Jonathon (Broker) Brooker, Convict "Atlantic" 1791

Jonathan Brooker was tried on the charge of stealing glue to the value of 8 pounds and was sentenced to transportation to Australia for 7 years. Jonathan embarked on the ship "Atlantic" which also sailed from Plymouth 27 Mar 1791 with 220 male convicts, arriving Port Jackson 20 Aug 1791 as part of the Third Fleet. Jonathan was then embarked on the ship "Queen" and was transported to Norfolk Island where he arrived 11 Nov 1791. Tried at Kingston Surrey 5 Oct 1790, sentenced to seven years transportation, absolute pardon 2 Feb 1811. y 1820 Brooker had been reduced to the status of a tenant on 12 acres at Airds. In that year he petitioned Governor Macquarie for more land, stating that he had seven children, five of whom were dependent on him. A local magistrate recommended him as honest and industrious, adding that Brooker had been 'compelled by necessity to part with a farm formerly granted him by Your Excellency'. The petition was annotated '50 acres'.

In 1822 he still was not settled on the new grant and was recorded as holding 19 acres at Airds by lease of which 10 acres were sown in wheat and a half acre in an orchard and garden. He owned 5 hogs and held 12 bushels of maize and 4 of wheat, while continuing to work as a carpenter.

On 12 Nov 1823 a bushfire which spread from uncleared land near his farm destroyed his house, work tools and 18 acres of wheat. He immediately petitioned the Governor for aid.

The 1828 census records Brooker on the 50 acre grant, with 12 acres under cultivation. The land was situated in the Illawarra district where the family appear to have moved.

Brooker and his wife seem to have moved to Campbelltown by the time of his death.

The colonial Secretary Index 1788-1825 lists John Brooker as:

"BROKER, Jonathan. Per "Atlantic", 1791

1811 Jun 12 On list of persons to receive grants of land in different parts of the Colony as soon as they can be measured; at Airds (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.7)

1813 Jul 1 Subscribed to fund for building a court house at Sydney (Reel 6043; 4/1728 p.135)

1820 Memorial (Fiche 3014; 4/1823 No.76 pp.172-3)

1823 Dec 20 Memorial; as Brooker (Reel 6059; 4/1773 pp.125-125b)