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KIT NUMBER: 74689
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For more information on this Gordon family, contact:
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Descendants of Hugh Gordon of County Armargh in Ireland, deported to Tasmania in 1816
Hugh GORDON was convicted of burglary in the spring session of the court in Amargh, March 1816. He was sentenced to death - which was pardoned for life transportation. From Armargh he was transferred to Cork and was held in the hulk 'Atlas' for eleven months in Cork harbour. This was before being transported to Port Jackson, departing in February and arriving July 24 1817.
This journey of the Chapman was one of the most terrible transportation stories. Panic amid the crew on rumours of rebellion and mutiny from the Irish convicts eventually resulted in soldiers firing upon the crew on two seperate occasions causing many injuries and deaths amongst the convicts. Governor Laughlan Macquarie conducted a full inquest into the treatment of the convicts which was eventually dismissed by the powers that be back in England.
Within days of arriving Hugh Gordon and 70 others were transported to Hobart on a ship called the Jupiter. He eventually became a convict constable in Hobart Town. He appears on consecutive muster sheets until 1820 where he was 'assigned' to a A.J. Wylde.
He was married in Hobart in 1821 to a Margaret Fogarty. She had lost her husband Thomas in Hobart and had three children at that time
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Here's a rough timeline.
1815 - Trial County Armagh Spring Assizes 18161817,14 March sailed on the CHAPMAN1817,26 July arrived Sydney1817, 23 August arrived Hobart, Tasmania??? Appeal for Mercy, refused.1821, February Marriage to Mary Fogarty1821, 14 July Colonial papers reveal Hugh is a constable" in Sydney on a particular service for Leiut. Governer Sorrell and request for him to be "victualled".1821, 7 August Conditional Pardon1824, 13 June Sailed to England on the Guilford in service of Col.Sorrell1825, 4 July letter from Sorrell as reference stating Free Pardon received whilst in England.1826 ,8 May letter of reference from Rev. Knopwood.1828, 16 July Hugh granted 500 Acres, residence enjoined, in Wellington parish.1835, 28 January Hugh and Mary witnesses in trial1837, 24 February Convict Joseph Jenkins indented to Hugh Gordon of New Norfolk.1842, 13 September Witness in Trial1842 12 October Hobart Gazette mentions Hugh Gordon, Thomas Allen Lascelles, and Edward Dumaresq, as ajoining landowners to new leases offered for lease by the Crown.1842 Census Hugh Gordon Hobart1848 Census Hugh Gordon Hobart1856 August Electoral roll, Hugh Gordon Bathurst Street house, freeholder1860, August 18 Mary died. Bathurst Street.
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ABOVE: Information submitted by Rex Gordon
