Charles Summerell, Convict "Fortune" 1806

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Charles Summerell was a convict who arrived in the colony aboard the ship "Fortune". It was the Fortune's first trip to New South Wales and she sailed from England on the 28th January 1806 and arrived at Port Jackson on the 12th July 1806. The voyage took 165 days. He had been tried at the Somerset Summer Assizes, of stealing, on the 9th October 1802, a grey gelding, worth 10 pounds, the property of Thomas Hunt. The offence had occurred at Nailsea near Bristol and he pleaded not guilty. Charles was found guilty and was sentenced to death by hanging but he was reprieved and the the sentence was commuted to 14 years transportation to the Colony of New South Wales. Charles and Mary were married in 1815 by the Reverend Samuel Marsden in Parramatta. Charles was granted his official Certificate of Freedom on the 24th November 1825. His indent papers at this time give the following description of him:- Age: 47 years. Complexion: Sallow. Hair: Black to grey. Eyes: Dark. Height: 5ft. 6ins. Native of Gloucestershire. Trade: Pinmaker. Occupation: Pinmaker, labourer The 1828 census shows that he was listed as living with E S Hall at Lake Bathurst, NSW