THOMAS HARMSWORTH

Story

THOMAS HARMSWORTH was born about 1750 in Barkway, Hertfordshire England. He married Alice Mansfield 25th June 1780 in Barkway. Alice, daughter of John Mansfield and Elizabeth Beadle was born on 6th November 1754 in Barkway Hertfordshire.

Thomas and Alice Harmsworth made the voyage from Plymouth, England and arrived in Sydney Cove with “THE FIRST FLEET” aboard the “PRINCE OF WALES” on the 26th January 1788. Thomas was a Private in the “ROYAL MARINE CORPS” and on arrival was assigned to the “PORT JACKSON GARRISON”.

Travelling with Thomas and Alice on the voyage was their daughter Ann, Born: 1782 England and their son Thomas Born: 1784 Wornford, Hampshire England. Thomas Jnr died soon after arrival on 24th February 1788 and Thomas Snr died from “Flux” (Diarrhoea and Fever) in Sydney Cove on 30th April 1788. Another son John was born on the voyage on 17th December 1787. John married Sarah Wheeler on Norfolk Island. He died on 21st of July 1860 in Tasmania after a military career with the N.S.W. Corp. His former commanding officer wrote that “He had been a clean, sober good soldier”.

Thomas Harmsworth whilst having a very brief life in the New Colony has created history by being the father of Thomas Harmsworth Jnr who was the FIRST FREE SETTLER from the “FIRST FLEET” to die on Australian soil and his brother John was the LAST FREE SETTLER on the “FIRST FLEET” to die on Australian soil.

The widow Alice and the two surviving children, Ann and John, were left with no support until the 15th October 1791 when Alice married Corporal Daniel Stanfield, a Marine who had also arrived with the “FIRST FLEET” on board the “SUPPLY”. They were then transfered to Norfolk Island and after 4 years service they returned to Port Jackson and later moved to Tasmania. Daniel died February 1826 and Alice died October 1830 both registered at St. David’s Hobart Tasmania.

Thomas and Alice’s 17 year old daughter Ann was married to Private Samuel Marsden on 19th January 1800. The marriage was registered at St. Philip’s Church of England Sydney. Samuel Marsden had arrived in the new colony with the “SECOND FLEET” on board the “SURPRIZE” in 1790 and was a soldier assigned to the “N.S.W. CORPS” on Norfolk Island. Ann and Samuel remained on Norfolk Island with their 4 children until the recall of the N.S.W. CORPS in 1810 when in order to remain in the colony, he transfered to the “ROYAL VETERAN COMPANY”. Samuel was pensioned out of the corps on 24th September 1823 and worked as a Shoemaker at Liverpool N.S.W. On 19th November 1823 Major General Thomas Brisbane recommended that Private Samuel Marsden was to receive a land grant at Liverpool. Samuel Died February 1830 Registered at St. Lukes, Liverpool and Ann died July 1828 Registered at St. Phillip’s Sydney.

James Marsden, Grandson of Samuel Marsden and Anne Harmsworth, married Rebecca Southall on 18th May 1874 at St. Andrew’s C of E Braidwood N.S.W. On the 1st February 1878 James was granted a selection “Lot 35” on “MANAR STATION ” owned then by the Gordon family, situated a few kilometers west of Braidwood. “MANAR” is still a working station and as at 2007 is still owned by the Gordon family. James died on 21st of November 1891 and is buried on “MANAR”.

Decendants of Thomas and Alice Harmsworth are still living in the Braidwood district and also scattered throughout Australia. We are the proud decendants of the courageous pioneers who left their homeland to settle in a strange new country on the other side of the world.

Generation 1. Thomas Harmsworth 1750-1788

Generation 2. Ann Harmsworth 1782-1828

Generation 3. Samuel Marsden 1810-1853

Generation 4. James Marsden 1846-1891

Generation 5. Mary Marsden 1886-1938

Generation 6. Reg Marsden-Hush 1908-1989

Generation 7. Janet Marsden-Hush 1946-

< Back to the Stories