Samuel
Free married Elizabeth Smith in Hobart, 23rd April 1810. They had travelled
to Hobart from Norfolk Island with their five children in 1807 aboard the
"Porpoise".
Samuel
had been sentenced to transportation for seven years at the Old Bailey. 22nd
October 1788. Samuel had stolen a cotton handkerchief, valued at 1/-, from
Samuel Rushart. Taken immediately, in possession of the stolen goods, there
was no opportunity for defence, Samuel was automatically found guilty. He
travelled to New South Wales aboard the "Salamander" and in September
1791 was transferred to Norfolk Island aboard the same ship.
Elizabeth
Smith, aged 16, was tried at the Old Bailey, 27th February 1788. Together
with Lydia Jones, Thomas Grainger, Thomas Collins, and Thomas Murphy she received
a death sentence for assaulting and stealing from John Whitehouse on the 16th
January 1788.
Lydia
Jones had accosted Whitehouse in Stonecutters Alley as he left the "Sun"
public house between 11 and 12p.m.. She told him that she was in a miserable
situation, begged him to give her some money for her three children, and asked
him to come the her room in nearby Cross Lane. In court Whitehouse said "it
was a very miserable place......there was a candle burning on the table.....she
said you and I can have a night's lodging together: I said I did not come
here on that business. Where are the children you pointed out to me? ........
you have decoyed me to this dismal place." Lydia Jones sent for some
gin and went to another room, ostensibly to get some bellows for the fire.
She told her accomplices that she "had a cull in her room" and she
"could not do him, he was sullen" As Whitehouse went to leave the
other accused came into the room, assaulted him, and took from him a linen
handkerchief, a silk handkerchief, a stone seal, two half guineas, twelve
half-pence, a promissory note for £5.5.00 and a bill of exchange for
£5, before throwing him out. Elizabeth Smith's brother, Frank, was alleged
to have received some of the proceeds of the robbery.
The
death sentence was commuted to to transportation for life, 7th May 1789.
Elizabeth
arrived in New South Wales aboard the "Lady Juliana" and was immediately
transferred to Norfolk Island aboard the "Surprise" in August 1790.
A
daughter, father un-named, was born to Elizabeth in February 1792.
Samuel
Free was appointed a constable on Norfolk Island, by the time he left in 1807
he was supporting a wife and five children
on 50 acres of land with a 12x10 ft. shingled house and a barn.
On
arrival in Hobart Samuel was again appointed a constable and was granted 70
acres of land at Queenborough. Two more sons,
Thomas and William, were born in Tasmania.
Samuel
Free died at Sandy Bay 3rd June 1819. aged 49. the Hobart Town Gazette reported
that he was;
"one
of the oldest settlers of Norfolk Island and much beloved by his neighbours
for his strict propriety of conduct during his long residence in this colony".
He
was buried in St. David's cemetery where his headstone
reads;
"Here lieth the body
of Samuel Free who departed this life
June 3rd 1819, aged
49 years
A husband kind and
tender dear
A loving father non
lies here
Left wife and children
for to weep
Wile in death cold
arms do sleep
Weep not for me, but
be content
i was not yours but
only lent
Wipe of those tears
and weep no more
i am not lost but
gone before"