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Thomas Jones (c. 1765–1843)

Thomas Jones (c.1765-1843) was found guilty on 21 March 1785 at Warwick, Warwickshire, of stealing a silver tankard. His death sentence was commuted to 7 years transportation on 29 March 1785. Sent to the Justitia hulk on 18 August 1785 he was dispatched to the Alexander in January 1787 and arrived at Sydney in January 1788 as part of the First Fleet.

Jones was sent to Norfolk Island on the Golden Grove in October 1788. It was probably he who received 30 lashes on 26 January 1789 for insolence to Stephen Donovan and Thomas Jamison (he was listed by commandant King as J. Jones; John Jones did not arrive at Norfolk Island until the end of February 1789). Thomas told the commandant that his time had expired on 5 April (he was actually due to serve another three years). He was settled on 6 acres near Cascades where in July 1791 he was subsisting himself.

Jones left Norfolk Island on the Kitty in early 1793 for Port Jackson. He received a 30 acre grant at Eastern Farms and was off stores by 1794. By 1800 one child (but no woman) was recorded as living with him. In 1806 a child was still with him (but, again, no woman). In 1814 and 1817 Jones was recorded as a shopkeeper in Sydney. In 1820 he held 30 acres by purchase and was operating in Sydney as a dealer. In 1828 he worked as a baker.

Thomas Jones, shopkeeper, died on 24 October 1843 at Sydney; his age was given as 87. His burial was recorded in the Holy Trinity church register.

* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 200

Citation details

'Jones, Thomas (c. 1765–1843)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/jones-thomas-31388/text38840, accessed 6 December 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

c. 1765

Death

24 October, 1843 (aged ~ 78)
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
Social Issues
Convict Record

Crime: theft
Sentence: death
Commuted To: 7 years
Court: Warwickshire
Trial Date: 21 March 1785
(1785)