Proudly Tasmanian

While I was not born in Tasmania, I consider myself to be a Tasmanian thanks to the time I spent growing up in Tasmania and the history of my family as Tasmanian pioneers. The following is a summary of my direct ancestors and the connection we all share with Tasmania. There are a lot of interesting stories that can be told about their times in Tasmania that I will cover in other posts.

Tasmanian Heritage

Both my parents, four grandparents and eight great grandparents were born in Tasmania. All sixteen of my second great-grandparents lived in Tasmania, with thirteen of them having been born in Tasmania:-

1. William Thomas Presnell (born 1829 in Glenorchy, Tasmania)
2. Emily Hill (born 1839 in Cleveland, Tasmania)
3. William Reid (arrived 1855 from Liverpool, England)
4. Annie Dallas (arrived 1887 from Aberdeenshire, Scotland)
5. Jabez Poke (born 1848 in Forrest, Tasmania)
6. Jane Bisset (arrived 1871 from Lanarkshire, Scotland)
7. Edwin Burgess (born 1853 in Dunorlan, Tasmania)
8. Harriett Ramskill (born 1867 in Table Cape, Tasmania)
9. James Hyland (born 1860 in Mt Hicks, Tasmania)
10. Mary Gardner (born 1859 in Stanley, Tasmania)
11. George King (born 1870 in Deloraine, Tasmania)
12. Fannie Bramich (born 1877 in Port Sorell, Tasmania)
13. Thomas Atkinson (born 1867 in Burnie, Tasmania)
14. Alice Wilson (born 1872 in Caveside, Tasmania)
15. Herbert Neal (born 1866 in Westbury, Tasmania)
16. Clara Saltmarsh (born 1866 in Longford, Tasmania)

Based upon my research so far, I have identified 19 ancestors who were transported to Australia as convicts. They, or their children, found their way to Tasmania directly or via Norfolk island. An additional 24 ancestors arrived in Tasmania as free settlers between 1827 and 1887.

My Convict Roots

First Fleet

Eleven of my ancestors were transported to Sydney between 1788 and 1798. Six of my sixth great-grandparents arrived in Sydney (as convicts) on the First Fleet in 1788: –

1. Olivia Gascoigne (Lady Penryn)
2. Elizabeth Holligan (Prince of Wales)
3. Nathaniel Lucas (Scarborough)
4. Mary Phillips (Friendship)
5. Bartholemew Rearden (Scarborough)
6. William Saltmarsh (Alexander)

Second Fleet

A further three of my sixth great-grandparents arrived in Sydney (as convicts) on the Second Fleet in 1790: –

1. Hannah Flinger (Lady Juliana)
2. Thomas Hodgetts (Scarborough)
3. Hariett Luce (Neptune)

Other Sydney Convicts

My sixth great-grandfather, Thomas Stevens arrived in Sydney (as a convict) on the Third Fleet in 1791.

My fifth great-grandfather, Thomas Presnell arrived in Sydney (as a convict) in 1798.

Tasmanian Convicts

Between 1803 and 1844, seven of my ancestors were transported to Tasmania

1. 1803 – Thomas Williams (5th great-grandfather – Calcutta/Ocean)
2. 1826 – Julia Mullins (3rd great-grandmother – Providence)
3. 1827 – Peter Hill (3rd great-grandfather – Andromeda)
4. 1831 – Joseph Bramich (3rd great-grandfather – Burrell)
5. 1834 – John King (4th great-grandfather – Arab)
6. 1842 – William Phillips (4th great-grandfather – Triton)
7. 1844 – George Ramskill (3rd great-grandfather – Anson)

Tasmanian Pioneers

Between 1821 and 1887 an additional 24 of my ancestors emigrated from England, Scotland, and Ireland to Tasmania.

1. 1821 – Christiana Presnell (3rd great-granmother)
2. 1822 – Thomas Presnell (3rd great-grandfather)
3. 1831 – Frances French & Mary Oliver (4th great-grandparents)
4. 1840 – John Poke & Ann Siggs (3rd great-grandparents)
5. 1842 – George Burgess & Annie Haines (3rd great-grandparents)
6. 1842 – Andrew Wilson & Janet Smeaton (4th great-grandparents)
7. 1844 – Daniel Neal (3rd great-grandfather)
8. 1852 – Caroline Bramich (4th great-grandmother)
9. 1853 – John Gardner & Caroline Smart (3rd great-grandparents)
10. 1854 – William Atkinson (3rd great-grandfather)
11. 1854 – Eliza Spooner (3rd great-grandmother)
12. 1855 – William Hyland & Jane Ashenden (3rd great-grandparents)
13. 1855 – Mary Williams (3rd great-grandmother)
14. 1856 – Jessie Graham (3rd great-grandmother)
15. 1857 – Jane Bissett (2nd great-grandmother)
16. 1857 – Martha Harrison (3rd great-grandmother)
17. 1887 – William Reid & Annie Dallas (2nd great-grandparents)