He was tried in Derby (for stealing some poultry) and sentenced on January 14, 1800 to seven years. Sailing on the ''Earl Cornwallis'', David arrived in Sydney on June 12, 1801. Like the majority of convicts arriving in the Colony between 1801 and 1804, David was sent to Windsor, NSW.
In this area known as the ''Hawkesbury'', the Government owned farms along the Hawkesbury River which were designed to be the food supply for the Colony. Along with many other convicts, David worked these farms until he was given his ticket of leave.
In the 1806 Muster, David is listed as being in Government employ. In 1810 he married Jane Cowling (born in Sydney 1795) at the original St Matthews Church in Windsor. The Francis Greenway designed architectural beauty that stands there today was built around 1821. Jane was the daughter of the convicts Thomas Cowling and Eleanor Bryan.
It is not known exactly where David and Jane lived for the first ten years of their marriage - presumably on the lowlands at Richmond or Windsor (ironically referred to as ''Cornwallis"). They were listed in the 1814 Muster as being off stores and in Windsor (although they could in effect, have lived anywhere between Richmond and Windsor).
In the 1822 Muster David, Jane and three of their children were listed as living on seven and a half acres purchased by him in Windsor. Four of these acres grew wheat, two acres grew maize. David also grew potatoes (still a crop grown on the lowlands) and had an orchard. He owned one horse and twelve pigs.
In 1820 David applied for a land grant and on June 30, 1823 he and Jane became the owners of 50 acres in Kurrajong. This property, not far from Bells Line of Road, was called ''Timberinga''.
Today, Hermitage Road runs through the land grant.
In the 1828 Muster, David is listed as having 15 acres cleared and 12 under cultivation. He employed Thomas Harrington as a laborer.
In the 1837 Muster, David had an assigned convict, Jane Appleyard in his employ. In 1843 Jane was given her freedom and she married John Kay in 1848. More information about this Jane can be found here.
Our Jane died in May 1852, after having fallen into the fire in her home. From a Sydney Morning Herald newspaper report, it is believed that Jane had been paralysed for some years and fell into the fire and could not get out.
After David's death at the age of 93 in 1859, Timberinga was divided up among three of his children - James (18 acres), Joseph (20 acres) and Ann's family (12 acres). By this stage, his daughters Eleanor and Elizabeth were living in Spring Hill near Orange with their husbands, the brothers John and James Davis. This might explain why they were not included in David's will.
Over the years Timberinga was sold off in small parcels to the Wilson and Peck families. These small parcels (38 acres) were then purchased by George Smith to recreate almost all of the original holding. Smith subsequently sold the land to William Bowman.
The land passed through other hands, however, the longest landholders (since Colonisation), have been the Males family. They bought the property in 1949 and still live there today.
Newspaper references to Timberinga after David's death can be read here and here. A 1933 article also mentions the estate.
Both David and Jane are buried in St Peters Anglican Church in Richmond.
Today, descendants of David and Jane Hawkins's son Joseph still live in Kurrajong.
This map shows David's property listed as well as Job Wilson's ''Rocklands''. David's son Joseph married Job's daughter Susan.
I have included newspaper articles in order for the reader to get a sense of what it was like to be living in the Hawkesbury during the 1800s and early 1900s. Here is a snapshot of life in Kurrajong at the turn of the last century.
I have also included newspaper articles about the Hawkesbury floods as a matter of interest. Floods took the lives of Jane Hawkins' mother Eleanor Cowling and also her son Thomas Hawkins. As with bushfires, floods are an integral part of living in the Hawkesbury - you cannot live your life here without being affected by them.
See information about the Jan 1857 floods here. As well as the June 1889 May 1871 and the 1925 floods.
When you grow up in this part of the world, Summer always brings a sense of caution because a bushfire can start at any moment. Since childhood, all Kurrajong kids have been conditioned to know which of the Rural Fire Service alarms means a fire.
In the 1944 fire, our grandfather Glen Hawkins plowed a field as a firebreak and put his wife Alice and their kids in the middle of it for protection. Before he passed away, our Father told of how as a teenager he joined the local men in protecting property during this same fire by beating the flames with hessian bags. No Elvis the Helicopter or massive Fire Tankers in those days. Even during the 1990 fire, we fought to save our cattle and buildings on our farm at Blaxland's Ridge without the help of modern appliances.
I have included some newspaper articles about some Kurrajong bushfires: 1895, 1905, 1944, 1979, 1990, 1994
And an article which describes in detail the flora around Kurrajong from 1861.
David and Jane had the following children:
1. Thomas - 1811 to 1834 (said to have drowned in the 1834 floods)
2. Mary - 1814 to 1818
3. Eleanor - 1817 to 1899. Married John Davis (1810 to 1872) in 1832
4. Hannah aka Ann - 1820 to 1852. Married John Lane (1809 to 1879) in 1836
5. Elizabeth - 1822 to 1885. Married James Davis (1817 to 1853) in 1838. She later married Angus Cameron in 1859.
6. James - 1826 to 1894. Unmarried. View newspaper article.
7. Joseph John - 1829 to 1902. Married Susan Wilson (1833 to 1888). More information about Susan Wilson (daughter of convict Job Wilson) can be viewed here. Job Wilson's 50 acre land grant "Rocklands" was next door to David's Timberinga. Read more about the Wilson family.
DESCENDANT INFORMATION
Eleanor Hawkins - 1817 to 1899. Married John Davis (1810 to 1872) in 1832. Eleanor and John had 12 children. You can read Eleanor's obituary here.
1. Thomas (1830 - 18?)
2. Joseph (1832 -?) married Charlotte Lewis in 1857
3. Hannah (1834 - 1896) married John Stanford in 1852 & Albert Baker in 1866
4. Jane (1836 - 1906) married Bartholomew Turnbull (1838 -1906) in 1862. You can find Jane's obituary here. Sadly Bart died five weeks after Jane.
5. James (1838 - 18?)
6. Thomas Henry (1839 - 1857)
7. David (1841 - 1933) married Mary Ann Nesbitt in 1866 and Charlotte Turnbull (1841 to 1935) in 1889 at Windsor. Charlotte was the daughter of John and Bridget Turnbull.
8. Elizabeth (1843 - 1844)
9. Mary Ann (1845 - 1910) married Edwin Reece in 1864.
10. Ellen (1847?) married William Hooper in 1865.
11. Sarah Elizabeth (1849-1888) married William Baker in 1868.
12. John Albert (1852 - 1931) married Ann Chapman (1843 -1937) in 1875. You can more about John here.
13. William George (1854 - 1930) married Mary Whitmee.
Hannah Hawkins aka Ann - 1820 to 1852. Married John Lane (1809 to 1879) in 1836.
1. Anne (1836 -?) married George Pittman
2. John (1838 - 1920) married Amelia Davis (1845-1917) in 1862. Amelia and John were first cousins. Amelia's mother was Elizabeth Hawkins (see below).
3. Jane (1840 - ?) married Charles McKeuon in 1871.
4. Thomas Henry (1844 -?)
5. Hannah (1846 - 1908) married Philip Clement Buesnel in 1865.
6. Ellen (1849-1934) married William Davis (? - 1904) in 1867 then Thomas Howell (1835 - 1911) in 1905.
7. Elizabeth (1851 - 1925) married John Wilson (1844 - 1921) son of Simeon Wilson and Elizabeth Riley.
Elizabeth Hawkins - 1822 to 1885. Married James Davis (1817 to 1853) in 1838. She later married Angus Cameron in 1859.
1. William (1839 - 1927) married Mary Ann Crook in 1862.
2. Louise (1842 - 1921) married William Sharp in 1856.
3. Amelia (1845 - 1917) married John Lane (1838 - 1920) in 1862.
4. Rachel (1847 - 1877) married Mark Willis in 1868.
5. James (1849 - 1902) married Ellen Hennessy in 1871.
6. Issac (1851 - 1897) married Ellen Agland in 1875.
Children with Angus Cameron.
1. Elizabeth (1860 - ?) married John Baker?
2. Male, name unknown (1862 - ?)
Joseph John Hawkins - 1829 to 1902. Married Susan Wilson (1833 to 1888). Read the newspaper article about Joseph's death.
1. Harriet (1852 - 1858) Harriet is buried at St Peter's Richmond under the name Harriet Wilson.
2. Margaret Jane (1857 - 1882) married John Wilson (1854 - 1899) in 1878. Margaret and John were first cousins.
3. Thomas Henry (1860 - 1861) Thomas is buried at St Peter's Richmond with his sister Harriet.
4. David James (1862 - 1930). For more info click about David here and here. A newspaper article about David. David lived for a time with his nephew Glen on their property at Comleroy corner.
5. Ellen Matilda (1865 - 1925) married John Wilson (same John Wilson who was married to her sister Margaret) in 1885. Then she lived with George Henry Wilson (1871-1959) also her distant cousin.
6. Elizabeth Isabella (1867 -?)
7. Joseph John (1869 - 1949) married Ada Inwood (1870 - 1918) in 1890 and then Ellen Elks (1893 - 1967) in 1919. For news articles about Joseph click as well as here. Another article appears in 1893. And in 1927.
8. Job Willis Hawkins (1872 - 1940) married Hanorah Mountford (nee Duggan 1874 - 1928) in 1895 and then Idalia Dulcie Peck (1898-1991) in 1935.
3. Thomas Henry (1860 - 1861) Thomas is buried at St Peter's Richmond with his sister Harriet.
4. David James (1862 - 1930). For more info click about David here and here. A newspaper article about David. David lived for a time with his nephew Glen on their property at Comleroy corner.
5. Ellen Matilda (1865 - 1925) married John Wilson (same John Wilson who was married to her sister Margaret) in 1885. Then she lived with George Henry Wilson (1871-1959) also her distant cousin.
6. Elizabeth Isabella (1867 -?)
7. Joseph John (1869 - 1949) married Ada Inwood (1870 - 1918) in 1890 and then Ellen Elks (1893 - 1967) in 1919. For news articles about Joseph click as well as here. Another article appears in 1893. And in 1927.
8. Job Willis Hawkins (1872 - 1940) married Hanorah Mountford (nee Duggan 1874 - 1928) in 1895 and then Idalia Dulcie Peck (1898-1991) in 1935.
