John Randall was a Afro-American (often referred to as "a black" or "a Negro" in the records) from New Haven, Connecticut North America. He was born in early 1764. Given the social conditions in America at the time it is almost certain that John and his parents would have been slaves. There is no record of him from his time in America despite claims to the contrary. He was convicted in Manchester England on 14 Th. April, 1785 for stealing a steel watch chain and sentenced to seven years transportation. How or why he turned up in the North of England is not known, however as the American Revolutionary War petered out in 1782-83, many of the British troops and some of their auxiliaries, were repatriated via New York to the Lancashire area. There is no direct evidence that he had been a soldier, but there are a few intriguing hints of a familiarity with things military. Randall was sent to the Hulk "Ceres" early in 1786 and transferred to the Convict Transport "Alexander" on January the 6th 1787. His name was recorded as Reynolds when he was mustered aboard even though he had been arrested and tried as Randall. This was the first and the last time his name appeared as Reynolds in the records. These names may have been just convenient "slave names" in an era when Black men and women were known solely by their first names. The "Alexander" and the other transports, storeships and men-o'-war of the First Fleet sailed on the 13 th May 1787 from Portsmouth. They rested at the island of Tenerife, and the towns of Rio de Janeiro in South America and Cape Town in Africa , where food supplies were replenished. The first elements of the fleet arrived at Botany Bay on the 18th of January 1788 and the rest by the 20th January. The site of the settlement was quickly moved to Sydney Cove because of the lack of a reliable water supply at Botany Bay, and all the ships of the fleet were moved there by the 26th January.
John Randall in New South Wales
John led an interesting life and his name appears often in the records of the early settlement in New South Wales.
"On Thursday February the 21st, 1788, he married Esther Howard (aka Harwood). She was 38, (he would have been around 24) and had been an "oyster pedlar", perhaps a code for another (older) profession!
She was tried at the Old Bailey in 1786 for stealing and received a sentence of 7 years transportation, arriving on the transport Lady Penthyn.
"Esther Harwood otherwise Howard" received a sentence of transportation for seven years at the Old Bailey on 30 August 1786 for theft of a silver watch,
keys and money from a man with whom she had been drinking at the Wheatsheaf inn, Tothill Street.
She said that she sold oysters, and had gone round the tavern several times. The man had taken eight pennyworth without paying for them.
She then went to the vault (latrine) and there found the watch and money. The owner admitted having been drunk at the time, and a witness said he had seen Esther take it from his breeches pocket.
The watch was found in a nearby pawnshop. Esther was listed in Newgate as aged 35 when sent to Lady Penrhyn on 6 January 1787 (Bowes estimated her age as 29).
At Port Jackson on 21 February 1788 she married John Randall and shared a hut with him and John Moseley. (Both men were Black or Mulatto). She was illiterate,
having signed the marriage register with a mark.
Esther was buried on 11 October 1789 Source: Gillen, The Founders of Australia.
On Saturday, October the 18th 1788, " The Judge Advocate and Mr. Alt sat as a bench of magistrates and tried Thomas Joseph and John Randall, who were accused of disobedience to orders. Mr. Reed,
master carpenter of the Supply and Thomas Joseph gave evidence. Joseph said that he had finished his task on the 16th, and received no orders to work on the 17th.
Mr. Reed said that he could not find Joseph at work on the 17th, but he had nothing to allege against Randall, who was discharged. Joseph was found guilty and sentenced to fifty lashes". Source: Collins
Robinson Reed (aka Reid) was more than just a Ships Carpenter. In the first year of the Sydney Colony the only small boats available where those from the various ships in the harbour.
This was a great inconvenience. Phillip was not allowed to build ocean going boats because of restrictions placed on him by the Charter of The East India Company, designed to limit competition.
He did charge Reed to construct a small boat yard to be called rather grandly The Kings Slipway. It was situated on the Eastern shore of Sydney cove more or less in front of Government House.
The yard had two Saw Pits, and undercover boathouse, and a possibly a storehouse. Construction of the first project, a Hoy – a boat used in England in estuaries and coastal waters for
carrying both cargo and passengers. It was officially named the "Prince of Wales", but most people called it the Rosehill Packet because it role was to go to and from Parramatta.
It was built completely from local timbers with minimal seasoning and as the first of it's kind left a lot to be desired.
The convicts called it "the Lump" since it seemed to have much too much timber in it. It was powered by sail and oars and took a week to do a round trip from Parramatta to Sydney Cove and back again.
It could however carry 30 people and considerable freight. The painting, by Midshipman George Roper shows the Boathouse, the sawpit and other buildings on the shore in front of Government house.
It is thought that the boat in the foreground which has the characteristic shape of a "Hoy" is the Lump under full sail.
Construction began in May 1789 and it was launched October the 5th 1789. It;s quite likely that both Randall and Joseph were labouring on the construction of the boatyard and/or the collection and
testing of the timber. Reed remained the Warrent Officer/Ships Carpenter of the Supply and when she was at sea Charles Parker the Ships Carpenter from the Sirius stood in for him.
Robinson Reed was sent back to England in 1794 where he produced a report on the usefulness and the properties on Australian timbers.
In summary, it's possible that before he became a Gamekeeper in 1790, Randall accompanied Reed on his timber cutting explorations around Sydney.
On Saturday, November the 1st, 1788, Esther Randall, Mary Hill, John Morley, Francis Robinson gave evidence against John Thomas who was accused of stealing a pair of shoes and a pound of soap. He was remanded to the criminal court for the latter crime only. Source: Collins
On Sunday, October the 11th, 1789, Esther Randall was buried. She died without issue. There is speculation that she may have died in child birth. The section in the Primary Source is annoying vague. It does seem unlikely. : Collins.
In between, August the 24th and the 28th, Collins noted that: "It having been found that the arms and ammunition which were entrusted to the convicts residing at the distant farms for their protection against the natives, were made a very different use of, an order was given recalling them, and prohibiting any convicts from going out with arms, except McIntire, Burn, and Randall, who were licensed game-killers". See the link: The Gamekillers of Governor Phillip's era: 1788-91 Note: McIntire, Burn and John Randall were the only "gamekeepers" or "gamekillers" mentioned in the records.
On Sunday, September the 5th, 1790, John Randall married Mary Butler per Neptune (Second Fleet) at Rosehill (Parramatta). This marriage was the first recorded in the register of St John's Church Parramatta. They were married by the Rev. Richard Johnson. Formal Banns of Marriage were read out in the three previous Sunday Services. Source: Collins
Note: St Johns Parramatta was conducted "under the gum trees" until the first church building was erected in the early 1800's.
BUTLER, MARY ( 17??-1802) Mary Butler and Mary Desmont were carrying a basket containing nine pecks of French beans in Covent Garden market at 3.30 am on 5 August 1789 when a suspicious marketer overhead them conversing in Irish. The man was familiar with the language and said they had not expected anyone to understand them. When he challenged them they ran off and were caught. The two woman said the stallholder to whom the beans belonged owed Desmont a grudge, and had been impudent to her, calling her an Irish bitch, at which she had slapped his face. The women said they were at labour, although neither was known at the market, according to the prosecutor. Both were sentenced to seven years transportation at the 9 September 1789 Old Bailey Sessions. Butler was held in Newgate Goal until 11 November when she was embarked on the Neptune transport. About six weeks after arriving in the colony Butler married the First Fleet convict John Randall on 5 September 1790. He was an African-American from New Haven, Connecticut who worked as a game hunter around Sydney. The couple baptized three children: Lydia (1791-1793), Mary (1793) and John (1797). Randall received a 60 acre land grant in the Northern Boundary district in 1792 which he sold for 40 Pounds in 1800 and joined the New South Wales Corps. His wife Mary was buried on 29 July 1802. Source: Michael Flynn, The Second Fleet; Britain's Grim Convict Armada of 1790 ISBN 0 908120 83 4
"In April, 1791, an expedition was undertaken, in order to ascertain whether or not the Hawkesbury and the Nepean, were the same river. With this view, we proposed to fall in a little above Richmond Hill, and trace down to it; and if the weather should prove fine, to cross at the ford, and go a short distance westward, then to repass the river, and trace it upward, until we should either arrive at some spot which we knew to be the Nepean, or should determine by its course, that the Hawkesbury was a different stream. 1791. Our party was strong and numerous: it consisted of twenty- one persons, viz. The governor, Mr. Collins and his servant, Mr. White, Mr. Dawes, the author, three gamekeepers, two serjeants, eight privates, and our friends Colbee and Boladeree. These two last were volunteers on the occasion, on being assured that we should not stay out many days, and that we should carry plenty of provisions. Baneelon wished to go, but his wife would not permit it. Colbee on the other hand, would listen to [P.113] no objections. He only stipulated (with great care and consideration) that during his absence, his wife and child should remain at Sydney under our protection, and be supplied with provisions."
Source: Watkin Tench, A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson Page 52
On Sunday , 31th July 1791, at Parramatta; "There were two baptisms. Lydia, the daughter of John and Mary Randall, convicts, and Mary, the daughter of Anthony and Elizabeth Rope, convicts". Lydia died and was buried 13 th February 1793. Source: Collins.
On 14 th April, 1792, John formally finished his 7 year sentence but was obviously free well before this date. On November 29th , 1792 John and Mary were granted 60 Acres of Land at Northern Boundary, the basic grant was 30 acres plus another 20 for being married plus 10 acres per child.(See Link): The 1792 Land Grants at Parramatta
On March 2nd 1793 a child, Mary Randall was buried at Parramatta. On the 14th December 1793 a daughter Mary Randall, to John and Mary, was baptised at St Phillips Sydney. Summmary: Lydia (B 31/7/1791-D 13-2-1793) Mary1(Born after 29/11/1792- D 2-3-1793) Mary2 (B 14-12-1793)-(D27/9/1857)
In October 1793, Collins reports; "Several instances of irregularity and villainy amongst the convicts occurred during this month. From Parramatta , information was received, that in the night of the 15th four people broke into the house of John Randall, a settler, where with large bludgeons they had beaten and nearly murdered two men who lived with him. The hands and faces of these miscreants were blackened; and it was observed , that they did not speak during the time they were in the hut. It was supposed that they were some of the new-comers, and meant to rob the house; and this they would have effected, but for the resistance which they met with from them. At this time seven of the male convicts lately arrived from Ireland, with one woman, had absconded into the woods. Some of these people were afterwards brought in to Parramatta, where they confessed that they had planned the robbing of the millhouse, the governor's, and other houses; and that they were to be visited from time to time in their places of concealment by others of their associates who were to reside in the town, and to supply them with provisions, and such occasional information as might appear to be necessary to their safety. They also acknowledged that the assault at Randall's hut was committed by them and their companions".
On December the 4th 1793, a daughter Mary (aka Mary2) was born to John and Mary. She was baptised on the 13th of January 1794 at St Johns Parramatta.
On the 9th November 1794 Mary (Mollie) Morgan, and John Randall and his wife were all reported missing from their homes. The Randalls short disappearance was not explained. Mary Morgan turned up in London aboard the ship Resolution. Source: Collins. Note: Molly Morgan first arrived in the colony onboard the Neptune with Mary (Butler) Randall in 1790.
On the 20 th June 1797 John T Randel (note spelling) son of John and Mary was baptised and recorded in the St James parish register in Sydney. Born 28 th May 1797. Source: NSW BDM
In June 1799, John Randall was accused of the theft of plates and glasses from Government House . After some confusion it has been determined that the incidents occured in Parramatta. He was "forgiven". Source: NSW State Records Microfilm Reel 655/ page 83. (Friday June 7, 1799) "At an extra meeting of Magistrates commenced at the hour of 4 in the afternoon on Friday the 7th day of June 1799 for the special purpose of clearing the Gaols Report previous to the assembling of the Criminal Court tomorrow. Present The Judge Advocate The Rev. Richard Johnson The Gaol Report Produced John Randall (a black) was brought up charged on the oath of John Keys(?), Servant to His Excellency the Governor, with having on Wednesday Night in his possession sundry Plates and Glasses the property of his Excellency , which he was feloniously removing from Government house with intent to steal - and it appears from the testimony of said Keys that the prisoner was met by him between the door of the kitchen and the gate leading to the sentry box, and that on being questioned as to what he was about to do with the said articles Randall replied "Shifter Shifter. The fact was established but on sending to Government House for the plate and glasses the Magistrates understood they had been indiscriminately mingled with others of the same description and therefore conceived the evidence insufficient to send the prisoner before his County(?). (But,) Being further charged on the oath of William Nott a constable on duty at Government House with a similar attempt to make off with certain other glasses, to wit, 5 whole and two broken glasses, about the hour of ten at night after the former offence had been looked over , and which said glasses were found near the prisoner on the ground at the time the constable searched him. The Magistrates submit to his Excellency the propriety of ordering the offender such exemplary punishment as in his Excellency's wisdom shall seem most (appropriate ?). Saturday Morning, The Governor informs N. Dove that he had received a petition from black Randall (with) expressions of his sincere contrition. As the robbery attempt to be committed was upon him, He is willing to forgive him, if Mr. Dove would take the trouble to order him to be liberated. Nick. Dove Esq. Liberated accordingly".
In the 1800 Settlers Book, John Randall, a woman and three children were all on stores. He had four pigs and five goats, four acres planted and six to be planted. Two of the children would have been Mary, John T. Only two surviving children had been baptised to this date and the couple had only one surviving child on 29/11/1792 to claim the bonus 10 acre land grant. It is suggested that the third child is Frances. One line of opinion has suggested that her mother was an aboriginal woman rather than Mary. There is no supporting evidence at all and DNA testing clearly suggests that Frances was Mary Butler Randall's daughter.
In April 1800, "Catherine Murphy "late of Parramatta" stood charged with stealing a pound of tea and a pinafore from John Randall's house at Parramatta in February 1800. In his evidence Randall stated that Murphy had come to his house asking for liqour, he gave her a "... a gill of spiritous liqour", she drank that and asked for more, which he gave her. He then left his house to visit a neighbour, and about two hours later, Randall's wife left the house to look for him. According to their son (orginal document says daughter), who was still in the house, "Kit Murphy" broke into his box and stole his run and the tea and pinafore. Catherine Murphy said in her defence that the tea was given to her by Randall, and that he had "... ill used her and had attempted to be carnally connected with her against her will". She called John Jennings, a constable at Parramatta, as a witness. He testified that he often saw the prisoner in the habits of intercourse with Randall and she was frequently at his house. Another witness gave evidence that about the time of her arrest, he was passing her house and heard her "singing out", he went in and saw the Prisoner, with her hair hanging disorderly about her, her clothes torn. She said black Randall had been beating her and offering her tea to sleep with him". He saw a man running away, who may have been Randall, and stated that Murphy had been very ill used, as did Darcy Wentworth the surgeon, who found marks of violence on her thighs and knees. She was found not guilty of the charge". Source "A Desperate Set of Villains" by Barbara Hall, page 193.
On November the 10th, 1800, John Randall sold his Property at "Northern Boundary" (North Parramatta).
Randall descendants are fortunate that one of the pivotal events in his life was recorded for posterity in the Journal of the Irish Revolutionary, "General" Joseph Holt, one of the more successful leaders of the ill-fated 1798 uprising of the "United Irishmen" in County Wicklow.
Holt records that he was in conversation with Captain William Cox, of the NSW Corps (and later responsible for the first road over the Blue Mountains), who was his supervisor/employer. Holt was technically not a convict. He was never charged or convicted of any crime for his part in the 1798 Irish insurection. He surrended to the authorities during an amnesty and accepted an indefinite exile to the colony at New South Wales. Holt worked on Cox's private estates at Brush Farm, as his estate manager and "superintendent of convicts".
Holt relates:
"In our conversation there, I saw a black man, of the name of John Randal, walking past the windows and I told Mr Cox who he was, that the said John Randal was sportsman to General Grose. He bid me go and see what he wanted. I walked out and asked him. He told me he had a farm to sell of sixty acres, and that he would sell it very cheap if I would give him a promise to get him in the choir. I told him to call next day, as I was busy at that moment. I returned in and told Mr Cox it lay one mile and three quarters from Mr Cox's estate. He says: 'If you like the farm for yourself, buy it. I am sure I can get him in the Corps, and you had better begin for your own family'. I made some remark to Mr Cox (which was my duty) that perhaps I had not as much money coming to me as would pay for it. He looked at me and said: 'If you buy as cheap for yourself as you have bought for me, it won't cost you much, and I will advance for you moneys. You get good value to the amount of five hundred pounds' and, looking at me very earnest, said: 'Holt I know you.' I answered and said I was very glad he did know me, for that gave me pleasure, so we took some more wine and water. He was a good soul over his glass.
Next day John Randal came, and I went and viewed the farm. I liked it well, and another thing-it being so near me where I had every hopes that Mr Cox and I would continue together. I asked him the price. He tould me sixty pounds, and to engage him to get in the Corps. I told him that was more than I could do at present , but I told him I would give him forty pounds if I could get him in the Corps, and fifty if I could not get him in, and, if he wanted to come over, he should have my letter to the Colonel. This black played on the flute and tambour. He was about six feet high, well made and straight.
I wrote to the Colonel in the most polite manner I was able to, and he received it in the most friendly tone and said, if he would perform his agreement with me, he would, on my recommendation, take him in the Corps. He returned and came to me with the answer. I told him I would engage to get him under pay. In three days after, I had got the conveyor of the Deeds and he desired me to get them ready. I came with Randal to Mr Cox's and showed the Colonel's letter, and Mr Cox said he would have the deeds on conveyance ready against ten o'clock. The next day the conveyance was made out in Hester Holt's name, as I was not free though no indent against me but, to stand full in law, she made the purchase. On the tenth day of November , in the forty first year of His Majesty's reign, the money was paid down and witnessed by William Cox, Rebecca Cox, James King. This Conveyance I have now in my possession in Dunleary (Ireland)".
On November the 17th, 1800, John joined the New South Wales Corps as a Private.
Extract from "A Colonial Regiment: New Sources relating to the New South Wales Corps 1789 - 1810"
Edited by Pamela Statham Published [Canberra] : P. Statham, c1992 {Available from ANUTECH, GPO Box 4, Canberra ACT 2601 Includes a biographical listing of every soldier who served in the NSW Corps from 1790 to 1800 (called the Register) as compiled from various sources by Sarah Jenkins, and a transcription of a book of accounts detailing the financial transactions of the Corps with its Army Agent in London from 1800 to 1805 (entitled the Ledger), introduced and transcribed by John Booker. ISBN 0646081101} Page
26-1-1788 Arrive Alexander
29-11-1792 Grant 60ac N Boundary Farm
17-11-1800 Enlist Sydney
17-11-1800 Rank Private
0-0-1800 Detach Townson
0-0-1801 Detach Townson
0-0-1802 Detach Townson
0-0-1803 Detach Townson
0-0-1804 Detach Townson
0-0-1805 Detach Grosser
0-0- 1806 Detach Grosser
0-0-1807 Detach Grosser
0-0-1808 Detach Grosser/Lewis
0-0-1809 Detach 8 Co
24-4-1810 Discharge
John was in the Corps during the only two dramatic events that occured during it's existence. They were the convict insurrection at "Vinegar Hill" (5/3/1804) and the coup that removed Bligh ("Rum Rebellion", 26/1/1808). Analysis of the records of the Corps suggest that John was stationed at the Sydney Barracks. The "pay sheets" for the Corps are held by the Mitchel Library in Sydney. They record that John received an allowance for being in the Corps Band for at least two months in 1806.
Townson was Captain John Townson. Grosser was Captain C. Grosser. They were the nominal Captains of the Company that JR was "detached" to in the Corps. Strangely enough Townson never actually seems to have reached New South Wales , but stayed at the Corps headquarters at Chatham (UK). Lewis was also a Captain, he arrived 25-6-1808. There were at various times four to eight separate companies in the "102 Regiment of Foot".
All Corps members seemed to have been detached to a Company in early 1809 under the rebel administration. Macquarie arrived 28-12-1809 with his own Regiment (73 Regiment of Foot).
After John Randall left the army it becomes difficult to trace his movements. He is mentioned in the musters of 1811 and 1814 (see notes below). The difficulty in tracing him is that there were many others with the same name including his son John. It is suspected that he became a Constable in Sydney for a short time before being dismissed, but this is speculation. . John Randall (Alexander 1788) is almost always otherwise identified in the records of events as "Black Randall", and as from the Alexander 1 in official documents. The next time he is mentioned officially is in 1847, in the document accompanying the J.J.Galloway Government Survey of the Field of Mars Common in the North/East Ryde area of Sydney. The paper records that Mary (Randall) Martin whom it identifies as the daughter of "Black Randall", was squatting on the common, and that she had twelve children. It is interesting that Randall was known to the Government Surveyors in 1847, and is worthy of a mention on their record thirty three years after the previous last official notation in the 1814 muster. This suggests some local fame or notoriety.
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