Robert Ryan [Marine "Prince of Wales" 1788]

Robert RYAN was born c1758 Newry Armagh, Ireland

Robert was a Private - Royal Marines 32nd (Portsmouth) Company

Robert arrived in Sydney Cove on 26/1/1788 on "Prince of Wales"

Robert had a relationship/married Frances WILLIAMS and they had the following children

• Sarah WILLLIAMS 1788
• Elizabeth WILLIAMS 1791
• Jane WILLIAMS 20/8/1793
• James WILLIAMS 10/12/1796

Robert was sent to Norfolk Island on "Supply" in March 1790

Robert, Frances and children left Norfolk Island on "Daedalus" in 1794

Robert, Frances and children returned to Norfolk Island in 1796

Following Frances's death in 1801, the youngest 2 children were adopted

• Jane WILLIAMS was adopted by John CROOPER and Mary TUCK - renamed Jane CROPPER
• James WILLIAMS was adopted by Noah and Mary MORTIMER - renamed James MORTIMER

Robert returned to Engalnd on "Dromedary" in 1810

Born in Newry, Armagh, Ireland, Robert was 5ft 5 inches tall with grey eyes and a swarthy complexion. He was illiterate.

In 1787 on board the "Prince of Wales' Marine Robert Ryan sailed with the First Fleet. On board was also a convict named Frances Williams with whom he has a relationship during the voyage as, shortly after they arrived in NSW, she gave birth to a daughter Sarah at Sydney Cove. The father is named as Robert Ryan. Her daughter Sarah was baptised on the day of her birth at Port Jackson.

The First Fleet arrived in NSW on 26th January 1788 and by 7th February, all prisoners had been unloaded.

On 4th March 1790, Frances Williams (on board 'Prince of Wales') and John Cropper (on board "The Alexander') set sail for Norfolk Island arriving on 13th March 1790. Frances later 'took up' with John Cropper on Norfolk Island.

At the same time, Robert Ryan was also sent to Norfolk Island with his regiment.

NOTE: On NI, the convicts were encouraged to form family groups and encouraged to cohabitate. This may explain why Frances 'took up' with John Cropper. Women were regarded as a commodity and could be bought and sold for a gallon of rum.

In 1793 on 28th August, Francew Williams gave birth to a daughter Jane by John Cropper. Jane was baptised on NI 6th May 1804 aged 10 with Frances Williams and John Cropper recorded as her parents. (Later in 1812 when Jane married a William Davis, she gave her parents names as Robert and Frances Ryan.

The 1794 victualling list had Frances and two children being supported by Robery Ryan - presumably Sarah and Elizabeth, however Jane, who (born 1793) could also have been one of these children.

In July 1794 Frances Williams gave birth to Elizabeth on NI - her father was recorded as Robert Ryan.

Sometime before November 1794 Frances receives her TOL as on 6th November that year, she returns to Port Jackson with Robert Ryan and their children on board the 'Daedalus'.

NOTE: John Cropper, having also received HIS TOL was also on board the same ship.

In 1795 John Cropper decides to return to England but is ship was scuttled near New Zealand and he was returned to Norfolk Island.

In October 1795 (or March 1796) Frances Williams, Robert Ryan and their three children return to Norfolk Island with Ryans 102nd Regiment.

By 1799 Robert Ryan has returned to Port Jackson and served with John McArthur.

In 1800 Roberts service was recognised and he was granted 120 acrs on the north shore of Sydney, now known as Kiribilli,but he ossibly sells it straight away because sometime in 1801 Robert returns to Norfolk Island yet again as part of the NSW Corps.

It is unknown as to where or when Frances dies. Possibly around or before 1801 as she was not on thew victualling book for January 1802.

Around 1804, Robert Ryan left NI for the final time, selling all his land holdings and returned to England on board the "HMS Dromedary'.

In 1811, Robert was discharged from the army having served 3o yrs and received 28 days pay "To carry him home". Which means he may have died in Armagh.

LINKS

• https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/prince_of_wales
• http://www.users.on.net/~ahvem/page3/page93/page33/page33.html
• http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/AUS-CONVICTS/2009-01/...
• http://www.nicolecama.com.au/project/first-fleet-prince-of-wales/
• http://stonefamilytasmania.com/strained-relations/
• https://firstfleetfellowship.org.au/convicts/they-came-from-many-la...
• http://www.australian-english-genealogy.com/princeofwales.html
• http://www.gallagherclan.org/australia_irish_australia.aspx