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John Hart (c. 1740–1795)

John Hart (c.1740-1795) who was working as a porter having been recently discharged as a sergeant, was found guilty on 12 January 1785 at the Old Bailey, London, of stealing a parcel of food, valued at 12 shillings, that had been delivered to a coachman. Sentenced to 7 years transportation, he was sent to the Ceres hulk on 5 April 1785, where he remained until he embarked for New South Wales on the Scarborough in February 1787, arriving in Sydney in January 1788 as part of the First Fleet.

As John Harts he married Flora Larah, a fellow Jew, on 13 February 1788 at Port Jackson. He was sent to Norfolk Island on the Supply in March 1789; Larah joined him in September 1789.

John Hart died on Norfolk Island on 3 January 1795; the couple were not recorded as having any children.

* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 164

Additional Resources and Scholarship

Citation details

'Hart, John (c. 1740–1795)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/hart-john-31041/text38413, accessed 3 December 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Alternative Names
  • Harts, John
Birth

c. 1740

Death

3 January, 1795 (aged ~ 55)
Norfolk Island, 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