John Baughan
Encyclopedia
John Baughan was a carpenter who was convicted at Oxford
, England
, in 1783 as Baffen (alias Bingham and Baughan), and sentenced to be transported for 7 years for stealing 5 blankets. He was in the Mercury bound for America in 1784 when she was seized by the convicts off Torbay
; he was recaptured and held at Plymouth
until transferred to the First Fleet
transport Friendship
.
. They had five children. John the first child and he was baptised on 5 May 1754 at Cherington.
John married Catherine Morgan on 14 November 1774 at Shipton under Wychwood
, Oxfordshire
. They had 3 children: Mary (b. 1775- d. ????),Hannah (b. 1778- d.???? ) and her twin, Anne (b. 1778- d.???? ); they were all baptised at Whichford.
in 1786. She was transported to Sydney on the Charlotte
. They had 3 children, James, (baptised. 27th Mar 1788 - d. 28th Mar 1788). Charlotte, (baptised. 30 May 1789 - Aug 1780). Charles (baptised. 18th Jul 1790 - d. Aug 1790). In 1791 he was granted 50 acres (20 ha) near Parramatta
but did not settle there.
1793 saw the construction of a mill at Sydney. David Collins
stated:
On 24 December 1793, the millwright and Baughan had got up the frame and roof of his mill-houses and, while waiting for there being tiled, was proceeding with preparing the wood-work of his mill. February 1794 saw the laying of tiles on the mill-house. The grinding mill commenced operations on the 10 March 1794; with nine men working its capstan bar, it ran so smoothly that sixty-three pounds (29 kg) of wheat were ground in seventeen minutes. James Wilkinson's mill nearby, powered by six men who walked inside a massive wheel, commenced operations a month later; it was soon abandoned and Baughan was commissioned to replace it by another of his own design.
In recognition of his achievements as carpenter and millwright
, Baughan was granted a small lease near Dawes Point
. Here he erected and furnished 'a neat cottage', later acquired by Robert Campbell, and established an attractive garden. On 4 February 1796, overhearing himself being abused by a sentinel who apparently bore him an ancient grudge, Baughan slipped out of his workshop, collected his traducer's arms from his deserted post and handed them to the guard. The sentinel was immediately arrested. Next morning, as an act of reprisal, Baughan's cottage was stormed and extensively damaged by a military rabble. He and his wife 'suffered much personal outrage'. They were so sudden in the execution of this business, that the mischief was done before any steps could be taken either by the civil or military power to prevent it.
Baughan, after some days had elapsed, swearing positively to the persons of four of the principals in this transaction, a warrant was made out to apprehend them; but before it could be executed, the soldiers expressing themselves convinced of the great impropriety of their conduct, and offering to indemnify the sufferer for the damage they had done him, who also personally petitioned the Governor John Hunter
in their behalf, the warrant was withdrawn.
It was observed, that the most active of the soldiers in this affair had formerly been convicts, who, not having changed their principles with their condition, thus became the means of disgracing their fellow-soldiers.
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in 1783 as Baffen (alias Bingham and Baughan), and sentenced to be transported for 7 years for stealing 5 blankets. He was in the Mercury bound for America in 1784 when she was seized by the convicts off Torbay
Torbay
Torbay is an east-facing bay and natural harbour, at the western most end of Lyme Bay in the south-west of England, situated roughly midway between the cities of Exeter and Plymouth. Part of the ceremonial county of Devon, Torbay was made a unitary authority on 1 April 1998...
; he was recaptured and held at Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
until transferred to the First Fleet
First Fleet
The First Fleet is the name given to the eleven ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 with about 1,487 people, including 778 convicts , to establish the first European colony in Australia, in the region which Captain Cook had named New South Wales. The fleet was led by Captain ...
transport Friendship
Friendship (ship)
Friendship was an Australian First Fleet transport ship, built in Scarborough, England, in 1784.A brig of 278 tons, she was among the smallest of the transports. Her master was Francis Walton and surgeon Thomas Arndell. She left Portsmouth on 13 May 1787, carrying seventy-six male and twenty-one...
.
Early life
John Baughan/Boffin the elder was married to Ann Woodley/Wodley on 22 June 1753 at Cherington, WarwickshireWarwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. They had five children. John the first child and he was baptised on 5 May 1754 at Cherington.
John married Catherine Morgan on 14 November 1774 at Shipton under Wychwood
Shipton-under-Wychwood
Shipton under Wychwood is a village and civil parish in the Evenlode valley about north of Burford, Oxfordshire. The village is one of several named after the ancient forest of Wychwood. The others are Milton-under-Wychwood immediately to the west of the village and Ascott-under-Wychwood about to...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. They had 3 children: Mary (b. 1775- d. ????),Hannah (b. 1778- d.???? ) and her twin, Anne (b. 1778- d.???? ); they were all baptised at Whichford.
In Sydney town
On 17 February 1788, Baughan (as he was mostly known in the colony) married Mary Cleaver who had been convicted at BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
in 1786. She was transported to Sydney on the Charlotte
Charlotte (ship)
The Charlotte was a First Fleet transport ship of 335 tons, built on the River Thames in 1787. She was a light sailer, and had to be towed down the English Channel for the first few days of the voyage...
. They had 3 children, James, (baptised. 27th Mar 1788 - d. 28th Mar 1788). Charlotte, (baptised. 30 May 1789 - Aug 1780). Charles (baptised. 18th Jul 1790 - d. Aug 1790). In 1791 he was granted 50 acres (20 ha) near Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
but did not settle there.
1793 saw the construction of a mill at Sydney. David Collins
David Collins (governor)
Colonel David Collins was the first Lieutenant Governor of the Colony of Van Diemens Land, founded in 1804, which in 1901 became the state of Tasmania in the Commonwealth of Australia.-Early life and military career:...
stated:
John Baughan, an ingenious man, formerly a convict, had undertaken to build another mill upon a construction somewhat different from that of Wilkinson's, in which he was assisted by some artificers of the regiment. Both these mills were to be erected on the open spot of ground formerly used as a parade by the marine battalion.
On 24 December 1793, the millwright and Baughan had got up the frame and roof of his mill-houses and, while waiting for there being tiled, was proceeding with preparing the wood-work of his mill. February 1794 saw the laying of tiles on the mill-house. The grinding mill commenced operations on the 10 March 1794; with nine men working its capstan bar, it ran so smoothly that sixty-three pounds (29 kg) of wheat were ground in seventeen minutes. James Wilkinson's mill nearby, powered by six men who walked inside a massive wheel, commenced operations a month later; it was soon abandoned and Baughan was commissioned to replace it by another of his own design.
In recognition of his achievements as carpenter and millwright
Millwright
A millwright is a craftsman or tradesman engaged with the construction and maintenance of machinery.Early millwrights were specialist carpenters who erected machines used in agriculture, food processing and processing lumber and paper...
, Baughan was granted a small lease near Dawes Point
Dawes Point, New South Wales
Dawes Point is a locality of Sydney's city centre, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Dawes Point is located on the north-eastern edge of the Sydney central business district, at the southern end of Sydney Harbour Bridge, adjacent to The Rocks. It is part of the local government area of...
. Here he erected and furnished 'a neat cottage', later acquired by Robert Campbell, and established an attractive garden. On 4 February 1796, overhearing himself being abused by a sentinel who apparently bore him an ancient grudge, Baughan slipped out of his workshop, collected his traducer's arms from his deserted post and handed them to the guard. The sentinel was immediately arrested. Next morning, as an act of reprisal, Baughan's cottage was stormed and extensively damaged by a military rabble. He and his wife 'suffered much personal outrage'. They were so sudden in the execution of this business, that the mischief was done before any steps could be taken either by the civil or military power to prevent it.
Baughan, after some days had elapsed, swearing positively to the persons of four of the principals in this transaction, a warrant was made out to apprehend them; but before it could be executed, the soldiers expressing themselves convinced of the great impropriety of their conduct, and offering to indemnify the sufferer for the damage they had done him, who also personally petitioned the Governor John Hunter
John Hunter (New South Wales)
Vice-Admiral John Hunter, RN was a British naval officer, explorer, naturalist and colonial administrator who succeeded Arthur Phillip as the second governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1795 to 1800.-Overview:...
in their behalf, the warrant was withdrawn.
It was observed, that the most active of the soldiers in this affair had formerly been convicts, who, not having changed their principles with their condition, thus became the means of disgracing their fellow-soldiers.