OUR WRIGHT AND PRICE FAMILIES TO AUSTRALIA

MARRIAGE OF JAMES AND ANN

Ann GOUGH, “Convict Number 216”, made application to marry James PRICE, “Free”, on June 10th 1840. The marriage application was approved by the Secretary on June 23, 1840.

On July 20th 1840 James and Ann married at St David’s, Hobart Town. The service was solemnised according to the rites and ceremonies of the “United Church of England and Ireland”. The certificate listed James as a gardener aged 27 years whilst the bride was nominated as 21 years, spinster, and “Convict per Majestic”. Both sign the marriage document with a cross.

Ann was only eighteen months into her sentence yet she was allowed to marry. Many of the 13 300 female convicts transported to Tasmania between 1804 and 1853 from Great Britain and other British Colonies were petty offenders like Ann.

They were transported basically to be marriage partners for the many former male convicts who were on “Ticket of Leave” or had received their “Free Certificate”. As these former male convicts could not return to Great Britain the only way to resolve the matter and to keep the peace in the Colonies was to give them employment opportunities or land, and a marriage partner. Ann and James fitted into exactly what the system had planned.

Although James was still married to Harriet back in England, Parliament had ruled that a person transported was entitled to marry another person after seven years. James had been sentenced just over seven years previously.

MARRIAGE DOCUMENT JAMES PRICE AND ANN GOUGH 1840

On May 6th 1841 their first child, Charlotte was born. She was baptised at St David’s, Hobart Town, on August 15th 1841. James occupation was given as gardener.

The Muster of December 31st 1841 listed James as “Free by Servitude” and Ann in the employ of Mrs McTAVISH of Newtown Road.

On January 15th 1843 their second child Ann was born and she was baptised on June 4th 1843. The service was conducted at Hobart Town and James was still nominated as a gardener. Their abode was Fitzroy Crescent, Hobart Town.

BAPTISM CERTIFICATE ANN PRICE 1843

Ann PRICE was recommended for a Conditional Pardon on January 15th 1843. The recommendation states that Ann had held a Ticket of Leave for one year and that the cause of indulgence as, “her conduct having been good and being eligible by servitude in the Colony with Ticket of Leave”. This application was registered on July 7th 1844.

Conditional Pardon number 448 was granted to Ann on March 1st 1845.

Third daughter Alice was born c1845. There is no record of her birth being registered or of a baptismal ceremony being performed.

The muster of October 31st 1846 shows Ann as the holder of “Free Certificate”. On June 18th 1847 the Free Certificate was formally issued to Anne.

Shortly afterwards the PRICE family left Tasmania and settled in Geelong, Victoria. Many Tasmanians moved to the Victorian Colony to make a better life for their family, without the slur of a convict past.

Geelong is situated on the shores of Corio Bay, the western arm of Port Phillip Bay, about 72 kilometres south-west of Melbourne. The first settlers came from Van Diemen’s Land to take up land in 1836-1837. Geelong expanded steadily during the 1840’s becoming a major wool - selling centre and port.

In the two years after gold was discovered near Ballarat in 1851, Geelong’s population almost tripled and became the centre for equipping miners for the gold diggings. When the first flushes of gold fever passed, woollen and flour mills, tanneries and other industries laid a solid foundation for Geelong’s economic future. It is now the largest provincial city in Victoria.

Their first son James Peter was born c1848 at Geelong and second son William Walter born c1849, also at Geelong. No record of a baptism can be found for either child.

Fourth daughter Frances Elizabeth was born in 1851 followed by Mary Ann born c1854, both at Geelong. Civil registration of births, marriages and deaths did not commence in Victoria until 1856. There is a baptism record for Frances Elizabeth, but none for Mary Ann.

Gold was discovered at Ballarat in 1851 and at the height of the gold rush more than 40,000 people lived on the fields. James and his family were later to move to the goldfields.

The 1854 Burgess Roll for Geelong lists James PRICE as residing, “near Church Street Ashby”.

On October 6th 1856 third son George was born at Steiglitz Victoria. James gave his age as 45 years, occupation miner and born London. Ann was listed as born Shropshire and aged 39 years. She placed her mark (a cross) on the certificate.

Their last child, John was born c1858. His birth was never registered.

In the meanwhile Alexander WRIGHT had arrived in Victoria as a young man. He was later to meet the PRICE family and marry their second daughter, Ann. His known background is now discussed in the next chapter.

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