Bothwell Families
These pages offer a glimpse into the lives of the Bothwell families. You’ll find family trees and historical events specific to the area. While not exhaustive, the information will continue to be updated as research progresses. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material presented.
Richard Hill was born about 1800; his place of birth is unknown. In March 1827, he was convicted of sheep stealing at Oxford, Oxfordshire, and sentenced to transportation for life. He departed London aboard the Asia II in August 1827 and arrived in Hobart on 30 November the same year. By the early 1830s, Richard was assigned to Captain Patrick Wood and was living in the Bothwell district, where he attended musters in 1832, 1833, and 1834. He obtained a Ticket of Leave in 1836 and a Conditional Pardon in 1840, allowing him to establish himself as a free settler. On 10 August 1847, Richard married Sarah Bale at St Luke’s Church, Bothwell. Sarah had been born in Norwich, Norfolk, in 1829 and arrived in Hobart in 1845, likely with her mother, Ann Hovell Bale. Richard worked variously as a farmer and shepherd, and by the early 1850s, the family was living at Bendeveron, later moving to Dennistoun. Before May 1858, Richard acquired a small property of one rood and eleven perches in High Street, Bothwell. Richard and Sarah had eight children between 1849 and 1862, several of whom sadly died young. Their surviving children included John Richard (1849), Mary Ann (1859), and Louisa Maria (1862). Richard died at Dennistoun on 10 December 1862, aged 62, and was buried in the Bothwell Public Cemetery. After his death, the High Street property was transferred to Sarah, who later remarried Alfred Ainsworth. Sarah remained a long-term resident and property owner in Bothwell until her death on 25 February 1911, aged 81.
Richard Hill.
Born: abt 1800, place unknown (RGD35: Richard Hill, no 9/1862, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-31p27j2k)
Convicted: 6 Mar 1827, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England; sheep stealing, sentenced to life transportation (CON31: Richard Hill, no 791, 'Asia II,' https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON31-1-19/CON31-1-19p100)
Departed: 1 Aug 1827, London, England; on board the 'Asia II' (BATE: p358/1827, 'Asia IV;' this should be 'Asia II')
Arrived: 30 Nov 1827, Hobart, TAS (BATE: p358/1827, 'Asia IV;' this should be 'Asia II')
Muster: 1832, Bothwell, TAS; attended, assigned to Captain Patrick Wood (MUST: Richard Hill, 1832, no 791, 'Asia II,' https:/www.ancestry.com.au/discoveryui-content/view/494454:1185)
Muster: 1833, Bothwell, TAS; attended, assigned to Captain Patrick Wood (MUST: Richard Hill, 1833, no 791, 'Asia II,' https:/www.ancestry.com.au/discoveryui-content/view/508003:1185)
Muster: 25 Apr 1834, Bothwell, TAS; attended (CON31: Richard Hill, no 791, 'Asia II,' https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON31-1-19/CON31-1-19p100)
Ticket of Leave: 26 Jan 1836, approved (CON31: Richard Hill, no 791, 'Asia II,' https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON31-1-19/CON31-1-19p100)
Conditional Pardon: 14 Apr 1840, approved (CON31: Richard Hill, no 791, 'Asia II,' https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON31-1-19/CON31-1-19p100)
Married: 10 Aug 1847, Sarah Bale, St Luke's Church, Bothwell, TAS; Richard: 47, farmer; Sarah: 20, spinster; witnesses: Daniel Hunt, Margaret Hunt (RGD37: Hill-Ball, no 578/1847, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-6p7j2k)
Census: 1 Jan 1848, [E3] Arthur Cres, Bothwell, TAS; William Russell (owner), wood, completed. Male, aged between 21 and under 45, married, free person, Church of England, farmer (CEN1: Richard Hill, p117/1848, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CEN1-1-74-117)
Article: 23 Oct 1849, named under "District of Bothwell" (HTA: "District of Bothwell," 23 Oct 1849, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/264605187)
Residence: 24 Jun 1850, Bendeveron, Bothwell, TAS; farmer (RGD33: Edward Hill, no 154/1850, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-26-p233j2k)
Residence: 16 Apr 1852, Bendeveron, Bothwell, TAS; farmer (RGD33: Sarah Ann Hill, no 15/1852, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-30p023j2k)
Conveyed: bef 18 May 1858, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; 1r 11p from John Thomson; a deed has not been located (LIST: John Richard Hill, historic deed, no 13/9453)
Residence: 18 May 1858, Dennistoun, Bothwell, TAS (TGG: "Valuation Roll," 1858, p700, https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-898F-VZH5)
Donated: 6 Jul 1859, £1 to the Wesleyan Chapel (HTDM: "Wesleyan Chapel," 6 Jul 1859, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3256179)
Residence: 17 Nov 1860, Dennistoun, Bothwell, TAS; shepherd (RGD35: Alfred Hill, no 371/1860, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-29p35j2k)
Died: 10 Dec 1862, Dennistoun, Bothwell, TAS; shepherd, aged 62, jaundice; informant: William Blackburn Wood, employer (RGD35: Richard Hill, no 9/1862, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-31p27j2k)
Buried: aft 10 Dec 1862, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, TAS (BC: Richard Hill, 1862, section A13, site 20)
Property Transfer: aft 11 Dec 1862, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; 1r 11p to his widow, Sarah (Bale) Hill (LIST: John Richard Hill, historic deed, no 13/9453).
Spouse - Sarah Bale, daughter of John Bale and Ann Hovell.
Born: 7 Apr 1829, Norwich, Norfolk, England (PMFT: Hill Family Tree, https:/www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/30745614/person/12300606400/facts)
Baptised: 24 May 1829, Norwich, Norfolk, England (PMFT: Hill Family Tree, https:/www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/30745614/person/12300606400/facts)
Arrived: 20 Oct 1845, Hobart, TAS; 'Louise,' although Sarah is not named on the shipping list, it is presumed she arrived with her mother Ann (CB7: Ann Bale, p65/1845, 'Louisa,' https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CSO92-1-15)
Married (1): 10 Aug 1847, Richard Hill, St Luke's Church, Bothwell, TAS; Richard: 47, farmer; Sarah: 20, spinster; witnesses: Daniel Hunt, Margaret Hunt (RGD37: Hill-Ball, no 578/1847, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-6p7j2k)
Marriage Witness: 28 Feb 1853, Frederick Price & Jane Tigard, St Luke's Church, Bothwell, TAS (RGD37: Price-Tigard, no 3/1853, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-12p1j2k)
Marriage Witness: 13 May 1861, Peter Davie & Mary Ann Miller, St Luke's Church, Bothwell, TAS (RGD37: Davie-Millard, no 219/1861, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-20p111j2k)
Property Transfer: aft 11 Dec 1862, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; 1r 11p from the estate of her late husband, Richard Hill (LIST: John Richard Hill, historic deed, no 13/9453)
Residence: 15 Nov 1864, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; owner, house, annual rateable value £10 (TGG: "Valuation Roll," 1864, p2076-2077, https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-898F-V3K4)
Residence: 26 Feb 1867, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; owner, house, annual rateable value £10 (TGG: "Valuation Roll," 1867, p466-467, https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-898F-V3LK)
Married (2): 15 Apr 1867, Alfred Ainsworth - more information continues on the Alfred Ainsworth and Sarah Bale page
Children of Richard Hill and Sarah Bale:
John Richard Hill.
Born: 5 Jan 1849, Bothwell, TAS; informant: Ann Bale, grandmother (RGD33: John Richard Hill, no 113/1849, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-26-p228j2k)
Baptised: 4 Feb 1849, Bothwell, TAS (ANG: John Richard Hill, NS1854/1/1, no 87/1849)
Marriage Witness: 15 Apr 1867, Alfred Ainsworth & Sarah (Bale) Hill, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS (RGD37: Aneswearth-Hill, no 97/1867, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-26p68j2k)
Marriage Witness: 2 Jan 1889, Peter Davie & Louisa Maria Hill, St Luke's Church, Bothwell, TAS (RGD37: Davie-Hill, no 4/1889, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-48p4j2k)
Property Transfer: aft 28 Feb 1911, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; with Louisa Maria (Hill) Davie from the estate of their mother, Sarah (Bale) Hill (LIST: John Richard Hill, historic deed, no 13/9453)
Conveyed: 5 Oct 1916, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; with Louisa Maria (Hill) Davie, 1r 11p to Ethel Kate Best for £60 (LIST: John Richard Hill, historic deed, no 13/9453)
Died: 2 Mar 1932, Launceston, TAS, aged 83 (MERC: "Deaths & Funerals," Hill, 3 Mar 1932, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/51727799)
Buried: 3 Mar 1932, Carr Villa Memorial Park, Launceston, TAS (MERC: "Deaths & Funerals," Hill, 3 Mar 1932, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/51727799)Edward Hill.
Born: 9 Jun 1850, Bothwell, TAS; informant: Richard Hill, father, farmer (RGD33: Edward Hill, no 154/1850, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-26-p233j2k)
Baptised: 15 Oct 1850, Bothwell, TAS (ANG: Edward Hill, NS1854/1/1, no 10/1850)
Died: 23 Dec 1853, Bothwell, TAS; aged 3, convulsions; informant: John Bale, grandfather (RGD35: Edward Hill, no 100/1853, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-22p4j2k)
Buried: aft 23 Dec 1853, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, TAS (BC: Edward Hill, 1853, section A12, site 20)Sarah Ann Hill.
Born: 9 Apr 1852, Bothwell, TAS; informant: Richard Hill, father, farmer (RGD33: Sarah Ann Hill, no 15/1852, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-30p023j2k)
Baptised: 12 Jun 1852, Bothwell, TAS (ANG: Martha Hill, NS1854/1/1, no 120/1852)
Died: 13 Dec 1860, Bothwell, TAS; aged 8, consumption; John Bale, grandfather (RGD35: Sarah Hill, no 373/1860, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-29p36j2k)
Buried: aft 13 Dec 1860, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, TAS (BC: Sarah Ann Hill, 1860, section A12, site 20)Alfred Hill.
Born: 14 Jan 1855, Bothwell, TAS; informant: Ann Bale, grandmother (RGD33: Alfred Hill, no 5/1855, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-33p379j2k)
Baptised: 30 Jan 1855, Bothwell, TAS (ANG: Alfred Hill, NS1854/1/1, no 132/1855)
Died: 16 Nov 1860, Bothwell, TAS; aged 5, diphtheria; informant: John Bale, grandfather (RGD35: Alfred Hill, no 371/1860, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-29p35j2k)
Buried: aft 16 Nov 1860, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, TAS (BC: Alfred Hill, 1860, section A12, site 20)Henry Hill.
Born: 12 Feb 1857, Bothwell, TAS; informant: Ann Bale, grandmother (RGD33: Henry Hill, no 4/1857, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-35p707j2k)
Baptised: 25 Feb 1857, Bothwell, TAS (PRES: Henry Hill, baptism, NS592/1/1, no 209/1857)
Died: 9 Nov 1860, Bothwell, TAS, aged 3, measles &sore throat; informant: John Bale, grandfather (RGD35: Henry Hill, no 367/1860, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-29p35j2k)
Buried: aft 9 Nov 1860, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, TAS (BC: Henry Hill, 1860, site unknown)Mary Ann Hill.
Born: 10 Mar 1859, Bothwell, TAS; informant: Ann Bale, grandmother (RGD33: Mary Ann Hill, no 11/1859, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-37p376j2k)
Baptised: 6 Apr 1859, Bothwell, TAS (PRES: Mary Ann Hill, baptism, NS592/1/1, no 236/1858)
Died: 30 Apr 1885, Bothwell, TAS, aged 26, consumption; informant: Alfred Ainsworth, stepfather (RGD35: Mary Ann Hill, no 476/1885, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-54p46j2k)
Death Notice: HILL - On April 30, 1885, at her mother's residence, Bothwell, Mary Ann Hill, aged 26 years (MERC: "Deaths," Hill, 1 May 1885, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9104295)
Buried: 3 May 1885, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, TAS (BC: Mary Ann Hill, 1885, section A13, site 19)Louisa Maria Hill.
Born: 8 May 1862, Bothwell, TAS; informant: Ann Bale, grandmother (RGD33: Louisa Maria Hill, no 9/1862, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-40p361j2k)
Baptised: 3 Jun 1862, Bothwell, TAS (ANG: Louisa Maria Hill, NS1854/1/1, no 275/1862)
Married: 2 Jan 1889, Peter Davie, St Luke's Church, Bothwell, TAS; Peter: 24, bachelor, farmer; Louisa: 27, spinster; witnesses: L A Davie, John Richard Hill (RGD37: Davie-Hill, no 4/1889, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-48p4j2k)
Property Transfer: aft 28 Feb 1911, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS, with John Richard Hill, from the estate of their mother, Sarah (Bale) Hill (LIST: John Richard Hill, historic deed, no 13/9453)
Conveyed: 5 Oct 1916, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS, with John Richard Hill, 1r 11p to Ethel Kate Best for £60 (LIST: John Richard Hill, historic deed, no 13/9453)
Died: 19 May 1936, Oakleigh, VIC; aged 74 (MERC: "Deaths," Davie, 16 Jul 1936, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/25230989)
Property in Bothwell purchased by Richard Hill
For more information click on the link under the map.
Complete maps located on the Property History page.
Tasmanian Archives: Bothwell B37, AF819/1/26 (modified)
Bibliography of Sources
ANG - Baptismal Register of the Bothwell Church of England (NS1854). Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office, Hobart. Microfilm. Anglican Parish of Bothwell (NG613).
BATE - Bateson, Charles. The Convict Ships : 1787-1868. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Library of Australian History. 1985.
BC - Tasmania: Bothwell Cemetery Records. Transcribed from parish registers by the Central Highlands Council, Bothwell.
CB7 - Libraries Tasmania: Register of Ships' Arrivals with Lists of Passengers (CB7, CUS30). Images. Immigration Board (TA212). Tasmanian Government, Australia. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
CEN1 - Libraries Tasmania: Census Returns for Various Districts, Tasmania (CEN1). Images. Census Commission (TA59). Tasmanian Government, Australia. https://www.libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
CON31 - Libraries Tasmania: Conduct Registers of Male Convicts arriving in the Period of the Assignment System (CON31). Images. Convict Department (TA60). Tasmanian Government, Australia.
https://www.libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
HTA - TROVE: The Hobart Town Advertiser (TAS : 1839-1861). Images. National Library of Australia. https://trove.nla.gov.au : 2023.
HTDM - TROVE: The Hobart Town Daily Mercury (Hobart, TAS : 1858-1860). Images. National Library of Australia. https://trove.nla.gov.au : 2023.
LIST - Tasmania: The List: Properties & Titles. Historic Deeds, Grants & Titles. Images. Land Information System Tasmania. Tasmanian Government. Australia. https://www.thelist.tas.gov.au : 2023.
MERC - TROVE: The Mercury (Hobart, TAS : 1860-1954). Images. National Library of Australia. https://trove.nla.gov.au : 2023.
MUST - ancestry: New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters 1806-1849. Database with Images. Home Office : Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania. (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 5, 19-20, 32-51). The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/1185 : 2023.
NBMB - ancestry: Norfolk, England, Transcripts of Church of England Baptism, Marriage and Burial Registers, 1600-1935. Images. Church of England Bishop and Archdeacon Transcripts of Parish Registers. Norfolk Record
Office, Norwich, Norfolk, England. https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/61636 : 2023.
PMFT - ancestry: Public Member Family Trees. Family trees submitted by Members. https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/categories/42 : 2023.
PRES - Bothwell Presbyterian Church Registers (NS592). Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office. Microfilm. Presbyterian Church of Tasmania (NG1965).
RGD17 - FamilySearch: Australia, Tasmania, Civil Registration, District Registers, Deaths. Images. Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office, Hobart. https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2514003 : 5 Jun 2023.
RGD33 - Libraries Tasmania: Registers of Births, Tasmania (RGD33). Images. Registrar-General's Department (TA85). Tasmanian Government, Australia. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
RGD35 - Libraries Tasmania: Registers of Deaths, Tasmania (RGD35). Images. Registrar-General's Department (TA85). Tasmanian Government, Australia. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
RGD37 - Libraries Tasmania: Registers of Marriages, Tasmania (RGD37). Images. Registrar-General's Department (TA85). Tasmanian Government, Australia. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
TGG - FamilySearch: Australia, Tasmania, Government Gazette, 1833-1925. Images. Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office, Hobart. https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2170647 : 2023.