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Richard Norris (1779 - 1843)

Richard Norris
Born in Dublin, Irelandmap
Son of and
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married about 1802 (to 19 Feb 1843) in Green Hills, New South Wales, Australiamap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , , , , , and
Died at age 64 in Kingston, Norfolk Island, Australiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 9 Feb 2013
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Contents

Biography

This profile is part of the Norris Name Study.
Richard Norris was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to New South Wales

RICHARD NORRIS was born in County Cork or Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland circa 1776 - 1778.
Richard's parents were John Norris and Mary Norris. His siblings are not yet known. His determined possible age varied but he was recorded as being 20 years old and a labourer in December 1797. Other records had his age as 18 and he was said to be 65 when he died in 1843 [1].

When a young man, Richard fell foul of the law and was tried and was convicted of robbery (an Unnatural crime.) in Dublin, Ireland on 12 January 1797 and was sentenced to be "Transported for Life". He was possibly transferred to the hulk 'Phoenix' where he spent the following two-plus years while waiting for his time to leave[2].

The Minerva departed the Downs, on 6 August 1799 bound for Cork. She sailed from Cork in convoy on 24 August with 165 male and 26 female convicts, together with three children belonging to convicts. Many of the prisoners were United Irishmen transported for their role in the 1798 rebellion including General Joseph Holt [3].

Richard arrived in New South Wales on 11 January 1800 aboard what is often referred to as the "Rebel" ship, the "Minerva". He is thought he may have been one of those Irish rebels aboard the ship, but as he was arrested in 1797, before the 1798 rebellion, this is questionable. He was described as being, Roman Catholic, 5’6” tall, fresh complexion, hazel eyes and having a mermaid tattoo on his lower left arm [4].

By 1801 he had been granted an early Ticket Of Leave because farmers were needed to provide food for the Colony and it appears that he had been given land in the Hawkesbury, Windsor district which was very fertile country with good water supply from the Hawkesbury River [1].

He was in a relationship with Mary Williams at least about February/March 1803 as their oldest son John was born at Cornwallis in the Hawkesbury district on 7 December 1803. Two sons were born to them before they were married in about 1806, possibly by the Rev. Samuel Marsden when he visited Windsor in 1806.

In the Convict Muster of August 1806, Richard was renting Barrington’s farm of about 8 acres near Green Hills. All the land was planted with wheat and he had three pigs. Six bushels of wheat and two bushels of maize were in storage. Mary Williams was described as a housekeeper and they had 2 sons [1].

On 29 February 1812 he was granted his Conditional Pardon Text: Name: Richard Norris Tried: Dublin [DUB IRL] Dec 1797, Sentence: Life; Ship arrived by: Minerva 1800.[1].

By the 1814 Convict Muster, Richard and Mary had 6 children and Richard had two convicts, Patrick McGunis and Thomas Hewitt working on the property, who had been assigned to him. In the same year, Richard's status was recorded as "Free"[1].

Richard's landholdings continued to grow and in the 1822 Convict Muster: he was a landholder with a farm of 50 acres near Windsor. He and Mary had a family of 11 and he was doing well. He had a herd of 24 cattle, 60 pigs and 4 horses. There were 20 acres under maize, 16 acres of wheat, 4 acres of barley and 2 acres of potatoes.

Richard owned 2 30 acre farms (one that had been originally granted to Michael Doyle and the other originally granted to Jane Ezzy at Cornwallis, also a town allotment in Brabyn Street, Windsor as a place of refuge in time of flood.

In all, they had 13 children between 1803 and 1827, John Michael Norris, Thomas Norris, Richard Norris Jnr, James Norris Snr., Christopher Norris, William Norris, Harriet (Norris) Mason, Maria (Norris) Mellish, Michael Norris, Ann (Norris) Frazer [Twin], Francis Stephen Norris [Twin], Patrick Norris and Paul Norris.

The 1828 Census of New South Wales taken in November of that year shows that Richard was farming 50 acres (45 cultivated), stock included 4 horses, 55 head of cattle, and 7 sheep. He employed 4 people, including a schoolmaster. His oldest son stated that he was 25 years of age [1].

On 3 May 1838, in the Sydney Supreme Court of New South Wales, Sydney, Richard was charged with having stolen his neighbour’s pig. He pleaded not guilty but was found guilty and was sentenced to death. The death sentence was commuted to Life which was to be served on Norfolk Island. He was transported aboard the "Phoenix’" where he did remain until his death [1]. (His family has always maintained that the crime was fabricated by feuding neighbours.)

His wife Mary died on 26 January 1863 in Cornwallis, New South Wales, Australia, just over a year before her husband.

Richard was aged 65-68 years old when he died on 19 February 1843 in the Norfolk Island Hospital, Norfolk Island[1] and he was buried by the beach in the Norfolk Island Cemetery, Kingston, Norfolk Island [5].

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Biographical Database of Australia:
    Subscription is required to View Richard's complete personal and family Report
    * Biog Item No. 100117627: Richard Norris, Aged: 20 years Labourer, Dec 1797, at Dublin County (DUB IRL), Sentence: Life, Arrived per Minerva 11 Jan 1800, at Sydney [NSW]; Original Remarks: [age] 18, Editor's Remarks: Different ages listed in different sources. (Biog Item No. 100117627) Sources: Convict Indents & Ship Musters 1788-1812 & 1813-1828
    * Biog Item No. 110113272: Richard Norris, Arrived per ship Minerva, Current Status: Ticket of Leave; Employment: Landholder; Land: 8.5 acres; Residence: Barrington's Farm [NSW AUS]; [Farm of] Barrington.
    * Biog Item No. 110310136: Richard Norris, Arrived per ship Minerva, Current Status: Free; Employment: Landholder; Mustered at, Residence: Windsor [NSW AUS]; Stores: Off
    * Biog Item No. 120510499: Conditional Pardon: Date of Pardon: 29 Feb 1812; Name: Richard Norris Tried: Dublin [DUB IRL] Dec 1797, Sentence: Life; Ship arrived by: Minerva 1800.
    * Biog Item No. 110310136: Richard Norris, Arrived per ship Minerva, Current Status: Free; Employment: Landholder; Mustered at, Residence: Windsor [NSW AUS]; Stores: Off
    * Biog Item No. 120424707: Richard Norris, Arrived per ship Minerva, Date of event 3 May 1838. Original Remarks: 1797 Dublin Life - 3/5/1838 Sydney Supreme Court Death - 7/6/1838 to Norfolk Island
    * Biog Item No. 120424708: Richard Norris, Born: 1775c; Arrived per ship Minerva, Died: 19 Feb 1843, Died at Norfolk Island, Aged: Age at death 68; Date of event 19 Feb 1843. Original Remarks: Died 68y/o in General Hospital Source: Norfolk Island Residents 1825-1855
  2. ↑ Norris Family: "Descendants of Richard Norris" John and Rachel Norris
  3. ↑ "Free Settler or Felon": Convict Ship Minerva 1800: Embarked: 165 men; 26 women; Surgeon's Journal: yes; Surgeon: John Washington Price 1st mate: Henry Harrison
  4. ↑ Convict Records: Richard Norris: Conviction & Transportation Sentence Severity: Sentenced to Life Crime: Robbery Convicted at: Ireland, Dublin Sentence term: Life Ship: Minerva Departure date: 24th August 1799 Arrival date: 11th January 1800 Place of arrival: New South Wales Passenger manifest: Travelled with 233 other convicts
  5. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave: Richard Norris: BIRTH 9 Jan 1779 Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland DEATH 19 Feb 1843 (aged 64) Kingston, Norfolk Island BURIAL Norfolk Island Cemetery, Kingston, Norfolk Island PLOT Unmarked Grave Find A Grave: Memorial #214476179

Research Notes

The Following Text Entered by Gary Steel
"Descendants of Richard Norris" John and Rachel Norris
  • By 1805, when the muster of convicts was held, Richard Norris was renting Barrington's Farm of about 8 acres near Green Hills. He had the whole of the farm under wheat, and he had three pigs. In storage were 6 bushels of wheat and 2 of maize. Mary Williams, who had arrived on the "Nile", was described as his housekeeper, and they had two children. Nine years later, when the general muster was held in 1814, Richard Norris was described as a landholder. Mary Williams was his wife and the number of their children had increased to six. At that time, Richard had two convicts, Patrick McGuinis and Thomas Hewitt, assigned to him.
  • When the muster of 1822 was held, Richard Norris was a landholder with a farm of 50 acres near Windsor. At that time 20 acres were under maize, 16 under wheat, 4 under barley, and he had 2 acres of potatoes. He also had a herd of 24 cattle, and owned 4 horses and 60 pigs. He was doing well with his farming pursuits and had in storage 200 bushels of maize and 20 of wheat. He and Mary then had a family of 11. The age of their eldest son John was recorded as 20, but it is more likely that he was 19.
  • According to Norris family records, Richard Norris owned two 30 acre farms (one that had been originally granted to Michael Doyle, and the other originally granted to Jane Ezzy) at Cornwallis, and also a town allotment in Brabyn Street, Windsor as a place of refuge in time of flood.
  • Children of Richard Norris and Mary William have their own WikiTree Profiles and their details can be found there.
His trial date 12/1797. A paper on Richard Norris

* A paper on Richard was presented to the Society of Australian Genealogists on 29-3-1983.
It now resides in their primary records collection (ref 4/8223)
  • "Arrived Port Jackson 11-1-1800 on the "Minerva", which brought out Irish rebels. Richard a Labourer received a life sentence in Dec 1797 and was granted a ticket of leave in 1801. Macquarie gave a number of pardons on Feb 29th 1812 Richard's being conditional (no. 148) Estate was left to Mary upon her death to be divided amoung his children. His description 5 foot 6 inches, eyes hazel, complexion fresh, hair grey and meremaid on lower left arm. today all that is attests to the many hardships endured by the family are the time worn sandstones in Windsor RC Cemetery, some of which have fleur-de-lis design railings as a surround, to remind one that the Irish Norris's are reputed to have originally come from Normandy. The fleur -de-lis design is included in the austere black and white crest for the Irish Norris name. Interestingly, an embroidered wool sampler with the name "Henrietta de Norrie" worked on it in silk was handed down in the family."
Norris Family Crest History
"Family History of the Norris Name
Surname Name Meaning, Origin, and Etymology
  • There are three possible origin/meanings to the Anglo-French-Teutonic surname Norris, which was anciently spelled Le Noreis: 1) is a locational name meaning “the Noreis”, meaning the northern, or the man from the North, sometimes referring to a Norwegian (who raided the Scottish and English coast as Vikings many years prior to the Norman Conquest) or 2) it is an official naming meaning “the nurse”, from the Middle English word norice (and even earlier from the Latin word nutrix), or 3) a topographic name for someone who lived on the north side of an estate, which comes from the ancient words nor (north) and hus (house). Another source states it comes from the old word norroy, which literally means north king, and was a title given in England to the third king-at-arms, which is a senior rank of an officer of arms (an appointed person who controls armorial matters and deals with heraldry and genealogy). In French, the word Norrie means foster child. Most commonly, the surname was given to people who migrated to England or Scotland from the North (Scandinavia), deriving from the old French word norries, meaning “northerner”.
  • In his book, Homes of Family Names, H.B. Guppy writes: “Norris is a name that has now its principal homes in Lancashire and Somerset. In the 13th century it was frequent in the forms of Noreys, Norreys, Norries,and Norrays, often preceded by “Le,” in Notts, Oxfordshire, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Hunts, Bucks, etc.”
Spelling Variations:
Other spellings include Norrish, Norriss, Noreis, Norry, Norys, Norrys, Noris, and Norres.
Early Bearers of the Surname
  • As a personal name, there was a Norice recorded in the Roll of the Battell Abbey. As a surname, one of the earliest documented people bearing this name was Robert Norreis, who was recorded in the Winton Rolls of County Hampshire in 1148 AD. Another early bearer was Adam de Norhuse of Essex in 1206 AD. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 AD, a census of Wales and England, known in Latin as Rotuli Hundredorum, documents Thomas le Noreis. A one Robert le Norys is recorded in the Calendarium Inquisitionum Post Mortem (1216-1327 AD). A one Walter le Noreis is recorded in the Writs of Parliament in 1313 AD. A one Richard Norris was the mayor of Barnstaple in 1442 AD. Edward Norries, from county Lancashire, was recorded in 1579 AD in the Register of University of Oxford. Early marriages including this surname include John Norriss to Mary McClary at St. George’s Hanover Square in 1766.
History, Genealogy, and Ancestry
  • The famous genealogist Bernard Burke’s book “The Landed Gentry” discusses this surname in considerable detail. He begins the lineage with mentioning that the family originally settled in county Glamorgan during the start of the sixteenth century. The first person mentioned is John Norris, on Wincle in Devon, who marries Agnes Galhampton and had a son with her, named John. John lived in Splate, in the parish of St. Decumans in county Somerset, and he married Petronell Paslew and had a son with her named Hugh Norris. Hugh was born in 1540 and he was granted an arms and crest by Cooke, Clarenceux in 1573 AD. He married Joan Clarkey of Okey and with her had a son named John Norris. John married Joan News in 1609 AD and has a son with her named Hugh Norris, born in 1611. Hugh purchased an estate in Hackney, in county Middlesex, from Thomas Lord Wentworth in 153. He married Susan Polsted and with her has a son named Hugh. This Hugh married Esther Watson, and with her had a son named Henry Norris. Henry was born 1677 and died in 1762. He married Elizabeth Brookes and had six children with her: Hugh (1705), Henry (1707), Benjamin (1709), William (1712), Mary (1711), and Elizabeth. He was succeeded by his son Henry who married Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Gervais Handley, and had issue with her: Henry Handley, Peter, and Elizabeth. His successor was Henry Handley Norris, born in 1734, who in 1768, married Grace Warton and had the following children with her: Henry Handley (died young), Henry Handley, Elizabeth, and Anne Henrietta. His second son became his heir, and became known as Reverend Henry Handley Norris. He was born in 1771 and was Rector of South Hackney. In 1805, he married Henrietta Catherine, the daughter of David Powel, and with her has a son named Henry who succeeded him. Henry, of Swalcliffe Park was born in 1810 and he married Ellen Crawley in 1833 and had issue with her: Henry Crawley, George Hugh, Ellen Henrietta, Anne Henrietta, Mary Elizabeth, and Alibinai Georgiana.
  • Burke also discusses Norreys of Davyhulme Hall. He begins the discussion with Robert Henry Norreys of county Lancaster, who was born in 1812 and succeeded the family estates when his mom passed away in July of 1868. Burke states the lineage began when the family sustained an honorable position in county Palatine of Lancaster for many centuries. William Norreys, of Sutton, was descended from Alain Norrey, who lived in the area hundreds of years prior. William married Joan, the daughter of Sir John Molyneux, of Sefton, and through her acquired the estate of Speke. From him arose the greatest Houses of Norreys of Speke and Norreys of Rycote. Nicholas Norreys of Tarleton, the third son of Thomas Norreys who living during the reign of King Henry VI of England, married a woman named Lettice and with her had Nicholas Norreys. Nicholas in turn has a son named Nicholas, and Nicholas had a son also named Nicholas. This third Nicholas married Constance Parkinson and with her had a son named Nicholas Norreys, of Middleforth, born in 1633. This fourth Nicholas married Dorothy Farringdon and was succeeded by his son Henry Norris, of Middleforth-cum-Penawortham. Henry married Elizabeth Loxham, and was succeeded by his son, also named Henry who was baptized in 1694. Henry married Mary Blackledge and with her had a son named Henry. This Henry married Catharine Shawe in 1739, and with her has a successor also named Henry (born in 1744). This Henry married Mary, the daughter of John Allen of Mayfield. They had a daughter, an heiress named Mary Norreys, of Davyhulme Hall, who was born in 1780 and married, in 1809, Robert Josias Jackson Harris. Together they had several children: Robert Henry (previously mentioned), Caroline (who married John Smith Enwisle), and Isabella (who married Reverend George Hall Bowers).
  • This name as le Norreys became very common in Irish records since the 1200s AD. It came into special importance with the arrival of Sir John Norris, who was responsible for the t massacre at Rathlin Island in 1575 AD. He became President of Munster in 1584, and was later succeeded by his brother Thomas in 1597 AD.
Early American and New World Settlers
  • The book “Genealogical Guide to Early American Settlers” mentions two people with this last name: 1) Edward Norris of Salem MI, who was an ordained minister at a church there, and he joined a Boston church in 1639, who married Elinor and had a daughter named Mary and 2) Nicholas Norris of Exeter, recorded in 1666 who took an oath of allegiance and in 1690 desired jurisdiction in Massachusetts. Other early American settlers include: Mary Norris (1620), Edward Norris (1630), Ann Norris (Maryland 1637), Elizabeth Norris (1638), and Humphrey Norris (Philadelphia 1717). Joseph Norris emigrated to the Somer Islands (Bermuda) aboard the Truelove in 1635.
  • Thomas Norris was born in 1608 in Conaghan, England, the son of Geoffrey (Norris) Noreys and Mary Anne (Myles) Norris. He married Ann Hynson in 1637 and has numerous issue: Thomas Norris Jr., Geoffrey Edward, Ann, Daniel, Alice, Cuthbert, Robert, John, and John. He died in 1675 in Maryland. His son John Norris was born in 1652 in St. Mary’s Maryland. He married Susannah Heard in 1679 and with her had a son name Luke, born in 1689. Luke married Catherine Jean Heard and had two children: John and Joseph. His son John was born in 1722, and with his wife Jane Stevenson, had a son named Nathan, born in 1769. Nathan Norris married Martha Patterson and had a child named James, born in 1798. James married Elizabeth Carter and Mary Newell, and left one son: Newton Norris, who was born in 1838. Newton married Mary Elizabeth Martin and with her had a son named Walter Norris. Walter (1877-1966) married Sarah Hornibrook and had a daughter with her named Ruth.
Mottos
The family mottoes include:
1) Fideliter serva, meaning “perform faithfully”,
2) Loyalment je sers, meaning “I serve loyally”,
3) Steady.
Grantees
Some of the later grantees of arms with this surname include:
1) Norris, Samuel, and coz. John, Chapter Clerk of Canterbury, [1748]
2) Norris, late Harris, Robt. J. J., of Davey Hulme, co. Lane, [1808]
Notables
Famous people with this last name include:
1) Francis Lushington Norris (1864-1945) who was an Anglican missionary bishop in China,
2) Kathleen Thompson Norris (1880-1966) an American novelist and columnist,
3) Chester Edward Norris Jr. (1927-2016) was a U.S. Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, and
4) Carlos Ray “Chuck Norris” (born 1940) who is a famous American actor known for his martial arts.

Acknowledgments

  • Many Thanks to Kris Haynes for the information on the "Norris Family History" papers. Absolutely invaluable.
  • Thank you to Gary Steel for his contribution to the Profile
  • Taken from Familysearch Id.No. LYSP-MJH-James Michael Garrett Norris WikiTree Profile: James Michael Garrett Norris and "Norris Family History" papers from Kris Haynes entry.
  • Thank you to Kym Briscoe for creating WikiTree profile Norris-1374 through the import of Burke Lavender Patterson.ged on Feb 6, 2013.




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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Richard by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Richard:

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Comments: 2

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Hathaway-1809 Eileen (Hathaway) Strikwerda
Hi Stephen, I have re-proposed the merge of Norris-9531 and Norris-1374 as they are the same person because: "Unknown" Norris IS actually Richard Norris, not his son. Ann (Norris) Frazer was born on 14 September 1821, the daughter of Richard Norris, who arrived in NSW on 11 January 1800 on the 'Minerva' as a convict & Mary (Maria) Williams who arrived in NSW on 14 December, 1801, also a convict. Her death names Richard & Mary as her parents: NSW BDM Death Reg#: 3691/1906 Thanks
posted on Norris-9531 (merged) by Eileen (Hathaway) Strikwerda
Hathaway-1809 Eileen (Hathaway) Strikwerda
Norris-9531 and Norris-1374 appear to represent the same person because: "Unknown" Norris IS actualy Richard Norris, not his son. His daughter, Ann (Norris) Frazer (Twin of Francis Frazer) was born on 14 September 1821 and was the daughter of Richard Norris, who arrived in NSW on 11 January 1800 on the 'Minerva' as a convict & Mary (Maria) Williams who arrived in NSW on 14 December, 1801, also a convict.
posted by Eileen (Hathaway) Strikwerda

Rejected matches › Richard Morris (abt.1775-)

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Categories: Norfolk Island Cemetery, Kingston, Norfolk Island | Norfolk Island, Second (Penal) Settlement 1825-1855 | Minerva, Arrived 11 Jan 1800 | Convicts from Dublin to Australia | Ireland, Norris Name Study | Australia, Norris Name Study | Convicts After the Third Fleet