John Close

1816-73

This is the tale of a man who won himself a reputation as a rogue in Bourne during the early years of the 19th century but after being transported to Australia for stealing, appears to have mended his ways and become an upright citizen in the early days of the convict colony.

After being apprehended for theft, John Close, a labourer, aged 23, appeared before the Kesteven Quarter Sessions at the Town Hall in Bourne on 3rd April 1838 accused of three offences.

They were: (1) stealing one earthen pancheon, or shallow bowl, the property of John Phillips, a grocer, of Bourne (2) breaking and entering the shop of William Watson, of Bourne, and stealing five loaves of bread, a pound's weight each of cheese, tobacco, tea, sugar, candles and other articles, and (3) stealing 13 fowls, the property of John Osborn, a farmer living at Austerby, Bourne, in 1841. He was convicted of simple burglary and sentenced to ten years' transportation.

Close was held awaiting transportation in the prison hulk Ganymede, originally the French frigate Hébé which had been captured in 1809 and converted into a prison hulk in 1819 but broken up shortly after John was moved on in 1838. The records of the Ganymede hulk state that John was received from the gaol at Lincoln on 3rd May 1838, having been convicted of stealing. It was noted that he was a labourer, had a wife and one child and could read, although there was no indication that he could write. The gaoler's report from Lincoln also describes him as having been "several times convicted of poaching, character very bad, connections very indifferent."

It is believed that John's wife, Esther, died while he was awaiting transportation. The child was possibly Louisa Close (born 1835) and living with William and Ann Smith and family who were most probably Esther's parents.

John was transported to New South Wales on the convict ship John Barry, which set sail on 12th November 1838. This was a 520-ton sailing ship on its fourth voyage as a convict transport and captained by John Robson. It arrived at Sydney Cove, New South Wales (located between the present day Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge) on 22nd March 1839.

Things seem to have looked up once Close reached Australia. Convicts who stayed out of trouble could be eligible for a Ticket of Leave, similar to today's parole or probation system, and he was granted such a concession which enabled him remain in the Camden district of New South Wales.

On 21st July 1848, at the age of 32, having completed his ten-year sentence, he married Sophia Small. aged 16, at St John's, Camden, New South Wales, and she presented him over the next 22 years with eleven children, ten of whom survived into adulthood and married. As a result John and his descendants have made a substantial contribution to populating New South Wales.

John died on 19th April 1873 at Bob's Range, Camden, New South Wales, aged 57. The Close one-name study has records of 127 of his descendants in Australia named Close and undoubtedly his five daughters and many granddaughters will have added even more branches to the family tree.

NOTE: Family details courtesy Margaret South of of Pontypridd, South Wales, who
is researching the Close family.

Return to Transportation