Susannah Lloyd
Susannah Lloyd > Edward Withers > George Withers > Catherine Withers
Updated 6 June 2023
Susannah Lloyd was my great-great-great-grandmother.
Susannah was born in about 1808 in Manchester to John Lloyd and Bridget Jane Savage. At the age of 17, she was convicted of ‘larceny from the person’ and sentenced to 15 months imprisonment.
Six months after her release, Susannah was once again on trial, this time for ‘receiving stolen property’. She was 19 when she was tried and convicted of receiving stolen goods at Lancaster Quarter Sessions on 25 January 1827. At the hearing, it was noted that she was a farm servant and had two previous convictions. She was sentenced to transportation for 14 years.
Susannah sailed on the Harmony, departing London on 4 June 1827 and arriving in Sydney on 27 September 1827. The voyage was apparently a terrible one, with the master of the ship being debarred from service at the end of the journey.
The Harmony had 80 female convicts aboard (no males) and, at the time it arrived in Port Jackson, almost all female convicts were being taken straight to the Female Factory at Parramatta. The indent list tells us that Susannah stood 5’ 3 ¾” tall, that her complexion was 'fresh' but also pitted and spotty and that she had red hair and brown eyes.
On arrival in Sydney, Susannah was assigned to work for the Reverend Thomas Reddall at Campbelltown where, sometime between 1828 and 1830, she met George Withers. By the time of the 1828 Convict Muster, George was working as a convict servant assigned to Amos Crisp at Lower Minto in the district of Campbelltown.
Susannah Lloyd was my great-great-great-grandmother.
Susannah was born in about 1808 in Manchester to John Lloyd and Bridget Jane Savage. At the age of 17, she was convicted of ‘larceny from the person’ and sentenced to 15 months imprisonment.
Six months after her release, Susannah was once again on trial, this time for ‘receiving stolen property’. She was 19 when she was tried and convicted of receiving stolen goods at Lancaster Quarter Sessions on 25 January 1827. At the hearing, it was noted that she was a farm servant and had two previous convictions. She was sentenced to transportation for 14 years.
Susannah sailed on the Harmony, departing London on 4 June 1827 and arriving in Sydney on 27 September 1827. The voyage was apparently a terrible one, with the master of the ship being debarred from service at the end of the journey.
The Harmony had 80 female convicts aboard (no males) and, at the time it arrived in Port Jackson, almost all female convicts were being taken straight to the Female Factory at Parramatta. The indent list tells us that Susannah stood 5’ 3 ¾” tall, that her complexion was 'fresh' but also pitted and spotty and that she had red hair and brown eyes.
On arrival in Sydney, Susannah was assigned to work for the Reverend Thomas Reddall at Campbelltown where, sometime between 1828 and 1830, she met George Withers. By the time of the 1828 Convict Muster, George was working as a convict servant assigned to Amos Crisp at Lower Minto in the district of Campbelltown.
Marriage
On 16 June 1830, Susannah was granted permission to marry George Withers.
George had been a fellow convict but was granted his Certificate of Freedom on 13 April 1830, having served his 7-year sentence.
George had been a fellow convict but was granted his Certificate of Freedom on 13 April 1830, having served his 7-year sentence.
George and Susannah were married on 4 August 1830 at St Peter's Church of England in Campbelltown.
They were married by the Reverend Thomas Reddall by banns “with the consent of the governor” since Susannah was still a convict.
They were married by the Reverend Thomas Reddall by banns “with the consent of the governor” since Susannah was still a convict.
Children
George and Susannah had 11 children together, born at the various properties where they lived:
1. Baby born 1830 and died in infancy [2].
2. John, born 15 May 1831 in Lower Minto/Liverpool, NSW. Baptised 24 July 1831, St Luke's, Liverpool. Married Catherine Delaney 3 September 1884 in Yass. Died 12 June 1904 in Tarrabandra. Buried in Gundagai. Cemetery transcript reads: "John, 12-6-1904, aged 74 years. My Husband". Also in the same grave: son Dennis and daughter-in-law Harriett Maude, nee Boon. (Descendants: Annyce, Dayna Tierney, Jenee McCusker, Joyce Hanson)
3. George, born 11 March 1832 in Campbelltown, NSW. Died 27 March 1832 in Campbelltown. (no descendant).
4. Richard, born 3 February 1833 in Campbelltown, NSW. Died 29 May 1909 in Rugby, NSW. Buried 31 May 1909 in Rugby. The 1872 Grevilles Post Office Directory shows Richard as a farmer living in Mutt billy.
5. Samuel, born 5 November 1833 in Burringong, NSW. Died 18 December 1893 in Gurrundah. Buried 20 December 1893, possibly in Wheeo. The 1872 Grevilles Post Office Directory shows Samuel as a carrier living in Diamond Creek.
6. Edward, born 1838 in Windsor, NSW. Died 6 September 1877 in Grabben Gullen. (Descendant: Felicity)
7. James Edmund, born 6 December 1839 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Christened 13 May 1840. Died 10 August 1895 in Whitton, 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. Married John Woods. Died 12 December 1925 in Laggan, NSW. Descendant: Kate McKillop-Nye)
10. Henry, born 21 August 1844 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Died 26 June 1915 at Lewisham Private Hospital, Petersham, Sydney. (Descendant: Tricia Curry)
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 18 April 1851 in Shelley's Flat, NSW. No record of birth in NSW BDM. Never married. Died as William Withers 9 March 1917.
13. Joseph William, born 1851 (norec NSW BDM). Died 1917 in Wagga as William Withers. Mentioned in father's will. Appears unmarried. (no descendant).
1. Baby born 1830 and died in infancy [2].
2. John, born 15 May 1831 in Lower Minto/Liverpool, NSW. Baptised 24 July 1831, St Luke's, Liverpool. Married Catherine Delaney 3 September 1884 in Yass. Died 12 June 1904 in Tarrabandra. Buried in Gundagai. Cemetery transcript reads: "John, 12-6-1904, aged 74 years. My Husband". Also in the same grave: son Dennis and daughter-in-law Harriett Maude, nee Boon. (Descendants: Annyce, Dayna Tierney, Jenee McCusker, Joyce Hanson)
3. George, born 11 March 1832 in Campbelltown, NSW. Died 27 March 1832 in Campbelltown. (no descendant).
4. Richard, born 3 February 1833 in Campbelltown, NSW. Died 29 May 1909 in Rugby, NSW. Buried 31 May 1909 in Rugby. The 1872 Grevilles Post Office Directory shows Richard as a farmer living in Mutt billy.
5. Samuel, born 5 November 1833 in Burringong, NSW. Died 18 December 1893 in Gurrundah. Buried 20 December 1893, possibly in Wheeo. The 1872 Grevilles Post Office Directory shows Samuel as a carrier living in Diamond Creek.
6. Edward, born 1838 in Windsor, NSW. Died 6 September 1877 in Grabben Gullen. (Descendant: Felicity)
7. James Edmund, born 6 December 1839 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Christened 13 May 1840. Died 10 August 1895 in Whitton, 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. Married John Woods. Died 12 December 1925 in Laggan, NSW. Descendant: Kate McKillop-Nye)
10. Henry, born 21 August 1844 at Collingwood Station, near Gunning. Died 26 June 1915 at Lewisham Private Hospital, Petersham, Sydney. (Descendant: Tricia Curry)
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 18 April 1851 in Shelley's Flat, NSW. No record of birth in NSW BDM. Never married. Died as William Withers 9 March 1917.
13. Joseph William, born 1851 (norec NSW BDM). Died 1917 in Wagga as William Withers. Mentioned in father's will. Appears unmarried. (no descendant).
Life in NSW: 1833 - 1839
George and Susannah were farmers between 1831 and 1835 and in 1833 they 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.
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. He departed aboard the Isabella in June 1835 and arrived back in Sydney in 1837. The family remained at Burrangong until 1839, with Susannah and her children remaining there while George was serving his sentence at Moreton Bay.
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. He departed aboard the Isabella in June 1835 and arrived back in Sydney in 1837. The family remained at Burrangong until 1839, with Susannah and her children remaining there while George was serving his sentence at Moreton Bay.
Life in NSW: 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 [4].
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 [4].
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.
Death
Susannah died at Boarah Creek near Collector in NSW on 25 February 1880, two years after her husband. She was 80 years old and the cause of death is given on her death certificate as 'old age'.
Probate No. 4822 Susannah Withers, Branch Creek, County Argyle, Jan 26th 1880, New South Wales.
I Susannah Withers wish to bequeath to John Woods and Hannah Mary Woods his wife the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds now lain in the Commercial Bank at Goulburn on the for the conditions that same John Woods pay all my just and lawful debts and all expenses of my funeral and to pay Joseph Withers my son the sum of £ 10 pounds. Estate £150 pounds Susannah Withers her x mark - Witness George Williams, Patrick Byrne, George Pasfield 31 August 1880. This day by Act of Court Probate of the last will and testament of Susannah Withers late of Boarah Creek near Collector Widow deceased was granted to John Woods the Executer according to Qenar. Testator died 25th February 1880 Goods sworn under £150 pounds. Probate dated 31 August 1880 [3].
I Susannah Withers wish to bequeath to John Woods and Hannah Mary Woods his wife the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds now lain in the Commercial Bank at Goulburn on the for the conditions that same John Woods pay all my just and lawful debts and all expenses of my funeral and to pay Joseph Withers my son the sum of £ 10 pounds. Estate £150 pounds Susannah Withers her x mark - Witness George Williams, Patrick Byrne, George Pasfield 31 August 1880. This day by Act of Court Probate of the last will and testament of Susannah Withers late of Boarah Creek near Collector Widow deceased was granted to John Woods the Executer according to Qenar. Testator died 25th February 1880 Goods sworn under £150 pounds. Probate dated 31 August 1880 [3].
Burial
Susannah was buried on 28 February 1880 next to her husband in the small cemetery at St Brigid's Catholic Church in Mutmutbilly, near Breadalbane. The photos below were taken by me on 14 October 2018.
References
[2] Facebook post 5/8/19 by Tricia Curry, descendant of Henry Withers;
[3] https://www.gundaroo.info/genealogy/other/thomaswoods.pdf
[4] Facebook post 5/8/19 by Tricia Curry, descendant of Henry Withers;
[3] https://www.gundaroo.info/genealogy/other/thomaswoods.pdf
[4] Facebook post 5/8/19 by Tricia Curry, descendant of Henry Withers;