Charles Cross

  Noted events in his life were:

• source. Marion Purnell where it states:
Charles was sentenced to 7 years transportation at the 11 August 1787 Bridgewater (Somerset) Assizes for the theft of a silver spoon from a house. In December 1787 he was ordered to the 'Dunkirk' hulk at Plymouth, age given as 22, and was embarked on the ship 'Neptune' at the end of November 1789. He arrived at Sydney Cove 28 Jun 1790. In July 1791 the couple were living in a hut at Parramatta in July 1791 when Cross was charged with receiving some clothing, the proceeds of a burglary there. Two constables searching for the burglar arrested James Chapman and Cross as they were walking together along Parramatta Road at 4 am. Chapman confessed to the burglary and named the First Fleet convict Joseph Hatton as the man who had received the stolen clothes and hid them in the bush. Hatton said Rose Cross had begged him to warn her husband that constables were searching for the burglar. The court accepted the belief of the constables that, although his behaviour was highly suspicious, Cross had not known that the property was stolen. Chapman strongly asserted that Cross was innocent. He was acquitted. Hatton was ordered 800 lashes and Chapman was hanged the next day.
On 12 Jun 1792 Cross gave evidence relating to an enquiry into the murder by aborigines of a man at Prospect Hill. Cross appears to have been living at Prospect at this point and stated that he had been carrying a bag of corn to Parramatta on foot) when five or six aborigines, including one woman, had taken some cobs from him. Cross also related an incident in which an aboriginal girl had apparently attempted to persuade an old man with her to throw his spear at him. He said he had found this 'extraordinary' as only a week before he had given her some food at his house.
In the 1790s Cross acquired two farms in the Hawkesbury district. In 1800 he had 15 acres sown in wheat and another 15 in amize. The couple owned 4 pigs and 24 goats and with their five children were supported by government stores. In 1802 the family were no longer maintained by government stores, and with 6 children and one free worker to support, were slightly worse off. They may have been adversely affected by flood damage and the withdrawal of government rations.
In March 1801 Cross assigned two farms in the Hawkesbury district to Thomas Hobby Esq. to secure a debt of 69 pounds. Cross held 60 acres at the time of the 1802 muster with 12 acres sown in wheat and 8 in amize they owned 8 pigs and held 8 bushels of maize in store. They appear to have sold the goats and were recorded as being in debt to government.
Their financial problems worsened and in Jun 1803 Cross was on a list of persons whose effects were sold at an auction sale by execution. In Dec 1804 he lodged a notice warning trespassers off his farm known as Robinson's Lagoon farm lagoon was later known as Bushell's Lagoon, situated just west of Wilberforce) In Aug 1805 he was again in debt, with his land and effects advertised as for sale by execution unless his claims were settled.
In Aug 1806 he sold a 100 acre farm execution) for 120 pounds. This land, situated on the east side of the Hawkesbury River near Cattai Creek was purchased by the First Fleet emancipist Catherine Johnson. In the muster of that year Cross was recorded as holding 150 acres, all or part purchased from one Burgess, of which he had 18 acres sown in wheat and a half acre orchard and garden. He owned 50 goats and 6 hogs and held 3 bushels of maize in store.
In 1822 Charles was holding 50 acres by grant (5 acres down in wheat, 10 in maize, 5 in barley, 3 in oats and a half in orchard and garden) He owned 3 cattle and 20 pigs, holding 10 bushels of wheat and 20 of maize in store.
In 1828 Charles and Rose were recorded as residents of the Wilberforce area, with 18 acres under cultivation and one cow. He was a protestant and she was a catholic. They employed a convict labourer, were said to be both aged 70 although this may have been an estimate by another household member as Charles was probably nearer 63.
In 1831, Charles, described as a resident of Lower Pitt Town, was granted 50 acres on Little Cattai Creek known as Wheeny Farm. His sons Christopher and Edward each were granted 50 acres adjoining their father's grant. They were charged quit rent from Jan 1827 which probably indicates that they had a right of occupancy on the land from this date. The Little Cattai Creek area seems to have been known at Lower Pitt Town and Christoper and Edward were both there in 1828, but may have been living on Wheeny farm by 1831.

Charles married Rose Hannah Flood on 21 Nov 1790 in Sydney Cove, NSW Australia. (Rose Hannah Flood was born circa 1758 in England UK and died on 4 Nov 1836 in Wilberforce, County of Cumberland, NSW Australia.)