William Prentice of England and Australia

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William Prentice of Essex Co., England and Australia
by Linus Joseph Dewald Jr., Editor
Fall 2000 and Revised: 21 Feb 2011

We are working with Glenda Mason, Jane Walther, Paul Cromption, Debi Roake and Barbara Morrison in identifying the ancestors and descendants of William Prentice, b. c. 1771. What we know so far is set out below:
1. William Prentice was b. c. 1771, perhaps in the vicinity of Black Notley or Halstead. An extract from "The Second Fleet. Britain’s Grim Armada", by Michael Flynn, relates that:
"William Prentice, a butcher aged 17, was sentenced to death at the March 1788 Chelmsford (Essex) Assizes for sheep stealing. He had been accused of several thefts of sheep in the north Essex parishes of Halsted and Black Notley; one involved obtaining sheep by false pretences. After a month under a suspended death sentence he was reprieved to transportation for 14 years and sent to the Portsmouth hulk, "Lion", whence he was embarked on the Scarborough transport on 29 Nov 1789.
"Prentice lived quietly in the colony. In 1801 he was employed at Sydney by the butcher Richard Cheers (or Chear, q.v.). Some time after her arrival on the Experiment in 1804 he began living with Elizabeth Wicker (or Vickers b. c1772, tried Essex). In 1806 he was recorded as a self employed butcher living with Wicker and one child, John (born 1804, fathered by John Halliday, a seaman on the Experiment). Her children by Prentice were: Sarah 1807, Elizabeth 1809, Mary 1812, William Henry 1815, Rosetta 1818 and Charlotte 1821. The couple do not appear to have married and it may have been to ensure her inheritance that William transferred the title of their home at 57 Cumberland Street, Sydney, to Elizabeth in 1813. They were still there in 1820, owning the house in which they lived.
William Prentice died on 2 April 1822, and was buried in the Elizabeth Street Burial Ground (on the site of modern Central Station) where a headstone once stood on which his name was spelt PRENTES. Elizabeth married another butcher, James Cross, in 1828 and lived with him in Cumberland Street. James Cross was buried, aged 60, at St. Phillip's Church Sydney on 29 Jan 1838.
John [son of John Halliday] used the surname Prentice (cf. 1822 muster); Elizabeth Wicker was possibly dead by 1837 when two of her daughters married as minors without the consent of a parent; some details contributed by C. Hope."

William Prentice's common law wife, Elizabeth Wicker, was convicted at Halstead for stealing 30 yards of linen and 3 pairs of black stockings. Elizabeth was sentenced in April, 1803 to 7 years transportation. She was the daughter of Richard Wicker and Sarah Raynor of Halstead, Essex. Sometimes the WICKER was written as VICKER but her certificate of freedon shows Wicker
Elizabeth gained her freedom in 1811, at the same time as Mary Cable who was convicted with Elizabeth.
William Prentice died 4 Apr 1822 and was buried at St. Phillips Church of England in Sydney. No trace of Elizabeth's death has yet been found, and she might have returned to England with her lawful husband, James Cross after he had served his time. However, Barbara Morrison expresses a doubt about Elizabeth returning to England leaving all her family in Australia. After so long away there would have been nothing for her there. No record of her death as Elizabeth Wicker or Cross has yet been found in NSW, but an Ann Cross died aged 56 in 1836. William gave Elizabeth the house and shop. Their children are:

John Prentice born 14 Dec 1804, son of Elizabeth Wicker; his father was a seaman. John probably d. 1859. Along with his sister Rosetta, he was a witness at the wedding of his other sister Charlotte in 1837.
Sarah Prentice, b. 1807, Sydney, NSW. She married Charles Crane in 1823 in St. Phillips C of E, Sydney. Died 1830 in Sydney.
Elizabeth Prentice, b. 14 Sep 1809, Sydney. . . . . . . . [2]
Mary Prentice, b. 1812, Sydney. In 1848 she m. Thomas Bridgenin St. Lawrence's,Sydney. Died 1855.
William Henry Prentice, b. 1815, Sydney. . . . . . . . . . [3]
Rosetta Prentice, b. 1818,Sydney, NSW. In 1837 she m. Alexander John Lees. Died 1905. She is the ancestor of both Glenda Mason and Barbara Morrison. Children:

Elizabeth J Lees was born in 1839 in N.S.W., Australia.
Emma Lees was born in 1853 in N.S.W., Australia.
Andrew Lees- was born in 1856 in OConnell Town
Mary A Lees was born in 1862 in St George District, NSW, Australia.

Charlotte Prentice, b. 1821, Sydney. She m. James Norton in 1837. Died 1875. . . . . . . . . . [4]

2. Elizabeth Prentice, b. 14 Sep 1809, Sydney and d. 13 Jun 1878 in Murrumbah. She m. Thomas Ceeney on 26 Dec 1826. Thomas Ceeney was b. 1798 and d. 25 Sep 1879 in Murrumbah. Originally a Blacksmith in London, England, he was sentenced at Middlesex on 9 Sep 1818 for "Having forged banknotes". He was at that time 21 yrs old, 5ft 5", black hair, hazel eyes and a ruddy complexion. Thomas arrived in Australia on "Baring (2)" on 26 Jun 1819. He received ticket of leave on 6 Apr 1826. In the 1828 census he lived in Cumberland St., Sydney, with his wife and son, William. Thomas'brother in law John Prentice, above, also lived there. Elizabeth and Thomas had 8 children, including: (Ref: Paul Crompton, email, 10 Jul 2002:

George W H Ceeney-[227] was born in 1827 in N.S.W., Australia.
Elizabeth Ceeney-[229] was born in 1830 in N.S.W., Australia.
Sarah Ceeney-[234] was born in 1833 in N.S.W., Australia.
Ambrose A Ceeney-[235] was born in 1836 in N.S.W., Australia.
William Ceeney-[236] was born in 1838 in N.S.W., Australia.

3. William Henry Prentice, b. 1815, Sydney and died on 30 Dec1882 in Druitt Town (now know as South Strathfield), N.S.W, Australia at age 67..
He m. Rachel Ikin on 22 Aug 1837 in St James COE Sydney NSW Australia.daughter of William Ikin (see Fn. 2, below) and Mary T Longford. Rachel was born on 24 Apr 1816 in Chelsea, London, England, christened on 27 Oct 1816 in Sydney , NSW, Australia, died on 24 Aug 1913 in Strathfield, NSW, Australia at age 97,and was buried on 24 Aug 1913 in St Thomas' Cemetary, Enfield, N.S.W, Australia.. For information provided by Debi Roake, Grahame Thom and Margaret Miller about Rachel's grandfather, Obadiah Ikin, see Footnote 2. William and Rachel had 1 or more children, including:

William Henry Prentice, b. 6 Jul 1838, Sydney, New South Wales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [3.1]
Edward Prentice, b. 30 Jun 1840 Bankstown, New South Wales, was christened on 8 Nov 1840 in Petersham Nsw, and died on 31 Jan 1908 in Burwood, NSW, Australia at age 67. He m. 1st Catherine E Spencer in 1862 at Sydney. He m. 2nd Susan Martineer in 1872 at Sydney. Susan was b. 1850 in NSW, Australia and died on 26 Jan 1932 in Sydney , NSW, Australia about age 82. Children of Edward and Susan (per IGI):

Edith Prentice, b. 1873, Sydney.
Susan E Prentice, b. 1875, Sydney.
Edward Justin Prentice, b. 1877, Sydney or Concord and d. 1941, Burwood at age 64.
Florence/Florre Prentice, b. 1880, Sydney or Concordand died on 4 Mar 1883 in Sydney , NSW, Australia at age 3.
Weston C. Prentice, 1882, Sydney or Burwood.
Alma P. Prentice, b. 1884, Sydney or Cantebury. Alma married Alexander F Anderson in 1913 in Sydney, NSW, Australia. Alexander F Anderson died in 1933 in Mayfield.
Warden Prentice, b. 1886, Sydney. He m. Una M N Wickham in 1913 in Randwick, NSW, Australia.
Harry Claude Prentice, b. 1888, Sydney or Burwood. He m. Clara "Clare" Allman in 1914 in Randwick. Son:

Ronald Edward Prentice was born in 1916 in Homebush, Nsw, Australia and d. c. 1995 in Campbelltown, NSW, Australia about age 69. He m. Dulcie Merle Bickle, daughter of Frederick James Bickle and Alice Fakes, on 5 Apr 1941 in St Jude COE Randwick NSW, Australia. Dulcie was born on 15 May 1914 in Glen Innes, NSW, Australia and died in Oct 1988 in Campbelltown, NSW, Australia at age 74.

Bruce Richard Prentice. He m. Barbara Ann Lovejoy.

Debora "Debi" Ann Prentice. She m. Jeremy Edward Roark on 22 Apr 1967 in Christchurch, NZ (per her email of 7 Mar 2005 and 13 Mar 2005)

Annette Clare Prentice, b. 2 Apr 1948. She m. Frederick "Bill" Vernon. Daughter:

Cassandra Vernon.

Archibald/Archie William Prentice, b. 1890, Sydney or Burwood, NSW.
Clarence Prentice, b. 1892, Sydney or Burwood, NSW.
Vida Prentice, b. 1894, Burwood, NSW, Australia. She m. Thomas B Maccauley, son of Samuel Maccauley and Ellen, in 1924 in Sydney , NSW, Australia. Thomas was born in 1894 in Marrickville, NSW, Australia.

Jane Prentice, b. 21 Nov. 1842 Bankstown, New South Wales. Christened on 8 Jan 1843 in Petersham Nsw,and died in 1919 in Burwood, NSW, Australia at age 77.She m. John Ashton in 1869, Sydney. John was born about 1840 in Sydney , NSW, Australia. Children (per IGI):

Lucy Ashton, b. 1870, Sydney.
Sydney Ashton, b. 1871, Sydney.
Jane Alice Ashton, b. 1873, Sydney.
Eveline Caroline Ashton, b. 1875, Sydney.
Tessie Ashton, b. 1877, Sydney.
Henry Ashton, b. 1879, Sydney.
Leslie William Ashton, b. 1880, Sydney.
Roland John Ashton, b. 1883, Sydney

George Prentice, b. 22 Jun 1845 Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia and d. there 9 Jul 1845.
Joshua John Prentice, b. 23 Jul 1846 Ashfield and d. 6 May 1851.
Emily Prentice, b. 1 Feb 1850 Enfield, New South Wales and d. there 4 Mar 1883.
Caroline Prentice, b. 29 Oct 1852 Enfield, New South Wales, was christened on 19 Dec 1852 in Enfield, NSW, Australia,and died in 1927 in Auburn, NSW, Australia at age 75. She m. Robert Armstrong in 1886 in Cantebury NSW Australia. Robert was born about 1850. Children:

Milford Armstrongwas born in 1887 in Central Cumberland, NSW, Australia.
Caroline Armstrong was born in 1889 in Central Cumberland, NSW, Australia and died in 1890 in Granville, NSW, Australia at age 1.
William Armstrong was born in 1893 in Granville, NSW, Australia.

Frederick Prentice, b. 1855 Sydney, New South Wales. He m. Mary Agness Ryan in 1876. Children (per IGI):

Arthur F. Prentice, b. 1877, Sydney, Liverpool, New South Wales. He m. Henrietta F. Blair in 1899 in Burwood, NSW. They had 1 or more children, including (per NSW BMD):

Jack A. Prentice, b. 1899, Burwood, NSW. He m. Dorothy Tummeth in 1922 in Burwood, NSW (per NSW BMD).

Caroline Elizabeth Prentice, b. 1878, Sydney, New South Wales. She m. Robert Armstrong 1886, Sydney. Children (per IGI):

Milford Armstrong, b. 1887, Sydney.
Caroline Armstrong, b. 1889, Sydney.
William Armstrong, b. 1893, Sydney

Rowland Norman Prentice, b. 1880, Sydney, New South Wales. No marriage or children in IGI.
Joshua W. Prentice, b. 1882, Sydney, New South Wales. He m. Emma A. Williams in 1907 in Sydney, NSW (per NSW BMD).
Mabel Isabelle Prentice, b. 13 Sep 1885, Strathfield, New South Wales, and d. 7 Jun 1969 in Burwood, NSW. She m. Silas James Keen on 15 Dec 1908, Leichhardt, NSW. He was b. 18 Sep 1882, Homebush, NSW, and d. 17 Apr 1947, Burwood, NSW. Children:

Living Keen, son
Living Keen, dau.
Jack Silas Keen, b. 1909 in Burwood, NSW.
Bradbury Keen, b. 1912 in Burwood, NSW.

Cecil Prentice, b. 1886, Sydney, New South Wales. He might be the Cecil Prentice shown in NSW BMD who m. Elsie I. Read in 1914 in St. Peters, NSW.
Malcolm Prentice, b. 1888 Sydney, New South Wales. Died 1890.
Alice J. Prentice, b. 1890, Sydney, New South Wales. She might be the Alice J. Prentice who m. Ulric E. Williams in 1910 in Marrickville, NSW (per NSW BMD)..
Emily R. Prentice, b. 1892, Sydney, New South Wales. No marriage in IGI or NSW BMD.
Dorothy M. Prentice, b. 1895, Sydney, New South Wales. She might be the Dorothy M. Prentice who m. Charles L. Steward in 1915 in Burwood, NSW (per NSW BMD).
Winifred Robina Prentice, b. 1898, Sydney, New South Wales. She might be the Winifred R. Prentice who m. Italo G. Priora in 1927 in Burwood, NSW (per NSW BMD).
Rita Prentice, b. 1900, Sydney, New South Wales. She might be the Rita Prentice who m. Sidney J. Vaughan in 1919 in Burwood, NSW (per NSW BMD).

Rowland Prentice was b. c. 1858 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He appears in the IGI with his wife, Grace Savell, b. c. 1860, Sydney who he m. 1884, Sydney. Children (per IGI):

Emmanuel Prentice, b. c. 1885, Sydney.
Rowland H. Prentice, b. c. 1886 and d. 1886, Sydney.
Claude Prentice, b. c. 1889, Sydney or Burwood. He m. Elizabeth Rose Delamont in 1909 in Burwood, NSW. She was b. 1889 in Berrima, NSW, dau. of John Delamont and Elizabeth Larkin. An Ancestor Chart for her can be found at Ancestry.com.
Raymond Prentice, b. c. 1890, Sydney.
Violet Prentice, b. c. 1892, Sydney.
Rachael J. Prentice, b. c. 1893, Sydney.
Mabel Prentice, b. c. 1894 and d. 1894, Sydney.
Rowland G. Prentice, b. c. 1896, Sydney. He m. Mary C. Betts in 1917, Petersham, NSW (per NSW BMD)

Alice Prentice, was born in 1861 in Concord, NSW, Australia and died in 1939 in Rockdale, NSW, Australia at age 78. Alice married Arthur John Allen. son of Albert Allen and Caroline, in 1884 in Cantebury NSW Australia. Arthur was born in 1863 in Chippendale, NSW, Australia and died in 1936 in Rockdale, NSW, Australia at age 73.

3.1 William Henry Prentice, b. 6 Jul 1838, Sydney, New South Wales. Christened on 5 Aug 1838 in Sydney Nsw, and died on 9 Dec 1899 in Enfield, NSW, Australia at age 61.
He m. Anne Elizabeth Spencer on 13 Oct 1862, Sydney. Anne was born on 10 Apr 1839 in Richmond, NSW, Australia and died on 21 Sep 1920 in Enfield, NSW, Australia at age 81. Children per IGI and Ancestry.com :

William Henry Prentice Jr., b. 6 Dec 1862, in Enfield, NSW, Australia. . . . . [3.5]
Charles E. Prentice, b. 1865, Sydney. Australia and died in 1937 in Liverpool, NSW, Australia at age 72 per Ancestry.com .
Joseph P. Prentice, b. 1867, Sydney and died in 1934 in Kogarah, NSW, Australia at age 67..
Frederick E. Prentice, b. 1870 Sydney. He may, or may not, be the Frederick E. Prentice shown in NSW BMD who m. Frances A. Wright in 1916 in Sydney, NSW.
Albert Rowland Prentice, b. 1872, Sydney and died in 1872 in NSW, Australia.
Richard Hercules Prentice, b. 1873, Concord, Sydney and died in 1942 in Rockdale, Sydney, NSW, Australia at age 69. He might be the Richard H. Prentice shown in NSW BMD who m. Catherine Glazebook in 1899, Sydney. He might also be the Richard Prentice shown in NSW BMD who m. Lillie M. Round in 1909 in Sydney. She was b. 1877, Sydney, NSW, and d. 1920, Gosford, NSW. Her Ancestor Chart is Ancestry.com . Children:

Elsie Eileen Prentice 1909 – 1958. She m. Colin James Burke in 1930, Petersham, Sydney, NSW.
Dorothy Lillian Prentice 1911 – 2010. She m. Stanley Francis Abbott Gray in 1944, Randwick, Sydney, NSW.
Rachel Margaret PRENTICE, b. 1914, Rockdale, Sydney, NSW, and d. there in 1915.

Walter Septimus Prentice, b. 1876, Sydney or Concord. Walter married Jessie C Bissell in 1900 in Sydney. They had 1 or more children, including (per NSW BMD):

Walter F. Prentice, b. 1901, Canterbury, NSW. He m. Edna G. Graham in 1934, Rockdale, NSW (per NSW BMD).

Bert/Bertie Nathanial Prentice, b. 1880, Sydney. He m. Elizabeth Lennartz in 1939, Rockdale, NSW (per NSW BMD).

3.5 William Henry Prentice Jr., b. 6 Dec 1862, in Enfield, NSW, Australia and died on 2 Nov 1937 in Mortdale, NSW, Australia at age 74.
He m. Ann Jane Cox on 22 Feb 1888 in Australia. Ann was born on 8 Jan1870 in Mt Harris, Nr Warren, NSW, Australia and died on 2 Nov 1937 in Mortdale, NSW, Australia at age 67. She was the dau. of George Francis Cox and Mary Jane Barden. Daughter:

Louise Prentice, b. 1888, Fleminaton, NSW, Australia, and d. 1939, Moree, NSW.
Lillian E Prentice, b. 1891 and d. 1912.
George W Prentice, b. 1893. He m. Margaret Parker.
Winifred Prentice, b. 8 Oct 1895 in Balmain, Sydney, NSW, Australia, and d. 12 Sep 1973, Sydney, NSW. and d. 26 Nov 1965, Mortdale, NSW. An Ancestor Chart for David can be found at Ancestry.com . Children:

Dulcie Paterson Brown, b. 6 Jul 1924, Mortdale, NSW.
Norman Eli Brown, b. 13 Mar 1928, Mortdale, NSW, and d. 17 Feb 1998, Lurnea, NSW. He m. Miss McCullum, dau. of Herbert George McCullum and Delrita Horan, and had a daughter.

William Henry Prentice, b. 1898 and d. 1944, Ryde, NSW.
Amy E. H. Prentice, b. 1901. She m. Oliver S. Johnson in 1923 in Hurstville, NSW. He was b. 1899, Sydney, NSW. He was the son of Joseph Johnson (b. 1861) and Elizabeth Lawless (b. 1868).
Sylvia Josephine Prentice, b. 1903. She m. Frederick Ottomar Willems in 1943 in Paddington, NSW. He was d. 1946, Newtown, NSW, and was the son of Johann and Carolien Willems.
Albert J. Prentice, b. 1906, Sydney, NSW, and 1966, Sutherland, NSW. He m. Elsie G.Dunleavy in 1930 in Sydney. She was b. 1 Jan 1910, Helensburg, NSW, and d. 26 Jul 2001 in NSW.
Frederick E Prentice, b. 1909. He m. Lillian S. Redmond in 1932 in Gundagai, NSW. She was b. c. 1 Jan 1912.
Constance Lorna Prentice, b. 27 Dec 1916, Oatley, NSW. She m. Edward Roy Liddieth in 1936.

4. Charlotte Prentice was b. in 1821, Sydney, Australia and d. in 1875. Charlotte is the ancestor of Jane Walther.
Charlotte m. James Norton in 1837 in St. Lukes, Liverpool, NSW. James was b. in 1802 in Coslany in Norwich where his family and ancestors had lived at Norwich and Great Yarmouth for at least 5 generations. James, convicted of a criminal offense, was sent to Australia on the "Herculese II" in 1825 at the age of 23. Children who lived in the St. George and Moorefields area:

James Norton, b. 1837 in Belmore. . . . . . . . . . . [5]
Elizabeth Norton, b. 1850. She m. Alfred Baker, who went missing and left her with 7 children, including, per Rose O'Grady, email, 30 Jul 2010:

Henry Baker, the oldest child, is the Great grandfather of Rose O'Gady. He was b. 11 Nov 1880.

(8 other children)

5. James Norton, b. 1837, Belmore. He m. Jane Gardner Whitehall in 1862. Her grandparents were Samuel Whitehall and Johanna Vickery, both convicts sent from Middlesex, but Johanna was actually a servant girl from Cork in Ireland who was tried and sentenced in Middlesex. Samuel Whitehall had died soon after his son Thomas was born and Johanna seems to have disappeared as Thomas was brought up by Robert and Jane Gardner and subsequently named all his children Gardner Whitehall.
James Norton and his wife, Jane, lived in the Lakemba, Belmore area and had 8 children:

Mary Norton (1862)
Elizabeth Norton (1867)
Susannah Norton (1867)
William Norton (1869)
Jane Norton (1871)
Louisa Norton (1874) . . . . . . . . [6]
Grace Norton (1881)
Russell Norton(1884)

6. Louisa Norton was b. in 1874. She m. Norman Jackson Howell in 1900. He had arrived in Australia from Birmingham as a child when his father came to work as an accountant for NSW Railways. They had two sons:

Frank James Howell, b. 1901. He was a doctor in South Hurstville.
Edwin Howell, b. 1909 and d. Nov 1999, one week short of his 90th birthday. Edwin m. Kathleen Hesford. Children:

Jane Howell. She m. Dieter Walther from Heidelberg in Germany and have two daughters:

Tessa Walther.
Alexandra Walther.

Paul Howell. Children:

Tara Howell.
Dane Howell (twin).
Paige Howell (twin).

Who are William Prentice's Ancestors?
Black Notley and Halstead, where William Prentice was apparently b. c. 1771,, are located at the Sudbury-Braintree-Colchester triangle mentioned in Prentices of Essex County, England: Part 2 (see Winter 2000 issue). It seems likely that one or more of the Prentices mentioned in that article are ancestors of William Prentice.

Fn. 1: A ship named the "Lyon" carried Valentine Prentice and other passangers to America in 1631; it may, or may not, be the same ship. Valentine Prentice is a direct ancestor of Linus Joseph Dewald Jr., the Editor of this Prentice Newsletter.
Fn2. Obadiah Ikin, c. 1761-1812
Obadiah Ikin was baptised at Whitchurch, Somerset on 24 March 1761. By 1781 he had moved to Canterbury, Kent where he married Sarah Butts at St Peter's Church on 23 May. A son, Obadiah, was born the following year and a daughter Marianne in 1784. On 14 August 1785, Ikin enlisted in the 11th Light Dragoon Guards and was stationed at Nottingham. A son, William, was born in October of the same year. Ikin was discharged in March 1786 as the regiment prepared to move to London. Ikin moved to Bury St Edmonds in Suffolk where two children, Mary Ann (May 1788) and Alexander (1789) were born. On 11 October 1789 Obadiah enlisted in the New South Wales Corps and embarked on the Surprize transport with his family on 13 November 1789. The Surprize sailed from Portsmouth as part of the Second Fleet and arrived in Sydney on 26 June 1790.
In December 1791, Ikin was promoted to Sergeant and his eldest son Obadiah, aged 9, enlisted in the corps as a drummer. A daughter, Maria was born in 1792 before Ikin was transferred to Norfolk Island in January 1793. Ikin was sent back to Sydney in February 1794 to give evidence at a trial, before returning to Norfolk Island in June 1794. In 1795 a son, Thomas Moore, was born and the family returned to Sydney in November of that year. Ikin received several land grants, but sold or leased the land soon afterwards. In 1800 he was demoted to the rank of private and was stationed at Parramatta by 1801. When the Corps was reduced in 1803, Ikin was discharged and received a half acre grant at Parramatta. On 16 July 1804, Ikin received a grant of 160 acres on the Nepean River. He sold this grant to Murty Kearns in 1806.
In May 1805 Ikin was occupying a house built on a solitary farm on the mountain side of the Nepean (probably opposite his grant). Ikin experienced problems with the local Aboriginal people and several armed men were assigned to protect the farm. On one occasion, when Charlie an Aboriginal man, and several companions visited Ikin and demanded to check the bedroom for weapons, Charlie was shot dead by Ikin's armed men. His companions escaped and their attack on the house was repulsed the next day. From around 1805 Ikin's wife was operating a bakery at The Rocks, Sydney and Ikin appears to have been based at Parramatta. Ikin owned several houses in Sydney and in 1809 was granted 60 acres south of Penrith which he named Derrintend. Ikin's exact date of death is not known. He was alive in August 1911, when he leased some land but died before 26 January 1813, when Sarah described herself as a widow when her will was drafted. Sarah died on 29 January 1813.
Grahame Thom and Margaret Miller provide the following additional information about Obadiah Ikin on their website entitled Obadiah and Sarah Ikin :
Copied from Obadiah Ikin - the story of a Shropshire soldier and his family in Australia, by Grahame Thom and Margaret Miller.
OBADIAH IKIN IN ENGLAND
There are several spelling variations for Obadiah Ikin, namely Obediah, Iken, Ikan, Aiken - the most commonly found spelling will be used in this story Obadiah Ikin.
Obadiah was born in Whitchurch, England, a northern Shropshire parish well known for its magnificent 18th century Church of St. Alkmund. The church was erected in 1722 on the site of a Norman church built of white stone which gave the market town its name. Under a stone slab in the Church lies John Talbot lst Earl of Shrewsbury, who was killed in 1453 fighting Joan of Arc. Another famous son of Whitchurch was the great composer Sir Edward German (1). The population of Whitchurch parish in 1831 was 5819 (2), and as well as the main town of Whitchurch there are a number of villages in this large parish where over the centuries many Ikins lived.
Obadiah was the son of Ann Ikin and was baptised on 24 March 1761 at St. Alkmund, Whitchurch (3). The parish register only lists his mother's name and nothing has been found about Obadiah's father or any background to Ann Ikin (3). Nor has anything been found of Obadiah's early life except to say he probably had some schooling as he later signed documents in his own hand. It is likely he spent his youth in Whitchurch as he returned there for the baptism of at least one of his children, Marianne (6).
The next we hear of Obadiah is when he married Sarah Butts by banns on 23 May 1781 at the Church of St. Peter, Canterbury, Kent, England (4). Sarah is possibly the daughter of John and Ann Butts, baptised at St. Paul's, Canterbury on 8 October 1758 (5).
Before departing from England for Sydney in 1789 Obadiah and Sarah had at least five children :-
. Obadiah, born on 18 March 1782
. Marianne (Mary), baptised on 20 March 1784 at Whitchurch, Shropshire
. William, born on 19 October 1785 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, baptised at St. Mary's, Nottingham on 31 March 1786
. Mary Ann, baptised at St. James, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk on 18 May 1788
. Alexander, born about 1789 (6).
In a memorial written in 1810 Obadiah states that he had been in the army for 26 years (7). As Obadiah was a sergeant in the Loyal Sydney Volunteer Association in 1810 it is possible that he became a soldier in 1784. However, he enlisted in the 11th Light Dragoon Guards on 14 August 1785 and was discharged on 27 March 1786 (8); perhaps his weight exceeded the limit or he was not suited to riding horses. The 11th Light Dragoons was in Nottingham at this time as the Nottingham Journal of Saturday 13 May 1786 reported that the Regiment had left Nottingham for London on the previous Tuesday and Wednesday (9).
From then until late 1789 it is not known if Obadiah joined another regiment. On his son William's death certificate it states William was born in America (10). This is not correct as he was born in Nottingham but perhaps it is possible Obadiah enlisted in another regiment in 1786 and with his family went with the regiment to America for a tour of duty, returning in 1788. Also the fact that the Ikin family moved around southern England could have been the result of Obadiah having to move with a regiment.
In 1789 the government decided to replace the marines on duty at Sydney Cove with a specially formed army corps, the New South Wales Corps. Many men were recruited by press gangs and men of lower rank were transferred from other regiments. As Obadiah is listed as being 'attested' then it is likely he was either persuaded to join or came forward himself. He enlisted on 11 October 1789 and is listed in the pay musters up to 24 December 1789 as a private in Captain Hill's Company, stationed at Chatham, England (11).
Possibly in recognition of his previous service in the army, Obadiah was promoted to Corporal on 25 December 1789, during the period convicts were being embarked on the Second Fleet transports (12), Obadiah came on board the transport Surprize on 13 November 1789 as a member of the guard under the command of Captain Hill (13). Sarah and the children probably came on board later, perhaps closer to the sailing date. From later events in the colony it is known that the Ikin children were Obadiah junior, Mary, William (14) and Alexander. Sarah's burial entry in the parish register states she arrived on the Surprize (15) and this ship is also listed against son Alexander's name in the 1811 and 1822 musters (16). On board the Surprize were 28 non-commissioned officers and privates, five women and eight children (17).
The Surprize of 400 tons and under the command of Captain Nicholas Anstis, carrying 254 male convicts, departed from Portsmouth, England on 19 January 1790 and arrived at Sydney in the colony of New South Wales on Saturday 26 June 1790. During the voyage 36 convicts died and over half were sick when disembarked (18). It was not a pleasant voyage as the small vessel shipped great quantities of water causing discomfort and misery to all on board. Captain Hill recorded that the men of my company whose berths were not so far forward (as the convicts) were nearly up to the middles in water (19). With little experience in transporting convicts over such distance it is little wonder that the Second Fleet had the highest mortality rate (20). So the Ikin family survived a difficult and uncomfortable voyage to start a new life in New South Wales.
THE IKIN FAMILY IN SYDNEY AND NORFOLK ISLAND 1790-94
The first we hear of Obadiah in the colony is when he gave evidence at the trial of William Marsh on 8 April 1791 (21). Then on the morning of 6 June 1791 a keg which stood at the door of Corporal lkin's hut was missed (22). Again Obadiah gave evidence at a trial on Tuesday 19 July 1791 (23). Two marines were charged with using force and arms to break into the cellar adjoining the house of Zachariah Clark, storekeeper, on several occasions between May and July 1791. The verdict was not guilty due to lack of proof.
On 10 December 1791 Obadiah enlisted his son Obadiah in the NSW Corps as a drummer (24). This did not mean Obadiah junior was on active duty but enlisting children was used as a means of increasing the amount of rations allocated to the family. The pay musters for the Corps from December 1791 to 24 December 1796 show both Obadiah senior and junior (24). Obadiah was promoted to sergeant on 25 December 1791 and was paid one shilling six and three quarter pence per day (25).
Maria, the lkins' first Australian born child, arrived on 30 December 1792. Her baptism took place on 19 January 1793 and was recorded in the registers for St. Phillip's Church, Sydney (26).
On 25 January 1793 Obadiah, Sarah and their children set sail for Norfolk Island on board the Kitty, arriving on 11 February, for Captain Hill's company was to take up duty as part of the garrison guarding the convicts (27). Everything was done to keep the soldiers happy on Norfolk Island. Their conditions were far superior to the remainder of the inhabitants and punishment for any misdemeanours was extremely light. However, their intimacy with the convicts on the Island, together with enticing women to leave their husbands, contributed to disturbances with the settlers and convicts being unwilling to endure the soldiers' bad conduct any longer.
In late December 1793 there were a number of clashes between the soldiers, settlers and convicts. Following another disturbance on 18 January 1794 Lieutenant Governor King reported to Lieutenant Governor Grose in Sydney What the consequence of seven hundred inhabitants opposing themselves to sixty-five armed soldiers would have been if not timely prevented may be easily imagined. So the scene was set for what has been called a mutiny by King. On the night of 18 January there were further clashes at the playhouse and in the streets following the conclusion of the play. King arrested one of the soldiers.
King immediately ordered an inquiry and from this concluded that there was little doubt that the soldiers had gone to the play with a determination of making a disturbance. Events at the inquiry and clashes over the next three days resulted in King taking action to restore order by disarming a detachment of soldiers with the assistance of the officers and non-commissioned officers of the NSW Corps.
King isolated the ten principals of the mutineers and these soldiers were sent to Sydney in the Francis on 2 February under guard. It is not known what part Sergeant lkin played during these events but King recorded that he was supported by his officers and all non-commissioned officers. Following King's report to Grose a number of officers and soldiers were recalled to Sydney to give evidence, including Obadiah (28). He arrived in Sydney with others on the Francis on 12 February 1794 (29). Obadiah left Sydney on 30 June 1794 to return to Norfolk Island on the Francis in order to bring his family back to Sydney (30). The lkin family left Norfolk Island on the Daedalus on 6 November 1794 probably pleased to return to Sydney (31).
ARMY LIFE TO 1803
Under Governor Phillip the colony had been ruled fairly and most of the inhabitants had survived famine and fever in establishing Sydney Town. But after Phillip departed in December 1792 conditions changed under Lieutenant Governor Grose. He favoured the military and made conditions even more difficult for the convicts (32). Being a sergeant in the NSW Corps Obadiah benefited from this policy as he received two land grants from Grose.
On 3 October 1794 Obadiah was granted 30 acres at Lane Cove with an annual quit rent of 1/- commencing after 5 years. This grant was one of the first batch of grants in the area on that date. The present Lane Cove shopping centre is within its boundaries (33). It is interesting to speculate as to whether Obadiah set foot on his grant or not. Perhaps not as on 13 December 1794 Obadiah received a lease for 14 years with an annual quit rent of 2/6 of a town block of 60 feet by 150 feet on the south side of South Street (now O'Connell Street). This grant was later cancelled by Governor King (34).
Many grants of land were given to the men of the NSW Corps and most were quickly sold or traded with their officers and wealthy residents for rum and other valuable goods. A good example is a grant of 30 acres to William Wright at Lane Cove on 3 December 1794. Recorded in the register against this grant is Exchanged by Wm. Wright with Obadiah Ikin for Wm. Baker's farm, then sold on 3rd August 1797 to John Holdsworth for three pounds etc (35).
In addition to enlisting Obadiah junior in the NSW Corps, Obadiah enlisted his son William as a drummer on 4 December 1794; more rations as William did not take up active duty until 1803 (36).
On 19 August 1795 the Ikins' second Australian born child arrived and Thomas Moore Ikin was baptised at St. Phillip's, Sydney on 15 May 1796 (37). Was Thomas named after the famous English writer and statesman, Sir Thomas More, or after Thomas Moore, well known carpenter and boat builder who arrived on the Britannia in 1791, or was it simply a name the parents liked?
Where did the Ikin family live before moving to near the Windmill on the Rocks? A clue can be found in The Journal of Daniel Paine (38). On 5 July 1796 a seaman John Smith was shot dead by Daniel Paine's servant David Lloyd at Paine's house. The Ikin family lived next door and Sarah and Obadiah junior gave evidence at Lloyd's trial.
The editors of the reprint of The Journal of Daniel Paine concluded that Paine's house was situated on the eastern side of the Tank Stream; along the shore line towards what is now Bennelong Point (39). Paine describes his brick house as two Rooms on the Floor for myself and a Kitchen with two Sleeping Rooms of Wattle Thatch at the end of my Garden (40). It is likely that the Ikin residence was of similar size and built of wattle thatch.
A trial involving a charge of assault saw Obadiah giving evidence on 26 August 1796 (41). On 29 October 1795 Obadiah was visiting fellow Sergeant Whittle with Sergeant Jamison when an incident occurred close by involving Mr Boston and a number of defendants including Laycock, McKellar and Faithfull. The sergeants rushed outside on hearing the sounds of a shot and witnessed the final stages of the incident over the shooting of a pig by Faithfull while it was rummaging in the garden of Captain Foveaux of New South Wales Corps. Obadiah went up to Faithfull who said Boston had struck him with a stick which had cut him on the forehead.
In Old Sydney Windmills by Len Fox (42), there is mention of Obadiah Ikin owning land at Pyrmont, a 'small post windmill on Macarthur's Point, Pyrmont ... no doubt erected by one of the Macarthur family'. John Macarthur, wool pioneer and stormy political figure of our early days, bought the 55 acres of Pyrmont in 1799 for the sum of 10 pounds (and this was probably paid, according to the 'Old and New Sydney' column of the Sydney Morning Herald of 19 July 1882, not in currency but in rum!). The 55 acres had been given as a free grant to Thomas Jones in 1795 (43) and transferred to an Obadiah Ikin; how many millions of dollars would the free gift be worth now?” (44).
On 12 November 1799, Obadiah received a grant of 60 acres at Bankstown by Governor Hunter (45). However, this grant was cancelled by Hunter on 20 July 1801 as the land had been sold contrary to a provision in the deed (45).
Obadiah remained a sergeant (his pay being one shilling, six and three quarter pence per day) in Townson's Company on detachment in Sydney until 7 April 1800 when for reasons unknown he was reduced to the rank of private at a pay rate of 1/- per day (46). Perhaps the invalid sale of the 60 acres was the reason for Obadiah being reduced to a private. He probably retained the proceeds from this sale.
Then from 24 October 1802 he was stationed at Parramatta with Townson's Company and was discharged there as a private on 24 April 1803 (47).
On 30 August 1802, Lord Hobart wrote to Governor King advising that a reduction should be made in the strength of the NSW South Wales Corps, as well as in the regiments of the line, and those who may prefer staying in the colony to returning to this country, will be permitted to become settlers with the like privileges and advantages as those granted to marines.” (48). These instructions followed a lull in the wars between Britain and France and as a result, government expenditure needed to be reduced.
This explains Obadiah's discharge from the Corps for on 9 May 1803 King advised Lord Hobart that thirty-one discharged soldiers have remained as settlers, and seventy-one will proceed to England.” (49). Subsequently Obadiah received two grants of land.
LIFE AFTER THE ARMY It is not known how Obadiah earned a living after his discharge from the army, but it is possible he lived off the proceeds from the sale of grants of land he received. Also from the time he was stationed at Parramatta in 1802 it seems reasonable to assume that Obadiah did not live with his wife Sarah again. There is ample evidence that Sarah continued to live in Sydney while Obadiah lived at Parramatta then on his several grants of land.
Following his discharge in 1803 Obadiah was granted half an acre of land at Parramatta by Governor King on 4 September 1803 with an annual quite rent of 10/- (50). It is not known how long Obadiah retained this grant, but on 16 July 1804 he received a further grant of 160 acres at the junction of the Nepean and Grose Rivers from Governor King at 4/- annual quit rent (51). By late 1806 this land had been sold as a notice in the Sydney Gazette states lkin's Farm at the Nepean was owned by Mr M. Kearns (52). Because it was called lkin's Farm it is reasonable to assume that Obadiah did farm on this grant before the transfer to Kearns.
It would seem that Obadiah was considered to be a settler for on 14 March 1806 merchant Robert Campbell wrote to the Colonial Secretary in London seeking his assistance in obtaining a large grant of land for pasture. Attached to the memorial was a testimonial from the principal settlers dated 23 November 1804 with Obadiah included (53).
In 1805 Governor King asked Judge-Advocate Atkins for his opinion on the treatment to be adopted towards the aborigines. Included in his advice Atkins refers to a number of reports and came to the conclusion that the aborigines were at present incapable of being brought before a Criminal Court, ... and that the only mode at present, when they deserve it, is to pursue and inflict such punishment as they may merit.” (54). In his advice Atkins makes reference to a letter by Obadiah in which he stated his party had destroyed many of them.
It is likely that some of the lkin family lived at Parramatta from late 1802 when Obadiah was transferred there. On 3 July 1805 Mary lkin married Richard Martin at St. John's, Parramatta (55). Perhaps Mary was Obadiah's daughter and the couple lived on his town grant at Parramatta. However, the Sydney Gazette of 13 January 1805 mentions Mrs lkin of the Rocks when readers were advised that a model of a brig was on view at Sarah's house. Was this the work of her sons?
On 9 November 1806 an advertisement appeared in Sydney Gazette offering a reward of one pound sterling for the return of a pair of bellows about 3 foot 2 inches long stolen from Mrs lkin's house. Sarah is described as a baker, again an indication of Obadiah's absence from the household. On 25 February 1807 Obadiah signed a letter from the Hawkesbury settlers to Governor Bligh pledging their support for the defence of the country. His wife's name does not appear. But on a later letter to Bligh (also pledging support) dated 1 January 1808 from settlers in New South Wales, both Obadiah's and Sarah's signatures appear (56). The signatures are, however, two pages apart, possibly indicating they were collected at different times from different locations.
On 17 June 1807 the exchange of a house on the Rocks known as No.18 near the Windmill took place between Edward Holt and Obadiah Ikin (57). This is believed to be later known as 52 Cumberland Street which was close to the windmill and where Sarah lived at the time she made her will in 1813.
The Sydney Gazette of 4 December 1808 advertised that Thomas, last seen in Sydney, had absconded from his father and was thought to have gone to the Hawkesbury. Eight days later Obadiah assigned a house situated in Pitt Lane next to Gillakers to William Maughan in London for 34 pounds. Ikin, however, was to continue in possession until 16 December (58). Had Obadiah or members of his family been living there?
On 4 June 1809 Sarah subscribed 2/6 towards the cost of enclosing the Sydney Burial Ground and on 12 November 1809 she advertised wire sieves for sale which could be viewed at her house on the Rocks (59).
By 1810 Obadiah and Sarah had at least two grandchildren; Maria Ann and Lucy Sarah, children of their son William and his wife Mary (60). And Obadiah had received another grant of land.
On 25 November 1809 he received a deed from William Paterson for 60 acres in the district of Evan located about 2 kilometres south of Penrith town centre (61). It is likely that Obadiah had commenced developing the land before the grant was issued just over a month before Governor Macquarie arrived to take over from the rebel administration. On taking up office on 1 January 1810 Macquarie immediately cancelled the grants issued by the administration since Bligh had been removed from effective control in 1808 and asked holders to apply for re-issue. Obadiah surrended his grant at Evan on 9 January 1810 (62).
Obadiah immediately sought the re-issue of the grant by submitting a memorial to the Colonial Secretary on 10 January 1810 (63). In it he stated that he was a settler in the District of Evan, being an ex-sergeant of the 102nd Regiment (renamed from the NSW Corps in 1808 (64), and having served 26 years in the army, 20 of which had been spent in the colony; all he possessed was the 60 acres at Evan. This grant was re-issued on 18 November 1811 and was backdated to 1 January 1810 (65).
In the Register of Grants this land appears to be named Derrintend Farm while on a survey map it appears as Denintend Farm. The origin of the name is not known despite a search of place names in England (66). Because Obadiah described himself as a settler, and the grant bore a name, it is likely that he had been living at the farm for several years improving it with the object of later bringing his family to live there.
Obadiah continued his association with the army till the end for on 4 June 1810 he is listed as a sergeant in the Loyal Sydney Volunteer Association (67). The last recorded evidence of Obadiah being alive is in the 1811 muster taken between 5 February and 5 March (68), and finally when he signed a lease dated 20 August 1811 for 21 years occupancy of Denintend to Thomas Rose for 25 pounds sterling per annum (69).
It is interesting to note that the ownership of Denintend did not pass to Sarah or to any of the Ikin children, perhaps the final indication that Obadiah was living apart from his family. On 3 September 1818 Thomas Rose, a Sydney shopkeeper, sold the property to Sir John Jamison, owner of the large estate, Regentville, near by (70).
When Sarah made her mark on her will dated 26 January 1813, she described herself as a widow. Therefore, it appears that Obadiah died between 20 August 1811 and 26 January 1813. It is possible he was alive in November 1811 when the Evan grant was re-issued although this may have been done posthumously in view of the occupancy of Thomas Rose. Searches have been made of the indexes available from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Sydney under a variety of spellings, also for a headstone, and in the available parish registers of the period, but no trace has been found of his death or burial. It is likely he died on his land at Evan and being away from settlement no minister recorded his burial.
Sarah died soon after making her will and was buried on 29 January 1813 aged 55 years (71). It is likely she was buried in the old Sydney burial ground where the Sydney Town Hall now stands.
Sarah made an interesting Will, which gives a good idea of the family’s wealth and social standing, well off considering the social and economic conditions of the time. But note that she left a number of items to William Stephenson, miller, perhaps another indication that Obadiah and Sarah lived apart in their later life (72).
In recognition of Obadiah the Penrith City Council named a street constructed in the 1970s on his Evan land grant “Ikin Street and another street close by Denintend Place”.
THE WILL OF SARAH IKlN MADE ON 26 JANUARY 1813
In the name of God Amen I Sarah Ikin of the Town of Sydney in the County of Cumberland in the Territory of New South Wales Widow being sick and weak of body but of perfect mind give and bequeath to Thomas Ikin my dearly beloved Son the House and Premises and the Furniture / except as herein after excepted / known as 52 Cumberland Street also that Plot of Garden Ground oposite the said House known as Mrs Ikins Garden to my said Son Thomas Ikin. I give unto William Stephenson / Miller / my White Chest the Pigs in the Sty my Bedstead, Bed, 1 Pillow 1 Bolster 1 Pillow Case 2 Pair of Sheets 2 Blankets and 1 Coverlid, I give unto Mrs Mary Ikin wife of my Son William late of Sydney but now of England my Ear Rings and the Ring on my finger and I do hereby utterly disallow all and every other former testaments and Wills ratifying and confirming this and no other In Witness where of I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this Twenty Sixth day of January One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirteen.
Signed Sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Sarah Ikin as her last Will and Testament in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereto subscribed our names
Sarah Ikin her X mark
James Gready, Andrew Davidson, M English
Codicil to Will of Sarah Ikin
Be it known to all Men by those presents that I Sarah Ikin of the Town of Sydney Widow have made and declared my last Will and Testament in writing bearing date the Twenty sixth day of January One Thousand Eight Hundred and thirteen I Sarah Ikin by the Present Condition do Will that my Daughter Maria Ikin do live in the House for One Twelve Month after my decease rent free and after that period leave it to the option of my Son Thomas to charge such rent as he may think proper and my Will and Meaning is that this Codicil be adjudged to be part and parcel of my last Will and testament Witness my hand this Twenty Sixth day of January One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirteen
Signed in the presence of us M English, Andrew Davison, James Gready
Sarah Ikin her X mark
New South Wales Probate Office, Sydney, Old Series Number 42
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