Workers who arrived with the first Fleets....where can I find a list?

[Rap]

Hi,
  I've been trying to validate an old family folklore story that the original ancestor, a fellow by the name of Arrowsmith, arrived with one of the First Fleet as a gardener rather than a Convict.  I've found lists of convicts on the fleets, but can't find a list of the itinerant workers or crew who arrived with them.  Can any one direct me to the right place to look for his name? or does someone have access to these records?...I've hit  bit of a brick wall.
Many thanks,
Rap

[ennael]

State Library NSW should hold such lists.

http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/

Leanne

[Dundee]

Hi Rap,

My first reaction is "oh yeah, that's what they all say!"    Just having a quick look at the Colonial Secretary's Papers and BDMs there doesn't appear to be any mention of the ARROWSMITH name until convict Daniel in 1818.  If you contact the Fellowship they can probably help you with a surname search http://www.fellowshipfirstfleeters.org.au/  or advise you about resources that you can check.

I suggest that you just research your family backwards and see where it takes you.  You might find that the ARROWSMITH comes in at a different time period.

Debra  

[squinn5]

Rap

I agree with Debra above. It could be just rumour and not actual fact and you should always work backwards. Though in saying that There were 250 Free persons that arrived with the first fleet of which the majority were the soldiers and crews of the ships.

You could try one of the books (early NSW musters) listed on the following link to see if he is listed

http://www.jaunay.com/auscensus.html

This book might also be of help

The First Fleeters : a comprehensive listing of convicts, marines, seamen, officers, wives, children and ships / edited by Paul G. Fidlon and R.J. Ryan

[Andcarred]

Hi,

The best resources for early convicts are Mollie Gillan's book The Founders of Australia and Scott Brown's CD The Colonial Database (1788-1810).   Neither of these resources mention any Arrowsmith.

Andcarred

[Kaybron]

We have a large framed poster which lists all the names of convicts, crew and passengers that came on the First Fleet.  The poster has the name of each ship and names of people on each ship.  We bought the poster at Port Arthur about 18 years ago and then had this framed.  Arrowsmith does not appear anywhere on the lists.
Regards Kaybron

[ajf25]

We have a large framed poster which lists all the names of convicts, crew and passengers that came on the First Fleet.  The poster has the name of each ship and names of people on each ship.  We bought the poster at Port Arthur about 18 years ago and then had this framed.  Arrowsmith does not appear anywhere on the lists.
Regards Kaybron

I also have a large sheet, with the above information.
It may be the same one:
Compiled by Bryan Thomas, Sydney 1976

Sources of information were:
The Fellowship of the First Fleeters
"The Crimes of the First Fleet Convicts" by John Cobley
"Sydney Cove 1788" John Cobley,
and
The Mitchell Library for the following -
The Contractor's Lists (Phillip's Voyage to Botany Bay - published 1790)
The Thomas D. Mutch files
Historical Records of New South Wales
Lieut. Ralph Clark's Journals

There is no mention of an Arrowsmith.

Regards,
Alison 

[ajf25]

Hi Rap,

the first birth for an Arrowsmith in NSW bdm is in 1849.

Jane H. V18493365 34A/1849
father - William
mother - Hannah

There are Arrows but the first one is in 1829.

The first marriage is in 1836 of a James Arrowsmith to Catherine Barry at St. Patrick's RC, Parramatta
or in 1836 of a William Arrowsmith to Susannah Morgan at COE Abercrombie district or Bathurst.

What is your man's name and do you know any other information?

EDIT - I've also tried Ar* with nothing close.

Alison 

[ajf25]

Just had another thought:

Could he have gone under any other name?

Alison