The Field Family Newsletter, Edition 13

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The FIELD Family Newsletter

13th Edition, February 2003, Edited by Dorothy Cefarin
Reprinted here with permission

CONGRATULATIONS and BEST WISHES

TO MR AND MRS LAWLESS on their marriage which took place in 2002.

Mr. Gregory Lawless of Winmalee and Miss Julie Bell of Windsor Downs were united in Holy Wedlock in the lovely Historic Saint Matthews Church at Windsor NSW. Mr Clarrie Cunningham, grandfather of the groom, played for the guests while the bride and groom signed their marriage certificate. Everyone had a wonderful time. The happy couple have taken up residence at Wilberforce on the Hawkesbury River. Gregory is the eldest son of Christine and Lawrence Lawless of Winmalee.

The recently restored St. Matthews Historic Church is now worth a visit to see this lovely building.

Remember the pages I printed in the last newsletter from the old Bible that Beryl Trotman has, it was page two that I couldn't understand the writing of the surname. After some study from the family tree book I discovered the surname was Peacock, so please write in Peacock next to the P I have printed.

A REQUEST

Does anyone have any photos of Lauristina Cunningham nee Scott. She was born 25th February 1860 at Hartley NSW and died 4th July 1951. There are many descendants of Lauristina listed in our family tree. Someone must have a photo of her. Her granddaughter, who is 92 years of age, would dearly love to have a photo of Lauristina, so PLEASE have a look, payment is no problem.

Please let me (Dorothy Cefarin) know if you can help and I will put you in touch with the person asking.... It is rather a small world and we never know who we are related to... I had known this lady for many many years, her husband was best man at my parents wedding, but I didn't until a few years ago realised we were related. This lady has written to me and told me a rather funny story regarding my mother and herself when they went to school together at Derriwong, unfortunately she said it was not for publication.... What price is a bribe worth now?

COPY OF WILL IN SUPREME COURT PROBATE DEVISION

EDWARD FIELD (II) No.6363 Series 1. Evan

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. I EDWARD FIELD of the district of Evan in the County of Cumberland in the Colony of New South Wales, Licensed Victullar and Grazier being of sound mind and memory do hereby make this my last Will and Testament.

IMPRIMIS I Will that my body be decently buried and all my debts and burial expenses paid. With regard to my temporal estate both real and personal I will that it be disposed of in the following manner. Vidilust I am seized and possessed of the farm of 50 acres of land where I now reside situate in the district of Evan in the County aforesaid bounded on the east by the north and south Government Road and on the south by Colliss Farm on the north by William Field's farm and on the west by the river and I will that at my death it become the property of my present wife Esther Field if she survive me for the support and maintenance of herself and my younger children viz: John, Thomas, Eliza, Pearce, Josiah and Henry Field during their minority together with all the working oxen, horses, milking cattle and farming implements that may be on the said farm of 50 acres at my death BUT in case my present wife dies prior to my death the aforesaid farm cattle and farming implements are still left for the maintenance and support of my aforesaid six children during their minority BUT either at my wife's death if she survive me or on my youngest son Henry Field coming of age I Will that the cattle farming implements aforesaid be sold by my Executors and the proceeds be divided equally amongst my aforesaid six children by my present wife. Secondly I Will and bequeath to my son James Field the house and ten acres of land adjoining now occupied by my son-in-law Joseph Stanton situate in the district of Evan and County of Cumberland bounded on the west by the north and south Government Road and on the east by the creek on the north by Bowmans land and on the south by the other property of mine to have and to hold the same for ever conditional however on his steady and prudent behaviour to the satisfaction of my Executors otherwise should he fail in this respect the land is to be resumed on the discretion of my Executors and sold the proceeds to be divided equally amongst my younger children as aforesaid and by my present marriage. Thirdly I Will and bequeath to my daughter Frances the wife of John Stanton ten acres of land adjoining that bequeathed to my son James Field on the south side thereof together with the frontage of three rods adjoining the Government Road from the Wesleyan Chapel southerly and easterly running 1 rod below Henry Gorman's back fence for herself and her heirs and assigns for ever. Fourthly I Will and bequeath to my daughter Lydia the wife of John Jones, ten acres of land more or less where on he now resides adjoining that bequeathed to my daughter Frances on the road side adjoining the Wesleyan Chapel as above described in the bequest to have and to hold the same for her heirs and assigns for ever. Fifthly I Will and bequeath to my Daughter Lucy Ann wife of James Rutledge one-quarter of an acre of land from the farm of fifty acres first above spoken of in this my Will where I have built a house on the south side of the present residence which I leave to her and her children but not to be alienable or at the disposal of herself or her husband and I do hereby bind my daughter Lucy Ann Rutledge and her husband James Rutledge in consideration of foregoing bequest not to lease the said house and parcel of land to any other than a person of good character and reputation at the judgement of my Executors. Sixthly, I Will and desire that my horses and horned cattle that I may be possessed of at my death be sold upon my decease or as soon afterwards as may be reasonably practical and that the proceeds thereof together with the proceeds of all my debts due to me at my death be applied firstly to the payment of all my lawful debts and the residue if any be placed at interest by my Executors in good mortgage security for the support of the youngest portion of my family viz my six children abovenamed by my present marriage until my wife's death if she survives me and until the youngest of my aforesaid six children Henry Field comes of age whereupon the whole sum is to be resumed by my Executors and divided equally between my aforesaid six children and I do hereby nominate and appoint Mr. James Collitts of Mt. York and Mr. Joseph Colletts of Mt. York and Mr. William Field of Evan to be my sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament.

In witness whereupon I have set my hand and seal.
10th January, 1846.

Probate granted to Joseph Collitts on 24th October, 1846.
Goods sworn at 200 pounds.

Testator died 17-9-1846.

According to the Castlereagh Anglican Cemetery records Edward Field died 7th December, 1846 and was buried 9th December. There is a question mark though after the word December on both accounts. He was listed as an Inn Keeper age 49 years and John Vincent performed the burial ceremony. If probate was granted on 24th October, 1846, does this mean that he died before that date? Is the 17th September correct and not December as we think.

Edward Field is the son of Edward Field and Elizabeth Mitchell. He was born on 16th September, 1797. Married 1. Maria Collits on 6th October, 1817. Maria died on 21st September 1829. Children: Elizabeth, Eliza, Lydia, Frances, James, Lucy Ann, Edward.
Married 2. Esther Lees on 18th October, 1830. Children: John, Thomas, Eliza, Pierce, Josiah, Henry.

The name RANDALL comes up in the Field family tree (Edward's son William had eight children by Elizabeth Randall) and also in the Rope Pulley line where Elizabeth's brother John married Ann Rope.

Their parents were John Randall and Susannah Ravenscroft. In the next couple of issues I will be giving a little of the history and convictions of this couple.

John Randall

The Courtcase: John Randall was indicted for breaking and entering a dwelling-house of William Murray, about the hour of nine at night, of 15th of January, and burglariously stealing a piece of linen handkerchief, containing eleven handkerchiefs, value 10s. The property of the said William Murray.

WILLIAM MURRAY sworn

I live at No. 1, Little Windmill-street, St. James's; I keep a haberdashery and shoe warehouse: My house was broken open on 15th of January ; I was not at home at the time; I lost eleven handkerchiefs; I understand they were taken out of the window; I went out about ten or eleven o'clock.

PHILIP WILLIAMS sworn

I was passing by Mr. Murray's, a little after nine; I saw the prisoner and another loitering about; I got another person to assist me, and we watched them for a quarter of an hour, backwards and forwards; we observed the window cracked; we thought they were gone away, and we were going to tell people about it, and saw them come again in a few minutes afterwards; they both went in, in company together, to the window again; I saw an hand go through and take the handkerchief, but I cannot say which it was; they both stood together; (The handkerchiefs were produced in court) I said to the witness they have got the goods now we will lay hold of them; This gentleman standing here took the prisoner, and took him into the shop, and unbuttoned his coat; I took the other about eight yards from the window; the prisoner took to his heels and ran, and the other witness went after him.

Q. Are you sure the prisoner was the other man that you saw at the window?..... A. I am positively sure I heard the glass fly; I said to the witness, I believe it is broke.

Q. When the man put in his hand to take the handkerchief out of the window, did you hear any noise then?..... A. Yes.

Q. There were no shutters up?.... A. No; it was before they shut up the shop.

JOSEPH COLES sworn

I saw the prisoner run by Mr. Murray's house; I was coming out of the house where I live; I stood at the door a bit; a person said, some chaps were going to rob Mr. Murray's shop; I watched them about twenty minutes; I saw them cross the way to Mr. Murray's shop window several times, and they looked about to see if anybody saw them; then they went away; and the other witness said we had better go and acquaint Mr. Murray about what they saw, then I saw Mr. Randall on the opposite side of the way; we turned back to the house near Mr. Murray's, and stood in the passage and watched them; Williams said, when we see them brake the glass we will go and take them directly; accordingly we heard them break the glass, and he took Williams, and I took Randall.

Q. Did you see if the window was broke when you were going to tell Mr. Murray... A. We looked at it and it was cracked, but, I believe, no part out.

Q. How near did you take the prisoner?.... A. About forty yards, I took him the corner of Crown-court.

Q. Was he out of your sight at all?.... A. No.

JONATHAN DOWLING sworn

I was beadle of the night; Williams and the last witness brought the prisoner to me; I took charge of him; Williams delivered the handkerchiefs to me; I have had then ever since.

Prosecutor: I had only this piece of this pattern in the window, and it was gone, the glass was whole; it was put in two days before, it has been broke by persons of the same description.

Prisoner's Defence: I was coming from Carnabymarket; I saw two young men; I asked what it was o'clock; there was a cry of stop-thief, and they laid hold of me; the man that is bailed out said, the man that gave him the property was run away, he knew nothing of me.

GUILTY Death (aged 21)

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury,
before Mr. Justice BULLER.

This is taken from a print out of the case.... spelling has been modernised as here is what it was like.
"I keep a haberdafhery and fhoe ware-houfe"
"I got another perfon to affift me"
" Are you fure the prifinor was the other man that you faw at the window? I am pofitely faw I heard the glafs fly. And I faid to the witnefs, I believe it broke".

John Randall's death sentence was later commuted to "Transportation for Life To The Colony of New South Wales". He arrived aboard the convict ship GANGES on 2nd June, 1797.

The GANGES, built in India in 1794 was one of the first convict ships inspected at Portsmouth by Sir James Fitzpatrick, the Home- Department's Surgeon General. He ordered certain structural alterations and placed aboard ventilators, water purifiers, fumingants and medicines. The GANGES embarked 203 men, but her Master and part owner Thomas Patrickson asked that the compliment should be raised to 300. Fortunately, this request was refused and as she was of 700 tons, she was not overcrowded when she sailed. Thirteen convicts died on passage and many survivors were suffering from scurvy on arrival. Her surgeon, James Mileham, who was going out to join the Colonial Medical Establishment, probably was inexperienced in the management of a large body of men at sea, and if another 100 men had been embarked, it would seem certain that the death roll in the GANGES would have been much heavier. (This has been taken from 'The Convict Ships 1787-1868' Charles Bateman).

1800-1802 The name John Randall does not appear in Governor King's Musters and Lists.

1806. The name John Randall, Ganges, Prisoner, idented to Mr. Hobby. Muster 1806 shows Mr. Hobby as having arrived on the ship BUFFALO. It is assumed Mr. Hobby and Thomas Hobby shown in the 1806 Muster are the same person, also it is assumed that Lt. Hobby whose name appears in the Musters is the same as the above.

A "Conditional Pardon" was received 31st January 1814. This freed convicts from their sentence on the condition that they did not return to England. His description was given as follows: Native Place: England, Trade: Butcher, Age: 43 years, Height: 5' 7 1/2 ", Complexion: fair, pale, Hair: Sandy, Eyes: hazel and weak. Conditional Pardon.

John Randall died on 13th October 1859 at Jordan's Hill, Penrith, aged 89 years. He was buried at Penrith on 15th October 1859 by Elijah Smith, Minister of the Church of England, witnessed by Edward Shadlow and Thomas Shadlow. His children are; Alice 54, Ann, Lucy (Louisa) 51.

In the next edition of The Field Newsletter the story of Susannah Ravenscroft (who was a servant to Mr. Hobby and married John Randall) will be told.

Thank you Beryl Trotman for this interesting story on John Randall and the next about Susannah.

Thank you to Pan Wilcox and Beryl Trotman for sending in some great, interesting stories for us to share. Please if you have something, we would love to know about it, there are many descendants of these people and we all want to know how they lived and what they did in and with their lives, even your childhood could be interesting, come on give us your story, I find them very fascinating, being brought up out in the country with no electricity etc. And the loo down the yard. Please send all items to:

Dorothy Cefarin
24 Eggleton Street,
Blacktown 2148 NSW
Phone 02-9671-2129
E-Mail: doff202@comcen.com.au

David Rawsthorne has given me an E-mail address for those interested in the Collit's family. It is mostly about Collit's Inn, on how to get there and the history about it and what you will see. Check it out:

Collit's Inn: http://www.collitsinn.com.au/
Family Tree: http://davidrawsthorne.com/

Colin Field also has 16,398 names on our Family Tree on the Internet, you can down load his version so that you do not have to go 'on line' each time you want to know something, I recommend you check his out also, if you find any discrepancies he wants to know so he can rectify it. Both Colin and David update their files continuously with the latest information, so they are counting on us to keep them informed of any changes.

If you get in touch with Colin he will be only too happy to help you to down load his version.

Colin' website is: www.pcug.org.au/~cfield/distantf/

1803-2003 Bi-Centenary of European Settlement Penrith

Land grants along the Nepean River were given in May 1803 by Governor King. These grants marked the official beginning of white settlement in our district. In many cases Castlereagh was the "stepping -off" place for settlers and their families who went west, over the mountains to the central and far west. Our pioneers are now spread far and wide. This is a most significant event in out history that it should be celebrated accordingly.

Start celebrating by attending the Penrith City Library conference on Nepean Land grants Theme on Saturday 29th March at the Civic Centre, 601 High St. Penrith. The cost of the conference is $30 per person, $25 concession. This includes conference pack, coffee/tea on arrival, lunch and morning and afternoon tea. Registration will be from 8.45am with the conference starting at 9.30am with Aboriginal welcoming ceremony and a welcome from His Worship the Mayor Greg Davies. The keynote speaker is Associate Professor Carol Liston. Other speakers include Jim Kohen who will talk about Aboriginal history of the area. Jan Barkley-Jack who will discuss the settlement along the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and South Creek, and George Gyford will discuss the problems encountered in researching the land grantees. A session in which a brief overview of some of the land grantees will be given by their descendants as well as an historical archaeological by Siobhan Lavelle. Lorraine Stacker will be looking at development of the Evan District and the growth of Penrith as a village and the chief centre of the district. Danielle Emberton will focus particular attention on one land grantee and the problems in researching early settlers. For further details and bookings contact Lorraine Stacker or Danielle Emberton 02-4732-7859 or E-mail to: lstack@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au or daniellee@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au

We have already had a huge interest in our Community Day on Saturday 5th April 2003. The venue is the International Rowing Centre, Castlereagh Road, Castlereagh.

• This is a large area with plenty of parking room and (we hope) many family re-unions.
• A large Marquee will be set up for those who want to sit and chat or have a cup of tea.
• There is ample room for stalls (a charge of $10 to cover costs) and displays of family history, Castlereagh history and heritage items (sites free)
• During the day some races on the lake will take place as well as many entertainment items.
• A mini-bus will run to McCarthy's Cemetery which is in the Penrith Lakes area.
• Food will be an option of the Regatta Centre Restaurant, a Barbecue or BYO picnic by the lake.
• On Sunday Commemorative Church Services will be held at The Uniting Church, Castlereagh Road, Castlereagh and at the Christ Church Anglican Church, Church Lane, Castlereagh.
• After the services (possibly about 11-00am) a bus tour will run from Penrith Council Chambers to Cranebrook and Castlereagh.

If you wish to attend would you please write your name, address and number of people attending to Lorna Parr, 63 Taylor Road, Cranebrook NSW 2749. Phone/Fax: 02-4777-4459 or lornaparr@yahoo.com.au

1. Conference on Early Nepean land Grants on 29th March?
   
2. Family Day on 5th April?
3. Having a stall?
4. Having a heritage display?
5. Having a family re-union?
6. Trip to McCarthy's Cemetery?
7. Eating in restaurant?
8. Having a BBQ?
9. Having tea/sandwiches?
10. Bringing a picnic?
11. Attending Uniting Church?
12. Attending Anglican Church?
13. Going on Sunday bus tour?
14. Need accommodation Penrith?