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RASCAL RELATIVES cont.....

This page contains information on our Rascal Relatives. I will start with our Convict Ancestors and branch out from there. Information will be brief for space reasons, Email Me if you wish to know more or if you have any information to add.

JAMES FRAZER Grandfather of Mary and Sarah Frazer, the wives of Edward and John Onery.

The Life of James Alexander Frazer is one which begins on the "right" side of the law and ends on the "wrong" side. The reasons behind this are not known at this time, but make for interesting reading.

James Alexander Frazer was a Corporal in the 73rd Regiment of Foot (also known as the Royal Highland Regiment of Foot or The Black Watch), 10th Company, 1st Battalion. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Lachlan Macquarie, the battalion was ordered to relieve the troublesome Royal New South Wales Regiment (102nd) better known as the "Rum" Corps. Two British ships brought the 73rd Regiment to NSW, the "H M Dromadery" and the "H M Hindostan". The Battalion embarked at Yarmouth, on the Isle of Wight on the 8th May 1809, and sailed from St Helens on the 25th May 1809. James and his family (wife Christiana and infant daughter Catherine) were aboard the "Hindostan" (it has also been reported that Christiana and Catherine sailed on the "H M Dromadary", but as Christiana had a child in April 1810, this doesn't seem likely). During the voyage, for unknown reasons, James was demoted to Private. No explanation was given in the Regimental Pay Book for the demotion. In light of events that occurred soon after arriving in NSW, there is speculation about what may have occurred). Both ships arrived in Port Jackson on the 28th December 1809, but because of unfavourable winds, did not reach Sydney Cove until the 31st December. Disembarking took place of the 1st of January 1810.

The regiment was to assist in the clean up of the Colony following the problems caused by the Royal New South Wales Regiment. In many ways this was achieved by the 73rd Regiment, who were in some ways no better than the 102nd. The 73rd had it's own problems with Officers and men, to the point that eventually Macquarie, the then Governor,  requested the replacement of the 73rd. Before the request could reach England, the order was given for the 73rd to embark to Ceylon. In 1814, the Regiment left Sydney. Many of the members of the 73rd Regiment stayed in Australia, or returned at a later date.

You can find out more about the 73rd Regiment on the following Websites: Australia's Red Coat Settlers 73rd Regiment of Foot 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot There is also a Re-Enactment Group for the 73rd Regiment listed on this site - Napoleon

BORN Inverness, Scotland Circa 1774 DEMOTED 20th June 1809 ARRESTED 16th November 1810 DISCHARGED 14th February 1811 TRIED Sydney, NSW 14th February 1811 SENTENCED 7 Years Hard Labour Coal River, Newcastle, NSW

James and Christiana were living in a cottage near Cockle Bay (the eastern shore of what is now Darling Harbour), when James was arrested in November 1810. He was on duty, guarding the Government Dry Store at Circular Quay and during the night he was on duty, the store was broken into and goods stolen. Some of the stolen goods were found at James' house at Cockle Bay (it is alleged he got drunk and broke into the store). For the theft of two pieces of dungaree cloth, three pairs of white duck trousers and three bars of soap, all to the value of 40 shillings, he was sentenced to be Transported to Coal River, Newcastle for Hard Labour for 7 years. Newcastle had been specifically set up to take hardened criminals, so on one hand it seemed surprising James was sent there. However, at that time in Australia, punishments issued to Soldiers was often far more severe than that of the Convicts. The Soldiers were the law upholders and to break the laws of the day bought disgrace to the Uniform; the King and the Regiment. James was evidently given some sort of special treatment as he was given permission to take his wife and two children with him and live with them in a house in George Street (now Watt Street) Newcastle, near the site of the present day Tattersalls Club. His next three children were born in Newcastle while he was serving his seven year sentence. In 1818, the sentence had been served and the family moved from Newcastle to the Hawkesbury area, where James farmed his Land Grants.

TRIED New South W ales 6th July 1824 SENTENCED 7 Years Port Macquarie, NSW DIED December 1827 Port Macquarie, NSW After serving only 3 years of his sentence.

In 1824, James was again involved in a theft, as an accessary after the fact, and received a further seven year sentence, this time to be served at Port Macquarie. At about this time, his wife Christiana began living with a George Briant/Bryant. Two of James' daughters were given permission to accompany him to Port Macquarie. James served little more than three years of this sentence before he died in December 1827 of Asthma.

The Information above comes from the following sources: * Shirley Muir * Australia's Red Coat Settlers Website * John A Frazer

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