Frederick Meredith, First Fleeter.

Frederick Meredith arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in January 1788, at the age of 23, as steward to Captain John Marshall of the convict transport “Scarborough”

The Scarborough sailed for China and England in May. Frederick apparently decided to stay in Australia. He signed on as a member of the crew of the HMS “Sirius”, with duties of a baker. As a member of the crew of Sirius, he would have made a number of voyages to Norfolk Island. On one occasion after visiting the Cape of Good Hope, circum-navigated the Globe.

After the Sirius was wrecked on Norfolk Island on 19th March 1790, Frederick with some others of the crew returned to Port Jackson on HMS “Supply”.

On March 1791 Captain Hunter of the wrecked Sirius and the crew, including Frederick embarked for England on the Dutch ship “Waaksanheyd”. They arrived in England in April 1792 and Frederick was paid off by the Navy.

In 3 months he was once again sailing for Australia on the store ship “Bellona” as one of a small group of free settlers. These were the first migrants to come to Australia of their own free will. They arrived in January 1793, five years almost to the day that Frederick Meredith has first set foot in Australia.

The new settlers were given land grants near what is now Strathfield. At that time, for obvious reasons, the locality was known as “Liberty Plains”. Unfortunately the land was unsuitable for farming. Meredith sold the land to the only experienced farmer Thomas Rose. He was given a second grant of sixty acres at Concord in 1794. This venture also proved to be unsuccessful and the grant was sold.

In 1809 Meredith was granted another 120 acres at Punchbowl near the Punchbowl Creek. He farmed this for some years.

In September 1800, after reports of a rebellion by the Irish convicts, Governor Hunter issued an order commanding all civil officers and such house-keepers who were free men, possessing property and good character, in the town of Sydney to assemble and from these 50 men to be chosen, as an armed police force, under the command of the Civil Officer, William Balmain. They were enrolled on the condition that they would not accept pay for voluntary offer of their services. The existence of this “Militia Force” was not continuous, but it existed for varying periods over the next 10 years.

On 1st January 1811, Frederick was appointed constable of a police force, formed by Governor Macquarie. From Constable he later became the first Chief Constable of Liverpool.

In 1811 Frederick Meredith married Sarah Mason who had come out on the “Bellona” in 1793, as a sixteen year old convict. Her crime was receiving a few articles of clothing, knowing they were stolen.

They had 2 sons, Frederick and William and four daughters Sophia, Elizabeth, Anne and Eleanor.

Sarah died 30th July 1832 and Frederick 23rd June 1836.

They are buried together at Liverpool.