On 7th January 1835 John Parker Senior, Ambrose Parker, John Parker Junior and John Broxup were before the Lancaster Quarter Session for breaking into a warehouse stealing eight pieces of cotton. All four were sentenced to transportation. John Snr. received 7 years and Ambrose & John Jnr., 14 years. They were living at Burnley and employed in the cotton industry as weavers and cotton carder.

On 31 January 1835 John and his two sons were received at the Hulk “Fortitude” which was moored at Chatham, England. On 13 July 1835 John Snr., sailed for New South Wales on board ‘Mary Ann’.

Siblings Ambrose & John left their homeland on board ‘John Barry’ in September 1835 also bound for New South Wales.

AMBROSE PARKER

Ambrose, convict No: 36-135 was born about 1812. According to his convict indent records (shown above) he was 5 feet 5 inches tall with dark ruddy complexion, light brown hair and grey eyes. He had a scar on his right upper lip and 7 dots on the back of left hand (probably an indication that he was one of seven males). His occupation was a weaver.

On his arrival he was assigned to Francis Forbes Esq, Merton. Ambrose received his Ticket of Leave in 1843 - No: 43/1918. He died on 2nd February 1891 at Cowra Hospital. He was a shepherd and probably in the employ at ‘Jerula’ property where he was buried.

JOHN PARKER

John Jnr., convict No: 36-134 was born about 1815. He was a weaver, 5 feet 3 1/2 inches tall, sallow complexion with light brown hair and hazel eyes his nose was large and thick. His markings were: woman, J.P. mermaid, 1815, John Parker inside lower right arm, woman, sun, W.P. horse, inside lower left arm, lost nail on fourth finger on left hand (you can see these in the record below along with a description of Ambrose who appeared next to John in the indent).

On his arrival to New South Wales he was assigned to J. Wood, Lowther Park. According to the New South Wales Government Gazette he absconded on 25 November 1836 and was apprehended sometime in March 1837 at Penrith.

John received his Ticket of Leave on 3 January 1843 at Carcoar (see image below)

In January 1850 John married Ann Smith at Carcoar. They had 5 children (who were named after his parents, John and Jane and his siblings) John b: 1850, Jane b: 1854, Maria b: 1855, Thomas b: 1856 and William b: 1858. John died on 17 April, 1859 at Molonglo Creek, Cowra.

PARENTS AND SIBLINGS

Two other siblings of Ambrose and John were transported to Van Diemen’s Land: - William was transported in 1835 aged about 15 years on board ‘Aurora’ and Thomas also about 15 years old arrived onboard ‘Egyptian’ in 1839. Thomas made his way to New South Wales and met up with his brother Ambrose. He died at “Jerula” Cowra and was also buried there in 1886.

Left behind in their homeland were siblings, Nelson b: 1805, Maria b: 1814, James b: 1818, Smith b: 1822 and Ann, their mother died 1826 in Lancashire, England.

Marg Hope, NSW