Richard
Bankin was born in Essex England in 1757 to John Bankin and Ann Physic.
He had 2 brothers John and James, and a sister Sarah. He married Prudence Perkins in 1806 at Hornchurch in Essex, in England at the age of 49 years, and they had 3 daughters. Many Ann (1806), Susanna (1809) and Sarah (1814 - 1878).
Richard was charged with burglary in the dwelling house of burglary with intent to steal on the night of 6/11/1813.
He was committed for trial on 7/11/1813 by Zacharian Button on the oaths of Tyser and others. He was 52 years old. And gave his occupation as Labourer and place of origin as West Thurruck, but this may have been the place where the crime was committed.
The calendar of prisoners states that Richard burgled Tyser’s barn rather than his dwelling house.
He was tried at the Essex Azzizes on the 7/3/1814. He pleaded not guilty but was found guilty anyway, and having and with no goods to seize, was sentenced to be hanged.
This sentence was latter reduced to transportation for 14 years.
Richard was transported to Australia on the Convict Ship 'Marquis of Wellington', that sailed with 199 male convicts and arrived on the 27/1/1815 having lost only 1 convict on voyage.
The Master of the vessel was George Betham.
Richard was described as a labourer, age 55 years with grey eyes dark/pale complexion and was 5 foot 4 .25 inches tall.
He was granted a ticket of leave in 1816.
In 1825 he successfully petitioned Governor Brisbane to bring his wife and 2 daughters to the colony.
In 1829 his wife Prudence and his daughters left London on the Ship the " Borneo" sailing via Madeira and rounding the Cape of Good Hope on 27/9/1829.
The 'Borneo' arrived in Hobart on the 8/10/1828 and had to undergo considerable repairs there due to the damage on the way from the Cape.
Prudence bacame ill on the voyage. and was taken directly from the sick bay on the boat to Hobart Hospital where she died oil 24th of October. She was buried that day in Hobart Cemitary and so Richard never saw her again after he left England.
Mary Anne and Sarah travelled from Hobart to Sydney to join their father on 28/12/1828.
The 1828 census shows Richard as labourer to Mr. Wright at North Richmond.
He died on the 7/2/1845 aged 88. He was living at the Benevolent Asylum at Windsor. His occupation at that time was given is pauper. He was buried on the 8/2/1845 at St. Matthew’s C/E graveyard at Windsor. He had no headstone.
Descendants of Richard's brother John and his sister Sarah immigrated to Victoria in 1849 and 1857 respectively.