Richard FITZGERALD [7616]

  General Notes:

RICHARD FITZGERALD
"Convicts 1788-1800"
Richard Fitzgerald was sentenced at Westminster Quarter Sessions on 4th January 1787 to 7 years transportation. On 27th March 1791 he sailed on the William and Anne leaving Plymouth and arriving in Sydney on 28th August 1791 the 3rd fleet - and was sent to Toongabbie.
By 1794 he had a full pardon - tho no record of this is available - and in this year he received his first grant of land of 30 acres from Gov. Grose at Cabramatta. In 1795 on the 10th September Gov. Hunter appointed him "Superintendant of Convicts in the Districts of Parramatta andToongabbie" and he received further adjoining grants of land. In the "Muster and Lists" for 1800-1802 he had 350 acres on which he had 5 horses, 140 sheep, 3 goats, 29 hogs and 55 acres were cleared with ll acres under wheat and 8 under maize. Gov. King in 1802 appointed him "Inspector of all Government Agriculture Concerns at Toongabbie, Hawksbury and Castle Hill at 50 pounds p.a.
Unfortunately in 1804 Gov. King dismissed him from this position for "gross neglect of duty". Richard then moved to the Hawksbury district where on 2nd February 1808 he was appointed "High Constable at the Hawksbury", which he held until 1810. On 12th January 1811 Gov. Macquarie gave "a large allotment in Square (Windsor) on which to build a brick Inn at least two stories high this went on to be the Macquarie Arms (see separate article). When the first building of St. Matthews Church was razed he acquired the 150,000 hand made bricks out of which he built a cottage and stables adjoining the Inn.(see separate article) In December 1812 he was appointed "Superintendant of Stores" at Windsor and in October 1813 Macquarie appointed him "Clerk of the Commissariat Department at Windsor" for which he received 7s 6d a day. He continued his friendship with Gov. Macquarie and when the Governor formed a Government Farm at Emu Plains in September 1819 he appointed Richard as Superintendant of Convicts and Works at Windsor at 75 pounds per annum. Commissioner J.T.Bigge (who was a snobbish Tory lawyer and who thought convicts were scum) was sent by the English Parliament to inquire into Maquaries administration and eventually in 1822 Richard was dismissed by Gov. Brisbane from Emu Plains. In the 1822 "Musters and Lists" Richard owned 2117 acres, 28 horses, 35 cattle, 1910 sheep and 13 hogs with 10 acres under wheat and 40 acres under maize. After this Richard began to amass land either by grant or purchase and during the 1820's and 1830's Richard wrote numerous letters to the Governors re parcels of land either to buy or to be granted to him. These requests were to have the land measured by the Surveyor General and were in the Mudgee District and eventually by 1840 Richard had 3020 acres at Wollar and 20,580 acres at Tongy. [copies of these letters can be seen in the Archives Office in Sydney and copies of the land grants and purchases are in the Land Titles Office in Sydney] On 19th June 1815 he was married to Mary Ford at St. Matthews Church, Windsor, by the Rev. Robert Cartwright. He also took an active interest in the Hawksbury Benevolent Society and became President in 1836 for a term of 4 years. He died on 25th May 1840 and was buried on the 28th May 1840 in St. Matthews Churchyard, Windsor NSW. He was 68 years old.
The death notice in THE AUSTRALIAN dated Thursday May 28th 1840 reads at his residence at Windsor on Monday last Richard Fitzgerald Esq. He had won the esteem of Governors Hunter, King,and Macquarie. He had enjoyed the personal friendship of the highest officials in the land. He had dined at the governor's table and, according to Judge Advocate Wylde he was the only one who came as a convict, being appointed a member of the Court, and that was the first Court to be held at Windsor. Macquarie wrote much in Richard's favour which may be summarised in his own words, 27th July 1922 I also established a Government Agriculture Farm on "Emu Plains" one of the richest and most fertile tracts of land in the whole country. Appointing Mr Richard Fitzgerald to be Superintendent and Inspector of Government Agriculture for which situation he is eminently qualified, being a most honest upright good man and perfectly well aquainted with all branches of agriculture having been employed several years in the same situation by my predecessors, Gov. Phillip, Hunter and King, all of whom were highly pleased with his conduct".
REFERENCES
1. Microfiche no. 615 page 155 film 4/4003
2. H.R. of NSW Vol 4 page 648
3. HRA Series 1 Vol 3 page 644/645
4. HRA Series 1 Vol 5 page 99
5. HRA Series 1 Vol 6 page 272
6. L.Maquarrie, Journals of his Tours, page 42
7. HRA Series 1 Vol 7 page 640-41
8. HRA Series 1 Vol 8 page 157
9. Bigge Appendix. B.T. Box 1 pages 344-345
10. No. 1783 Vol 3 Film 5002 marriages
11. HRA Series 1 Vol 10 page 680
12. No 777 Vol 24 Film 5006 Burials
13. Bigge Appendix. R.T. Box 7 page 2985
14. HRA Series 1 Vol 10 page 680 [see separate list of lands and letters]

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 1 1966.
E.C.B. MacLaurin.
Richard Fitzgerald (1772-1840), convict, public servant and settler, was sentenced to transportation for seven years at the Westminster Quarter Sessions in 1787; he was held at Portsmouth, England, until 1791, eventually sailing in the William and Anne, and arrived in Sydney on 28 August, when his private assets were transferred to Australia.
Since he showed 'remarkable activity and regular conduct', as John Macarthur put it, and since he had some knowledge of agriculture, successive governors gave him increasing responsibilities connected with the public farms. In 1792 he was appointed superintendent of convicts at Toongabbie; in September 1795 his district was extended to include Parramatta; in 1798 Governor John Hunter made him superintendent of public agriculture in these places, and in the following year asked him to make a survey of all the grain produced around Parramatta. In 1800, after the reduction of the government farms there, Fitzgerald was superintendent at Toongabbie only; in July 1802 Governor Philip Gidley King appointed him inspector and director of all the agricultural settlements belonging to the Crown, but he retained particular charge at Toongabbie. By this time his private concerns had increased too. He had received a grant of 30 acres (12 ha) at Cabramatta from Lieutenant-Governor Francis Grose in 1794, two more from Governor Hunter and had purchased 160 acres (65 ha), so that in 1802 he held 350 acres (142 ha); two years later he had 90 acres (36 ha) under wheat, 340 sheep and an increasing number of other livestock. One result of this was that in June 1804 King dismissed him from his public appointments for 'neglect of duty'. He then served as the 'faithful factor' of John Macarthur until the deposition of Governor William Bligh, and in February 1808 Major George Johnston appointed him to replace Andrew Thompson as constable at the Hawkesbury. In 1809 the Hawkesbury settlers' address to Bligh mentioned that a few of the latter's supporters had urged Lieutenant-Governor William Paterson to reinstate the governor, whereupon 'Richard Fitzgerald, high constable, offered a free pardon and a passage to England to any convict for life who would give such information as would convict any free settler of having such address in his possession'. Paterson recognized Fitzgerald's support by a grant of 300 acres (121 ha) in the Upper Nelson district; though he had to surrender this when Governor Lachlan Macquarie arrived, the latter appointed him storekeeper at the Hawkesbury at once and superintendent of stores in 1811, and in time he became a close friend, trusted agent and protégé of the governor.
Macquarie recognized his ability and praised the 'zeal, vigilance and integrity' of this 'most honest upright good man'. He invited him to Government House and stayed with him when visiting Windsor. There in 1810 he was ordered to build a 'handsome commodious inn', was superintendent of stores, and four years later was put in charge of the commissariat and of all public works, so that in due course he supervised the building of St Matthew's.
In June 1815 Fitzgerald married Mary Ford, who had been transported from Somerset in 1797; as she was then a married woman, perhaps Fitzgerald had had to wait for her first husband to die, though she had borne him three sons after 1805. In 1819 Macquarie decided to recommence 'public farming' to employ the large numbers of convicts arriving, and in September he appointed Fitzgerald superintendent of agriculture at Emu Plains. Sir John Jamison charged him with peculation, but Macquarie's trust was vindicated by Commissioner Bigge's investigation, though Bigge thought this post incompatible with the proper performance of his duties at Windsor, and Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane was instructed to replace him. This he did, leaving Fitzgerald to devote himself to his numerous private activities.
He had extensive properties to supervise near Cassilis at Tongy, Dabee and Wollar. He was agent for Mrs Macquarie and helped to obtain an additional grant of 2000 acres (809 ha) for her and her son. He also administered part of the Macarthur estate, a noteworthy appointment for an unrepentant emancipist. He was one of the early proprietors of the Bank of New South Wales. When he died on 25 May 1840, his estate was valued for probate at £34,000.
Fitzgerald was a man of pronounced liberal temperament, being a generous donor both to his own church, the Church of England, and the Roman Catholic Church. Name, family tradition and personal appearance attest a connexion with the Duke of Leinster. He was one of the earliest Freemasons in the country and is said to have played a considerable part in establishing the craft in Sydney; this is supported by a strong tradition, but his name has not been found in early Masonic documents. He was a generous supporter of the Hawkesbury Benevolent Institution. His republican and liberal sentiments taught him to treat the Aboriginals humanely, and they in turn led him to Tongy. That he was well regarded by his assigned servants and by John Macarthur as well as by Governor Macquarie is an eloquent testimony to his charm, tact, wisdom and great abilities. Altogether he was one of the most remarkable men to settle in early New South Wales. Through his granddaughters, he left a very large number of descendants in Australia, Britain and the United States, but the male line bearing his name died out; his second son Robert, (b. 1 June 1807), married Elizabeth Henrietta Rouse, and became a member of the Legislative Council in 1849.
Select Bibliography
Historical Records of New South Wales, vols 4-5
Historical Records of Australia, series 1, vols 1-11, 14
E. C. B. MacLaurin, 'The Ancient Family of Rouse', Journal and Proceedings (Royal Australian Historical Society), vol 43, part 6, 1957, pp 299-316
D. G. Bowd, Richard Fitzgerald 1772-1840, (paper delivered to Hawkesbury Historical Society, 1957) HO 11/1
manuscript catalogue under R. Fitzgerald (State Records Office of Western Australia)
private information.

Horsemen of the First Frontier 1788-1900
By Keith R Binney 1933.
The Emancipists
Richard Fitzgerald (1772-1840)
In 1787, Richard Fitzgerald was sentenced at the Westminster Quarter Sessions to transportation for seven years. Richard Fitzgerald arrived in Sydney aboard the William and Anne in 1791 and surprisingly, was apparently accompanied by his private assets. In 1792. the well-connected prisoner Fitzgerald was appointed superintendent of convicts at Toongabbie. By 1795, at which time Richard Fitzgerald had become "Free by Servitude". this position was extended to include Parramatta. Then in 1798, Governor Hunter made Fitzgerald superintendent of public agriculture in both places. The trusted emancipist overseer was reputedly related to Lord Edward Fitzgerald and the fact that he arrived at Port Jackson with private assets and was readily accepted by the snobbish and certainly less-than-compassionate John Macarthur, makes this aristocratic relationship quite likely. Richard Fitzgerald received an initial land grant of 30 acres at Cabramatta from Lieutenant Governor Grose, then two more grants from Governor Hunter.
Fitzgerald also purchased a further 160 acres, so that by 1802 he held and energetically farmed a total of 350 acres. Remarkably. in the 1804 census. emancipist Richard Fitzgerald is recorded as the owner of 2 horses and 10 mares. which placed him in the top half dozen horse owners in the colony.Then, no doubt due to his extensive private interests taking up a good deal of his time. not unexpectedly Fitzgerald was disrnissed from his public offices for "neglect of duty." Apart from managing his own farms, the unrepentant Richard Fitzgerald also served as a valued overseer for Elizabeth Macarthur on the Elizabeth Farm and Camden Park estates, particularly during John Macarthur's prolonged absences overseas. In February 1808, Major George Johnston appointed Richard Fitzgerald to replace fellow-emancipist Andrew Thompson as constable at the Hawkesbury. Despite this tangible evidence of Fitzgerald's support for the rebels, newly arrived Governor Macquarie was impressed by Fitzgerald's "zeal, vigilance and integrity". In fact Macquarie considered him a 'most honest upright good man'. In 1810, Fitzgerald was appointed government storekeeper at the Hawkesbury and in 1811, superintendent of stores. Four years later. Richard Fitzgerald was put in charge of the commissariat and all public works. In 1815, no doubt in compliance with Governor Macquarie's strong moral edicts Fitzgerald married an emancipist Mary nee Ford, who had borne him three sons between 1805 and 1812. The sons were Richard (1805-1822), Robert (1807-1865) and John (1812-1835). Regrettably, the eldest son Richard died at just 17 years of age. Fitzgerald also owned the Macquarie Arms hotel at the Windsor square commonly called "Thompson's" and apparently so named by Governor Macquarie in honour of his his friend Andrew Thompson.
After a stint as superintendent of agriculture at Ems Plains, Richard Fitzgerald devoted his full time to private activities. As well as administering part of the Macarthur estate, Fitzgerald was also an agent for Mrs Elizabeth Macquarie and helped to obtain an additional grant of 2,000 acres for her and her son Lachlan who was born on 28 March 1814. Richard Fitzgerald also supervised his own properties at Cassilis, Tongay, Dabee and Wollar. By 1820, with ownership of 2.442 acres in the Windsor district, the extent of Fitzgerald's local land holdings was only outstripped by the combined holdings of the prolific Cox family, founded by patriarch Lieutenant William Cox. When Richard Fitzgerald died on 25 May 1840. his estate was valued for probate at £34,000. Fitzgerald's heir and second son Robert Fitzgerald (1807-1909), who married Elizabeth Henrietta nee Rouse, became one of the wealthiest men in the colony. Robert Fitzgerald held huge pastoral runs in the Liverpool Plains district, Yaraman of 112 square miles and Nassau Burgurrah of 200 square miles. Also, in the Gwydir district Markin Noonah and Bigleather, each comprising an area of 50 square miles and Carore of 72 square miles. In 1849. Robert Fitzgerald. universally known as the "The King of Windsor" became a member of the Legislative Council.
In due course, Robert Fitzgeralds son Robert Marsden Fitzgerald took over the property Dabee near Rylestone.

Australian Portrait Gallery Notes:
Richard Fitzgerald (1772-1840), convict, public servant and settler, spent four years of his seven-year sentence imprisoned (probably on a floating 'hulk') at Portsmouth before arriving in Sydney in 1791, along with his private assets. By virtue of his conduct, in 1792 he was appointed superintendent of convicts at Toongabbie; by the spring of 1795 his district encompassed Parramatta; in 1798 John Hunter made him superintendent of public agriculture in the region; and his public service continued under King. In the meantime, he had received three land grants and had purchased land, so that by 1802 he was growing wheat and running livestock on 350 acres. Unsurprisingly, in 1804 King dismissed him for neglecting his public office. He turned to serving as the so-called 'faithful factor' of John Macarthur. In 1808, after the removal of Bligh, he was appointed constable at the Hawkesbury. Once Macquarie settled in, he developed a close personal and professional relationship with Fitzgerald, and the latter became superintendent of stores in 1811. At Windsor, where Macquarie often stayed with him, Fitzgerald was in charge of the commissariat and public works, supervising the building of a 'handsome, commodious inn' (Australia's first) and Francis Greenway's chef d'oeuvre, St Matthews Church, (in which, incidentally, lies astronomer John Tebbutt). Fitzgerald married Mary Ford, a convict with whom he had already had three children, in 1815. After a short period of renewed public service in 1819 he devoted himself to his own affairs, and those of Mrs Macquarie, for whom he was an effective agent. He was an early proprietor of the Bank of New South Wales, and although he is believed to have been a pioneer of the Freemasons in Australia he made generous donations to not only the Anglican, but the Catholic Church. He was a supporter of the Hawkesbury Benevolent Association and evidently treated Aboriginal people with kindness. Judged by his biographer to be 'one of the most remarkable men to settle in early New South Wales', he left a large estate.
Updated 2010

The Will of Richard Fitzgerald.
I RICHARD FITZGERALD of Windsor in the Territory of New South Wales Esquire do hereby revoke all Wills Codicils and other Testamentary Dispositions made by me at any time or times heretofore and do publish and declare THIS to be my LAST WILL and TESTAMENT - I charge all my personal Estate of what nature or kindsoever with the payment of all my Debts Funeral and testamentary Expenses and Legacies as well such as I shall hereby give as all such other Legacies and Annuities as I may hereafter give by any Codicil or Codicils to this my Will -
I give and devise unto my natural sin ROBERT FITZGERALD of Dabee in the Territory aforesaid Esquire ALL and every my Freehold Messuages Farms Lands Tenements Hereditaments and real Estate situate lying and being in the Territory of New South Wales aforesaid or elsewhere. TO HOLD the same unto and To the Use of the said Robert Fitzgerald and his assigns for the term of his natural life without impeachment of or for any manner of Waste and from and after the de. . . . . that estate, To the use of such person or persons and to and for such Estate or interests Ends Intents and Purposes as he the said Robert D Fitzgerald shall by any Deed or Will appoint And in default of such Appointment To The Use of the heirs of the body of him the said Robert Fitzgerald And in default of such issue To The Use of my own right heirs.
I Give and Bequeath All my Goods Chattels Capital Monies and Securities for money ,debts owing to me and all other my Personal Estate and Effects whatsoever of in or to which I or any person or persons In Trust for me shall be entitled at the time of my decease (Except such part or parts thereof as I shall or may by this my Will or any codicil or Codicils thereto dispose of specifically or otherwise) unto the said Robert Fitzgerald his Executors Administrations and Assigns -
I Give and Bequeath the annual sum of Fifty pounds sterling during the life of the said Robert Fitzgerald unto the Treasurer or Trustees for the time being of The Hawkesbury Benelovent Society fot the use and benefits of and to be applied towards the charitable purposes of the said Society And I request the said Robert Fitzgerald to give a like annual sum and secure the payments of the same after his decease unto the Treasurer or Trustees of the said Society for the like Use Benefit and Charitable Purposes of the said Society And I do hereby nominate and appoint the said Robert Fitzgerald Executor of this my last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof I the said Richard Fitzgerald the Testator have to this my Last Will and Testament set my hand and Seal this Eight day of December One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Nine.
R. Fitzgerald.
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Testator Richard Fitzgerald as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses:
L North - Police Magistrate Windsor
. . . . . Bladdes (sic) Sol. Windsor
Geo. Thos. Wyatt, Windsor.
(ref: (A) 1163.

  Research Notes:

RESEARCHER/COMPILERS NOTES:
As at May 1991 every effort has been made to trace Richard's life prior to 1787, but so far it is still a mystery. In spite of research both in Australia and England each one has come up blank - sources checked in Australia have been:- Hulk Records - these only go back to 1802 Absolute and Conditional Pardons 1791 - 1843
Newspaper - for obituaries and articles Historical Records - both of NSW and Australia Lists of Old Trials Ships Indents In England, my cousin Peter Culverwell has been searching and he has checked the following, without success: - Criminal Records for Transportation Convict Transportation Records arranged by ships, giving names of convicts. Calendars of Prisoners for Transportation Privy Council Office Registers Newgate Calendars Prison Hulk Records - none prior to 1802 Agenda Books - no records for 1797 Indictments - no records for 1797 Depositions - no records for 1797 Pleadings - no records for 1797 Portsmouth Prison. His reward for all this has been either no record or all the records for this time are "missing" or "lost".
There has been an article printed, here in Australia, which unfortunately, some members of the family have taken as true, but to which I can find no proof, so I have treated it as utter fiction. Printed on the 19th February 1947 and called "Rebel Aristocrat", it mentions a woman called Anna Boyd as becoming Richard's wife. It says Anna arrived in the first decade of the 19th century - wrong. It says Anna came out as nurse to Gov. Macquarrie's children - wrong, e.g. quote "Their first child Robert was born in 1807" - Robert was the 2nd child and if Anna had been nurse to Macquarrie's children, they did not arrive until 1810. It also says Richard and Anna married soon after she arrived - wrong. I found this article so misleading, it has caused me untold trouble till I found the woman in Richard's life was really Mary Ford and of who you can read about under her own life story. Another article about Richard says he was connected to the Dukes of Leinster and that the Irish rebel Lord Edward Fitzgerald (1763 - 1798) was his cousin, again after tedious research of the Leinster family I can find absolutely no connection to this family and I feel this was wishful thinking on the author's part. Perhaps I will never know the truth about Richard's earlier life, but I will continue to try. It has just been very unfortunate that most of his, and others in his era, papers have been lost or destroyed.

On 17th November 1991, in desperation, I wrote to the Duke of Leinster in England, asking his help, to see if he could find Richard in his family papers.
I received his reply, dated 24th November 1991 saying:- Dear Mrs. Warner, I have received your letter enquiring about one Richard Fitzgerald. I regret that I am unable to find any trace of a Richard Fitzgerald. This does not mean that he could not have been connected, because the families in those days were very large and the details of those not in the direct line of descent were not too well kept by the family so far as branching them on, was concerned. I have looked in a number of books and records, few as the latter are, but I can find no trace of the name Richard anywhere. It was certainly not a family name and it has always been the family custon to always give the males only one christian name. I am very sorry not to be able to help you.
Yrs sincerely, - Leinster

FURTHER RESEARCH NOTES:
On a visit to England during September 1997 I continued my research into Richard, endeavouring to finally put all my frustrations about him, to rest.

I first went to the London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, Farringdon, London EC1R OHB on September 9th and checked through the following:-

Calendar of Indictments - January 1774 - 1790 (Film X71/46)

Middlesex Session Records - January 8th 1787 (Book MJ/SBB No. 1387)

Middlesex Sessions Records - Poll Books - 1784 (Film X1/159 Ref: WR/PP 1784)

There was absolutely nothing in any of them that mentioned Richard.

While I was there I re-checked that they kept the records for the Westminster Quarter Sessions, which they did, but unfortunately the records for the period I am looking for, according to them "do not survive for the Sessions between 19 April 1786 and 15 April 1789. The two Westminster Prisons, The Gatehouse and the Westminster House of Correction records are also missing for the period 1776 and 1799.

I next went to the British Library Newspaper Archives, Colindale Avenue, Colindale, NW9 5HE on September 10th to see if there could be any news item about Richard's trial in any of the London papers.

I checked the following:

General Evening Post- London - Jan-Jun 1787 (B1005)

Whitehall Evening Post - London - Jan-Jun 1787 (B604)

Morning Herald - London - Jan-Jun 1787 (B939)

Although they all made interesting reading, there was no mention of any trial/trials
for anyone for the day (January 4th 1787) which was the day that Richard was tried.

My next stop was out to Kew, where the Public Record Office is now situated and houses all records for England.

Here I thought I would see if I could find him in some jail, prior to when I found him on the Hulks.

After a false start, not knowing where or how to find anything there, I was pointed in the right direction to some indexes - PCOM 2 Series 1 Prison Records 1770-1951 472 Vol.

Under Newgate, London I ordered the following books, 173, 175, 176, 177.

I was given the ACTUAL Prison Books, all laboriously hand-written, every week by the clerk, and to my delight I found Richard!!!

In book 173, there was an entry for week ending January 15 1787.
January 8th 1787 transported from Westminster Richard Fitzgerald.

In book 175, he was there again, under Transports from Westminster to Newgate Prison
March 5th 1787 Richard Fitzgerald.

On looking further at the books I found the entries of all the prisoners had been listed by their crime or by their sentence, and there appears to have been two side of the Prison.
Richard was thus described "The names of the Prisoners on the Common Side of Newgate". I wondered what this meant, as I saw there was a "Masters side of Newgate" as well. It all made very interesting reading. Richard's entries were always under the subheading of Transportation to the Colonies.

I followed him through book 175, for the all the months up to November 26th 1787.

In Book 176 he appeared again, he was also in Book 176 which went through to 1789.
Then in Book 177 he continued to be there right up to November 16th 1789 when he was transferred to the Hulk Justitia, moored at Woolwich.

So to my calculations he was in Newgate Prison for 2years 10months and 8days

That is an awful long time, considering the conditions of the place in those days.

I have since found a book about Newgate Prison and it mentions the Master and Common side. Apparently one would go to the Masters Side if one was able to pay for all ones 'keep' and to bribe the jailers etc. On the Common Side one just had to put up with what one was given in way of food, clothing, bedding etc.

I was so excited about finding Richard in Newgate AFTER his sentence I forgot to check the Books to see if he was there BEFORE the Trial - which could be very possible, as I saw entries of prisoners awaiting trial. Unfortunately I had no more time to go back to Kew to check this out.
1999.

Another search at the London PRO Kew, during February only found one more entry for Richard.

PCOM 2 Series 1 Book number 172 - Known as the Master Side of Newgate Prison, found Richard had been received into the prison on January 6th 1787 from Guildhall Westminster 6th Transport.

Nothing more can now be done in looking for Richard, as everywhere I went I got the same message, all the prison books, Court Books for the period 1785 to 1789 were missing or destroyed.

In the Index of Registers of Prisons 1784-1786 all that is there is - This index has not been identfied with any register.

HO77/1 - April 1786 to Dec 1786 nothing - 1787January to 1794 says "wanting", which I understand means the Family Record Centre and the London Metropolitan Archives have never ever got the records from the Government of the day.

MJSR and MJSBB say - Westminster Sessions of the Peace Books and Rolls are "wanting" after 19th April 1786 to 15th April 1789. Their quote - there is no written evidence to indicate when or where the sessions between this period were held - unquote.

One final item of no particular interest - January 5th 1787 was a Friday.

So until someone else in the future can research Richard again, in the hope that some records have been found, I am concluding my research for him.

Compiler: Susan Perrett - July 1999.

In 2003 Susan Perrett wrote "From Convict to Millionaire" the story of Richard Fitzgerald. Bib ID 3075706

  Other Records

1. Richard Fitzgerald (1772-1840) A Square Man & a Pub Man: The Macquarie Arms - Australia's Oldest Pub.: Windsor Sydney Australia.
The Macquarie Arms is the most iconic and oldest building in Thompson Square. It owes it's existence to two men - Governor Lachlan Macquarie who ordered it to be built and Richard Fitzgerald, the man who carried out that order.
As Fitzgerald arrived in Australia in 1791 as a convict and rose in the colony to become a wealthy and respected citizen, his life in this country runs akin to that of Andrew Thompson, after whom the Square was named.
After his arrival it was noted that Fitzgerald showed 'remarkable activity and regular conduct' ( as John Macarthur stated) and since he had some knowledge of agriculture, successive governors gave him increasing responsibilities connected with the public farms. He was appointed superintendent of convicts at Toongabbie in 1792 and in 1798 Gov. John Hunter made him superintendent of public agriculture. His own assets were growing quickly and by 1802 he held 350 acres; two years later he had 90 acres under wheat, 340 sheep and an increasing number of other livestock. Due to the requirements of tending to all these assets, Gov. King dismissed him from his public duties.
Although Fitzgerald had originally sided with the Macarthur factor which opposed Gov. Macquarie's egalitarian approach, he quickly became a close friend, trusted agent and protégé of the governor. Macquarie appointed him storekeeper at the Hawkesbury and superintendent of stores in 1811.
Macquarie recognised his ability and praised his "zeal, vigilance and integrity" of this "most honest upright good man". He invited him to Government House and stayed with him when visiting Windsor. There in 1810 he was ordered to build a "handsome commodious inn", was superintendent of stores and 4 years later was put in charge of the commissariat and of all public works, so that in due course he supervised the building of St Matthew's.
Macquarie gave Fitzgerald a large allotment in the Square on the "expressed condition of his building immediately thereon a handsome commodious inn of brick or stone and to be at least 2 stories high". ( Macquarie Journal of his Tours 12th Jan. 1811 ).
From the Sydney Gazette, July 1815 we have the following report :-
"That spacious and commodious new Inn at Windsor called The Macquarie Arms was opened by the Governor on Wed.26th, when His Excellency entertained at dinner the Magistrates and other Principal Gentlemen residing at Windsor, and in that neighbourhood. Mr Ranson, who has taken on himself the duties of the Innkeeper is, from his experience in the avocation, thoroughly competent to the undertaking. Its necessity has been long manifest, as there was no house of public reception at Windsor capable of accommodating large and genteel companies; whereas the Macquarie Arms, from its extent, plan of building and adequate number of apartments, will be doubtless found worthy of the most liberal patronage and support".
Fitzgerald was the owner of the Macquarie Arms and he resided in the cottage built beside the Inn and when his only surviving son, Robert, occupied the house the sound of revelry was often heard at night.
The Inn was leased on January 27, 1835 to the Governor for 5 years for a mess-house for the officers of the 50th Regiment.
Richard Fitzgerald was a very socially responsible and philanthropic gentleman. He was a wealthy man, leaving an estate valued at 34,000 Pounds. He was a supporter of many institutions such as the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church as well as the Hawkesbury Benevolent Institution. He treated the Aboriginals with great civility and humanity. He was well regarded by his servants and held equally in high regard by both Macarthur and Macquarie which tells us much about his charm, tact,wisdom and great abilities.
He, like Andrew Thompson, was one of the most remarkable men to settle this land.
The male line bearing his name died out but he left many descendants through his granddaughters.
Can Anybody Help Shed Some Light on the Following Mystery??
In an article in the Windsor Richmond Gazette in 1955, Mr D.G. Bowd ( Chairman of the Hospital Board ), states that a portrait of Richard Fitzgerald, previously owned by the Hospital had gone astray. It, among other portraits, had "gone missing". Fitzgerald had been Chairman of the Hospital Board 1837 - 1840 and he had left the Hospital a benefaction of 6,500 Pound.
Bowd states that he would like to see another portrait of him enlarged from a printed reproduction of the earlier one - secured and displayed in the office. This was agreed upon along with a plan to provide legends for the portraits.
I wonder if this ever happened? I have not been able to find an image of Richard Fitzgerald - was this the only one? Did Bowd suspect what had happened to the missing portraits? What happened to the printed reproduction?
Ref: Community Action for Windsor Bridge - http://www.cawb.com.au/richard-fitzgerald-1772-1840--a-square-man-and-a-pub-man.html

Richard married Mary FORD [7621] [MRIN: 2547] on 19 Jun 1815 in St Matthew Windsor NSW. (Mary FORD [7621] was born about 1781 in Somerset?, England, died on 12 Mar 1833 in Windsor, N.S.W. and was buried on 15 May 1833 in St Matthew Windsor NSW.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

1. Marriage Certificate: copy on hand, 1815.