Moved: 13 May 1787 - To Australia aboard the "Lady Penryhn" of the first fleet.
15 Feb 1788 - left Sydney Cove aboard the "Supply" to Norfolk Island, arriving on the 2 Mar 1788.
From Lucas website:
Olivia, it seems was an Aristocrat. Her parents have not yet been clearly identified, however research points toward the fact that she was the daughter of the High Sheriff of Yorkshire, John Gascoigne of Wentworth Castle, near Sheffield, and Sarah Vernon - Wentworth of Hanbury Hall, Droitwych, Worcestershire. The name Olivia Gascoigne appears three times in the Castle's records.
A John Gascoigne married Olive Partridge in Droitwych in 1724, (these are thought to be Olivia's grandparents). This John Gascoigne appears to have been a naval Captain, commanding HMS "Greyhound" in Admiral Thomas Rowley's Fleet. Olivia's family in Australia still possesses a locket with a painting believed to be that of Captain Thomas Rowley. Mary Rowley, daughter of a Captain Rowley of the New South Wales Corps, married Olivia's son, John.
Olivia's problems, which culminated in her being transported to New South Wales, may have stemmed from a dispute within the Wentworth family. The Gascoigne's were the originals of a line, which merged with the Wentworths to become the Earls of Stafford. Some descendants have recalled that Olivia always asserted such a connection. At about the time of Olivia's birth the Stafford estates were carved up. The Gascoignes inherited the title of High Sheriffs of Yorkshire and the use of Wentworth Castle (England's largest castle) from the Wentworths whilst the Wentworths continued as the Earls of Stafford but acquired the lesser estate of Wentworth Wodehouse and the Vernon family acquired ownership of Wentworth Castle (left), which the Earls did not appreciate. The Vernons were a descendant branch of the Wentworths, they later changed their name to Vernon-Wentworth. They remained in Hilton Park, Staffordshire and in Droitwych. The Gascoignes were cousins and it seems that they had married back into the family. The Earls of Stafford were the cousins of the Marquis of Liverpool, The Duke of Argyle, the Duke of Clarence and the Duke of Cumberland and were all Yorkshire Aristocrats. They all had estates in Longford County in Ireland. A cousin, Sir Thomas Watson Wentworth, was Prime Minister of England in 1782. He was of the Wodehouse faction. Olivia was of the Castle faction. Could Olivia's transportation have been a result of this family feud?
Olivia Gascoigne was tried at Worcester Lent Assizes, 5th March 1785. The indictment reads: -
"That Olive Gascoigne, late of the Parish of Seven Stoke in the county of Worcester, Spinster, on the 10th day of August 1784, with force and arms in the parish aforesaid
. 13 pieces of gold coin of the proper coin of the realm called guineas of the value of Ð131-13. One piece of foreign silver coin called a Dollar of the value of 4 shillings and six pence. Of the goods chattels and monies of Edward Griffith in the dwelling house of George Griffith, then and there being found feloniously did steal take and carry away".
Verdict . Guilty. Sentence. To be hanged.
Although convicted and sentenced to the ultimate punishment, Olivia received a Royal reprieve, having her death sentence commuted to transportation.
Worcestershire.
Whereas Olive Gascoigne was severally attainted at this assizes of the severe capital felony of stealing the value of above 40 shillings in a dwelling house. His Majesty hath been graciously pleased to extend Royal mercy to her on the condition of her being severally transported beyond the seas for and during the term of 7 years. It is thereby ordered by this Court that the prisoner Olive Gascoigne be transported beyond the seas accordingly as soon as conveniently may be pursuant to the acts of Parliament in this case made provided that Reginald Lygon and Charles Trubshaw Withers Esquires, two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the county of Worcester do contract with any person or persons for the performance of the transportation and order such and the like sufficient security to be taken for the same acts of Parliament direct. I also cause the prisoner Olive Gascoigne, pursuant to such contract or contracts to be delivered over by the Gaoler of the county of Worcester (in whose custody she now is) to the person or persons contracting for him or to his or their assizes and certify such contract or contracts and security to be taken at the next assizes. General Gaol delivery to be holden for the county of Worcester in order to have the prisoner be certified and contract or contracts and security filed among the records of this Court.
By the Court
Price
In the court hearing, no evidence was presented to say that Olivia had actually held the pistol used in the armed robbery, nor that she had personally received any of the proceeds. The others, all males, appear to have disappeared from the records after being sentenced to death but having their sentences commuted.
It is interesting to note that Olivia lived in Sydney at the time the streets were being named. She lived at the intersection of Clarence, Argyle, York, Cumberland and Kent Streets (Nathaniel was related to the Lord John Lucas, the Earl of Kent). When Lord Lucas died in 1799, the title passed to Prince Edward, the father of Queen Victoria whose son, The Duke of Edinburgh, visited Australia in 1866, during this visit he privately spent a half a day with Olivia's son John's family.
Olivia was also among the first families to live in Liverpool and when she moved to the Norfolk Plains area in Tasmania, the village was named Longford shortly afterwards.
Another interesting fact is that most of the children of a later Duke of Argyle migrated to Australia and linked up with Olivia's youngest son, Thomas in Camperdown, Victoria in the 1850's.
Among the Norfolk Island records was a free person, Martha Wentworth. Martha married a convict named John Paul and followed Olivia to reside in Liverpool when the Lucas's left Norfolk Island. It seems that Martha was Olivia's aunt.
Whilst this is a highly speculative story, the coincidences are too great to be ignored.
Trial: 5 Mar 1785 - Tried at Worcester Lent Assizes.