Esther Abrahams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Esther Abrahams
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Esther Johnstone (née Abrahams) [attributed]
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Esther Abrahams
c. 1767 or 1771 London, England
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| Died | 26 August 1846 Sydney, Australia
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Esther Abrahams (born around 1767 or 1771 – died August 26, 1846) was a woman from London. She was sent to Australia as a convict with the First Fleet. She lived with George Johnston, who later became the acting Governor of New South Wales for a short time after an event called the Rum Rebellion. They officially married in 1814.
Contents
Early Life and Journey to Australia
Esther Abrahams was born in London, England. She came from a Jewish family. Around the age of 20, she was accused of stealing lace. This happened in London in 1786.
She was found guilty of the theft. Her punishment was to be sent away for seven years. At that time, she worked as a "milliner" (someone who makes or sells hats). While in prison, she had a baby girl named Rosanna.
In 1787, Esther and her baby were sent to Australia. They traveled with the First Fleet. This was a group of ships carrying the first European settlers to Australia. They arrived in Sydney in January 1788.
Life in New South Wales
During the long sea journey, Esther met George Johnston. He was a first lieutenant in the New South Wales Marine Corps. He helped protect Esther and her baby. After they landed in Sydney, they started living together.
Their first son, George Johnston junior, was born in 1790. Esther's sentence ended in 1793. She and George had seven children together. These included three sons: George, David, and Robert. Around 1800, Esther started using the name "Julian." This was after a well-known family. Her daughter Rosanna also took the name Rosetta Julian.
In 1805, their son Robert joined the Royal Navy. He was the first Australian-born person to do this. Rosanna, now called Rosetta Julian, married Isaac Nichols in 1805. Isaac was a former convict who became a successful businessman. He was later appointed the first postmaster in New South Wales.
Land and Family Life
Because of his high rank, George Johnston received large areas of land. He and Esther farmed this land. They lived on a property called Annandale with their children. Their house, Annandale House, was built in 1799. It was likely a simple cottage built by convicts.
Their oldest son, George, also received land. He got 500 acres in Bankstown in 1804.
The Rum Rebellion and Its Aftermath
On January 26, 1808, George Johnston, who was now a major, led an event known as the Rum Rebellion. This rebellion removed Governor Bligh from power. Johnston then acted as the leader of the colony.
In 1809, Esther received 570 acres of land near Bankstown. This was given to her personally. George also received a large land grant.
In 1809, George Johnston went to England. He had to defend himself against charges of leading the rebellion. While he was away for four years, Esther was in charge of their properties.
When new laws were put in place, some land grants were cancelled. However, Esther's land grant was confirmed in 1813. George was also allowed to keep his land.
Marriage and Later Years
A year after George returned to Sydney, he and Esther officially married. This happened on November 12, 1814. The wedding took place at St John's Church in Parramatta. Rosanna and Isaac Nichols were witnesses.
Isaac Nichols died in 1829. Their oldest son, George, died in 1820 from a riding accident. He had no children. George Johnston senior died in 1823. He left the Annandale estate to Esther for her lifetime.
After George's death, there were disagreements over the family's property. Esther's son Robert started a court case against her. He wanted her to be declared unable to manage Annandale. Esther fought back strongly. She brought many people to court to prove she was perfectly capable. The court agreed that she was of sound mind. However, people were still appointed to help manage her affairs. After the case, Esther went to live with her son David.
Legacy
Esther Abrahams died in 1846. She was buried next to her husband on their Annandale property. Later, in 1904, their remains were moved to a new family tomb at Waverley Cemetery. Her grandson described her as "always a stirring industrious woman."
Many important people are descendants of Esther and George. These include Rear Admiral Sir David Martin. He was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy. He later became the Governor of New South Wales. Another descendant was Bob Nichols. He was a lawyer and politician in New South Wales.
George Johnston is remembered in many place names. However, for a long time, there was nothing in Sydney named after Esther. In 2002, a pavilion was named in her honor. It is in Bicentennial Park in Annandale. Her portrait is also displayed in the Sydney Jewish Museum.
