Thomas Shadlow, Convict "Baring" 1819

Thomas Shardlow (Shadlow) was born 1799 to William and Mary Shardlow at Kingston on Soar Nottingham England. Their 11 children were:-

William 1794

Mary 1796

Elizabeth 1798

Thomas 1799 (Married Louisa Randall and grand parents of Rachel Hope)

George 1804

George 1805

Jonathan 1807

Edward 1809

Joseph 1811

Charles 1813

David 1815

There were two children named George. This was a common practice and usually meant that the first George had died.

Thomas was one of the many who lived on what he could hunt as a professional poacher on "the commons".

The commons were taken over and sold to wealthy landowners. This made hunters turn to poaching and eventually, Thomas and S and R Chaplin, brothers, all professional poachers, ventured about 2 miles from Shardlow Township to Kegworth (the property was owned by Mr R Sutton) and stole4 calves. This was a capital offence under English Law. The three were caught and found guilty. They were sentenced to be hanged which was later commuted to deportation for life "beyond the seas" to Australia. Thus he found himself transported to Farm Cove on the 842 ton shop "Baring II" on 27th January 1819.

Thomas Shadlow (his surname was probably misspelt by the clerks of the court and he was possibly illiterate as well) was described as aged 18, five foot six and a half inches in height, fair ruddy complection, with dark sandy hair and hazel eyes.

Shardlow in England became a large inland port in 1777 on completion of the Trant and Mersey canals. Narrow boatsare now being used to travel north, south, east and west. . The canals were first built to transport coal. There are still many people by the name of Shardlow who live there.

Shardlow is now the largest inland port in the United Kingdom with narrow boats being hired out to tourists for holidays. Shardlow Hall was built at Shardlow in 1684 and the West Wing was added in 1726

Thomas arrived in Sydney on 26th June 1819 aged 20 years. It was a 20 week journey from hell as they mostly were in those days. At the time he left England, Leicester had 58% of its population living below the poverty line.

Upon his arrival in Sydney, Thomas Shadlow was indentured to work for a farmer who was a descent person who did not use restraints or whips, unlike some of the so-called Gentry Society. He was later freed on servitude and given 77 acres of land at Castlereagh (Grant No.41).

At the age of 23 he married Louisa Randall (aged 15 years) on 15th September 1823 at the Church of England at Castlereagh. Louisa (Lucy) was born in Australia on 14th July 1808 to John and Hannah Randall. She was one of the first-born in the state of NSW.

Thomas and Lucy became very successful farmers at Castlereagh in the Penrith district calling their property "Eagle Farm". They lived for 60 years in the district. Thomas and Lucy at Penrith built the first house in Penrith. In 1853 they also financed an Inn at Eastern Creek, St Marys called "Old House at Home" for Thomas Pipe who was the licencee. They opened another Inn in 1853-54 at Penrith called "Wool Pack Inn". James Hacket was the licencee of this inn.

Thomas and Lucy held a leading position in society buying land at St Marys on the corner of Western Highway and Mamre Road. The library institute and the Presbyterian Church now stand in the vacinity. This was farmland when they purchased the land. Their son George Shadlow later bought this land.

George and Louisa (Lucy) Shadlow had seven children.

William 1825

Eliza 1827

George 1830 (Grandfather of Rachel Hope)

Susannah 1831

Thomas 1833

Edward 1835

Annie 1840

Thomas died at "Eagle Farm" Penrith on 27th July 1885 aged 86.

Louise Shadlow was Thomas's right hand both on the farm and in business. She was an exceptional mother and a social leading light along with Thomas.

In his later years, Thmoas became dependent upon Lucy as his health declined. Lucy took over the business and was a very good business woman, obliging neighbour and loving mother. Luch was a leader in society and development of the township of Penrith. Lucy died on 7th June 1893 aged 88 years. BOth John and Louisa Shadlow are buried in the grounds of St Stephens Church of England, High Street Penrith.

Note from Wanda Anderson (Hope)

Myself (Wanda Anderson) and sister Margaret attended the 200 year anniversary of the arrival of John Lees at Castlereagh on the "Sacred Acre" on Sunday 14th September 1997. Having come from Queensland to this event and wearing name tags stating that we were descendants of Cornelius Lees and met up with Max and Faye Shadlow and unknown to us, live at Northgate Qld. (Northern suburb of Brisbane) - PO Box 9, Northgate Qld 4013, Ph: 073 2607415 . Max actually lived with our Grandparents and family for some time. We keep in touch at Christmas.

From Convict to a "leading position in society". See also the notes on his son George's profile. Nottinghamshire c. 1799-20/7/1885. Convicted Leicester Assizes 23/3/1818 along with S Chaplin and R Chaplin for stealing 4 calves the property of R Sutton of Kegworth, Leicestershire UK. Sentenced to death which was commuted to life imprisonment and later to transportation to New South Wales for 7 years. He was transported on the ship "Baring II" on 26/6/1819. After serving 7 years he is counted in the census as "Farmer, Kerry Lodge, Evan". See full story in Media photographs.

Obituary Nepean Times, 8 August 1885: We have this week to record the death of one of the pioneers of this district. Mr Thomas Shadlow, who had been a resident of the district for upwards of sixty years, at the age of 84. Mr Shadlow built the first house in the town of Penrith, and while in his prime occupied a leading position in society. For a number of years he has resided on his farm at "Eagle Vale", but of late years his intellect was somewhat affected and he took no part in the doings of the district. His family long since grown up, married and settled, are numerous. His widow, who bye-the-bye is native of the Colony, still lives and is apparently in good health. She has ever been a good old soul, a loving wife, a kind mother, and a most obliging-neighbour; she has now passed the three score and ten.

Notes: Publicans' Licences record that Thomas Shadlow was a surety for Thomas Pike, licensee in 1853 of The Old House at Home (Eastern Creek) and was also surety for James Hackett in 1853-54 and 1854-55 as a licensee of the Wool Pack Inn of Penrith. He is buried in the Church of England church cemetery, High st, Penrith "St Stephen's".

Thomas Shardlow/Shadlow was a convicty who came out on the Baring he was sneteneced to 7 years for stealing Arrivad 26th June 1819

Thomas married Louisa (Lucy) Randall, 15 September 1823 at Castlereagh. Lucy had been born in the colony, 1808, and was the daughter of John Randall (Convict, Ganges, 1797) and Hannah Ravenscroft (Convict, Experiment, 1803). Thomas and Lucy had 7 children between 1825 and 1849. Sainty & Johnson; 1828 Census of New South Wales: [Ref S0457] Shadlow, Thomas, 28, FS, Baring, 1821, Farmer at Evan. 41 acres, all cleared and 36 acres under cultivation, 12 cattle.

1. Also [Ref S0458] Shadlow, Lucy, 20, BC. [Ref S0459] Shadlow, William, 3, BC. [Ref S0460] Shadlow, Eliza, 1, BC. Nepean Times, 8th August 1884. Death of one of our oldest Residents.

We have this week to record the death of one of the pioneers of this district. Mr.Thomas Shadlow, who had been a resident of the district for upwards of sixty years, joined the great majority last week at the ripe old age of 84. Mr. Shadlow built the first house in the town of Penrith and while in his prime occupied a leading position in society. For a number of years he has resided at his farm at Eagle Vale, but of late years his intellect was somewhat affected and he took no part in the doings of the district. His family long since grown up, married and settled, are numerous. His widow, who by-the-by is a native of the Colony, still lives and is in good health. She has ever been a good old soul, a loving wife. a kind mother and a most obliging neighbour; she has now passed the three score and ten.”