Anthony Cox Family
Anthony Cox, a labourer and carter, transported for 'housebreaking', arrived in the Colony in 1833 as a convict per Atlas. His Conditional Pardon was granted in May 1849. He married convict Jane Daly 15 October 1849.
Jane and her mother Bridget were tried in Ireland for 'receiving stolen goods' and came out to the colony, together with Bridget's son Michael aged 9, per Arabian in 1847. Her brothers Patrick and Edward Daley followed as convicts per Blenheim 2 and Pestongee Bomangee 3 respectively in 1849. Jane received her Certificate of Freedom April 9th 1853.
Cox received a Purchase Grant of 19 acres at this site 20 October 1856 for £39/6/-. They had eleven children, not all of whom survived to adulthood.
In 1872 Cox was taken to town with several broken ribs following the capsize of a dray. Jane's application for compassionate allowance gives an insight into their hardships:
"The living of this family is obtained by cutting fire wood and selling it. 2 elder daughters assist their father who owns 20 acres of very poor land. He has two ponies of small value with which he carts the firewood to the water-side and he has two very inferior cows from which the family gets a little milk for use. There appears to be no means of their earning anything in any other way on Bruni "
[ref: POL 395/1 - Kingborough Magistrates Letterbooks - Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office]
In 1884 the State government purchased the land for the construction of a quarantine station.
Anthony died in 1892 and Jane in 1902. They are buried in the nearby Shelter Cove Cemetery with many of their descendants.