Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Thomas Blade was transported on the Surrey Or Surry, departing 31st Dec 1813 and arriving 28th Jul 1814 with 204 passengers.
Built at Harwich in 1811 a square-rigged transport ship of 443 tons and copper lined she had two decks with a height between decks of 5 ft. 8 ins. In 1818, she had a major refit increasing the decks (and convict carrying capacity) to three. She was owned by the London firm of F. & C.F. Mangles.
Surrey Or Surry (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 133 (68) |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
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Convict Notes
Daughter Caroline came freeName: Caroline Blades Name: Caroline Blades Vessel: Broxburnbury Province: New South Wales Title: General muster Year(s): 1822 Caroline was the daughter of Thomas Blades and his first wife Elizabeth Maria Rowe who died 1809 Anthony Street, Thomas Blades address
Colonial Secretary Index. BLADES, Thomas. Per "Surrey", 1814 1815 Jan 23 - Referred to in evidence at inquest on Elizabeth Howell held at Sydney (Reel 6021; 4/1819 p.323) 1819 Nov 20 - Lost shortly after the arrival of his wife Sarah and three children per "Broxbornebury" in a gale of wind in Cockle Bay; his wife subsequently married George Smith for whom she was petitioning for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3200; 4/1860 p.35) BLADES, Sarah. Came free per "Broxbornebury", 1814; widow of Thomas Blades 1818 May 4,5 - Re permission to marry George Smith at Sydney (Reel 6006; 4/3498 p.202) SMITH, Sarah. Came free per "Broxbornebury", 1814; widow of Thomas Blades, per "Surrey", 1814; wife of George Smith, per "Baring", 1815 1819 Nov 20 - Petition for mitigation of the sentence of her husband George (Fiche 3200; 4/1860 p.35) 1822 Aug 1 - Memorial for land in Sussex Street, Cockle Bay (Fiche 3053; 4/1832 No.360A)
Thomas Blade (Blayde) was a customs/exciseman and artist. He married Sarah Kent at Christ Church Southwark in 1809. He was arrested with Richard Robinson for larceny in a shop in February 1813 in East Smithfield, close to the Tower of London at 8.30 pm for supposedly stealing three hams from a cheesemonger's shop. They were sentenced to hang but it was commuted to transportation for life. They both survived the Surry's typhus epidemic and were given tickets of leave almost immediately. Thomas's wife Sarah Blade and children came out per Broxbornbury with Richard's wife Hannah Rae and their four children. Thomas Blade drowned in Sydney Harbour in 1815 - a sudden squall overturned the rowboat. Sarah remarried a Mr Smith a couple of years after his death.
On 17.2.1813, Thomas was tried at the Old Bailey for stealing three hams from a cheese shop in East Smithfield, London. At the time he was said to be from Lynn. Height 5'4", pale complexion,light brown hair, hazel eyes. Occupation in the UK was 'excise man'. NSW: registered as a limner. 1814 muster: he was a Ticket of Leave. The family was not being supported by the Government. Wife Sarah and daughters Caroline & Sarah arrived on Broxbornebury in 1814.
Thomas Blade died by drowning in Cockle Bay (Sydney). Burial 30th January 1815, St. Phillips C of E Sydney.