John Sawford

John was born in Islip, Northamptonshire, England in about 1804, to Uriah Sawford and Martha Williamson.

He was tried at Northampton, 9th March 1829, and sentenced to 14 years transportation for poaching.

He came on the ship Mary (2) which departed London 18 Dec 1829. He arrived in Hobart on 9 Apr 1830.

On 12 Oct 1833 he was admonished for insolence.

On 26 Nov 1839 he was suspected of feloniously receiving a hand vice the property of Henry Morley. The charge was dismissed as being unfounded.

Conditional Pardon No. 2602 granted on 30 July 1840.

Free Certificate given 1843.

Description from Convict records:

Trade: Ploughman

Height : 5' 9¼"

Age: 25

Complexion: Fair

Head: Round

Hair: Brown

Whiskers: Brown

Visage: Round

Forehead: Perpendicular, wrinkled

Eyebrows: Brown

Eyes: Grey

Nose: Medium length

Mouth: Medium width

Chin: Medium length

In 1832 he applied for his wife Susan and two children, George aged 8 and Martha aged 4, to be brought out to Tasmania. They arrived in Hobart on the Edward on 4 September, 1834.

They settled in the Oatlands area, where John worked hard on the land and in the township (as a carter at one stage) to save enough to buy at least 4 properties, and he leased a house on 1 acre of land in Oatlands, and 1040 acres of grazing land near Oatlands.

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