FEWTRELL-CAREY-SMITH

 

            Richard and Ann FEWTRELL married in the late 1690s. Their roots can be traced to Fewtrell of Downe and Fewtrell of Easthope. Fewtrell being described as an ancient and substantial family of the Shrewsbury (Stropshire) and Stafford areas. Their son Richard b 1703 married Mary JUSON in 1716. Daughter Sarah was born 1744. They were from Trysull, Stafford. Sarah never married, her son Theophilus (Theo) was born illegitimate.

            I have used the spelling FEWTRELL, but when researching the following spellings can be found- FEWTRIL, FEWTRILL, FEWTERILL, FEUTRELL, FENTRILL, FUTRIL, FEWTERELL and FEUTSILL.

 

            Theo FEWTRELL, born April 1771, Bucklemaker, enlisted into the 102nd Regiment NSW Corps in Birmingham, England on June 18 1789. He sailed on the Neptune to Australia, arriving in Sydney Cove 26th June 1790. In August Theo was sent to Norfolk Island. He sailed on the Surprise in a small detachment of troops under Capt. Hill, sent to guard convicts at the settlement. He returned to Sydney in November 1791 when his detachment was relieved.

            Theo, promoted to Corporal, married Ann Short on 21st June 1795. They had 2 children: Joseph b 1794 and Theophilus Jnr.  Both Ann and Theophilus Jnr died as the result of his birth. Both were buried in March 1797.

 

            Ann CAREY was sentenced to 7 years transportation at the Norfolk Assizes on August 3rd 1789 for the theft of a silk and muslin handkerchief from the dwelling of Mr. Robert Cubit in St Georges Colgate. She arrived in Sydney on the Neptune on 30 June 1790 as part of the Second Fleet. She was transferred to Norfolk Island on August 1790, also on the Surprise. She married Stephen GILBERT, a first fleet marine who came out on the Sirris in 1788. They were married circa 1792 and had 3 children: Sarah b 1792, Hannah b 1795 and John b1797 (d 1799). Stephen and Sarah lived on Norfolk Island (circa 1792-3) where it was reported Stephen took up sixty acres at Ball Bay. Upon their return to NSW Stephen joined Theo’s unit, the 102nd. In 1794 Stephen relinquished his Norfolk Island holdings for NSW land grants. Stephen died in 1799, no record found. Ann was granted 110 acres at Bankstown on 3rd August 1799, and presumably inherited her husband’s holdings in Hawkesbury, Mulgrave Place and Bankstown, upon his death, and became a woman with means.

 

            Theo FEWTRELL and Ann GILBERT (nee CAREY) married on 13th August 1799. Sarah and Hannah took the FEWTRELL name. Theo and Ann’s first child was Elizabeth, born 2nd Feb 1800, just six months after the marriage. Elizabeth died before her first birthday. The gap between Stephens’s death and Theo and Ann living together would seem small. It is quite possible a relationship between the two had developed on either Neptune (England-NSW), or Surprise (NSW-Norfolk), or on Norfolk Island.

They had the following children between them:

 

            Sarah b1792 (Ann)

Joseph b 1794 (Theo)

            Hannah b 1995 (Ann)

            John b 1797 (Ann)

            Theophilus (Theo)

            Elizabeth b 1800

            Theophilus b1801

            Mary b 1802

Elizabeth b 1806

Samuel b 1809

Ann b 1812

James b 1813

Thomas b 1814

 

In 1804 the family moved to Tasmania with the 102nd commanded by Lt. Col. William Paterson. In 1806 Joseph was granted 160 acres on Coal Creek, Bankstown.

In 1810 they returned to Sydney where Theo enlisted in the 73rd Regiment (Foot). This was in order to remain in Tasmania as the 102nd was returning to England. While in Sydney the following advertisement appeared in the Sydney Gazette on 24th February 1810:

For private sale – a valuable farm of 160 acres on Coal River Creek. Apply Corp. Feutrill 102nd Barracks.

 

The property was sold to William Sherwin for 40 pounds sterling. They returned to Hobart on the Union on 8th March 1810. Upon arrival Theo and family then walked overland to Port Dalrymple!

In 1813 Theo and Joseph (son from first marriage who had also joined 102nd and joined 73rd) were awarded 10 and 5 pounds respectively for apprehending bushrangers and deserters. The 73rd was deployed to India in 1814, but Theo and Joseph were part of a party, which remained behind to handle the rising number of bushrangers in Tasmania.

 They clashed with notorious bushranger Michael Howe in August 1814. The troops were surprised by bushrangers and had their weapons taken. Joseph was flogged by the bushrangers. Theo recaptured the weapons and some of the bushrangers.

 

Theo and Joseph (without family, however Hannah and Mary are recorded as having sailed to India circa 1818) rejoined the 73rd in India in September 1818. Their unit was based in Trincmalee, Ceylon. Joseph died on 1st November 1818 from an illness which had him hospitalized for 19 days. Theo also spent 92 days in hospital in Ceylon.

Theo was discharged from the army on 5th July 1820. He was 49 and described as worn out. He was pensioned off and returned to England. It would seem he never saw his family again.

·        The following was found in the Worcester Burial Index –

FEWTRIL, Theophilus. Buried May 9 1821 – Hartlebury Parish.

Man unknown was found hanging in a cow house at Waresley, Monday May 7. A discharge from the 47 Reg. of Foot dated Vol.5. 1820 found in his pocket with an allowance of 1/5 a day. Name in Discharge Theophilus FEWTRIL, Native of Bilson, by trade a bucklemaker, served in army 31 years, aged about 48.

Coroners Warrant for burial dated May 8th.

 

Ann died on 28th October 1830, in Tasmania.

 

William SMITH, b 1794, was sentenced to 7 years transportation on the 15th August 1787 at the Wrexham Great Sessions in Wales. He was held at Rutin Gad until July 1788 until transportation on the Scarborough, departing Plymouth on 19 January 1790, arriving 30th June.

In about 1793 he married Margaret HOLMES b 1768 in London, also a convict serving 7 years. She traveled to NSW on the Mary Ann, arriving July 9th 1791. They lived in Parramatta. They had two children I know about:

 

Charlotte b 1794

George b 1796

 

Mary FEWTRELL married George SMITH 16th January 1819 (she had obviously returned from India). They had 4 children:

 

Mary Ann b 1820

George b 1821

Jessie b 1824

William b 1826

 

Mary died in 1828 aged 26 years.

 

George SMITH was a soldier who moved about the new colonies. He served in Tasmania; Jessie was born in Launceston, and Norfolk Island. He arrived in Norfolk Island about 1836-37, with his family including daughter Jessie. (It seems likely he was remarried) Jessie is recorded as being the servant of Rev. Sharp on Norfolk Island (5956 44/2471 4/2658).

 

Jessie SMITH married Aaron PRICE.