George August Smith, Marine "Calcutta" 1804

It has been suggested that George died in 1858 at an age consistent with a birth in 1779. However in 1885/6 a grandson Henry Herbert Smith recorded circumstantial details that included George's marriage to 'Miss Morrisby' in 'St Davids church', [pretty accurately] his and Grace's children and [approximately] his death in '1845'. As to the latter the closest recorded match is 1843 for a man born about 1783; I accept this as 'our' George. I have no information on place of burial but H H Smith noted, interestingly that his grandfather died a Roman Catholic.

Ian Bowie November 2019

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Irene Schaffer in "Private George Smith of His Majesty's Royal Marines" has written:

George joined the 62nd Company of Marines, Portsmouth Division, when he was 22 years old. He had been born in Solihull, Warwickshire and his occupation was given as a butcher by trade. He was one of the marines selected to accompany their commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonal Collins, aboard the 'Ocean' to Port Philip. A new convict settlement was to be established there, with Collins as Lieutenant Governor.

He married Grace Morrisby, eldest daughter of former convicts James and Ann, in 1810 – their children were all born at Clarence Plains.

Source: "Private George Smith of His Majesty's Royal Marines" by Irene Schaffer ................................. George was not a convict, but joined the 62nd Company of Marines, Portsmouth Divison, when he was 22 years old. He had been born in Solihull, Warwichshire and his occupation was given as a butcher by trade. He was one of the marines selected to accomany their commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonal Collins, aboard the 'Ocean' to Port Phillip. A new settlement was to be established there with Colins as Lieutenant Governor. He married Grace Morrisby, eldest daugter of James and Ann, in 1810 - their children were all born at Clarence Plains. ......................................... Shortly after arriving in the Colony George was arrested for behaving with disrespect and contempt to his Superior Officer. .

He was sent to Port Jackson for sentence before a General Court Martial. On his arrival at Port Jackson Governor King did not think that he had the authority to try a member of the Royal Marines. .

George then returned to Hobart Town in 1807 and apparently the matter was forgotten by the Governor, there were no references to the matter in any correspondences. .

George continued to receive his full pay until his discharge. He also received his grant of 120 acres at Herdsman Cove. .................................. Friction and discontent amongst the Marines was a major problem. On 14 Oct 1804 Private George Smith was charged with “behaving with disrespect and contempt to his superior Officer.”37 .

This event points out a legal loophole that existed at the time. Marines had appeal rights that allowed them, upon being found guilty by Garrison Court Martial (formed by just three officers) to ask for a General Court Martial which required seven to thirteen officers. .

Collins did not have sufficient officers to convene a general court martial in Hobart Town and so sent Smith to Sydney. He evidently had forgotten, perhaps conveniently, as the General Court-Martial must be convened by officers of the Royal Marine and not military. .
Governor King commanded a military corps and had insufficient numbers of Marines to hold a General Court-Martial. In consequence Private George Smith experienced a long stay in Sydney Town and did not return to Hobart until 1807.38. .......................................

Profiles of some British Soldiers who came to Tasmania and settled after their Regiments returned home.

The first British Regiments arrived in New South Wales in 1788 with the First Fleet. (Four Companies of the Marine Corps) Some of these soldiers were sent to Norfolk Island and later came to Van Diemen's Land as free settlers between 1807 and 1813..
The first soldiers to arrive in VDL came with Lt. Bowen to settle Risdon Cove in 1803 on the Lady Nelson and the Albion. There is not a great deal of information on these intervidual soldiers and when Lt. Col. Collins arrived in 1804, they returned to NSW..
Some of the marines that arrived with Lt. Col. Collins on the Calcutta and the Ocean to Port Phillip in 1803 returned to England on the Calcutta. In early 1804 a small amount of the remaining Marines (about 43) transferred to the River Derwent on the Ocean and the Lady Nelson with Lt. Gov. Collins..
From 1804 till 1870 many regiments arrived in Tasmania, firstly to guard the convicts on board the many vessels and later to administer law and order on the island..
A number of these soldiers were permitted to bring their wives and families with them (about one in ten). Many of these transferred out of their Regiments and stayed when the regiment returned to England, as did many who married here..
Searching for ancestors who were soldiers can be time consuming. If the Regiment is known then he can be found under that regiment in the War Office records in the "Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook" part 4..
Many of course came as guards on convict ships; these are a lot harder to locate, as they did not come with their regiments. These men were discharged soldiers (called Military Pensioners) who were offered jobs and land if they would volunteer to guard the convicts. These ex soldiers on any one ship could have belonged to a wide range of known regiments. Unless they are recorded as receiving land or assigned as a policeman or to any other Government Department it is almost impossible to find any army records for them. Some names were recorded and can be found on cards in the General section at the Tasmanian Archives..
Soldiers and especially their wives and children of the lower ranks were amongst the most unrecorded group of people during the early Australia period. Free settlers convicts, and even the Irish orphans have more data then do soldiers. Very little has been written about them, and their descendants are left to dig for obscure records to find some information about them..
List of Soldiers whose profiles have been forwarded to me by their descendants, or who I have researched myself. New names and profiles will be added as received..
Surnames First Regiments Arrived Ship Married.
FOWLER George 99th 1842 North Briton Sarah Tubby.
FRENCH James 99th 1843 Henrietta Ann Murphy.
HOLMES William 40th 1824 Phoenix Eliz.Blackmore.
MURPHY Edward 99th 1842 Somersetshire Matilda.Finch.
SMITH George R. Marines 1803 Calcutta Grace Morrisby.
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George Smith was born in Solihull England about 1778.  He arrived in Hobart Town after the Port Phillip settlement was aborted in 1803 and came with other marines to the River Derwent with Lt. Col. David Collins in 1804..

Shortly after he arrived he was taken into custody by the military for being disrespectful to his Commanding Officer and sent to Sydney for trial. After waiting in Sydney for three years he was returned for Gov. Collins to deal with his case. No record of the final conclusion was ever recorded and George obtained his discharge in 1810. He married Grace Morrisby, the daughter of James Morrisby who arrived with the First Fleet as a convict in 1788, and Mary his wife who came with him (they were married in England in 1782). James and his family lived on Norfolk Island before leaving on the Porpoise to settle at Hobart Town in 1808..
George and Grace Smith had seven children and lived at Clarence Plains. One of their sons James became a well known seafaring whaling captain. George died on the 7 August 1843, Grace having died earlier in 1827..
A full account of story can be found in Private George Smith of His Majesty's Royal Marines..
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children (per H H Smith with details checked on Tasmanian Names Index)

Christina Smith (Morrisby) 1810 – 1885

Grace Smith (Stanfield) 1812 – 1897

William Henry Smith 1814 – 1893

George James Smith 1816 – about 1852/1854 (at sea)

James Smith 1819 – 1896

Richard Smith 1821 – 1886

Henry Smith 1823 – 1910 (New Zealand)

Annie Smith (Edwards) 1825 – 1861

The relationship of Christina Smith (Morrisby) 1810 – 1885 to George and Grace and their seven known children (as well as to Grace's brother, Henry Morrisby) remains unconfirmed in official records. The Henry Smith (d about 1900) married to Lucy Ann Kingston and his/their children have been incorrectly linked to George and Grace