Thomas Markwell was convicted at Chelmsford, Essex Assizes on 23rd March,
1787 of the felonious offence of burglary. It was alleged in the
indictment that about midnight on 11th November, 1786, Thomas broke into
the dwelling house of Arthur Heron situated in the parish of Walkham
Cross and stole a number of items of clothing to the value of two pounds
eight shillings and sixpence. Thomas was sentenced to death but Judge
Knappe gave him a reprieve and substituted a sentence of transportation
for 14 years. Thomas was transported in the second fleet aboard the
"Scarborough" arriving in Sydney Cove in 1790. . Little is known of
Thomas' birth and early life. However, the International Genealogy Index
(Mormon Church) reveals that he was christened 29.4.1770 in the Parish of
Loughton, Essex, about 14 miles north east of London. The records also
shows that his parents were Stephen and Elizabeth (nee Pope) Markwell.
Stephen was christened at Thoydon Mount on 16th February, 1735 and was
the Son of James and Catherine Markwell. Known sisters and brothers of
Thomas were Sussana (christened 2.11.1768), James, Elizabeth, George and
maybe William and Catherine. When Thomas was 37 years old, he married
Maria who was 15 years and about 7 months pregnant.They were married by
the Rev. Henry Fulton at St. Peter's Church, Sydney. Neither could write
and therefore made their mark. After 3 years of marriage and the birth of
the first two children, Maria left Thomas with the children. This could
have been caused by the hardships of the day and her very young age. It
is not known how long Maria was away but it was 14 years before the next
child was born. Maria died in 1830 leaving Thomas with 4 children under
the age of 7 years, the youngest being one month old.
The children of Thomas and Maria Markwell married into respected
families; Sophia to Henry Hewitt, a man of note being a successful
farmer, publican and councillor; Elizabeth to George Pitt Wood, a
descendent of an old and respected English family; Ellen Maria to William
Farlow from a well known pioneering family; Thomas George to Ann Eather
Williams, a well respected and successful Hawkesbury farmer and one of
the first to take stock over the range to the Liverpool Plains (also with
George Cheshire); John to Frances Skuthorpe from a family well known for
its horsemen and Mary Ann to Thomas Marsden, related to the Rev. Samuel
Marsden.

• Married: 5 OCT 1807 in St. Phillip's Church, Sydney by Rev. Henry Fulton.

1. Sophia MARKWELL b: 11 DEC 1807 in Windsor, NSW.
2. Elizabeth MARKWELL b: 1809
3. Ellen Maria MARKWELL b: 27 DEC 1824
4. Thomas George MARKWELL b: 27 SEP 1826
5. John MARKWELL b: 20 MAY 1828
6. Mary Ann MARKWELL b: 1830

1. Title: International Genealogy Index.
   Note: Christened 29.4.1770...