Derricks in Australia

Introduction

These pages in process of development. My knowledge of Derricks in the Australia is limited, and I would be delighted to hear of additional information, and would like to add it to these pages. My Australian Derrick information relies heavily on the Victoria Pioneers Index, and other areas are less well represented.

Topics

 These are the topics covered in these pages so far:

Derrick Origins

To the best of my knowledge, Derricks in Australia originate from British origins. I know of a number of families descended from people once living in the Bristol/Somerset part of England (and all distantly related, although they probably did not know it). I also know of one Scottish family whose real name was Darroch suffered a name change to Derrick on emigration to Australia, and henceforth retained that spelling.

Derricks who emigrated to Australia

The following lists Derrick males who were born in England and emigrated with their families to Australia voluntarily. Information on these people can be found in the database in my English Derricks section of these pages. Just look them up in the father's index under the firstname and birthdate.

Thomas (Abt 1799) To Victoria
Richard (Abt 1817) To Victoria
Joseph (Abt 1818) To Victoria - family ran hotel in gold fields
Enoch (Abt 1829) To Victoria
Elijah (Abt 1830) To Victoria - family were builders

I have one other family which is not entered in my records yet.

Charles Derrick

An assisted immigrant who landed at Queensland in 1860. Age 30, with wife Matilda, age 30, and children Henry, and Alfred,  aged 2 and 1 years. Also with them was an Edward, age 18. They arrived on the Blenheim. (Source: Guide to Assisted Immigrants Arriving Queensland.)

Transported Derricks

I have been able to link only one of these people with any people in my database of English Derricks.

Samuel Derrick

Tried at sessions on January 4, 1842 at Devizes Wiltshire. Age 29. Charged on the oath of GN Hulbert for killing and stealing one of his sheep in the parish of Bradford [upon Avon], Wiltshire. Sentenced to 10 years transportation. He might have been the Samuel Derrick who arrived in "Van Diemen's Land" aboard the Earl Grey in 1843. (Source unknown) Information from the Tasmanian archives says: Tried at Wilts Devizes General assizes on January 4 1842 and sentenced to 10 years transportation for sheep stealing. He was a ploughman age 30 years, married (wife Elizabeth). He was granted a conditional pardon on July 30 1850, and a Free Certificate on September 8 1852. (CON 33/25)

John Derrick

He was committed to prison on 27 February 1832, "charged on the oath of John Gilbert of Gussage St Michael, labourer, and others, with having on the 24 February 1832, at the parish of Gussage St Michael aforesaid, feloniously stolen four fowls of the value of five shillings, the property of John Good." He was tried on 10 March 1832 and sentenced to seven years transportation, being discharged from Dorchester Gaol on May 6 following and put on board the captivity hulk in Devonport harbour. The gaol register describes him as being 5 ft 7 ins high, with light brown hair, grey eyes, and a fair complexion. It was also noted that the little finger on his right hand was a bit crooked. He was married with two children. He is given as coming from Woodcutts, which is in Sixpenny Handley, in north-east Dorset, not far from Gussage St Michael. (Source: Dorset County Record Office).

He seems to have been the same person listed in some information I have which originates from the Archives of Tasmania. This says: A John Derrick was transported aboard the Atlas, arriving on 24 August 1833. he was sentenced for seven years transportation for stealing poultry (his 3rd offence). He was a ploughman from Handley, aged 32 years, married (wife named Eliza) with three children. He received his free certificate in 1845, but was again convicted for "larceny of a plough" on 21 July 1845 and received a further seven year sentence. He received his free certificate on 11 September 1852. (CON 18/3 CON 31/10/no.882).Further information from this source says he was tried at Handley on 10 March 1833 and not 1832 as noted in the Dorset documents.

Joseph Derrick

Information from the Library of West Australian History provides information on Joseph Derrick. This says that he was born in 1830, and worked as a butcher before his conviction in 1861 at Wells for wounding with intent. His convict number was 6565. He arrived on the convict ship York on December 31 1862. He was single and Protestant at time of arrival in Western Australia. He was able to read and write poorly. On November 5 1864 he received his ticket of leave, and worked from December 5 1864 to December 31 1868 in the Victoria District as a labourer and miner. On March 2 1869 he was given a conditional pardon, at Champion Bay, and his Certificate of Freedom was given on February 19 1874. He sailed for New South Wales on May 2 1875. He was said to be the only person with the name Derrick in the Western Australia archives.

Charles Derrick

Information on him comes from the Tasmanian archives. He was tried at Wells Quarter Sessions on July 9 1849 and sentenced to 10 years transportation for [the theft of a] cart saddle, the possession of Benjamin Pearce of Winford. He was a stonemason, aged 35 years, a widower with one child, church of England, and his native place was Blagdon near Bristol. He arrived in Australia on the Lady Montague in 1852. He received a Ticket of Leave on March 2 1858 and a conditional pardon on December 7 1858. (CON 33/110). He seems likely to have been Charles (1816) born Blagdon, son of a mason. Look him up in the children's index on my English pages.

John Derrick

A John Derrick was transported for life for horse stealing. He was tried at Salop [this seems odd to me - Salop is another name for Shropshire, a county not a distinct place] on March 16 1833 and arrived in Hobart Town on December 1 1833 aboard the Jahn. He was a 61 year old farmer, a native of Bedminster (Somerset), and a widower with one child. He received a pardon in July 1845. (Source: Tasmanian archives, CON 18/11/no.910; CON 31/10/no.910)

Thomas Derrick

I have a stack of information on Thomas, including testimony of witnesses, an entry from Dorchester Gaol, a copy of his Ticket of Leave, and an extract from the convict indents. He was a native of Bedminster (Somerset), but was caught picking pockets at Bridport, Dorset in 1830. He was committed on April 7 1830 and tried on April 20 1830. He received a sentence of life transportation and arrived at Sydney on board the Burrell on December 16 1830. He received his Ticket of Leave on February 18 1839 on the recommendation of the Bathurst bench. He was described as age 25 in 1830, married, height 5 ft 6 ins, hair dark brown, eyes blue, complexion rather swarthy, and lightly pitted in the face with the small-pox. He had various cuts on his hands and face. His occupation was described in one document as groom, and in another as horse dealer. The Dorchester document said that he had been living at Axminster [Devon] for the past five years [i.e., 1825-1830].

Mary Derrick and John Derrick

Two Irish Derricks convicted in England in 1848 and 1843 respectively and sent to Tasmania. See my 'Other' pages for more information.

Derricks born in Australia

The following lists Derrick males who were born in Australia. Information on these people can be found in the database in my English Derricks section of these pages. Just look them up in the children's index under the firstname and birthdate.

Adelaide Derrick 1855
Albert Derrick 1827
Albert Derrick Abt 1862
Albert Derrick 1862
Alfred Derrick 1857
Alice Derrick 1876
Alice Derrick 1858
Alma Derrick 1881
Amy Derrick 1890
Annie Derrick 1873
Augusta Derrick 1860
Augustine Derrick 1861
Beryl Derrick 1880
Bethel Derrick 1885
Cecil Derrick 1878
Charles Derrick 1865
Cissy Derrick 1882
Clara Derrick 1879
Daphne Derrick 1887
Edith Derrick 1861
Edward Derrick Abt 1869
Edward Derrick 1869
Edward Derrick 1898
Elizabeth Derrick 1856
Ellen Derrick 1859
Emma Derrick 1872
Ernest Derrick 1870
Ernest Derrick 1881
Eva Derrick 1876
Fanny Derrick 1881
Francis Derrick Abt 1872
Frederick Derrick 1882
Frederick Derrick 1866
George Derrick 1884
George Derrick Abt 1860
George Derrick 1860
Harriet Derrick 1853
Harriet Derrick 1875
Harriet Derrick 1886
Henry Derrick Abt 1857
Henry Derrick 1857
Henry Derrick 1857
Henry Derrick 1887
Henry Derrick 1863
Herbert Derrick Abt 1864
Herbert Derrick 1864
James Derrick 1855
James Derrick 1888
Jane Derrick 1869
John Derrick 1865
John Derrick 1877
John Derrick 1912
Joseph Derrick 1863
Josephine Derrick 1859
Joyce Derrick 1905
Kate Derrick 1879
Lucy Derrick 1873
Martha Derrick 1864
Mary Derrick 1855
Mary Derrick 1862
Mary Derrick 1866
Oswald Derrick 1922
Oswald Derrick 1872
Percy Derrick Abt 1868
Percy Derrick 1868
Philip Derrick 1874
Rebecca Derrick 1867
Richard Derrick 1861
Robert Derrick 1856
Rose Derrick 1883
Samuel Derrick 1853
Samuel Derrick 1854
Sydney Derrick 1862
Theodoret Derrick Abt 1866
Theodoret Derrick 1866
Thomas Derrick 1862
Una Derrick 1907
Unnamed Derrick 1855
William Derrick 1877
William Derrick 1859

Miscellaneous information

A John Derrick is listed as a cabin passenger aboard the Emma Prescott  which arrived in Hobart Town from Melbourne on July 22 1853. He may have been the same John Derrick who was licensee of the Park Hotel, Park Street, Hobart Town in 1857. (Sources: Tasmanian Archives - MB 2/39/17; Hobart Town Gazette August 11 1857).

Links to pages for Australian Derricks

Under construction.