Stewart, William

DESCRIPTION

NameStewart, WilliamConvictTransported 1849 'Hashemy' for stealing flax - 7 yearsBiographyIn William Stewart’s written declaration at his trial at the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh in 1846, he stated he was 19 years old, and born at Bonnington. He had been employed in navigating boats upon the Union Canal and had been a Mate for 10 months on the Christopher, a baggage canal boat, where he slept.

William was sentenced to seven years for stealing flax in March 1847, but was not transported until February 1849. He was part of the Exile system, where prisoners served the first part of their sentence in Britain, and received a Ticket of Leave or Conditional Pardon on their arrival in New South Wales.

William spent two years in gaol serving his sentence before boarding Hashemy, the first convict ship to arrive in New South Wales in several years. There was strong public opposition to the transportation system, and the ship’s arrival at Circular Quay in 1849 saw thousands rally in protest.

William was issued a Ticket of Leave on arrival and sent to the Illawarra.

In 1853, at St Luke’s Church, Brownsville, he married Catherine Wright, the daughter of convicts James Wright and Eliza Kenny.

James Wright and his friend William Clarkson were transported on the same ship Speke in 1820. William Clarkson was William Stewart’s uncle; the brother of his mother, Janet. He was also a witness to William and Catherine’s marriage.

The couple farmed at Dapto, Stoney Creek, Albion Park and Terragong. They had 12 children before William’s death from pleurisy in 1879. He was 48 years old.

Catherine remained on the Terragong farm for many years. In the 1885 Kiama District Landholders Police Survey, Catherine is listed as farming 200 acres, owning seven horses, 96 cattle and 30 pigs.

By the early 1900's, Catherine was living on 12 acres at Shellharbour Village.

She lost her eldest daughter Mary Louisa in 1905. Mary had seven children. Catherine and daughter, Margaret ‘Maggie’ raised Mary’s two youngest children at Shellharbour.

Catherine survived William by over 30 years.

When she died in 1911, she left nine sons, two daughters and 19 grandchildren.

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Stewart, William