John Cadman (convict)
John Cadman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1772 |
| Died | Error: Need valid birth date (second date): year, month, day |
| Occupation(s) | Publican, convict, Superintendent of Government Boats |
| Known for | Superintendent of Government Boats in Sydney; early convict transported to Australia |
John Cadman (1772 – 12 November 1848) was an English publican who became a convict and was subsequently sent to Australia.
Outline of life
At the Worcester assizes on 11 March 1797, Cadman received a life sentence of transportation for the crime of horse theft. He embarked on the Barwell from Portsmouth on 7 November 1797 and reached Sydney on 18 May 1798.
By 1809, Cadman had taken on the role of coxswain for a government vessel, during which he sustained the loss of an eye. Governor Lachlan Macquarie granted him a conditional pardon in 1814, followed by a full pardon in 1821. In 1825, he commanded the cutter Mars, responsible for ferrying prisoners to Newcastle. Two years later, in 1827, he was elevated to Superintendent of Government Boats in Sydney, earning a salary of £91 per year until his retirement in 1845. Upon stepping down, Governor Sir George Gipps commended Cadman’s honorable character and authorized a gratuity of £182.
From 1816 onward, Cadman resided in a stone cottage located at The Rocks—today known as Cadmans Cottage, which stands as Sydney’s oldest extant dwelling. He wed Elizabeth Mortimer on 26 October 1830.
Cadman passed away on 12 November 1848, leaving behind his wife Elizabeth and her two daughters. Initially interred at Devonshire Street Cemetery—the site now occupied by Central railway station—his remains and gravestone were transferred to Bunnerong Cemetery in 1901. The inscription on his headstone emphasizes his extensive service with the government and his esteemed reputation.
Three vessels operating cruises in Sydney Harbour have been named in his honor: the 1974 John Cadman, followed by the 1986 John Cadman II, and then the 1989 John Cadman III.
External links
- Colonial Secretary's papers 1822-1877, State Library of Queensland – digitised correspondence and documents authored by Cadman addressed to the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales during his period as Superintendent of Government Boats