Susannah Holmes & Henry Kable, Australia's First Dynasty Family

The Marines of the First Fleet were the keeper of law and order upon the original settlement of the convict colony at Port Jackson in 1788. However only six years later one Henry Kable was appointed to the position of Chief Constable of the colony.

Henry Kable createda number of firsts which included his marriage with fellow-convict Susannah Holmes alongside four other couples in the first marriage ceremony in Australia conducted by Rev Richard Johnson on 10th February 1788.

Henry and his future wife Susannah Holmes arrived with the first fleet as prisoners. Records reveal that Henry was sentenced in March 1783 to be 'hanged until dead' for the heinous offence of burglary. This was later reduced to seven years transportation. Susannah was also sentenced to death for a non-related burglary but this was reduced to fourteen years transportation.

Both commenced their sentence at the frightful Norwich Castle Gaol, Norfolk and despite the cells and primitive conditions a union was formed which saw the arrival of Henry junior.

When the first fleet was assembling for Botany Bay, Susannah and Henry junior were taken with two other female prisoners to Plymouth where they had been assigned to the convict transport 'Charlotte.'

The captain refused to take the baby on board as there were no papers and the gaol turnkey Simpson travelled to London where he tried to see the Home Secretary, Lord Sydney in order to get papers for Henry junior. After much help from well-meaning sympathisers, Lord Sydney gave him an audience and papers allowing Henry junior and Henry senior to join the fleet.

A collection took place for the couple and the amount of twenty pounds was raised and it was placed in the care of Captain Sinclair.

Upon embarkation, Susannah and Henrey found that most of their goods had disappeared and this led to a successful suite five months later in Australia's first civil action against Captain Sinclair, who was ordered to pay the Kable's fifteen dollars in compensation.

By 1791 Acting Governor Francis appointed Henry to the position of Constable with his main duties as night watchman for the town and to act as a jailer. With his appointement came a grant of land at Petersham Hill and during this time he distinguished himself on a number of arrests and jailing convicts who were intent on stealing from the Governor's stores.

Henry soon became the first ever Chief Constable of the colony and Henry was able to purchase land and to build a home that would last until 1926 and it is now the site of the Regent Hotel with a restaurant  named Kable's.

Henry soon went on to purchase and run 'The Rampling Horse' and the name may have come from Rampling Horse Street situated in Norwich.

With fellow ex-convict James Underwood, Henry bought and built many vessels and they were soon joined by Simeon Lord and the three sold skins to London for the hat trade.

The parters were fined one hundred pounds each and placed in gao for one month for being abusive to Governor Bligh. This did not stop Henry building up his business interests and as well as establishing land, he went on to build a store and brewery in Windsor.

By the early 1820s Henry was a grandfather and a member of the Windsor Bible Society. Susannah passed away in 1825 with Henry dying in 1846.

Today there are many thousands of descendants of the first Chief Constable of Australia.