Samuel Selshire (c. 1764–1789)
Samuel Selshire (c.1764-1789), a servant to one of His Majesty's Councillor's clerks, John Jacobs and Richard McDonald were sentenced to death on 25 February 1784 at the Old Bailey, London, for highway robbery. They were found with two guns, and a stolen watch and 4 shillings. McDonald was hanged; the sentences of Jacobs and Seleshire were commuted to 7 years transportation on 12 April 1784. They were sent to the Censor hulk in September 1784 and embarked on the Scarborough for New South Wales in February 1787, arriving in the colony in January 1788 as part of the First Fleet.
Selshire was buried at Port Jackson on 22 January 1789.
* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), p 325
Additional Resources
- proceedings of trial, Old Bailey, London, 25 February 1784 (pdf)
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Jacobs, John (criminal associate)
Citation details
'Selshire, Samuel (c. 1764–1789)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/selshire-samuel-31345/text38744, accessed 19 April 2024.
Life Summary [details]
Birth
c. 1764
Death
21 January,
1789
(aged ~ 25)
Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia
Cause of Death
Passenger Ship
Occupation
Key Events
Key Places
Convict Record
Crime: highway robbery
Sentence: death
Commuted To: 7 years
Court: Old Bailey, London
Trial Date: 25 February 1784
(1784)
Pre-transportation
Occupation: domestic servant