Finding out who the Rose children were in the 1828 Census of New South Wales

Storyteller Tuesday Challenge: BRICK BUSTER

Genealogy Matters – Storyteller Tuesday Challenge: BRICK BUSTER - Tell a story about the time you broke through a brick wall in your research. Include the name and details about the ancestor involved. Due by June 24, 2025 [Apologies for the lengthly post!]

In the 1828 Census of New South Wales, Thomas Rose, my 3x Great grandfather, was a widower. He is listed with the following children:

James aged 19

Kesiah aged 20

Ann aged 13

Joseph aged 16

Jane aged 10

Mary aged 7.¹

Early researchers thought these children were all Rose’s, the children of Thomas and his late wife Elizabeth Bartlett. When I came to research them, I couldn’t find all their baptism certificates. The last four children were missing.

It was not until I heard about Thomas Rose’s Will that I found out who they were. My Brick Wall was busted! Those were the days prior to the Internet when there were no online databases. There was a microfiche of Births, Deaths and Marriages of N.S.W. but I did not know the surname.

Autobiographical notes (1832), Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

In Thomas Rose’s Will, he says²:

I give and devise unto Joseph Perkins (son of Sarah Perkins the widow of Richard Perkins) my farm on the Nepean River consisting of two several grants from Governor Macquarie, the one of eighty acres originally made to John Burgess by deed dated on or about the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and ten and the other to Richard Perkins by deed dated on or about eighth day of October one thousand eight hundred and sixteen and respectively purchased by me from the said grantees AND also my farm at Curryjong consisting of fifty acres granted by Governor Macquarie to Patrick Clarke by deed dated on or about the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and ten and purchased by me from Charles Beasley and also my other farm at Curryjong consisting thirty acres granted by Governor Brisbane to Patrick Baker by deed dated on or about the thirtieth day of July one thousand eight hundred and three and purchased by me from the said Thomas Baker AND ALSO my dwelling house at Windsor with the land and appurtenances thereto belonging, purchased by me from Robert Thurston AND ALSO my dwelling house at Richmond with the land and appurtenances thereto belonging, purchased by me from George Morley TO HOLD the said several farms and dwelling houses and hereditaments with all appurtenances unto and to the use of the said Joseph Perkins his heirs and assigns forever.

I GIVE AND DEVISE to Ann Perkins daughter of the said Sarah Perkins my farm in the District of Airds in the County of Cumberland consisting of sixty three acres granted by Governor Macquarie by deed dated on or about the twentieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and sixteen and purchased by me from the said William Mortimer AND ALSO my other farm adjoining thereto in the district of Airds aforesaid consisting of the one hundred acres granted by Governor Macquarie to James Fletcher by deed and dated the twentieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and sixteen and purchased by me from the representative of John Boodle deceased TO HOLD the said several farms with the appurtenances unto and to the use of the said Anne Perkins her heirs assigns forever.

I GIVE AND DEVISE unto Mary Perkins also daughter of the said Sarah Perkins my farm in the district of Airds aforesaid consisting of twenty eight acres of land granted by Governor Macquarie to Francis McDonald by deed dated on or about the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty three and purchased by me from the said Francis MacDonald AND ALSO my farm in Airds aforesaid consisting of thirty acres granted by Governor Macquarie to Bernard Moran by deed dated on or about the seventeenth day of August, One Thousand eight hundred and nineteen and purchased by me from him AND ALSO my farm in Airds aforesaid consisting of thirty acres granted by Governor Macquarie to Peter Lillas by deed dated on or about the eight day of October One Thousand eight hundred and sixteen and purchased by me under an execution against the said Peter Lillas AND ALSO my farm in Airds aforesaid consisting of forty acres granted by Governor Macquarie to Thomas Acres Senior by deed dated on or about the eight day of October one Thousand eight hundred and sixteen and purchased by me from Joseph Inch AND ALSO my farm in Airds aforesaid consisting of thirty acres granted by Governor Macquarie to Thomas Macquarie by deed dated on or about the eight day of October One Thousand eight hundred and sixteen and purchased by me from James Osman TO HOLD the said several farms with the appurtenances unto and to the use of the said Mary Perkins her heirs and assigns forever.

I GIVE AND DEVISE unto Jane Perkins also a daughter of the said Sarah Perkins my farm at Richmond situate on the river Hawkesbury commonly called Cropley's Farm, otherwise Fulham Park, consisting of one hundred thirty acres granted by Acting Governor William Paterson Esquire in the absence of the Governor, to James Bannister and others by deed dated on or about the seventeenth day of September, one Thousand seven hundred and ninety five TO HOLD the same with the appurtenances unto and to the use of the said Jane Perkins her heirs and assigns forever.

Thomas’ Will is very detailed about the property he left. The children of his two wives and his widow were well provided for. He did not leave anything to his other children.

If you want to know more about these children and why they were living with Thomas Rose, read my post on Thomas Rose – The Cad, in 50-Day Family History Blogging Challenge - Day 12.

1. Malcolm R. Sainty & Keith A. Johnson (ed.s), Census of New South Wales November 1828, Library of Australian History, Sydney, 1980.

2. Supreme Court of NSW, Will of Thomas Rose, Probate No. 816, Series I.