Featherstone Thomas

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Convict No 25093

Ship Name “ Asia ”

Departure date 16.08.1827

Departure Point: Portsmouth

Conduct Record Con 31/13

Indent Con 14/50 CSO1/217/5237 P249

Description List Con 23/1

Appropriation List MM33/5

Thomas was born C1808 and was living in Milman’s Row Chelsea with his mother and brother when he was sent for trial at the Middlesex Gaol for the crime of sacrilege. He was charged with trying to steal the chandelier from the Chelsea Church and sentenced to death which was later commuted to transportation for life.

Thomas was described as age 20 5’4” tall with brown hair and brown eyes and was a labourer of Protestant religion. He arrived in Tasmania December 1827 on board the “ Asia 3”

On arrival in Tasmania he was assigned to William Ashburner who owned land in the Westbury and Longford districts and had several small offences registered against his name, one of which was being at large near Westbury in 1832. In February 1837 he was a constable and was fined for disorderly conduct.

In 1837 he married Elizabeth Crouch the first of his three wives. She was a convict who had arrived on the “William Bryan”. This marriage was to last until 4^th Sept 1848 when Elizabeth died at the “Blue Bell Inn”. An inquest into her death tells us “Elizabeth Featherstone came to her death at the Blue Bell Inn Sorell being drunk and excessively intoxicated and outrageous and was then and there the subject of convulsions and did die”

Thomas received his ticket of leave 24^th Feb 1837 and a conditional pardon was issued 3^rd. Jan 1841. He was one of many convicts issued their pardons at this time to mark the anniversary of the Queen’s birthday.

On the 15^th Sept 1848 Thomas married 26 years old Sarah Brown, another convict who had arrived in the Colony on the “Emma Eugenia” At this time Thomas is listed as ‘free’ and his occupation is given as Licenced Victualler.

Mary Jane – no record of birth has been found for her but she is mentioned in her father’s will and her initials appear on her father’s headstone. Mary Jane married Arthur Thompson Lord (grandson of Edward Lord and Maria Riseley on the 6^th Jan 1869 at Cherry Tree Opening and had 12 children by him.

Thomas Henry Featherstone was born 7 March 1850 at Richmond and he married Sarah Bezzant daughter of Robert Bezzand and Eliza Cleverley on the 26 Oct 1878 at Sorell.

Charles William Featherstone born 22^nd Aug 1852 married Eliza Caroline Walsh daughter of John Walsh and Eliza Hildyard (nee Marrington) on the 3^rd Oct 1874 at the bride’s parents house.

George James Featherstone was born 16^th Aug 1854 and he married Harriet Cracknell daughter of Benjamin Cracknell 24 Aug 1878.

Finally Elizabeth Anne Featherstone was born 18^th March 1856 who never married but did have an illegitimate child Mabel to Frederick Ward on the 11^th Feb 1880.

At this stage Thomas Featherstone held the licence of the “Lennox Arms” and it was there that the mother of his children died on the 27^th July 1862.

In the meantime Thomas had moved and now held the licence of the “Gordon Highlander” at Sorell and it was here he married his third wife Mary Ann Smith, a 50 year old widow, on the 19^th May 1864. Mary Ann died 31^st Oct 1875 and was buried at Sorell.

Thomas Featherstone outlived 3 wives but it was his second wife Sarah Brown that he chose to be buried next to and their headstones still stand at St. Luke’s Cemetery Richmond.

There are many Featherstone descendant’s still living in the Sorell area and many more scattered throughout Tasmania and New Zealand