Michael and sarah Walker

Benjamin Walters and Eliza Ann Wise

1-Coinvict Benjamin Walters was born in 1791 in Penritch, Derby, England and died on 29 Sep 1859 in Longford, Tasmania at age 68. Benjamin married Eliza Ann Wise, daughter of Richard Wise and Elizabeth Dalton. Eliza was born on 6 Jun 1809 in Deptford, Kent, England and died on 29 Jan 1886 in Longford, Tasmania at age 76.

Benjamin  was tried at the Staffordshire Assizes on 12 Mar 1812 for stealing coin and notes with force and arms, to wit holding up a pub, and stealing the day`s takings. His records state: 

Late of the parish of St Mary`s in the County of Stafford, labourer on the 5th day of November in the year of one thousand eight hundred and eleven; about the hour of 3 o`clock in the night being in the dwelling house of one James De akin. There situate one linen bag to the value of sixpence and one other bag to the value of sixpence did hold seven hundred copper pieces to the value of sixty shillings, and one thousand four hundred and forty pieces of copper, being half-pennies to the value of sixty one shillings and eight pence and two promissory notes to the value of one pound in each being the goods and chattels of one James Deakin on the said dwelling house; did then and there, with force and arms, did feloniously steal and take away the property of the said James Deakin and the said Benjamin Walters, being in the said dwelling house and having committed a felonious act in the manner aforesaid. The same said Benjamin Walters afterwards (to wit) on the same day and year at the hour of 3 o`clock in the night of the same day did feloniously and burglariously break out of the said dwelling house against the peace and dignity of our said lord king and his crown."

He was sentenced to death but had this commuted to fourteen years transportation to Australia. Benjamin left England on the 2 June 1813 on the convict ship Earl Spencer which docked in Sydney Cove on 9 Oct 1813. The ship's manifesto reads: "1813 - HMS 'Earl Spencer' captained by W. Mitchell: a ship of 672 tons, left England 2 June under escort by RMS sloop Kangaroo arrived Sydney Cove 9th October 1813 with 196 male prisoners with loss of only two persons en route." Also on the ship was convict Richard Wise whose daughter, Eliza Ann, he married when she was aged only fourteen years.

He was transported to Van Diemen’s Land on the Emu, arriving 30 Oct 1815.  He received a conditional pardon on 7 Aug 1821 but did not receive a full pardon until much later, after his marriage. Benjamin and Eliza had about fifteen children:

2-Jane Walters was born on 6 Oct 1826 in Tasmania and died on 30 Jun 1882 in Longford, Tasmania at age 55. Jane married convict ↑William Rootes, son of Thomas Rootes and Jane Holland, on 23 Apr 1843 in Launceston, Tasmania. William was born on 25 Apr 1815 in Halling, Kent, England and died on 26 Aug 1868 in Longford, Tasmania at age 53. They had two children: Eliza Jane and Thomas Richard.

Their story is told here:

2-Mary Ann Walters was born on 27 May 1831 in Norfolk Plains and died on 12 Sep 1895 in Sidmouth at age 64. Mary married John Thomas Hingston, son of James Hingston and Elizabeth Thomas, on 1 Jun 1898 in Beaconsfield, Tasmania. John was born in 1824 in Newtown Ferrers, Devon England and died on 1 Jun 1898 in Beaconsfield, Tasmania at age 74.

2-Joseph Walters was born on 4 Dec 1833 and died on 19 Jul 1906 at age 72. Joseph married Emiline French, daughter of William French and Emiline Blake, at Longford, Tasmania, on 9 Sep 1854. Emiline was baptised at Longford on 26 Dec 1836 and died on 25 Feb 1903 at age 66.

2-Elizabeth Dalton Walters was born in 1837 in Bishopsbourne, Tasmania and died on 5 Mar 1859 in Exton, Tasmania at age 22. Elizabeth married Robert Thomas Hingston, son of James Hingston and Elizabeth Thomas, on 18 May 1859 in Longford, Tasmania. Robert was born in 1832 in Devons, England and died on 10 Sep 1897 in Westbury, Tasmania at age 65. They had three children: William Robert, Horace James and Florence Louisa.

3-William Robert Hingston was born on 23 Nov 1866 in Longford, Tasmania and died on 22 Jul 1942 at age 75. William married Mary Walker, daughter of John Walker and Martha Dawes, on 17 Aug 1889 in Westbury, Tasmania. Mary was born on 7 Feb 1867 in Westbury, Tasmania and died on 8 Feb 1947 at age 80. They had one daughter: Zoe.

4-Zoe Hingston was born on 20 Sep 1895.

3-Horace James Hingston was born on 29 Jun 1871 in Longford, Tasmania. Horace married Marion Cray Murfet, daughter of David Murfet and Frances Beveridge, on 15 Jun 1898 in Longford, Tasmania. Marion was born on 21 Sep 1869 in Longford, Tasmania.

3-Florence Louisa Hingston was born on 22 Apr 1875, died on 4 Oct 1899 at age 24, and was buried in Oct 1899 in Uniting Church Cemetery, Hagley, Tasmania. Florence married Norman John Walker, son of John Walker and Martha Dawes, on 30 Apr 1898 in Longford, Tasmania. Norman was born on 13 Jun 1878 in Westbury, Tasmania and died on 18 Aug 1958 at age 80. They had one daughter: Gladys.

4-Gladys Walker was born on 24 Jul 1899 in Westbury, Tasmania and died on 18 May 1962 at age 62.

2-Lucy Walters was born on 1 Mar 1848 in Longford, Tasmania and died on 30 Jul 1932 in Roland at age 84. Lucy married James Byard, son of James Byard and Anne Elizabeth Sale, on 10 May 1870 in Longford, Tasmania. James was born on 26 Aug 1844 in Wokingham, Berkshire, England, died on 11 Jan 1894 in Staverton, Tasmania, Australia at age 49, and was buried on 12 Jan 1894 in West Kentish, Tasmania. They had ten children: Eva Isabel, Charlotte Mary, Elsie Frances, James Stephen Sale, Henry William, Francis Percival, Herbert Walters, Bertha Lucy, Maurice Charles and Ethel Rhoda.

Their story is told here.

 

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