James Benham

4

deborah brown on 5th July 2015

Real name James Benham was convicted for stealing a coat, the property of George Blake. He had previously been convicted of felony. He was held in the prison hulk Leviathan at Portsmouth Harbour until transportation. He somehow returned to England and was married to Sarah Janes at St. Pancras London in 1843. They lived in Finchley, Barnet Middlesex. He worked as a farm labourer ( sheep farmer on current site of British Museum according to family history) and Sarah was a laundress. They had 5 known children-(possibly another, George, who became a Cunard Captain ) -Arthur,b1844; Albert Edward b1845; Sarah Ann b1851; Jessie b1854; Reuben b1857. Although it is not known if he knew of his grandfather's transportation, grandson Alexander Edward (son of Albert Edward) emigrated to Tasmania, Hobart 1911 intending to become a fruit farmer- a venture which failed. His fiance joined him from England in 1916 and they married at the Memorial Congregational church on the 20th November that year.He became Commissioner for Scouts in Tasmania, and met Baden Powell. Alexander (Ted) and Annie Lousa (Nancy) had 2 children born in Tasmania-Eileen Mary and Alfred George. Their third child Tasma Joan, was born on their return to England. Barbara Annie, their fourth and last child was my mother.