Liverpool councillor Nathan Hagarty traces family ancestry to freed Black slave

Having First Fleet relatives is usually linked with British heritage but after ‘rumours of Black ancestry’ in his family, a southwest Sydney councillor unearthed a remarkable discovery of one of its convicts.

Few people know that there were 11 former American slaves on the First Fleet. It was a huge surprise for Liverpool councillor Nathan Hagarty that his family history in Australia traces back to one of the freed slaves, African American John Randall.

Like many other slaves in the US, Randall, who was born in 1764, chose to fight for the British in the War of Independence (the American Revolution) and was known for his ability on the drums, flute and tambour, according to historian Cassandra Pybus in her 2006 book, Black Founders.

Liverpool councillor Nathan Hagarty. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

The British famously lost, but many of the slaves that fought were repatriated to England, including Randall.

Post-war times are notoriously difficult for soldiers and Randall was convicted for stealing a watch chain in 1785. Five years after the war ended, he ended up in Sydney.

His biography from the Australian National University says he was sentenced to seven years and was shipped off to Australia as a convict aboard the ship Alexander.

In Australia, Randall lived as a game hunter, was given 60 acres of land, and eventually joined the NSW Corps, a regiment of the British Army. He died in 1822.

An engraving of the First Fleet in Botany Bay at voyage's end in 1788, from The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay. The Alexander, which Randall would have arrived on, is on the left. Picture: Wikimedia Commons

Cr Hagarty said there were always rumours of Black ancestry in the family, but he did not know how deep the ties went.

“To think there were a dozen or so African-Americans on the First Fleet,” Cr Hagarty said.

“It’s an important part of Australia’s early colonial history, and more people need to know about it.”

After hearing the story of Randall, Cr Hagarty took a DNA test which confirmed a genetic history dating back to west Africa.

“The DNA test also showed some Indigenous ancestry,’’ he said.

“That’s something I’d certainly like to know more about.’’

For Cr Hagarty, it has been a moment of reflection on how the migrant story in Australia is strongly interconnected.

“I think some people like to talk about First Fleet heritage, it’s almost Australian royalty, so I’m happy to claim that one,” Cr Hagarty said.

“It’s also charming to know your family history, as human beings we all have common ancestors and as human beings we all have common ancestors something in common.”

The Liverpool Genealogy Society traced his family tree eight generations to find Randall.

The society’s president Joan Nichols, who has been with the group for 25 years, said it was one of the most interesting stories it had encountered since it was founded in 1987, along with an adopted man in his 50s who strolled into their office one day and asked them to find his father (they did).

“You just need to use the right sources,” Ms Nichols said.