Ann Lisson / Leeson - Gorrick, Convict "Experiment" 1804

Thomas was tried and convicted at the Old Bailey on 29th March 1792 for the theft of glass bottles valued at 5 shillings, sentenced to transportation for 7 years, (Thomas’ mother Hannah, had been transported in 1791). Left England on 30th May 1792. Ship:- the ‘Royal Admiral’ sailed with 299 male and 49 female convicts on board of which 10 males and 2 females died during the voyage, there was also 1 male convict reported to have escaped. Arrived on 7th October 1792.

In 1800, Thomas was a farmer on the Hawkesbury, he was listed in the Muster as being on thirty acres, twenty three cleared and planted under wheat or maize, ten hogs and two convict servants, Thomas Allen and William Wallace.

Married convict Ann Bradwell (‘Experiment I’ 1804) on 28th August 1810 at Parramatta, they had 6 children between 1806-1813.

Citation details: Year 1804 p. 38, no 140 Thomas Lisson of the parish of St John and Ann Bradwell of ditto were married tin this church by banns this 27th day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and four by me Samuel Marsden. Thomas Lisson signed the register and Ann Bradwell made her X mark in the register in the presence of William Batman who sighed the register and Hannah Lisson who made her X mark.

Thomas and Ann suffered greatly in the 1806 flood. From their farm at Cornwallis they lost one hundred and fifty-bushel’s of wheat, one hundred of barley, two horses and about seventy pigs, as well as two houses and a barn. The family found refuge on a haystack they floated some seven miles down river to Wilberforce, where they were eventually rescued.

In 1808 Thomas was charged with receiving various articles, knowing the same to have been stolen.

Sydney Gazette 5th December 1808. The following are extracts from the trial.

Patrick Flynn, constable, deposed, that he was sent with a warrant to search the prisoners house on the 17th ult. and found therein part of the articles sworn to; the sheet and shawl were found concealed between a bed and the sacking of a bedstead. Patrick Davey deposed, that he had once lived as a labouring servant with the prisoner; during which time his house had been searched for stolen property on the information which his (the prisoner’s) mother had lodged against him; and he had very recently heard it confidently asserted that the prisoner was in the actual possession of the watch stolen from Blore at Prospect. Which information he received from John Russler, a neighbour of the prisoner. John Norman deposed that the watch was obtained from the prisoner; and that he, being a district constable, had kept a watchful eye over the prisoner, who was a neighbour, and of such infamous repute that his house had been repeatedly searched for stolen goods; that he gave countenance to the most abandoned characters, many of whom had come to an untimely end; and, that in fact the prisoner at the bar was a perfect nuisance to the surrounding settlers.

Thomas was found guilty and sentenced to fourteen years transportation, but what transpired after that is not clear. He appears to be still farming on the Hawkesbury in 1810, when the Provost Marshal advertised that he intended to auction goods belonging to Thomas Lisson, unless a debt owing to the Crown was liquidated.

Sometime about 1815, Ann apparently had enough of Thomas and moved out, taking the children with her, and went to live with Isaac Gorrick, a substantial settler, he arrived on the ‘Atlantic’ in 1791, the same, boat as Richard and Edward Reynolds, and was at one time a neighbour of Thomas Gosper. His wife Rebecca deserted him in about 1807. Ann had more children to Gorrick and died in 1860 at Wilberforce.

After Ann Bradwell left him, Thomas took up with convict Ann Thornley (‘Maria I’ 1818), they had 2 children. Thomas died in 1827 at Wilberforce.

Old Bailey Trial Transcription. Reference Number: t17920329-36

194. ANTHONY BIGGS and THOMAS LISSON were indicted for stealing, on the 23d of March , forty-eight glass bottles, called quart bottles, value 5 s. the property of Benjamin Barley . BENJAMIN BARLEY sworn. On the 23d of March I lost four dozen of quart bottles, they were brought up into a back court behind my house to be washed; I heard nothing of their being taken till the prisoners were in custody in the counter; I saw them at Guildhall on Saturday the 24th; I cannot swear to the bottles. SAMUEL FLUSH sworn. On Friday night last I saw the two prisoners going up the passage with a hamper of bottles. I live at Mr. Blades’s, on Ludgate-hill. Mr. Barley has a place in the passage where he washes his bottles; the prisoners had a hamper of bottles; I called to them, and they set them down immediately; they took them up and went across the way; I followed them, and a constable stopped them, and took them to the Compter; and some other person took the bottles. Barley. There was no thoroughfare through the passage. PHILIP JODDRELL sworn. On Friday night, the 23d of March, I met the two prisoners: one said they were glass bottles, and the other said nothing.

ANTHONY BIGGS (Aged 22) THOMAS LISSON (Aged 19) GUILTY . Transported for seven years .

Tried by the London Jury before Lord KENYON.