Sue Waters

The following is a collection of information I’ve learnt about my husband’s family history. It has been sourced from a range of resources combined with information provided in documents his father has kept.

This page is updated as I find new information and was last updated on 5 December, 2023.

Francis Waters

My husband’s history is unusual in that his 3rd Great Grandparent Francis Waters was transported to Tasmania as a convict and his son James Francis Waters, my husband’s 2nd Great Grandparent, migrated to Australia for a reunion with his father about 30 years later.

I’ve had no luck finding records for an Irish convict with the name Francis Waters for 1849. I’ve searched from 1844 through to 1852 and looked for variations of the name.

The clues I had on his convict history was based on information passed down from his son to his grandchildren. I believe that Francis Waters was deported on the convict ship Tory which departed on 11 Nov, 1846 and arrived in Hobart on 10 March, 1847 where his name is recorded as James Waters.

The Indent records list the name Waters, James with the first name Thomas crossed out and he was convicted of manslaughter of Patrick Healy. 

Below is a copy of his conduct record.

A search of Irish newspapers reports Thomas Waters, Patrick Waters, James Waters and Francis Waters, father and three sons. were indicted for the manslaughter of Patrick Healy. Pat and James were acquitted, the others were found guilty.

James Waters was acquitted and was never transported. Only Francis and Thomas Waters were found guilty. I’m assuming that Thomas might have died while in prison and the name James was written by mistake in the transportation records. It is also possible that there was two son’s with the first name James and Francis’s name was James Francis Waters. There are two sister’s in my family tree with the same first name. 

The only prison records I could find were for Thomas Waters and the note on his record states that it was a “very aggravated case more like murder”.

shared he following is an article on the family history as shared by Mary Waters (Francis Waters grand daughter) to her niece Cynthia McDougall.

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE WATERS FAMILY.

To be used on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the arrival in Tasmania of James Waters.

We are gathered here today to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the arrival in Tasmaria of the founder of the Tasmanian branch of the Waters family, James Waters who first came to Richmond on the 4th July 1879.

The story begins in Ireland. In 1849, when James was six years old, his father Francis Waters along with two companions was seized by British soldiers, charged with some offense and transported to Tasmania. On his arrival he was given a ticket of leave, did farm work in Richmond and lost touch with his family for thirty years.

He had left behind in Dundath County Armagh, Ireland his wife Mary Anne and three young children James, Michael and Sarah. Soon after his arrest his wife pined away and died, some said, of a broken heart. The children were cared for by their maternal grandmother, Margaret Grant until James, at the age of 14, ran away to sea. He found his way eventually to America where he fought in the American Civil War thus gaining American citizenship. He subsequently served in the American Merchant Navy during which time he received a citation from the Italian Government and was mentioned in dispatches for bravery in helping to quench a fire on an Italian vessel. He eventually brought his brother and sister to Chicago to live. As far as he knew his father was dead.

However, Frances was very much alive in Richmond, Tasmania. In 1878 or 1879 he wrote to a cousin in Ireland seeking news of his family. The letter was subsequently forwarded to James who dropped everything’ to voyage by Sailing Ship to Tasmania to seek reunion with his father. The journey took four months. He arrived here on 4th July 1879.

He married Rachel Elizabeth Dunton on July 31st, 1879 at St. John’s Church Richmond. The marriage was performed by Rev. Father Houtchan. There were ten children of that marriage :- Henry Dunton, James Edward; Michael Francis; George; Rachel Elizabeth; Alfred John; Patrick; Mary; Margaret; and Florence Kathleen Two of these children are still living – Mary and Florence.

There are a total of 84 descendants comprising 10 children, 14 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, 31 great great grandchildren and 1 great great great grandchild.

Four of James Waters’ sons served in the Second World War one of which, Jim, won a Military Medal for bravery in action in France. Five of his grand-sons served in the Second War and a great grand-son in Korea. Because of his connections with America, his receipt of American Citizenship and the happy coincidence of the date of his arrival in Tasmania, it is understandable that on the 4th July every year, James Waters proudly flew the Stars & Stripes. He also flew it, with the Union Jack, to welcome back his four sons from the First World War.

by Mary Waters (as told to her niece Cynthia McDougall ).

Information I have found on Francis Waters is:

• He married Hannah Elizabeth Hinkl, a widow, on 3 March, 1857. His age was recorded as 44 years, residence as Coal River Richmond, his occupation was a laborer and had lived there 3 years.
• He purchased 1 acre of land in Richmond, Tasmania in 1869.
• An ad for the sale of his land in August, 1880. A COMFORTABLE COTTAGE, with about ONE ACRE OF LAND, situated at the angle of Blair and Torrens streets, Richmond, the property of Mr. Francis Waters.
• He died on Sept 11, 1885 at the New Town Pauper Establishment in Hobart when he was 78 and his cause of death is recorded as senilis.

Based on his marriage record and his death record he was born in either 1807 or 1813.