William Lee was born circa 1799 in Drumcullen, Offaly, Ireland to Henry Lee and Sarah Unknown and died 27 November 1864 Morpeth, New South Wales, Australia of unspecified causes.
Immigration to the Colony of New South Wales
William and his wife Johanna emigrated on 6 November 1841 from Liverpool, England on board the Sir Charles Napier. They arrived in Sydney on 10 April 1842. They were Protestant Bounty immigrants who could read and write. They were from Kings county in Ireland today known as Offaly county. The shipping-agent for the bounty immigrants on this voyage was a Mr Francis Reid of Glasgow who received £19 per adult from the Government of the Colony of New South Wales, and a lesser amount for children.
For the voyage William showed his age as 36, and that of his wife Johanna as 37. He put their ages down to improve their chances of being accepted as bounty immigrants. William was shown as a farm servant and Johanna was shown as a house servant.
Margaret Lee, 16, their eldest daughter also emigrated with her parents in 1842 and being over 15 is shown on the passenger list as a single female passenger.
William and Johanna's 4 youngest children stayed behind in Ireland under the care of Daniel Patrick who was either their maternal grandfather or uncle.
William and Johanna's 4 youngest children later immigrated as Bounty immigrants on board the Sir Edward Parry arriving in Sydney on 17 February 1848. This ship carried 42 unaccompanied children aged 7-15 to the Colony, and other older single males and females. Only 5 married couples and their 7 children were on this ship.
Aboard the Sir Edward Parry in 1848 were:
Henry Lee, 19, Farm Labourer from Eggles, Kings County
George Lee, 17, Farm Labourer from Eggles, Kings County
Jane lee, 12, no occupation from Eggles, Kings County
Sarah Lee, 9, no occupation from Eggles, Kings County
(The children were all at least a year older than the ages given above.)
William's sister-in-law Jane Patrick, the sister of his wife Johanna, also immigrated to NSW with her husband and family as Bounty immigrants on different ships.
The first to come out was Jane's son Robert Newton on board the Lloyds which arrived on 29 June 1850. He is described as:
Robert Newton, 21, Farm labourer from Firlan (sic), Kings County.
The next to come out was Jane's daughter Margaret Newton with her husband William Small and 4 year old son Arthur Small on board the Emily which arrived on 9 September 1850. They are described as:
William Small, 35, Schoolmaster from Anghusby, Westheath County
Margaret Small, 23, from Laymore, Kings County
Arthur Small, 4, from Meares Court, Westheath County
The rest of the family arrived on board the Sarah on 14 August 1851. They were described as:
William Newton, 46, Labourer from Kings County
Jane Newton, 44, from Gelling, Kings County
Daniel Newton, 18, Labourer from Furbarn, Kings County
Jane Newton, 16, Domestic Servant from Furbarn, Kings County
William Newton, 12, from Furbarn, Kings County
Alicia Newton, 9, from Furbarn, Kings County
Mary Newton, 7, from Furbarn, Kings County
(On this passenger list the children over 16 were listed with their parents.)
In the listing above both William and Jane Newton's ages are understated to improve their chances of being accepted as Bounty immigrants. William was about 68, and Jane was about 49.
What happened to the children of William and Johanna Lee?
- Henry Lee was to marry his 1st-cousin Jane Newton (his mother's niece) in Hunter NSW in 1853 and have 12 children. He died in Taree in 1883.
- George Lee was to become a Weslyan minister. He married Elizabeth Matthews in Chippendale NSW in 1857. In his work he travelled widely and his 11 children were born in Tonga, Maryland USA, Sydney, Melbourne and South Australia. He died in 1879 in Alberton SA
- Margaret and Jane Lee married brothers William and Andrew Gill in 1843 in Morpeth NSW and in 1851 in Woodville NSW respectively. They had 5 children and 13 children respectively. Margaret died in 1852 in Woodville NSW and Jane died in 1883 in Cundletown NSW.
- Sarah Lee married James Read in Maitland NSW in 1859 and died in 1905 in Morpeth NSW after having 11 children.
Interesting facts from the voyage of the Sir Charles Napier in 1842
- When the Sir Charles Napier arrived in NSW in 1842 it was reported in the newspaper that she carried 234 bounty immigrants and 10 passengers. The bounty list contains 237 names including the name of a baby born to a married couple during the voyage. The names of 2 other babies born to “single” women during the voyage were not included but perhaps they were among the 8 children who died during the voyage. Also to die during the voyage were 2 adults and the Captain of the ship. The ship had sailed with Captain Huxtable in charge but he died of consumption 2 weeks into the voyage. 1st Mate Hayes was then promoted to Captain, and the ship arrived in NSW under the charge of Captain Hayes.
- Of the 237 bounty immigrants 7 were infants under 12 months of age who travelled free. The bounty should then have been paid for 230 immigrants. Instead the bounty was only paid for 135 immigrants and disallowed for the remaining 95. The statistics were as follows:
|
“Single” women |
“Single” men |
Married couples |
Children |
Babies |
Disembarked |
63 |
51 |
42 (x2=84) |
32 |
7 |
Bounty paid |
21 |
32 |
33 (x2=66) |
16 |
4 |
Bounty disallowed |
42 |
19 |
9 (x2=18) |
16 |
3 |
- After the voyage George O’Brien gave evidence against over 20 other immigrants on the ship, many of them “single” women, who had either sailed under false pretences or who had committed immoral acts while on board. Of the Immigrants against whom he gave evidence, all but 2 were disallowed the bounty. His evidence was also often backed up by the evidence that was given by the ship’s surgeon. Ironically George O’Brien was also disallowed the bounty for himself, his wife, and his 5 children (1 child being on the single female list, and 1 child being a baby under 12 months). This left him with a debt of £87 for the passage of his family.
- The large number of “single” women (they were not all single) for whom the bounty was disallowed reflects the moral grounds that were often used for refusal.
- The Lee family were among the immigrants for whom the bounty was allowed.
- One of the women immigrants aboard the ship had been born in Sydney NSW.
- During the voyage the new Captain and crew, all except for the ship’s surgeon, had dalliances with the “single” women on board. Also during the voyage the new Captain and some of the ship’s officers were frequently drunk.
- A fire occurred during the voyage when alcoholic spirits caught alight. Part of the deck was ripped up to allow water to reach the flames.
- Bounty Immigrants on board the ship did not often receive their full quota of food or water. The ship’s surgeon tried to make representations to the new Captain on their behalf.
- The ship’s surgeon was given an address and letter of thanks from some of the passengers the day before the ship docked. (One of the signatories was described as “George O’Brien, wife, and 5 children.) This letter of thanks and a reply from the surgeon were printed in the Australasian Chronicle of Tuesday 10 May 1842.
To D. J. Tierney, Esq., M. D.., Surgeon Superintendent of the Sir Charles Napier, emigrant ship. To the Passengers of the Sir Charles Napier. I feel most thankful for the very handsome address that has been presented to me, signed by all most intelligent of the passengers, and feel grateful for the manner in which you allude to my attention to you and your families, as also to the cleanliness of the ship, and the health of those committed to my care. You were also kind enough to speak of my integrity and impartiality; as to the former I will leave my actions to be my judge, but tire latter, 1 assure you in truth that, as long as my earthly career shall last, my actions shall be impartial to those under my charge, as it has been to those on board of this vessel; the sick and needy have ever had from me, either here or elsewhere, my greatest attentions. To the regret you express that so many obstacles should have been thrown in my way, to prevent me from acting in the manner I was accustomed to pursue, rest assured that no one has regretted it more than myself, not from selfish motives, but on account of your comfort, and that of your respective families. Wishing you Health and prosperity, I remain your obedient servant, D. J. Tierney, M.D., Surgeon Superintendent. Australasian Chronicle, Tuesday 10 May 1842 |
Bounty Immigrants - Sir Charles Napier, a case study
Bounty immigrants were to have their fare paid by the Government of the Colony after arriving in New South Wales. Ships left from Plymouth or Liverpool and immigrants needed to make their own way to the port of departure.
Immigrants applied to a shipping-agent who paid for their passage and hoped to make a profit on their fare when they later received the bounty from the Government. Once the immigrants arrived in the Colony, however, a decision was made as to their suitability. If they were deemed unsuitable and their bounty payment was refused they then owed the shipping-agent for their passage and began their new life in the Colony in debt.
The bounty being paid in 1842 when the Sir Charles Napier arrived in NSW was:
£19 per adult, or child 16 and over
£15 per child aged 15
£10 per child aged 7-14
£ 5 per child aged 1-6
£ 0 per child under 12m
The bounty list for the Sir Charles Napier lists those passengers for which the bounty was to be paid and those passengers for which the bounty was refused. The reasons for disallowing the bounty were kept in a separate book. Investigations were held into the suitability of the immigrants, and the investigation for the Sir Charles Napier has survived in a volume that is today titled Immigration Board: Reports by Immigration Board on complaints of Immigrants about their passage, 1838-87 that is held in the NSW State Records. This investigation shows that bounties could be refused on moral grounds.
Immigrants could also be called before the Immigration Board in order to give evidence against other passengers. One passenger from the Sir Charles Napier who gave evidence was George O’Brien, from Ireland, who had sailed with his wife and 5 children. (He described himself when giving evidence as having 6 children. Perhaps and elder child did not immigrate with them.)
The investigation of the bounty passengers on the Sir Charles Napier shows that people often gave incorrect information to increase their chances of being accepted for the bounty. The most common incorrect information was for adults to understate their age, but this could rarely be disputed. Giving an incorrect age therefore was not often able to be used as a reason for refusal of the bounty.
Some people assumed another identity or status to travel to New South Wales. The second most common incorrect information then was to travel under an assumed name. This could rarely be disputed, but when it was able to be disputed was sometimes part of why a bounty was refused on moral grounds.
Incorrect information that was regarded as abuse of the bounty system and used to refuse the bounty for passengers on the Sir Charles Napier included:
- A single man and married woman with 2 children pretending to be a married couple. This woman was immigrating with her 2 children to join her husband who was a convict in the Colony.
- A married woman pretending to be single (and understating her age) and having another family pretend that her son was their son. This woman was immigrating with her son to join her husband who was a convict in the Colony.
- A married woman who pretended to be single and gave birth to a baby during the voyage. She was married to a soldier and was immigrating to join him.
- A married couple bringing with them a 5 year old child that was not theirs.
Transcription of evidence of George O’Brien re voyage of Sir Charles Napier, 1842.
George O’Brien a married man Bounty Immigrant by “Sir Charles Napier” called in and examined – I am a married man I have a wife and six children. I heard some conversations on board between Kings County people and the Sailors, which induced me to keep a case of pistols about me. I heard four of them, two men named Scully and a man named Guynan and another whose name I do not recall say, that they were tried for the murder of Mr Biddulph, and owing to some contradictory evidence, they were liberated on bail. I knew a man on board called Flynn (Thomas Flyn, 24, Farm labourer, RC, Dublin – in list of with Anne Hartford), he told me he was a single man, there was a woman on board who had some children with her. She passed as Flynn’s wife, but was not so, as I heard from Flynn. I knew Mrs Flynn alias Hartford (Anne Hartford, 37, House Servant, RC, Dublin, Paul 15, Rosanna 11) to be coming out to her husband who I heard was a prisoner here. I knew a woman on board named Anne Chambers (26, Servant, RC, Kings County, bounty disallowed) she shipped as a single woman but she told me she was married and had a child on board, passing as a child of Patrick Cummins (George Cummins 13) and that she was coming out to her husband who was a prisoner of the Crown. I knew a single girl named Jane Bryan (25, House Servant, RC, Queens County, bounty disallowed), she was delivered of a male child on board. I heard her say that she was a married woman and that her husband was a prisoner here. I knew Matthew Bryan (26, Labourer, RC, Queens County), who passed as Jane Bryan’s brother. I heard Matthew Bryan acknowledge that he was the father of the child of which Jane was delivered on board. Mary Flood (19, House Servant, RC, Liverpool) I do not think was a good girl. She could never be kept away from the sailors. Isabella Thompson (18, House Servant, Prot, Liverpool) & Rachel Thompson (22, Laundress, Prot, Liverpool, bounty disallowed) were also incorrect. I think Mary Shaw (18, House Servant, Prot, Liverpool) an incorrect girl. She came on board in the workhouse dress. I think Jane Perry (20, House servant, Prot, Liverpool, bounty disallowed) an incorrect girl. I knew Catherine Murphy (20, Domestic Servant, RC, Sydney NSW), she was a most barefaced girl. I have seen her lying in a bed in the hospital with Watson Third Mate. I have also seen her in the green-house on deck in very improper situations with Watson. I knew Hannah Plunkett (18, House Servant, RC, Dublin). I have seen a very undue intimacy between Pemberton and her. I have seen them on deck with a Cloak folded about them. I knew Mary Carroll (22, Servant, RC, Kings County) a single girl. I have seen Asken one of the Officers of the vessel with this girl in his berth in the green-house in such a position as no proper girl would admit. I knew Elizabeth Bradley (22, Dressmaker, Prot, Kilkerry). I do not think her a correct girl. I have seen Richard Wheeler a sailor on board in bed with her – he slept with her for nearly two months during the voyage. The constables on board took no steps to prevent this conduct, as she had an apartment of her own partitioned off from the other Immigrants, for which accommodation she paid the Agent in Dublin. Her uncle told me she was a married woman, that her husband had £500 per annum in Ireland, that he was obliged to separate from her owing to her conduct and grant her an allowance of £30 per year. She is now living on the bounty of this sailor. I knew Esther Toole (23, House Servant, RC, Dublin). She came on board a single girl but was delivered of a male child on board. She said she was married to a soldier, that he was out here, and that she hoped to find him. I knew Margaret Wickham (19, Dressmaker, RC, Dublin). I have seen this girl permit the Captain to take liberties with her at night. I have seen him keep her on deck. I have never sent the Doctor guilty of any undue familiarity or freedom with any of the Immigrants. I was by when one of the Immigrants named Kerry threatened the Doctor for endeavouring to check the immorality that existed on board. I heard him say “The big bellied Quack ought to be thrown overboard and the Ship sunk.” I have frequently heard the Doctor tell the present Captain and sailors that they could not be permitted to go between decks. I have heard the sailors say that as the Captain took liberties with a girl, so they would, having as much liberty ask to do so. The vessel was dirty when we left Liverpool. I have heard the Doctor always insist on the Immigrants always getting their allowance of provisions. I heard one of the Mates giving the Doctor the lie when asking for the Immigrants rights. I have seen the Captain and some of the Officers frequently drunk during the voyage, but I never saw the Doctor in that way during the voyage. The Second Mate named Asken I have seen drunk almost every day. I have seen him lifted up with a rope from between decks drunk. The ship was on fire on one occasion, which was caused by one of the Officers named Watson and two of the Immigrants going down to draw off spirits with a light when the spirits ignited. We had to rip up the deck in different places and pour down water. If it were not for the First Mate named Hargraves and one of the Immigrants we would never have come to Sydney. I knew Charles Arkinson (18, Grazier, Farmer & Labourer, Prot, Cumberland) and Elizabeth Brockell (26, Dairy Maid, Prot, Lancashire). They lived together during the voyage as man and wife. I knew Edward Bigam (24, Labourer, Prot, Kildare) and Margaret Dobbins (22, House Servant, RC, Queens County). After the first month they always lived on board as man and wife. I never would allow or advise any persons to permit females to come out in any Immigrant ship unless protected by their own immediate relation. I knew Mary Malone (Mary Kilfoyle, 22, Farm Servant, RC Kildare). She came out as a daughter of John Kilfoil, but I heard Kilfoil say she was not his daughter, and that she was conducting herself so badly on board he would have nothing to say to her. I believe Mary Flood (19, Farm Servant, RC, Liverpool) is now on the streets of Sydney. (That is she is working as a prostitute.) I knew Ann Watkins (19, House Maid, RC, Dublin). I understand from the happenings that she was not the sister or any relative of Patrick Watkins. I knew Elizabeth Cummins (19, Nurse Maid, RC, Kings County). I do not believe Cummins to be her name. I have seen John Scully (29, Farm Labourer, RC, Kings County) lying in the berth with Sarah Acres (21, Servant, Prot, Kings County). I knew Joshua Abbotson. He had a child on board passed as his own, but I do not know, nor did I hear to whom it belonged. It does not belong to Abbotson. (Amelia, 5) The biscuit was very indifferent. I came out as an agricultural labourer. I had a Public House in Dublin for the last five years. Major Browne paid £12 for my passage to come out here. I had the option to come out here or go to America. I preferred coming here. Cross examined by Mr Ronald:
I have seen Mary Flood, Isabella and Rachel Thompson, Mary Shaw and Jane Perry permit the sailors to put their heads in their bosoms and elsewhere and in fact to handle them as they wished. I heard the Rachel Thompson was caught under the long-boat in an improper situation. The present Captain would not permit the regular allowance of water to be given out and it was not until the last month of the voyage that the Captain would permit the scale of provisions to be pout on the storehouse door. The £12 paid for me was paid in Mr Byrnes office in Liverpool. Immigration Board: Reports by Immigration Board on complaints of Immigrants about their passage, 1838-87. |
Children
Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
Margaret Lee (1826-1852) | 4 January 1826 Drumcullen, Offaly, Ireland | 23 January 1852 Woodville, New South Wales, Australia | William Gill (1822-1897) |
Henry Lee (1828-1887) | 4 November 1828 English Village, Offaly, Ireland | 18 November 1887 Cundletown, New South Wales, Australia | Jane Newton (c1835-1904) |
George Lee (1829-1879) | 28 December 1829 Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland | 8 April 1879 Alberton, South Australia, Australia | Elizabeth Matthews (1832-1899) |
Jane Lee (1834-1883) | 5 February 1834 Drumcullen, County Offaly, Ireland | 3 November 1883 Cundletown, New South Wales, Australia | Andrew Gill (1826-1896) |
Sarah Lee (1836-1905) | 1836 Drumcullen, Offaly, Ireland | 1905 Maitland, New South Wales, Australia | James Read (1837-1898) |
Changes of surname by daughters:
- Margaret Lee married William Gill in 1843
- Jane Lee married Andrew Gill in 1851
- Sarah Lee married James Read in 1859