Sarah Lucas, Convict "Neptune" 1790

Sarah Griggs The Kentish Journal of Tuesday, October 14th 1788 reported:

"We hear from Sandwich that Sarah Griggs, who was indicted some time since for stealing a speckled apron, the property of Mrs. Rutter of that town, was found guilty and sentenced to transportation for seven years."

Sarah had been tried before the Mayor (Henry Matson) and Corporation of Sandwich the previous day.

In 1789 Daniel Raynor, then mayor of Sandwich, sent a letter to the Secretary of state requesting that Sarah be removed from his gaol. Sarah remained in the town gaol in the custody of the mayor until Under Secretary Nepean wrote in October of that year requesting that she be sent to the "Neptune", then anchored at Woolwich 68 miles north-west of Sandwich.

The gaol at Sandwich had been described by prison reformer John Howard in 1782 as "A room in front; and a back room called the dungeon; above the stairs two rooms. In the court(yard) two new rooms without fireplaces. No court(yard); no water; no sewer."

She arrived in Australia on the Second Fleet ship "Neptune" arrived at Port Jackson 28th June 1790 and Sarah was transferred to Norfolk Island aboard the "Suprize", 11th August 1790.

On 30th May 1793 Sarah gave birth to a daughter, also Sarah, fathered by Lieutenant John Townson of the New South Wales Corps.

After Townson's temporary departure from Norfolk Island in March 1793 Sarah entered into a relationship with Ensign James Hunt Lucas of the New South Wales Corps. Ensign Lucas was described by a fellow officer as "rather a pleasant, good-humoured and sensible fellow, very fat and very short, five feet nothing and about 26 years of age --------- has been an attorney and a mid-shipman". Ensign Lucas had arrived at Norfolk Island aboard the "Francis", 3rd March 1794 A son James Hunt Lucas/Griggs was born to this couple before they sailed to Sydney in 1795. They returned to Norfolk Island in October 1796, but were back in Sydney by 22nd April 1798 when their daughter, Mary Ann, was baptised.

Ensign James Hunt Lucas returned to Norfolk Island and died there 22nd August 1800.

On 15th September 1798 Sarah Griggs was brought before a sitting of the Judge Advocate and William Balmain Esq. She had been confined without any specific charge or warrant of a magistrate, and was ordered to be discharged. The gaoler was commanded " on no account whatever in future to receive or detain any prisoner in custody without some particular charge, or by virtue of a Magistrate's Warrant ".

Sarah was once again before the magistrate in January 1799 when Mary Stubbin lodged a complaint of being ill-treated by Sarah Griggs, The magistrate found that both women were well known in the colony for improper conduct and reprimanded and cautioned them both when the agreed to settle their differences.

Sarah was charged with Edward Holt, with whom she was living at the time, and Susan Willoughby with being out after the beating of the retreat in March 1800, but no penalty was imposed.

The muster of 1806 describes Sarah Griggs as house-keeper to William Burgin, a constable of Parramatta.

A house at "The Rocks" Sydney, was transferred by deed of gift from Edward Holt to Sarah Griggs in June 1807.

The last record of Sarah Griggs in the colony would appear to be the purchase in March 1810 of "Brackenrigg Farm" from John Townson for the token sum of one shilling.