I’m in the process of conversing with a distant relative located in New Zealand, and “my old pal” James Freeman entered the conversation.
James is an interesting character. Not much is known (by me!) about his early days. My research has shown he was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, at the Assizes in 1774.
Transported on the ship ALEXANDER, he arrived with all the other First Fleeters in Sydney Cove in 1788. As may be known, the First Fleet arrived with only half the planned supplies (due to Admiralty incompetence and greed), so the colony was in dire straights by the end of the 1st month and all on Australian soil were on half or even quarter rations.
Freeman was tried with William Shearman for stealing 15 allowances of flour, sentenced to death, pardoned on condition he became the public hangman. He had to hang that day Thomas Barlett (qv) reluctant to do so, the marines had orders to shoot him, if he didn’t do so.
James went on to be assigned as a laborer to a fellow in the Windsor/Richmond area, north west of Sydney. Upon his Absolute Pardon he continued to live in the area.
He remained a labourer, labouring at Richmond N.S.W. He died a pauper at Windsor 28 Jan 1830, buried St Matthew’s, aged 67.
He had two children by Mary Edwards (arrived as part of the Third Fleet on the MARYANN in 1791), Mary 1792-1801 and Berthina or Berthia 1794. Young Mary died aged 9, and Berthia married Timothy Hoy (Eighth Fleet 1808). Mary Edwards had left him by 1800 for Abraham Martin
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