Thirteen-year-old Jeremiah Smith was tried on 12 March 1787 at Chelmsford Assizes, Essex, for breaking, entering and stealing. The report of his trial stated that 'Jeremiah Smith late of the Parish of High Easter in the County of Essex Labourer' stole 'one Canvas Purse of the value of six pence, three pieces of the Gold Coin the Realm called half Guineas of the value of one pound eleven shillings and six pence, and four shillings and ten pence halfpenny in Monies ...' [1]

Jeremiah was found not guilty of breaking and entering, but was sentenced to transportation for seven years for stealing. He was held on the Justitia, a prison hulk, before sailing to New South Wales on the William and Ann in 1791 as part of the Third Fleet. [2] The William and Ann, built in 1759, was the oldest ship in the Third Fleet, and took 154 days from Plymouth to Sydney, arriving on 28 August 1791. Seven convicts died on board, and all convicts were stated to be very ill on arrival. The ship's master was fined for assaulting and beating some of the soldiers during the passage. [3] On arrival, Jeremiah was described as a native of Essex, 5'8" tall, with fair complexion, hazel eyes, sandy hair and a thin face. [4]

On 4 December 1797, Jeremiah Smith, having served his sentence, enlisted in the 102 ^nd Regiment, also known as the New South Wales Corps. [5] In 1798, he was detached to serve with Major Johnson. On 21 February 1801, he deserted and remained at large for ten months, until 24 December 1801. He was court-martialled and received 500 lashes. He was then detached to serve again with Johnson. [6]

In 1803, Jeremiah was one of eight military personnel (and forty-nine individuals) who made up the settlement party at Risdon, headed by Commandant John Bowen. [7] Jeremiah was also listed amongst the soldiers of the 102 ^nd Regiment, who arrived at Port Dalrymple on 11 November 1804 with Lieutenant Colonel William Paterson, the Lieutenant Governor of the north. Of the sixty-eight soldiers at Port Dalrymple, seven had also been to Risdon. [8] While at Port Dalrymple, Jeremiah, or Jerry, Smith almost lost his life while fighting a fire in a barn belonging to Captain Kemp. Early in 1810, the entire NSW Corps was relieved by the 73 ^rd Regiment. Jeremiah returned to Sydney on the Trial in March 1810, and was discharged from military service on 6 April 1810. [9] He was listed as residing in NSW in the general muster of convicts and former convicts taken between 5 February and 5 March 1811. [10] He later had land at Liverpool and near Campbelltown, New South Wales. In the 1822 General Muster, he was listed as having ten acres (two under wheat) and five hogs at Liverpool. [11]

On 23 September 1811, Jeremiah Smith married Sophia Acres at St John's Church, Parramatta, New South Wales. They were married by Rev. Samuel Marsden. Sophia was about sixteen and Jeremiah was about thirty-seven. Both signed with their mark [x]. [12] Sophia was the daughter of First Fleet convict, Thomas Acres, and Third Fleet convict, Ann Guy or Hinchley. [13] Thomas Acres (or Akers), tried in Devon and transported for highway robbery, arrived on the Charlotte in 1788. [14] Ann Guy or Hinchley arrived on the Mary Ann in 1791, sentenced in the Old Bailey to transportation for seven years for stealing.[15]

Jeremiah and Sophia (Acres) Smith had eleven children: Sophia (born 1812, died aged two); Thomas (born 1814); Ann (born 1815); Eliza (born about 1816); John (born 1817); Jeremiah (born 1821); Mary Ann (born 1824); Joseph (born 1827); Margaret (born 1829); William (born 1832); and Henry (born 1835). John Smith was my great-great-great-grandfather. In 1846, he married Mary Ann Wholahan, daughter of convicts Michael Wholohan, who arrived on the Atlas in 1802, and Ann Rowley, who arrived on the Broxburnebury in 1812. [16]

Jeremiah Smith, a seventy-year-old farmer, died at Cowpastures near Camden, New South Wales, on 30 May 1848. [17] He was buried on 1 June 1848 at St Peter's Church, Campbelltown, New South Wales. His wife, Sophia, died at Campbelltown, in 1874. [18] Their son, John Smith, was a hotel keeper in Nimmitabel, in the southern tablelands of New South Wales, when he died in 1886. [19]

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This story was originally published in 2004 by the Writers Group of the Hobart Branch of the TFHS Inc. in the publication PROS and Cons of Transportation A collection of convict stories.

Not only does this publication celebrate the cessation of transportation of convicts to Van Diemens Land, it also celebrates the work of the Family History Writers Group. This group was formed in 2003 to assist members who wanted to write their family histories. The monthly meetings stimulated great interest and enthusiasm.

The original introduction may be found here.