John Flakemore arrived in Hobart on the last convict ship to come to Tasmania in 1853. He was convicted of robbery with violence at Dudley, Staffordshire in 1849 and sentenced to 10 years transportation.  John spent the next few years on the prison hulk Stirling Castle, moored at Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire. He is recorded in the 1851 Census as a prisoner at Portsea. He arrived in VDL on board the St Vincent on 26 May 1853 and was sent to Douglas River Coal Company for the first three months. He was described as a collier and miner by trade; 33 years of age, 5-foot 3 inches tall and of sallow complexion.

He was born in 1823, the middle child of James Flakemore and Lucy Priest of Rowley Regis, Staffordshire, and baptised on 26 October 1823 at St John’s in Halesowen. Ancestry.com, England Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975

There is some mystery regarding the interchanging of their surname from Flakemore to Faulkner and vice versa. James married Lucy Priest in 1809 as James Flakemore, however their children were baptised as Faulkner. Family legend has it that John had a falling out with his brother Job and changed his name to Flakemore at the time of his conviction. John named some of his children after his family members: James, Lucy (his parents), Eli William (brothers) and Mary (sister). But none after Job. Only William and Mary are recorded as siblings on John’s convict indent records. It is likely that Eli had already died however Job was still living at the time.

James Flakemore and Lucy Priest were married on 12 February 1809 at Saint Thomas, Dudley, Worcestershire. Ancestry.com, Worcestershire, England, Church of England Baptism, Marriages, and Burial, 1600-1812.