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George Fry (c. 1761–1810)

George Fry (c.1761-1810), and a companion, were found guilty on 18 March 1782 at Exeter, Devon, of stealing five yards of cloth. Fry's death sentence was reprieved 'to serve in Africa'. He was sent to the Wood Street Compter in London where in October 1783 he began receiving medication and shared confinement with James Ruse. He was sent to the Censor hulk on 19 April 1785 and to the Scarborough in February 1787, arriving at Sydney in January 1788 as part of the First Fleet.

Fry married Eleanor Sandwich on 7 November 1790 at St Philip's Church, Sydney; both signed the register. He worked as a blacksmith in 1800 and was recorded as having one child in 1806.

He is probably the George Fry who was buried on 17 February 1810 at Sydney; his age was given as 48.

* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 137

Citation details

'Fry, George (c. 1761–1810)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/fry-george-31156/text38544, accessed 14 March 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

c. 1761

Death

17 February, 1810 (aged ~ 49)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

unknown

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Passenger Ship
Occupation or Descriptor
Key Events
Key Places
Convict Record

Crime: theft
Sentence: 7 years