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Joseph CROOK^{1 2} was born c. 1760 in Christ Church Parish, Hampshire, England.^{2 3} He was a Convict. Servant. Labourer. Baker. He married Elizabeth J BRIDGENS on 20 Sep 1788 in St. Luke, Old Street, Finsbury, London, Middlesex, England.^{1 2 3 3} by Banns. Joseph died in May 1828 in Sydney AsylumSydney, County of Cumberland, Colony of N.S.W., Australia.^{1 2}

The "Descendants of Joseph Crook" research by Grant Franklyn-Smith is the best reference for this family line.

Joseph Crook was born in Hampshire around 1760 and married Elizabeth Bridgens in London in 1788. They produced 7 children before his Transportation to Australia as a convict, and he died in Sydney in 1828.

Joseph Crook deserted the British army, was court- martialled with a sentence of life, and transported in 1807 to Australia on the 'Duke of Portland' and his family came on the accompanying ship 'Young William'.

"The "Duke of Portland", a convict ship of 192 male prisoners, sailed in the company of the store ship "Young William", carrying Cargo, New Settlers and Visitors and a Regiment of Soldiers, Joseph's family had been able to secure passage on the "Young William" to come to Australia and be close to husband andfather Joseph. They included his wife Elizabeth, sons Joseph, John and Henry, and daughters Elizabeth Margaret, Sarah, and Emma. They are all listed as individual adults travelling except for Henry and Emma who are listed as two children traveling with their mother Elizabeth Crook."

"Joseph Crook voluntarily enlisted in His Majesty's Army and or the Forces of the East India Company, [At this time the English were still at war with the French called the Napoleonic Wars, so many English men were being rounded up for compulsory enlistments to fight in the wars against Napoleon's Army] He did not report for service and so was charged with desertion, he was arrested and faced trial. Joseph Crook was convicted on the 18th March 1806 at Parkhurst Barracks, Isle of Wight, England. He was tried for Desertion by Court Martial and sentenced to Life, and transported on the "Duke of Portland" ,a store ship of 523 tons, [The Master was John Clarke] arriving in Port Jackson, in the Colony of New South Wales on the 27th July 1807, after a voyage of 189 days. "

"Occupation.2.: 08 September 1821, Labourer, Stores. Colonial Secretary Papers.40

Occupation.3.: 1828, Baker.41 Parish: 1828, St. James Parish, Sydney, County of Cumberland.41 Religion: 1828, Church of England, St. James Parish.41 Residence: 1828, Sydney Asylum, Sydney, Colony of N.S.W., Australia.41 "

Convict Education:: 1807, Could read and Write.

Ticket of Leave: 30 July 1810, * Ticket of Leave within the District of Sydney

Convict Pardon:: 29 February 1812, * Crook, Joseph: pardon no 87. Given a Conditional Parden [CP³]

Elizabeth J BRIDGENS,^{2 3} daughter of ? BRIDGENS ( - ), was born c. 1769 in England.^{1 2} She was a Housekeeper.³ She married Alexander IKIN in 1811 in St. Philip's Anglican Church, York Street, Church Hill, Sydney, Colony of New South Wales, Australia.¹ She died in Sep 1841 in Vizagapatam, Calcutta, West Bengal, India.^{1 2 3} She was buried on 4 Sep 1841 in Vizagapatam.^{1 3}

"The "Duke of Portland", a convict ship of male prisoners, sailed in the company of the storeship "Young William", carrying Cargo, New Settlers and Visitors and a regiment of Soldiers, Joseph's family had been able to secure passage on the Young William to come to Australia and be close to husband/father Joseph. "

"I have searched the Indian East India Birth marriage and burials and found a Joseph of the correct age and his two wives [confirming Gary Crooks notes] and children and grandchildren, and also his mother Elizabeth also of correct age who must have travelled to India on the death of Joseph after 1828 and settled there with her son Joseph, she died in 1841 in Calcutta, which explains no death registration in NSW of an Elizabeth Crook. "³

Elizabeth J BRIDGENS and Joseph CROOK had the following children: