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Edward Jones (c. 1763–1842)

Edward Jones (c.1763-1842), who was said at his trial to have a wife and three children, was found guilty on 15 September 1784 at the Old Bailey, London, of the theft of a quantity of goods. 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 Alexander in January 1787, arriving in Sydney in January 1788 as part of the First Fleet.

Jones was employed in the public store at Port Jackson and shared a tent with George Whitaker and Joseph Carver. He married Martha Eaton on 23 March 1788. He received a 30 acre grant of land at Toongabbie in 1794; five acres were sown in wheat by 1800 and six acres were ready for maize. By 1802 the family was off stores and was employing a convict on a 50 acre farm at Prospect.

From at least 1806 Edward Jones worked mainly as a baker; he was still recorded as such at Sydney in 1825. He died at Sydney on 3 October 1842 and was buried the next day at St Laurence Church; his age was given as 80.

* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), pp 197-98

Additional Resources and Scholarship

Citation details

'Jones, Edward (c. 1763–1842)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/jones-edward-30912/text38276, accessed 8 November 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

c. 1763

Death

3 October, 1842 (aged ~ 79)
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
Court: Old Bailey, London
Trial Date: 15 September 1784
(1784)

Pre-transportation

Married: Yes
Children: Yes (3)