Our Currency Lass - Elizabeth Dring !Elizabeth’s was born on the 30th August 1794 on Norfolk Island living there with her parents William and Ann Dring and her sister Ann born in 1792, until 1794. It was a time of struggle for the settlers. Their crops had done well, and their small prosperous community was well settled. However, much was not right with the administration of the Island. After the governorship of Robert Ross, who was very much disliked by all, Governor Philip Gidley King on his return to Norfolk Island in 1791 found the tensions caused by Ross between the convict, settlers and NSW Corp made governing the island difficult. Also his relationship with Governor Gross in Sydney was tense. !William had been working as the Coxswain since he arrived in 1788. He also had a ‘small piece of ground’ held by licence, on which he grew food for his family, 1

selling a surplus into stores by the end of 1792. Whilst they were far from being among the better off families they would have been living some what comfortably in a small wooden house, dirt floor probably only one room — house garden and their crops. !William had not been one of the better behaved convict/settlers and perhaps Ann found Williams wayward ways difficult to support and so accepted or even sought the company of Charles Windsor. Ann and Charles were both treated for injuries by the Island Doctor, William Balmain, after William struck Ann and Charles struck William. So, with this in mind the relationship Elizabeth was born into was not one 2

of stability. !Also, we perhaps might wonder if was Elizabeth was indeed William’s daughter? We don’t know for sure. Ann and Charles were seen together a number of times between October and December 1793. Also, we do not know what is meant by ‘Ann was found in the company of Charles Windsor. ’ I definitely feel inclined to take Ann’s 3

word for it, and say she is. However, we must also take into consideration — was it a love match to begin with or was Ann ‘assigned’ to William? The records don't say. For that matter, was there a love match between Ann and Charles. No I don’t believe so. If so, Charles and Ann would have married when Ann returned to Sydney. I do believe however, that Ann was smitten by Charles and that is why she named her son Charles. !

(Extract from Phillip Gidley King, Journal on Norfolk Island, Mitchell Library, Manuscripts A1687, 1

film CY809, pp341-42).

Ibid 2

Ibid.,3

When Governor Gross sent word back that he would not honour payment to the settlers for their grain until he had had instructions from England to do so, many settlers sold, or just gave up their land, William and Ann being among these. !In November 1794, when Elizabeth was only 3 months old, the family left Norfolk Island and returned to Sydney Cove on the Daeldus. William had learned to farm out of necessity but coming from a seafaring background, farming would have been totally unnatural work in comparison to his work with the boats. !By this time Port Jackson was a busy port and work as a Coxswain, more plentiful. In 1794 farming had moved to Rose Hill, (Parramatta) and the Hawkesbury districts where opening up as well. There would also be a greater opportunity of going to sea, something he wanted to do. !Elizabeth was baptised at St Phillips on the 7th December. !Transcription of Baptism - Source: NSW Registration of Birth, Death, and Marriages. Issued on 23rd June, 1787. !Christian Name Elizabeth When born 30th August 1794 Date of ceremony 7th December 1794 Where Ceremony Performed County of Cumberland, New South Wales at Norfolk Island. Recorded in the register of St Philip, Sydney. NSW. Parents Father William Dring Mother Ann Dring !A short 6 weeks later on the 24th January 1795 Elizabeth’s sister Ann died. How heartbreaking that must have been for Ann and William, the cause of death is unknown. However, Elizabeth was to have a brother Charles Dring who was born on the 20th August 1796; baptised at St Phillips on the 18th September 1796. There is no proof of life for him so what happened is a mystery. !What happened after their return can only be described as speculative. William disappeared; we don’t know when or how. There is no mention of him in the records of the Colonial Secretary; the Gaol Entrance records or any of the musters. !The infamous group of NSW Corp soldiers Robert Cardell, Nicholas Downey and Charles Windsor, who had caused him so much grief on Norfolk Island had been released by Governor Gross. Cardell the ring leader had been given a land grant at Watson’s Bay; Charles Windsor was still there with the NSW Corps, but Downey also

appears to have disappeared. No information can be found about any altercations between William and these men but it is reasonable to suggest that their paths must have crossed. Did he die, jump on a ship; thereby leaving the colony, his life and family behind. Or, was his nemesis one or all three of the men mentioned above? We just do not know. !Therefore,at the age of two years, Elizabeth was an only child of a single mother. In the 1806 muster Ann described herself as a widow. In 1797/8 she became housekeeper for Thomas Huxley at Mulgrave Place where Thomas had his first land grant and it was not long before she had a half sister Jane, who was born 24th August 1798 and registered as Jane F Dring but is believed to be the first child of Thomas and Ann who went on to have another 9 children together living at Paradise Point on the Hawkesbury. !Thomas naturally became a father figure for Elizabeth but did Ann perhaps tell her when she was old enough to understand that Thomas was not her father? The reason I believe this might be possible, is because Elizabeth’s first son, was named William Dring, born in 1811 his father — Henry Treadaway. !Therefore the possibility arises, that Elizabeth did know about her father. William may have returned frequently keeping in touch with his daughter — or did she just call her son after the father she had vague recollections of after being told about him by her mother. Speculation obviously, but possible. William later became known as William Treadway living with his father in the Hunter region, as per the 1828 census and in 1839 he married Mary Ann Pearce and died in South Melbourne in 1898 his death certificate stating this parents were Hy Treadaway and Elizabeth Dring !William was not her first child. Elizabeth had 4 short relationships between 1810 and 1816. 1.Thomas Collins — A daughter Celia Collins born 6th April 1810; baptised 30th April 1810; her father being convict of the second fleet. 2 Henry Treadway. — son William as mentioned above 3.George Hibbs, — Marriage with no issue. The marriage was conducted at St Matthews Church in Windsor on the 13th July 1813. 4. Charles Walker — Ann Walker born 14th November 1815; baptised 11th November 1816. !!Thomas Collins:- There are two men with the name Thomas Collins. 1. Tried 27th February 1788 and convicted at the Old Bailey being sentenced to

death for stealing banknotes, bills of exchange and money to a value greater than 40 pounds. He had two men and two women accomplices. The theft took place at Cross Lane, St Giles in January.

2. Stole a silk cloak in January 1788 he too was sentenced to death. Both sentences were reprieved to Transportation 9th September 1789 and both were sent to the Scarborough on the 10th November 1789. !

Michael King states that one of the two cannot be traced in the colony however, I beg to differ. In his book “The Second Fleet 1790” page 214 1. He has a marriage between a Thomas Collins and Sarah Miles in 1790 but this

did not last as Thomas had a daughter Sarah to Eleanor O’Brien in 1793. 2. He also states that “Thomas Collins was still in the colony in 1811 and was

probably the man of this name who died on 18th February 1820.” We know this to be true because of the relationship with Elizabeth and the birth of Celia in 1810. Michael makes no mention of this birth. I wish to suggest that Celia’s father could be either of the two men named Thomas Collins. It is quite impossible to ascertain as there are no documents which state the crimes committed that will differentiate the two men. !

Thomas Jones/Huxley was also on the Scarborough with both these men. Therefore it is possible that either one of the Thomas Collins’ worked for, or lived close by to the Huxley farm at Lower Portland and therefore having a relationship with Elizabeth who was living there with Ann and Thomas. It is also where Celia was born. !Henry Treadaway:- was tried on the 8th October 1799 at the Surrey Quarter Sessions and sentenced to 7 years. He arrived on the Royal Admiral on 22 November 1800 and was off stores by 1801. In 1806 Mary Ward per the Glatton was living with him according to the general muster. As I have mentioned, William was born 14th December 1811 and In a letter in the Colonial Secretary letters, dated 15th January 1812 Mary was sent to Newcastle as a prisoner per the “Lady Nelson.” 4

!There is a story here! !My own research plus the help of colleagues on Facebook, an interesting story has come to light. !Mary was transported for a felony in February1802 arriving in 1803 on the Glatton, receiving a ticket of freedom in 1806. Between 1810 and 1812 (which is when William was born) she committed 3 crimes including the theft of a silver spoon, a shirt, 25 yards of flannel and a piece of printed calico. She was then sent to Newcastle on the ‘Lady Nelson,’ her sentence being 1 year. !In a letter from Newcastle dated 14th July 1814, regarding her return to Sydney “ In the Schooner Governor Hunter, I sent off this settlement (Newcastle) a free woman named Mary Ward, in case she may apply for permission to return I beg this

Note: Letter stating the conveyance of Mary for her crimes to Newcastle via the Lady Nelson. 4

will not be granted.” In other words she returned to Sydney and was not permitted 5

to return to Newcastle. Why I do not know. Perhaps a very difficult and or disruptive prisoner. She was victualling off stores b 1814 and single. By 1828 she was housekeeper to Jos Brockhouse in Dent Street Sydney. !Therefore we can see why the relationship between Henry and Mary failed. Mary committed 3 crimes and was in and out of custody in the years 1810 to 1812. William Dring/Treadaway was born in December 1811 — Henry and Elizabeth’s relationship was over as William Dring was baptised at St Mathews Windsor 12 July 1812 the day before Elizabeth married George Hibbs on the 13th July 1812. 6

!Henry was a sawyer in the musters of 1814 and by 1822 lived in Windsor as a Landholder with a Government convict servant. In 1825 his son William was, at the age of 14, living with him in Wilberforce. In 1828 father and son were landholders at Swan Reach on the Wallis Plains. His death is unknown. !George Hibbs: - Elizabeth took two children into this marriage Celia aged 2 and William 7 months. There has been speculation in the past that Elizabeth and George had two sons, Elias and Peter Hibbs. This is incorrect. 1. Elias Hibbs arrived in the colony in 1829, a free settler on the Governor Ready. I

think the confusion began when someone saw that he was born in 1811. He was born in England.

2. They are also said to have had a son Peter in 1812 but no records exist to substantiate it and there is no proof of life.

3. George and Elizabeth separated possibly around 1813/14 when Elizabeth obviously had an affair with Charles Walker. Ian Forster states in Guilty, No Chattles, to be Hanged, 'After the marriage ended George acquired an interest in his fathers sloop Recovery." I suggest that it may not have been after the marriage failed but perhaps the marriage failed because George went to sea leaving Elizabeth alone. !

The Recovery sank off the coast of Port Stephens in treacherous waters in 1816 and the crew including, George Hibbs walked to Newcastle and were stripped of their clothing my Natives along the way. George is also on a crew list of the ship Sheed 7

in 1823 and did not appear in the musters again until 1828 when he was back on the family farm with his father and brothers. By this time Elizabeth had six of her nine children with Samuel Arndell. ! Why this is so we do not know and I have not been able to establish.5

(I have checked and double checked these dates as I thought it odd that his baptism was the day 6

before Elizabeth married not his father, but George HIbbs. I can find no change. !

Wikipedia reference:- ‘Australian Shipwrecks’ by Charles Bateson, AH and AW Reid, Sydney 7

1972 p.53 ISBN 0-589-07112-2

Charles Walker:- Charles Walker per the Earl Cornwallis arrived in1800. He was assigned to Ensign Draffin of the New South Wales Corp and by 1805 Commandant of Newcastle with whom he was still in the service of in 1806. Draffin was returned to Sydney as being unsuitable to remain in command due to insanity in 1808. Charles had served his time by now, given his freedom. Charles was described in the Settlers Lists of 1816 as a Mariner and in the Colony and Professor Huxley states that he was a landowner/boatman on the river working with John Dorrington. !After this short liaison with Charles, Elizabeth finally settled down with Samuel Arndell. The first of their children Mary Ann was born in 1818; Elizabeth in 1819; Charlotte in 1822; Samuel 1824; Sophia 1825; Laura 1827; James 1829; Richard 1831; Sarah 1832; Henry 1825. !Samuel Arndell:- was the grandson of Dr Thomas Arndell surgeon with the fleet and son of John Arndell (who came with his family in 1788) and Elizabeth Jackson/Arndell. Samuel was born on Norfolk Island in 1797 making him three years younger than Elizabeth and born after she had left with her family. !1. In 1819 the census and population lists show her as a widow with 4 children.

Celia, William, Ann and MaryAnn. 2. In 1822 the general muster lists her as the wife of Samuel Arndell with 3

children to Samuel — Celia, Mary Ann, Elizabeth; (Charlotte was born after the census was taken). Ann Walker may have been living with her grandmother Ann Forbes or there is an error in the number of children and it should say 4 Children. William was living with his father Henry.

3. In the 1825 NSW Census Elizabeth and Samuel were living in Portland Head with a family of 5 children and having the help of 1 convict labourer victualled from the government store in Windsor. The 5 children were — Celia, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Charlotte and Samuel Jr. In this record Ann Walker was living with Ann and Thomas aged 15 as a servant of Thomas Huxley.

4. In 1828 NSW Census Elizabeth and Samuel; Mary 11, Elizabeth 9, Charlotte 6, Samuel 4, Sophia 3 and a convict labourer John Bacon aged 30 living at Portland Head. 60 acres of land cleared, 13 under cultivation, 9 wheat and 4 maize, 20 bushels maize held, 20 hogs. !

It appears to have been an unsteady relationship with Samuel appearing to have left Elizabeth by 1835. She was expecting Henry, the last of their children. It was in this year that Elizabeth applied for 30 acres of land on the Colo River, saying that she was a poor woman with 8 children. We do not know why she applied nor if she was successful; nor we know where Samuel was at this time, however, by 1836 he bought 30 acres on the Colo River calling it ‘China’; it is difficult to ascertain if it was the same parcel of land Elizabeth did not get. It may have been for this reason they joined forces again and then married in 1847. !

There is, in many Ancestry trees, a story that Samuel and Elizabeth married on Elizabeth’s death bed in 1847 but this is not correct. Elizabeth was the informant on her daughter Ann Durrington’s (nee Walker) death certificate in July1859. Ann’s husband John had died in April 1859 so Elizabeth may have gone to live with her as she was ill for some time before she died. They were living in Wilberforce at the time. Samuel’s death certificate also has his place of abode as Wilberforce at the time of his death in 1874. His death certificate states he died a pauper and his spouse was Elizabeth King (Dring) and in that it does not say that she was deceased, I believe she was alive, then aged 80. !I have been researching where Elizabeth may have gone to live after Samuel died. Perhaps, I thought with one of three of her children who remained in the Hawkesbury region, Charlotte, Elizabeth or Richard. However, I have come to the conclusion that she continued living on her own which could explain why there are no records of when and where she died. !It is awful to think that she died alone perhaps quietly buried without any record of her death or burial being made; but it appears to me, to be the only answer. If she had been living with one of her children, it makes sense that they would surely have registered her death and burial. !This is my interpretation but with no documentation to back it up, it will, like so many other situations in family history remain supposition and inconclusive until documentation becomes available. !It is ironic is it not, that just like her father, she just disappeared. !!Lynne McDonald B.A. History, Anc. Hist. and English !Copyright 26th August 2017Copyright is retained by the author.  Text may be reproduced for personal study and educational purposes.  The design and text must not be published, reproduced or otherwise used for commercial purposes without the expressed permission of the author.!!!!!!!!!

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