Ann (Forbes) Huxley (1771 - 1851)

Ann Forbes 1771 to 1851

 Part I  1771 to 1787

It was thought that Ann was born on the 1st September 1771 to John and Hannah Forbes(Nee Davis) in the East End of London, Spitalfields Markets where her father John was a Gardiner and a greengrocer.  Her baptism was held at Christ Church Spitalfields on 15 September 1771.  A record of this event below is from the UK National Archives which includes a hand written original of the parish records we know that she had a sister Hannah born in 1770 a brother John born in 1772 and another brother Thomas born in 1774. There is also another sister Ann who was born in 1786 but more about her later.

 Ann Forbes 

15 Sep 1771

Parish:Christ Church, SpitalfieldsCounty:MiddlesexBorough:Tower HamletsParent(s):John,HannahRecord Type:BaptismRegister Type:Parish Register

 

Do we have the right Ann?

Professor Huxley states in ‘Transported to Paradise’ that Ann’s  ‘parentage has not been established with any certainty’. The main reason for this comment is perhaps the difference in the parish of her baptismal record (Christ Church Spitalfields - Middlesex) and the parish of her committal records (St Olave ..Southwark, Surrey).  In considering this remark I began to do some research of my own and doing so I did find another Ann Forbes.

 Let me stress however, my aim is to respect and qualify the work of Professor Huxley, and prove that he did find the correct family of Ann Forbes our Pioneer.

 The other Ann Forbes

 The parish records show that there was another Ann Forbes born in the docklands area whose parents were Alexander and Mary Forbes. She was born in 1773 and baptized in St Paul’s Shadwell Parish, a little closer to St Olave and lived a little closer to James Rolinson’s, Tooley Street shop and also closer to where Lydia lived.  These two things made her a feasible alternative.

Professor Huxley mentions another Ann born in 1786.  Then I found in the UK Archives the birth of a baby on 24th December 1786 to John and Hannah whom they named Ann (for ease of identification I will call her baby Ann). What did this mean? 

 Ann committed her crime on 28th October 1786 only two months prior to the birth of baby Ann. 

 Professor Huxley suggests that ‘the second Ann poses a problem ………that her parents had disowned their eldest child or that they had given up hope that they would see her alive again.  Still this must remain in the realm of pure speculation pending further evidence.’

 With no disrespect to Prof. Huxley may I try to dispel this idea of ‘speculation’? The birth and naming of this baby not only ceases the speculative nature of this evidence but provides the proof that we have the correct family. 

 To qualify, Ann had been sentenced to death in October 1786 so they were well aware that they would never see her again and rather than disown her, may I suggest that it was out of their sense of loss they named her baby sister after her. 

 On the side of the argument, the other possibility would have to be the Ann, daughter of John and Hannah had not been the Ann incarcerated and sentenced to death but had in fact died then new baby would have been named for a deceased sibling.  This would mean that there would be a record for a death. 

 An intense search of the Parish Records of Christ Church Spitalfields; St Dunstans, Tower Hamlets; St Leonards Shoreditch (the parish churches of this family) for a death proved unsuccessful.  A search by the staff of the National Archives UK has confirmed that there is no death of an Ann Forbes in this area, between the years 1770 and 1786 the year of her incarceration.  The only death on record of an Ann Forbes was in Botolph Aldgate in 1795. Might I add that the records of this time in this part of London are I have been assured by the staff of the Archives are very accurate and quite complete.

 Therefore the only reason John and Hannah would have named baby Ann after her sister was that their elder daughter Ann was to be hung for theft.

 I am also of the opinion that the Ann Forbes who died in 1795 was an Ann Forbes daughter of Alexander and Mary who married John Orr in 1794. There were children recorded for this marriage and John Orr died in 1806. He also worked, lived and died in the Spitalfields markets. Had the Ann Forbes daughter of John and Hannah married John Orr in 1794 they would not have named the new baby Ann. 

 I am therefore completely convinced that the Ann Forbes daughter of John and Hannah Forbes is our Ann.

 Part II 

Her Crime, Imprisonment, and Transportation

Ann stole 10 yards of printed cotton her partner in crime being Lydia Munro.  They were arrested on 28th October 1786, committed on the 30th with a hand written note on the margin of their court transcript stating ‘’Guilty, No Chattels’, to be Hanged’  and they were was sent to Newgate prison.  They were then tried at the Surry Lent Assizes on 5th April, 1787 where both death sentences were firstly upheld then reprieved to Transportation for 7 years on the 17th April, 1787. What a terrifying 12 days they must have experienced.

 

Newgate was the execution capital of London and between 1783 and 1902 public executions were held outside Newgate prison in the lane known as the Old Bailey Road. 

 

All prisoners under the sentence of death were kept shackled and apart from other the prisoners. Their only permitted visitors were the prison staff and the chaplain. Ann’s parents may have been present in the court room and may have been allowed to see her before sentencing but after the 30th October they would never have been allowed to see her again or give her descent food, a blanket or new clothing that is if they could have afforded to do so. What a terrible torment she must have suffered.

One must wonder if Ann could hear the commotion of the executions whilst lying in her cell awaiting her own.  She was only a young girl of 15 so how absolutely terrifying this must this have been for her.  What must have gone through her mind and how relieved she must have been when her sentence was commuted to transportation?

Ann was transferred by prison wagon travelling shackled by day and by night, to the ‘Prince of Wales’ waiting in Portsmouth harbour in an area called the Mother Bank off the coast of the Isle of Wight.  Colleen McCulloch described the bitterly cold and wet conditions under which they travelled in dark covered wagons in her book Morgan’s Run.  They travelled through many villages where people closed doors, drew curtains, and closed their shops as the prison wagons passed by.

After the fear and filth of Newgate prison, and then the bone shattering ride in a wagon devoid of any suspension, on rain soaked roads and where bogging was frequent their arrival at the new ship (the Prince of Wales was build in 1786) must have seemed like heaven. However Captain Arthur Phillip commented that many of the crew and most of the women were sea sick for most of the journey.  This was just another hell on earth to be endured.

 

This ship carried only one male convict and 49 female convicts. She was  350 tons and skippered by Master John Mason.  Built at the Thames in 1786.  

 

I have wondered why Ann stole the10 yards of cotton material.  There can be a number of theories but they are all hypothetical for without being there and with the lack of written information that’s all they can be. 

 

May I add that in proving Ann’s heritage we do know that her family had an income but, competition was fierce and constantly increasing.   They no doubt lived at subsistence level therefore any extra money would have been very helpful.  Did she steal the material to on sell? Did Ann need a new dress, after all she was15 and no doubt out grown her present one or did her mother need the material to provide clothes for the baby expected within a couple of months.  Without any documentation we don’t know.

In an article “Misfortunate Girl’s’ Lydia and her friends Phoebe Flarty and Catherine Moreng were all well known to the Magistrates having been before them previously on a number of occasions.  Ann was not mentioned in this article as a friend. 

After some more thorough research in the court records of National Archives no further evidence has been found that mentions any prior offences or previous attendances in court for our Ann.

We know that she was convicted with Lydia, but without any other evidence I can only surmise that Ann’s parents must have fallen on hard times with the huge influx of people creating more competition in the markets and they needed the money.  Unfortunately Ann it appears that she was perhaps caught on her first attempt.  How sad for both herself and her family.  I therefore suggest that this is why she was given the sentence of 7 years where as Lydia was sentenced for 14. 

 

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Arrival Part III 1788

Captain Arthur Phillip said it was a harbour that could hold a thousand ships and Watkin Tench describes it thus.

“Our passage to Port Jackson took up but few hours, and those were spent far from unpleasantly. The evening was bright, and the prospect before us such as might justify sanguine expectation. Having passed between the capes which form its entrance, we found ourselves in a port superior, in extent and Excellency, to all we had seen before. We continued to run up the harbour about four miles, in a westerly direction, enjoying the luxuriant prospect of its shores, covered with trees to the water's edge, among which many of the Indians were frequently seen, till we arrived at a small snug cove on the southern side, on whose banks the plan of our operations was destined to commence.”

Ann arrived with Lydia and Pheobe on the Prince of Wales on January 20th 1788.  Entering the harbour at the end of a long and arduous journey, what must have been going through her mind?  Was she in awe of the raw and wild ruggedness; was she aware of the Natives watching? Did she look in wonder or apprehension or both?  Was she inspired by the tree covered hills as they met the rocky shoreline where the water from the wash of the ships splashed as they passed by; did she think of her future or was she just resigned to living her day to day existence and merely willing to accept whatever was to become of her.

I surmise that Ann thoughts may have included some or all of the above but also she must have felt a huge sense of relief especially from the sea sickness that had gripped her for most of the voyage.  It is document by both Captain Phillip and Tench that all the women on the Prince of Wales were sick for almost the entire journey. 

There must have been a longing for the familiar smells and sounds of the busy streets of Spitalfields markets, the gardens where her father had grown his produce to sell? The realization that she would never see them again would have been a heavy burden to bear especially for one so young.   But she may also have felt enlightened by the second chance she had been given.

Her moment of shear relief at being transported instead of executed must have been immense. Once on board the Prince of Wales and with so much time to think about the circumstances of her situation, this sense of relief would have become a constant companion; a constant reminder that kept her going through the suffering on the long voyage, the aforementioned sea sickness, the impersonal, damp, cramped and foul smelling ship board life. 

Ann must have quickly realised that she would need to become very shrewd and careful if she was to take advantage of this second chance she had been given.  As a witness to the conduct of some of the women, with the soldiers on board ship, she no doubt came to the conclusion that she would need protection if she was to survive at all.  Protection for a woman in her situation was to form a relationship as soon as possible.

We know nothing about what she did within the colony in those early days so she must have played by the rules for the only information we have of our first Fleeters’ is from their wrong doings such as the documentary evidence of, the lashes they received or the days spent in irons.  These give a small picture of those he did not play by the rules but for a settler who did the right thing there is nothing apart from the musters, marriages and the birth of children.  As this is the case with Ann she must have led a life of shrewdness, compliance and goodwill, although it was obviously not without its struggles.

Soon after landing Ann formed a relationship with George Bannister and she gave birth to her first child Sarah in 1789.  What happened to Sarah is unknown but as she did not join her parents when they went to Norfolk Island in 1790.  It is believed that she died in early childhood.  Ann and George arrived on Norfolk Island on the ill fated Sirius in March 1790.

Part IV Norfolk Island

Ann and George left for Norfolk Island on the Sirius in March 1790.  This ironically was the ill fated journey of the Sirius. The weather was not conducive to the Sirius or its accompanying ship the Supply to land within the harbour at Sydney Bay.  Therefore Sirius sailed to Cascade Bay on the leeward side of the Island where the Marines and the women and children were put ashore having to walk about 2 miles through thick forest across the Island back to Sydney Bay.  Ann and George parted company at some time over the next 18 months but it is unknown when this was or why. 

Both the Sirius and the Supply then put back out to sea for 3 days before the weather improved enough for them to return to off load the supplies.  The Supply was a smaller and lighter ship and therefore able to land its stores but the Sirius being less maneuverable swung out or control and ran aground on the reef due to a sudden change in the winds. She hit the reef stern first and although attempts were made to free her she was holed from stem to stern and all hands abandoned ship throwing what they could over board so as to salvage as much as possible. 

Two days later, two convicts James Brannigan and William Dring volunteered to swim out and remove livestock and what ever else that could be salvaged.  They were successful in doing so but they also found the rum and stayed on board becoming drunk and setting fire to the deck. For this offence they were both put into solitary confinement and later house arrest.

Ironically, eighteen months later on the 5th November 1791 Ann married William Dring in a mass ceremony presided by Rev Johnston and a daughter Ann was born in 1792 and another Elizabeth in 1794. 

Ann and William had a small plot of land on which they had a house and enough land to grow their food and William worked as a coxswain and, according to Phillip Gidley King he was ‘a most useful man

   By 1792 they were off stores and selling a surplus to the government and by 1793 Lieutenant Phillip Gidley King commented in his journal that William had become a ‘well behaved man’.  Marriage and perhaps with the settling hand of Ann may have calmed him. 

As William was a sailor it could be suggested that he knew little if anything about growing crops so perhaps as well as having a settling effect on William it was Ann with her family knowledge of growing vegetables that bought about the success of their garden.

Then in the period between October 1793 and December 1794 trouble began to brew between William and the NSW Corp Marines.   A certain Charles Windsor began to show an interest in Ann and frequented their property whilst William was away attending to his duties as Coxswain.  William complained a number of times within this period about the unwanted attentions of this NSW Marines Corporal.   We have records of William’s actions which include hitting Windsor and other marines and on one occasion Ann herself. 

According to the Philip Gidley Kings records, ‘William is reported to have hit a Charles Windsor who had been ‘repeatedly found in the company of his wife’.  For this he received a fine of 20 shillings and a surety of good behavior which was obtained and all was well until two soldiers were over heard in December 1793 threatening his life.’   

Charles Windsor was also at this time accused by Govern Phillip Gidley King as one of the perpetrators of the incident referred to the Christmas mutiny of the NSW Corps who complained of being less well treated that the convicts.  The failure of the mutiny meant that the marines involved were returned to Sydney Cove for Court martial and Ann and William continued their lives without further disturbances.

In August 1794 Ann gave birth to another daughter Elizabeth and in November 1794 they returned to Sydney Cove with daughters Ann 2 years and Elizabeth 4 months. 

 

Part V - Sydney Cove and Paradise Point

The reason they left Norfolk Island was because governor Grose refused to pay the settlers for their crops as Governor Philip had promised. Many sold their land and returned to Sydney. Yet the NSW Corp Marines whom had caused William grief had been returned to Sydney.  Therefore, life would once again have become peaceful if they had stayed, or so one would surmise.  However, if Ann had had an affair with Charles the relationship would therefore have been tenuous but William still returned knowing that Charles was there, or had he been told that the Marines who had tried to kill him had been sent back to England?

However, this was not the case. The NSW Corp Marines had returned to Sydney; court martialled but given land grants as settlers because Governor Gross agreed that a man who had been a convict was not entitled to hit a Soldier; Cardell was given a land grant at South Head.

On their return young Ann died in January 1795 the cause is unknown she was only 3 years of age perhaps dysentery or drowning leaving Elizabeth the only surviving Dring child and this could even be doubtful if the relationship between Charles and Ann began earlier that December 1793.  In August 1796 a son was born but he too died in September 1796 but he died soon after.

Ann had named him Charles. Was this after Charles Windsor we will never know for sure? However, I think it is possible as Charles was still in the colony. He did not leave until 1810 when the NSW Corps was recalled.  However, he had also married in 1802 so it may be possible that he and Ann had continued their relationship on Ann’s return to Sydney as William is thought to have left the colony or was dead by 1798. 

Did the death of baby Charles spell the end of the relationship? Was there an argument between Charles Windsor and William Dring? Did the NSW Corps Marines finally murder William or did he escape their clutches by going to sea? There are no answers at present but I am working on finding some.

With the death of her baby son, William gone and Charles we know not where Ann was assigned to Thomas Jones/Huxley.  One must also consider that Thomas came to her aid as he had been on Norfolk Island throughout the turmoil with William, the NSW Corps and Charles Windsor.   He had arrived on the Salamander in 1791.

In 1798 Ann had another daughter Jane F Dring and it is believed that this child was the first of 10 Ann she had with Thomas.

~~~~

As previously mentioned Thomas had come directly to Norfolk Island in 1791 arriving on the Salamander in the third fleet.  Thomas received a grant of 55 acres in Windsor in September of 1794 on his returned to Sydney and Ann was assigned to him as his housekeeper around 1797/8.  They had 10 children and lived on Thomas’s second land grant given to him as Thomas Huxley on the Hawkesbury River at ‘Paradise Point’.

 

Paradise Point today

 

 

Their children were:-

Jane 1798 - married Robert Arndell;

Thomas 1801 - married Mary Ann Evans;

Charlotte 1802 - Married James Neale,

Francis deSilva, and Richard Ellem; 

Ann 1805 - married Thomas Wall;

Samuel 1811 - married Mary Mitchell;

John 1813 - married Susanna Martyn;

Esther 1817 - married James Henry Cavanough;

Sophia 1818 - married James Bligh Ridge.

~~~~~

Elizabeth Dring  – had many relationships and 5 children and then finally married Samuel Arndell in 1847 after giving him 8 Children. 

Away from a past of turmoil and sadness they carved out a very successful farm. Thomas had 3 boats to take goods to Windsor and Sydney and bring supplies back.  Their future generations remained in the Hawkesbury area spreading branches of the family tree throughout NSW.  By the time Ann died in 1851 at Sackville Reach where she is buried at St Thomas’s graveyard, she had 116 Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren and today leaves us with a legacy of 8 generations of descendants recorded in ‘Transported to Paradise’ written by one of them Professor Douglas Huxley.  We thank Prof Huxley for his magnificent work.

Thomas died in Richmond in 1854 and is buried in St Peter’s Church of England Cemetery in Richmond.

May I add that since Professor Huxley’s book was published in 1991 the 9th generation has begun and there may be in some families even a 10th.  My family are probably only about 10 years away from that first 10th generation as the eldest 9th Generation child is now 16.

Thank you Ann for being a wonderful ‘Pioneer’ of this wonderful nation

                                                                                                          

 

 

This is my latest research on Ann Forbes and puts into total doubt the parentage we have always believed to be true. We can no longer say that John Forbes and Hannah Davies are her parents. They are not but who is? We don't know for sure. I have my favourite please read and you may well wonder or find a favourite too.

Further Additional Information

As previously mentioned the birth and lineage of Ann Forbes, convict on the Prince of Wales, has been put into doubt. For the last 6 years I have been trying to piece together evidence to find something conclusive to make a decision on who her parents were; where she lived and what the life she left behind was like. My thoughts in doing this were to write a book which would tell this story.

However, the evidence found by myself and a friend Barbara Parker sent my research into a speculative mode instead of consolidation. The complexed information below will explain the depth of my work.

Ann Forbes convict on the Prince of Wales, died 28th December 1851 in Lower Portland and is buried at St Thomas’s cemetery, Sackville Reach. Her age 80; year of birth is therefore 1770/71

Transcript of page 5, Transported to Paradise by Prof. D Huxley Ann Forbes was born circa 1770. We have not established with any certainty the parentage and lineage of Ann although the following details record the birth of an Ann Forbes at approximately the time our Ann would have been born:

Parents John Forbes and Hannah. Baptised 15th September 1771, Christ Church Spitalfields, Stepney London.

The church records indicate four other children born to John and Hannah Ann, christened 15th September 1771 John christened 27th December 1772 Thomas christened 17th July 1774 Ann christened 24th December 1786

Professor Huxley goes on to suggest that the second Ann posses a problem but he states ‘it is not outside the bounds of possibility that John and Hannah and disowned their eldest child or that they had given up hope that they would ever see her alive again. Still this must remain in the realm of pure speculation pending further evidence.(36.p5)

Until recently, Prof. Huxley’s lineage has been accepted with many of us taking John and Hannah on board as Ann’s parents. However, more information has become available. This being due to the release a lot more documentation on line. From the records of ancestry.com’ Find my Past, Family Search, and London Lives a myriad of new documentation is now available.

The records and information that changed a probable to an Inconclusive

The original records came from ancestry.com. John Forbes, a gardener and greengrocer in the Spitalfields Markets married Hanna Davis. Their children were: Hannah 1770; Ann 1771; John 1772; Thomas 1774, died before 1778; Thomas born 1778 possibly died 1780; Ann born 1786 possibly died 1787. John died in the markets aged 51 in October 1787 then his widow Hannah remarried Richard Toll in April 1789 and died in March 1812.

New events I found, as listed below, influenced my research to explore Professor Huxley’s statement. Were John and Hannah her parents?

The baptism of an Ann Forbes in 1773 — Parents Alexander and Mary The death of an Ann Forbey - Markets - aged 5 in 1776 (sent to me by Barbara Parker.) The marriage of an Ann Forbes in 1794 to John Orr in Spitalfields Markets.

All of the above, changed the previously known facts about who we thought our Ann Forbes first fleeter of the Prince of Wales was.

The Question therefore must be asked; do we have the right Ann?

Considering the list which had been unavailable to Professor Huxley, meant some in-depth research was required. The following information is the result of 6 years research. From the influx of information recently digitised; indexed and now readily available on line, the results are that a number of other Ann Forbes’ have been found.

The records of London Metropolitan Archives; St Paul, Shadwell, Register of baptisms March 1737 to Dec 1774 show that there was an Ann Forbes born in the docklands area baptised 21.4.1773; parents Alexander and Mary Forbes. This parish is much closer to St Olave and it also means she not only lived a little closer to the shop of James Rollinson’s, in Tooley Street, but also closer to where Lydia lived. These events made her a feasible alternative. However, she is two years younger but does this mean she should be excluded? Alexander was a mariner and obviously away from home for long periods of time leaving Mary on her own with a small child. Mary was arrested and gaoled in 1781 for stealing a beaver coat. This is a background of a child in need and therefore she suddenly became ‘person of interest’, still more proof was needed.

The death of an Ann Forbey - Markets aged 5 in 1776. The spelling of the name posed problems but it is feasible given that most people were illiterate and therefore did not know how to spell their names and the person recording the death would put down what they thought it was. I then checked to see if there was a Forbey family in the Spitalfields Markets? I found Forby’s in Finsbury but that is too far away from Christ Church Spitalfields and the births their children were registered at St Lukes Finsbury. Then I found deaths recorded in 1806 for a William and Mary Forby of Spitalfields sparking further research. Births found for them in Spitalfields, were: i Elizabeth 1769, ii Mary 1770. iii Charles, 1774; but no Ann? Therefore the records for this family do not provide the evidence we need to say whether or not the Ann Forbey of this record is, or is not, our Ann.

There are also, other deaths with different spellings as well. All from Christ Church Spitalfields and in the ‘Markets.’ They include: i Ann Forbe 4.7.1787 aged 6 months which is possibly the baby ‘Ann’ born to John and Hannah in December 1786 whom it was thought could have been an younger sister to our Ann and named after her. ii Thomas Forbe 7.9.1780 aged 2 years who might also have been the son of John and Hannah born in 1778.

A Marriage of an Ann Forbes to John Orr in 1795 found in the records of Christ Church Spitalfields sowed yet another seed of doubt that the daughter of John and Hannah Forbes was our Ann. The Banns as read state that both John Orr and Ann Forbes were both of the Parish of Christ Church Spitalfields. I therefore began to believe that the Ann Forbes who married John Orr was the daughter of John and Hannah Forbes of Spitalfields Markets, but if she were then it means that their daughter Ann was still alive and therefore the naming of the baby born in 1786 subsequently named Ann is a problem as Prof. Huxley suggests. The Ann of this marriage could just as easily have been Ann Forbes the daughter of Alexander and Mary; or another Ann altogether.

John Orr died in 1796 and was buried in Christ Church Surrey which is closer to St Olave than Spitalfields He died in 1796 leaving his Ann a young widow, there is every reason to believe that she would have remarried. A marriage of an Ann Orr to John Skinner in 1804 in St Mary Lambeth Surrey, again closer to the parish of St Olave. So the confusion still remains between the Ann daughter of Alexander and Mary of St Olave and the Ann daughter of John and Hannah of Spitialfields.

In conclusion either of these Ann Forbes could be, or could not be our Ann. Further research followed.

My research over the next 2 years found some newly digitised records on a website called London Lives which in 2012; “After receiving funding from the Economic and Social Research Council and with the assistance of the Universities of Hertfordshire and Sheffield, was given the task of digitising and transcribing images for transmission over the internet which is still a project in progress”. Also, Ancestry.com is continually updating their records as are Find My Past and Family Search. Researching these newly digitised documents created new, startling and yet more confusing results.

The digitised Records of the St Martin in the Fields Workhouse on the London Lives website show various admittances and examinations of an Ann Forbes. A transcription from these records:- i) “Ann Forbes, on the 19th December 1771(1st admittance) ‘in labour of a bastard’ born that same day; later baptised Ann. An examination of the mother on the 6th January 1772 states the father as John Lawrence a Barber late a journeyman to a Peruke Maker in Charles Street Covent Garden (but now absconded). She and her daughter became chargeable to the Parish of St Martin in the Fields. A further examination of her situation on the 31st March 1772 again retains mother and daughter as ‘chargeable to the Parish of St Martin in the Fields with admittance records showing a baby of 21 days and mother aged 19 pauper. This, their second admittance.” ( in this examination it states that ‘John Lawrence was a Butcher of Oxford Market’ (?) They were discharged on the 8th July 1772. ii) I found a John Lawrence married with a wife Mary and four children living in the Parish of St Andrew Holborn, a fair distance from St Martin in the Fields. They moved from St Andrew Holborn to St George Hanover in 24.10.1772 (a little closer to St Martin in the Fields) returning to St Andrew Holborn in 10.12.1773. iii) Another John Lawrence a juror in the Coroner’s Court, sitting on cases in St Martins in the Fields and Drury Lane. It is unknown if they are the same John Lawrence. My suggestion is they are not. vi) Ann Forbes states in one of the examinations in the workhouse that the child’s father was a Journeyman Baker in Covent Garden so he may have been in a position to be a juror. Another examination she states he was a Butcher from Oxford Market. This difference in occupation has me wondering if he is the father at all. vii) There are also gaol records for a John Lawrence in 1773 one of not guilty and another to be transported for 7 years. He may have gone to America? There was also a Mary Lawrence wife of John Lawrence on the Lady Penrhyn; sentenced in 1784 arriving in 1788 to Sydney Cove.

An eight year old Ann Forbes was admitted to the Workhouse on 24.5.1780 (1st admittance). Being admitted to the school ward she remained there until her discharge on 16.11.1784. She would have been taught to read and maybe to write but at the very least given skills so that she could be assigned out as a house servant. The record of her discharged states ‘On liking to Mr Mason of Greenwich Road’. This is very close to James Rollinson’s shop in Tooley Street.

The possibility this 8 year old is our Ann, is very strong. However, we don’t know if she is the daughter of Ann Forbes and John Lawrence or the daughter of Alexander and Mary. i) Born in the workhouse in December 1771 — the age is correct. However, the fact that this was her first admittance aged eight, appears to exclude her. Perhaps the records are incorrect; a transcription error; or did she not know that she was born there? ii) As we have seen above Mary Forbes was in Gaol in 1780 after stealing the beaver coat. However, their Ann was born in 1773 so the age is not correct but the first admittance would be correct in this instance.

9. Further Workhouse Register admissions show i) Ann Forbes 12.50 years of age 9th December 1784. 6th admission ii) Absented on 23rd April 1785 iii) Returned on 10th June 1785 7th admission vi) Discharged on 18 August 1785 at the age of 13(reason unknown).

I don’t think it is the same Ann Forbes as above because of the discrepancy in the number of admissions (unless the number is again incorrect or a transcription error) However she is an excellent candidate for our Ann. Her origins are a mystery.

To move to a possible conclusion — It is my view the Ann Forbes of points 8 and 9 are two separate people. One may be the child born to Ann Forbes in the workhouse in 1771; one may be the daughter of Alexander and Mary Forbes. One could be the daughter of John and Hannah. The reason the latter are still in the picture is because of the baby Ann born in 1786. If the Ann who married John Orr was John and Hannah’s daughter then they would not have named the new baby Ann. Their Ann was either dead or had run away. She may have been the Ann Forby who died in 1775. The spelling of the name and the fact that there was a family of Forbey’s makes this possible. There is also the death of a Forbes child in the records of St Anne’s in Soho in 1774. I’m not even sure this needs to be taken into consideration but nor can it be excluded because it is so close to the workhouse of St Martin in the Fields.

In Conclusion — There is still too much supposition to make a definite decision on which of the Ann Forbes my research has found is our Ann. Personally I believe the Ann Forbes who left the workhouse in the care of Mr Mason is the strongest contender and perhaps she is the 12year old who entered the workhouse in 1784. It is also impossible to ascertain if she is the daughter of Alexander and Mary; the illegitimate daughter of Ann Forbes and John Lawrence, or the daughter of John and Hannah; or another Ann Forbes altogether.

Final conclusion — Inconclusive.

We do not know the parentage and lineage of Ann Forbes and until further documentation is available we cannot make an informed decision and therefore must leave it as such. My evaluation of the evidence is totally hypothetical and should engender much discussion.

I share in your disappointment and welcome your feedback.

Kind Regards Lynne McDonald BA Mod.Hist; And Hist; English.

First Fleet Member #7709

This article was written by Lynne McDonald and first published in June 2017 and cannot be reproduced or copied without the permission of the Author.

London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812

about Ann Forbes Name: Ann Forbes Birth date 1 Sept 1771 Baptism Date: 15 Sep 1771 Parish: Christ Church, Spitalfields County: Middlesex Borough: Tower Hamlets Parent(s): John, Hannah Record Type: Baptism

Registration of Death, Wilberforce, Sydney, NSW, Year 1851, Registration number V1851789 37B / 1851 Age 83

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Ann Forbes, also known as Ann Green, married 5 Nov 1791 in Norfolk Island, Australia, b. ? ___ 1768 in St. Olaves, Southwark, England, (daughter of John Forbes and Hannah Davis) christened 15 Sep 1771 in Spitalfields Christ Church, Stepney, London, emigrated 26 Jan 1788 on "Prince of Wales", as a convict, Moved on the 6 Nov 1794 to Sydney, NSW, Australia, d. 29 Dec 1851 in *Wilberforce, NSW, Australia, buried 31 Dec 1851 in St. Thomas Cemetery, Sackville Reach, NSW, Australia.

Ann Forbes Sex: F ALIA: /Dring/ Birth: about1768 in England Death: 28 Dec 1851 in Sackville, NSW Fact 1: 26 Jan 1788 Arrived on board 'Prince of Wales' as convict. Fact 2: 29 Dec 1851 Buried St. Thomas Church, Wilberforce, NSW.

Note: FORBES, Ann Transport: Prince of Wales Place and date of trial: At the Surrey Lent Assizes which began at Kingston upon Thames on Monday 2 April 1787 before Sir Henry Gould Knt. and Sir Alexander Thomson Knt. (1) Tried on Thursday morning, 5 April, 1787 (1) Crime and sentence: (a) Ann Forbes and Lydia Munro (q.v) committed 30 October 1787. (1) (b)".....that Ann Forbes late of the parish of Saint Olave within the borough of Southwark in the co. of Surrey Spinster and Lydia Munro (q.v.) late of the same...Spinster...on the 28the day of October....ten yards of printed Cotton of the value of 20s. of the goods and chattels of James Rollinson in the shop of the said James Rollinson.....feloniously did steal...." (2) "Guilty no chattels to be Hanged. "Reprieved. Transported 7 years. Sent 30 April 1787." (1) Appears in Ross's Returns, p. 328. References: (1) P.R.O. Assizes 31/15, p. 51, no. 20; (2) P.R.O. Assizes, 35/227, no. 20. (Source: The Crimes of the First Fleet Convicts by John COBLEY, 1970.)

Ann FORBES was tried at Kingston upon Thames, Surrey on 5 April, 1787 for stealing material with a value of 20 shillings. She was sentenced to transportation for 7 years having been originally sentenced to death, and left England on the 'Prince of Wales' aged about 19 at that time (May 1787). She had no occupation recorded. She died 29 December 1851. Notes: Partner in the original crime was Lydia Munro. (Source: )

Ann Forbes lived in the Parish of St. Olave, within the Borough of Southwark, County of Surrey. In April, 1787 when she was about fifteen (15) years old she was charged with stealing a length of cotton material whilst accompanied by Lydia Munro, who was also charged. She was tried at the Surrey Lent Assizes and found guilty. She was sentenced to be hanged but this was changed to transportation for seven (7) years. She sailed on the "Prince of Wales" with the First Fleet and arrived in the Colony, apparently healthy and in good condition. She was listed as a Government servant and would have been assigned work in this capacity. She became associated with George Bannister, bearing a child to him in 1789. The child was baptised Sarah Bannister. Ann, with others, was despatched to Norfolk Island, in 1790 aboard the "Sirius". This was the occasion when the "Sirius" was wrecked. Ann met with William Dring on Norfold Island and was married to him. They had two children and then the family returned to Sydney Town on the "Daedulus" in 1794 and a son was born to them on 20 August, 1796. Nothing more is known of William Dring and the connection seems to end there, nothing is known of Dring or the Son, Charles. Ann met and married Thomas Huxley, alias Jones, a convict who had arrived in the Colony with the Third Fleet. He was given a grant of land in the Hawkesbury district under the name of Jones, and he became a farmer. The family lived here and Ann and Thomas had eight (8) children. The land was located in Lower Portland near the junction of the Colo River. It was not good farming land but the family became self-sufficient.

Ann died on the 29 December, 1851 and at the time of her death she had been the oldest person in the Colony who had arrived with the First Fleet, and who had died in Australia. She is buried in the Cemetery at Sackville Reach. (Source: A register of the descendants of the 1st Fleet living in the Sutherland Shire; 1988)

The journal of Philip Gidley King: Lieutenant, R.N. 1787-1790 describes the arrival of His Majesties Ship Sirius and Supply to Norfolk Island on Saturday, 13 March, 1790. The following days describes strong gales present and the ships having difficulties unloading until 12 noon on Friday, 19 March, 1790, when the Sirius struck a reef and stuck fast. On Monday, 22 March, 1790, John Branagan and William Dring swam out to the Sirius to free livestock, failed to return, got drunk on board and set fire (accidently) to the ship. Tuesday, 23 March, 1790, Branagan and Dring were taken into custody to be tried for setting fire to the ship. Wednesday, 24 March, 1790, King set sail for Port Jackson on board Supply and describes the last appearance of the wreck Sirius.

Ann Forbes, late of St Olave's parish in Southwark, was sentenced to death on 2 April 1787 at Kingston, Surrey, with Lydia Munro, for the theft of ten yards of printed cotton. On 17 April she was reprieved to transportation for seven years and on the 17th she was sent from the New Gaol at Southwark where she was held, to Newgate for dispatch with a group of Newgate women to Portsmouth and embarkation on 'Prince of Wales' on 3 May, 1787. Little is heard of her at Port Jackson until the baptism of her daughter Sarah by George Bannister on 15 November 1789. When she was sent to Norfolk Island by 'Sirius' on 4 March 1790 the child did nt accompany her. Bannister also went on this voyage. On the Island she was with William Dring as his wife at mid June 1794 (Lieutenant GovernorP.G. Kingwrites that Dring had two children in January 1794. Ann was subject to the enticement os soldiers from the NSW Corps, which caused much trouble for Dring). Both Dring and Ann Forbes left Norfolk Island by 'Daedalus' in November 1794. A daughter, Elizabeth, had been born on 30 August, that year. Another son, Charles, by Dring, was born in Sydney on 20 August, 1796. On 24 August 1798 a daughter, Jane Forbes, was born to Ann Dring and Thomas Jones (or Huckles (Huxley), 'Salamander', 1791). No marriage is recorded for Ann and Thomas, but eight more children were born to the couple, Thomas (12 April 1804), Ann (1805) both at Windsor, followed by James (1809), Samuel (1811), John (1813), Hester (1817) and Sophia (1818). Another child Charlotte seems to have been born in 1802. In 1828 Huxley was shown with four children and wife Ann: James and Thomas were entered separately, haveing left the family farm of 100 acres at Port Macquarie. Ann died as Ann Huxley, wife of Thomas, on 29 December 1851 at Lower Portland Head (Sackville Reach), age given as 83. Thomas died on 4 July 1854, age said to be 85, at Richmond Bottoms. (Source: The Founders of Australia - A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet by Mollie Gillen; 1989)

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Ann Forbes late of St Clave's parish in Southwark, was sentenced to death on April 1787 at Kingston, Surrey, with Lydia Munro for theft of ten yards of printed cotton. On 17 April she was reprieved to transportation for seven years and on the 17th she was sent from the New goal at Southwark where was held to Newgate for dispatch with a group of Newgate women to Portsmouth and embarkation on Prince of Wales on 3 May. Little is heard of her at Port Jackson until the baptism of her daughter Sarah by George Bannister on 15 November 1789. When she was sent to Norfolk Island by Sirius on 4 March 1790 the child did not accompany her. Bannister also went on this voyage. On the island she was with William Dring as his wife at mid June 1794 (Lieutenant Governor P.G.King writes that Dring had two children in January 1794. Ann was subject to the enticement of soldiers for the NSW Corps, which cause much trouble for Dring.) Both Dring and Ann Forbes left Norfolk Island by Daedalus in November 1794. A daughter Elizabeth had been born on 30 August 1796. On 24 august 1798, a daughter, Jane Forbes, was born to Ann Dring and Thomas Jones (or Huckles(Huxley), Salamander 1791. No marriage is recorded for Ann and Thomas, but eight more children were born to the couple, Thomas,12/4/1804, Ann 1809, both at Windsor, followed by James 1809, Samuel 1811, John 1813, Hester 1817, and Sophia 1818. Another child Charlotte seems to have been born in 1802. In 1828 Huxley was shown with four children and wife Ann, James and Thomas were entered separately having left the family farm of 100 acres at Port Macquarie. Ann died as Ann Huxley, wife of Thomas, on 29 December, 1851 at Lower Portland Head (Sackville Reach), age given as 83, Thomas died on 4 July, 1854, age said to be 85, at Richmond Bottoms.

The Roslyn MarieTaylor(nee Jones) Family Tree, Australia http://www.genealogy.com/users/t/a/y/Roslyn-Taylornee-jones/?Welcome=1053436287

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THE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA INC.

INDEXES TO THE NEW SOUTH WALES CONVICT INDENTS AND SHIPS

Name:FORBES ANN Ship: PRINCE OF WALES Arrival Date: 26 JAN 1788 Fiche No.: 618 Page No.: 049 Film: 392 Shelf No.: 4/4003A Notes:

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The Prince Of Wales 1788

This ship carried only one male convict and 49 female convicts. She was of 350 tons and skippered by Master John Mason. Built at the Thames in 1786. She operated in England until 1797 when her registration was transferred to Fort Royal, Martinique, after which, little is known.

REFERENCE: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~firstff/ships.htm

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Ticket of leave, emancipation and pardon records, 1810-19

http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/

Surname: FORBES FirstName: Anne Date: 1/04/1810 Type of Record: Certificate of Emancipation Page: 486-87 Item: [4/4427] COD: COD18 Reel: 601 Remarks: -

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Book on Ann Forbes

Title statement Transported to paradise / a genealogy of Ann Forbes / Douglas R. Huxley. < Main entry - Personal name Huxley, Douglas R. International Standard Book Number (ISB 0646035282 Dewey Decimal Call Number 929.20994 FOR Publication , distribution etc. (Imprin New Lambton, NSW : D. R. Huxley, 1991? Physical description 2 v. General note Available from D. R. Huxley, 153 Russell Road, New Lambton NSW 2305, reply paid card 22/2/91.

Father: John Forbes b: 4 Feb 1745 in Shoreditch, London, England, UK. c: 17 Mar 1745 in St Leonard Shoreditch, London, England, UK. Mother: Living

Marriage 1 George Bannister b: 1768 in London, Middlesex, England, UK. Married: 1788 in Sydney Cove, N.S.W., AU 2 Change Date: 25 Apr 2005 Children Has No Children Sarah Bannister b: 15 Nov 1789 in Sydney Cove, N.S.W., AU

Marriage 2 William Dring b: Abt 1767 in South Shieds, Durham, England, UK c: 28 Dec 1767 in South Shieds, Durham, England, UK Married: 5 Nov 1791 in Norfolk Island, N.S.W., AU 4 Change Date: 16 Feb 2012 Children Has No Children Anne Dring b: 1792 in Norfolk Island, N.S.W., AU Has Children Ann Dring b: 30 Oct 1792 in Norfolk Island, N.S.W., AU Has Children Elizabeth Dring b: 30 Aug 1794 in Norfolk Island, N.S.W., AU c: 17 Dec 1794 in St Phillip's Church, Sydney, N.S.W., AU. Has No Children Charles Dring b: 20 Aug 1796 in Sydney, N.S.W., AU. c: 1796 in St Phillip's Church, Sydney, N.S.W., AU.

Marriage 3 Spouse Unknown Married: Event: Sydney NSW Australia Partners Abt 1798 1 Change Date: 12 Jun 2006

Marriage 4 Spouse Unknown Married: Event: Sydney Cove,NSW,Aus Partners 1 Change Date: 12 Jun 2006

Marriage 5 Thomas Huxley b: Abt 1768 in Middlesex, England, UK. Married: 1798 2 Change Date: 2 Jun 2005 Children Has Children Jane F. Huxley b: 24 Aug 1798 in Lower Portland Head, N.S.W., AU. Has No Children Thomas Huxley b: 12 Apr 1801 in Lower Portland Head, N.S.W., AU. Has Children Charlotte Huxley b: Abt 1802 in Lower Portland Head, N.S.W., AU. Has Children Thomas Huxley b: 12 Apr 1804 in Lower Portland Head, N.S.W., AU. Has Children Ann Huxley b: 14 Dec 1805 in Lower Portland Head, N.S.W., AU. Has No Children James Huxley b: 28 Feb 1809 in Lower Portland Head, N.S.W., AU. Has No Children Samuel Huxley b: 9 Jul 1811 in Lower Portland Head, N.S.W., AU. Has No Children John Richard Huxley b: 9 Jun 1813 in Lower Portland Head, N.S.W., AU. Has No Children Esther Huxley b: 1 Jan 1817 in Lower Portland Head, N.S.W., AU. Has No Children Sophia Huxley b: 4 Jul 1818 in Lower Portland Head, N.S.W., AU.

Sources: 1.Media: *.ged file Abbrev: Roslyn Taylor (nee Jones) Family Tree Title: Roslyn Taylor (nee Jones) Family Tree Author: Ellen Dawes Publication: http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GED&db=ros&id=I00017 Date: 31 Jan 2005

2.Media: Genealogical Internet Site Abbrev: Descendants of William Dring (WebPage) Title: Descendants of William Dring (WebPage) Author: http://biddykuo.home.comcast.net/Dring/DringWilliam1.htm#Generation1 Date: accessed 2005

3.Media: Genealogical Internet Site Abbrev: London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 Title: London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 Author: Ancestry.co.uk Publication: London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 Date: 1538-1812

4.Media: CDROM Abbrev: New South Wales Pioneers index 1788-1888 Title: New South Wales Pioneers index 1788-1888 Author: Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, N.S.W., N.S.W. State Government. Publication: New South Wales Pioneers index 1788-1888 All birth, Marriage & Death indexes from 1788 to 1888 Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, N.S.W., N.S.W. State Government. Date: Jun 1994

5.Media: Genealogical Internet Site Abbrev: The Roslyn MarieTaylor(nee Jones) Family Tree, Australia Title: The Roslyn MarieTaylor(nee Jones) Family Tree, Australia http://www.genealogy.com/users/t/a/y/Roslyn-Taylornee-jones/?Welcome=1053436287 Author: http://www.genealogy.com/users/t/a/y/Roslyn-Taylornee-jones/?Welcome=1053436287 Publication: Web Page describing Ann Forbes life Date: accessed 2005

6.Media: Convict details Index Abbrev: THE CONVICTS TO PORT JACKSON 1788 - 1842 Title: THE CONVICTS TO PORT JACKSON 1788 - 1842 Author: Indexed by Lesley Uebel Publication: This Index contains a list of the convicts who arrived at Port Jackson between 1788 & 1842. The information was obtained primarily by transcribing the microfiche copies of the Archives Office Convict Indentures, Numbers: 614 through 744. Date: 2000

7.Media: Book Abbrev: The Crimes of the First Fleet Convicts Title: The Crimes of the First Fleet Convicts Author: John COBLEY Publication: The Crimes of the First Fleet Convicts, John COBLEY, 1970 Published Angus & Robertson Publishers Date: 1970

8.Media: Book Abbrev: The Founders of Australia - A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet Title: The Founders of Australia - A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet Author: Mollie Gillen Date: 1989

9.Media: NSW State Records Index Abbrev: Index to Ticket of leave, emancipation and pardon records, 1810-19 Title: Ticket of leave, emancipation and pardon records, 1810-19 State Records NSW http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/ Author: State Records NSW http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/ Date: 1810-1819

Tried on Thursday morning 5th April 1787 at the Surrey Lent Assizes.

Ann Forbes, late of the Parish of St Olave within the Borough of Southwark in the county of Surrey, Spinster, and Lydia Munro, late of the same, Spinster, on the 28th day of October in the 27th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George 3rd ‎( ie 1786)‎ with force and arms at the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid, ten yards of printed Cotton of the value of 20 shillings of the goods and chattels of James Rollinson in the shop of the said James Rollinson then and there being found privately and feloniously , did steal take and carry away against the peace of our Lord the King, his Crown and his Dignity.

She was found Guilty, No Chattels, To be hanged. Later reprieved, being sentenced to transportation.

She arrived in Sydney on the First Fleet ship the Prince of Wales.

She was buried at St Thomas C of E Cemetery at Sackville on 31st December, 1851.

She was the last of the First Fleet convicts to die in NSW (although this is disputed elsewhere).