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Thomas Hodgetts - Convict Pioneer |
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Island
Norfolk Island was first discovered on 19th October 1774 by Captain James Cook but it was not until 25th April 1787 that the island was chosen by Governor Phillip as a place to form a settlement for reception of convicts to ease the numbers of prisoners at Port Jackson in New South Wales. On 12th February 1788 Governor Phillip appointed Phillip Gidley King to be Superintendant and Commander of the island. King set sail on 14th February 1788 for Norfolk Island on the ship, the Supply with provisions, crew and a small group of prisoners, nine male and six female. Of the prisoners, two of them, Nathaniel Lucas and Olivia Gasgoine, (who were later to marry) ), were part of the Founding Party as part of the First Settlement of the island on March the 6th 1788. Nathaniel and Olivia became friends of Thomas and Harriet Hodgetts after meeting on Norfolk Island and children from both families were later to marry each other. By the time Thomas and Harriet arrived on Norfolk Island in 1800, the island had a population of over 800. On his arrival Thomas was appointed to work as a constable. A daughter Elizabeth was born on November 28th 1801 and it was at this time that Thomas and Harriet met Nathaniel and Olivia Lucas. In 1804 another son, James was born. Thomas had been working as a constable for much of his time on Norfolk Island but he had returned to his trade of blacksmith in 1805. It was at this time that the decision was made to abandon Norfolk Island because of its remote location. Nathaniel and Olivia Lucas returned with their children to Sydney and Thomas and Harriet Hodgetts returned to Sydney also a short time later. By this time Thomas and Harriet had a growing family of five children. Thomas continued working as a blacksmith in Sydney and on October 14th 1806 another son, Daniel was born. In 1808, Thomas was appointed Superintendant of the Government Blacksmiths and soon after another addition to the family appeared. A daughter Hannah was born, however it is thought that this baby may have died as another daughter Hannah was born on May 8th 1809. At the end of 1810 Thomas and his family moved out of Sydney to Pitt Town on the Hawkesbury River. It was during this time that the Hodgetts and the Lucases began to inter- marry and on April 8th 1811, their son John married Olivia Lucas, Nathaniel and Olivia's sixth child. The marriage was held at St Phillips Church in Sydney. Six months later on 25th September 1811, Harriet gave birth to a daughter, Jane who was to be their last child. Thomas's son John and one of Nathaniel Lucas's sons, Nathaniel Jnr had decided that in order to prosper, they would re-settle their families in Van Dieman's Land, now known as Tasmania. The sons of both families inherited both their fathers resourceful natures and decided to see what the new territory could bring. At the beginning of 1816, John and Olivia Hodgetts and Nathaniel Jnr and William Lucas took their families and set sail for Port Dalrymple. This port was later to be named Launceston. © COPYRIGHT 2004 Edge Web Design |
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