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Archiver > AUS-QLD > 2001-09 > 0999416066


From: "Lance" <>
Subject: RE: re ABRAHAM THACKER
Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 17:34:26 +1000
In-Reply-To: <OE20l4rhYQYx3G5aYY60000259e@hotmail.com>


Janet,
A copy from the film of the "Moreton Bay Courier" dated 30 Mar 1850 (#198
p.3 MFL00041 Roll 1 - Queensland State Library) lists "Prisoners of the
Crown (per Mountstuart Elphinstone)" and included therein is a "THACKER,
Reuben". No mention of an "Abraham". Note: the spelling of Mount Stewart is
the paper's not an error of mine.

The "Mount Stewart Elphinstone" (1849) and the "Bangalore" (1850) were the
only two ships in the long history of transportation, to actually bring
convicts to Moreton Bay. The odd apart about it is that they both arrived
well after Moreton Bay closed as a convict settlement some ten years
previously, and well after the area was opened to free settlers in 1842.

Some reading on the "Mount Stewart Elphinstone" can be found in "Log of
Logs" including a copy of a painting of the ship. Another book by Charles
Bateson - "Convict Ships" also makes reference to the ship and its
statistics. Both of these can be found in the Queensland State Library, most
likely the Mitchell Library down your way, and possibly other good
libraries. You could also refer to the magazine of the Queensland Family
History Society " "Queensland Family Historian" Vol. 16 No. 1 February 1995,
page 11, for an article by Barry Alexander on the "Mount Stewart
Elphinstone".

You May also find this film from Australian Joint Copying Project collection
at the Mitchell Library, in the "Northern Ireland PRO Collections" (Film #
M387). It has the diary of the ship's doctor on the voyage in 1849. A
difficult to read film (even then MD's did not write legibly :-) ), but very
lengthy. It gives a good insight into the conditions on the voyage but does
not mention specific names of prisoners.

George Spottiswoods LeBRETON was the first hotelkeeper in Gayndah. Gayndah
was declared a township in 1849. This from a reference in the book
""Souvenir of the Centenary of the Central and Upper Burnett River District
of Queensland - 1848 -1948" Editor G.F. O'Connor, Printed by William Brooks
& Co. (Q.) Pty. Ltd., Wickham Street, Valley, Brisbane.

I could not find a listing for "Cockatoo Station" which is quite
understandable. However there is a listing for Cockatoo at: Latitude
(Degrees o and Minutes' ) 25º 49' S [Decimal Degrees -25.816º]
Longitude (Degrees o and Minutes' ) 150º 14' E [Decimal Degrees 150.233º]
This is south west of Mundubbera, a town to the west of Gayndah.
There is also a Cockatoo Creek east of Gayndah, about half way between
Gayndah and Maryborough near the coast:
Latitude (Degrees o and Minutes' ) 25º 37' S [Decimal Degrees -25.617º]
Longitude (Degrees o and Minutes' ) 152º 08' E [Decimal Degrees 152.133º]
Being such a common name it would b difficult to pin point it's present day
location without some reference source from that time period.

I hope this helps set you on some kind of path?

Lance

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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Janet IM Stevenson [mailto:]
> Sent: Sunday, 2 September 2001 4:11 PM
> To:
> Subject: re ABRAHAM THACKER
>
>
> Hello Listers,
>
> My Great Grandfather ABRAHAM THACKER arrived in Moreton Bay in
> 1849 on board the Mount Stewart Elphinstone as an exile and
> apparently was located in the Burnett District and employed at
> Gayndah by G. LeBreton a store owner who supplied contracts to
> the government. Cockatoo Station, started by a Dr. Ramsay is
> also mentioned in the few facts that we have. Does anybody on
> the list have any knowledge of the people or places mentioned, or
> does any Lister have knowledge of books or other publications
> which might be helpful?
>
> I am researching from chilly Sydney,
>
> Janet
>

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