Robert Kingston Abt 1770

Birth: Abt 1770, Ilchester, Devon, England

Marriage: 31 October 1808, St Davids, Hobart Town, Van Dieman's Land to Esther Beresford
Death: 28 November 1825, Near Launceston, Tasmania

Children:
Elisha Kingston b 1808 Hobart Town, Van Dieman's Land, m Sophia Langford, d 23 May 1866, Tamar
River, Launceston. 13 children.
Hannah Kingston b 5 December 1811, m Thomas Turner, d 1842, when bashed by her husband,
Tasmania: 2 children

Life Sketch
Kingstons had been living in Devon, England since the 1500s. Some of the earliest records shown by IGI
include:
Walter Kyngston, married 4-8-1562, Johan Phylpte, Barnstaple, Devon.
John Kyngston christened 18-3-1564 at Barnstaple, Devon
John Kingston married 12-4-1784 Sarah Edwards, Barnstaple, Devon
Children:
John Edward Kingston Christened 2-5-1785, Barnstaple, Devon.
Robert Kingston Christened, 4-10-1786, Barnstaple, Devon.

Thomas Westcote MDCXXX (1630), a View of Devonshire, referered to Gilbert Biship of Choldash.
Nicholas Bishop marrying a daughter of Robert Kingston of Sele Monachorum, now called Zeal
Monachorum, which is a town 8mWNW of Crediton, Devon, which is NW of Exeter. Also a Richard
Kingston and Nicholas lived at Winkleigh

Robert Kingston the Convict

The Devon Summer Circuit of 1789, held at the Castle of Exeter, reported that Robert Kingston was
sentenced to be hung, but commuted to 7 years transportation to New South Wales, for feloniously
breaking and entering the dwelling house of John Hancock at the Parish of Ilfracombe (near Barnstaple,
Devon) around 4 in the afternoon of 20th July last, and for stealing goods valued at £5-17-6. He pleaded
not guilty. Felony was a serious charge.
Others also similarly sentenced on this day were: Thomas Haley, William Jones, Richard Hutchings,
Thomas Pollock, Thomas Dymond, James Drew, Thomas Williams, Henry George.

Other punishments on the day were private whippings, public whippings, imprisonment and transportation
overseas. Some records state transportation for 14 years, others life. Transportation was the typical
punishment for stealing property such as cutlery or clothing.

1851 Census Devon

Dolton HANCOCK John 1851 Aged 90. Wife Peggy 1851 Census transcript HO107/1894/257
Dolton HANDCOCK Thomas 1851 Aged 60. Wife Margaret 1851 Census transcript HO107/1894/259
John Handcock b 28 MAY 1747 Dolton, Devon, England
JOHN HANDCOCK - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 26 JUN 1769 Barnstaple, Devon, England to John Handcock and Mary
JOHN HANCOCK - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 05 MAR 1755 Ilfracombe, Devon, England John Hnadcock and Mary
JOHN HANCOCK - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Marriage: 07 OCT 1781 Ilfracombe, Devon, England Mary Gamon
JOHN HANCOCK - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Marriage: 30 MAR 1786 Ilfracombe, Devon, England Elinor Lang
OHN HANCOCK - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Marriage: 07 APR 1789 Ilfracombe, Devon, England Mary Hancock
Robert was transported from England to Sydney (Australia) as a convict, sailing on the "Atlantic", one of
the 11 ships that made up the 3rd fleet.

The "Atlantic" was built in Wales in 1784, 422 ton

Master: Archibald Armstrong
Surgeon: James Thomson

Loading the prisoners on board the Atlantic and other ships of the 3rd fleet was a slow process, taking
many weeks. The Atlantic sailed from Plymouth 27th March 1791 with 220 convicts, all male. Many of
the convicts were in poor health, needing help to board, and during the voyage 18 convicts died, so 202
convicts disembarked in Sydney. Of the 2000 convicts in the 3rd fleet, more than 200 died during the
voyage, but this was not as bad as the disastrous 2nd fleet voyage. The 'Atlantic' sailed with the
'Salamanda' and 'William and Ann' to Rio de Janeiro. After Rio, they sailed around Cape Horn, then the
ships became separated, and the Atlantic was the first to sail non-stop to Sydney, arriving on 20th August
1791, taking around 146 days

Robert Kingston was sent to Norfolk Island on the 'Supply' to help form the new settlement, and this
experience was to shape the rest of his life. Details of the early days of the Norfolk Island settlement are
described in The Journal and Letters of Lt Ralph Clark 1787-1792, and the Journal of Philip Gidley King
Lieutenant RN 1787-1790 Australian Documents Library.

A major set back to the early settlement occurred on March 1790 when the HMS Sirius, laden with
supplies from Sydney, went aground on a reef off Norfolk Island. Much needed supplies as well as the
ship was lost. The loss forced the new settlers onto a starvation diet, relying on the fish and birds they
could catch. Lt Clarks diary contains a count of birds killed each day, and this figure was typically around
150 birds per day. Over a 10 year period, more than 100,000 birds were killed.

Both male and female convicts on the Island were punished for misdemenours with lashings. Typically
misdemenours were stealing of food, being away from work, and rudenss to officers. Punishment for
major offences was 300 lashes, for minor offences 50 lashes. On 13th October 1791 Robert Kingston
was ordered to receive 100 lashes for absenting himself from work. He could only bear 34. Incomplete
punishment of this kind was frequent during this first phase of settlement of Norfolk Island. During the
second phase when Norfolk Island became a penal settlement for hardened convicts, punishment was
notoriously harsher.

John Hunter in a document dated September 3rd 1790, notes that James Brown, Honor Sullivan, George
Collins, Joseph Wafs, Anne Read, Patrick McInammy, Robert Kingston and John Bately were convicted
and sentenced to death on Norfolk Island. The Governor gave Robert Kingston a conditional pardon,
providing he reside at Norfolk Island for 14 years.

1791 and 1792 were tough times on Norfolk Island, the crops failed and the rule was harsh, especially for
the convicts.

John Easty, a Private marine wrote in his diary page 139

"the convicts had not had a pound of flour for nearly six months". "The Island which was reckoned the
most flourishing of any Island in the world, turns out to a poor miserable place and all manner of cruelties
and oppression used by the governer, flogging and beating the people to death. That is better for the
poor unhappy creatures to be hanged almost than to come under the command of such tyrants and the
Governor behaves more like a mad man than a man trusted with the government of an Island ...
.belonging to Great Britain".

Robert Kingston had apparently served his time by 1797, because there is a record of him being on April
10th, 1798 being granted 25 acres at Mulgrave Place (Sydney, Folio 303) with rates of 2 shilling per year.
The grant passed to Sara Cooley. Robert Kingston stayed on at Norfolk Island.
Robert Kingston and John Beresford contributed to the agricultural success of Norfolk Island, and food
sent from Norfolk Island was critical in preventing starvation of the Sydney Cove settlement.

In 1901 Robert Kingston's occupation was listed as Bull Carrier or Bullock Driver on Norfolk Is, which
would require driving the bullock for work, such as moving the pines or ploughing the land. Given that by
1805, there were still only 6 cows and bullocks on the island, and 2 drivers, it would not have been a
difficult task. The fringe benefit would be a good supply of milk, and milk along with other kinds of food
was scarce.

During the next few years, Robert developed a relation with Esther Beresford, a young girl who had been
born on Norfolk Island in 1794 to John and Hannah Beresford. John Beresford has come out with the 1st
fleet as a private marine, and had established himself as a leading farmer on Norfolk Island, with around
100 acres of land. The Beresfords were from Beresford manor, along the Dove River which forms the
border between Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The Beresford family history goes back as far as 1087.

1808
By the early 1790s it was clearly difficult to meet all the food needs of the growing Norfolk Island
settlement, and this factor, coupled with fear that the French would claim Van Diemans Land (Tasmania)
resulted in plans to move the population from Norfolk Island to the Derwent. Robert Kingston and John
Beresford were both reluctant to leave Norfolk Island.

People who boarded the 5th embarkation at Norfolk Island on 3 September 1808 listed #191 Robert
Kingston, # 192 wife Esther Beresford, as well as the parents, John and Hannah Beresford and other
members of the family. John Beresford, wife and 2 children, together with Robert Kingston and wife
Esther Beresford, boarded the ship "City of Edinborough" bound for Tasmania. A total of around 554
people moved from Norfolk Island to Tasmania around this time. John Beresford had arrived as a marine
on the First Fleet, and his position as a Marine, coupled with his success as a farmer gave him high
status on Norfolk Island.

Like many others on Norfolk Island, Robert Kingston was already cohabitating with Esther when they left
Norfolk island, and the union was formalised on 31-10-1808 by Robert Knopwood at St Davids Church,
Hobart. Rev Knopwood who had arrived in Tasmania from the abandoned settlement in Victoria.

Robert Kingston, who must have been around 35 years, married Esther Beresford a young girl of around
14 years. Esther was the daughter of John and Hannah Beresford, who had sailed from England on the
"Prince of Wales", a ship of the 1st fleet.

Van Diemens Land 1808

By 1803 it was clear that Norfolk Island was costly to maintain because of its distance from Sydney, and
this factor, coupled with fear that the French would claim Van Diemans Land (Tasmania) resulted in plans
to shift the population from Norfolk Island to the Derwent. There were 5 embarkations to transfer people
from Norfolk Island to the Derwent in Van Diemans Land. The first was 9-11-1807 on the "HMS Lady
Nelson", 34 people. The second on 26-12-1807 on the "HMS Porpoise" 177 people. The third was 14-2-
1808 on the "HMS Lady Nelson" 21 people. The fourth on 15-5-1808 on the "Estramina".

John Beresford and Robert Kingston on 3 September 1808, 255 people boarded the "City of
Edinborough" for the 5th embarkation at Norfolk Island for the Derwent. The passenger list included:

#61 John Beresford and #62 Hannah Beresford. Children #63 Dorothy (Dolly) Beresford, #64 Sarah
Beresford
#65 Joseph Beresford and #66 Mary Ann Leviston (wife). Joseph was now around 19 years.
#67 Mary Beresford. Around 18 years
#191 Robert Kingston and # 192 wife Esther Beresford. Ester was around 14 years.
Others of interest were:
#151 George Oakley. George was an orphan boy born on NI who later married Dorothy Beresford
#252 Michael Purdon. Michael later married Mary Beresford

The transfer of people from Norfolk Island to the Derwent settlement reduced the population of the Island
by 80%.

Both John Beresfod and Robert Kingston were reluctant to leave Norfolk Island to pioneer a new
settlement on the Derwent in Van Dieman's Land. The pioneering work in establishing the Norfolk Island
settlement had taken its toll, and John Beresford was now 55 years old, and Robert Kinston was not
much younger

On arrival in Hobart Town the union between Robert Kingston and Esther Beresford was formalised at St
Davids Church , Robert Kingston must have been at least 35 years, while Esther Beresford was a young
girl of around 14 years. At this time there were 17 men for every women in the settlement. Elisha
Kingston was born in 1808.

The arrival of the Norfolk Island population in Van Diemens Land had a huge impact, because at this
stage Hobart was struggling to produce enough food to feed the people who had already settled.

Both the Beresford and Kingston families were granted land in the Glenorchy area near Hobart town. The
people who settled in this area called it New Norfolk after their island home. The Beresford and Kinston
grants were adjacent to each other and fronted the Derwent River. #27 Joseph Beresford 140 acres,
#28 John Beresford 150 acres, #25 Robert Kingston 55 acres. Food was in extremely short supply, with
many people surviving on bush foods. In a 1840 map of Glenorchy, the Berriedale Inn was located on the
Kingston land grant, and Undine was on John and Joseph Beresfords land.

It is reported that in the early days of the Hobart settlement everyone wanted to be someone rich,
convicts became bushrangers and corruption was rife. By 1821 there were 7185 people living in
Tasmania.

The arrival in Hobart had a huge impact on Hobart town, which at that stage could not produce enough
food to feed the people. The Norfolk Islanders brought with them much needed agriculural skills and
animals (sheep). Both the Beresford and Kingston families were granted land in the New Town-
Glenorchy area, however food was in extremely short supply, with many people surviving on bush foods.
The Kingstons moved further north, firstly to Bothwell, where Elisha was born, and then to the Longford
(Norfolk Plains) and Perth areas near Launceston, where they, with others from the Norfolk Island
community opened up new land for farming.

Robert and Esther Kingston had two children, Elisha born Bothwell, Tasmania in 1808 and Hannah in
1811

It is reported that in the early days of the Hobart settlement everyone wanted to be someone rich, and
corruption was rife. By 1821 there were 7185 people living in Tasmania.

1825
Robert Kingston was reportedly killed by natives and was buried in the bush with John Rogers on 28-11-
1825, Launceston, Tasmania. Nothing is known of what became of Esther. Plonley (The Aboriginal
Settler Clash) reports that 2 sawyers, one named Robert Kingston from Norfolk Island, were speared and
killed by aboriginals in September 1825 at Greenwater Ponds (ref CT 29/9/26)

References
1986 Wright, R. (1986) "The Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island and Van Dieman's Land", Library of
Australian History.
Shaffer, I and McKay, T (1992) Exiled Three Times Over, Profiles of Norfolk Islanders exiled in Van
Diemans Land 1907-13 Published by St Davids Park Publishing, GPO Box 307C Hobart, Tasmania 7001
Tench, Watkin (1996) 1788 Edited by Tim Flannery, The Text Pub Co, Melbourne. Comprising, A
narrative of the expedition to Botany Bay, and A complete account of the settlement of Port Jackson.
Cobley, John (1963) Sydney Cove 1789-1790, Angus and Robinson
Evans, George William (1822) A Geographical, Historical and Topographical description of Van Diemans
Land, Reprinted by William Heineman 1967
Easty, John, (1965) Memorandum of the transactions of a voyage from England to Botany Bay, 1787-
1793, A first fleet Journal, Public Library of NSW in Association with Angus and Robinson
Emmett, Peter, Fleeting Encounters; Pictures and Chonicles of the First Fleet, Museum of Sydney
The Journal and Letters of Lt Ralph Clark, 1787-1792, Australian Documents Library
Ryan, R.J. Land Grants 1788-1809, Australian Documents Library
Hazzard, Margaret (1984) A History of the Penal settlement at Norfolk Island: Punishment short of death.
Hyland House, Melbourne

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 23 May 1927, page 12
H.M.S. SUPPLY.
FIRST WARSHIP TO ENTER SYDNEY.
ADMIRALTY PLANS RECEIVED.
At the monthly meeting of the Manly Warringah and Pittwater Historical Society, the president. Mr D Hope
Johnston, said that for some time past he has been endeavouring to obtain plans and details of H M S Supply one of
the vessels of the first fleet and which was actually the first British warship to enter Port Jackson Through the
assistance of the Secretary of State for the Dominions (Mr L C Amery) he had obtained from the Admiralty in
London a plan of the Supply, together with other details regarding the construction of the vessel, which would be
utilised in painting a picture of the Supply entering Sydney Heads in January, 1788
H. M S Supply was an armed tender to H M S Sirius the flagship of the First Fleet. The Supply was of 170 tons-
smaller than some of the Sydney ferry steamers, and carried eight guns and a crew of 50. The vessel was
commanded by Lieutenant H L Ball after whom Ball's Head was named After the arrival at Botany Bay of the First
Fleet, Captain Phillip and some other officers, proceeded in boats to Port Jackson and the Governor decided to found
the settlement at Sydney Cove The party then returned to Botany Bay and Phillip sailed for Port Jackson in the
Supply leaving the Sirius and the other ships of the fleet to follow on the next day.

Index to
to
The Last Farewell
Devon Convicts Transported to Australia 1782 - 1821
by
Jack Walton
Australian Scholarly Publishing Pty Ltd, 2003
Index transcribed, with the author's permission, by
Alan Elliott

Note:
This specialist work details the economic conditions in rural Devon at that time and connects the impact
of unemployment with crime in that county, with descriptions of the courts and their processes, the prison
system and the details of several voyages. The book also describes the life of some of these convicts in
New South Wales and Tasmania.
There are 574 Devon convicts listed in Appendix A to this book and to quote "have been abstracted from
ships indents and their trial details taken from Quarter Sessions, Assises and the Exeter Flying Post".
The complete appendix lists the 574 convicts by name, alias, crime, date, sentence and the ship of
transport to Australia.
There are the names of many more people in this book, including other convicts, officials, farmers, wives
& husbands of the convicts and the victims of the crimes the convicts committed etc.
There are more than 20 tables, which detail the various movements, crimes, punishments, land grants,
etc of many of the convicts.
Appendix B lists the full details of the transports conveying all convicts to NSW & Van Diemen's Land in
this period.
Appendix C contains the Criminal Records of Sarah Plummer, Richard Blackstone and Matthew Cornelius
with facsimiles of those records for the two men.
Names included below without a page reference are at least listed in Appendix A

John Kingston, abt 1759, Devon England

Posted by: Hank Kingston (ID *****5378) Date: June 05, 2006 at 05:40:42
of 597

Looking for information on John and Nicholas Kingston born about 1759 in Devon, England. Also
information on his parents, brothers, and sisters. Any information will be helpful.

Sylvia,

I also believe there may be some distant family connection for the Kingstons in Philadelphia.

My ancestor, Stephen B. (Beasley) Kingston, Sr. was born on 11-JUL-1802 in Philadelphia. His parents
were Simon Kingston, born in Topsham, Devon, England about 1752, and his mother was Sarah Beasley
born in 1770.

Stephen B. Kingston, Sr. married Susan Taggart in 1824. Their children were John Kingston born about
1824, Stephen B. Kingston, Jr born 04-AUG-1826, Julia Elizabeth Kingston born in 1827, Alice Kingston
born in 1828, & Charles Kingston born in 1829.

Stephen B. Kingston, Jr. married Julia Elizabeth Elliot on 25-NOV-1851. Their children were Henry
Houston Kingston, Sr. born 07-JUL-1854, Ana Kingston born in 1855, Francis Kingston born in 1856,
Charles Elliot Kingston born in 1858, & William White Kingston born in 1866.

I can supply more names and dates if it is helpful to you.

I have traced Simon Kingston back to England as a son of Simon & Mary Kingston, but have not been
able to verify this as yet.

Keep in touch.

Regards,
Dave,

I am also searching Somerset & Devon for Kingston lines. I have seen a message for Kingston in Chew
Magna from 1775. Try looking for Robert Kingston in Somerset 1700-1800 on Genealogy.com.

Robert and Ann Kingston of Cameley had seven children between 1743 --> 1762. A son, Robert Kingston
married Mary Fear in Chew Magna on 22 Decmber 1798.

My Kingston line comes from Topsham, near Exeter about 1753, and goes back to Barstable in 1530.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Hank