John Turnbull, {Australian Immigrant}

John Turnbull was born in 1813 in Northumberland, England.

He and Rebecca Adcock were Partners in 1844 in Gordon, Tasmania, Australia.

John Turnbull (Farmer) & Rebecca Jarvis the deserted wife of Wm. Jarvis, were listed as parents of Frederick Henry Turnbull in 1845 in Tasmania. As the birth was registered by Thos. Pierce "Inmate, Snug River" it was assumed this was a prison hospital. John was still with the Jervis family in 1853 when he was witness to the baptism of Rebecca's grandchild, William & Mary's daughter Louisa.

If John Turnbull was a convict he may have been the 19 year old sailor from Newcastle born in 1819, who arrived aboard MOFFAT (2) 1 Apr. 1838 He had been tried for stealing from a shop & sentenced to 7 years at Durham on 3 Apr.1837 along with James Richardson who was also on board. His conduct record (CON33/36) recorded that on 7 Oct. 1839 he was with the Marine Department when he was charged with improper conduct. On 6 Aug 1840 he went absent without leave & received 25 lashes. In 1841 he stole a Govt. boat without leave at sunset & returned the following day. For this he received 6 months hard labour on the roads and was not to be employed in the Marine Dept. again. This could be where he became involved with the Jarvis family, as Wm.Jarvis to whom Rebecca was married was a member of the Royal Veterans Corps who were shipped to Australia to oversee convicts in such tasks as well as protect the population from bushrangers & escaped convicts. John was still with Rebecca in 1853 when he was witness to the baptism of Rebecca's grandchild, William & Mary's daughter Louisa.This John Turnbull was about the right age for the chap who choked in 1859. He was also a farmer/boatman who died accidentally 24 July 1859 age 42.(46?) It was reported in the Mercury that he lived at Snug and was the owner of a small craft named "Cygnet" and was known by the nick name "Jackie Pudding". His death was caused by choking on a piece of meat during lunch at a Hobart hotel with a friend. Nothing has yet been found to connect him to Rebecca Jarvis or indeed Frederick Henry, except that he came from Snug which was a small country area south of Hobart and unlikely to have two people with the same name residing there.There are also stories of him having been sailor who went for the easy money of sealing in Bass Strait. Mollison refered to "Friendly Missions" edited by B. Plomley in which a sealer Turnbull or Thos. Turnbull was named. "19 Dec 1830 Mr. Parish found Turnbull marooned on Penguin Island with 5 women, had been living with these wretched men (sealers) 12 months and had 24 skins - had been in a Merchants Counting House. Walyer had plotted to kill Turnbull, as the other sealers were away on Clarks Island Reef. Turnbull is cousin to Mr. Anstey's wife (The Magistrate)." Whether this is our Turnbull, or a relative is yet to be discovered.

He died on 24 July 1859 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, Accidentally killed by a piece of meat sticking in his throat.

A. B. Jones, Coroner, Hobart Town, Tas.