Anthony Best (1772–1850)
Anthony Best was sentenced to seven years transportation for burglary and robbery. He arrived in Sydney aboard the Indian in 1810 leaving a wife and four children in England. He had two children with Hannah Clothier. Around 1814 he began a relationship with Elizabeth Powell. In 1826 he was convicted of receiving stolen property and sentenced to 14 years transportation. The 1828 Census found him located at Morton Bay in Queensland. In 1834 he married Mary Pearson in Sydney. He moved to South Australia without his wife in 1839. He died in March 1850 in South Australia.
Additional Resources
- is charged with receiving stolen property, Australian (Sydney), 8 July 1826, p 3
- the brig, Wellington, owned by James Underwood, which was taking prisoners, including Best, to Norfolk Island was attacked by pirates, Sydney Gazette, 10 February 1827, p 2
- because of Best's good conduct during the pirate raid his sentence has been reduced to seven years, Sydney Gazette, 24 February 1827, p 2, column 5
- Best is to be transferred to the Moreton Bay penal settlement, Australian (Sydney), 6 July 1827, p 3
- advertisement advising that he will not be responsible for his wife's debts, Australian (Sydney), 2 December 1834, p 1, column 5
- is charged with refusing to support his wife, South Australian Register, 14 February 1844, p 3
- report on his trial, South Australian Register, 21 February 1844, p 3
- appeals against the court's decision to award her one pd a week's support, South Australian Register, 25 May 1844, p 3
- loses his appeal, South Australian Register, 12 June 1844, p 3
- is sentenced to three months gaol for refusing to support his wife, Adelaide Observer, 19 July 1845, p 8
- agrees to pay 5s a week towards his wife's maintainance, Adelaide Observer, 29 November 1845, p 2
- inquest into his death, South Australian Register, 19 March 1850, p 3
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Best, Anthony
- Best, Mary (wife)
- Moore, Elizabeth (partner)
- Scott, Hannah (partner)
- Best, Grace (partner)
Citation details
'Best, Anthony (1772–1850)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/best-anthony-25134/text33618, accessed 20 April 2024.
Life Summary [details]
Birth
1772
Beverley,
Yorkshire,
England
Death
16 March,
1850
(aged ~ 78)
Adelaide,
South Australia,
Australia
Cause of Death
Cultural Heritage
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.