Biography
George Porter was born circa 1768 based on his recorded age at his burial in 1828 'aged 60yrs' in Hobart, Tasmania.
Research into his birth and family in England;
There is evidence presented below [Trial], which indicates George was recorded 'of Islington' in 1789. Based on this
information, his age and the naming pattern of his children a search for his family was conducted using online resources
at various Churches at Islington and the surrounding parishes. The 'Porter' name was surprisingly rare at most venues,
however the most interesting results were found in the 'Original' Parish Records at St. Mary's, Islington [not on LDS].
See Results so far.
Assumed aged around twenty-two, George Porter was indicted with William Cook at the Old Bailey, London on the 25th
February 1789 for stealing a single slipper and six silk handkerchiefs [value 12 shillings] and a leather slipper [value 2s],
the property of Ann Goodall, Shopkeeper of Islington, a month prior on the 21st January that year. During the Trial
George called one witness to attest to his character, however details of this witness has not been found at the LMA
[London Metropolitan Archives]. It was mentioned in the document that one of the witnesses knew him well and he was
'of Islington'. William Cook was acquitted of the Crime however George Porter was found guilty and sentenced to Death.
Read Full Transcription of Trial [online]
Details of George's crime was advertised in the World [London], Saturday, 28th February 1789;
 Click image to enlarge
Details of George's Sentence was published in several London Newspapers [all identical to below];
Public Advertiser (London) Thursday, 26th February, 1789. Issue 17040.
George remained in Newgate Cells adjacent the Old Bailey for a further eight months to await his fate, when on the
9th September 1789 George, with several other Capital Offenders, was again brought before the Bench with an
offer of Reprieve in the form of Transportation for 'Life'. This day every man without exception accepted the offer.
Details of George's Reprieve was published in several London Newspapers [all identical to below];
Published: 9th September 1789;
Ultimately George was assigned to the Ship Scarborough [Private Charter] on her second voyage to Sydney Cove,
New South Wales, accompanying a fleet of six ships. George departed the Motherland on the 19th January 1790,
arriving at Sydney Cove 28th June 1790.
 NSW State Library Image - per Ancestry com.
This second Fleet was the most notorious in the History of the Colony, many convicts died en route, particularly
those transported in the former Slave 'wet' Ships 'Surprise' & 'Neptune' whose crew had sold the prisoner's rations
for their own profit. Starved and enduring appalling conditions in the Hull they died by the hundreds. At their
destination, those who had miraculously survived were thrown like bags of wheat overboard when many died in the
waiting small craft, some could barely crawl. Others died when breathing fresh air for the first time since
departure, the marks of their shackles to the bone. The Scarborough had better conditions, however on arrival at
the Cove the Master reported that the convicts were confined to the Hull with minimum time on the deck for fresh
air during the voyage for fear of mutiny. George's condition on arrival is not known.
After a year at Sydney Cove, George was sent to Norfolk Island in September 1791 [3] where he remained for the next
15 years, recorded in the 1803 Muster working as a gardiner, assigned to James Warwick.
A burial of an infant, 'Mary Ann Porter - age 1' was recorded at Norfolk Island in 1793 [no other details] [4]
It is not known if this infant was the child of George Porter.
George also appears to have been associated with the family of Thomas O'Brien, a former First Fleet Marine [1788]
who settled on the Island in October 1791. Thomas O'Brien's convict wife Susannah Mortimore had a child born en-route
to Sydney Cove aboard the 'Lady Juliana' in 1790. The infant was baptised Susannah Mely Screech at the Cove
soon after her arrival in July 1790. Susannah [the younger] had since adopted the name of her stepfather 'O'Brien'.
Although around twenty years her senior, George Porter appears to have formed an attachment to the young
Susannah O'Brien prior to 1806.
Norfolk Island's rich soil had produced plentiful crops, together with the early community established at Parramatta,
had supported the Colony for nearly twenty years. By then the Colony was now self sufficient and the hazardous shipping
conditions surrounding the Island, prompted the Governor's decision to evacuate the Settlers back to the mainland
or in most cases, relocate to Van Diemen's Land. Large land Grants were offered to compensate. This mass evacuation
occurred between 1803-1808.
Amid the evacuation George Porter was relocated to Van Diemen's Land leaving Norfolk Island on Christmas
Day, 25th December 1807 per the City of Edinburgh together with the O'Brien Family.
Three months after arriving at Hobart Town, George Porter married Susannah O'Brian [aka Screech/Mortimore]
on 21 November 1808 the ceremony performed by Rev. Robert Knopwood, Witnesses: Thomas O'Brian
[Susannah's step-father] and Francis Parnes [Parish Clerk]. Both Bride & Groom signed with their mark [5].
The bride was aged 18yrs and the Groom aged 40yrs.
 Tasmania Archives BDM extract
The first seven children was baptised by Robert Knopwood the following year, and George and Susannah's address
was given as Hobart Town. The last two records give the address as Glenorchy, and George's occupation as farmer.
However they were on their farm at Black Snake, Granton, long before 1825.
The children born to George and Susannah are listed above and extended in the Epilogue below.
George was recorded in the index to land grants in Van Diemen's Land (Fiche 3262; 4/438 pp.70,72)
Colonial Secretary's Index Online.
In 1811 he was recorded in the Muster as at Hobart Town. [Ancestry.com Musters 1806-1849]]
His land prospered and in 1817 George was supplying the Government Stores, with fresh meat, and wheat.
In 1819 George was on the list of persons owing quit rents in Van Diemen's Land for land in the District of
Glenorchy (Fiche 3270; X19 p.20) Colonial Secretary's Index [Online]
In the December 1821 Hobart Town Gazette the following advertisement appeared:
'STRAYED, about three weeks ago, from the Black Snake, two Working Bullocks, branded G P
on the near shoulder, one has a black mark with a star on the forehead, the other red colour with
a white back - Whoever will give information where they are, to George Porter, the owner, as above,
will receive 2 pounds for their trouble; but if found in any person's possession after this notice,
they will be prosecuted agreeably to the Colonial regulations. NLA Newspapers [Online]
On the 25th May 1827 George was appointed 'Constable' by the Governor.
 NLA Newspapers online.
During the following year several events occurred.
Child 2: At the age of fourteen, Catherine Porter married1 Thomas Simpson on the 17th September 1827, they had
only one child, Catherine Simpson born c. 1828. It is assumed with the absence of further issue and subsequent
evidence that Simpson seems to have disappeared not long following, either died prematurely or deserted Catherine.
Being so young, Catherine may have returned to her parents' home. Further details see Epilogue.
George [snr] is recorded in the capacity of Pound keeper in the Hobart Town Gazette, 13th October, 1827:
 NLA Newspapers online.
George's son, George Porter [the younger] although aged only eighteen appears to also have been appointed
pound keeper at Launceston around this time. See Epilogue.
George Porter died on 8 September 1828, at the age of 60, leaving his wife responsible for a family of eight children
ranging from ages eighteen to an infant under age one.
Transcription: [Name] George Porter [Abode] Black Snake [Buried] 8 September [Age] 60years
[Ship's Name] Scarborough [Calling or Profession] Constable
[Ceremony performed by] Wm Berford. Hobart Town Burials 1828 [Pge 33] [5]
POSTHUMOUS
Susannah appears to have held the farm together, with the help of her sons not yet of age.
A year after George's death an Impoundment Notice was placed in the Hobart Town Courier by the new Pound keeper
for Glenorchy. He advertises several stock, one a cow the property of Mrs. Porter.
 Click to enlarge
To add to Susannah's grief, three years after George's death, their eldest child George [the younger] was killed
at the age of twenty-two having fallen from his horse in 1831. See Epilogue.
A burial appears on the 11th June 1832 for 'Ann Porter of Black Snake, aged two year and four months - Settler's child'
The child's baptism has not been found to establish maternity or paternity, only that she appears to have been
born around February 1830 and cared for by Susannah and the family. Susan's eligible daughters would have
been aged thus at this time: Catherine aged 17yrs [assuming she had left her former marriage]; Mary aged 15yrs.
Sons George would have been aged twenty and James eighteen.
 click image to enlarge.
At the age of eighteen Susan's daughter Susannah married Charles Mansfield 14 June 1833. Reg. Hobart. See Epilogue.
The marriage of Susan's eldest daughter Catherine appears to have dissolved and by now aged only twenty-one by 1834,
Catherine had already formed a relationship with Thomas Blackhall of Hobart and gave birth to a daughter Eliza Blackhall
born 1st January 1835. Her daughter Catherine by Thomas Simpson was aged six.
Susan died four months later on the 7th May 1835, recorded aged forty-five, 'settler's wife'.
She was survived by her children: James aged 23yrs; Catherine aged twenty-one [newly married];
Mary Porter 20yrs; Susannah aged 18yrs ; William aged 17yrs; [Eliza aged 12? if survived]
Sarah aged 10yrs and Margaret aged eight years and two grandchildren, by her daughter Catherine.
NOTES
It is not clear who exactly maintained Susan's younger children. Certainly the small family would have been after their
mother's death to assume the responsiblity and care of the siblings. Susannah's O'Brien siblings were also close at hand
in Glenorchy and the children's maternal grandmother, Susannah O'Brien [formerly Mortimore] was still living, although
now aged in her early seventies.
The Porter Farm appears to have fallen to their eldest son James Porter, whom a year after his mother's death, assumed
two land Grants in his fathers name at Black Snake, Glenorchy. One a Grant of 30ares and the other 32acres. The former
was advertised 'For Sale' [recorded owner 'James Porter'] in December of that year. The following year [1837] the Hobart
Town Courier publishes the sale of the Property. Information for James is vague after this point but there is evidence
to suggest that he remained at Glenorchy [1856], presumably on the latter Grant. This prior Land Sale was
likely prompted by James not having enough support to maintain two farms with his only brother still in his minority.
The need of money to support the family may have also been a significant influence.
At this time his eldest sister Catherine by now twenty-one appears to have been deserted by her spouse
Thomas Simpson and her only daughter by the union aged eight. Catherine had already formed a de-facto
relationship with Thomas Blackhall, with a child by him only an infant at this time. It would be another six years
and two further children before the two would eventually marry.
The whereabouts and status of their sister Mary by now aged twenty is still under investigation [See Epilogue].
However out of all the sisters, it seems to be her name, which is the most endeared amongst her namesakes
generated by the subsequent children of her siblings.
William aged seventeen, Sarah aged 10yrs and Margaret aged eight years were still in their minority and with their elder
sisters struggling with their marriages/relationshipsout of all the possible scenarios above, at least William very likely
lived with his brother James at least until he was 'of age'. Of the two younger girls, Sarah was fourteen when she became
involved with John Richard Lucas, a Publican at Hobart and by him was pregnant at the age of fifteen. They married five
months before the pregnancy came to term in 1842. Where Sarah lived in the interim is not known but very likely with
one of her sisters. Daughter Margaret, although the youngest, did not to marry until the age of twenty-one, some thirteen
years after her mother's death. Again it is not know who cared for young Margaret during the interim. |
NLA Newspapers [Online]
1828: Young George did not retain his position as Constable very long, dismissed the same year.
Hobart Town Courier: Saturday, 5th April, 1828;
NLA Newspapers [Online]
1829: However by the following year he appears to have been reinstated as constable.
Hobart Town Courier: Saturday 24th January 1828: Central Criminal Court, Launceston.
Monday 19th January, 1828;
1830 George also appears in several Newspaper Articles in relation to his position of Pound keeper.
Hobart Town Courier, 27th November 1830: Re: The Public Pound, Glenorchy on 12th November;
