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There is currently one researcher who has claimed Joseph Pike
Biographies
Joseph Pike, Convict "Claudine" 1829
Joseph Pike was born in 1808 at or about Malmesbury in Wiltshire, England. Departure date: 19 August 1829
Arrived in Sydney as a convict on the Claudine on Dec 6, 1829 having been convicted (term of 14 years) of housebreaking at age 20 at the Gloucester Lent Assizes on April 1, 1829. His occupation was listed as Ploughman/farm labourer. Further details on his sentence are discussed [1]
Received his Ticket of Leave April 1836, and his Certificate of Freedom on 30 Nov 1847. [2]
Married Mary Talbot another convict in 1838 either at Parramatta or Dapto where they later lived.
Opened a shop in 1847 at Pikes Hill in Kiama, New South Wales. Served nearly six years as Mayor of Kiama.
Joseph Pike died 5th of December, 1886 and was survived by his wife, 4 daughters and 1 son out of their complement of 10 children.
Geoff Pike on 27th September, 2012 wrote:
The Claudine arrived in Sydney on Sunday December 6, 1829. Occupation listed as reaps, sows and ploughs. Height 5 feet, 3 inches. Committed the offence of housebreaking in company with George Burchill who also arrived on the Claudine. Joseph was originally sentenced to hang but this was subsequently reduced to 14 years transportation to NSW. Convict records describe him as a native of Manchester, however he probably came from Malmesbury, Wiltshire. He received his ticket of leave in 1836 and subsequently married Mary Talbot (also a convict - who “obtained a cloak by deception.” Joseph moved to Kiama NSW and became a very successful storekeeper and according to his obituary in the Kiama Independent, he opened the first store in Kiama on Jan 1, 1847. He was also a farmer, landowner and businessman in and around the town of Kiama. He was a foundation Alderman of the Municipality of Kiama in 1859 until his death on Dec 5, 1886. He was also elected Mayor of Kiama on four occasions.
As a convict in NSW, Joseph Pike was assigned as a general servant to J. Wyllie (possibly John Wyllie?) who according to Joseph’s obituary was a doctor attached to one of the Imperial regiments then in Sydney, and in his service he passed the first few years of his colonial life.
When his regiment was ordered to India, the doctor, having a fancy for sheep farming, elected to stay in the colony, and soon after he placed Joseph in charge of a run and flock of sheep on the remote Lachlan River. However through no fault of his Joseph, the venture ended in failure as a result of the depredations - the ongoing attacks and plundering - of the local aboriginals.
After travelling some time with the doctor through the Murrumbidgee district in search of another run, Joseph returned to Parramatta. He received his Ticket of Leave on the 12th April 1836 after having served, from the time of his offence, only about eight years of his 14 year sentence, because of his good behaviour and dedication to duty.
On March 7, 1838 in the schoolhouse at Parramatta, he married Mary Talbot (born March 16, 1814 at Hanley, Staffordshire, England), the eldest daughter of John and Elizabeth Talbot. Mary had been a housemaid in England and was convicted of False Pretences (obtaining a cloak by deception) at the Stafford Quarter Sessions on 28th Feb 1833, at age 19.
She was sentenced to 7 years transportation. Mary received her Ticket of Leave on the 2nd of Dec, 1837 after serving just under 5 years. Mary’s mother, Elizabeth Talbot, moved to Australia in 1855 (presumably after her husband John died) and lived with them until her death in 1860. Elizabeth is buried in the graveyard of Christ Church Kiama.
Joseph’s milestones and significant life achievements in both the town of Kiama, the wider district and elsewhere, are many and varied. I am currently in the process of compiling a list as follows:
• Sentenced to death for housebreaking by Sir James Parke (later Baron Wensleydale, Privy Councillor) at the Gloucester Lent Assizes in April 1829
• Two weeks later his sentence was commuted to 14 years transport
Submitted by Researcher (John Millen) on 5 December 2023
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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
There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/7, p.170
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