Joseph Davis (abt. 1779 - 1869)

Born about 1779 in Braunstone, Leicestershire, England

Husband of Mary Ann (Rogers) Davis — married 13 Oct 1812 in Windsor, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 7 Oct 1869 at about age 90 in Sackville Reach, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Joseph Davis was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to New South Wales

Joseph DAVIS , son of William DAVIS and Ann HICKMAN , was born about 1779 in Braunstone, LEI, ENG, was christened on 24 Jun 1787 in CE, Braunstone, LEI, ENG, died on 7 Oct 1869 in Sackville Reach, NSW, AUS, about age 90, and was buried on 9 Oct 1869 in St Thomas's CE Cemetery, Sackville Reach, NSW, AUS. The cause of his death was Exhaustion from old age. COURT DETAILS:: 1. Joseph DAVIS, son of William DAVIS and Ann HICKMAN, was born about 1779 in Braunstone, LEI, ENG, was christened on 24 Jun 1787 in CE, Braunstone, LEI, ENG, died on 7 Oct 1869 in Sackville Reach, NSW, AUS, about age 90, and was buried on 9 Oct 1869 in St Thomas's CE Cemetery, Sackville Reach, NSW, AUS. The cause of his death was Exhaustion from old age.

He was transported to NSW on the "Duke of Portland" arriving 27 July 1807. After gaining his ticket of leave he settled in Richmond.

With his wife Mary Ann they had 9 children, four of whom (William, John, James & Henry) settled in the Spring Hill area. After marrying Mary Ann they lived at Freemans Reach. Both buried at Sackville Reach.

General Notes

(1) Joseph Davis was tried by a General Court-Martial held by Order of Lieutenant General Gardiner - commanding the North Inland District at Nottingham 26th January 1804, and continued by adjournment until the following day.

Joseph Davis confined by Order of His Royal Highness the Commander in Chief for desertion from the 1st Kings Dragoons Guards, and the 83rd Regiment of Foot.

The punishment of "Suffering Death" having been awarded by the Sentence of a General Court Martial was changed by the mercy of His Majesty so that Joseph Davis was to be transported as a Felon to New South Wales for the Term of Fourteen Years.

Details of the Court Martial were obtained from War Office Court Martial Records. In PRO WO71/197

(2) Following his conviction for desertion Joseph Davis was transported, "beyond the seas," to New South Wales, Australia, arriving in Sydney from London on " H.M.S. Duke of Portland," on 27th July 1807. The ships master was one John C Spence.

(3) Joseph received a grant of land of 40 acres about 2 miles from the ferry crossing at Sackville Reach.

(4) In the 1828 census Joseph was described as a farmer at North Richmond owning 40 acres with 20 under cultivation.

(5) Joseph received his ticket of leave #688 (Ref COD 18 PP634) on the 6 June 1814, in which the following information was obtained - Leicester (Native Place), labourer, 28 yrs, 5'10½", complexion - fair, hair - brown, eyes - hazel.^[1]

(6) Joseph is listed in the 1841 Census as residing in the Parish of Kurrajong, County of Cook, District of Windsor. (Return 953, Item ID[X951], Page No. 89, Reel No 2223)

(7) Records of the Archives Office of NSW to be checked:

(a) 1809 Nov 14

On list of all grants and leases of town allotments registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3268; 9/2731 p.232)

(b) 1810 Jul 9

Re permission to marry at Hawkesbury (Reel 6002; 4/3490C p.114)

(c) 1822 Dec 28

Signatory to memorial re Windsor Glebe (Fiche 3056; 4/1832 No.431B)

(d) 1824 Feb 4,Aug

Memorial (Fiche 3085; 4/1837A No.264 pp.45-8)

(e) 1824 Apr 26

To receive a grant of 70 acres (Reel 6012; 4/3510 p.677)^[2]

“JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL’S OFFICE- 2nd July 1804 My Lord or Sir, The punishment of “Suffering Death” having been awarded by Sentence of a General Court Martial held at Nottingham on the Twenty Sixth and Twenty Seventh days of January last, against Joseph Davis, a private Soldier of the 1st Kings Regiment of Dragoon Guards, Convicted of Desertion, I am by the King’s Command to notify to you the said Sentence, and also that His Majesty has been graciously pleased to extend His Mercy to the said offender and instead of causing the said Sentence of Death to be carried into execution, has ordered that the said Joseph Davis be transported as a Felon to New South Wales for the Term of Fourteen Years – which notification is hereby made to the intent, that you may make such order for the Transportation of the said Joseph Davis as is by Law required, and to you shall appear necessary. Charles Morgan Judge Advocate General Right Humble Lord Ellenborough Lord Chief Justice of His Majesty’s Court of King’s Bench Or one other of the Justices of the said Court.”

Immigration 9 oct 1807 arrived in Australia on the Duke of Portland (about age 21)

Mary Ann Rogers was married to Joseph Davis (Convict, 1807, “Duke of Portland”) in the colony on 18th October 1812 at Windsor, NSW.

On the 1828 Census of New South Wales, they have eight children:

Davis, Joseph, 42, free by servitude, Du. Portland, 1807, 14 years, Protestant, farmer, N. Richmond, 40 acres, 20 acres cleared, 20 acres cultivated.

Davis, Mary, 40, free by servitude, Speke 1808, 7 years, Protestant.

Davis, William, 19 born in the colony.

Davis, John 17 born in the colony.

Davis, George, 13 born in the colony.

Davis, James 11 1/2 born in the colony.

Davis, Mary 9 born in the colony.

Davis, Sarah 6 born in the colony.

Davis, Henry 4 born in the colony.

Davis, Elizabeth 6 months, born in the colony.

Burial St Thomas Church of England cemetery, Sackville, Hawkesbury city council, New South Wales, Australia.

Sources

1. ↑ State Archives NSW; Series: NRS 12188; Item: [4/4004]; Microfiche: 632.
2. ↑ Entered by Kerrie Field.

• "1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (TNA Copy)"; Ancestry.com [database on-line]; Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 21-28); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England; Joseph Davis, age 42, 'FS arr. Du portland, 1807, sentence: 14 ys; employment: farmer.
• Find a Grave memorial #171585440, Joseph Davis, b. 1786, d. 7 Oct 1869.
• Hawkesbury on the Net Cemetery Register, Joseph Davis, d. 14 Jul 1899, St Thomas Cemetery, Sackville Reach. Note: appears to be his son
• FamilySearch
• Descendants of Keith Skinner: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~kskinner/d1.htm#c1567

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Kerrie Field for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Kerrie and others.