The

Simon Moulds and William Presnall's offences.

Tried at Essex Chelmsford Lent Assizes on 8 March, 1797. Tried with William Presnall. Assize records from Public Record Office (Ass 135/237 pt. 1 1p/386) labourers from the parish of Plaistow, County of Essex.

"on the Eighth day of February in the Thirty Seventh Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, King of Great Britain, with force and arms at the parish aforesaid one Mare of the Price of Ten Pounds of the Goods and Chattels of John Que then and there being found feloniously did steal take and lead away against the peace of our said Lord and King his Crown and Dignity."

Also, 1796:

"William Presnell....and Simon Moulds, late of the same, Labourer, on the sixteenth day of August, in the thirty sixth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third King of Great Britain with force and arms at the parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid one cow of the price of ..pounds and one heifer the price of ..pounds...goods and chattels of Joseph Osborne...."

" Committed 13th September, 1796, by Thomas Barnard Esq. charged upon the oaths of John Hicks and others for feloniously stealing one cow calf to the value of thirty shillings the Goods and Chattels of Elizabeth Hicks- Simon Moulds charged upon the oath of John Bonnott and others for feloniously stealing one Heifer of the value of Seven Pounds the Goods and Chattels of the said John Bonnott".

Sentenced to life.

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Another summary of the same three and an additional offence:

1. The Jurors for our Lord the King upon their Oaths present that WILLIAM PRESNALL late of the Parish of Plaistow in the County of Essex Labourer and SIMON MOULDS late of the same Parish Labourer on the eighth Day of February in the 37th Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George III King of Great Britain etc. with force and arms in the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid one Mare of the Price of £10 of the Goods and Chattels of JOHN GUE then and there being found feloniously did steal take and lead away against the peace of our said Lord the King his Crown and Dignity

2. This is an Indictment of the same couple for the theft of one cow, value £11, and one heifer, value £7, belonging to JOSEPH OSBORNE, on 13th August 1796. They are said to be late of the Parish of Westham, and the Indictment is headed "Puts himself. Jury say Guilty. No Goods. To be Hanged by the Neck until he be dead".

3. In this Indictment the same couple are accused of stealing a heifer, value £7, from JOHN BENNETT on the 12th August 1796. They are said to be late of the Parish of Little Ilford.

4. This time they stole one calf, value 30/-, the property of ELIZABETH HICKS on

1st August 1796, and are said to be late of the Parish of Chingford.

Both Simon and William were sent to Port Jackson on the BARWELL which left Portsmouth on 7.11.1897 and arrived on 18.5.1798.

The Barwell's indenture:

SHIP'S INDENTURE:
This indenture made the twenty second day of September in the thirty seventh year of the reign of Our Sovereign Lord George by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven Between Thomas Shelton of the Sofrion House in the City of London Esquire of the one part and Edward Redman of Howly down Lane in the County of Surrey Mariner Master or Commander of the ship Barwell in the River Thames bound to New South Wales of the other part.Whereas at the General Session of the Delivery of the Gaol of the Year of Our Lord the King of the County of Essex holden at Chelmsford in and for the said County on the eleventh day of March in the thirty fifth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third King of Great Britain etc Abraham Moors and William Anderson were convicted of felony severally ordered to be transported beyond the Seas for the term of seven years to such places as his Majesty with advice of his Privy Council should think fit to declare and appoint. And Whowas at the General Session of the delivery of the said Gaol holden at Chelmsford aforesaid in and for the County of aforesaid on the thirteenth day of July in the thirty sixth year of the reign of our said Lord the King Samuel Rowley and James Allon otherwise Allondor were convicted of felony and were severally ordered to be transported beyond the seas for the term of seven years to such places as his Majesty with the advice of his Privy Council should think fit to declare and appoint. And Whowas by an order made by the Kings most Excellent Majesty in Council bearing the date at the Court at Saint James's the twentieth day of September instant-reciting the power and authority given to his Majesty in this behalf in and by a certain Act of Parliament made and passed in the twenty fourth year of His Majesty's reign His Majesty did judge fit by and with the advice of His Privy Council to declare and appoint the place to which the several beforenamed offenders should be transported for the time or terms in their respective sentences mentioned should be the Eastern Coast of New South Wales or some one or other of the Islands adjacent. And Whowas at the General Session of the Delivery of the said Gaol holden at Chelmsford aforesaid in and for the County aforesaid on the twenty third day of July in the thirty second year of the reign of our said Lord the King James Hill and William Barron were convicted of felony for which they were eccluded the benefit of clergy but His Majesty having been graciously pleased to extend his Royal Mercy to them upon Condition of their being transported to the Eastern Coast of New South Wales or some one or other of Islands adjacent for and during the term of fourten years which being signified in writing by one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State they were ordered to be transported accordinginly And Whereas at the General Session of the Delivery of the said Gaol holden at Chelmsford aforesaid on the said seventh day of March in the thirty fifth year aforesaid John Thorogood was convicted of felony for which he was excluded the benfit of Clergy but His Majesty having been graciously pleased to extend His Royal mercy to him on Condition of his being transported to the Eastern Coast of New South Wales or some one or other of the Islands adjacent for and during the term of his natural life which being signified in writing by one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State he was ordered to be transported accordingly And Whereas at the General session of the Delivery of the said Gaol holden at Chelmsford aforesaid in and for the County aforesaid on the nineth day of March in the thirthy sixth year aforesaid Edward Perry and William Tiney were convicted of felony for which they were excluded the benefit of Clergy but His Majesty having been graciously pleased to extend His Royal mercy unto them Upon Condition of their being severally transported to the Eastern Coast of New South Wales or some one or other of the Islands adjacent for and during the term of seven years which being signified in writing by one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State they were ordered to be transported accordingly And Whereas at the General Session of the Delivery at the said Gaol holden at Chelmsford aforesaid in and for the County aforesaid on the thirteenth day of July in the thirty sixth year aforesaid Samuel B(D)unt was convicted of felony for which he was excluded the benefit of Clergy but His Majesty having been graciously pleased to extend His Royal mercy to him Upon Condition of his being transported to the Eastern Coast of New South Wales or some one or other of the Islands adjacent for and during the term of his natural life which being signified in writing by one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State he was ordered to be transported accordingly And Whereas at the General Session of the Delivery of the said Gaol holden at Chelmsford aforesaid in and for the County aforesaid on the eighth day of March in the thirty seventh year of the reign of our said Lord the King William Presnall Simon Moulds Edward Sewell the younger William Williams Joseph Smith James Race and James Greenaway were convicted of felony for which they were excluded the benefit of Clergy but His Majesty having been graciously pleased to extend His Royal Mercy to them upon Condition of their being transported to the Eastern Coast of New South Wales or some one or other of the Islands adjacent for and during their respective Terms following (that is to say the said William Presnall and Simon Moulds and Edward Sewell for the term of their natural lives and the said William Williams Joseph Smith James Race and James Greenaway for the terms of seven years which being signified in writing by one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State they were severally ordered to be transported accordingly. And Whereas His Majesty by His Royal Sign Manual bearing dates at His court at Saint James's the seveneenth day of July last reciting the Power and authority given to His Majesty in this behalf in and by a certain Act of Parliament made and passed in the twenty eightth year of his reign has been pleased to give orders for the Transportation of all the several beforenamed offenders and has graciously thought fit to authorize and impower the abovenamed Thomas Shelton to make a Contract or Contracts with any fit person or persons for the effectual Transportation of the said offenders and to take Security from the person or persons so contracting for the effectual Transportation of them pursuant to the Sentences and orders aforesaid concerning them respectively Now this indenture witnofsoth that the said Thomas Shelton by virtue of such power and authority and in consideration of the Contract and Agreement of the said Edward Redman hereinaforementioned and of the Security given by him the said Edward Redman by bond or writing obligatory bearing over date with those present for the effectual performance thereof Hath contracted and by those present doth contract with the said Edward Redman (he being a fit person) for the performance of the Transportation of the beforenamed offenders And the said Edward Redman and his assigns will have the service of the offenders for and during the remainder of such terms and for d.... other good Causes and valuable considerations him thereunto moving Hath covenented contracted and agreed and by those present for himself his Executors Administrators and Assigns Doth covenant contract and agree to and with the said Thomas Shelton in manner following that is to say the said Edward Rodman his Executors Administrators or Assigns shall and will forthwith take and receive all the aforenamed offenders and transport them or cause them to be transported effectually as soon as conveniently may be to the Eastern Coast of New South Wales or one or other of the Islands adjacent pursuant to the Sententences and orders aforesaid concerning them respectively and shall and will procure such Evidence as the nature of the Case will admit of the landing there of the said offenders (Death and Casualties by Sea excepted) and produce the same to whom it may concern when lawfully called upon and shall not .. will by the wilful default of him the said Edward Redman his Executor Administrator or Assigns suffer the said offenders or any or either of them to return to Great Britain or Ireland during the respective Terms for which they were sentenced to be transported as aforesaid In Witnof whoseof the said parties to those present have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals this day and year-first above written.
Sealed and delivered (being first duly stamped) in the presence of Asst. Ford? Clerk to Mr Shelton
Signed T Shelton and Edward Redman.

Inscribed on margin 17 names: Abr. Moore-7; Wm Anderson-7; Sam. Rowley-7; Ja. Allon-7; Ja. Hill-14; Wm Barron-14; W(?) Thorogood-life; Edw. Perry-7; Wm. Tiney-7; Sam. Dunt(?)-life; Wm Presnall-life; Simon Moulds-life; Edw.Sewell-life; Wm. Williams-7;Jos. Smith-7;? Race-7;Ja. Greenaway-7.

Ann Davis

Simon soon began his relationship with Ann Davis, a convict who had arrived in Australia from Gloucestershire on the Lady Juliana in 1790 at the age of about 16. Ann had had three previous relationships, having had children in all three, she had three young children already and had been blind for a few years when they began their partnership around 1802-1804. They were to have four children, three of them named after Mould family members (Simon b 29.3.1805, Susannah b 10.9.1808 and Charlotte b 1.4.1811) the fourth being John b 29.3.1814. For no obvious reason Simon and Ann waited until 21.2.1820 before being married at St Johns, Parramatta.They were to remain together throughout their lives.

Simon in Australia, records and references:

1806 Muster, employed as a stock keeper and living at Parramatta.

By 1810 appeared to own sheep as he was included in a group of 38 people who were invited to the Commissary's office on 14th July, that if they

"make application at this office on Monday, 16th July, inst, they will receive an order for such quantities of cloth as they may be entitled to on account of wool delivered at the factory at Parramatta" (Historical Records of NSW vol 7, p395.)

Notation in Hassall's day Sales Book (ref A862 p181) that on 21 May, 1810, Simon Moulds received Mrs Marsden's order for 5 pounds, 6 shillings.(Library of NSW)

Emancipation: Ref (A.O. NSW ref 4/1848, Reel 1227 p.244).

1812 Petition" to his Excellency, Lachlan Macquarie Esquire,Captain general and Governor- in -Chief, in and ever his Majesty's .... in New South Wales

The humble petition of Simon Moulds, Toongabbee? most humbly showeth:

That your Excellency's petitioner came to this colony on the ship Barwell under sentence of Life, and since his Arrival has served as a Stock-keeper to this period now thirteen years; in which capacity he has ever strove to every part of duty with Alacrity ? and Zeal? to the full satisfaction of the gentlemen under whom he has Acted.

That your Excellency's petitioner flatters himself hereby, that his general Conduct and unremitting Attention to his duty since in this Colony will ( being conscious of your Excellency's benign goodness) be instrumental in obtaining the prayer of his petition:

Your Excellency's petitioner therefore Most Sincerely implores, that in consideration to his general good Character and long Servitude, he may be considered as an Object worthy of Emancipation, for which gracious protection of your Excellency's goodness, himself, Wife and five Children will consider themselves under the Strictest type of Gratitude, and in duty bound to pray"

Reference for Character

? Jamieson Superintendent

Hock?

Notation by Lachlan MacQuarie that "the petitioner will receive emancipation in January 1813,in case he continues to conduct himself properly" , dated, 25th May, 1812.

Conditional Pardon No 241,granted, 31.1.1813, delivered 22.2.1813. Register of Pardons and Tickets of Leave vol.1 p. 206 (4/4427 COD 1 8)

Muster of 1814 noted Simon Moulds was a labourer.

.Census: 1814 Parramatta, NSW

Note: He is shown as a labourer living free and independant of Government stores.

Petition to Governor Macquarie, 12 May, 1820 (AO NSW ref 4/1825, Reel 1068) he stated he was a free man with a wife and four children and residing on purchased land at Toongabee, Simon received a further grant of fifty acres at what was then known as the district of Bathurst. The petition further stated that he was following agricultural pursuits and that he had "thirteen head of horned cattle and sixty sheep"

This land, granted 5 April, 1821, was on the west side of the road now called Old Windsor Road, within the now portion 60, Parish Gidley , County of Cumberland, ultimately re-acquired by the government under the Closer Settlement Promotion Scheme. The grant was described as," Bounded on the South Side by Gray and Bland farms bearing West 41 chains 40 links on the West by Doyles farm bearing North 15 chains 20 links on the North by an East line to the Seven Hills Road and on the North East by that Road."

In 1821, in the J T Bigge Report, Appendix p. 5509, Mitchell Library, Simon was included in a list of people who resided at Parramatta, this land was the 30 acres he had purchased.

On 13 November, 1821, Simon was amongst a group orded to remove from Government land the whole of their flocks and herds as the land was required for Government use (NSW Colonial Secretary, letters received 1821, 4/1751, p.14 A.O.Reel 2167).

Another petition to Governor Thomas Brisbane (AO NSW ref 4/1831, Reel 1070) made in February 1822, in which Simon referred to the previous 50 acre grant, seven acres of which had been felled, cleared and in cultivation with a dwelling house erected theron, that he had a wife and four children dependent on him; in this petition Simon asked that Himself, wife, family and a government man be victualled on his majesty's stores.

30 June, 1823, Simon Moulds was granted 60 acres of land at Castle Hill by Governor Brisbane. This land is Portion 104, Parish South Colah, County Cumberland.Referred to in the will of Simon Moulds the younger (1065 probate granted 27 November, 1874) that this land grant had been made to his father Simon (the elder) on 30 June, 1823.

Other land grants in the Dural/Galston area made to Simon Moulds.

1822 Census noted Simon was a landholder of Parramatta.

1825 Muster described as landholder of Melville and Bathurst as well. All in the same general Hills area.

1828 Census Simon had total holdings of 170 acres, 154 cleared with 29 cultivated and he possessed 6 horses and 30 cattle.

Became a prominent landholder in vicinity of what is now Parkleigh (Extract from Pioneers of Hornsby Shire.)

Simon's Will

On 5 September 1839, Simon signed his last will in the presence of Lewis H. Campbell, Joseph Huff and Joseph Leahy.

Simon Moulds Will, 2887 Series, Probate Office:
Colony of New South Wales, County of Cumberland to Wit:
This is the last will and Testament of me, Simon Moulds of the Parish of Gidley in the County of Cumberland in the Colony of New South Wales, settler, made and published and declared This fifth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousandeight hundred and thirty nine 1839. Being of sound mind and perfect understanding Doth declare and publish this will to be my sole Act and Deed revoking all other Wills.Imprimius) That after all my funeral and testamentary expenses and all just debts and demands are paid, I, Simon Moulds aforesaid doth by these present. Will and devise all my personal and real Estates lands Houses Stables Goods Chattels Household furniture plate Lin(n)en Money or other effects in manner following. That is to say to my Lawful wife Ann Davis now Mrs Moulds I doth will and devise all my Hereditory Estates such as Land Goods Chattels and all my personal property to have and to hold the same as her rightful Estate with the exception of fifty acres of land my own personal Grant bounded by Tho. Pikes Doyles and Greys and Bryans this farm now described the said Ann Moulds to enjoy possess During the natural term of her life with all the profits arising there from and after the death of my wife this farm of fifty acres now recited to revert to my son John Moulds the said John Moulds to have the Estate or farm only during his life and at the decease of my son John Moulds to be then divided between his sons share and share alike-the said land when divided to be held only during the lives of my grandchildren and so in succession from one generation to another for ever: Secondly that my wife Ann Moulds have this power and authority over all my personal property with the said disposal of the same as the said Ann Moulds may think proper and the said Ann Moulds may will and devise the same with the exception of the fifty acres already mentioned which my son John Moulds is to possess after her death. Be it further expressly understood I Simon Moulds foresaid doth appoint and declare my wife Ann Moulds to be my sole and only Executrix and Administrator to this my last Will and testament doing away and revoking all other former wills or Testamentary documents with ample power and armed with authority to sue all and every person or persons that may be in any wys indebted to me at my decease and apply the same to her own use and behoof as her own lawful property and be it further understood that the power and authority vested at my demise to the said Ann Moulds she may at any time administer to the same. In Testimony to this Will I simon Moulds hath set my hand and seal this fifth day of September in this year 1839 Simon Moulds (L.S.?) Witnesses, Lewis H. Campbell Joseph Huff Joseph Leahy.
15th June 1854 This day upon petition administration with the will annexed of Simon Moulds, deceased, was granted to John Moulds eldest son of Testator. Testator died 17th June 1843. Goods sworn at under 100 pounds. Letters dated the same day.

Headstone Text:

Died 17 June 1843, buried with Ann at St John's Cemetery, Parramatta.

Headstone reads:

Sacred to the memory of Simon Moulds who departed this life 17th of June, 1843, aged 67 yrs.
______________
Farewell dear wife dear
Children adieu I leave this
World and part from you.
Hopen in heaven to meet
Around when Christ shall
Make the trumpet sound.
______________
Also of Ann Moulds who died March 11, 1854 aged 80 yrs

Note: Simon's co-accused, William Presnell, had some success with farming and other commercial interests in Tasmania where he was sent after a stint on Norfolk Island.