John Bent

JOHN BENT was born in County Wexford in 1770.    

Because of his participation in The Rebellion of 1798, he was tried as an Irish Rebel and received a life sentence.  John was transported to Australia on the convict ship, Atlas II, and arrived on the 30 October 1802.

The Colonial Secretary records show that in 1814 he was employed as an Overseer to a Mr Jamison of Jamisontown, near Penrith, New South Wales.  Jamison had been a Surgeon on the First Fleet.

The following details appeared on the Certificate of Freedom for John Bent on 31 January 1814:

Native Place:  Wexford Ireland     Trade:  Labourer   Age:  40 years   Height:  5ft 11 1/2inches   Complexion:  Fair/Ruddy   Hair:  Greying   Eyes:  Hazel

In 1816 John was on a List of Persons to receive Grants of Land.  In the 1820s the records show John living at Liverpool in New South Wales and receiving the sanction of the Governor to use 2000 acres of land on which to graze his stock.  He later had freehold land at Airds near Campbelltown, NSW, where he farmed and supplied meat to the Government Stores.

JOHN BENT married FRANCES WRIXON on 19 June 1820 (from Fr. Therry's Register, St. John's Catholic Church, Campbelltown, NSW)   Frances Wrixon arrived from County Cork, as a free person, on board the ship Lady Madeleine Sinclair, in 1806.

John & Frances had the following children:  Mary born 1811,  Judith 1813,  Frances 1820,  John Beecher Bent 1821.

JOHN BENT died on 17 March 1828 and he and Frances are buried at St. John's Catholic Pioneer Cemetery at Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia.

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