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FF John Owles, Convict ‘Alexander’ (c1752-1806)
and FF Mary Wilson, Convict, ‘Prince
of Wales’ (c1740-1816)
John
Owles, late of St George’s parish Southwark, was
sentenced on 20th July 1785 to seven years
transportation at Croydon Surrey, for sending spring
saws and a file into prison to help in the escape of
persons confined there.
On 21st October he asked
permission to transport himself, saying he was 33 years
old with a wife and five children. Refused, he was
ordered to the hulks on 25th, and delivered
from the Justina hulk to Alexander on 6th
June 1787.
At Sydney Cove Owles married Mary Wilson
Convict Prince of Wales on 27th
September 1789, with John signing the register.
Mary Wilson was sentenced to seven years
transportation at the Old Bailey on 21st
February 1787 with Mary Newlan (also Prince of Wales)
for theft of clothing. A witness saw ‘a shirt sleeve
hang from under cloak’ as she left a house. At her trial
she said the neighbour who had followed them had
promised she would not be hurt. From Newgate they were
both sent by wagon to Portsmouth on 30 April with other
convict women and embarked on Prince of Wales on
3rd May
.
John and Mary were sent to Norfolk Island
by HMS Sirius some 8 months later on 4th
March 1790disembarking at Cascade Norfolk Island on 14
March 1790.
In May 1794 John was working the 60 acres
allotted to him and selling grain to stores. He and Mary
were recorded still on Norfolk Island in the February
1805Muster, where John was victualled from stores as an
overseer. He had no children and his house was valued at
twenty five pounds. By August 1806 he was overseer of
tools and a second class citizen.
John Owles died on 14h December 1806.
His headstone stands today at the Norfolk
Island Cemetery gives 23 December 1806 as his date of
death.
The inscription on his headstone reads:
hic jacit (Welsh for Here
Lies). A faithful friend , A Father Dear, A loving
Husband Lyeth Here.
There are no
known children of John Owles, the mentioning of been a
father on his headstone, may refer to his children that
he left behind in England.
His wife
Mary receiving a payment of twenty pounds,for the
boarded and shingle house, in June 1808 as his widow.
Mary was
recorded on Norfolk Island until around 1813 and
apparently returned to Sydney in 1814 aboard the
Kangaroo in February 1814 where she is recorded as
the wife of James Sheers (Convict Scarborough)
As Mary
Sheers, she died 15th August 1816 Sydney, aged 85
years, buried 17th August 1816 Old Sydney Burial Ground
Sydney
The Fellowship of First Fleeters
installed a FFF Plaque forJohn Owles at Kingston
Cemetery Quality Row Kingston N I on 6th
March 2001.
Refer FFF Web Site:http://www.fellowshipfirstfleeters.org.au/graves.html
Under
 FFF
Plaque 110 – Installed 6th March 2001for
FF John Owles, Convict ‘Alexander’
(c1752-1806)
Compiled by John Boyd 2020
Sources
-The Founders of Australia by
Mollie Gillen pages 271,388 & 389
-Dispatched Down Under by Ron
Withington p49
-The
Proceedings of the Old Bailey
Ref: t17870221-55
-www hmssirius.com.au
by Cathy
Dunn-john-owles-convict-alexander-1788-and-mary-wilson-convict-prince-of-wales-1788
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