Halfpenny History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Halfpenny were among those contributors:

Halfpenny Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Eliz Halfpenny, who landed in Virginia in 1664 5
• Thomas Halfpenny, who landed in Maryland in 1677 5

Halfpenny Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Mary Halfpenny, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 5
• Robert Halfpenny, who arrived in Annapolis Maryland in 1725
• Michael Halfpenny, who settled in New England in 1753

Halfpenny Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Peter Thomas Halfpenny, who settled in Norfolk, Virginia in 1823
• Elisabeth Halfpenny, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1849 5

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Halfpenny Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Ms. Bridget Halfpenny, aged 26 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Agnes" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 6

Halfpenny Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Henry Halfpenny, Irish sailor from Belfast who was convicted in County Down, Ireland for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Cambridge" on 2nd June 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
• Miss Mary Ann Halfpenny, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 20th June 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
• Miss Mary Halfpenny, (b. 1805), aged 32, Irish maid who was convicted in County Down, Ireland for 7 years for vagrancy, transported aboard the "Diamond" on 29th November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
• Mr. Joseph Halfpenny, English convict who was convicted in Birmingham, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 8th July 1840, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
• Mr. John Halfpenny, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years transported aboard the "Forfarshire" on 24th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halfpenny Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• W. Halfpenny, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Midlothian" in 1859
• Edward Halfpenny, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Durham" in 1873 12
• Arthur George Halfpenny, aged 16, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Durham" in 1873 12

• Jim Halfpenny Ph.D.,, American naturalist
• Joseph Halfpenny (1748-1811), English topographical draughtsman and engraver, born on 9 Oct. 1748, at Bishopsthorpe in Yorkshire
• Jill Halfpenny (b. 1975), English actress, best known for her roles as Rebecca Hopkins in the British soap opera Coronation Street (1999–2000);
• Benjamin "Ben" Halfpenny (1906-1966), English professional rugby league footballer of the 1920s and 1930s from Prescot, Lancashire
• Chelsea Halfpenny (b. 1991), English actress, best known for her role in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale
• William Halfpenny (1723-1755), English 18th-century architectural designer
• Stephen Leigh Halfpenny (b. 1988), Welsh rugby footballer who plays as a fullback or wing for the Scarlets, Wales and the British and Irish Lions. in 2013 2nd place in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards