Abraham Ballard

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Leanne on 5th August 2022

Desperate Gang of Thieves and Receivers Last week a lengthened and final examination of a desperate gang of thieves and receivers of stolen property took place at the House of Correction, Ilford (Essex) before William Davis, a magistrate for the County. The names of the gang who have for some time infested Brentwood and its neighbourhood are BALLARD, MINGAY, CRACKNELL, JOHN & WILLIAM SHIPMAN for stealing, and JAMES TURVEY and SAMUEL RUSH for receiving96 pieces of print (cloth) of the volume of ….. the property of Mr. Knight a draper of Colchester. It appeared that on the night of Saturday the ……. month, a bale containing the above property had been delivered to a Colchester wagoner at the warehouse of Messer Swan & Co., Friday Street, …… to be conveyed to Mr. Knight at Colchester. The wagoner on his way stopped for some time at the White Hart Inn at Brentwood to have some victuals. While there the bale of goods was taken from the wagon. On the following night Otten and Weston of the Bow Street Patrol stopped a cart at Chadwell Heath on its way to town (London) and on examining it they found the whole of the property which had been taken in two sacks. They, the officers, then took TURVEY, to whom the cart belonged and RUSH, a boy, into custody. The offence was admitted by RUSH and from his statement it seemed that this property had been received by his master. TURVEY & RUSH had been at the Horse & Groom Inn, Warley Common and BALLARD assisted in putting it into the cart. The prisoners were seen together at Brentwood and frequently on their way across Warley Common before the officers succeeded in apprehending them. …… of the prisoners who are known about some …… be implicated in several bands and the …… whom have been before tried for various offences and are now fully committed for trial. Extract from the Essex Standard Newspaper April 1835.

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Wendy Laigne-Stuart on 19th January 2022

Abraham was tried for Larceny from a Person in 1834 in Essex. He was found not guilty. He was then tried on 7 April 1835 for Highway Robbery, and received 7 years. He was the leader of what was called the Brentwood Gang. I have seen Abraham's information listed as going to VDL. This is incorrect. The Susan 1 (first voyage of the Susan) was to VDL, and there was a Ballard on board, Abraham was on Susan 2 (second voyage of the Susan) which was to Port Jackson.

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Iris Dunne on 5th April 2018

Certificate of Freedom No. 43/762, Prisoner No. 36/422, Year of Birth: 1814, Native Place: Essex, Trade: Laborer, Date of Trial: 7 April 1835

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Wendy Laigne-Stuart on 5th April 2018

Baptised 7 April 1814, Brentwood, Essex.

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Wendy Laigne-Stuart on 8th November 2013

Sarah Sugden, Abraham's first wife, was the daughter of William Sugden, a soldier, who arrived on the Orpheus in 1826. They lived on the land grant that was part of the pay off for coming to Australia as a soldier, at Veteran's Flat, very near Goulburn, NSW. There are some interesting things to be found in Trove about Abraham, including the inquest into his death.

Abraham Ballard was convicted of Larceny & was sentenced to 7 years transportation. He spent a few months on board "The Fortitude", but sailed to NSW, Australia on the "Susan" departing from Chatham, Kent, England on Oct 6 1835 & arriving in Jan 1836. On May 15 1843 he received his Certificate of Freedom and resided at Goulbourn, NSW. He married Sarah Sudgen on Dec 24 1844 & together they had 10 children. After Sarah's death he went on to marry Mary Ann Donohoe Sep 23 1861. Abraham passed away Jun 13 1886 at Tumut, NSW.