1814-1831: Australia
Charles Pickering was born 7 April 1814 in New South Wales, Australia[1] to Charles Pickering Snr (1786 –1837) and Catherine Byrne (1788 – 1859).[2] He was baptised 2 October at St Phillip’s Anglican Church, Sydney.[3]
Charles Pickering Snr and Catherine Byrne were not married at the time of Charles birth. They were married 3 August 1818 at the Christ Church Cathedral in Hexham, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. They were married by Reverend William Cowper.[4] The Church of England Christ Church Cathedral had been officially opened by Governor Lachlan Macquarie the previous day. On 3 August Reverend Cowper, of St Phillip’s Church, Sydney baptised 30 children and married 10 couples.[5]
1822
Charles Pickering is living in Harrington Street, Sydney.[6]
In May an advertisement advising that Charles Pickering and his son were leaving the Colony in the schooner Sinbad requesting that all Claims against Pickering were to be presented.[7] The Sinbad was leaving for Port Dalrymple, Tasmania later that month.[a]
Charles Pickering Snr is arrested in Sydney 3 August and is sentenced to Port Macquarie for 17 years.[8] Charles and his sister Mary are sent to Port Macquarie with their father.[9][b]
1825
Charles Pickering is living in Port Macquarie with his parents and sister Mary.[10]
1829
On 2 January, Charles Pickering along with Thomas Baxter gives evidence on a trial in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Catherine Clarkson v. Charles Pickering (Snr) before his Honour Mr Justice Forbes.[11] Pickering gives evidence that he was present at his father’s house with Baxter in February 1827 during the settlement of accounts between Pickering Snr and Catherine Clarkson.[12]
Sydney Gaol Description and Entrance Book for Charles Pickering January 1829
21 January Charles Pickering is arrested and sent to Sydney Gaol for perjury and is bailed on 26 January.[13]
On 16 June Pickering, along with Baxter, is arraigned on an assignment of perjury whilst giving evidence on 2 January for the Clarkson v. Pickering trail. Pickering pleads not guilty.[14]
On 23 June Pickering is treated with an assignment of perjury for the above trial, whereby he stated that he was present in February 1827 at his father’s house with Baxter. However, it came to light that Pickering had not been in town in February 1827.[15]
During the trial on 3 July several unnamed witnesses state that Pickering was in Newcastle on the day he swore to have been present at the settlement of accounts in Sydney between Catherine Clarkson and his father.[16]
On 4 July, Pickering is convicted of wilful and corrupt perjury. He is only 15 years old and sentenced for two years to a penal settlement with a recommendation that be kept apart from those who might confirm him in vice and that he be taught a useful trade.[17] Pickering is sent to the Sydney Gaol on the same day but is moved to the Phoenix Hulk[c] later that day.[18]
Sydney Gaol Description and Entrance Book for Charles Pickering July 1829
August Pickering arrives at Moreton Bay to start his two year sentence.[19]
1831
8 July Pickering completes his two year sentence at Moreton Bay and is sent back to Sydney.[20]
Charles Pickering in the Register of Convicts at Moreton Bay from 1829 – 1831.
Timeline available in PDF: Charles Pickering: Australia 1814_1831
Back to Charles Pickering 1814-1867
Complied by Dulcie Stewart. Updated: 18 February, 2013.
Notes:
[a] Charles Pickering Snr and Jnr never leave for Tasmania. Charles Snr was arrested on 3 August in Sydney and was sentenced for 17 years to Port Macquarie. In a Petition to the Governor he asks to be allowed to proceed to Port Dalrymple, Tasmania per the brig Glory as he had sent his ‘property and working utensils’ to Port Dalrymple. See: Petition by Charles Pickering 1822 Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1825 [database on-line]. Series: (NRS 900) Petitions to the Governor from convicts for mitigations of sentences. Item: 4/1867 Page: 13-13a
[b] In the General Muster that was taken between 2-13 September 1822, Charles (age 10) is listed on the with his sister Mary (age 4), and his father. His mother Catherine is not listed. She is however in Port Macquarie by 1825.
[c] Hulks were established to house the overflow from the Sydney Gaol. Its purpose was to temporarily house prisoners detained for trial and those under sentence of transportation to the penal settlements. The Phoenix Hulk operated from 1825-1838. Information about the Phoenix Hulk and access to records is available on the NSW Archives website. See: http://search.records.nsw.gov.au/series/2421 Copies of letters sent by the Superintendent [Phoenix]. Series Number: 2421 Content date range: 11/02/1828 to 04/10/1836
Reference:
[1] Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981 Index FHL microfilm 993949. Indexing project (batch) number: C13543-3 Retrieved February 15, 2013 from FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTCX-Z3P
[2] Norman Stevens, personal communication, February 4, 2005.
[3] Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981 Index FHL microfilm 993949.
[4] Trica Smits, personal communication. August 17, 2011. Received scan of church record.
[5] Cowper 200 Celebrations (n.d.) Retrieved February 8, 2013 from http://www.cowper200.com.au/cowper200_celebrations.html
[6] Classified Advertising. (1822, March 8). The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 – 1842), p. 4. Retrieved February 8, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2180850
[7] Classified Advertising. (1822, May 17). The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 – 1842), p. 2. Retrieved October 18, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2180992
[8] Sydney Gaol of Charles Pickering 3 August 1822. Series: (NRS 939) Copies of letters sent outside the Colony, “Foreign”, 1814-1825 Item: 4/3864 Page: 6. Retrieved February 8, 2013, from Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1825 [database on-line].
[9] New South Wales General Muster. 1822. Class: HO 10; Piece: 36. Retrieved February 8, 2013, from Ancestry.com. New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849 [database on-line]. Note: The General Muster was a census of convicts. The 1822 muster was taken on 2-13 September.
[10] New South Wales General muster M – Z. 1825. Class: HO 10; Piece: 20. Retrieved February 8, 2013, from Ancestry.com. New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849 [database on-line].
[11] Division of Law, Macquarie University (2011)
http://www.law.mq.edu.au/research/colonial_case_law/nsw/cases/case_index/1829/r_v_pickering_and_baxter/
[12] Criminal Court. (1829, June 26). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 – 1848), p. 3. Retrieved October 18, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36866306
[13] State Archives NSW; Kingswood, New South Wales; Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Series: 2514; Item: 4/6431; Roll: 851. Retrieved February 8, 2013, from Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930, Image 68. [database on-line].
[14] Criminal Court. (1829, June 19). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 – 1848), p.4. Retrieved February 8, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36863974
[15] Criminal Court. (1829, June 26). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 – 1848), p. 3. Retrieved October 18, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36866306
[16] Criminal Court. (1829, July 8). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 – 1848), p. 3. Retrieved February 8, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36866458
[17] Division of Law, Macquarie University (2011)
[18] State Archives NSW; Kingswood, New South Wales; Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Series: 2514; Item: 4/6431; Roll: 851. Retrieved February 8, 2013, from Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930, Image 69. [database on-line].
[19] Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 23431 (n.d.) Chronological register of convicts at Moreton Bay, pg 51-60, 1824-1839, p. 54. Retrieved February 11, 2013, from http://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/Image/DigitalImageDetails.aspx?ImageId=23431
[20] ibid.
Fragmented Identities 