Edward Billett

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 25th March 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents. Sesostris - 1825/6 Indent No; 144 Name; Edward Billett Age; 18 Protestant, Single Native Place; Wiltshire Trade or calling; Pitt Sawyer Height; 5 ft. 6 in Eyes; Brown Hair; Lt. Brown Completion; Fair Ruddy Behaviour on board. Well 1836 - Ticket of Leave; 36/1090. 1849 - 20 Dec. Conditional Pardon; No; 49/17. Dated 26 Dec 1849.

54

Phil Hands on 28th December 2017

Tried and convicted along with his brother George of horse theft at the Sailsbury Summer Assizes on 25th July 1825, both were sentenced to death but this was later commuted to transportation for life, they were held in Fisherton Gaol then transfered from Fisherton to the prison hulk 'Leviathan' moored in Portsmouth Harbour. Left England on 30th November 1825. Ship:- the 'Sesostris' sailed with 150 male convicts on board of which 3 died during the voyage, his brother was also a convict on board. Arrived on 21st March 1826. After being sent to Liverpool Prisoners Barracks, the brothers were then separated and George was sent to the Camden District where his descendants continued to live and Edward found himself out at the Field of Mars. On 4th March 1839 Edward married Ann Trible aka Smith (daughter of convict Elizabeth Trible, aka Smith, 'Friends' 1811) at Parramatta, they had 6 children between 1835-1847. On the 20th October 1840 Edward's Ticket of Leave was cancelled. "The holder having been sentenced, by the Parramatta Bench to six months in irons for allowing spirits to be sold in his house". A petition was submitted to the Governor on Edward's behalf and Edward's Ticket of Leave was restored on the 19th April 1842. Anne died on 18th September 1853 at Baulken Hills NSW age 50. Edward then married Charlotte Turner (daughter of convict Jacob Turner, 'Eleanor' 1831 & his wife Sarah) on 7th March 1854, they had 10 children between 1854-1874. Edward died on 25th September 1874 from Penumonia at Baulkham Hills NSW age 68. Charlotte then married Johann George Anger in 1875 at Parramatta, they had 1 child, John George b1876. Charlotte died on 1st March 1912 at Newtown, Greater Sydney, NSW age 77.

105

Denis Pember on 12th March 2017

Edward and Ann had 6 children in their marriage and then after Ann died in 1853, Edward married again to Charlotte and had a further 10 children. One of these was Albert Charles Jacob Billett, born 1864 and died October 12th 1917 at Ypres, Belgium. His grave is at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres. He was a private in the 47th Battalion AIF (#2771).

105

Denis Pember on 12th March 2017

The Summer Assizes at Salisbury on the 25th July 1825 had given both George and Edward Billett a sentence of death for stealing a horse. This was commuted to life imprisonment and transportation. At their trial, Mr. Justice Littledale commenced his charge to the grand jury by expressing his regret at the many cases of heavy crimes, which appeared in the calendar. The principal one, he observed, was that of horse stealing, which had increased throughout the country to an alarming degree. Of forty nine cases on the calendar, no less than nine were charges of horse stealing, and in some cases the person charged was accused of having committed several offences of the kind. The severest punishment of the law was therefore rendered to stop the progress of this species of crime. They were held in Fisherton Goal. On the 10th October 1825 a local newspaper reported that George and Edward were on a list of prisoners being transported from Fisherton Goal to the prison hulk ‘Leviathan’ moored in Portsmouth Harbour. They both departed England on about 30 Nov 1825 on the ship 'Sesostris' and arrived in the colony in 1826.

Edward was 19 years old on arrival. After being in the Liverpool Barracks with his brother George, they were separated and Edward was sent to the Field of Mars where he worked as an Orchardist. 4/3/1839: Married Ann Tribels. 7/3/1854: Married Charlotte Eliza Turner. Edward died at age 68 at Baulkham Hills.