Our Convict Connection!

My ancestor, Charles Chadburn (also known as Charles Chadbon and Charles Chadlion) was tried and convicted of stealing a 'brass pan' and sentenced to 7 years. He was transported to Tasmania, Australia in 1821 on board the sailing ship "Lord Hungerford".

Charles was born in Elton, Huntingdonshire, England around 1784. His occupation was 'barber and servant' and we can only assume that it was from his employer that he stole the 'brass pan'.

On his convict record, it was recorded that his character was immoral as he had left a wife and children in England and married a Mary Gorley in 1824. From this marriage he had three children: William (1824), Sarah (1826) and Charlotte (1828).

Charles received his ticket of leave in May, 1831 and promptly left for Sydney with his family on board the "Rifleman".                            

Nothing is known of what the family did or where they lived once in Sydney, but I did find a record of a Charles Chadburn' s death in 1838, buried at Church of England, St Phillips Parish, Sydney. I also found a death recorded of a Mary Chadburn in 1849, buried at Church of England, Field of Mars, Marsfield, Ryde, Sydney.

I am hoping to follow up on these records to see if they are the Chadburn's I am looking for.

Charles's son, William, became the head groom on Canning Downs Station in Warwick, Queensland in 1848. Tragically William drowned crossing the flooded Condamine River when returning from registering the birth of his third child, William Henry. William married Louisa Stokes in 1851 and they had three children: Annie (1852), Sarah (1854) and William Henry (1857).

Louisa later married John Howe in 1861 and their first born Son, John Robert (Jackie) Howe became a renowned shearer. (Jackie Howe 'The Man and the Legend" - Barry R. Muir)