Robert Kingston, Convict, Atlantic 1791
Crime: Stealing from John Hancock’s house in Ilfracombe. Tried: Exeter, Devon, England, Aug 1789 (March 1784, sic, in the 1811 Muster). Sentence: 7 years. After arriving at Sydney Cove on 20 Aug 1791, Kingston was transferred to Norfolk Island with nearly 200 third fleet convicts per Salamander Sep 1791.
Kingston was punished for being absent from work, on 13 Oct 1791, receiving 34 of a 100-lash sentence. The punishment did not deter Robert from further offences. On 18 Nov 1791, after being detected in a robbery, he received 200 lashes from an 800-lash sentence. In 1794, Robert was flogged twice more: 25 lashes on 6 Feb for “making an improper use of the Lt Governor name”, and 24 lashes on 11 May for taking away tools the property of government.
Around 1798, the Norfolk Island Criminal Court sentenced Robert Kingston to death for an unknown offence. NSW Governor Hunter granted him a colonial pardon on 5 Sept 1798, conditional on his remaining on Norfolk Island for 14 years. There are no surviving records that identifies his offence. Kingston was classified as a convict in 1808.
Sometime after 1806 on Norfolk Island, Robert formed a defacto relationship with Esther Barrisford., born 1794 Norfolk Island. daughter of John and Hannah Barrisford.
Kingston and Esther Barrisford, recorded as his wife (sic) travelled to Hobart per City of Edinburgh in Sep 1808. The shipping manifest records Kingston as a convict serving a 14-year term under pardon. They married by banns in Hobart in Oct 1808, Kingston was about 37 years old whilst Barrisford Esther was 14 years old
More details on the family of John and Hannah Barrisford who also travelled to Hobart per City of Edinburgh in Sep 1808 see Marine Settlers Norfolk Island Atlantic 1791.
© Cathy Dunn, Australian History Research
References: Ralph Clark, Journal and Letters of Lt. Ralph Clark 1787-1792; Crimes and Punishment 12 Nov 1791 to 16 Jul 1794: CO210/10: 192 – 193; Colonial Pardon, 5 Sep 1798, NSWSA, 4/4493: 29 – 30; City of Edinburgh, NSWSA, NSWSA, A4110, 45/5.
