Researchers who have claimed this convict
There are currently 8 researchers who have claimed Thomas Cheshire
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Biographies
Thomas CHESHIRE was born abt. 1761 in Kingston, Surrey, England to Stephen CHESHIRE (Born: 1734, Loughton, Buckinghamshire, England; Died: 1777, Loughton, Buckinghamshire, England) and Elizabeth POPE (Born: Abt. 1748, Westbury, Shropshire; Died: 17th December 1844, Llanyblodwel, Shropshire, England).
Thomas CHESHIRE (a shoemaker aged 23 yrs.) together with his partner in crime, Joseph PERRY (a tailor aged 19 yrs.) were convicted on 22nd March 1785 at the Surrey Lent Assize Courts at Kingston-Upon-Thames (commonly called Kingston) of robbery on the King’s Highway from a John STEDMAN at Worplesdon, Surrey (near Guildford). Taking goods and money to the value of five pounds, four shillings and nine pence, comprising: “one canvas bag of the value of one penny; four pieces of gold coin of this realm, called Guineas, of the value of four pounds four shillings; and one piece of other gold coin of this realm called an half Guinea of the value of 10 shillings and sixpence; two pieces of silver coin of this realm called half-crowns of the value of five shillings; five pieces of silver coin of this realm called shillings of the value of five shillings and one Clasp knife of the value of twopence”. They were arrested at an inn with the stolen money.
Both were originally sentenced to hang, but had the sentence commuted to transportation for Life. Joseph Perry petitioned for a mitigation of sentence and the trial judge reported favourably on his case, writing that Cheshire was married to Parry's sister and had influenced the younger man who was a first offender and had behaved well. Thomas CHESHIRE remained in Jail until 8th February 1787 when he was sent to the Thames River prison hulk, “CENSOR”, to await transportation. Conditions were appalling for the 183 prisoners on board. The standards of hygiene were so poor that contagious disease spread quickly. The sick were given little medical attention and were not separated from the healthy. Convicts were transported to America (1610-1776) and then to Australia from (1788-1868).
Finally, Thomas CHESHIRE was transported on the notorious Second Fleet convict transport “NEPTUNE”. In company with “SURPRIZE” and "SCARBOROUGH" she sailed from Portsmouth, England, with 421 male and 78 female convicts on 19th January 1790. Her master was Donald TRAILL and surgeon was William GRAY. She arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on 13th April 1790, and spent sixteen days there, taking on provisions, and twelve male convicts from “HMS GUARDIAN” which had been wrecked after striking an iceberg. She and "SCARBOROUGH" were parted from “SURPRIZE” in heavy weather and arrived at Port Jackson on 27th June 1790, 159 days out from England.
The treatment of convicts aboard the Neptune was unquestionably the most horrific in the history of transportation to Australia. Convicts suspected of petty theft were flogged to death; most were kept chained below decks for the duration of the voyage; scurvy and other diseases were endemic; and the food rations were pitiful. During the voyage 158 convicts died and 269 were sick when landed. Of the rest the Rev. Richard JOHNSON, who went among them as soon as the ship reached port, wrote: "The misery I saw amongst them is indescribable ... their heads, bodies, clothes, blankets, were all full of lice. They were wretched, naked, filthy, dirty, lousy, and many of them utterly unable to stand, to creep, or even to stir hand or foot."
After their arrival in Sydney, Thomas CHESHIRE and Ann TEASDALE (or Teasdel alias Hannah GEE) met and the couple were married on 6th October 1790 in St. Phillip's Church, Sydney. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Richard JOHNSON, Chaplain to the Colony of New South Wales and the witnesses were John CULLEN and Charles STOKES. (Thomas married as Thomas CHESHER). As there were no convict barracks built at that time, Thomas and Ann would have probably lived in private lodgings somewhere in the area of the Rocks close to Sydney Cove.
Submitted by Researcher (7787) on 1 May 2018
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