George Withers
George Withers > Edward Withers > George Withers > Catherine Withers
Updated 6 June 2023
George Withers was my great-great-great-grandfather.
George was born in Greenham, Thatcham, Berkshire in England on 14 October 1802, the son of John Withers and Hannah Burgess. He was baptised on 7 November 1802, probably at St Mary's Church in Thatcham, which dates from the 12th century [1]. The church is still standing.
In 1792, John Withers had married Hannah Woodington and they had the following children together:
John's first wife, Hannah, died on, or sometime after, 10 May 1798 and John remarried on 11 March 1801 in Thatcham. His second wife was another Hannah, Hannah Burgess [2].
Apart from George, I am not sure whether any other children were born to George and his second wife, though it's likely there were several.
George's mother died in May 1808 when George was just five years old [3].
George Withers was my great-great-great-grandfather.
George was born in Greenham, Thatcham, Berkshire in England on 14 October 1802, the son of John Withers and Hannah Burgess. He was baptised on 7 November 1802, probably at St Mary's Church in Thatcham, which dates from the 12th century [1]. The church is still standing.
In 1792, John Withers had married Hannah Woodington and they had the following children together:
- John, born 23 November 1794;
- Samuel, born 28 September 1796;
- Sarah, born 10 May 1798;
John's first wife, Hannah, died on, or sometime after, 10 May 1798 and John remarried on 11 March 1801 in Thatcham. His second wife was another Hannah, Hannah Burgess [2].
Apart from George, I am not sure whether any other children were born to George and his second wife, though it's likely there were several.
George's mother died in May 1808 when George was just five years old [3].
Conviction & Transportation
At the age of 20, George was working as a labourer when he was convicted of larceny on 8 April 1823 at Berkshire Quarter Sessions in the Parish of Newbury.
The record indicates that, on 27 March 1823, he and a man called George Batten together stole 6 sheepskins worth 10 pence from a man called Matthew Montague. It is also recorded that, on 1 April 1823, both men had been were convicted of "being Rogues and Vagabonds" after they were "found wandering abroad and in an outhouse belonging to Mr Saxby, not being able to give a good account of themselves."
The two men were tried in London and both were sentenced to transportation to New South Wales for seven years [5].
George was housed on the prison hulk York for three months before departing from Portsmouth on 26 August 1823 aboard the Guildford [6].
The voyage to Port Jackson lasted for 190 days, a considerably long time even in 1823. This was due to a two-month delay in Rio de Janeiro after the ship sprang a leak while crossing the Bay of Biscay. At Tenerife it was determined that it would be safer to continue to Rio for repairs rather than risk exposure to the Spanish privateers who were active in the area during the hostilities between Spain and France following the ascension to the Spanish throne of King Fernando VII. After leaving Tenerife the leak worsened and it was only through the combined efforts of the crew and the convicts, who joined forces to continuously pump water from the hull, that the ship was able to reach Rio [6].
The Guildford arrived in Port Jackson on 5 March 1824 and the prisoners were landed on 8 March 1824, with 57 men being forwarded by water to Parramatta for distribution to Liverpool, Airds, Appin, Minto, Windsor and Bathurst. The following day another 31 men were sent to Parramatta, 24 to Liverpool, 16 to Bathurst and five to Windsor [6].
The record indicates that, on 27 March 1823, he and a man called George Batten together stole 6 sheepskins worth 10 pence from a man called Matthew Montague. It is also recorded that, on 1 April 1823, both men had been were convicted of "being Rogues and Vagabonds" after they were "found wandering abroad and in an outhouse belonging to Mr Saxby, not being able to give a good account of themselves."
The two men were tried in London and both were sentenced to transportation to New South Wales for seven years [5].
George was housed on the prison hulk York for three months before departing from Portsmouth on 26 August 1823 aboard the Guildford [6].
The voyage to Port Jackson lasted for 190 days, a considerably long time even in 1823. This was due to a two-month delay in Rio de Janeiro after the ship sprang a leak while crossing the Bay of Biscay. At Tenerife it was determined that it would be safer to continue to Rio for repairs rather than risk exposure to the Spanish privateers who were active in the area during the hostilities between Spain and France following the ascension to the Spanish throne of King Fernando VII. After leaving Tenerife the leak worsened and it was only through the combined efforts of the crew and the convicts, who joined forces to continuously pump water from the hull, that the ship was able to reach Rio [6].
The Guildford arrived in Port Jackson on 5 March 1824 and the prisoners were landed on 8 March 1824, with 57 men being forwarded by water to Parramatta for distribution to Liverpool, Airds, Appin, Minto, Windsor and Bathurst. The following day another 31 men were sent to Parramatta, 24 to Liverpool, 16 to Bathurst and five to Windsor [6].
Life in NSW: 1824-1830
On arrival in Sydney, George was 20 years old and stood 5ft 5in tall. He had hazel eyes, dark brown hair and a dull complexion and gave his occupation as 'ploughman. Soon after arriving, he was assigned to work as a convict servant for Richard Dunn in Liverpool [7]. Richard was an emancipated convict who arrived on the Hillsborough in October 1798 and had a number of convicts assigned to him around the same time as George went to work for him [8].
By 1828, George had been assigned to work for Amos Crisp at Lower Minto in the district of Campbelltown [9]. Amos Crisp (senior) had been born in 1890 and was a former convict who went on to own large tracts of land in the Monaro district, near Goulburn.
George worked for Amos Crisp until he was granted his Certificate of Freedom on 13 April 1830 [10; needs reference].
While working for Amos Crisp, George met Susannah Lloyd, another convict who had been assigned to the Reverend Thomas Reddall at Campbelltown since her arrival in Sydney in September 1827.
By 1828, George had been assigned to work for Amos Crisp at Lower Minto in the district of Campbelltown [9]. Amos Crisp (senior) had been born in 1890 and was a former convict who went on to own large tracts of land in the Monaro district, near Goulburn.
George worked for Amos Crisp until he was granted his Certificate of Freedom on 13 April 1830 [10; needs reference].
While working for Amos Crisp, George met Susannah Lloyd, another convict who had been assigned to the Reverend Thomas Reddall at Campbelltown since her arrival in Sydney in September 1827.
Marriage
George was granted his Certificate of Freedom on 13 April 1830 and married Susannah Lloyd on 4 August 1830. The two were married at St Peter's Church of England in Campbelltown by the Reverend Thomas Reddall, Susannah's employer.
The couple was married by banns 'with the consent of the governor' since, although George was a free man at the time of the marriage, Susannah was still a convict and required the permission of the Governor to marry. Permission for the couple to marry was granted on 16 June 1830.
The couple was married by banns 'with the consent of the governor' since, although George was a free man at the time of the marriage, Susannah was still a convict and required the permission of the Governor to marry. Permission for the couple to marry was granted on 16 June 1830.
Children
George and Susannah had 11 children together, born at the various properties where they lived:
1. Baby born 1830 and died in infancy [reference needed].
2. John, born 15 May 1831 in Lower Minto/Liverpool, NSW. (Descendants: Dayna Tierney, Annyce, Jenee McCusker, Joyce Hanson).
3. George, born 11 March 1832 in Campbelltown, NSW. Died 27 March 1832 in Campbelltown (no descendant).
4. Richard, born 1833 in Campbelltown, NSW. Died May 1909 in Rugby, NSW.
5. Samuel, born 1833 in Burringong, NSW. May have married Harriet (no record of marriage). Died 1893 in Gurrundah.
6. Edward, born 1838 in Windsor, NSW. Died 6 September 1877 in Grabben Gullen. (Descendant: Felicity)
7. James Edmund, born 1839 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Died 1895 in Whitten, NSW.
8. George Alexander, born 28 May 1841 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Died 14 September 1916 in Gordon, Sydney.
9. Hannah Mary, born 7 May 1843 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Christened 3 October 1846 in Gunning. Died 12 December 1925 in Laggan, NSW. (Descendant: Kate McKillop-Nye)
10. Henry Withers, born 21 August 1844 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Died 26 June 1915 at Lewisham Private Hospital, Petersham, Sydney. (Descendant: Tricia)
11. Alfred, born 6 September 1847 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Died 12 August 1921 in Crookwell. Had a long association with Grabben Gullen as an innkeeper. Worked at the Albion Hotel in Grabben Gullen in the 1880s and 1890s.
12. Francis, born 31 March 1849 in Shelley's Flat, NSW. Baptised 13 April 1849, Gunning. Died 8 June 1916 in Narromine. Cause of death: senile decay and diabetes mellitus. Buried 10 June 1916, Catholic Cemetery, Narromine.
13. Joseph William, born 1851 (norec NSW BDM). Died 1917 in Wagga as William Withers. Mentioned in father's will. Appears never married. (no descendant)
1. Baby born 1830 and died in infancy [reference needed].
2. John, born 15 May 1831 in Lower Minto/Liverpool, NSW. (Descendants: Dayna Tierney, Annyce, Jenee McCusker, Joyce Hanson).
3. George, born 11 March 1832 in Campbelltown, NSW. Died 27 March 1832 in Campbelltown (no descendant).
4. Richard, born 1833 in Campbelltown, NSW. Died May 1909 in Rugby, NSW.
5. Samuel, born 1833 in Burringong, NSW. May have married Harriet (no record of marriage). Died 1893 in Gurrundah.
6. Edward, born 1838 in Windsor, NSW. Died 6 September 1877 in Grabben Gullen. (Descendant: Felicity)
7. James Edmund, born 1839 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Died 1895 in Whitten, NSW.
8. George Alexander, born 28 May 1841 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Died 14 September 1916 in Gordon, Sydney.
9. Hannah Mary, born 7 May 1843 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Christened 3 October 1846 in Gunning. Died 12 December 1925 in Laggan, NSW. (Descendant: Kate McKillop-Nye)
10. Henry Withers, born 21 August 1844 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Died 26 June 1915 at Lewisham Private Hospital, Petersham, Sydney. (Descendant: Tricia)
11. Alfred, born 6 September 1847 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Died 12 August 1921 in Crookwell. Had a long association with Grabben Gullen as an innkeeper. Worked at the Albion Hotel in Grabben Gullen in the 1880s and 1890s.
12. Francis, born 31 March 1849 in Shelley's Flat, NSW. Baptised 13 April 1849, Gunning. Died 8 June 1916 in Narromine. Cause of death: senile decay and diabetes mellitus. Buried 10 June 1916, Catholic Cemetery, Narromine.
13. Joseph William, born 1851 (norec NSW BDM). Died 1917 in Wagga as William Withers. Mentioned in father's will. Appears never married. (no descendant)
1831-1839
George was a farmer between 1831 and 1835 and, in 1833, he and Susannah moved from Lower Minto to Burrangong Station in King's County, near Yass. They were assigned servants to James White who was one of the first white settlers in the area around what is now the town of Young. The family remained at Burrangong until 1839, with Susannah and her children remaining there while George was serving his sentence at Moreton Bay.
George Re-offends (1835)
On 6 March 1835 George was convicted at Campbelltown Quarter Sessions of the theft of two pigs and sentenced to three years imprisonment at Moreton Bay.
The gaol description books record that George was 5’ 6 ¼” tall and that he had a fresh complexion, light brown hair and hazel eyes. He was described as stout and had tattoos on both arms.
George departed aboard the Isabella in June 1835 and arrived back in Sydney in 1837. He was given his freedom on 12 July 1838 [3].
The gaol description books record that George was 5’ 6 ¼” tall and that he had a fresh complexion, light brown hair and hazel eyes. He was described as stout and had tattoos on both arms.
George departed aboard the Isabella in June 1835 and arrived back in Sydney in 1837. He was given his freedom on 12 July 1838 [3].
1839-1847
In 1839, George and Susannah moved with their family to Collingwood Station near Gunning where they were assigned as convict servants to the owner, Mrs John Kennedy Hume, who had been widowed.
John’s brother, Hamilton Hume, was the famed explorer who travelled overland to Port Phillip with William Hovell, following the route now known as the Hume Highway. John Hume had heard that bushrangers were near Gunning so on 20 January 1840 he rode into town to buy ammunition in preparation of an encounter. Upon leaving the store, Hume was confronted by Thomas Whitten and his gang and ordered to put down his weapon. He refused and was shot dead, leaving a widow and nine children.
The Withers family continued to grow whilst in the employ of Mrs Hume, a woman who had a profound impact on George and his family. Mrs Hume was a Roman Catholic and, while living at Collingwood, George and Susannah converted to Catholicism [reference needed - Tricia Curry?].
Collingwood Station is now situated on the outskirts of Gunning, just off the Hume Highway. When I visited with my cousins in 2013, there was a very small sign pointing the way to the property which is sheltered by elms. It is still in the Hume family, at that stage being run as a sheep station by John Emery, a Hume descendant.
The Withers family lived at Collingwood until about 1847.
John’s brother, Hamilton Hume, was the famed explorer who travelled overland to Port Phillip with William Hovell, following the route now known as the Hume Highway. John Hume had heard that bushrangers were near Gunning so on 20 January 1840 he rode into town to buy ammunition in preparation of an encounter. Upon leaving the store, Hume was confronted by Thomas Whitten and his gang and ordered to put down his weapon. He refused and was shot dead, leaving a widow and nine children.
The Withers family continued to grow whilst in the employ of Mrs Hume, a woman who had a profound impact on George and his family. Mrs Hume was a Roman Catholic and, while living at Collingwood, George and Susannah converted to Catholicism [reference needed - Tricia Curry?].
Collingwood Station is now situated on the outskirts of Gunning, just off the Hume Highway. When I visited with my cousins in 2013, there was a very small sign pointing the way to the property which is sheltered by elms. It is still in the Hume family, at that stage being run as a sheep station by John Emery, a Hume descendant.
The Withers family lived at Collingwood until about 1847.
1847-1860
Sometime between 1847 and 1849, George and his family moved to land they had purchased at Shelley's Flat, near Gunning. At around this time, Elizabeth Hume moved with her family from Collingwood to a new property claimed for her by her brother-in-law, Hamilton Hume, on the southern banks of the Murray River near Corowa. By this time both George and Susannah had been granted their freedom so the time would have been right for them to move on from Collingwood.
George and Susannah's youngest son, Francis, was born at Shelley's Flat in 1849 and George gave his occupation as "farmer" when he registered the birth. Note that gold was found at Shelley's Flat, however I am not sure when.
By 1860 George had relocated his family east of Gunning to the plains of Breadalbane, where he and his sons worked as teamsters, working the area between Sydney and Albury.
George and Susannah's youngest son, Francis, was born at Shelley's Flat in 1849 and George gave his occupation as "farmer" when he registered the birth. Note that gold was found at Shelley's Flat, however I am not sure when.
By 1860 George had relocated his family east of Gunning to the plains of Breadalbane, where he and his sons worked as teamsters, working the area between Sydney and Albury.
Discovering Gold (1860)
Gold was discovered in one of George’s paddocks in May 1860. George would have been 58 years old by this time.
There are no family stories to support the idea that George was a wealthy man so it seems that the gold found may have been enough to allow him to purchase land without actually making the family wealthy. An 1862 report in the Sydney Morning Herald indicating that George and some of his sons purchased land in the parish of Gurrunda seems to support this hypothesis.
Note that when Susannah died in 1880 - two years after George - she left the sum of £150 in her will. This was a not-inconsiderable sum of money for the times and this again seems to support the hypothesis that the gold found on their land, in addition to George's own efforts working as a teamster, was enough to leave the couple comfortably-off in their old age.
Note that £150 could be equal to anything between $18000 and $1.6 million, depending on the method used to perform the calculation [7].
There are no family stories to support the idea that George was a wealthy man so it seems that the gold found may have been enough to allow him to purchase land without actually making the family wealthy. An 1862 report in the Sydney Morning Herald indicating that George and some of his sons purchased land in the parish of Gurrunda seems to support this hypothesis.
Note that when Susannah died in 1880 - two years after George - she left the sum of £150 in her will. This was a not-inconsiderable sum of money for the times and this again seems to support the hypothesis that the gold found on their land, in addition to George's own efforts working as a teamster, was enough to leave the couple comfortably-off in their old age.
Note that £150 could be equal to anything between $18000 and $1.6 million, depending on the method used to perform the calculation [7].
Purchasing Land in Gurrundah (1862)
After the gold rushes of the 1850s, large amounts of capital were available in New South Wales and, with increasing emigration, more people wished to settle on the land. However much of the land had already been taken up by squatters so the government was forced to act to free up land for more settlement [8].
In 1861, Robinson's Selection Act (actually the Crown Lands Alienation Act and The Crown Lands Occupation Act) was passed which freed up land to be leased or purchased by would-be farmers such as George and Susannah. This act allowed people to select portions of Crown land which included land held by squatters by pre-emptive right. These new farmers became known as "selectors" and their farms as "selections". Two tenures were provided for under the act: a Conditional Purchase and a Conditional Lease [9].
Between 1860 and 1870, selection of blocks took place in the Crookwell area following the Selection Act and there is a record of George and his sons, Richard, George and Henry, purchasing land in the parish of Gurrundah in September 1862.
In 1861, Robinson's Selection Act (actually the Crown Lands Alienation Act and The Crown Lands Occupation Act) was passed which freed up land to be leased or purchased by would-be farmers such as George and Susannah. This act allowed people to select portions of Crown land which included land held by squatters by pre-emptive right. These new farmers became known as "selectors" and their farms as "selections". Two tenures were provided for under the act: a Conditional Purchase and a Conditional Lease [9].
Between 1860 and 1870, selection of blocks took place in the Crookwell area following the Selection Act and there is a record of George and his sons, Richard, George and Henry, purchasing land in the parish of Gurrundah in September 1862.
The Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 26 September 1862
CROWN LAND SALES - A sale of Crown lands was held on Monday last, by Mr Alexander, the Crown land agent. This was the first auction sale of Crown lands in this district under the new Act. The attendance was small, only a portion of the lots offered found purchasers, and there was no competition, all the purchases being it the upset price. A list of the lots sold is subjoined ... lot W, parish of Gurrundah, 21a, George Withers, senior; lot X, ditto, 40a, Richard Withers; lot Y, ditto, 40a 1r, George Withers, junior, lot Z, ditto, 44a, George Withers, senior, lot AA ditto, 23a, ditto; lot BB, ditto, 40a, Henry Withers;"
In 1866, the following list of persons entitled to vote shows George Withers living on a freehold property at Gurrundah. Presumably this was the land he purchased in 1862. Note also several of George's sons living in the area.
CROWN LAND SALES - A sale of Crown lands was held on Monday last, by Mr Alexander, the Crown land agent. This was the first auction sale of Crown lands in this district under the new Act. The attendance was small, only a portion of the lots offered found purchasers, and there was no competition, all the purchases being it the upset price. A list of the lots sold is subjoined ... lot W, parish of Gurrundah, 21a, George Withers, senior; lot X, ditto, 40a, Richard Withers; lot Y, ditto, 40a 1r, George Withers, junior, lot Z, ditto, 44a, George Withers, senior, lot AA ditto, 23a, ditto; lot BB, ditto, 40a, Henry Withers;"
In 1866, the following list of persons entitled to vote shows George Withers living on a freehold property at Gurrundah. Presumably this was the land he purchased in 1862. Note also several of George's sons living in the area.
Death and Burial
George died at Gurrunda on 29 August 1878 of dropsy (oedema). He was 83 years old. He was buried on 30 August in the small cemetery at St Brigid's Catholic Church in Mutmutbilly, near Breadalbane [10].
Susannah died in 1880 and is buried beside him.
The inscription on George's headstone reads: “We have loved him during life, let us not forget him after death, God of mercy Jesus bless, Grant him Thy eternal rest”.
The photos below were taken by me on 14 October 2018.
Susannah died in 1880 and is buried beside him.
The inscription on George's headstone reads: “We have loved him during life, let us not forget him after death, God of mercy Jesus bless, Grant him Thy eternal rest”.
The photos below were taken by me on 14 October 2018.
References
[1] "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JWDR-3QX: 21 March 2020);
[2] Research done by John Withers (copy on file);
[3] Burial record (copy on file);
[4] Court transcripts;
[5]
[6] https://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_guildford_1824.htm
[7] Convict indents (copy on file); 1825 Convict Musters, 1806-1849 (copy on file);
[8] Colonial Secretary's papers: http://colsec.records.nsw.gov.au/d/F17c_dr-dy-11.htm
[9] 1828 Census;
[10]
7] https://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/australiacompare/
[8] https://myplace.edu.au/decades_timeline/1860/decade_landing_14.html?tabRank=2
[9] https://landresearchnsw.info/crown.html
[10] Death certificate (copy on file);
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1477749625796061/permalink/3400775660160105
Updated Sat 13/11/22
[2] Research done by John Withers (copy on file);
[3] Burial record (copy on file);
[4] Court transcripts;
[5]
[6] https://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_guildford_1824.htm
[7] Convict indents (copy on file); 1825 Convict Musters, 1806-1849 (copy on file);
[8] Colonial Secretary's papers: http://colsec.records.nsw.gov.au/d/F17c_dr-dy-11.htm
[9] 1828 Census;
[10]
7] https://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/australiacompare/
[8] https://myplace.edu.au/decades_timeline/1860/decade_landing_14.html?tabRank=2
[9] https://landresearchnsw.info/crown.html
[10] Death certificate (copy on file);
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1477749625796061/permalink/3400775660160105
Updated Sat 13/11/22