Samuel Pyers (abt. 1771 - 1850)

Born about 1771 in Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England

Husband of Sarah Mary (Johnson) Pyers — married 2 Nov 1801 in Norfolk Island, Australia

Descendants

Died 13 Aug 1850 at about age 79 in 'Fairy Point', Ellendale, Van Diemen's Land, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kyle Rayner [send private message]

Biography

Died aged 79 from rheumatism.

He was a farmer.

Buried at: St Peters Anglican Church, Hamilton, Tasmania, Australia

Samuel Pyers, Convict Atlantic 1791 and Sarah Johnson, Convict, Britannia 1798

Samuel Spiers/Piers/Pyers: Born 1771 Clerkenwell, London, England. Crime: Poaching. Tried: Clerkenwell Middlesex, 13 Sept 1790. Sentence: 7 years transportation. He arrived in NSW aboard the Atlantic or the Active 1791. Samuel arrived on Norfolk Island aboard the Atlantic in Aug 1792 and was on rations until the end of Dec 1795.

On Norfolk Island he formed a relationship with Sarah Johnson, born 1779, Middlesex, England. Crime: Stealing. Tried: 25 Oct 1797, Old Bailey London, age 14 years. Sentence: 7 years transportation.[1] Sarah Johnson arrived in NSW aboard the Britannia 1798. Sarah arrived on Norfolk Island sometime before 1800.

They were married 2 Nov 1801 by Rev. Fulton on Norfolk Island. Samuel signed his name whilst Mary marked her name with a X. The witnesses were William Blunt, who signed his name and Joseph Egan who marked his name with a X. Their son Richard was also baptised on the same day be Rev. Fulton.

In Sept 1796, Thomas Crowder leased the 12 acre property on Norfolk Island. This land was transferred 29 April 1799 from James White to Martha Burchett/Burkett and sold on the same day by her to Dennis Geary. Half of the farm again sold on 22 May 1799 by John Cullen to Edward Bisbey (sic). Another transfer in 8 July 1799 from Joseph Saunders to James Ormond. Another (transfer of land ownership) 6 Jan 1804 Thomas Murphy to William Able, and another (transfer) with no date from Joseph Mabery to Samuel Pyers (c1804) [2] Lot 26 today is located north of the Kingston and Arthur Vale Historic area, running east of Middlegate Road Norfolk Island.

In Dec 1796 George Guest was granted 14 acres at Norfolk Island, this land was sold to Richard Plyer by George Guest for £70 on 29 Aug 1803. On the same day, Richard Plyer sold a 4 acre portion of the land to Mary Potter, the remaining 8 acres was sold to Samuel Plyer for £50 on 30 Dec 1803.[3]

1802 Samuel Pyers: Free Man from Sentence Expired, occupation Constable 1802 Sarah Johnson: Female convict, who departed from the stores on 24 Dec 1802 July 1804: Samuel Pyers with one male, one female and two children in household (Richard, Mary and Sarah), with a land grant of six acres (most likely part of Lot 26).[4] 1805 Samuel Pyers: Landholder, Sentence Expired, off stores. 1807: Samuel Pyers 11 acres

Samuel and Sarah with their three children left Norfolk Island for Hobart aboard the City of Edinburgh in Sept 1808 as a Class two landholder holding 10.75 cleared acres. Double storey, shingled boarded, 15 x 11 and Double storey, shingled boarded, 19 x 11. Value £25.

May 1809 River Derwent Muster: New Town with wife and four children.

Samuel received a land grant in Van Diemen’s Land at Black Snake Rivulet as compensation for their land on Norfolk Island which they had to forfeit. Black Snake was later changed to South Bridgewater and is now Granton. [5]

Sarah Pyers died 11 May 1840, Hamilton; Samuel died 13 August 1850 age 79 years. Hamilton. Both are buried at St. Peter’s Hamilton.

Children of Samuel and Mary Pyers

Richard PYERS born 25 Sept 1801, Norfolk Island, baptised2 Nov 1801 Norfolk Island by Rev Fulton. 1808: Norfolk Island to Hobart aboard the City of Edinburgh. He married Jane Osborne, 7 February 1822 Hobart. 1824: Lived at Black Snake Tasmania. In October 1831, with their two children, Richard and Jane moved to Victoria arriving at Port Phillip aboard the Britomart. Richard died 27 Nov 1859 in Adelaide South Australia.

Mary PYER, born 17 Sept 1803, Norfolk Island, baptised. 24 May 1804 by Rev Fulton on Norfolk Island. 1808: Norfolk Island to Hobart aboard the City of Edinburgh. She married George Rayner (born 21 Mar 1795 Norfolk Island, son of William Rayner and Elizabeth Goldsmith), 20 Nov 1819 St David’s Hobart. They settled at Fairydale Point, near Ellendale. George died 12 Oct 1840, Hobart. Mary then married William Spicer. Mary died 7 Dec 1852, New Norfolk.

Sarah Piers PYERS, born late 1804, Norfolk Island. 1808: Norfolk Island to Hobart aboard the City of Edinburgh. She married William Jarvis, 17 Oct 1825 St David’s Hobart. William died 26 Apr 1870, Macquarie Plains. Sarah died 15 July 1892, Tea Tree.

Maria PYERS, born 1808, Hobart. She died 27 March 1812, Black Snake VDL.

Hannah PYERS (SPIRIES), born 22 Apr 1812, Hobart, baptised. 7 Feb 1822 Hobart. Hannah married Joseph Shaw (born 1800, Bradford, Yorkshire England) 17 Nov 1831, New Norfolk. Joseph died 16 Nov 1831 New Norfolk. Hannah the married Charles Gregson, 21 Nov 1842 Hobart. Hannah died 26 Jan 1887, New Town Tasmania.

Samuel PYERS, born 1815, Black Snake, Glenorch. Samuel married Amelia Smyth 20 Mar 1842 Hamilton Tasmania, and after her death in 1854 married Mary Montgomery Cook. Samuel died 19 June 1891, Charlton Victoria, late of Springbank

Susannah PYERS, born 5 Sept 1818, Glenorchy, baptised 7 Feb 1822 Hobart. She married James Cook, 2 Oct 1838, in St Johns, New Town Tasmania. James Cook died Coleraine, Victoria, Susannah died 1901 Portland Victoria.

George PYERS, born 6 Dec 1821, Glenorchy, baptised 7 Feb 1822 Hobart. George married Celia King Carroll (born c1820, Glasgow, Scotland), 17 Nov 1841, Geelong Victoria. She died 18 June 1878, Ballarat, Victoria. George then married Annie Moore, 28 June 1879, in Avoca Victoria. George died 18 Oct 1896, Donald Victoria.

[1] The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Ref: t17971025-9.

[2] Colonial Secretary’s Papers 1788-1825, SANSW, Fiche 3267; 9/2731 p.73.

[3] Colonial Secretary’s Papers 1788-1825, SANSW, Fiche 3267; 9/2731 pp.75, 77, 119.

[4] Report of Settlers on Norfolk Island who may wish to vacate their respective Allotments of Land, in HRA, Series 1, Volume 4, p. 217.

[5] Colonial Secretary’s Papers 1788-1825, SANSW, Fiche 3262; 4/438 p.73 and communications Shauna Hicks, May 2013.

^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Kyle Rayner.

• http://www.australianhistoryresearch.info/muster-of-settlers-and-land-holders-on-norfolk-island-1807/ Text by Cathy Dunn, accessed in 2018. N.B. Link no longer works
• Tas death registration #1850/42
• Graham Website via MyHeritage.com