Researchers who have claimed this convict
There are currently 22 researchers who have claimed Jonathon Griffiths
- Researcher (1048)
- Researcher (1072)
- Researcher (Lyn Fannin)
- Researcher (Coral Sly)
- Researcher (Annette Hunt)
- Researcher (Heather Finnan)
- Researcher (John Griffiths)
- Researcher (Patrick Abé)
- Researcher (7983)
- Researcher (7998)
- Researcher (Joanne Kelly)
- Researcher (9525)
- Researcher (Suzanne Santas)
- Researcher (2206)
- Researcher (Adrian Dawson)
- Researcher (12498)
- Researcher (Jason Livingstone-Thomas)
- Researcher (Sarah Rose)
- Researcher (12718)
- Researcher (Peter Achurch)
- Researcher (15185)
- Researcher (Sue McGuire)
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Biographies
Jonathan Griffiths was born in Stone, Gloucestershire, in the March of 1773 the youngest of four children to Thomas and Sarah Griffiths. Jonathan would have been about 10 years old When his parents died and was now an orphan.
At the age of thirteen in 1788 he was committed to Gloucester Castle Gaol and charged. He had stolen a box containing two coats-two waist coats-two pair of breeches and several other articles including plated boot buckles; the goods were valued at a total of five Pound. He was sentenced to seven years transportation, and was lodged in the gaol in Gloucester until his transportation to NSW on the Scarborough, leaving England on 19 January 1790.
Five weeks after landing in Farm Cove, Jonathan was taken in the "Supply" to Norfolk Island a long with 193 other convicts, mostly women, arriving 7th August 1790. Jonathan was put to work and learnt the trade of shipbuilding. He learned about sail making from Flax also whaling operation on Norfolk Island this was certainly going to influence him in later life.
Although never married, he took Eleanor MacDonald as wife at that time it was probably not acceptable for convicts of English and Irish heritage with Catholic and Anglican religions to marry or it could have been that Eleanor had been married in Ireland.
Initially they settled in the South Creek area. Their first child, Thomas, arrived on October 10, 1797. Jonathon began accumulating land and livestock and became a supplier to the colony’s food stores. Despite early setbacks, the family's wealth and land holding continued to grow. Later in 1801 he moved from South Creek to “Richmond Bottoms” on the Hawkesbury River, where he established a boat building business. Jonathan's increased wealth In 1806, Jonathan purchased one hundred acres of this land from James Kirby the remaining section was purchased by three separate buyers. Jonathan Griffiths continued to run the farm known as Kirby's farm and was active in local civic affairs at Richmond and Sydney where he had acquired a house.
By early 1810, Jonathon was constructing ships in his own shipyard. His first schooner, the Elizabeth and Mary, was named after his twin daughters, born in 1804. After that he built many ships among them being “Rosetta”,
“Henry”, “Glory”, " The Prince Leopold " and "Maid of Richmond". At that time he gave up his interest in farming, in February 1812, Jonathan assigned to his son Thomas (then 15 years old) the Dalton and Kirby farms, to act as Trustee and to pay as rent to Eleanor the sum of Twenty-Five Pounds per year.
In the early 1820's, Jonathan, with his sons John, William and James, removed his business interests to Launceston, Van Diemen's Land. They arrived on their own ship the 'Maid of Richmond' under the command of George Plummer. Jonathan's eldest son (Thomas) and three younger daughters (Elizabeth, Mary and Ann) remained at Richmond. In 1821 Jonathan had begun to purchase land in Launceston in consequence of the family's move there. They purchased one hundred and fifty acres in three town lots from a builder. Also Governor Macquarie granted him two hundred acres at Norfolk Plains
About 1827,he had accrued four-thousand-five hundred acres at Freshwater point.
The freshwater property is on the West Bank of the Tamar River at Legana, just across the river near Dilston, The old house has been restored and is now operated as a lovely guesthouse named "Freshwater Point" set in park-like surroundings.
They built a new wharf at Launceston using timber from this land, and fitted out early whalers for the fishery at Portland Bay Victoria.
In 1837, Jonathon’s son John moved his father to Port Fairy in Victoria where he died in 1839 at age 76. The exact location of his gravesite is not known but descriptions of where it is in relation to the Moyne River suggest it is opposite the tee intersection of Campbell St.
Submitted by Researcher (John Griffiths) on 21 December 2015
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Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
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