| Name |
John CURTIS |
| Born |
Abt 1749 |
Bristol, England  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Convict |
17 Mar 1795 |
Gloucester, England [1] |
- Convicted at the Lent Assizes in Gloucester for 4 counts of "forging, counterfeiting, coining . . . silver coin of the realm called a sixpence".
in the Gloucester Journal of 8 September 1794:
"Last week was committed to Lawford's Gate, Bridewell, Bristol by Rev Dr Small, John Curtis for coining and counterfeiting silver. He was detected at work in the morning about seven o'clock without Lawford's Gate and his implements seized."
Felix Farley's Bristol Journal and the Gloucester Journal of Monday, 16 March 1795) mentioned that John Curtis was convicted of counterfeiting 4 coins; they all refer to or imply that it was one coin. Most significantly, the judge's submission to King George III explaining why he had commuted John Curtis's mandatory death sentence to a sentence of transportation for life mentions only one coin. It seems most unlikely that the judge would have misled his King on such a point.
|
| Immigration |
02 Jun 1797 |
Sydney Cove, New South Wales, Australia [1] |
- Transported on the "Ganges", leaving August 1796 from England and arriving 2nd June 1797
There were 208 convicts on this ship
|
| Died |
12 Sep 1821 |
Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia |
- From headstone photo at St John's Cemetery, Parramatta
|
| Buried |
Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia [2] |
- St John's Cemetery, Parramatta
|
 |
CURTIS John
Headstone |
| Notes |
- At his trial March 1795 in Gloucester, England, forty five year old accountant, John Curtis, was found guilty of coinage (forging coins) and sent to Portsmouth where he was placed aboard the prison hulk LION to await a ship for the Colony of NSW .
Examination of the judge's submission to the King explaining why the death sentence had been commuted to transportation provides the explanation. The death sentence was commuted on the strict condition that he be transported for life. If he had returned to England in any circumstances, the death sentence would revive and he would be liable to execution if apprehended.
During the 18 months wait, John and the other prisoners aboard THE LION were "employed as health and weather permitted" by instructions from Mr James Bradley and in compliance with the desire of the Master General in Ordinance, in removing mud and gravel raising, sloping and preparing Glacis on Weevil lines near Gosport and other occasional works under the direction of the Engineer appointed to superintend the fortifications at that place. (HULK RETURNS. PRO REEL 3557 AONSW).
On 29th September 1796 John was discharged from the LION, placed aboard the GANGES and sailed via Rio de Janeiro to New South Wales. Arriving at Sydney Town on 2 June 1797 he was sent to the Government Stores and put to work there. John's skills at reading and writing would have been of great benefit at the stores and he worked so well there that three years later he was promoted to an overseer and a numerous stock of cattle placed in his care. (Petition from John Curtis to Governor King - King papers Vol 1 pp 66-69 M.L.)
John Curtis was granted emancipation on 4 June 1802 by Governor King. John petitioned Governor King in 1803 for permission to return to his family in England, unaware that his wife Jane had died in 1800. Despite his good reputation and that Governor Patterson, George Johnston and Rev. Marsden signed his plea John never returned to England.
Separated from his wife Jane and 10 remaining children who lived in the Parish of St Augustin Bristol, he was never to see them again.
John formed an attachment with ANN MORAN but, sadly missing his family and unaware that his wife JANE PURRIER had died in 1800, tried in 1803 to obtain permission to return home to them. Taking up his quill and paper, John wrote in his neat script to the Governor.
John was granted land at Pilgrim Hill in 1810. The Villawood Migrant Hostel in Millers Rd Villawood stands on John Curtis's original estate. By 1821 he owned a house in Parramatta, which he left to his oldest daughter, Betsy, 26 head of cattle and a mare, a 30 acre farm on Sydney Rd, near Haslem's Creek (now Lidcombe), adjoining a grant of 100 acres made to Ann after John's death. This land stayed in the family. Because of John's advanced age,( he was now 72), Ann Curtis set up business for herself. On 21 April 1821 she paid into the Police Fund for 6 months brewing license and a retailing license (Wentworth Papers dip 228).
John wrote his will on May 28th 1821.In his will John Curtis left everything to Ann in trust for his children, Elizabeth, James, John, Peter and Catherine. To his married daughter, Elizabeth Ready he also left 10 head of cattle.
Almost six months later on Wed 12 September 1821 John Curtis died and was laid to rest in the Burial Ground behind St Johns Church in Parramatta.
On Wednesday 12th September 1821 John Curtis died at age 71. He was taken from Parramatta into St Mary's Sydney for his funeral than taken back to Parramatta for burial. John is listed as the first Funeral in the new St Mary's Cathedral and since there was no Catholic Cemetery in Parramatta he was laid to rest in the C of E Cemetery behind St John's Church Parramatta, down by the brick fence well away from the C of E section.
The above information gained from research material sourced by the following:
https://lynnesheritage.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/st-johns-church-parramatta-john-curtis-and-ann-moran/
https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/moranfeagan/ann/130442
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Moran-4037
|
| Person ID |
I24325 |
Rossow-Beitzel |
| Last Modified |
7 May 2020 |
| Family 2 |
Ann MORAN, b. Abt 1767, d. 06 Oct 1832, Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Age ~ 65 years) |
| Married |
16 Aug 1814 |
Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia [3] |
- John Curtis, free age 62 of the parish of St John Parramatta and Ann Mooren, prisoner her Hercules, age 42 were married in this church by banns this 16th day of August on the year 1814 by me Samuel Marsden John Curtis signed the register and Ann Mooren made her X mark in the presence of Christopher Grogan and Margaret Neale who both made their X marks
|
| Children |
| | 1. James CURTIS, b. Abt 1806, New South Wales, Australia , d. 02 Oct 1882, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Age ~ 76 years) |
|
| Last Modified |
7 May 2020 |
| Family ID |
F105290 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Abt 1749 - 1821 (~ 72 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
