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JAMES WILLIAMS
- HMS SIRIUS
this story is under review by Membership Team
James Williams was born in Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales,
c1760.
The U.K., Registers of Duties Paid for Apprentices,
1710–1811, records
8 June 1774 — Daniel Roberts of Wrexham, edge tool
maker – Apprentice, James Williams. Unfortunately
Daniel Roberts, now or late of Wrexham in Denbighshire,
Edge Tool Maker, is in the list of bankrupts published
in 'The Gentleman's Monthly Intelligencer' Vol. 49 1780.
James would have been looking for another job, so
perhaps this is the reason he joined the marine corps on
16 March 1782. James was about 21 years of age and soon
left Great Britain to serve in the East Indies from
1783–1785. He then returned to England and became a
private marine of the 23rd Portsmouth Company.
When James was near 27 years of age, he joined Sirius
as part of the ship's complement on 24 February
1787. He was described as being 5ft 8ins (173cm) tall,
with a long, dark complexioned face, black hair and
hazel eyes.
Sirius
was the Flagship of the First Fleet and was under the
command of Captain Arthur Philip, who was to become the
first Governor of New South Wales. It sailed out of
Portsmouth along with the other ten ships on 13 May 1787
in what was to become an historic voyage, arriving into
Port Jackson after an eight-month passage on 26 January
1788.
James may have wondered if he would survive the harsh
life in the early days of the Colony, because he made a
Will, signed by him and witnessed by John Hunter and
John Palmer, which is kept in the National Archives in
Britain. It states:
In the Name of God Amen. I James Williams Private
Marine onboard His Majesty's Ship Sirius, No. on the
Marine List 12, being in bodily health and of sound and
disposing mind and memory, and considering the danger
and perils of the seas and other uncertainties of this
transitory life, do for avoiding controvercies after my
decease, make publish and declare this my last Will and
Testament in manner following (that is to say). First I
recommend my Soul to God that gave it, and my body I
commit to the earth or sea, as it shall please God to
order, and as for and concerning all my worldly estate,
I give bequeath and dispose thereof as followeth, that
is to say, all such wages, sum or sums of money
whatsoever, as shall be any ways due owing or belonging
to me at the time of my decease, for my service onboard
His Majesty's Ship Sirius I do give devise and bequeath
the same unto my beloved friend William Standley,
Private Marine onboard His Majesty's said Ship. And I
do hereby nominate and appoint the said William Standley
the sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament,
hereby revoking all former and other wills, testaments
and deeds of gifts by me at any time heretofore made.
And I do ordain and ratify these prescents to stand and
be for, and as my only last will and testament.
Revokable from and in my name, in witness whereof to
this my said will, I have set my hand and seal the
thirtieth day of August in the year of our Lord One
thousand seven hundred and eighty eight, and in the
twenty eighth year of the Reign of his Majesty King
George the third over Great Britain etc.
Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence
of
Jno. Hunter 2nd Captain
Jno. Palmer, Purser. (signature) James
Williams
James was sent to Norfolk Island soon after, on 2
October 1788 by Golden Grove. He was one of the
marines who guarded the convicts to ensure law and order
in the settlement. All was going well for James until 26
April 1789, when he became involved in a quarrel with a
convict and then fought with another marine. He
received 24 lashes by order of Lieutenant King and was
given extra duties. The following month James had his
shirt stolen by the convict Thomas Watson.
He left Norfolk Island on 11 February 1791 by Supply
and on 14 March was discharged from the ship's books to
the Port Jackson detachment. Deciding to become a
settler he returned to Norfolk Island by Atlantic
on 26 October 1791 and was granted 60 acres on the left
side of Cascade Road, Phillipsburg, selling grain to the
stores. James again left the island in September of
1792 on Atlantic and joined as a soldier in the
NSW Corps. He soon returned to Norfolk Island with the
Corps, leaving Port Jackson on Kitty on 21
January 1793.
James met Rachael Watkins, convict, on Norfolk Island,
and they probably had a common law marriage, as no
marriage record has been found. Rachael was born in
Hereford c.1759, but little of her early life is known.
Aged near 26 years, Rachael was convicted and found
guilty of breaking and entering and sentenced to 7 years
transportation. She sailed on Neptune in the
Second Fleet, arriving in Sydney on 28 June 1790. One
month later, Rachael was placed on board Surprize
and transferred to Norfolk Island on 28 July 1790.
Rachael bore two children, Susannah and Ann, on Norfolk
Island and left there with them sometime between 1795
and 1798. After returning to Sydney, James and Rachael
had two more children, Sarah and Michael, making a
family of three daughters and one son. They lived at 28
Cumberland Street, The Rocks, in a house James had
earlier acquired. It was sold in 1803, when they moved
to another residence.
James enlisted in the 102nd Regiment and joined the
Invalid Company, also known as the Royal Veterans, on 25
March 1810. He continued working for this Company until
he died on 16 March 16 1820, aged about 70,
whilst on guard duty at South Head. After a Service at
St Philip's Church of England James was buried in the
Sydney burial ground.
Rachael survived another twenty years, dying on 10
February 1840, aged about 80, at Botany, where she lived
with her daughter Susannah and son Michael. Following a
Service at Christ Church St Laurence C of E in Sydney,
Rachael was probably buried with her husband, James
Williams, at Sydney Burial Ground.
Joan Phipps
FFF Member 6854
jandkphipps@bigpond.com
Bibliography
'Howard and Hines Descendants' by Michael Vickery (B App
Sc, Grad Dip Ed)
National Archives, London
Ancestry records
The Gentleman's Monthly Intelligencer Vol. 49 1780
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