Thomas Dennard
| Town/City | Bendalong N.S.W. |
|---|---|
| First name | Thomas |
| Last name | Dennard |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | 1803 Bilsington, Kent |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1827 V.D.L |
| Submitted by | Phillip Penberthy |
Story
Thomas Dennard was a member of the notorious Aldington Gang, a highly organised smuggling ring headed by his cousin George Ransley. The gang imported spirits, tobacco and contraband across the English Channel from France. After attracting attention from the police for shooting a customs officer the gang was eventually rounded up and sentenced at Maidstone Assizes to hang. Thomas and his friends, while being ‘impoverished farm-hands’ by day, made so much money from smuggling that they employed the very best legal representation, got off on a technicality and had their sentences reduced to transportation.
After sitting in convict hulks on the river Thames for some time, Thomas and other members of the Aldington gang were loaded onto the Governor Ready and after a fairly straight run where 1 passenger died he arrived in Tasmania in July 1827 after 3 months at sea.
Thomas worked for the Archer family on a large farm where he gained his emancipation after 10 years, married Ellen Mc Cabe and moved to Ballarat Victoria where he died in 1880 after raising 8 children.
Thomas’ grandson Harold Hampton fought in France W.W.1 and returned to father a daughter Joan who had 2 sons, both Penberthy’s.