John Ingersole was born in Childerditch, Essex, England in 1793. 

His father, James Ingersole, was a farrier.  His mother's name was Mary Parrie.

On July 15, 1828, with two previous convictions on his record, John was tried in the Essex Assizes, charged with Poaching.  He was sentenced to seven years, and transported to Australia on the ship Lord Melville under Captain Brown.

According to his convict indent, John Ingersole was a 32 year old married man, with six children.  He was a labourer who could read and write, and his religion was noted as Protestant.

He was not a tall man - he stood just under 5 feet 6 inches tall.  He had a florid complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes.  He had a scar inside his left forefinger and thumb, and a scar by his right eye.

On arrival in Australia he was first assigned to a Mr William Thurlow, a farmer and grazier at Wallis Plains - now East Maitland - and later to George Suttor in Bathurst.   

John Ingersole was granted his Ticket of Leave on May 31, 1832 and his Certificate of Freedom is dated 10 August, 1835.

Click on the Ticket of Leave to view an enlarged copy