Embedded Files
Who was my Benjamin Carver?
English Record: Merchant, grocer, jury service; debtor, Highwayman.
New South Wales Records: Convict, Constable, Supplies Carter, Poundkeeper, property owner and family man
Research presented on this site has two main threads: ~ firstly the English records for the years 1768 and 1786-1792; followed by the New South Wales Records for Benjamin Carver 1792-1822.
Reference: ~Colonial Castlereagh ~ http://colonialcastlereagh.blogspot.com/2016/
English Record
English Record
Benjamin Carver was a well connected young man of London in the era of King George IV of England. He was regarded as an honest industrious man of very good character.
Benjamin's crime of "Highway robbery" occurred in September 1791, on the King's Road, being the Great North Road through Finchley common. The robbery was perpetrated upon a well respected clergyman, Thomas Knowls, (Ely parish) and upon his wife and daughter who were also in the post-chaise carriage.
His father was the Rev. John Carver, Rector in Bedfordshire and later at Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, from 30th. October, 1770. His ministry continued "with great respectability and usefulness" to a group of Protestant Dissenters at West End Independent. He remained there until his death in 1797.
refer this site biography at . <https://sites.google.com/site/kapjt11/UK/east/cambs/deacon/john-carver-copy-220919?read_current=1>
The trial records of Benjamin Carver indicate his father and brother were Ministers of the Gospel members of a dissenting fraternity, and another brother, named John was a Captain in the British Army.
It is the case that "almost without exception highwaymen were men who had fallen from a high social station through bankruptcy or gambling debts or were members of the aspiring artisan class" (McLynn 59) and therefore largely behaved more like men accepted into polite society than their pick-pocketing counterparts
There has been no birth record for a brother Captain John nor for Benjamin. Probate records for Revd. John Carver (1797), raise concern regarding his pointsof view on politics and action if not also to his paternity for it reveals:
In respect to his son John, probate shows a father's disappointment, by effectively disinheriting him, in that he received just £1.
John may have acted to protect a house of those targeted during the Birmingham riots of July 1791. This may have been Captain John Carver who had defended poet's and property Lords, meeting to celebrate an anniversary of the French Revolution.
His wife Sarah is also considered herein.
Reference Books:
Frank McLynn, Crime and Punishment in Eighteenth-century England (London: Routledge, 1989).- This book is a fantastic resource for the research of highwaymen, with an entire chapter dedicated to the figure of the highwayman and insightful passages on 18th Century roads, the social standing of highwaymen, their gallant reputation and their depiction in The Beggar's Opera.
Further contextual research is available under the heading: "Who are the British?" And the sub-pages Details and Citations.
Influence
An outline of historical events suggest some influences may bear on Benjamin Carver's story.
Ben's father, himself a nonconformist (dissident) clergyman, would presumably have been shocked and shamed by his son's actions. There is no reference other than the term “great affliction” ~ Evangelical Magazine. His immediate family was referenced in available court documents in so far as their occupations; however, Ben certainly appears to have draw on the goodwill of his families associates and it was probably family connections who organised the appeal for clemency to the King (George).
Further to the report of the Recorder of London (court), - William Rose - we find there follows his conviction a collective petition on "Grounds for clemency" submitted by 12 business associates from London including:
~ Messrs. Henry Winchester and Co. on behalf of Benjamin Carver ~ who offered alternative passage on the first spring ship - "To The Isle of St. John in the Gulf of St. Laurence" where presumably he had connections.
Such consideration is in keeping with a practice of the East India Company’s armies, where positions were not sold, rather a person's contacts counted for something, and since the Carver family may have had a few "EIC" connections through the Father's ministery of the Gospels in Northumberland, it was Messrs "Winchester and Co." who offer to send him to Newfoundland (as it is now known).
There is also a letter from Samuel Whitbread junior.
We learn from another source, that his paternal first cousin was Samuel Carver (1756 - 1841), a joiner by trade who in 1770 apprenticed to Carrington Bowles, on whose death, the renowned publishing and map sellers business passed to his son Henry Bowles, through whom in 1793, Samuel Carver, became a business partner in the firm known as Bowles and Carver.
English Record
English Record
Benjamin Carver was a well connected young man of London in the era of King George IV of England. He was regarded as an honest industrious man of very good character.
Benjamin's crime of "Highway robbery" occurred in September 1791, on the King's Road, being the Great North Road through Finchley common. The robbery was perpetrated upon a well respected clergyman, Thomas Knowls, (Ely parish) and upon his wife and daughter who were also in the post-chaise carriage.
His father was the Rev. John Carver, Rector in Bedfordshire and later at Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, from 30th. October, 1770. His ministry continued "with great respectability and usefulness" to a group of Protestant Dissenters at West End Independent. He remained there until his death in 1797.
refer this site biography at . <https://sites.google.com/site/kapjt11/UK/east/cambs/deacon/john-carver-copy-220919?read_current=1>
The trial records of Benjamin Carver indicate his father and brother were Ministers of the Gospel members of a dissenting fraternity, and another brother, named John was a Captain in the British Army.
It is the case that "almost without exception highwaymen were men who had fallen from a high social station through bankruptcy or gambling debts or were members of the aspiring artisan class" (McLynn 59) and therefore largely behaved more like men accepted into polite society than their pick-pocketing counterparts
There has been no birth record for a brother Captain John nor for Benjamin. Probate records for Revd. John Carver (1797), raise concern regarding his pointsof view on politics and action if not also to his paternity for it reveals:
In respect to his son John, probate shows a father's disappointment, by effectively disinheriting him, in that he received just £1.
John may have acted to protect a house of those targeted during the Birmingham riots of July 1791. This may have been Captain John Carver who had defended poet's and property Lords, meeting to celebrate an anniversary of the French Revolution.
His wife Sarah is also considered herein.
Reference Books:
Frank McLynn, Crime and Punishment in Eighteenth-century England (London: Routledge, 1989).- This book is a fantastic resource for the research of highwaymen, with an entire chapter dedicated to the figure of the highwayman and insightful passages on 18th Century roads, the social standing of highwaymen, their gallant reputation and their depiction in The Beggar's Opera.
Further contextual research is available under the heading: "Who are the British?" And the sub-pages Details and Citations.
Influence
An outline of historical events suggest some influences may bear on Benjamin Carver's story.
Ben's father, himself a nonconformist (dissident) clergyman, would presumably have been shocked and shamed by his son's actions. There is no reference other than the term “great affliction” ~ Evangelical Magazine. His immediate family was referenced in available court documents in so far as their occupations; however, Ben certainly appears to have draw on the goodwill of his families associates and it was probably family connections who organised the appeal for clemency to the King (George).
Further to the report of the Recorder of London (court), - William Rose - we find there follows his conviction a collective petition on "Grounds for clemency" submitted by 12 business associates from London including:
~ Messrs. Henry Winchester and Co. on behalf of Benjamin Carver ~ who offered alternative passage on the first spring ship - "To The Isle of St. John in the Gulf of St. Laurence" where presumably he had connections.
Such consideration is in keeping with a practice of the East India Company’s armies, where positions were not sold, rather a person's contacts counted for something, and since the Carver family may have had a few "EIC" connections through the Father's ministery of the Gospels in Northumberland, it was Messrs "Winchester and Co." who offer to send him to Newfoundland (as it is now known).
There is also a letter from Samuel Whitbread junior.
We learn from another source, that his paternal first cousin was Samuel Carver (1756 - 1841), a joiner by trade who in 1770 apprenticed to Carrington Bowles, on whose death, the renowned publishing and map sellers business passed to his son Henry Bowles, through whom in 1793, Samuel Carver, became a business partner in the firm known as Bowles and Carver.
Trial Character witness
Trial Character witness
WILLIAM ROUSE sworn.
I am a grocer in Wigmore-street, Cavendish-square, I am no relation to the prisoner, I have known him about six or seven years, but not for pretty nigh a year; when I knew him he kept a grocer's shop in Pitt-street, in Pancras parish; at that time I always believed him to be a very honest industrious man: he bore a very good character, but I believe the business in Pitt-street did not answer very well, and he removed to Carnaby-street; there he was rather unfortunate in business, and lived in different places. There are many friends I could have brought to give him a good character, as a sober, honest young man. I never heard of his being guilty of any thing of the kind before.
Prisoner. That gentleman well knows that my friends are in affluence and respectability, and that I have been with them ever since my business declined.
Mr. Rouse. His father and brother are both ministers, they both preach the gospel.
A compassionate interest by today's researcher could investigate why Benjamin in 1791 claims to be in "distress" and commits a crime on vicar and his family resulting in his eventual transportation to Australia.
Clues to ancestral linage - In Britain, prior to 1837, life event records (B.D.M.) were maintained by Church and parish (Anglican), however this applied to non conformists also. If church records of Ben Carvers birth were recorded, then the absence may be due to the records not being digitised or being lost or destroyed.
Old Bailey trial records indicate: firstly that Benjamin ran a grocery business in St. Pancras and later in Carnaby Street (1787–1788).
This is supported by a trade entry on UK Pollbook records;
secondly, when William Rouse was called as a character witness in Ben's defence at trial in 1791, he stated: that Benjamin Carver's "father and brother were ministers, they both preach the gospels" and members of a dissenting fraternity. A brother John by name was a
Captain in the British Army
16th September 1791
16th September 1791
On Friday 16th September 1791, a hot summer afternoon, Benjamin Carver was standing by the Great North Road, one notorious for highwaymen3. He may have dreaded the thought of what he was contemplating doing and mustering courage to go ahead with his plan, he appeared pale and feeling the heat, for although shaded under a broad hat, he wore an unseasonable blue great-coat, together with an embroidered linen waistcoat, little sprigs on it's edge and silk handkerchief about his neck. So dressed he allegedly held up the Reverend Thomas Knowles, riding in a post-chaise on the road by Finchley Common near the 12-mile-stone from London.
Thomas Knowles D.D. (1723-1802) was a Cambridge scholar, preacher and a minister of the Church of England, who was on the day of the robbery, accompanied by his wife and daughter Sarah, wife of Benjamin Underwood, a minister at East Barnett parish.
Thomas Knowles provided the description above of the highway-man's attire and further stated at trial that having taken the money and purse, and declining their watches, Ben "touched his hat, and went off; he behaved civilly, not one bad word". Benjamin Carver, seems to have followed the tradition of a ‘gentleman robber’ explaining him actions with the unique words "distress had brought him to do it".
Another account related by the Chief Constable cites as follows: “He narrated the capture of one whom he had known as a fine young man, and as once respectable, to the following effect:— Carver, for that was his name, had unhappily been induced to gamble; and in order to find money for his young wife and children he, in an evil hour, dared to take to the road. His first attempt was also his last.
A mile or two out of Barnet he suddenly stopped and accosted two ladies in a travelling equipage. "Ladies," said he, "I need, and must have, your money. Do not be alarmed, 1 shall not injure a hair of your heads. Only give me your purses, and your watches, and your jewels." These the ladies immediately surrendered; but so unhardened was the robber, that he returned the watches, and respectfully inclining to the ladies, bade the coachman drive on.
Confused as Carver was in this his first attack, he foolishly rode on towards Barnet,—the very direction in which the carriage he had stopped was proceeding,—and in so doing passed another carriage, containing some relatives of the plundered ladies. Intelligence was soon conveyed from carriage to carriage, and the driver of the foremost arranged to take out one of the carriage horses and ride at full speed after Carver, whom he soon approached, and then never lost sight of him until he reached the town; upon entering which he raised the cry, "Stop thief!" Instantly a crowd scrambled after Carver, who to escape rode up a side street, which, however, proved to be no thoroughfare.
He was soon taken, and it so happened that my grandfather was then chief constable, so that my father had an opportunity of seeing Carver brought in. The dejected look of the captive, his exclamations of grief for his family, the trial before the local justice, the committal, and his subsequent transportation, were all en graven on my father's memory, and reproduced in the winter evenings of the winter of his life."
The thief or highway robber was pursued by William Burrows, servant to Mr. Underwood and also by Jeremiah Pooley riding Mr. Underwood's horse. Burrows rode past Benjamin and raised the alarm at The Red Lion Inn 4 at the bottom of the hill, and Pooley riding behind Benjamin "raised a hue and cry" such that two men (James Hill and Edward Scott) gave chase and caught him by the cape of his coat, then detained him. Benjamin Carver was searched and a purse, two pistols and two guineas found upon him were removed; he was then held under protest for an hour and half, awaiting his accusers arrival at the parlour within an inn on the hill at Barnett.
Revd. Knowles Prebendary for Ely and his party were unable to identify him, as "his hair was then, dishevelled, and he had a great colour in his face".
The issue raised by Constable Leifchild's recollection questions whether Revd. Knowles was actually in the first carriage at all. Benjamin was held over in Hertford Goal and went to trial two months later at Middlesex Azzises.
The Reverend Knowles and his daughter there testified, they were now certain he was the man that robbed them; and Benjamin presented his own defence in vain, stating "nothing found upon me could be claimed by any other person".
Benjamin Carver was sentenced to death on 26th October 1791, jailed at Newport Prison on the Isle of Wight. The transcripts of trial at the Old Bailey are available online.
Sentencing, petitions and appeals
Sentencing, petitions and appeals
In October, 1791, convicted and sentenced to death, Benjamin was jailed at Newport Prison on the Isle of Wight and an appeal was made to the King by his friends and colleagues; A letter for mercy, to the Crown resulted on 25 November with his sentence respite and reduced to transportation to New South Wales for life.
Proceedings of the Old Bailey, 15th February 1792, page 56.
The following Convicts (Respites) were put to the Bar, and informed that his Majesty had been graciously pleased to extend to them his Royal Mercy, on condition of their being transported during the Term of their natural Lives.
John Herbert / John Simpson / Thomas Jones (Refused) / Thomas Playter / Thomas Colliss / Benjamin Coleman, alias Coburne / Francis Sennett / George Clarke / Benjamin Carver / William Underwood, alias Whitaker / Samuel Young / William Walker / William Davis, alias Robert Hudson / Elizabeth Powell / John Chilton / William Malen / John Austin / James Cluer / William Foot
On 24th February 1792, Benjamin was delivered on-board the "Lyon" Hulk at Portsmouth Harbour.
Further appeals were made, one of these signed by a "Benjamin Carver" and the last page reads, as best I can determine the written word, as follows:
" ....implore Your Majesty graciously to allow him to transport himself to some of Your Majesty's Colonies for the term of Seven Years that he may live under Your Majesty's Government in obedience to the Laws and with the hope of living to return to his Native Country as an example of Your Majesty's Mercy and to acknowledge by the remainder of his life his inexpressible obligation (5) to Your Majesty. And Your Majesty's petitioners shall so pray."
There was a letter of Samuel Whitbread, assumed to have been written (1791-92) thereby, the junior Samuel Whitbread, as his father Samuel Whitbread senior (1720-1796) - foundation owner of the successful Whitbread brewer and an elected Member of Parliament for Bedford in 1768, a seat he held until 1790. "By 1760, it had become the second largest brewery in London (producing almost 64,000 barrels annually). Five years later Whitbread bought out Shewell for £30,000. By the end of the century, Whitbread's business was London's biggest producer of beer, producing 202,000 barrels in 1796." In the year before his death, he purchased Southill Park in 1790. Samuel Whitbread (jn 1764-1815), assumed the role as Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Southill on his father's retirement in 1790 and lived at Southill, Bedfordshire, England1. Samuel Whitbread either senior or junior, may have been approached by Ben's family however, the contents of their letter is unknown.
On 29th February 1792 a letter from Sir Richard Hill, MP for Shropshire was sent to Henry Dundas, the Home Secretary, requesting additional considerations for Sarah to travel to the same destination. This was not an unusual request and became increasingly common as the penal colony developed and Sir Richard Hill was known for humanitarian works and his persuasive influence in that regard. In May 1792, Benjamin departed England on the "Royal Admiral" bound for New South Wales, Australia, and his fiance Sarh Dibbs was also on-board the ship. All passengers (free and convict) experienced fever and sickness and the ship brought fever to port. Mr. Collins, the ship's surgeon, notes a large number of deaths, both in women and children, soon after arrival and the sick, to the number of 80, were all immediately disembarked.
As the year 1792 progressed, misery pervaded the colonial settlement. Provisions were scarce and sickness and death was commonplace so those new arrivals by ships, often in poor health were unable to shake off the debility of their voyage and succumbed to the famine conditions on shore where many died soon after. The strong plundered the public cornfields and stores, and aggravated the scarcity. Relief arrived on the 26th July 1792, when the Britannia storeship anchored in the harbour, the first of three ships dispatched to the colony in quick succession, so that "famine's dark shadow ... which had so long lain on the settlement, would be effectually banished at all events, for a considerable period" (6).
Benjamin arrived at Port Jackson on 7th. October 1792, aboard the ship Royal Admiral 10 under Commander Essex Henry Bond. Also on board was Sarah Dibbs, variously recorded (7) as a wife and a widow of a soldier.
Footnotes
1 - The business had began under Thomas Bowles (1714 - 1763), John Bowles (1701 - 1779), Carrington Bowles (1724 - 1793), and as Bowles and Carver (1794 - 1832). The firm specialised in publishing and as map sellers and were active in London (St. Paul's Churchyard) from c. 1714 to c.1832. They produced numerous atlases, pocket maps and wall maps.
2 - 1788 - Jury List Westminster Coroners Court
3. The robbery occurred near the 10-mile-stone, at the bottom of the hill, from London, where the Red-Lion-inn is located; at the top of the hill in the town of Barnett was the Red-Lion-inn, which was the post-office. This town in 1792 was governed by a magistrate, high constable, and petty-officers. The introduction of a mounted police force patrolling the road between Highgate and Whetstone finally ended the reign of the highwaymen in 1805.
4. Post Chaise Image source: on the way to Gretna Green - public domain Wiki-media https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GretnaGreen3cp.jpg.
5. reference: Petitioners plea (image available offline_page 4) has a signature of the petitioner with the name Benjamin Carver: The unfamiliar term “inexpressible obligation" was used in the plea statement. It may have been is use with non conformist preachers. I have found it associated to Calvinist work in reference to the Lord: (extract): "Is it not strange that those who have taken their ideas of the divine majesty, holiness and purity from the Scriptures, and are not wholly insensible of their inexpressible obligations to regulate all they say or do by his precepts, should upon many occasions be betrayed into improprieties of behavior from which the presence of a nobleman, or prince, would have effectually restrained them, yes, sometimes perhaps even the presence of a child?" Note: The legal term usually is "express obligation".
6. reference: TBA
7. reference: TBA
8. Wiltshire, England, Marriages, 1538-1837 record Benjamin Carver and Jane Whitlock - SOURCE: Document Type: Banns; FHL Film Number: 1279377 / Reference ID: XXFSKG. Also refer Bastardy Records Wiltshire (03), Devizes, and the book A Miscellany of Bastardy Records for Wiltshire. Volume 1 - 1728 to 1893 - transcribed by David Mattock and Rosemary Church. Published by Wiltshire Family History Society, 10 Castle Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 1HU, England. 1997. 83 pp. Introduction, map. Noted: Bastardy bonds were document that named the father of a child whose parents were not married, and stipulated payments, either to the mother or to the parish, to be made for its upkeep.
9. Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 7.2, 05 December 2015), October 1791, trial of BENJAMIN CARVER (t17911026-32).
10. 338F: Royal Admiral, Captain Essex H. Bond - Journal, 8 April 1792 – 24 August 1793 - Torbay (departed 30 May 1792) – Cape of Good Hope – Port Jackson (7 Oct. – 13 Nov. 1792) – thereafter Whampoa –Bocca Tigris – St Helena –Downs. (Convicts embarked: 299 men, 49 women).
11. The Priestly riots in Birmingham
12. Prison records - search www.londonlives.org/ for "Carver".
13. John Leifchild. The minister's help-meet, a memoir of E. Leifchild (Kindle Locations 54-59). Kindle Edition.
Summary of historic events influencing Benjamin' formative years
The Georgian era (1714 to c. 1830–37) and under King George 111, was a time of immense social change in Britain, with the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution, intensifying class divisions and in rural areas the Agricultural Revolution and a decline of small communities, the growth of the cities and beginnings of an integrated transportation system, and an increase in emigration to all parts of the British Empire.
1757 The Battle of Plassey: Robert Clive, an agent of the East India Company, leads forces which defeated the Mughal governor of Bengal
1763 ~ The American revolutionary era began in 1763, at the conclusion of the French and Indian Wars.
1768-71 & 88 - The three Pacific voyages of James Cook, a combined Royal Navy and Royal Society expedition to the south Pacific Ocean aboard HMS Endeavour. The aims of this first expedition were to observe the 1769 transit of Venus across the Sun and to seek evidence of the postulated - Terra Australis Incognita or (undiscovered) "unknown southern land" - Captain Cook onboard the "Endeavour" was anchored in Botany Bay in April 1770.
1770 ~ The NASA Earth Observatory notes that about 1770, there was a particularly cold intervals in the Northern Hemisphere.
1775–1783 - the American War of Independence
"In 1775, the City of London began to take a greater interest in controlling the content of the Proceedings at London's Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), and in 1778 it demanded that the (Publishing History of the) Proceedings should provide a “true, fair, and perfect narrative” of all the trials. In addition, the publisher was required to supply 320 free copies of the Proceedings to City officials. In part, these requirements resulted from the fact the Proceedings were being used by the City's Recorder as a formal record: they formed the basis of the Recorder's report to the King concerning which of the convicts sentenced to death should be pardoned. Moreover, at a time of social instability, the City was concerned to demonstrate to the public the fairness and impartiality of judicial procedures at the Old Bailey."
1783: Anglo Spanish War ends.
1783: Evangelical Revival begins in England.
1784: Wesleyan charter published.
1785: First Steam Engine installed. 1789 Steam drives machinery in Manchester cotton factory.
1787: Formation of a Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
1789, 14 July - The French Revolution - Storming of the Bastille occurred in Paris, France. The short lived French Constitution was signed on 3 September 1791.
1791 - Events of the year 1791
March 2 - Death of John Wesley, - founder of Methodism (born 1703)
July 14 – The Priestley Riots against Dissenters break out in Birmingham, England.
July 17 – French Revolution: The Champ de Mars Massacre occurs.
1791 16 September Benjamin Carver was accused of Highway Robbery on the King's Road. He was captured shortly after at Barnett, and accused of the crime, arrested then held over in Hertford Goal.
26 October Benjamin Carver went to trial at Middlesex Azzises, "two months later - Trial held at the Old Bailey where he was convicted of assault and robbery and sentenced to death; ".
October Sessions for Middlesex Continued. / 24 Octobr. / 87. Benjn Carver. Hertford Goal (Mattw. Raper Esqr . Sheriff.) crime: Highway Robby. on Finchley Commn. on Dr Knowles / Old B. 26 / Judge Heath -
Sentence: Death : Febry 24. 1792.
J Bradley Esqr . Delivd on Board the Lyon hulk at Portsmouth harbour.
Respited Novr. 25 Vide pa. 48.
Was Benjamin jailed also at on the Isle of Wight (Newport).
October - An appeal was made to the King and letters sent on his behalf, by people of standing in the community, including providores and shipping merchants. No reference is made to family members participating in the hearing.
25 November - The King showed mercy and Benjamin Carver was granted a respite and transportation.
1792 22 February
See also HO 47/15/6, folios 37-39. Report of John William Rose, Recorder of London, on:
An individual petition (by the prisoner) and
A collective petition (by 12 people, from London) on behalf of Benjamin Carver, convicted at the Old Bailey in October 1791, for a highway robbery and taking 2 guineas and 2 ladies purses, property of Thomas Knowles.
There is a letter from Samuel Whitbread junior.
Evidences supplied by Mrs Sarah Underwood, prosecutor's daughter;
William Burrows, prosecutor's servant;
James Hill, Edward Scott, and William Rouse.
Grounds for clemency:- prisoner had 'connections' on the 'Island St. John (in the) Gulf of St. Lawrence' (Newfoundland) and Messrs Winchester and Co., offer to send him there on their first spring ship.
Initial sentence: death, commuted to transportation. Recommendation: no mercy. Folios 46-52.
24 February Benjamin Carver - Delivered onboard the "Lyon" Hulk at Portsmouth Harbour.
29 February - A letter from Sir Richard Hill, MP for Shropshire, was sent to the Home Secretary, ~ The Right Honourable Henry Dundas MP, ~ (Secretary of State for the Home Department (8 June 1791 – 11 July 1794)). The letter requested additional considerations for Sarah to travel to the same destination as her fiancé Ben Carver and was apparently granted.
May 1792 Benjamin Carver departed England and was transported to New South wales, Australia on the "Royal Admiral", which made her maiden Australian Voyage in 1792 with Captain Essex Henry Bond in charge, chartered by the East India Company, arriving at Port Jackson on Sunday, 7 October 1792. The first of the convicts were landed on 8 October 1792.
10 Oct.. 1792 Wednesday 10th October 1792 - marriage of Benjamin Carver and Sarah (Dibbs).
1797 , 31 January Death of Revd. John Carver in Wellingsborough, England (possible paternal parent).
Notes: British History Online -
7 July 1711 - A representation, proposing Mr. John Carver to be of the Council of Jamaica, in the room of Mr. Thomas Clarke, deceasd, was signed.
1809 - Benjamin successfully secured land at Parramatta - "The Ponds" and also at Bringelly .
1809 Jun 9 - recorded in list of grants and leases of land registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3267; 9/2731 pp.22, 178).
Castlereagh, Nepean River Grant of Property
Castlereagh, Nepean River Grant of Property
100 acres 09 Jan. 1811.
1809/11 - Benjamin secured 100 acres of land near Penrith, in Evan along the eastern side of the Nepean River. (near 1024 Castlereagh Rd. Agnes Banks) Benjamin sought confirmation of a grant of land made to him by Colonel Patterson;
1810 Jan 16 - Memorial (Fiche 3002; 4/1821 No.54) - In a memorial of January 1810 to the newly appointed Governor Macquarie,
See image - He asserted that he had been four years an overseer of Government Work, and this may have been as an assistant at the Parramatta store. The memorial also states he had been Chief Constable of Toongabbie, for six years. Benjamin Carver, constable, appears on a list of civil officers, constables and free citizens who had volunteered to assist the military in times of unrest.
1810 Dec 1,5 - He was a Signatory to address from the settlers of the Hawkesbury to Governor Macquarie; and Macquarie's reply (Reel 6038; SZ758 pp.128-30) - Both Sarah (p25) and Benjamin(p8) appear in Richmond Population Book, 1820 of the New South Wales, Census and Population Books, 1811-1825.
Benjamin Carver in New South Wales
Benjamin Carver in New South Wales
Benjamin's participation with constabulary and in community organisation shows he had a vested interest in sustaining his family life and in law and order and possibly in the restoration of his reputation.
He also remained interested in news vof British Empire for he is recorded on a list for the Waterloo Subscription – No 80, Cornhill, Feb 6 1817. This was a fund raiser subscription to assist those wounded and those widowed in the Battle of Waterloo, fought on Sunday, 18 June 1815. Ben shows his concern for others, particularly those in military service or lost at Waterloo in 1815. Of the 68,000 Anglo-Allied armed forces, there were 17,000 military casualties.
The Colonial Secretary Papers, 1788-1825 - record the government actions in these pioneering time and reference Carver, Benjamin. Per "Royal Admiral", 1792:
1 Sept. 1794 (Apr 1); "Eight convicts including Ben Carver, were pardoned on condition of their serving in the New South Wales corps, until regularly discharged therefrom."
30 September 1794 - The Colonial Secretary granted Benjamin Carver an Absolute pardon and thereby he was free, considered a potential settler and received a grant of 30 acres of land at "The Ponds".
1797 - General musters and lists 1800-1802 - Benjamin Carver as having a Land granted at Northern boundary before 1797. Refer website Dept. of Lands parish maps: Field of Mars.
In 1800 Benjamin Carver, the aged 33, he made the first of many application for further land grants.
1803 & 1804 - Most land grants were made to discharged soldiers and some of these soldiers were previously emancipated convicts.
Benjamin Carver was recorded as a District Constable and Pound keeper. This possibly followed his mandatory service with the N.S.W. Corp. which was raised for the protection of the public stores and the civil establishment of the colony.
5th. March 1804 - Government Farm's buildings raided for weapons. Was Ben a custodian? We know he was a participant in the battle of Vinegar Hill in which the government forces were required to confront and subdue the convict rebellion. The gathering were commemorating the battle of Vinegar Hill in Ireland, 1798 when the riot occurred.
12 January 1806 - Benjamin Carver secures land in the Parish of Prospect
“Samuel Harding ...was given a Crown Grant of 30 acres, being allotment 163 in the Parish of Prospect on 1st August, 1799. He sold the bottom 10 acres to Joseph Kerans for sixteen pounds on 1st June, 1804; Kerans (Kearnes) sold it to Benjamin Carver on 12th January, 1806, and Carver sold it to Hugh Doherty on 29th October, 1806. And Daniel Brien bought the ten acres from Doherty on 23rd February, 1807 for Thirty five pounds. source: Paper on ancestry.com.au “Mary Ann Parker and Daniel Brien” by - William J Cuthill - None of the documents mention a hut or a house on this farm, but he might have had a house of some kind there, so we assume he lived somewhere else in 1806.”
1806 Jul - Received issue of beer (Reel 6041; 4/1719 p.211)
1809 Jun 9 - Benjamin successfully secured land at Parramatta - "The Ponds" and at Bringelly as recorded in list of grants and leases of land registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3267; 9/2731 pp.22, 178).
See land grant 100acres - http://oa.anu.edu.au/entity/12456?pid=17203
1809 Jun 10 - Received rations from the Hawkesbury Stores (Reel 6040; 9/2673 p.53).
1809 Sep - Discharged from the Hawkesbury Stores (Reel 6040; 9/2673 p.91).1809 Oct 21 - Received rations from the Hawkesbury Stores (Reel 6040; 9/2673 p.106).1810 Jan 6 - Produce received from the Hawkesbury Stores (Reel 6042; 4/1725 p.264a.
1810 Jan 16 - Memorial (Fiche 3002; 4/1821 No.54) - In a memorial of January 1810 to the newly appointed Governor Macquarie,
1809/11 - Benjamin secured 100 acres of land near Penrith, in Evan along the eastern side of the Nepean River.Benjamin sought confirmation of a grant of land made to him by Colonel Patterson;
See image - He asserted that he had been four years an overseer of Government Work, and this may have been as an assistant at the Parramatta store. The memorial also states he had been Chief Constable of Toongabbie, for six years. Benjamin Carver, constable, appears on a list of civil officers, constables and free citizens who had volunteered to assist the military in times of unrest.
1810 Dec 1,5 - He was a Signatory to address from the settlers of the Hawkesbury to Governor Macquarie; and Macquarie's reply (Reel 6038; SZ758 pp.128-30) - Both Sarah (p25) and Benjamin(p8) appear in Richmond Population Book, 1820 of the New South Wales, Census and Population Books, 1811-1825.
1817 Feb 8 - Paid from the Police Fund for transporting baggage and provisions of a detachment of the 46th Regiment from Richmond to Sydney (Reel 6038; SZ759 p.315). refer:- http://colonialcastlereagh.blogspot.com/2016/04/locals-4-henry-fulton-and-ropes.html
1820 Apr 27 - District Constable and poundkeeper in the low lands of Richmond district (Reel 6049; 4/1744 pp.316-7)
1820 Jun 30 - Richmond. Memorial (Fiche 3015; 4/1823 No.124 p.278)? -
1822 - Notes in the General Muster and Land and Stock Muster of New South Wales. 1822: Entry No. B352: - record notes Ben Carver had 14 acres under cultivation another 14 acres cleared and with five hogs.
Children of Benjamin Carver and Sarah Dibbs & possibly Sarah Woods
William Carver born July 9, 1796, died an infant.
William Carver born 1798 and he married Eliza Cox in 1831;
William Carver remarried to Ann Randall on August 25, 1848, in Richmond, Australia. Ann was the widow of John Haynes and they had five children in 11 years. William died on 17 April 1876.
Benjamin Carver, grandson of the original became an Alderman in Hill End, NSW in 1884 and was Mayor in 1891, 1892 & 1894.
Ann Carver born 9 Oct 1799 in Richmond, New South Wales; married Sergeant Robert Broadfoot on 18th. March 1817, and later that year, both traveled with the 46th regiment of Foot to Madras Presidency under the control of the British East India. Ann married five times after the death of three soldiers and an elderly spouse.
Elizabeth Carver born 24 Jan. 1801, Hawksbury and died 23 July 1855, Richmond.
Married Thomas Wheeler on 8th. Feb 1819. He died 12th. Feb.1820: child John b.1819;
Marriage (2) to George Mortimer on 8th. Oct.1821; children, George b. 16/5/1822; Benjamin b. 1823; Ann(e) b. 1825; and William b.circa 1828.
On 3rd January 1822, Benjamin Carver aged 55, died at Richmond and his burial held at St Peters, Anglican, Richmond (grave 90 row 10). The cemetery is on the right hand side of Windsor Rd as you leave Richmond heading north-west towards Hawkesbury River, directly opposite the church which is on the left side of Windsor Rd.
`Coroners Report : CARVER, Benjamin, pre 1821, pp.319-320, NRS 5607, [2/8286], Reel 2232, witness.
Also entombed there were his wife Sarah and son in law Thomas Wheeler. Sarah Carver may have died about 1839 (BDM: 1839868 157/1839 - CARVER, SARAH, AGE 67) and this record indicated her birth was about 1772.
------------------------------
Footnotes
The marriage of Benjamin Carver and Sarah Dibbs - NSW BDM - 150/1792 V1792150 4; see also 220/1792 V1792220 3A. There was some speculation by Ann Standen as to whether Sarah died and he married a second time to another person of the name Sarah.
Benjamin Carver, District Constable and Pound-keeper for Upper Richmond ( Sydney Gazette and NSW Advertiser - 20 May 1820.
There is some speculation as to whether Sarah died and he married a second time to another person of the name Sarah.
Notes from gea - In 1800 Benjamin Carver aged 33 made the first of many application for further land grants, however most of the 1803 & 1804 grants were to discharged soldiers and some soldiers were previously emancipated convicts. Benjamin was successful in 1809 when he secured land at Parramatta and "The Ponds" and at Bringelly. In 1810 he secured land at Penrith and in Evan along the eastern side of the Nepean River.
In the book Fourth Fleet Families of Australia by C.J.Smee, 1992 another child is claimed to be that of Benjamin Carver and Sarah Wood born in Sydney on 12th. May 1806 and also named Sarah.
It is noted, New South Wales births show a birth registered with mother Sarah Wood and named Sarah C W with the surname "Crew" and the father's name is given as Benjamin Crew. This may have been his child or an adopted child for he had registered other children with Sarah Wood and there is no NSW marriage record. Refer BDM NSW 960/1806 V1806890 4 and 1656/1806 V18061656 1A.
Sadly Sarah C. W. died an infant, registered NSW - Deaths - V18062117 2A/1806 - WOOD SARAH C. INFANT, Buried at the Town Hall Cemetery (Sydney) in October 1806 - Sarah Crew Wood, an Infant.
Colonial Secretary reference to CREW, Benjamin
1813 Jul 24 - On list of persons indebted for stock issued from the Government Herds between 1 Apr 1810 and 24 Jul 1813 (Reel 6043; 4/1728 p.157)
1818 Sep 10 - Of Liverpool. On list of persons to receive grants of land in 1818 (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.48)
1819 Sep 8 - To be victualled from Government Stores (Reel 6020; 2/8130 p.255)
1819 Oct 1 - Proceeding to new country, County of Camden, as settler and to be victualled for 12 months (Reel 6020; 2/8130 p.257)
1821 Sep 22 - Of New Country. On list of persons to receive grants of land in 1821; in Argyleshire (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 pp.68, 72)
1822 Apr 15, May - On lists of persons indebted to the Crown for livestock issued from the Government Herds & Flocks (Reel 6052; 4/1753 pp.117a, 120).
This is clearly a different family to that of Benjamin Carver
References: source
Suzanne Rickards. Lifelines from Calcutta, (p.65). India, China, Australia. Trade and Society. 1788~1850. (2003) Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales.
There are a variety of reports available through NSW State Archives and Records : These records are able to be accessed in our Reading Room at the Western Sydney Records Centre where you will be able to make a copy.
“Samuel Harding ...was given a Crown Grant of 30 acres, being allotment 163 in the Parish of Prospect on 1st August, 1799. He sold the bottom 10 acres to Joseph Kerans for sixteen pounds on 1st June, 1804; Kerans (Kearnes) sold it to Benjamin Carver on 12th January, 1806, and Carver sold it to Hugh Doherty on 29th October, 1806. And Daniel Brien bought the ten acres from Doherty on 23rd February, 1807 for Thirty five pounds. source: Paper on ancestry.com.au “Mary Ann Parker and Daniel Brien” by - William J Cuthill -
NSW State Archive Records
INDEX Hardwick, James of Parramatta Carver, Benjamin of Hawkesbury - Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814 / Series: NRS 2659 | Item No: 5/1106 | Date: 22 Jul 1811-22 Jul 1811Details: Number INX-42-1046; Title - Hardwick, James of Parramatta Carver, Benjamin of Hawkesbury; Index Name - Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814
Plaintiff - Hardwick, James of Parramatta; Defendant - Carver, Benjamin of Hawkesbury; Date - 22 Jul 1811-22 Jul 1811; Case No - 139; Series - NRS 2659; Item No - 5/1106; Index Number - 42.
INDEX - Hook, Charles and Thomas Cripps by George Crossley [atty] Carver, Benjamin - Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814. Series: NRS 2659 | Item No: 5/1108 | Date: 28 Oct 1812-28 Oct 1812. Details: Number INX-42-2360. Title Hook, Charles and Thomas Cripps by George Crossley [atty] Carver, Benjamin. Index Name - Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814. Plaintiff; Hook, Charles and Thomas Cripps by George Crossley [atty]. Defendant: Carver, Benjamin. Date 28 Oct 1812-28 Oct 1812 / Case No 319 / Series NRS 2659 / Item No 5/1108 / Index Number 42. Hook, Charles and Cripps, Thomas, surviving partners of T Abbott Carver, Benjamin. Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814. Series: NRS 2659 | Item No: 5/1108 | Date: 4 Jan 1813-4 Jan 1813 /
INDEX Hook, Charles and Cripps, Thomas, surviving partners of T Abbott Carver, Benjamin/ Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814. Series: NRS 2659 | Item No: 5/1108 | Date: 4 Jan 1813-4 Jan 1813; Details - Number INX-42-470. Title Hook, Charles and Cripps, Thomas, surviving partners of T Abbott Carver, Benjamin;
Index Name Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814 Plaintiff Hook, Charles and Cripps, Thomas, surviving partners of T Abbott
Defendant Carver, Benjamin / Date 4 Jan 1813-4 Jan 1813 / Series NRS 2659 / Item No 5/1108 / Index Number 42
INDEX - William Holness Tanner / Criminal Court Records index 1788-1833 / Page No: 415 | Copy: Reel 2392 | Citation: 2703 [5/1145] | Record Type: Appendix D: Indictments, informations and related papers, 1796-1815 - Court of Criminal Jurisdiction: Informations, depositions and related papers, 1796-1824 | Date: n.d. [1807]-n.d. [1807] | Offence: Winning 20 pounds off Benjamin Carver at All Fours. Details Number INX-57-2392 / Title William Holness Tanner / Index Name Criminal Court Records index 1788-1833 / Name William Holness Tanner / Record Type / Appendix D: Indictments, informations and related papers, 1796-1815 - Court of Criminal Jurisdiction: Informations, depositions and related papers, 1796-1824 / Offence Winning 20 pounds off Benjamin Carver at All Fours / Date n.d. [1807]-n.d. [1807] / Citation 2703 [5/1145] / Page No 415 / Copy Reel 2392 / Index Number 57.
INDEX - Charters, George v Carver, Benjamin; Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814. Series: NRS 2659 | Item No: 5/1108 | Date: 24 Apr 1812-24 Apr 1812. Details Number INX-42-2686 Title Charters, George Carver, Benjamin / Index Name Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814. Plaintiff Charters, George. Defendant Carver, Benjamin. Date 24 Apr 1812-24 Apr 1812 / Case No 2 / Series NRS 2659 / Item No 5/1108 - Index Number 42 /
INDEX - Quin, Edward Carver, Benjamin / Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814 / Series: NRS 2659 | Item No: 5/1109 | Date: 2 Aug 1813-2 Aug 1813 / Details - Number INX-42-2097; Title - Quin, Edward Carver, Benjamin. Index Name: Court of Civil Jurisdiction index 1799-1814. Plaintiff: Quin, Edward. Defendant: Carver, Benjamin. Date 2 Aug 1813-2 Aug 1813. Case No 323 / Series NRS 2659 / Item No 5/1109 / Index Number 42.
cemeteries in the district
http://admin.penrithlakes.com.au/content/2015/03/McCarthy-Cemetery-CMP-Draft-Report-November-2014.pdf
Benjamin Ray Carver (1846-1916)
Benjamin Ray Carver (1846-1916)
Son of William Carver and Ann Randall and grandson of Benjamin Carver and Sarah Dibbs ~ My Relationship: 1st cousin 4x removed.
Between 1884-1894 ~ he was an Alderman and 3 times Mayor of The Hill End, a place of good fortune during the Goldrush.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse