Sunday 7 June 2015

David Earl: from Patna to Van Diemen's Land

I came across this story while researching the Earl family. Still not sure where this man fits in.


In April 1823 David Earl appeared in court in Ayr and was convicted of knowingly passing 2 forged £1 notes. he was sentenced to death but this was commuted to transportation for life.


He was transported to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania, Australia) on the Phoenix leaving on 29 March 1824.


In 1825 a James McClymont writes to the Governor wishing to have a young man by the name of David Earl in his service and offers to pay his passage
NAME:David Earl
EVENT DATE:20 Jan 1825
EVENT DESCRIPTION:James McClymont wishes to have him assigned to him
COMMENTS:Prisoner at the Derwent

A second letter in 1825 mentions him though I am struggling to make out what is going on. James McClymont is a reputable settler in New South Wales.



James Mcclymont died about 1829. He was a cattle farmer in Durham, New South Wales. 

2 Feb 1830
TO be LET, for the term of sevenyears, possession to be given im-  mediately, the FARM of AHALTON,    consisting of 1000 acres of land, situateon Hunter's River, in the township ofDurham, adjoining Nelson's Plains,with from 130 to 150 Head of Cattle,belonging to the Estate of the late Mr.JAMES M'CLYMONT.    
In the 1832 convict muster of 1832 he is engaged in public works. Same in 1835

1832



Meanwhile back in Scotland in 1836 a petition by his parish minister in Straiton, and officials in Ayr  was sent to the King asking for his pardon.



It appears to have fallen on deaf ears.  He was eventually granted a pardon in 1844.



He was given permission to marry Elizabeth Margaret Bisiker in 1838 (it is the same man as he came over on the Phoenix) and they married in St James's Chapel Jericho on the 12th November 1838
In 1842 census there is a David Earl living in a wooden house in Richmond with 3 other people, wife and 2 children. 

However in 1844 Elizabeth died in the January and a son James aged 21 months died in the July. They are buried in Bothwell Cemetery, Hobart.

There is a David Earl on the Electoral Roll in 1856 who may or may not be him.
David Earl
GENDER:Male
ELECTORAL YEAR:1856
STATE:Victoria
DISTRICT:Talbot
SUBDISTRICT:Daisy Hill


Perhaps he was an uncle of the David Earl in our tree born 1814 in Straiton.