John Holden (abt. 1808 - 1869)

Born about 1808 in Brighton, Sussex, England

Husband of Ann (Dunstan) Holden — married 4 Nov 1838 in St Matthew's C of E, Windsor, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 14 Jan 1869 at about age 61 in Windsor, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Alistair Orton [send private message] and Richard Gillard [send private message]

Biography

John Holden was born in Brighton, Sussex, England.

John Holden was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to New South Wales

John, son of Henry Holden and Hannah, was baptised on 30 November 1808 in Brighton, Sussex, England.^[1][2], son of Henry Holden (<1792 - ).

At the age of 21, John, a stableman was convicted of the crime of sacrilege for robbing a chapel on 23 Mar 1829 in Sussex, England. This conviction was his third and as a punishment common for convicts in England at the time, he was sentenced to transportation to Australia for life for his crime. Just two months later he left his homeland bound for New South Wales, Australia aboard the Norfolk (2) along with 200 other convicts. The voyage to Australia, known as "The Great Transportation", was a practice used by the British government as a solution for overpopulation in the prison system, as well as to provide a cheap labor force for the colony. The ship arrived in Sydney Cove on 27 Aug 1829, at this time he stood at a modest height of 5 feet 4 inches, had a ruddy but fair complexion with brown hair and eyes. He had tattoo of a woman on his right arm and a man on his left arm.^[3][4]

Upon arrival in Sydney Cove on 27 Aug 1829, John was assigned to Patrick Reilly in Newcastle as a stableman. However, just over a year later, he had escaped his captors, and as a result, was sentenced to 14 years transportation and sent to the hulk for robbery and absconding on 2 Jan 1831. Life as a convict in Australia was difficult, and discipline was harsh. Punishments such as floggings and imprisonment in the hulks were common for those who broke the rules.^[5]

By 1833 John was living in Windsor, as records tell us he received corporal punishment of 50 lashes for dishonest conduct, though what that conduct was is currently unknown. The description reads "A fair thin skinned young man. The defect in the instruments having been remedied, blood appeared about the 10th lash; back much lacerated; he bore his punishment well."^[3]

John was residing in the Bathurst region at the residence of Captain Scarrell in December 1837 when, despite his previous misconduct and harsh punishments, he managed to receive a he received his Ticket of Leave, which allowed him to live in the community under certain conditions. This system of Ticket of Leave was a way for convicts to earn freedom by proving their good behavior and usefulness to the colony.^[6]

John (~30) married Ann Dunstan (15) (1823 - 1878) on 4 Nov 1838 in St Matthew's Parish, Windsor, New South Wales, Australia^[7].

Their children were:

1. Mrs Maria (Holden) Gillard (1840 - 1922)
2. Ann Holden (1841 - )
3. Harriet (Holden) Ray (1843 - 1928)
4. John Holden (1845 - 1927)
5. Grace (Holden) Wenban (~1847 - ~1923)
6. Elizabeth Holden (1848 - )
7. Emma Holden (1851 - )
8. Rachael Holden (1853 - )
9. Alice Holden (1856 - )
10. Agnes Clara Holden (~1859 - 1861)
11. Robert D Holden (1863 - )
12. Florence Holden (1866 - ).

John received a Ticket of Leave Passport on the recommendation of Bathurst Bench in Jul 1842^[8].

John had been working as a Blacksmith in Windsor, New South Wales but in Nov 1943, he and his family must have fallen upon hard times as he initiated proceedings for insolvency. In the colony of New South Wales, the Insolvency Act of 1842 was the first law of its kind, which provided a framework for individuals and companies to file for insolvency. This must of been a huge relief for John and his growing family at the time. The certificate of insolvency was issued in July 1845.^[9]

In 1844 it was recommended that John receive a conditional pardon^[10]. On 2 Mar 1846, John received his conditional pardon, this meant he could essentially live as a free man provided in remained in the Australian Colonies and New Zealand.^[2][11]

By 1848 John and his family were still living in Maquarie Street, Windsor.^[12]

John died on 14 Jan 1869 in Windsor aged ~60.^[3] John is buried in Saint Matthew's Anglican Church Cemetery, Windsor. ^[13]

John Holden was born about 1801 in Leeds or Brighton, England. John's children were:

1. Ann Hadden (1839 - 1903)
2. John Holden (1845 - 1927)
3. Unknown Holden (1848 - ).

John died on 14 Jan 1869 in Windsor, New South Wales, Australia aged ~67.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", citing Digital film/folder number: 004426905; FHL microfilm: 1067105; Record number: 11965827, FamilySearch Record: NDHL-PBD (accessed 1 April 2024), John Holden baptism on 30 Nov 1808, son of Henry Holden & Hannah, in Brighton, Sussex, England, United Kingdom.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "New South Wales, Australia, Convict Registers of Conditional and Absolute Pardons, 1788-1870", State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia; Card Index to Letters Received, Colonial Secretary; Reel Number: 799; Roll Number: 1250, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1657 #59534 (accessed 20 January 2023), Name: John Holden; Age: 38; Birth Year: 1808; Origin Place: Brighton; Conviction Date: 23 Mar 1829; Conviction Place: Sussex; Arrival Year: 1829; Pardon Date: 2 Mar 1846; Vessel Name: Norfolk 2; Record Type: Conditional; Pardon Number: 46/61.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} "Convict Profile" on Convict Records for John Holden citing: Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/7, Page Number 69 (37); Aliases: none, Gender: m, Date of Birth: 1808, Occupation: Blacksmith, Date of Death: 4 Jan 1869, Age: 61 years, Crime: Sacrilege, Convicted at: Sussex Assizes, Sentence term: Life, Ship: Norfolk, Departure date: 20 May 1829, Arrival date: 27 Aug 1829, Place of arrival: New South Wales Convict Records: John Holden
4. ↑ "New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842", State Archives NSW; Series: NRS 12188; Item: [4/4014]; Microfiche: 673, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2024 #33698 (accessed 20 January 2023), Name: John Holden; Age: 21; Date of Conviction: 23 Mar 1829; Place of Conviction: Sussex; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1808; Vessel: Norfolk (2); Port of Arrival: Sydney Cove; Date of Arrival: 27 Aug 1829; Ticket of Leave: Yes; Pardon: Yes.
5. ↑ "New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930", State Archives NSW; Kingswood, New South Wales; Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Series: 2514; Item: 4/6430; Roll: 851, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 1783 #77302 (accessed 20 January 2023), Name: John Holden; Birth Place: Salisbury; Arrival Year: 1829; Arrival Country: Australia; Vessel Arrived In: Norfolk; Date of Admission/Photo: 2 Jan 1831; Gaol: Sydney; Gaol Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Record Type: Entrance Book.
6. ↑ "New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891", State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia; Title: Bathurst: Tickets of Leave Records, 1839-1841; Volume: 2/8321, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 8992 #156750 (accessed 20 January 2023), Name: John Holden; Date: 13 Dec 1837; Place: New South Wales, Australia; Category: Tickets of Leave; Title: Bathurst: Tickets of Leave Records, 1839-1841.
7. ↑ Extract from Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages, NSW shows their Marriage in the Parish of Windsor, in the County of Cumberland, N.S.W., on 4th November 1838, between John Holden (aged 30) and Ann Dunston (aged 15), with the consent of the Father of the woman. Witnesses were Richard Dunston and Harriet Cadden.
8. ↑ NSW State Archives and Records: Convicts Index 1791-1873: Ticket of Leave Passport: HOLDEN John accessed 21 January 2023. : -20976; Entry No: 42/0750;
9. ↑ NSW State Archives and Records: Insolvency Index 1842-1887 HOLDEN John accessed 21 Jan 2023. Date Certificate Issued: Wednesday, 9 July 1845. Sequestration: Wednesday, 8 November 1843. File Number: 1040. Occupation: Blacksmith. Place: Windsor.
10. ↑ NSW State Archives and Records: Convicts Index 1791-1873: 1844: HOLDEN John accessed 21 January 2023. : Recommended by J L Scarvell; W Low; R Smith; Citation: [4/4479; Reel 797 Page 098];
11. ↑ NSW State Archives and Records: Convicts Index 1791-1873: Second Class Conditional Pardon: HOLDEN John accessed 21 January 2023. : -19661; Entry No: 46/061;
12. ↑ "1841 New South Wales, Australia, Census", Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1214 #10147 (accessed 21 January 2023), Name: John Holden; State: New South Wales; Country: Australia.
13. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images, Memorial: John Holden, Birth Date: 1808, Death Date: 14 Jan 1869, Saint Matthew's Anglican Church Cemetery, Windsor, New South Wales, Australia, Plot: Right Section, Row 14, Plot 8, Find A Grave: Memorial #158687708, accessed: 20 Jan 2023, Maintained By: Stombell, 48335209.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Al Orton for creating Holden-1165 on 19 Sep 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Al and others.