Free Settler or Felon

Convict and Colonial History



Notorious and Noteworthy Convicts


Aaron Price - Arrived on the Guildford in 1824. Member of bushranger gang Jacob's Irish Brigade. Later overseer at Norfolk Island

Alexander Green - Arrived on the Countess of Harcourt in 1824. Scourger and public executioner at Hyde Park Barracks

Andrew Bent - Arrived NSW on the Guildford in 1812. Government printer, emancipist. VDL

Andrew Thompson - Arrived on the Pitt in 1792. Brewer, ferry owner, emancipist, land owner

Anthony Hitchcock - Arrived on the Lord Melville in 1829. Executed in 1833 after a convict uprising at Castle Forbes in the Hunter Valley

Billy Blue - Arrived on the Minorca in 1801. Became a boatman on Sydney Harbour.

Charles Hughes - Pilot and Innkeeper at Newcastle. Arrived on the Larkins in 1817

Charles Sandys Packer(Stuart Shipley). - Musician. Arrived at Norfolk Island on the Mangles in 1840

Charles Rhodius - Arrived on the Sarah in 1829. Landscape artist.

Daniel Cooper - Merchant. Arrived on the Fanny in 1816

David Dickenson Mann - Arrived on the Hillsborough in 1799. Public servant, school teacher.

Edward Eager - Arrived on the Providence in 1811. Trader, emancipist

Edward O'Shaunnessy - Arrived on the Asia in 1825. Journalist, editor, poet

Edward Redmond - Political prisoner. Arrived on the Minerva in 1800

Elizabeth Hannell - Transported on the Minstrel in 1812. Mother of James Hannell, first Mayor of Newcastle

Emanuel Solomon - Arrived on the Lady Castlereagh in 1818. Auctioneer, merchant, shipowner

Esther Abrahams - Arrived in NSW on the Lady Penrhyn in 1788.

Frances Johnson - Arrived convict transport Lord Melville in 1817. Select here to read an interesting account of the voyage of the Lord Melville written by descendant Brian Wills-Johnson

Francis Beattie - Innkeeper at Newcastle. Arrived on the Indian in 1810

Francis Greenway - Architect. Arrived on the General Hewitt in 1814

Francois Xavier Prieur - Canadian political prisoner. Arrived in NSW on the Buffalo in 1840

Frank the Poet - Australia's well known convict poet Francis McNamara 'Frank the Poet' arrived on the Eliza convict ship in 1832

Frederick Strange - Transported to VDL on the Neptune in 1838. Landscape artist


Garratt Armstrong- Soldier turned convict and bushranger

George Barrington - Arrived on the Active in 1791. Emancipist, farmer, police officer

George Bridges Bellasis - Arrived on the Fly in 1802. Formerly lieutenant in the East India Co. artillery. Public servant, emancipist

George Chartres - Arrived on the Providence in 1811. Attorney, merchant, publican

George Clarke - Arrived on the Royal Charlotte in 1825. Bushranger

George Crossley - Arrived on the Hillsborough 1799. Attorney, emancipist, farmer.

George Howe - Arrived on the Royal Admiral in 1800. Government printer, publisher.

George Loveless - Political prisoner. Sent to VDL on the William Metcalfe in 1834

George Mealmaker - Arrived on the Royal Admiral in 1800. Scottish political prisoner. Supervisor at the Female Factory at Parramatta

George Bridge Mullins arrived as an exile on the Adelaide in 1849

Hannah Rigby - Arrived on the Lord Sidmouth in 1823. Sent to Moreton Bay penal settlement

Henry Angel - Arrived on the Neptune in 1818. Accompanied Hume and Hovel on their Expedition.

Henry Brown Convict on the Royal Admiral in 1830. Gave evidence at the trial of convicts accused of mutiny in the Hunter Valley in 1833

Henry Dale - Early gaol keeper at Newcastle gaol. Arrived per Somersetshire in 1814

Henry Fulton - Irish Political prisoner. Arrived on the Minerva in 1800

Henry Kable - Businessman. Arrived with the First Fleet on the Friendship in 1788

Henry T. Harrington - Convict Surgeon - arrived in VDL on the Manlius in 1830

Sir Henry Browne Hayes - Arrived on the Atlas in July 1802. Emancipist

Henry Reeves - Innkeeper at Maitland - arrived on the Hercules in 1825

Henry Wrensford - First Schoolmaster at Newcastle 1816

Henry Savoury - Author of Quintus Servinton. Arrived in VDL on the Medway in 1825

Henry White - Convict surgeon at Port Stephens

Isaac Nicholls - First Postmaster. Arrived on the Admiral Barrington in 1791

Israel Chapman - Arrived on the Glory in 1818. Police Officer

Jack Donohue - Bushranger 'Bold Jack Donohue' arrived on the Ann and Amelia in 1825

James Blackburn - Engineer and architect. Arrived in VDL on the Isabella in 1833

James Bloodsworth - Bricklayer, builder. Arrived on the Charlotte in 1788

James Davis - Arrived on the Norfolk. Escapee from Moreton Bay.

James Dixon - Irish political prisoner. Arrived on the Friendship in 1800

James Groves - Arrived on the Calcutta in 1803. Engraver, cartographer

James Harold - Political prisoners. Arrived on the Minerva in 1800

James Larra - Arrived on the Scarborough in 1790. Farmer, police officer, emancipist

James Oatley - Arrived on the Marquis of Wellington in 1815. Clockmaker

James Ruse - Farmer, emancipist. Arrived on the Scarborough in 1788

James Souter - Arrived on the Exmouth in 1831. Accompanied Sir Thomas Mitchell's expedition

James Squire - Brewer. Arrived on the First Fleet vessel Charlotte in 1788

James Alexander Thomson - Arrived in VDL on the Medway in 1825. Architect, engineer.

James Tucker - Arrived on the Midas in 1827. Forger, novelist

James Underwood - Ship owner, merchant, sealer. Arrived in the Admiral Barrington in 1791

James Hardy Vaux - One of Australia's most famous convicts. He was transported three times over a period of thirty years. First on the Minorca in 1801, then on the Indian in 1810, and in 1831 the Waterloo.

John Anderson - Scottish political prisoner. Arrived on the Speke in 1821

John Arscott - Carpenter, emancipist. Arrived on the Charlotte in 1788

John Baughan - Carpenter, millwright. Arrived on the Friendship in 1788

John Cadman - Arrived on the Barwell in 1798. Became Superintendent of Government Boats

John Black Caesar - Bushranger. Arrived on the Alexander in 1788

John Davies - Co - founder of the Mercury Newspaper. Son of Michael John Davies

John Waugh Drysdale - Convict surgeon arrived on the John Barry in 1836 accompanied Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell's expedition in 1836

John Eyre - Artist. Arrived on the Canada in 1801

John Fitzgerald - Bushranger. Arrived on the Anne in 1801

John Graham - Arrived on the Hooghley in 1825. Convict escapee. Sent to Moreton Bay

John Grant - Arrived on the Coromandel in 1804. Poet

John Harris - Arrived on the Scarborough in 1788. Police officer, emancipist

John Butler Hewson - Innkeeper at Newcastle. Arrived on the Mangles in 1820

John Hobson Bushranger known as Opossum Jack. Arrived on the Layton in 1829

John Irving - Arrived as a convict on the First Fleet on the Lady Penrhyn. Australia's first emancipist.

John Jones - Early bushranger near Newcastle arrived on the Gorgon

John Knatchbull - John Knatchbull alias John Finch arrived on the Asia in 1825

John Mayo - Arrived on the Baring in 1819. Publican, constable at Maitland

John Frederick Mortlock - John Mortlock arrived on the Maitland in 1844. Former soldier, author.

John Matthew Richardson - Gardener, explorer. Accompanied John Oxley on expeditions. Arrived in VDL on the Arab in 1822.

John Smith - Innkeeper and land owner. Arrived on the General Hewitt in 1814

John Tawell - Chemist. Arrived on the Marquis of Wellington in 1815

John Tucker - Arrived on the Active in 1791. Storekeeper settler.

John Warby - Explorer. Arrived on the Pitt in 1792.

John Wilson - Arrived in NSW on the Alexander in 1788. Wild white man and explorer

Jonathan Griffiths - Ship builder. Arrived on the Scarborough in 1790

Joseph Holt - Political prisoner. Arrived on the Minerva in 1800

Jorgen Jorgensen - First arrived in the colony on the Lady Nelson in 1800. Arrived in VDL on the Woodman in 1826. Surgeon Cornelius Kelly

Joseph Backler - Artist. Arrived on the Portland in 1832

Joseph Lycett - Artist - arrived on the General Hewitt in 1814

Joseph Potaski - First Pole to settle in Australia. Arrived on the Calcutta in 1803

Joseph Swailes - Innkeeper at Morpeth - Arrived on the Calder in 1822

Joseph Wild - Police officer, explorer. Arrived on the Ganges in 1797

Kerry Lyne - Arrived on the Archduke Charles in 1813. Early Constable at Paterson

Lawrence Hynes Halloran - School teacher and journalist. Founder of the Sydney Public Free Grammar School. Arrived on the Baring in 1819

Lawrence Kavenagh - Bushranger. Acquaintance of Martin Cash and George Jones. Arrived on the Ferguson in 1829

Margaret Catchpole - Arrived on the Nile in 1801. Diarist, midwife, shop owner.

Margaret Dawson - Arrived on the Lady Penrhyn in 1788. Relationship with surgeon William Balmain

Maria Lord - Arrived on the Experiment in 1804. Store keeper. Emancipist.

Martin Cash - Bushranger. Arrived on the Marquis of Huntley in 1828

Mary Bryant Mary Bryant arrived on the Charlotte in 1788.

Mary Reibey - Merchant, ship owner, land owner. Arrived on the Royal Admiral in 1792

Mary Talbot - Arrived on the Mary Ann in 1791

Matthew Everingham - Farmer, emancipist. Hawkesbury River. Arrived on the Scarborough in 1788

Maurice Margarot - Scottish Martyr. Arrived on the Surprise in 1794

James Meehan - Arrived on the Friendship in 1800. Political prisoner

Michael John Davies - Attorney. Arrived on the Florentia in 1830. Father of John Davies and foster father of Edward Davis (The jewboy bushranger)

Michael Dwyer - Political prisoner. Arrived on the Tellicherry in 1806

Michael Gannon - Arrived on the Almorah in 1820. Builder, land owner, publican, emancipist

Michael Hayes - Arrived on the Friendship in 1800. Diarist, emancipist

Michael Howe - Arrived Indefatigable in 1812. Bushranger VDL

Michael Keane - Arrived on the Seaflower in 1820. Select Here to read an account of The life of convict 'Michael Keane' who referred to himself as a Botany Bay Hero.

Michael Massey Robinson - Poet, public servant. Arrived on the Barwell in 1798

Molly Morgan - Molly Morgan arrived as a convict on the Experiment in 1804. She built the Angel Inn in Maitland.

Murtagh Ahern - Murtagh Ahern arrived on the Atlas in 1802. Read Selected extracts from Journey into Hell Chapter 11 of 'Beyond the Sea' by Brian Ahern

Nathaniel Lucas - Arrived with the First Fleet on the Scarborough in 1788. Carpenter. One of the original convicts sent to Norfolk Island

Patrick Montgomery - Convict surgeon. Arrived on the Florentia in 1830

Patrick O'Sullivan - Transported on the Bengal Merchant in 1838. Landowner. Politician, Ipswich

Patrick Riley - Arrived on the Three Bees in 1814. Innkeeper at Newcastle

Peter O'Neil - Political prisoner. Arrived on the Ann in 1801

Pierce Collits - Arrived on the Minorca in 1801. Farmer, police officer, publican

Richard Binder - Innkeeper at Newcastle arrived on the Glatton in 1803

Richard Dry - Political prisoner. Arrived on the Minerva in 1800

Richard Fitzgerald - Arrived on the William and Anne in 1791. Land owner, police officer, commissary banker.

Richard Read - Arrived on the Earl Spencer in 1813. Painter, farmer, emancipist

Richard Thompson - Journalist, editor. Arrived on the Hive in 1834.

Robert Cooper - Arrived on the Earl Spencer in 1813. Brewer, trader, emancipist

Robert Nash Miller - public servant, shop owner. Arrived on the Albemarle in 1791.

Robert Sidaway - Theatre owner, baker. Arrived with the First Fleet on the Friendship in 1788

Robert Stewart - Arrived on the Calcutta in 1803. One of the pirates who seized the Harrington in 1808

Samuel Lyons - Arrived on the Marquis of Wellington in 1815. Auctioneer, banker, merchant

Samuel Terry - Merchant landowner The Botany Bay Rothschild. Arrived on the Earl Cornwallis in 1801

Simeon Lord - Merchant and emancipist. Arrived on the Atlantic in 1791.

Solomon Levey - Emancipist and Merchant. Arrived on the Marquis of Wellington in 1815

Solomon Wiseman - Merchant and ferryman. Arrived on the Alexander in 1806. in 1806.

Stephen Bombelli - Arrived on the Vittoria in 1829. Accompanied Sir Thomas Mitchell's expedition

Thomas Barrett - First person to executed in the colony. Arrived on the Charlotte in 1788

Thomas Bock - Arrived in VDL on the Asia in 1824. in 1824. Artist.

Thomas Brady - Irish rebel arrived on the Minerva

Thomas Ristol Crowder - Arrived on the Alexander in 1788. Police officer, farmer, emancipist

Thomas Desmond - Bushranger. Arrived on Atlas

Thomas Dowse - Arrived on the Florentia in 1828. Merchant, auctioneer, Town Clerk at Brisbane

Thomas Massey - Police officer, farmer, emancipist. Arrived on the Gorgon in 1791

Thomas Muir - Scottish Martyr. Arrived on the Surprize in 1794

Thomas Fyshe Palmer - Scottish Martyr. Arrived on the Surprize in 1794

Thomas Pamphlett - Arrived on the Guildford in 1812. Castaway. See Moreton Bay

Thomas Parmenter - Convict Surgeon arrived on the Fanny in 1816

Thomas Ransom - Shipwright, publican. Arrived on the Salamander in 1791

Thomas Rose - Arrived on the Barwell in 1798. Baker, land owner, publican

Thomas Griffiths Wainewright - Arrived in VDL on the Susan in 1837. Forger. Portraitist

Walter O'Malley McEvilly - Horse breeder, librarian. Arrived in NSW on the King William in 1840

Thomas Watling - Artist. First transported on the Pitt in 1792. From the Cape on the Royal Admiral.

Thomas West - Arrived on the Earl Cornwallis in 1801. Grazier, fruit grower

Thomas Whyte - Arrived on the Baring in 1815. in 1815. Merchant. Ship's master

William Atkinson - Bushranger. Arrived on the Guildford in 1827

William Baker - Bushranger. Arrived on the Morley in 1817

William Bland - Surgeon. Transported on the Denmark Hill to VDL in 1814. To NSW on the Frederick in July 1814. Later married widow Eliza Smeathman

William Buckley - Arrived on the Calcutta in 1803

William Harrison Craig - Convict Artist - Arrived on the Guildford 1812

William Edward Elliott - Farmer. Emancipist. Arrived on the Scarborough in 1788

William Beulow Gould - Artist. Arrived in VDL on the Asia in 1827

William Henry Groom - Politician. Transported on the Hashemy in 1849

William Hutchinson - Superintendent of Convicts. Arrived on the Hillsborough in 1799

William James Maum - Political prisoner. Arrived on the Minerva in 1800

William Moffitt - Arrived on the Guildford in 1827 in 1827. Bookbinder. Publisher.

William Redfern - Convict surgeon. Arrived on the Minorca 1801

William Westwood - Alias Jackey Jackey. Bushranger. Arrived on the Mangles in 1837

William Whitla - Convict surgeon arrived on the Sophia1829

William Charles Wilkes - Arrived on the Neva in 1833. Journalist. Accompanied James Burnett's expedition north to Great Dividing Range and Moreton Bay

William Worthington - Arrived on the Mellish in 1829. Accompanied Sir Thomas Mitchell's expedition.