Samuel King and Betty Thackery

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Samuel King and Betty Thackery

Samuel King information at HMS Sirius Museum, Norfolk Island.

Samuel King's name was on the First Fleet Wall at HMS Sirius Museum.

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.

James Dodding Parcel No. 38, 10 acres.

James Dodding Parcel No.38, 10 acres.

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).

Betty King (Thackery) was buried next to her husband Samuel King in Methodist Churchyard, Magra, Tasmania.

Memorial to First Fleeters and Norfolk Island convicts in St David's Park, Hobart. Unveiled 1992.

Samuel King arrived on "City of Edinburgh" from Norfolk Island on 2 October 1808.

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.

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.

"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

Settler Lots on Norfolk Island

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Settlers Lots on Norfolk Island in 1796.

While at the Research Centre on Norfolk Island I found this document "Settler's Lots on Norfolk Island 1796" which details the marines and convicts who were given land in the First Settlement.

To my delight I was able to find the names of  "my" convicts and marines of interest as follows:
Lot 1 & 2. Daniel Stanfield 60 acres each lot.
Lot 13 Samuel King 60 acres.
Lot 14 Thomas Kidner 15 acres.
Lot 22 Edward Risby 12 acres.
Lot 25 Jacob Bellett 12 acres.
Lot 29 Edward Garth 12 acres.
Lot 37 Ann Harper 39 acres.
Lot 38 James Dodding 10 acres.
Lot 57 James Morrisby 20 acres.
Lot 60 Edward Kimberly 12 acres.
Lot 61 James Morrisby 24 acres.
Lot 67 Edward Kimberly 60 acres.
Lot 80 Richard Morgan 10 acres.
Lot 89 Edward Garth 20 acres.


I found this map on-line as a re-creation of Settlers Blocks on Norfolk Island 1796 overlaid on a Google map of today.  Red indicates lots of 60 acres each granted and leased to seamen and marine settlers.  Yellow are lots of 10-15 acres each leased and granted to men who are "become free" and  carmine (deeper red) is held by officers.

Daniel Stanfield -  Parcel No.1, 60 acres.

Daniel Stanfield - Parcel No.2, 60 acres.

Daniel Stanfield - Google map Parcel No.1&2, each with 60 acres.

Samuel King - Parcel No.13, 60 acres.

Thomas Kidner  - Parcel No.14, 15 acres.

Edward Risby - Parcel No.22, 12 acres.

Jacob Bellett - Parcel 25, 12 acres.

Google map showing Jacob Bellett's Parcel No.25 on Driver Christian Road, next door is Ann Harper's Parcel No.37. Nearby is Edward Garth's Parcel No.29 and Edward Risby's Parcel No.22.

Edward Garth - Parcel No.29, 12 acres

Ann Harper Parcel No.37, 39 acres

James (John) Dodding Parcel No.38, 10 acres

James Dodding - Parcel No.38, 10 acres - Google map.

James Morrisby - Parcel No.57, 20 acres.  

James Morrisby Parcel No.57, 20 acres - Google Map.  We stayed at "Cumberland Resort & Spa" in their 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house called "Cumberland Villa" (max 8) on Taylors Road, Burnt Pine. (bookings@cumberlandholiday.com) (www.norfolkislands.com). Our villa had the orange roof in the cluster of buildings (oppostire the middle Taylors Road signage).  Do not be fooled by wording on Google Maps as they have located "Cumberland Resort & Spa" incorrectly.  Yes, they get it wrong sometimes!!  Best to enter Morrisby's property via Castaway Norfolk Island driveway (opposite the top Taylors Road signage), and climb over the fence to get to the huge Morton Bay Fig trees.

Edward Kimberly - Parcel No.60, 12 acres.

Edward Kimberly - Parcel No.60, 12 acres.

Edward Kimberly Parcel No.60, 12 acres - Google map. The house with the orange roof  at the bottom of the photo is on Edward Kimberly's land - Parcel 60, 12 acres. This roof can be seen from Morrisby's land.

James Morrisby - Parcel No.61, 24 acres.  Edward Kimberly's Parcel No.67, 60 acres adjoining at bottom of map.

Edward Kimberly - Parcel No.67, 60 acres.

James Morrisby -  Parcel No.61, 24 acres.     Edward Kimberly - Parcel No.67, 60 acres - Google map.

Richard Morgan - Parcel 80, 10 acres.

Edward Garth - Parcel No.89, 20 acres.

If you have any comments, corrections or additions to make, please contact the author of this blog, Joy Olney via email - joyolney@gmail.com

St David's Park, Hobart

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Memorial to The First Fleeters and Norfolk Islanders Who Came to Van Diemen's Land During the Evacuation 1807 - 1813.

Memorial in St David's Park, Hobart, Tasmania.

Memorial unveiled in 1992.  J.L.Risby was one of the Sponsors (a descendant of Edward Risby & Ann Gibson).

Joy found James Morrisby & Ann Lavender Brooks.

"Lady Nelson" sailed from Norfolk Island 9 November 1807 and arrived Derwent River 29 November 1807.
Thomas Kidner and son Thomas.
"Porpoise" sailed from Norfolk Island 25 December 1807 and arrived Derwent River 17 January 1908.
James Dodding and wife Elizabeth Thackery.

"Porpoise" sailed from Norfolk Island 25 December 1807 and arrived Derwent River 17 January 1808. Edward Garth, wife Susannah Gough with children Edward, James, John, Richard, Susannah and William.
James Morrisby, wife Ann Lavender Books with children Dinah, George, Grace, Henry and John.

"City of Edinburgh" sailed from Norfolk Island 3 September 1808 and arrived Derwent River 2 October 1808.
 Jacob Bellett, wife Ann Harper with children Ann, Elizabeth, Jacob, John, Mary, Susan and William.
Rachel Early with children Ann, Elizabeth and Catherine Marsden.
Edward Kimberly, wife Mary with children Hannah, Mary and William. 
Samuel King.

"City of Edinburgh" sailed 3 September 1808 and arrived Derwent River 2 October 1808.
Robert Nash, wife Ann Hannaway with children Elizabeth, James, Maria, Sarah and Susannah.
Edward Risby, wife Ann Gibson with children Benjamin, Charles, Joseph, Susannah and Thomas. Daniel Stanfield, wife Alice Harmsworth with children Daniel with wife Maria Kimberly, Mary, Sarah, Thomas and William.

"Lady Nelson" sailed from Norfolk Island 20 January 1813 and arrived Port Dalrymple 1 March 1813.
"Minstrel" sailed from Norfolk Island 18 February 1813 and arrived Port Dalrymple 4 March 1813.

Other First Fleeters and Norfolk Islanders (First Settlement).
Lt. Gov. David Collins, John Harmsworth, wife Sarah Wheeler and child Sarah,
Richard Larsom,
Richard Morgan, Wife Catherine Clark with children Catherine, George, James, Margaret, Mary, Richard, Sophia
 and William.

If you have any comments, please contact the author of this Blog, Joy Olney via email - joyolney@gmail.com