Richard Asky (?–1789)
Richard Asky/Askew was a marine in the 41st (Portsmouth) Company. He arrived in Sydney in January 1788 aboard the Alexander as part of the First Fleet. He was court martialled during the voyage (but acquitted) for the theft of liquor.
In November 1788 Asky acted as a second to Thomas Bullmore in his fights with James Baker and received 200 lashes after the death of Bullmore. Asky was executed on 27 March 1789 at Sydney Cove, along with five other marines, James Brown, James Baker, Richard Dukes, Thomas Jones and Luke Haynes, for persistent theft from public stores, much of the loot being liquor. One of the group, Joseph Hunt, turned King's evidence and was pardoned.
* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 13
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Baker, James (criminal associate)
- Brown, James (criminal associate)
- Dukes, Richard (criminal associate)
- Haynes, Luke (criminal associate)
- Hunt, Joseph (criminal associate)
- Jones, Thomas (criminal associate)
- Bullmore, Thomas (related entry)
Citation details
'Asky, Richard (?–1789)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/asky-richard-29893/text37006, accessed 26 December 2024.