Free Settler or Felon
Convict and Colonial History




Colonial Events 1814




In 1814 new Courts with civil jurisdiction were established and presided over by Mr. Justice Bent, the Deputy Judge Advocate

In 1814 the penal settlement at Norfolk Island was closed and Newcastle became the main repository for second time offenders

A Mine shaft was commenced near the hospital in Watt Street, Newcastle although not completed for another three years

January

Schooner 'Governor Hunter', owned by Isaac Nicholls ran aground on a sand beach near Newcastle


January 9

Arrival of Convict ship Wanstead, Master Henry Moore.


January 4

Thomas West who arrived on the Earl Cornwallis in 1801 received a conditional pardon in consideration of his general good conduct and character for sobriety and industry and in having erected a water mill for the grinding of grain at Barcom Glen within two miles of Sydney, being the first water-mill ever erected in the vicinity of Sydney' (Caledonian Mercury 7 November 1814)   


January 23

Apprehension of James Hardy Vaux who was attempting to escape from the colony on the vessel Earl Spencer


January 26

First detachment of 73rd regiment embarked for Ceylon on Earl Spencer


February 7

Arrival in the colony of 46th Regiment under command of Lieutenant - Colonel Molle


February 7

Captain James Wallis of 46th Regiment arrived per General Hewitt. 266 convicts arrived on the General Hewitt including artist Joseph Lycett, architect Francis Greenway and John Smith of Newcastle.   


February

Lieutenant Thomas Thompson of 46th regt., appointed Commandant at Newcastle


March

Road from Sydney to Liverpool opened


March 12

A detachment of the 46th Regiment embarked on board the brig Endeavour for Newcastle to relieve the detachment of 73rd on duty there.


March 26

Head quarters of 73rd Regiment under Lieutenant O'Connell embarked for Ceylon on board General Hewitt


April 7

Convicts Burridge, Styles, Scarr and Pearce Escape from Newcastle Settlement on the Speedwell


April 2

Lieutenant Skottowe publicly commended by Governor Macquarie for his work and conduct at Newcastle penal settlement....

Government and General Orders-
Head Quarters,
Sydney Saturday 2nd April 1814
Lieutenant Skottowe, of the 1st Battalion of the 73rd Regiment, being returned from his late Command of the Settlement of Newcastle, His Excellency the Governor and Commander in Chief takes this Occasion of publicly expressing his entire approbation of the conduct of Lieutenant Skottowe during the time he has acted as Military Commandant, and civil Magistrate of that Station; and requests he will accept his best Thanks for the Activity, Vigilance, Integrity, and zealous Attention he has always manifested in the Discharge of the important Duties of his Office, both in his Civil and Military Capacity, in a Manner so advantageous to the Public Service, and so highly creditable to himself - Sydney Gazette 9 April 1814  


May

Arrival of the convict ship Catherine


May 6

Arrival of convict ship Three Bees - with 210 prisoners on board including Patrick Riley later a Newcastle publican.


May 8

Death of Francis Grose


May 20

Explosion on board Ship Three Bees while moored at the wharf in Sydney


June

Thomas Hobby employed as Coroner for Windsor and also Newcastle


July

Bushrangers Dennis Donovan and Thomas Madden who escaped from Newcastle Penal settlement were captured. Donovan received sentence of death


July 14

William Cox to build a road across the Blue Mountains


July 19

Death of Captain Mathew Flinders in England


July 28

Arrival of the convict ship Surry I. Death toll after typhus fever outbreak totalled 51 comprising 36 convicts, 11 officers and seamen and four soldiers


July 28

Arrival of the convict ship Broxbornebury . Master: Thomas Pitcher.


August 31

Death on the 31st ult., at Bath, Arthur Phillip Esq., Vice-Admiral of the Red, and the first Governor of Botany Bay (Liverpool Mercury 16 September 1814)


October 16

Arrival of the Convict ship Somersetshire. Convict James Clohesy arrived on the Somersetshire


November

Departure of Samuel Marsden for New Zealand.


November 25

Francis Parcello and Walter Preston, by the Guildford; John Cricks by the Archduke Charles; Isaac Walker by the 1st Gambier; John Lee by the 2nd Gambier; and Thomas Desmond by the Atlas absented themselves from the lime burning gang at Newcastle on the 25th of November


December 14

Arrival of Rev. Samuel Marsden at the Bay of Island New Zealand ....In 1813 Rev Marsden formed the New South Wales Society for Affording Protection to the Natives of the South Sea Islands and Promoting their Civilisation, and on 28 November 1814 set out with a party in the brig Active, which he had bought for £1400, to maintain the Maoris' contact with civilization. (ADB Online) Others joining the expedition included Thomas Hansen, free settler, master; Alexander Ross, came free in the Surry, John Hunter, free by birth in NSW; Thomas Hamilton , free by servitude; William Campbell, free by certificate; Warrakee a New Zealander, Tommy, ditto; Dicka-hee, Otaheitan, Punnee, Bolabolan. Passengers William Hall, missionary, Mrs. Dinah Hall, wife of William Hall, William Hall aged 3; Thomas Kendall, missionary, Mrs. Jane Kendall; Thomas Henry and William Kendall children of the above, John King, missionary; Mrs. Hannah King; Philip King aged 15 months; Thomas Hensen junior, son to the master, Mrs. Hannah Hansen wife of the Master; John Liddiard Nicholas, free settlers and eight New Zealanders and Chiefs. The following convicts also joined the expedition - Walter Hall arrived as a prisoner on the Archduke Charles. In 1814 he was given special permission to join a missionary expedition to New Zealand on the condition of Rev. Samuel Marsden giving security that Hall would return to New South Wales within 3 years. Patrick/Henry Shaffery who arrived on the Sugar Cane and Richard Stockwell who arrived on the Earl Spencer were permitted to join the expedition likewise. Narrative of a Voyage to New Zealand: Performed in the Years 1814  By John Liddiard Nicholas      


December 17

Francis Greenway advertising employment as an architect in Sydney