George Cupitt [Marine "Ganges" 1797]

Biography

George CUPITT (aka CUPIT) was born 9/3/1777 in North Wingfield, England and was baptised on 23/3/1777 at Shirland, England (son of Austin CUPITT and Mary SIDDALL)

George married Mary WICKS on 9/3/1797 in Shirland, England

George was convicted of desertion and sentenced to 7 years prison. He received a conditional pardon on joining the NSW Corps.

George travelled to Australia, arriving in Sydney Cove on 2/6/1797 on "Ganges" as a Private. His wife accompanied him

Once in Australia, George and Mary had the following children

• William Augustus 1797
• John 1799
• Mary 1803
• Elizabeth 1806
• George 1808
• Eleanor / Ellen 1811
• Hannah 1813
• Eliza 1816
• James 1818
• Matilda 1821

George died 14/6/1846 at Windsor and was buried on 17/6/1846 at Windsor

George enlisted in the 17th (Leicestershire) Regiment of Foot on 14 Feb 1792. He and 42 other privates deserted. George was arrested and tried for desertion. He was sentenced to 7 years at Savoy Military Prison in London. At the time, the government was recruiting for volunteers to join the NSW Regiment. George volunteered, having been given a choice of spending his 7 year prison term or volunteering for the NSW Corps. With this he received a conditional pardon on condition that he never return to the UK. He travelled with his wife to the colony aboard the ship 'Ganges' which arrived in the colony on 2 Jun 1797. Whilst aboard the Ganges, George was a guard to the Irish convicts and was paid for 1 shilling per day as a private. It is recorded that George took part in quashing the Irish rebellion, the Battle of Vinegar Hill on 4 Mar 1804. He retired from the regiment on 25 Sep 1823 aged 46 after 32 years of service.

After his retirement, George chose a land grant in lieu of a pension. Governor Brisbane's letter of 28 Oct 1823 granting 100 acres within surveyed lands was lost and it took until 6 Jun 1830 after much correspondence that Governor Darling granted him 100 acres in the County of Castlereagh, bounded on the east by the road leading from Richmond to the Cowpastures, with Rickaby's Creek meandering through it. It was known as Cupitt's farm in an area known as Londonderry. He received another grant of 80 acres. In the interim George purchased 32 rods of land from Rev. Samuel Marsden for £12/4/6 in George Street Windsor. This parcel of land remained with the family for 157 years until sold by Jack Holman in 1981. The Cupitt farm produced wheat for the colony and notes in the 1824 Sydney Gazette recorded tenders from Mary Cupitt to supply 100 bushels at 6/6d and Mr George Cupitt to supply 100 bushels at the same rate.

Immigration After volunteering for the NSW Corps, George travelled with his wife to the colony aboard the ship 'Ganges' 2 June 1797 • Sydney Cove, Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Departure The Ganges was built in India in 1794. She arrived at Portsmouth on 15 October 1796 to make ready for the voyage to Australia. Only two convict ships arrived in New South Wales in 1797, the Ganges arrived in better health than Britannia convicts 10 Dec 1796 • Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

George Cupitt lived in Sydney, New South Wales, on 3 June 1797. George Cupitt and his wife Mary arrived on the "Ganges" The 1825 muster notes the following people came free -Elizabeth Graham, wife of convict John Graham George Cubbit and wife Mary; Sarah Eggleton; Jane Hooper; Ann Miller; Ann Milson; Sarah Peason;

Property After his retirement, George chose a land grant in lieu of a pension. Governor Brisbane's letter of 28 Oct 1823 granting 100 acres within surveyed lands was lost and it took until 6 Jun 1830 after much correspondence that Governor Darling granted him 100 acres in the County of Castlereagh, bounded on the east by the road leading from Richmond to the Cowpastures, with Rickaby's Creek meandering through it. It was known as Cupitt's farm in an area known as Londonderry. He received another grant of 80 acres.In the interim George purchased 32 rods of land from Rev. Samuel Marsden for £12/4/6 in George Street Windsor. This parcel of land remained with the family for 157 years until sold by Jack Holman in 1981.The Cupitt farm produced wheat for the colony and notes in the 1824 Sydney Gazette recorded tenders from Mary Cupitt to supply 100 bushels at 6/6d and Mr George Cupitt to supply 100 bushels at the same rate. Cuppit Farm 16 June 1830 • Penrith, Greater, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

NSW BDM Death CUPITT GEORGE 589/1846 V1846589 31B AGE 78 (age should be 69yr)

LINKS

• https://australianroyalty.net.au/individual.php?pid=I61356&ged=purn...
• https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/cupitt/george/131503
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cupit-133
• https://familypedia.wikia.org/wiki/George_Cupitt_(1777-1846)
• https://www.british-genealogy.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-13696.html
• http://www.chestnut-blue.com/Chestnut%20Blue-o/p1101.htm
• http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~garter1/history/cupitgeo.htm
• https://www.british-genealogy.com/forum/threads/13696-CUPITT-George...