William Nicholls, convict, Royal Admiral 1792
NICHOLLS, William, Other Names: Nicholas. Convict, Royal Admiral 1792. Crime: Burglary with Edward Vaughan. Tried: Second Middlesex Jury, Old Bailey, 15 Feb 1792 Sentence: 7 years. William Nicholls, Aged: 21 years Carpenter. [1]
He arrived on Norfolk Island aboard the Philadelphia in Dec 1792. Philadelphia departed Sydney Cove for the voyage to Norfolk Island on 7 Dec 1792. David Collins noted that having on board for that settlement Mr. Grimes, the deputy surveyor; Mr. Jamieson who was to superintend the convicts employed there in cultivations; Mr. Peat, the master carpenter, a convict who came out in the Royal Admiral to be employed as a master tailor; two convicts sawyers, and one convict carpenter, the same who came out with his family in the Kitty together with some provisions and stores.[2] Peat actually travelled on the Kitty Feb 1793 to Norfolk Island.
On Norfolk Island Nicholls formed a relationship with Elizabeth Haywood/Heywood/Hayward, convict, Lady Penrhyn 1788. Crime: Steal 1 linen gown and silk bonnet from her employer. Tried: as Hayward, age 14 years, Old Bailey, 10 Jan 1787. As Heywood, she arrived on Norfolk Island per HMS Sirius 15 Mar 1790.
Nicholls departed the island in 1796 leaving behind on Norfolk Island Elizabeth and their children:
Children of Elizabeth Haywood and William Nicholls:
- Elizabeth HAYWOOD, born 2 Mar 1794 Norfolk Island. Elizabeth had a son with Captain John Piper born on Norfolk Island in 1808, named Norfolk. Elizabeth Nichols left Norfolk Island for Hobart with her son Norfolk Piper aboard the Minstrel in Feb 1813; she was reimbursed £16 for one dwelling house (location unknown) and stock left behind on Norfolk Island.
- Rebecca HAYWOOD, born 21 Nov 1795 Norfolk Island. Rebecca died on Norfolk Island pre 1801. Some primary records have recorded her as Robert; but on a close up re check of the Norfolk Island Victualling Book 1792 – 1796 her entry is clearly Reba Haywood not Robert.
- Margaret HAYWOOD, born 1796 Norfolk Island. Margaret departed Norfolk Island with her stepfather Joseph Lowe, her mother Elizabeth Haywood and brother George aboard the Lady Nelson in Jan 1813
[1] Old Bailey: t17920215-32; t17870110-60
[2] David Collins, An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales
Includes extracts from Cathy Dunn, HMS Sirius: Her Final Voyage March 1790, Australian History Research 2015.