Send an e-mail to: Amanda TaylorSend an e-mail to: Amanda TaylorA Story of an Early Pioneer Family, Researched and written by present-day members of the Family, themselves.
The following article was compiled by Grace Douglass & researched with Laurel Legge and published in
'Along the Windsor Richmond Road' 1985 (ISBN 0 9589831 0 0 and ISBN 0 9589831 3 5) and is subject to copyright. Written permission is held from the late author Grace Douglass for the writer to publish contents via the Internet. However, although this book is in the public domain, it still remains copyrighted material and may not be copied for any reason without permission. I do not have the right to give permission to others to reprint the book. I was only given permission to put it on line. All copyrights stay with Grace Douglass & Laurel Legge and whoever they appointed, for control of the book. Under no circumstances may it be reprinted for profit.
Extractions of parts of the information for personal use with references to the book as the source is encouraged.
It should be noted that since the book was published over twenty years ago, that a lot of the material in the books have been superseeded by later research, some of which can be seen at my Rootsweb database at Amanda Taylor's Genealogy
Thomas arrived in the Colony on the "Neptune" in 1790 as a convict. He had been tried at Kingston on 22/3/1785 and given a Life Sentence.
On the 6/10/1790 Thomas married Ann Teasdale (or Teasdel) another convict who had arrived on the "Lady Juliana" also in 1790. The couple were married in St.Phillip's Sydney and the witnesses were John Cullen and Charles Stokes. (Thomas married as Thomas Chesher).
Ann Teasdale, alias Hannah Gee had been sentenced on 27th February 1788 for stealing from her employer -- 1 cotton gown, 1 coat, a pair of stays, a printed calico gown, 1 cloth cloak, 1 pair of stiff shoes, 1 line apron and 1 hankie. Ann had claimed that she had been removing them from the room in order to clean it, however, as she had her hat on at the time that she was caught as if in readiness to leave the house, there appeared to be some doubt as to just how far she intended 'removing' them!.
At the time of her marriage Ann already had an infant son possibly born on the voyage to the Colony whose father was James Blake, who was either a soldier or a mariner (records vary). Several weeks after his Mother was married, the infant was baptised James Blake at St.Phillip's Sydney. James was buried in Sydney on the 29th January, 1792.
Thomas and Ann had a Family of four children, two were baptised 'Cheshire", one as 'Chessher' and the other'Cheser' -- Maria Chessher 1/8/1792, George Cheser 1/11/1794, Sophia Cheshire 15/8/1797 and William Cheshire 25/6/1799.
At the time of the 1806 Muster Ann is listed with one daughter and two sons. As we know that Maria lived and married Thomas Markwell then we must assume that the infant Sophia did not survive. She was almost three months old at the time of her baptism and there is no record of her death.
An interesting entry in the 1806 Muster that we have not taken further at this point of time is a 'William Cheshire' in the employ of Thomas who is said to have come on the "Hillsborough" in 1803 as a convict with a Life Sentence. He was about six years younger than Thomas. He is listed in the 1828 Census.
On the 5th September 1795, Thomas received a Grant of 25 acres at Portland Head on the North Shore of the River Hawkesbury. On the 30th June 1803 he received 149 acres in the District of Evan (Penrith).
On 31/1/1815 Thomas received his pardon, however, although it tells us a little more about him, the date of his Trial differs -- "Came on "Neptune" 1790, native place Buckinghamshire, labourer, sentenced at Kingstonbury 23/10/1784, 5' 6" high, complexion dark and sallow, hair black and grey, eyes hazel".
Ann passed away 16th July 1821 and was buried at St. Peter's Richmond and her age given as 47 years. Thomas Cheshire passed away 25/1/1824 and was buried with his wife in the Churchyard and his age given as 63 years. They do not have a headstone. Also buried in the same burial ground is a William Cheshire aged 74 who died 14/8/1842 and is possibly the same one who was employed by Thomas at the time of the 1806 Muster. [note : If Thomas Cheshire was indeed 63 years of age when he passed away on 25 Jan 1824, then he would have apparently been born in about 1761 and not 1751?]
As Thomas was at Portland Head by 1795 according to the record of his Land Grant, and possibly remained there until 1803 when he received the second one, then it is quite likely that Sophia was buried there before a Cemetery was established and that is why there is no record of her death. George lived to adulthood and married and appeas in the 1828 Census, however we have at this time found no further trace of his younger brother William, who does not appear in the Census.
Refer Thomas Markwell and Maria Cheshire for further information).My complete Rootsweb database can be seen at Amanda Taylor's Genealogy
Surname List of my Direct Ancestors Individual Name Index
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Amanda Taylor
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Wheeler Heights NSW 2097 Australia
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