1 May 1800. (refer to their Posts)
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. Elizabeth Thackery was given
20 acres (Parcel No.1) in New Norfolk (Back River). James Dodding was given
30 acres (Parcel No.14) at Tea Tree. The names of James Dodding and “his wife” Elizabeth Thackery are recorded on the Memorial to First Fleeters and Norfolk Islanders in St David’s Park, but they never married.
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James Dodding Parcel No. 38, 10 acres.
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James Dodding Parcel No.38, 10 acres.
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| Flagstaff Hill near where James Dodding and Elizabeth (Betty) Thackery had land on Norfolk Island. |
Rev. Robert Knopwood married Betty Thackery (1767-1856) and Samuel King (-1849) on 28 January 1810 in Tasmania. Samuel was described as a “widower” & Betty as a “single woman”. Robert Knopwood was given 30 acres in Argyle near Sandy Bay, Hobart.
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) was buried next to her husband Samuel King in Methodist Churchyard, Magra, Tasmania. |
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Memorial to First Fleeters and Norfolk Island convicts in St David's Park, Hobart. Unveiled 1992.
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Samuel King arrived on "City of Edinburgh" from Norfolk Island on 2 October 1808.
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Betty Thackery and James Dodding arrived together in Van Diemen's Land on "Porpoise" on 17 January 1808. Betty parted company with James Dodding after she arrived in Van Diemen's Land. She married Samuel King on 28 January 1810.
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The connection with Betty King, the Shoobridge family and the Macdougall family is documented:
Louis M.Shoobridge had 4 sons who were tutored by Leslie Macdougall between 1897 and 1900. Leslie was the Classical Master 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. Another daughter, 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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| "Sunnyside" in Hobart where Samuel Clemes & Louis Shoobridge once lived and visited by my Grandfather, Leslie Macdougall 1910-1939, and visited by me (Joy Olney) in 2017. |
If you have any comments, corrections or additions to make, please contact the author of this blog, Joy Olney by email - joyolney@gmail.com
