Sarah (Robinson) Dorkings (1783 - 1872)

Born 16 Jun 1783 in Cheshire, England [uncertain]

Wife of William Spears — married 1801 (to 1803) in Defacto Relationship

Wife of James (Pewlet) Peaulet Snr — married about 1803 (to 1808) in Defacto Relationship

Wife of Joseph Craft — married 26 Apr 1810 (to 13 Jun 1839) in St. Phillips Church of England, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Wife of Joseph Dorkings — married 7 Sep 1840 in Church of England, Brisbane Water, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 7 Mar 1872 at age 88 in Wattagan Creek, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Paul Curran [send private message]

Convicts After the Third Fleet

Biography

Sarah (Robinson) Dorkings was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to New South Wales

Birth & Christening

Sarah Robinson was born on 16 June 1783 in Cheshire, England^[1][2], the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Robinson.

Because of naming patterns in families, I am unsure about the above baptism. Sarah never had children named Thomas or Elizabeth. I have used this baptism "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NPDN-95L : 4 February 2023), Sarah Robinson, 1783. Father Issac, Mother Sarah Millington.

Conviction & Transportation

Sarah Robinson was tried in the Chester Assizes on Oct 8, 1799, for stealing money, found guilty and sentenced to 7 years transportation^[3]. She left Portsmouth, England on August 1800 traveling aboard the "Earl Cornwallis", and arrived at Sydney Cove on 12 June 1801^[4].

Her first Relationship

Soon after her arrival, she began a liaison with William Spears, a Colonial soldier, who had also arrived on the "Earl Cornwallis", and who Sarah was assigned to after her arrival on 12 Jun 1801. William had joined the joined the New South Wales Corps on 4 January 1800 prior to leaving England. A daughter Mary was born to Sarah and William on 6 June 1802^[5][6].

This relationship was short lived as William was transferred to Norfolk Island in 1802 with the 102nd Regiment and by August 1806 he was in a relationship with Mary How, who he married that same year^[7].

Her Second Relationship

After William Spear left for Norfolk Island, Sarah was assigned as a housekeeper to
James (Peaulet) Pewlet which quickly developed into a relationship. James was a convict who had arrived at Botany Bay on 26 January 1788 as part of the First Fleet, aboard the "Scarborough".

Their daughter Sarah was born in 1804, and it has not been possible to find a Birth Record but on her marriage to William Webb, her Family Name is recorded as Robinson, not Pewlet^[8]. She died aged 68 years on 2 November 1872.

Their son James Pewlet was born on 19 May 1807^[9]. For some reason, the second birth record has the Father's First Name as William^[10]. Young James, died 3 years later on 26 August 1810 and James was recoded as the father' name on duplicate Registrations^[11][12].

James Pewlet left the relationship some time previous to to marrying Elizabeth Williams on 14 June 1809^[13] so the relationship had obviously ended some time before that.

Sarah's First Marriage

Joseph Craft entered Sarah's life as early as February 1809 as their son Joseph was born on 19 November 1809 in Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia^[14][15].

For some, if not all of this time, young Sarah would have accompanied Joseph Craft and her mother on their journeys down river which they seemed to have commenced sometime before the birth of James, at Portland Head^[16].

Sarah and Joseph were married on 26 April 1810 in St Phillips Sydney, New South Wales, Australia^[17][18]and were the parents of Joseph Craft, Edward James Craft, William Craft, James Craft, Susannah (Craft) Bridge and Phillis (Craft) Crump.

Joseph died on 13 June 1839 in Wisemans Ferry, New South Wales, Australia. At the time of his death their children, Joseph Jr, Edward, William, James and Susannah were married and living in the area, and Phillis had not yet married.

Sarah's Second Marriage

Sarah married to Joseph Dorkings (or Dawkins) in 1840 at the Brisbane Water Church of England, Brisbane Water, New South Wales, Australia^[19]. As Sarah would have been aged about 55-57 years old, there were no children to this marriage.^[20]

Death

Sarah was living with one of her children at Wattagan Creek when she died on 7 March 1872, and is buried in theWollombi Cemetery, Wollombi, New South Wales, Australia^[21].

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

1. ↑ Birth & Christening: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5NY-2QR : 11 February 2018, Sarah Robinson, 16 Jun 1783); citing ST MARY,STOCKPORT,CHESHIRE,ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 223,686, 223,687, 223,685. Citing: Name Sarah Robinson Gender Female Christening Date 13 Jul 1783 Christening Date (Original) 13 JUL 1783 Christening Place ST MARY, STOCKPORT, CHESHIRE, ENGLAND Birth Date 16 Jun 1783 Father's Name Thomas Robinson Mother's Name Elizth.
2. ↑ Parish Records: Christening: "England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQ6T-1SZ : 12 February 2018), Sarah Robinson, 13 Jul 1783, Christening; citing item 2, St Mary, Stockport, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 2,145,838. Citing: Name Sarah Robinson Event Type Christening Event Date 13 Jul 1783 Event Place St Mary, Stockport, Cheshire, England Gender Female Father's Name Thomas Robinson Mother's Name Elizth Robinson
3. ↑ State Library of Queensland. "Convict transportation registers [HO 11 1948-1990":] Sarah Robinson, one of 296 convicts transported on the Earl Cornwallis, August 1800. Convicted at Chester Great Sessions for a term of 7 years on 08 October 1799. Vessel: Earl Cornwallis. Date of Departure: August 1800. Place of Arrival: New South Wales.
4. ↑ Acting-Governor Philip Gidley King wrote in a communique to the Transport Commissioners of the arrival of the Earl Cornwallis:
5. ↑ Birth: Record 1:New South Wales Australia Births: Name: SPEAR MARY Registration number 337/1802 V1802337 148 Father's Given name(s) WILLM Mother's Given name(s) SARAH
6. ↑ Birth: Record 2: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: SPEAR MARY Registration number 1170/1803 V18031170 1A Father's Given name(s) WILLIAM Mother's Given name(s) SARAH (ROBINSON)
7. ↑ Part of the story of what happened William Spear/Spears after Sarah Robinson Page 58:
8. ↑ Marriages: New South Wales Australia Marriages: Registration number 2486/1820 V18202486 3A Groom's Family Name WEBB Groom's Given Name(s) WILLIAM Bride's Family Name(s) ROBINSON Bride's Given Name(s) SARAH District CC
9. ↑ Birth: Record 1: New South Wales Australia Births: PEWLET JAMES R Registration number 1018/1807 V18071018 4 Father's Given name(s) JAMES Mother's Given name(s) SARAH (ROBINSON) District
10. ↑ Birth: Record 2: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: PEWLET JAMES Registration number 1745/1807 V18071745 1A Father's Given name(s) WILLIAM Mother's Given name(s) SARAH (ROBINSON)
11. ↑ Death: New South Wales Australia Deaths: Name: PEWLETT JAMES Registration number 111/1810 V1810111 5 Father's Given Name(s) INFANT
12. ↑ Death: New South Wales Australia Deaths: Name: PEWLETT JAMES Registration number 111/1810 V1810111 5 Father's Given Name(s) INFANT
13. ↑ Marriage: New South Wales Australia Marriages: Registration number Registration number 880/1809 V1809880 3A Groom's Family Name PEWLETT Groom's Given Name(s) JAMES Bride's Family Name(s) WILLIAMS Bride's Given Name(s) ELIZABETH District CA (Church of England | St Phillips
14. ↑ Birth: Record 1: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: CROFT JOSEPH Registration number 306/1809 V1809306 6 Father's Given name(s) JOSEPH Mother's Given name(s) SARAH (ROBINSON)
15. ↑ Birth: Record 2: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: CROFT JOSEPH Registration number 2080/1809 V18092080 1A Father's Given name(s) JOSEPH Mother's Given name(s) SARAH (ROBINSON)
16. ↑ Source required
17. ↑ Marriage: Record 1: New South Wales Australia Marriages: Registration number 1003/1810 V18101003 3A Groom's Family Name CROFT Groom's Given Name(s) JOSEPH Bride's Family Name(s) ROBINSON Bride's Given Name(s) SARAH District CA
18. ↑ Marriage: New South Wales Australia Marriages: Record 2: Registration number 108/1810 V1810108 5 Groom's Family Name CROFT Groom's Given Name(s) JOSEPH Bride's Family Name(s) ROBINSON Bride's Given Name(s) SARAH District CA
19. ↑ Marriage: New South Wales Australia Marriages: Registration number 570/1840 V1840570 24B Groom's Family Name DORKINGS Groom's Given Name(s) JOSEPH Bride's Family Name(s) CRAFT Bride's Given Name(s) SARAH District MK
20. ↑ Gosford, New South Wales, Australia, Pioneer Register, 1788-1900 BIRTH, BAPTISM & CHRISTENING: Citing: NAME: Sarah Robinson SPOUSE NAME: Joseph Craft SECOND SPOUSE NAME: William Spears THIRD SPOUSE NAME: James Peaule FOURTH SPOUSE NAME: Joseph Dawkins
21. ↑ Death: New South Wales Australia Deaths: Name: CRAFT SARAH Registration number 7254/1872 Father's Given Name(s) AGE 88 YEARS Mother's Given Name(s) DIED WOLLOMBI District WOLLOMBI

Links

• Earl Cornwallis:

• Australian Cemetery Index:

• Australian Cemeteries:

• Australian Royalty Website Sarah Robinson:

Notes:

According to Portia Robinson in her book "The Women of Botany Bay", Sarah "brought her 8-month old son with her but left 5 children in Cheshire. (This does not fit with Sarah's supposed birth date of approx 1783), Her husband had been sentenced to New South Wales 8 years previously. There is no record that “she – and her infant – rejoined the husband convicted in 1814.” Clearly there is much wrong with this account.