Esther seems to have had 16 children between 1793 and 1817, to five men. Several of the children didn’t survive to adulthood, but unusually for the times, many of them did. The first reference to a child appears in Esther’s appeal against the death sentence, recorded in the Proceedings of the Old Bailey, when she claimed to be pregnant. The fate, and the father, of this child are unknown.
Shortly after her arrival in Sydney Esther had a daughter by John FITZ, called Susannah, born in 1796. This child lived to adulthood and may have married Thomas DAY in 1816, under the name Susannah STUBBS.
Within 12 months Esther had another daughter, this time by Michael WATSON, in 1797. This child was also called Susannah. According the NSW BDMs* online database a Susannah WATSON married William WALKER in 1823. (*Birth Death Marriage)
Esther then got together again with John Fitz, and they had a son, Joseph Clark/Clerk in 1799. Joseph died shortly after birth.
From 1802 until 1814 Esther had another 10 children, all by Thomas STUBBS, who seems to have also become the adoptive father of Susannah (Fitz). Of the six girls two died in infancy (Sophia and Elizabeth). The name Elizabeth was used again when Esther had her next child, another girl, which suggests that the first Elizabeth had already died.
Of the four boys, the first, Thomas married Anne FITZ in 1826. Thomas was joined the British army as a young boy (probably aged 10) and served in India for some years. He was also a musician and composer, and became a successful property agent and auctioneer. He has been described as the "first notable native-born European-Australian musician". Thomas was married to the older sister of Cyrus William's grandmother, Ellen DOYLE, creating double lines of descent from the Stubbs family for Cyrus and his siblings. http://sydney.edu.au/paradisec/australharmony/register-S.php
George (1811) became a whaler and was working in New Zealand waters by 1828, in the Cook Strait area. He became friendly with Maori in the area and was taken in marriage with Metapere Wai-punahau, who was the daughter of Te Rangihiroa, younger brother of Te Pehi Kupe, the hereditary leader of Ngati Toa who had occupied the Kapiti coast from the 1820s. The family lived on a small island off Kapiti Island. In 1838 George was drowned in a sailing accident. There were two sons of the marriage and the first born, Wiremu Te Kakakura Parata, became a successful farmer on the mainland in the Waikanae area. In 1871 he was elected to Parliament as the member for Western Maori, and held the seat for two terms. On 4 December 1872 he was appointed to the Executive Council; Parata and Wi Katene (appointed a month earlier) were the first Maori to hold this position. Parata was an astute politician and skilled orator and debater. Read his full biography and significant role in the litigation of Maori land cases at http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2p5/parata-wiremu-te-kakakura
Of John (1812) nothing is known, though he seems to have died in 1836 without having married.
The last child of John Stubbs – Godfrey was born and died in 1814.
Esther’s final two children were by the only man she married – Joseph BIGGE or BIGGS. Both were born long before their parents married in 1825 – Robert in 1816, and Louisa in 1817.
With thanks to Janelle Collins, descendant of Esther's oldest child by Thomas Stubbs, Mary Ann (born 1801). Janelle's research findings are here: http://janellestree.blogspot.com/2019/10/16-children-all-finally-accounted-for.html?m=0
Shortly after her arrival in Sydney Esther had a daughter by John FITZ, called Susannah, born in 1796. This child lived to adulthood and may have married Thomas DAY in 1816, under the name Susannah STUBBS.
Within 12 months Esther had another daughter, this time by Michael WATSON, in 1797. This child was also called Susannah. According the NSW BDMs* online database a Susannah WATSON married William WALKER in 1823. (*Birth Death Marriage)
Esther then got together again with John Fitz, and they had a son, Joseph Clark/Clerk in 1799. Joseph died shortly after birth.
From 1802 until 1814 Esther had another 10 children, all by Thomas STUBBS, who seems to have also become the adoptive father of Susannah (Fitz). Of the six girls two died in infancy (Sophia and Elizabeth). The name Elizabeth was used again when Esther had her next child, another girl, which suggests that the first Elizabeth had already died.
Of the four boys, the first, Thomas married Anne FITZ in 1826. Thomas was joined the British army as a young boy (probably aged 10) and served in India for some years. He was also a musician and composer, and became a successful property agent and auctioneer. He has been described as the "first notable native-born European-Australian musician". Thomas was married to the older sister of Cyrus William's grandmother, Ellen DOYLE, creating double lines of descent from the Stubbs family for Cyrus and his siblings. http://sydney.edu.au/paradisec/australharmony/register-S.php
George (1811) became a whaler and was working in New Zealand waters by 1828, in the Cook Strait area. He became friendly with Maori in the area and was taken in marriage with Metapere Wai-punahau, who was the daughter of Te Rangihiroa, younger brother of Te Pehi Kupe, the hereditary leader of Ngati Toa who had occupied the Kapiti coast from the 1820s. The family lived on a small island off Kapiti Island. In 1838 George was drowned in a sailing accident. There were two sons of the marriage and the first born, Wiremu Te Kakakura Parata, became a successful farmer on the mainland in the Waikanae area. In 1871 he was elected to Parliament as the member for Western Maori, and held the seat for two terms. On 4 December 1872 he was appointed to the Executive Council; Parata and Wi Katene (appointed a month earlier) were the first Maori to hold this position. Parata was an astute politician and skilled orator and debater. Read his full biography and significant role in the litigation of Maori land cases at http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2p5/parata-wiremu-te-kakakura
Of John (1812) nothing is known, though he seems to have died in 1836 without having married.
The last child of John Stubbs – Godfrey was born and died in 1814.
Esther’s final two children were by the only man she married – Joseph BIGGE or BIGGS. Both were born long before their parents married in 1825 – Robert in 1816, and Louisa in 1817.
With thanks to Janelle Collins, descendant of Esther's oldest child by Thomas Stubbs, Mary Ann (born 1801). Janelle's research findings are here: http://janellestree.blogspot.com/2019/10/16-children-all-finally-accounted-for.html?m=0