Ralph Hush
Encyclopedia
Ralph Hush was a convict
sent from Northumberland
to Australia
in 1820. He was also one of the first convicts ever to receive a pardon
from a life sentence after less than 5 years.
farm in 1779, Ralph Hush was the youngest of five (5) children. His family lived on a farm in Crookham, Northumberland
to live where the family owned and worked on a farm about a mile from there called Crookham Eastfield. He eventually secured a job as a farmer.
of the ship, the Neptune I, which disembarked from Downs
, England
on 23 March 1820. The ship's master was William McKissock and the surgeon was Jas Mitchell. The Neptune I arrived in Sydney Harbour on 17 July 1820 with 156 convicts on board after 114 days.
, now on the site of Bowral. The owner and founder of this area and all its property was John Oxley
. Hush was taken under the wing of Oxley and worked for four (4) years on the muster.
, Northumberland
, Hush married 24 year-old Margaret Robinson; their union would last 52 years, until his death in 1860. They had four children:
In 1823, Margaret wrote to the Governor of New South Wales asking to join her husband in Australia
as a free settler. Below is a transcript of her letter sent in 1823:
Margaret emigrated to Australia in 1823 on the ship "Brothers", arriving on the 7 May 1824 with her four children. While her husband was still under the control of the penal system, Margaret found a place to live and bring up the children. Ralph Hush was pardoned from his life sentence soon after his family joined him and became one of the first convicts to ever escape a life sentence after a term of only 4 years.
, and moved his family there by 1839. The property was called Eastfield. For the rest of his life, Ralph Hush was a farmer on various properties around the general Mongarlowe area, on farms such as Eastfield, Marlowe, Charleyong and St. Omer.
His son, Ralph Hush eventually bought several of these farms and owned many inns, in and around the towns of Braidwood and Berrima
. For a while in later life, Ralph Hush was a magistrate in Picton
.
Ralph Hush died on the property of Durran Durra, Braidwood, aged 81. He was buried at Eastfield.
Convict
A convict is "a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison", sometimes referred to in slang as simply a "con". Convicts are often called prisoners or inmates. Persons convicted and sentenced to non-custodial sentences often are not termed...
sent from Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1820. He was also one of the first convicts ever to receive a pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
from a life sentence after less than 5 years.
Early life
Born on a SpittalSpittal, Northumberland
Spittal is a small seaside resort in northern Northumberland, England, and is located near Berwick-upon-Tweed. Spittal Beach as one of the best beaches in Northumberland....
farm in 1779, Ralph Hush was the youngest of five (5) children. His family lived on a farm in Crookham, Northumberland
Crookham, Northumberland
Crookham is a village on the River Till in Northumberland, in England. It is situated approximately to the east of Coldstream and northwest of Wooler. It has two farms, which are both west of the village. They are called Crookham Eastfield and Crookham Westfield...
to live where the family owned and worked on a farm about a mile from there called Crookham Eastfield. He eventually secured a job as a farmer.
Transportation
Ralph was imprisoned for stealing 20 ewes and 20 lambs, tried and convicted on 14 August 1819 in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, where he was sentenced to life transportation to Australia. From the time of his trial until the sailing of his convict ship, Ralph Hush lived on a hulkHulk (ship)
A hulk is a ship that is afloat, but incapable of going to sea. Although sometimes used to describe a ship that has been launched but not completed, the term most often refers to an old ship that has had its rigging or internal equipment removed, retaining only its flotational qualities...
of the ship, the Neptune I, which disembarked from Downs
Downs
-Places:In the 'hill' context, the word 'down' derives from Celtic dun "hill, hill fort".*Downland, a geographical feature*The North Downs and the South Downs, England, as a collective term*North Wessex Downs AONB, England...
, 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...
on 23 March 1820. The ship's master was William McKissock and the surgeon was Jas Mitchell. The Neptune I arrived in Sydney Harbour on 17 July 1820 with 156 convicts on board after 114 days.
Life in Australia
Ralph Hush was immediately taken to work at a farm and muster at Wingecarribee, New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, now on the site of Bowral. The owner and founder of this area and all its property was John Oxley
John Oxley
John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley was an explorer and surveyor of Australia in the early period of English colonisation.October 1802 he was engaged in coastal survey work including an expedition to Western Port in 1804-05...
. Hush was taken under the wing of Oxley and worked for four (4) years on the muster.
Family
On 25 April 1808 in NorhamNorham
Norham is a village in Northumberland, England, just south of the River Tweed and the border with Scotland.It is the site of the 12th century Norham Castle, and was for many years the centre for the Norhamshire exclave of County Durham...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, Hush married 24 year-old Margaret Robinson; their union would last 52 years, until his death in 1860. They had four children:
- Ralph Hush (1808-1876)
- Phillis Hush (1809-1876), later Phyllis McCarthy.
- Joseph Hush (1811-1850)
- Sarah Hush (1818-1847), later Sarah Corbyn.
In 1823, Margaret wrote to the Governor of New South Wales asking to join her husband in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as a free settler. Below is a transcript of her letter sent in 1823:
Margaret emigrated to Australia in 1823 on the ship "Brothers", arriving on the 7 May 1824 with her four children. While her husband was still under the control of the penal system, Margaret found a place to live and bring up the children. Ralph Hush was pardoned from his life sentence soon after his family joined him and became one of the first convicts to ever escape a life sentence after a term of only 4 years.
Farmer
In 1831, Ralph Hush purchased 640 acres (2.6 km²) of land in Mongarlowe, BraidwoodBraidwood, New South Wales
Braidwood is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, in Palerang Shire. It is located on the busy Kings Highway linking Canberra to Batemans Bay on the coast. It is about 200 kilometres south west of Sydney and about 60 kilometres inland from the coast...
, and moved his family there by 1839. The property was called Eastfield. For the rest of his life, Ralph Hush was a farmer on various properties around the general Mongarlowe area, on farms such as Eastfield, Marlowe, Charleyong and St. Omer.
Licensee
in 1829 Margaret and Ralph Hush Jr. were the licensees of the Inn, the 'The Traveller'. Iy is now known as Tahmoor House and is an historic old Inn built in 1824 and extended in 1835. It is the oldest building in the Shire of Wollondilly and one of the oldest Coaching Inns in Australia, at the gateway to the Southern Highlands.His son, Ralph Hush eventually bought several of these farms and owned many inns, in and around the towns of Braidwood and Berrima
Berrima, New South Wales
Berrima is an historic village in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. The village, once a major town, is located on the Old Hume Highway between Canberra and Sydney. It was previously known officially as the Town of Berrima...
. For a while in later life, Ralph Hush was a magistrate in Picton
Picton, New South Wales
Picton is a small town in the Macarthur Region of New South Wales, Australia, in the Wollondilly Shire. The town is located 80 kilometres South-west of Sydney, close to Camden and Campbelltown. It is also the administrative centre of Wollondilly Shire....
.
Ralph Hush died on the property of Durran Durra, Braidwood, aged 81. He was buried at Eastfield.