George Faulkner arrives in Sydney

George Faulkner's occupation, when he arrived in Port Jackson (Sydney) on 22 November 1822, was listed as coachsmith. He was 19 years old, five feet three and a half inches tall with black hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

On 18 July 1823 he was assigned as a blacksmith to an Alexander McLeod, of Burwood, who commenced payments to the government for him the same day. A week later, he went to Newcastle on the Fame with McLeod. For some reason - the assignment register is hard to decipher - he was returned to Government service, the barracks in Newcastle, on 4 October 1823.

From where I am in Sydney's west, Burwood is only four stops along the suburban train line.

Convict indents, State Records NSW, (Reel 395)
Convict assignment registers, State Records NSW, Location 4/4520 Page No. 67 Entry 723 (Reel 586)

As good as a photograph

George Faulkner received his ticket of leave on 31 March 1834. On 28 July 1835 it was "surrendered mutilated and cancelled", and a replacement issued.

Tickets of leave contained all the information needed to identify someone: the ship they came on and its master, year and place of birth, trade or calling, the date and place of trial and physical description (height, hair, eye colour and general remarks).

George Faulkner was a blacksmith, in his early thirties, five feet three and a half inches, with dark brown curly hair and grey eyes. He had two cuts on his chin and one on his forehead. He would have had a Manchester accent.

His ticket of leave was as good as a photograph. He had to carry it with him at all times, present it to a constable on demand and report to ticket of leave musters.

After twelve years and three months in New South Wales, he was free to work for himself. The only condition was that he remain in the district of Inverary.

Ticket of Leave 34/1001
Ticket of Leave 35/581