Ancestors:
John Atkins and Sarah Harris

John Atkins and Sarah Harris were married on 9th April, 1845 by Reverend Kirkpatrick Dickson Smythe of St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Bathurst NSW Australia. Reverend Smythe was the first Minister of St. Stephen's which opened in July 1835.

John was illiterate having signed the marriage register with his mark, X. He held communion with the Presbyterian Church of Scotland and was a Farmer/Grazier at Lachlan River NSW. His parents and birthplace are not recorded on any documentation. Research has revealed that John was of an old age when he married and died about 1851 in the Lachlan River area of New South Wales.

In 1853 William Redfern Watt, Magistrate of the District, named Sarah's murderer, James MacLaughlan, as the only person present when John died. Watt was concerned that John didn't die of natural causes but was unable to produce evidence to bear for a conviction of murder.

Sarah was born about 1823 and is recorded with surnames Harris, Cox and Huggett. She had been previously married, but it is unknown who her husband was. She signed her name Sararh Hares at her marriage and held communion with the Church of England. Her parents and birthplace are not recorded on any documentation.

Sarah was in possession of substantial wealth at the time of her death including land, a slab hut, cattle and horses. She was murdered at her property, Sandy Creek Station, at Kikiamah in the Lachlan River area of New South Wales. Her death was not registered and she died intestate.

Sarah was murdered on 27th September 1853 by her de facto husband, James McLaughlan. The Coroner completed his report on 9th October 1853.

Sarah's daughter, Eliza Anne (aka Elizabeth) was married to Peter Thomas Byrne. Eliza's father was suspected to have been William Faulkner who Sarah had been cohabiting with prior to MacLaughlan. Eliza's brother, John Joseph was the only child of John and Sarah Atkins.

After their mother's death, Eliza and John Joseph were cared for by William Redfern Watt, pioneer of Bumbaldry, and his wife, Mary who was the daughter of John Grant, the first white man to set foot in the Lachlan River area. In their later years, Eliza and John lived at Haberfield NSW about 1km from each other.

The Murder of Sarah Atkins

Sarah was considering marrying John Croaker just before she was murdered. Her defacto relationship with MacLaughlan was unpleasant and they quarrelled regularly. It is evident from the original trial papers that MacLaughlan was overcome with jealousy and rage. Four witnesses swore on oath that on 22nd September, 1853 MacLaughlan threatened to take Sarah's life and anyone who would be joined to her.

Sarah's daughter, Eliza bravely gave evidence in a statement to William Redfern Watt of the gruesome discovery of her mother's dead body and the circumstances leading up to her murder.

The night before Sarah was murdered, Eliza and John were playing cards with their mother and MacLaughlan told them that this will be the last night you will ever play cards again. The morning after was the last time the children saw their mother alive.

Eliza stated that on the morning of her mother's murder, Jimmy sent her and her brother, Johnny away to two different neighbouring stations during the day and to tell the owners that their mother needed them.

On her return home, Eliza couldn't find her mother in the house. When she was going in at night for the candle into her mother's room MacLaughlan told her not to disturb her mother because she was sick. MacLaughlan was lying on his bed and appeared to be hurt. Eliza noticed blood on his shirt and he couldn't get up. MacLaughlan had stabbed himself with a butcher knife and at his trial falsely accused Sarah of stabbing him and in defence he threw a smoothing iron at her head. It was proven that his stab wounds were self inflicted.

The next evening Eliza removed a couple of slabs from their hut and went into her mother's room and found her dead.

The Jury retired for about five minutes and returned a verdict of Guilty. The Judge described MacLaughlan's crime as diabolical revenge and passed sentence of death upon him.

Eliza's suspected father, William Faulkner wrote the Attorney General in Sydney submitting a claim for Sarah's children and her estate. William Redfern Watt warned all concerned that Faulkner is said to be not a very reputable character. Watt was also concerned that Faulkner's only interest was in Sarah's estate and not the children.

Eliza and John were taken into the care of the Watt family. After her marriage, Eliza and her husband resided and worked on Watt family stations for a number of years.

The Hanging of James McLaughlan

Western News (From Saturday's Bathurst Free Press.) The Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday 11 April 1854, page 2:
Convicted Murderers - An official letter has reached Bathurst, fixing the day upon which the convicted murderers, James M'Laughlin and Billy Palmer, are to suffer the penalty of their crimes on the 25th instant. When the announcement was made to M'Laughlin, he stated that he was rather weak in bodily health, but firm in spirits, and expressed a hope that he would remain collected on the day of his execution, and be permitted to address the spectators. The unfortunate man is assiduously attended by the Rev. Dr. Grant, Roman Catholic priest, but as yet he has manifested few symptoms of repentance.

The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser NSW - Wednesday 10 May 1854, page 4:
Execution of McLaughlan and Billy Palmer, the Aboriginal. These unfortunate men expiated their crimes in front of the gaol, on Tuesday morning last, before a large concourse of people. McLaughlan was tolerably collected and firm under the operation...Some time prior to his death McLaughlan had confessed his guilt to his spiritual adviser, the Rev. Dr. Grant, and acknowledged the justice of the sentence which condemned him to die.

Eliza Ann Byrne(s) nee Atkins

Eliza is recorded as being born in 1845 at her baptism with her half brother, John Joseph on 8th April 1849 at Lachlan River NSW. Eliza was in fact born about 1842 and it has been discovered that William Faulkner was suspected to be her father. However, John Atkins is recorded as her father at her baptism and her death.

Peter Thomas Byrne and Eliza Ann Atkins were married 1860 at Carcoar NSW. Eliza's mother, of course was deceased by this time but is not recorded as such on the marriage certificate. Eliza's father is not recorded and her mother, Sarah's maiden name is recorded as Cox. Peter and Eliza were both residing at Waugoola near Carcoar NSW. Peter was born in Ireland, aged 27yrs and his occupation was a Shepherd. Eliza is recorded as 18years old. She states that she was born near Orange NSW. Peter's father isn't stated, only his occupation as Labourer.

Eliza died in 1917 at Haberfield NSW. Her birthplace is stated as Bumbaldry NSW. Her father recorded as John Atkins and his occupation as Grazier. Her mother is stated as Sarah Jane Huggett. Eliza's son, Peter Bernard Byrne was the informant.

John Joseph Atkins

John Joseph Atkins was born 1846 at Bumbaldry NSW. He is my great great grandfather. Unfortunately, everyone thought he was dead by 1908. His daughter, my great grandmother, Lauretta Jane Atkins married Henry Smith in 1908 at Cowra NSW. John is recorded as Died on her marriage certificate. John did not die until 1925 at Haberfield NSW.

John Joseph Atkins married Catherine Theresa Adelaide nee Jones, widow Martin in 1879 at Cowra NSW. Catherine's previous husband, John Francis Martin died in 1878 at Cowra NSW. The only information John provided was his occupation as a Blacksmith and he was a bachelor.

Catherine Teresa Adelaide Atkins died on 18th December 1921 at Cowra NSW. Her Obituary states Her second husband was the late John Atkins, by whom she had a family of five. Again, John is incorrectly stated as deceased. An early family legal document reveals that Catherine Atkins (aka Kitty) had one child since her husband left her. I believe he left her when he found she was pregnant. Catherine had a son to Edward Bath at Harden NSW in 1892. Catherine registered him as Arthur Herbert Atkins and incorrectly recorded his father as John Joseph Atkins.

At John's death in 1925, his niece, Elizabeth Byrne, was the informant. She records his father as John Atkins, occupation Grazier, and his mother as Sarah Huggett.

Of interest to note is that Bumbaldry is recorded as Eliza and John's birthplace on their death certificates. Research has indicated that they were not born there, but they were raised at Bumbaldry by William Redfern Watt and his wife Mary after their mother's death.

The Aboriginal Anomaly

Sharon Carpenter, now known as Sharon Searle, identifies herself on the internet as a Koori (Aboriginal person). Sharon states that the Atkins family originated from Wiradjuri country, in the Young area of New South Wales Australia.

In 1989, Sharon Searle (who was then Sharon Carpenter) tells of her alleged estrangement from her Aboriginal family on pages 23-27 of the book The Lost Children: Thirteen Australians taken from their Aboriginal families tell of their struggle to find their natural parents - Edited by Coral Edwards and Peter Read (published Australia 1989, ISBN 0868243841). This book is now out of print and can be obtained in libraries throughout Australia.

Sharon Carpenter (Searle) published in The Lost Children that her grandfather may have been Aboriginal. In fact, her grandfather was part Spanish. Other references to the family in this publication are also incorrect.

Another claim that Sharon has made is: My ggrandmother Lauretta Atkins married a white man, Henry Smith at Cowra in 1908...I also have an ancestor, Catherine Theresa Adelaide Jones who married John F. Martin at Bathurst in 1867 but I don`t know if she also was Aboriginal.

See photos below of Lauretta Jane Atkins. Lauretta was not an Aboriginal woman. Sharon lived with her great grandmother, Lauretta until her death in 1967. Lauretta's mother, Catherine Theresa Adelaide Jones was the daughter of convicts, William Jones and Sarah Newman. Lauretta and her half brother Arthur did not share the same father. Arthur's father, Edward Bath was described in his criminal record as a half-caste and having Negro complexion. Edward's father, John Bath was born on the island of St. Helena (Ascension Island).

Sharon Carpenter (Sharon Searle) does not descend from The Stolen Generation and is not of Aboriginal bloodline. The family was unaware of Sharon's publishings and discovered her alleged claims of descending from the The Stolen Generation on the internet.

Some of the family would like to communicate with Sharon Carpenter (Sharon Searle) regarding her claims but we are currently unable to locate her.

For more information and a detailed history of the Atkins family contact Lisa: