Transportation to Australia

https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/downing/jeremiah/108471

Jeremiah Downing was a labourer. We was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire of ‘stealing from a person’ in 1827 and sentenced to 7 years prison in Australia. He was transported on the ship Bussorah Merchant on 24 March 1828, arriving in New South Wales.

Jeremiah’s Parents are George Downing & Ann Taylor, who lived in Sheffield UK.

According to the indictment books of the West Riding of Yorkshire Quarter Sessions a Jeremiah Downing was, before 1826 twice convicted by the county magistrates.  On the first occasion, at the Doncaster Session 23 January 1822, he was sentenced to twelve calendar months, in the House of Correction, for the theft in Sheffield on the 7^th November of two linen shirts (value 6d) and one linen sheet (value 4d) from John Sheldon, and two other linen shirts of the same value from Joseph Pigot.

At the Rotherham session 6^th August 1823, he was sentenced to two months hard labour for the theft, undertaken with three accomplices.  The crime involved stealing “one hempen bag commonly called a wallet.” (value 2d), one pound of soap, and one pound of sugar (worth 2d each), two ounces of tobacco, 2 ounces of varnish, one glass bottle, and five pounds of wire (each item valued at 1d) belonging to Jacob Manton of Ecclesfield near Sheffield.

Convict Indent:- Convicted 18 July 1827, Aged 19, Protestant, Single, Trade: Labourer, Offence: Stealing from Person

The Bussorah Merchant was a 531 ton sailing ship (image above). There were 169 convicts on board. A full list can be found here

Arrived Port Jackson 26^th July 1829 aboard the “Bussorah Merchant”

Aged 19 single. Physical description – 5ft 6ins, dark sallow complexion, brown hair, chestnut eyes.

For his sentence, Jeramiah was sent to work under – H. Parsons, South Creek.  This area is around Richmond and Windsor (NSW) an area of small settlers.

The Certificate of Freedom Information – Butt No 34/1037 dated 16-8-1834.  

General Remarks “scar on right side of upper lip.  Scar on Back of forefinger of left hand.  Several small blue dots betwixt same and thumb. Mark of inoculation on left arm.

Married Margaret Brennan(d) 14th October 1847 in Trinity Church, North Terrace Adelaide. He is listed as a labourer and was 35 (or38), Margaret age 23. She was born in 1824 in Shoreditch, London.  She died on 1 January 1881 in Talbot, Victoria.

He died on 13^th May 1868 in Kangaroo Flat, Vic, Australia.  He is buried in the Amherst Public cemetery (also known as Talbot Cemetery), Amherst, Central Goldfields Shire, Victoria, Australia. Memorial ID225257207 link.

Ancestry.com public records

Children:

• George Downing was born on 6^th November 1843 in Adelaide, SA.  He died on 25^th August 1908 in Broad Arrow WA.  He married Catherine (Kate) Walls on 19^th August 1867 in St Michael’s, Talbot, Vic., daughter of Francis Walls and Mary Dolin.  She was born in 1847 in Sydney.  She died  on 19 March 1934 in Perth WA.
• Ann Downing was born in April 1846 in New Tiers, SA.  She died on 1^st        January 1900 in Nugetty Gully, Talbot, VIC.  She married William Baker  in1862 in Victoria.  He was about 1835 in Whitton, Suffolk, England.  He died in 1907 in Talbot, VIC.
• Sarah Downing was born in 1847 in Adelaide SA.
• John Downing was born on 14^th June 1848 in Gawler SA.  He died on 2^nd      January 1939 in Mildura VIC.  He married Louisa Angelina Susannah  Tonkin in 1890 in Avoca, VIC.  Daughter of William Tonkin and Louisa  Beer.  She was born on 11^th March 1856 in Adelaide SA.  She died on 7^th May 1916 in Avoca, VIC.
• Joseph Downing was born on 1^st June 1850 in Gawler, SA.
• Susan Martha Downing was born in 1854 in Talbot, VIC.  She died on 9^th September 1923 in Kyneton, VIC.  She married John Robert Boxwell Leared in 1876 in Talbot, VIC.  Son of John Robert Leared and Mary McNamara.  He was born in 1856 in Maitland East VIC.  He died on 10^th December 1934 in Kyneton VIC.
• Sarah Downing was born in 1856 in Amherst VIC.  She died in 1908 in Richmond VIC.  She married George Boyce in 1886 in Kangaroo Flat VIC, son of Henry Boyce and Rosa Ann Hill.  He was born about 1864.  He died in 1931 in Northcote VIC. Buried Amhurst Cemetary, Talbot, Victoria with wife Margaret 1824-1881 and son William 1862 – 1944. 
• Jeremy Downing was born in 1858 in Amherst VIC.  He died on 13^th  November 1921 in Victoria.  He married (1) Christina Maria Morrow in 1882.  She was born in 1863 in Amherst VIC.  She died on 4^th April 1905 Sunbury VIC.  He married (2) Mary Ann Beck in 1909 in Victoria.
• Alfred Downing was born in 1861 in Amherst VIC.  He died on 3^rd February 1922 in Kalgoorlie WA.  He married Jane Ann Knuckey in 1890 in Talbot VIC. Daughter of William Knuckey and Jane Boyd.
• William Downing was born in 1863 in Amherst VIC.  He died in 1945 in Maryborough, VIC.
• Thomas Frederick Downing was born in 1865 in Talbot, VIC.  He died on 4^th May 1927 in Maryborough, VIC.  He married Lillian Hayden in 1891 in Victoria, daughter of William Hayden and Louisa Roberts.  She was born in 1870 in Amherst VIC.  She died on 14^th May 1948 in Maryborough VIC.