Thomas and Harriet Hodgetts arrived in New South Wales on 28th July 1790, aboard ships of the Second Fleet. Thomas Hodgetts had been tried and convicted at, Stafford Assizes. He was sentenced to death on 12th March 1788 the sentence later being commuted to transportation to New South Wales for seven years. He arrived aboard the "Scarborough" on her second trip as a convict ship. Harriet Hodgetts came free to New South Wales, aboard "Neptune , the so called death ship of the second fleet.
Thomas and Harriet Hodgetts were one of few married couples who came to New South Wales in those early days of the colony. Generally wives of convicts were not permitted to accompany their husbands, and husbands of convicts were not permitted to accompany their wives, on either the first or second fleets. This generally was the case also for the wives of the Civil and Military personnel of the two fleets. However there were a few exceptions to this general rule, and Thomas and Harriet Hodgetts were one such exception.
Because they were husband and wife, the story of their success in the colony is of immense interest to those of us who wish to know of our nation's origins.
Moved: 28 Jul 1790 - Went free to New South Wales aboard the "Neptune" of the 2nd Fleet, following husband (Lee Family Website).