| FIRST FLEET FILE |
Husband: Edward Kimberley
Born: ABT 1762 at: Coventry, England Arr: 26 JAN 1788 on: 'Scarborough' as a convict. Married: 20 OCT 1791 at: St. Philips, Sydney, NSW Died: 24 NOV 1829 at: Clarence Plains, VDL Bur: 28 Nov 1829 at: Clarence Plains, VDL Father: Mother: Other Spouses:
At Sydney on 20 October 1791 he married Mary Cavenor (sometimes recorded as Cavanagh), herself transported on 'Lady Juliana', age given as 15 on embarkation in 1789), more than a year after he was legally a free man. Both were sent to Norfolk Island by 'Atlantic' on 26 November 1791, and by early December Kimberley was settled on 12 acres at Mt. Pitt Path, Queensborough, and within a year was selling grain to stores. He and his wife had one child by Jun 1794. As was the case with many of the landowners on the island, Kimberley bough, sold and leased land to progressively elevate his fortunes, always aiming to be 'off stores' and indeed selling to those same stores. Being able to support oneself and family was the primary aim of the land grant system, for the colony struggled to feed itself, let alone the constantly arriving new convicts. These latter also forced development of a structured police constabulary, and first class settlers who already had a degree of power by virtue of their wealth and landholdings were encouraged to formally sign on as magistrates and constables, for which the state paid them in 'victualling' and other benefits. Edward Kimberley took this road, and is mentioned in 1805 as being victualled as a constable, having sub-let and sold much of his landholdings before 1799. As a constable Kimberley is remembered for a degree of sadism towards convicts that is somewhat surprising given that he had been one himself. He is also recorded as having a poor opinion of women, considering them solely for the convenience of men and having little or no intrinsic worth or ability. Feel sorry for any daughter of his! When the larger part of the Norfolk Island colony was transferred to Tasmania in 1808, Kimberley and his family were part of the shift, travelling on the 'City of Edinburgh' when she left on 3 September 1808. He left land and housing to the value of 90 pounds, and stock valued at 87 pounds. In Tasmania he went on to farm at Clarence Plains where again he held the position of district constable. He was buried at Clarence Plains on 28 November 1829, his age being given as 77. His wife Mary survived him to September 1851, aged 78, and is buried at Kangaroo Point, Hobart. Condensed from 'The Founders of Australia', By Mollie Gillen. |