George Faulkner and Jane Williams, Sutton Forest, 1835

In August 1835 George Faulkner and Jane Williams's names appear in the NSW Register of Convicts' Applications to Marry.

It is the right George Faulkner - transported on the Eliza (2), sentenced to life, and 32 years old. He would turn 33 the following November.

Jane Williams was 22 and free. She had been transported on the Louisa which landed in Sydney on 2 December 1827. A needlewoman, born in London and convicted in Kent, she had been sentenced to seven years. On 3 October 1834 she received her Certificate of Freedom.

The Register of Convict Applications to Marry gives the clergyman's name - which is difficult to make out - but the place is Sutton Forest in the Southern Highlands of NSW. George Faulkner stated that he was single. Jane Williams, however, said that she was married and had one child. Like other applications where one or both parties were already married, the application was not granted.

I wonder if George Faulkner and Jane Williams let the absence of a marriage certificate get in the way.

Distributions from Emu Plains

On 26 November 1822, George Faulkner and other convicts from the Eliza (2) were sent to Emu Plains "for distribution".

Three months later, the first of the Eliza (2) convicts absconds. He is J. Dawson, a fresh-faced 26-year-old from Skipton, and it seems he is not alone. Also missing from Emu Plains are W. Goggerly, J. Sinnot, J. White, Jos. Jones, J. Truelove, Pat. Connelly and W. Bradley. Their names appear toward the end of the list of "prisoners having absented themselves from their usual employment" published in the Sydney Gazette. They have been gone a week. At the top of the list is J. Bailey, a 22-year-old from Wiltshire, who "absented" himself from his employment with J. Pritchard 49 weeks earlier.

NSW State Records, Colonial-Secretary's Correspondence, Reel 6009; 4/3506, p.474
Sydney Gazette, Thursday 27 February 1823, p. 1S

Convict ship Eliza (2)

The Eliza (2) arrived in Sydney on 22 November 1822, after a 125-day voyage from Sheerness.

Her arrival was reported by the Sydney Gazette: "On Friday last arrived from England which she left the 5th of August, the ship Eliza, Captain Hunt. She brings 160 male prisoners, under guard of a detachment of the 3d Regt. (Buffs.), commanded by Captain Innis. The Surgeon Superintendent is Dr. Rae, R. N. Passenger, Mr. Innis." (29 Nov 1822, p.2)

All George Faulkner's fellow convicts survived the voyage. Only one, Joseph Windle, has his brief story recounted on Convict Tales. With his brother Alfred he had been transported for seven years for stealing 48 rolls of ribbon. After the expiry of his sentence he may have returned to England.

Source: Convict ships to New South Wales 1801-1849 at http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/convicts/shipNSW2.html