Thomas STAPLETON c1792-1880

Thomas STAPLETON is my gg-grandfather.

He was born about 1792-1797 in Co Kilkenny Ireland.

There is no question as to why and when Thomas came to New South Wales – he was a convict on the ship Forth in 1830.

His application to marry in 1830 was initially refused, however on 2nd May 1834 he married Cecily McCann.  No death record has been found for Cecily and perhaps that is the reason that Thomas used the name Thomas Stapleton COTTON when he married Eliza MASTERS in 1852 in Paterson, New South Wales.

This also resulted in the first few children being registered under the surname of COTTON, however the nine children were eventually all accounted for.

In 1880 Thomas died from “decay & nature” aged between 82 and 88 at West Maitland.