Notes for SAMUEL NIXON:
Samuel's death was notified by his brother Thomas. Samuel is mentioned in the 1822 & 1824-5-6-NSW Musters, + 1828 Census, & in James McLelland's "History of NSW". A native of Rugby (Warwickshire) & a tailor by trade, Samuel took to "Highway Robbery," for which he was tried at Warwick Assizes & goaled for life on 28th Mar 1818. (The records give death as the sentence, but this was commonly communted to transportation for life) There was also a Thomas Nixon sentence to death for Larceny in a Dwelling Place, no doubt Samuel's brother, who was transported in 1819. Samuel sailed aboard the "Shipley" in 1818 leaving Woolwich for Sydney, arriving 18 Nov 1818. He was sent to work for William Cox at Windsor, it would seem that his sentence was shortened to 7 years as this is the time given at the 1822 muster, in 1825 he is still said to be serving life sentence & working as a laborer. He gained his ticket of leave, before 1828 census (#27/53) when he was living on 2 acres of cleared & cultivated land at Windsor, later gained a conditional pardon (#39/106) described as 5'9 1/2" tall, of pale complexion, brown hair & blue eyes. At his trail in 1818, his age was given as 20, in 1828 census as 28 yrs. Between 1824-1832 Samuel & Partner Frances E Foley had 4 children. They may have separated between 1832-34 as Samuel married Ellen Connor in 1834. On 15 May 1847 Samuel was up before the Police Court in Windsor, charged with stabbing his wife Ellen. Bailed to appear 1 June 1847 at Central Criminal Court Sydney, he was remanded in custody until 5 June 1847, & was sentenced to 6 months hard labour in Sydney Goal for malicious stabbing & assault.