Back

If you could spare a few dollars to help with the running costs of hosting this website to keep it alive would be very much appreciated. Thankyou from Gravesites of Tasmania in advance.

THOMAS CREESE (CRUSE)

Thomas was born in Lusk a village in Co. Dublin circa 1795. He was convicted at Dublin County Court of highway robbery and sentenced to transportation for life.  

Soon after Thomas' arrival in Port Jackson he was transferred to Hobart Town on the 'Elizabeth Henrietta'. On 11 Dec 1820 he married Agnes the daughter of Thomas O'Brien and Susannah Mortimore. In the 1820 and 1823 musters Thomas appears as the servant of Robert Hay but by 1825 he has a Ticket of Leave. In 1841 Thomas has a Conditional Pardon. In the 1842 Census the family are recorded as living on Woodburn Estate in the Parish of Richmond.  

Thomas Cruise was, in October 1816, convicted of highway robbery and sent out, on a life sentence, to Van Diemans Land. After languishing in a local prison for five months, he set out from Cork Harbour on March 9 1817. The convicts were herded aboard the 400-ton vessel, "Pilot" on that day and arrived at Port Jackson New South Wales on July 29  1817.

A physical description of Thomas, taken after landing, recorded that he was five feet seven inches in height and of a ruddy complexion. He had light brown hair and hazel eyes. One of 280 male prisoners sent on from Sydney to Hobart Town ,on board the "Elizabeth Henrietta" on which embarkation took place on the 11th August 1817, he arrived on Sept 14th 1817. They were escorted by Lt Robinson and 18 privates of the 48th regiment, another 80 convicts commanded by Lt Reevely and the 46th regiment were sent overland to Port Dalrymple.

On Dec 11th 1820 Thomas still in bondage, married Agnes O'Brien, a free woman, in Hobart . Both were 25 years of age, while the witnesses to the wedding were Mary Ann O'Brien, the brides sister, and Michael Robinson.

Thomas is recorded as holding a "Ticket of Leave" in 1841, (Conditional Pardon)

Thomas worked as a laborer or farmer in Tasmania all his Life. It is possible that he was employed for a time on Thomas O'Briens farm (his father in law). Thomas settled in the Richmond district and ended his days there, on August 5 1877, he was 85. Cause of death was given as chronic Bronchitis and dropsy.  

He was buried 8^th August 1877 at Enfield Tasmania

Please note that there might be information from other websites or brochures "reprinted" here- under the laws of "fair use". In every instance -we hope- we have provided a direct link to the owners web site. We do not claim rights or ownership to any of their information. We do thank them sincerely for their efforts. We have in every instance made a good faith effort to contact and request 'reprint' permission. Nonetheless, we do want to be certain that nothing gets lost due to web site disappearance and the like, so it appears duplicated here.

Gravesites Of Tasmania, Honouring the past, building understanding.

Copyright © 2011 Graves of Tasmania