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Richard Morgan (c. 1761–1837)

Richard Morgan (c.1761-1837) was found guilty on 23 March 1785 at Gloucester, England, of stealing a watch and assault with threats of murder against a gentleman to obtain a promissory note. Sentenced to 7 years transportation he was sent to the Ceres hulk in June 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.

Morgan married Elizabeth Lock on 30 March 1788; they had been in gaol together at Gloucester. He was sent to Norfolk Island on the Supply in January 1790; Elizabeth was sent in March 1790 on the Sirius and had no further known association with him.

By July 1791 Morgan was subsisting three people on a two acre lot with 35 rods cleared. He shared the land with Catherine Clark and John Lawrell. In October 1793 he was holding 10 acres and had been elected a member of the Norfolk Island Settlers Society. He was living with Catherine Clark and a child.

Morgan was employed as sawyer, overseer by 1805. He and Catherine and eight children were living on 50 acres, 22 of them cleared. On 15 October with his wife and nine children he left Norfolk Island for Port Jackson on the Buffalo in October 1805 and worked as a self-employed sawyer.

He had agreed to surrender 48 acres at Norfolk Island for 175 acres near Hobart. With one of his sons he took up 190 acres at Cambridge in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). In 1809 he had 130 acres at Clarence Plains; his wife and seven of their children were victualled from stores.

Richard Mogan died at Kangaroo Point and was buried on 26 September 1837 at Clarence Plains; his age was given as 78.

* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), pp 250-51

Citation details

'Morgan, Richard (c. 1761–1837)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/morgan-richard-30639/text37971, accessed 29 March 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

c. 1761

Death

25 September, 1837 (aged ~ 76)
Kangaroo Point, Tasmania, Australia

Cause of Death

unknown

Passenger Ship
Occupation
Key Events
Key Organisations
Key Places
Convict Record

Crime: theft
Sentence: 7 years