John Stanton, Convict "Earl Spencer" 1813

AKA John STANTON, John POSICH, Stefano HASKETT, Stephano POSWEITCH, Stefano HASKITT

Death Details NSW BDM Reg#4272/1861. Extracts from the book "Pioneers Of Hornsby Shire 1788-1906". In the 1826 list of persons holding land in the district of Castle Hill is one John Stanton a tenant,in 1829 he applied for convict assignees and received two men, by 1841 he was aged 60 and living in a wooden house with his only son John (Jnr) who five years later married Elizabeth Duffy. Old John also had four daughters who survived infancy: Margaret, Mary Ann, Hannah and Bridget. Their mother Mary Stanton had died when they were children on 17th August 1830 at the age of 36 and was buried at St Patrick's Cemetery Nth Parramatta. Mrs Stanton had been transported for 14 years from Co. Mayo Ireland, arriving as Mary Stanton (alias Reilly) on the ship "Elizabeth" in Nov 1818. John Stanton (Snr) died on 29th August 1861 aged 80. His death Certificate reveals one unusual fact, that he was born in Italy and had lived in NSW for over 40 years. A long search revealed an amazing sequence of name changes. The register of St John's Church Parramatta lists the marriage of John Posich and Mary Stanton on 27th March 1820. A search of shipping lists prior to that date revealed two convicts who had been born in Italy, Piedro Poloni and Stefano Haskitt, both arriving on the Earl Spencer in 1813. The Old Bailey trial papers for September 1812 provide the missing link:-Haskett, Stefano, vide Stephano Powseitch, (Sailor) aged 27, Larceny, Death. The 1828 Census in NSW provides the final proof, listing the whole Stanton family under the name by which the father was transported: Stephano Haskett aged 46, Earl Spencer 1813, labourer, Castle Hill, 15 head of cattle; Mary aged 30, Elizabeth 1818; and children Margaret 8, John 5, Mary A. 4, and Hannah 2, all born in the Colony . John (Jnr) had been baptised 26th January 1823 as John Staunton, son of John and Mary. On 15th January 1835, John Stanton (Snr) applied for a Conditional Pardon in the name Stefano Haskitt:- arrived Earl Spencer 1813, born 1782 Palermo Italy, tried Middlesex 16th September 1812, 5' 5", Dark skin, black hair, blue eyes. The Pardon was granted 20th June 1836, and Stephano/Haskett/Posich/Powseitch lived for the remainder of his life in Thornleigh as John Stanton, and was buried in 1861 with his wife whose surname he had adopted.