William Morgan, Free Settler "Neptune" 1790

Married June 1791

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Birth about 1764 Immigration 28 June 1790 ‎(Age 26)‎ Sydney Cove, Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Source: Flynn, Michael. The Second Fleet: Britain's grim convict armada of 1790. Sydney : Library of Australian History, 1993 Text: William enlisted as a private in the NSW Corps in late Dec 1789 and seems to have joined the ship 'Neptune' just days before the ship sailed from English waters three weeks later. Marriage Eleanor Redchester after June 1791‎(Age 27)‎ Source: Flynn, Michael. The Second Fleet: Britain's grim convict armada of 1790. Sydney : Library of Australian History, 1993 Text: After the death of her husband, William Morgan began living with the first fleet convict Eleanor Fraser nee Redchester. Property between February 1794 and 1806 ‎(Age 30)‎ Concord, Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Source: Flynn, Michael. The Second Fleet: Britain's grim convict armada of 1790. Sydney : Library of Australian History, 1993 Text: In Feb 1794 William received a grant of 25 acres at Concord and on 24 Nov he was discharged from the Corps. He was granted a further 55 acres there in Jul 1795.

Conflict in what seems to have been a difficult relationship came to a head on 3 Nov 1798 when Eleanor took legal action to recover some pigs held by morgan which she claimed were her proeprty. They were said to have recently separated after cohabiting for seven years. The couple appear to have been reconciled soon afterwards.

Eleanor Fraser maintained an unusual degree of independence for a woman in her position and appears in colonial records as a landholder in her own right.

In 1800 she was recorded holding a farm at Concord with 16 acres cultivated in maize, supporting four children.

By 1800 William had sold his grants and held a farm at Concord by purchase with 3 acres sown in wheat and 12 in maize.

By 1802 Eleanor held 45 acres of which 15 were cultivated in maize. She owned 2 pigs and supported 5 children jointly with Morgan. In the same yer he held 100 acres ‎(13 in wheat, 7 in maize)‎. He owned 7 pigs, held 15 bushels of maize in store and employed three free workers.

Morgan was in financial difficulty in Jul 1805 when his effects were advertised for sale by execution unless creditors' claims were met.

In 1806 Eleanor was no longer recorded as a handowner and Morgan was recorded holding 100 acres by purchase. He held 4 acres in wheat, 6 in maize, two and a half in barley, a half acre in oats, a half acre in orchard and garden, and a quarter acre in potatoes. He owned 4 sheep and 6 pigs and was recorded supporting a woman and three free workers. The children were omitted apparently in error as Eleanor was mustered 'with Morgan'. After 1806 William and Eleanor separated permanently. Source: Flynn, Michael. The Second Fleet: Britain's grim convict armada of 1790. Sydney : Library of Australian History, 1993 <http://www.easystreetretreat.com.au/australianroyalty/source.php?si...> Text: In 1809 William leased his Concord farm to his step son John Fraser. By 1814 he had sold the land and was described as a wheelwright at Windsor. He was employed as a wheelwright by John Blaxland in 1819. In 1822 he was recorded as a carpenter at Appin.

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BIRTH & BAPTISM
about 1764

Source: Calculated from age at death

MIGRATION
First name(s) William
Last name Morgan
State New South Wales
Birth year -
Arrival year 1790
Ship name Neptune
When convicted 1790
Subcategory Transportation
Occupation Carpenter
Residence Liverpool

28 June 1790 (aged 26 years)
Sydney Cove, Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Source: Chapman, Barrie & Margaret. Australia's redcoat settlers. [on-line]. Hosted by Rootsweb, an Ancestry.com community.

Text:
William enlisted as a private in the NSW Corps in late Dec 1789 arrived in the colony aboard the ship Neptune.

MARRIAGE
after June 1791

Source: Flynn, Michael. The Second Fleet: Britain's grim convict armada of 1790. Sydney : Library of Australian History, 1993

Text: Common law relationship

Morgan Farm
20 February 1794 (aged 30 years)
Concord, Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Source: Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Land Grants and Leases, 1792-1867 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Citation details: Registers of Land Grants and Leases Entire colony, including Van Diemen's Land 1792-1804 (Vol. 1A)
Text:
To William Morgan a grant of 25 acres at Concord
Granted by F. Grose 20 Feb 1794
Annual quit rent 1 shilling, commencing 20 Feb 1799
Named Morgan Farm
Laying and situate in the district of Concord on the west side of Langstaff farm, from which it is separated by a road one hundred feet in width.

February 1804 (aged 40 years)
New South Wales, Australia

Source: National Library of Australia. Trove: one search...a wealth of information. [database on-line].

Citation details: The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) Sun 12 Feb 1804 Page 2
Text:
"TUESDAY, FEB. 7.
William Morgan, a Settler, appeared to answer a charge of having, contrary to General Orders, Harboured and Employed Richard Collins, servant to a Settler on the Nepean, from whose farm he had absconded, without the knowledge and consent of his master; and being convicted thereof he was ordered to pay a fine of 20 pounds, and a further sum of 2s. 6d. per diem for three days, during which he had so harboured and employed the said Richard Collins."

Sydney Gazette etc 25 Dec 1803
NOTICE.
ALL Persons are hereby strictly Cautioned
against Cutting Timber of any description
(for Government Purposes only excepted)
or in anywise Trespassing with Stock, or
making Roads or Paths on the Farm and
Premises of
WILLIAM MORGAN,
Which Farm is situate in the District of
Concord.
Also,
ALL Persons are likewise strictly Cautioned
against Cutting Timber of any description
(for Government Purposes only excepted)
or in any wise Trespassing with Stock,
or making Roads or Paths on the Farm and
Premises of the said
WILLIAM MORGAN,
Which Farm is nearly adjacent to the above‐mentioned
Grounds, being only separated by
a small strip of Government Land, and in the
District of Concord.
Trespassers after this Public Notice will be
Prosecuted with the utmost severity of the
Law.

Sydney Gazette & NSW Advertiser
General Orders.
WILLIAM MORGAN, Settler at Concord,
having a second time been convicted
before a Bench of Magistrates, of hiring
and employing a Convict Servant belonging
to Richard Oldwright, lately settled,
contrary to the General Orders of the 28th
of January last, and 6th Instant, on that head,
whereby he has incurred the fine prescribed
therein, viz 20l. to the Orphan Fund, and
2s. 6d. each day the servant was so employed.
But on the consideration of those Orders
respecting the fine of 20l. being of so recent a
date, His EXCELLENCY remits that part of
the fine, but confirms the forfeiture of the
2s. 6d. a day for the term of employment.
All settlers and every other Person will take
notice, that in case of similar breaches of an
Order calculated for the benefit of those who
take Prisoners off the Stores, that no further
mitigation of the prescribed Fines (which
will be immediately levied) will be made.

Sydney Gazette etc 7 Jul 1805
Nᴏᴛɪᴄᴇ.—Tʜᴇ Pʀᴏᴠᴏꜱᴛ Mᴀʀꜱʜᴀʟ will
sell by 𝑃𝑈𝐵𝐿𝐼𝐶 𝐴𝑈𝐶𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁 (by Virtue
of Execution, on the Premises at Concord,
on Wednesday next the 10th instant
at Twelve o’Clock, the Effects of William
Morgan, viz. 1 cow and calf, 4 goats, 1 ewe,
1 breeding mare, 30 pigs, a quantity of poultry,
a quantity of maize, and a farm.—Payment
to be made in cash or good wheat.

DEATH & BURIAL
estimated 27 October 1828 (aged 64 years)
Liverpool, Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Source: Flynn, Michael. The Second Fleet: Britain's grim convict armada of 1790. Sydney : Library of Australian History, 1993

Text:
died Oct 1828

Source: Ancestry.com. Australia Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Text:
Name: William Morgan
Death Date: 1828
Death Place: New South Wales
Registration Year: 1828
Registration Place: Liverpool, New South Wales
Volume Number: V18288143 2C

Source: Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1818-2011 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.

Citation details: Liverpool St Luke Composite 27 February 1826 - 23 September 1838
Text:
[see burial below]

First name(s) William
Last name Morgan
Father's first name(s) -
Birth year 1764
Mother's first name(s) -
Death year 1828
Registration year 1828
Volume reference V18288143 2C
Age at death 64Y
Registration district Liverpool, St Luke's
State New South Wales

Burial

27 October 1828 (on the date of death)
Liverpool, Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Source: Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1818-2011 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.

Citation details: Liverpool St Luke Composite 27 February 1826 - 23 September 1838
Text:
William Morgan of Liverpool buried 27 Oct 1828 aged 64, Neptune, a carpenter

CENSUS
New South Wales, 1828 Census Householders' Returns
First name(s) Wm
District Liverpool
Last name Morgan
District as transcribed Liverpool
Occupation Victualler
State New South Wales
Birth year 1764
Country Australia
Arrival year 1799
Record set New South Wales, 1828 Census Householders' Returns
Ship name Neptune
Category Census, land & surveys
Residence Liverpool
Subcategory Census
Residence 2 Liverpool
[William Wilson, William Morgan's son-in-law had a large household comprising himself 32yrs arrived in "Reliance" 1797, victualler; wife Ann also 32yrsand 4 children who all seem to have arr in Reliance; Wm Morgan 64yrs arr Neptune 1799 also a victualler with 7 other people - everyone Protestant]

November 1828 (0 after death)
Liverpool, Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Source: Census of New South Wales November 1828, ed. by Malcolm R. Sainty and Keith A. Johnson. Sydney: Library of Australian History, 1985 ie. 1980

Text:
Morgan, William, 64, came free, Neptune, 1790, Protestant, lives at William Willson [his son-in-law], Liverpool

A Short Bio
Morgan, William (c. 1764–1828)

William Morgan (1764-1828) was a private in the New South Wales Corps when he arrived at Sydney aboard the Neptune in June 1790.

He began living with convict Ellen Fraser after the death of her husband in June 1791; they had five children. Morgan was granted 25 acres at Concord in February 1794 and was discharged from the Corps in November. He was granted a further 55 acres at Concord in July 1795. In November 1798 he was ordered by the court to return some pigs claimed by Fraser to have been her property (she had her own separate property). Although he lost the case the couple continued to live together.

By 1802 Morgan held 100 acres and employed 3 free workers. Morgan and Fraser separated permanently after 1806. In 1809 Morgan leased his Concord farm to his stepson John Fraser and had sold the land by 1814. He was described as a wheelwright and was living in the Windsor area in that year. In 1819 he was employed by John Blaxland as a wheelwright, and was a carpenter at Appin in 1822.

William Morgan was buried at St Luke's Cemetery, Liverpool, on 27 October 1828; his age was given as 64.

• information from Michael Flynn, The Second Fleet: Britain’s Grim Convict Armada of 1790 (1993), pp 442-443

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From a descendant Michelle Dennis
William Morgan and Mary Jones
William Morgan was born on 20 February 1764 in Hopesay, Shropshire, England. He was baptised on 10 June 1764 in Bromfield, Shropshire. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Morgan.
William worked as a wheelwright and carpenter in the village of Hopesay. He married Mary ‘Molly’ Jones on 25 June 1785 at Diddlebury, Shropshire.
Mary was born in 1762 in Diddlebury, the daughter of David Jones, ratcatcher and labourer and Margaret Powell. She was baptised at Diddlebury on 31 January 1762.
Mary had an illegimate child called Mary Jones, baptised 29 June 1783 in Diddlebury, father unknown.

William and Mary had at least one legitimate child together – James Morgan baptised 19 March 1786 Diddlebury, Shropshire. James married Jane, and in 1851 was living in Wallsend, Northumberland, and was described as a Pensioner of Greenwich Hospital.

According to the book “Haunted Hostelries of Shropshire” by Andrew Homer, Molly worked at the Sun Inn, Corfton, Craven Arms. Molly already had an illegitimate child by another man before marrying William in 1785.
In 1789 Molly and William were accused of stealing linen, hemp and yarn, worth more than two shillings from the Sun Inn.
Molly appeared on 8 August 1789 she was tried at the Shrewsbury Assizes for larceny and sentenced to transportation for seven years. She arrived at Botany Bay on the “Neptune” with the Second Fleet on 28 June 1790 and was sent to Parramatta to live. Apparently she was allowed to live with William.
Meanwhile in England, William enlisted as a private in the NSW Corps in late Dec 1789 to avoid capture for his part in the crime at the Sun Inn. (A Colonial Regiment – New Sources Relating to the NSW Corps by Pamela Stratham).

Due to the remoteness and unpopularity of the posting, the New South Wales Corps were composed of officers on half pay, troublemakers, soldiers paroled from military prisons, and those with few prospects who were gambling on making a life for themselves in the new colony.
The added bonus was that William was sent out on the same ship as his convicted wife Molly – “The Neptune”, and was probably hoping to reunite with her in Australia.

The New South Wales Corps (sometimes called The Rum Corps) was formed in England in 1789 as a permanent regiment to relieve the New South Wales Marine Corps, who had accompanied the First Fleet to Australia.

The regiment began arriving as guards on the Second Fleet in 1790. The regiment, led by Major Francis Grose, consisted of three companies numbering about 300 men. It was disbanded in 1818.

Both William (as a free man) and Molly (as a convict) travelled to New South Wales on the very overcrowded ‘Neptune’, which left London on 17th January 1790.
Neptune was a three-decker East Indiaman launched in 1780 at Deptford. She made five voyages for the British East India Company, the last of these transporting convicts to Port Jackson as one of the vessels of the notorious Second Fleet. This voyage resulted in a private law suit against the master and chief officer for wrongful death.
The regiment having arrived as guards on the Second Fleet, were under the command of Major Grose, who arrived in Sydney in 1792 to assume the role of Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony.
William was granted a discharge from the NSW Corps on 24 November 1794 (A Colonial Regiment – New Sources Relating to the NSW Corps by Pamela Stratham).

In Sydney Eleanor was joined by her husband William Morgan, and after she gained a ticket-of-leave, they opened a small shop in Parramatta.
On 9 November 1794, with the captain’s help, she escaped Australia in the store-ship “Resolution” with thirteen other convicts whose sentences had not expired. She returned to England and was reunited with her children.

Meanwhile William, alone and wanting some female company met convict Ellen Frazer nee Redchester/Register. They had 5 children registered under the name Morgan.
A marriage record cannot be found for the couple, (William was still legally married to Molly), but they do baptise their children in the Anglican Church at St Phillips, Sydney and at St Johns at Parramatta.
In 1794 William was granted 25 acres of land at Port Jackson in Sydney – 3 land grants were made in Concord, Charles Westney and William Morgan, privates in the NSW Corps, received twenty five acres each. (A Colonial Regiment – New Sources Relating to the NSW Corps. Edited by Pamela Statham).

William and Eleanor had five children together –

Ann Margaret born 1797 & baptised at St Phillips Sydney. Died 1832 age 34. Ann married William Wilson in 1814 St Johns, Parramatta. Six children. Died 1832.
.
Lucy born 1800 & baptised in 1803 age 3 at St Phillips Sydney. Lucy married John Clegg 1818 St Johns, Parramatta. Four children. Died 1825 age 24.
.
William born 1802 & baptised 1803 at St Phillips Sydney with his sister Lucy. He married Ann Pymble, four children. He died in 1853 age 51.
.
Sarah born 1804 & baptised at St Johns Parramatta. Sarah married Frederick Meredith junior 30 Sept 1822 St Lukes, Sydney. 11 children. She died in 1884 age 80.
.
Richard born 1806 & baptised 1812 age 5 at St Johns Parramatta. He married Margaret Murphy 11 Oct 1833 Sydney. 9 children. He died in 1851 age 44.
22 July 1795 in Concord, NSW – William received another fifty five acres of land north of his original land grant in Concord. (Concord – A Centenary History).

William obtained more land at Concord, and the settlement date was 20 Feb 1796. 3 acres wheat, 12 acres maize off Govt stores. (NSW Muster Lists) and later in 1800 William had sold his grants and held a farm at Concord by purchase with 3 acres sown in wheat and 12 acres in maize. (The Second Fleet 1790 by Michael Flynn).

It seems William and Eleanor had a fiery relationship and 1798 Ellen took legal action to recover some pigs held by William which she claimed were her property. It was stated that they had recently separated after co-habituating for seven years. By 1805 William was experiencing financial difficulty, and his effects were advertised for sale unless creditor claims could be met. William then leased his farm to his stepson John Fraser. (The Second Fleet 1790 by Michael Flynn).

By 1814 William had sold all his land, and was working as a wheelwright in Windsor, and in 1819 was doing the same, employed by Mr John Blaxland.

The 1822NSW Musters have him working at Appin, NSW as a carpenter, and the 1825 muster he is now at Liverpool working as a carpenter. The musters confirm that he came free on the vessel “Neptune”.
William Morgan died 25 October 1828, aged 64 years in Liverpool, NSW.
He is buried at St Lukes, Liverpool on 27 October 1828, a carpenter.
At the time of his death he was living with William Wilson, his son in law in Liverpool.

Meanwhile, back in England, Molly Jones Morgan was working as a dressmaker in Plymouth, where she bigamously married Thomas Mears, a brassfounder and bellhanger on 8 November 1797. I suppose she thought she would never see her legal husband William Morgan again.
In 1803 an apprentice at the bell foundry accused Molly of setting fire to her husband’s house. Her son John ran away to join the Royal Marines.
In 1803 an apprentice at the bell foundry accused Molly of setting fire to her husband’s house. Her son John ran away to join the Royal Marines.

Molly escaped to London, but was arrested when a respectable widow, Elizabeth Jones of 15 Valentine Row, Blackfriars Road, reported she had found her petticoat and napkin in Molly’s possession, along with a stolen handkerchief. The Surrey Quarter Sessions record says she is the wife of George Mears a labourer.

Mary was committed on 20th of September, 1803, by magistrates R C Smith and J Bulcock esquires and was charged on the oath of Elizabeth Jones, with feloniously stealing, at St. George’s, Southwark, a shift, a petticoat, a napkin, and other articles, her property.

Molly was charged and tried at the Croydon Sessions, Surrey at Newington on 10 October 1803 under the name Molly Mears, found guilty and once again was sentenced to transportation for 7 years to Australia. She gave her residence as St George the Martyr, Southwark, Surrey.

Molly arrived at Port Jackson for the second time on 24 June 1804 on the “Experiment“. It is unknown if she tried to find her husband William who was living in Parramatta with new wife Ellen Redchester and their children.

Molly was sent to the Parramatta Female Factory, along with most of the women on the “Experiment” and was employed in spinning wool, sewing clothes and washing. She appears in the 1806 NSW Muster records working in the factory.
In 1814 it was discovered that Molly was branding Government cattle as her own, trying to increase her herd, and she was tried at the Criminal Court on 2nd April 1814. She was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years transportation to Newcastle.

Molly was then transferred from the gaol to the “Endeavour” to sail to the Newcastle Penal camp, known for its brutality, and a place for second offenders. Molly was now 53 years old, and took up residence with an officer.

In 1818 she was granted a ticket of leave by Governor Macquarie, and she was sent to help establish a settlement at Wallis Plains. She received land in her own right, on a peninsula of land called Horseshoe Bend, and with the help of convicts assigned to her, she cleared and cultivated the land and built a cottage there.

Stories are then that Molly opened a wine shanty in Maitland, which became increasingly profitable as the settlement grew and river navigation extended. On 5 March 1822 at Christchurch in Hoxham, Newcastle, she married Thomas Hunt, a young convict assigned to her, and over 30 years younger than herself.
Thomas Hunt was convicted of Highway Robbery and sentenced to death which was commuted to transportation for life at the Old Bailey in London on 15 January 1812. He arrived in Australia aboard the convict ship “Fortune”. He was a brickmaker.

He is recorded on the list of prisoners sent to Newcastle on the ship “Endeavour” on 2 February 1814. Thomas Hunt received a conditional pardon on 6 April 1833.

In November 1823 Mary was granted a lease of 159 acres (64 ha). She bought 203 acres (82 ha) at Anvil Creek and built the Angel Inn in the centre of her lease, in Maitland. The inn was constructed of ironbark slabs and bark roof for the accommodation of the more respectable settlers.
In 1825 Molly was affluent enough to write to the colonial secretary to say her land was not large enough for her stock of 303 head of horned cattle, 18 horses including 8 brood mares, and 100 sheep. She asked to be allowed purchase more land so she could increase her stock holdings.

The Australian, 23 January 1828, named her as one of the largest landholders on the Hunter River. Her land grants comprised 150 acres.

Her last years were spent in retirement at Anvil Creek where she died on 27 June 1835 at the age of 73 as Molly Hunt. She was buried on her property.
You can read an article about Molly in the Maitland Mercury, New South Wales She is buried in the Maitland Cemetery.
After Molly’s death, Thomas “Joe” Hunt ended his days as a servant. He was thrown from a cart and killed while driving down a hill in Maitland. The coroners inquest reported a verdict of ‘accidental death’.

A terrific resource regarding William Morgan can be found here on
Warwick Taylor’s family history website and to read more about Molly her story appears here on the Hunter Living Histories website.