Having arrived with their two children what was Sydney like? We get a glimpse from this description:

 

By 1801 Sydney had grown into a little village with streets and buildings. Many of the buildings were made of timber and stone, some older houses were made from  wattle and daub. Convicts lived in their own homes in an area known as ‘The Rocks’, some with their families. But it wasn’t just convicts living in the village; local Aboriginal people lived there too. They camped near the convict houses, fished on the harbour, traded goods and food with townsfolk and brought news from further away. Aboriginal people had lived in and around Sydney Cove for thousands of years and they called it Warrane. By now they were used to the sight of new ships arriving and they would often be out on the harbour in their canoes. For newly arrived convicts, the environment of Sydney was strange and very different to what they were used to. During summer, days of unbearable heat were often followed by ferocious thunderstorms and torrential rain. Overhead flew flocks of brightly coloured parrots and cockatoos, while kangaroos, echidnas, wombats and goannas roamed the scrubby bush. Most convicts enjoyed living in Sydney more than living on settler farms in the bush. In town they could visit friends or family for a cup of tea or lunch, enjoy a dance in fancy clothes or visit a theatre. When they were not working, they gambled with their money, played games and relaxed.

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Most convicts were given a daily ration by the government. They collected it from the government food store and were given:

• 450 grams of salted beef or pork

• 450 grams of corn (sometimes still on the cob)

• 450 grams of wheat flour to make bread.

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Women and teenagers were given smaller rations than the men – so they would have often been hungry. https://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/convict-sydney/what-was-early-sydney-like-convicts

 

In 1803 Governor Phillip Gidley King was still the Governor but under considerable pressure. Government House was in Sydney being the first Government House built by Captain Phillip in 1788.[1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Australia's first newspaper the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser was published. The total white population in May 1803 was 7097 men, women and children. Matthew Flinders successfully circumnavigated Australia and a postal service was established between Sydney and Parramatta. In 1803 Van Diemen’s land was settled with 35 convicts and 13 soldiers under Lt Bowen. The colony was also in severe drought[2]  Refer to JH Barsden’s diary also for his firsthand accounts.

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What happened to Jonathan  on his arrival? Who was he assigned to? The Convict Records site states that A ticket-of-leave was granted to Jonathan on his arrival in Sydney. He was recorded as being "self-employed" living with his wife and his condition was marked as "PTL" i.e. prisoner, ticket-of-leave. [https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/green/jonathan/123864] . This perhaps explains why there is no record of him being assigned on arrival.

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We know very little about Elizabeth as women’s history is poorly recorded. She was a free settler with a convict husband so possibly could have owned property in her own name. We know a lot about Jonathan and his adventures which impacted the family.  Elizabeth outlived Jonathan and died on 9th January 1849 at her daughter’s residence in O’Connell St. She was 74 years old and this was the only time she made it into the papers:

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The daughter had to be Amelia Frances Carrick as Elizabeth’s eldest daughter, our grandmother Frances,  was in Sewells Creek at that stage with Joseph Sewell. I wonder if the John Blackman of Newtown, who married Lydia Erskine of Erskine Ville Newtown was a relative?

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The button below takes you to a table of Jonathan's exploits with primary evidence. Jonathan went from Assistant Gaoler to Nailor of O'Connell St with a fair bit of drunkenness along the way! Read about his up and down life in the early colony. No evidence exists to document Elizabeth's life however but one can only admire her for her stamina and patience!

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The family lived in O'Connell St which was very near Government House. 

MAP OF SYDNEY 1821-O’Connell St marked in Red and Government House in Purple.

 

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[1] https://www.freesettlerorfelon.com/colonial_events_1803.htm

[2] https://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/first-government-house