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George SMITH arrived in Sydney as a Convict on the ship 'Fortune' on 12 July 1806

George SMITH was a Bookeeper in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He was 5' & 8" tall with a fair complexion, light brown hair and hazel eyes (AO NSW COD 18 page 376 no 3/1290). On 10 Aug 1805 at Warwick Assizes England, George was sentenced to seven years transportation and he left England on on 28 January 1806 aboard the ship "Fortune" arriving in Australia on 12 July 1806. Although a convict, he was a clerk to the Bench Of Magistrates in Windsor at the time of his marriage by special licence at the Hawkesbury Chapel. He was a resident of the Windsor district since 1808 until his death and on Colonial Secretary's Papers dated 10 Sep 1818 was on list of person to receive grants of land in 1818. His sentence expired on 10 Aug 1812 and his Certificate of Emancipation was dated 3 Jan 1814.

George married Elizabeth ROBINSON (born) 10 MAY 1795 in Sydney Cove, Sydney NSW Australia on 19 OCT 1813 in St. Matthew's, Windsor NSW.

George and Elizabeth had seven children: Mary Ann (1815) married James CUNNINGHAM, Eliza (1816) died 12 Mar 1819, Henry Alexander (1818) my direct ancestor married Sarah MURRAY, Harriett (1820) married Thomas SARJEANT, Maria (1822) married her brother-in-law James CUNNINGHAM after the death of her sister Mary Ann, Eliza (1824) married George SMITH-HALL, George Edward (1826) d. 18 Feb 1827.

In the Sydney Gazette on Saturday 16 Dec 1826, his Death Notice stated :
"At his residence, George St. Windsor on Sunday morning last, at 7 o'clock, Mr. George SMITH, age 48 years, after a short illness which he bore with truly Christian fortitude & resignation, leaving a widow & 6 young children to deplore the loss of an affectionate husband, a tender parent & much regretted by a numerous circle of friends".

At the time of his death his occupation was described as a "Victualler", this being a person who supplies food and stores.

Elizabeth was the daughter of two convict parents, Edward ROBINSON who arrived as a convict on the ship "Admiral Barrington" on 16 Oct 1791 and Mary HARRISON who was transported from England on 16 Feb 1791, aboard the "Mary Ann" and arrived in Sydney on 9 Jul 1791.

The eldest of seven children, she was born when her mother was about 21 years of age and had six siblings, Harriet (1797-1877), Ann (1798-1848), Mary (1800-1867), Maria (1803-1868), Robert (1804) and Edward William Alexander (1805-1874).

Her father, Edward was a habitual thief in 1789 before his transportation, but he became a Landholder and was known in the Hawkesbury Settlement as a successful farmer. Edward was also an Innkeeper, like Elizabeth. On 18 October 1809 one of Edward's grants of 80 acres at Upper Nelson was also in the name of Elizabeth ROBINSON. She was only 13 or 14 years of age at the time.

Elizabeth, who was illiterate, married George SMITH, a Convict, when she was eighteen years old. Witnesses to their marriage were Paul BUSHELL and her sister Ann ROBINSON, who also signed with 'x' her mark and Joseph HARPUR. Elizabeth had seven children to her first marriage with George. After he passed away at 49 years of age on 10 Dec 1826 Elizabeth was a Widow and remained unmarried for nearly ten years.

Elizabeth had one son to her second husband John Woodness SMITH the day before her 41st birthday: John Thomas SMITH born 9 May 1836. She married John Woodness SMITH on 16 May 1837 in St. Matthew's at Windsor. John was also a convict, who had been born in London in 1797. He was transported to Australia on 18 May 1821, aboard the ship "Speke".

Elizabeth became a Widow once more when her second husband, John died on the 31 May 1843.

Her son John Thomas SMITH married Blanche Selina DUNSTON in St. John's, Wilberforce NSW on 16 Sep 1868 and they had five children, Ernest D (1869), John Dunstan (1871), Elizabeth Mary (1873), Hilda Woodness (1878) and Mildred (1885).

The following references to George SMITH are found in the "Index to the Colonial Secretary's Papers 1788 to 1825";
1814 Mar 3: Clerk to Magistrate, Windsor. Re copy of Inquest.
1815 Jun 7: On return of horned cattle issued from the Government herds between 8/5/1814 and 1/1/1819.
1816 Jun 22: On lists of persons to be issued with horned cattle from the Government herds.
1818 Sep 10: On list of persons to receive grants of land in 1818.
1819 Jan 9: On list of persons indebted for cattle received from the Government herds between 8/5/1814 and 9/1/1819.
1819 Apr 8: Resident in Windsor District since 1808, former Clerk to Magistrate at Windsor. Testify his ability to act as Bailiff to the Provist Marshall.
1819 Apr 30: On return of persons indebted to Government for cattle issued for the Government herds to be paid for in cash or grain.
1820 Sep 25: Store receipts for salt pork, maize and wheat, paid at Windsor.
1821 Sep 21: On list of purchasers at auction of effects of Annisley Magraw and David Bell held at Windsor.
1821 Sep 21: On account of claims against the estate of Annisley Magraw and David Bell.
1822 Jan 14, 23: Provost Marshall's Bailiff re refusual of George Loder,the gaoler at Windsor,to accept a debtor named Jelly.
1822 Mar 31: On lists of persons to whom convict mechanics have been assigned.
1822 Apr 15: On lists of persons indebted to the Crown for livestock issued from the Government herds and flocks.
1823 May 30: On list of persons who have neglected to pay for convict mechanics assigned up to 31/3/1822.
1824 Jul: On account of rents received for assigned convict tradesmen for the three quarters ending 30/6/1824.

Article Source: http://www.familyhistoryarticles.com

1. Taylor & Ashdown Family Genealogy. 2.Index to the Colonial Secretary's Papers 1788 to 1825. 3. NSW Birth Death & Marriage Certificates : Marriage Ref: 1813 Vol 3A No 1566.

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