Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Eleanor Blake was transported on the Broxbournebury, departing 31st Dec 1813 and arriving 28th Jul 1814 with 127 passengers.
Broxbournebury (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 88, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 147 (75) |
| 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
Family connections for Eleanor (Blake) are: BLAKE Eleanor (Blake) was born about 1788 & became a servant. She was tried for stealing watch etc w/1other, on 4/8 6 1812, of her employer Phineas (Taytasac) of Great Prescott St Goodmans Fields at Old Bailey on 1 7 1812, sentenced to 7years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & embarked on EMU-which was captured by American privateer HOLKAR on 30 11 1812. She was eventually freed at St Vincent Cape Verde islands, sent back in England & arrived in NSW as a convict on 28 7 1814 after a voyage of 7months on BROXBOURNEBURY; she was Catholic. She was sent to the Female Factory Parramatta wshere she is recorded in 1814, then assigned to Peter (McAlpin) for domestic help. She was issued her Certificate of Freedom No.2232. She married Peter (McAlpin his second marriage) on 7 3 1820 at St Peters CofE Richmond. In 1821 she eloped from the family, returned & in 1823 eloped again. She was recorded in 1822 at Windsor. She was recorded in 1823-5 with her family at Richmond. She is recorded in 1828 with Peter (McAlpin) at Richmond. She was bequeathed the (McAlpin) house in 1850 but died on 1 7 1850 age62 at Windsor & was buried in the Catholic section of St Matthews Windsor. [Some details taken from this Website] Peter (McAlpin) was born about 1768 & became a blacksmith. He married firstly Elizabeth (Elton) in 1798 in South Africa. He arrived in NSW as a settler with his family in 1812 on GENERAL GRAHAM; he was Protestant. He received government cattle on credit in June 1814. He was recorded as a blacksmith owed money in June 1822. He was recorded in 1823-5 with his family at Richmond. He is recorded in 1828 as blacksnith with some family at Richmond. He died in February 1850 age82 father of 4known children at Richmond & was buried at St Matthews CofE Windsor with first wife Elizabeth-leaving his house to Ellen. Details of Peter (McAlpin)s family are given in entry for Thomas (Heather NEPTUNE 1790) on this Website. See also entry for Eleanor (Blake EMU 1812) on this Website. Reference: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.
Name Ellen Mc Alpin Death Date 1850 Death Place Windsor, New South Wales Registration Date 1850 Registration Place Windsor, Australia Volume Number V18501529 117
BLAKE, Eleanor (c1790-1850) Tried - 1 July 1812 Middlesex (Old Bailey) Eleanor had been a servant in 1812 when she was taken before the Court charged with stealing a watch, seal and two keys from her master Phineas Taytasac, of Great Prescott Street Goodmans-fields. She stated in her defense that he had given her the watch for “having connection” with him. Even though four witnesses gave Eleanor good character references, the Jury found her guilty and sentenced her to 7 years transportation. Eleanor was first sent to the Colony in 1812 on the Emu and finally landed in Sydney in 1814 on the ship Broxbornebury. BC: 1790 [from trial record] Sentenced: 01/07/1812 at Middlesex (Old Bailey)[see trial record below] to transportation for 7 years Crime: Stealing to the value of 39 shillings Previous Occupation: Servant Age on Convict Indent (Broxbornebury): 26 1812 - ELEANOR BLAKE, ELIZABETH CASSDAY, Theft > theft from a specified place, Theft > receiving, 1st July 1812. 590. ELEANOR BLAKE was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 8th of June, a watch, value 10 l. a seal, value 10 s. and two watch-keys, value 6 d. the property of Phineas Taytasac, in his dwelling-house ; and ELIZABETH CASSDAY for receiving, on the same day, the said goods she knowing them to be stolen. PHINEAS TAYTASAC I am a merchant. I live at 71, Great Prescot-street, Goodman's-fields. I lost my watch on the 4th of June. I missed it from the parlour. It was hanging at the mantle- piece. Immediately I missed it I had a number of hand-bills printed, and distributed them among the silversmiths and pawnbrokers without any effect. On the Sunday following I called Eleanor Blake, my servant, into a room, and told her, that I suspected she had taken the watch, and that I was well convinced that nobody else could have taken it. She then denied it very strongly. I said, if you have taken the watch, I will forgive you, on condition that you return me the watch. She said, if I would forgive her she would confess. Q. Did you find it afterwards - A. I did, in the box of Elizabeth Cassday. Prisoner Blake. You know very well that you gave me that watch, and what for; so you need not go on no more. Prosecutor. I did not. She said, if I would forgive her she would disclose the circumstance. I answered, I would, provided I got the watch back again. She then said, that she had taken it from the parlour, and gave it to Elizabeth Cassday to save. I immediately applied to the headborough of the parish. The prisoner Blake, the headborough, and myself, went to Cassday, and asked her for the watch. Cassday denied having the watch. I immediately gave her in charge of the headborough. He took both the prisoners to the watchhouse. Cassday, previous to her being brought before the magistrate, she said, if you will not do any more to me I will acknowledge it. She immediately took the key of her house out of her pocket, and gave it me. We went to her house. She took us up stairs into the first floor. She said, that is the box where the watch is in. She looked for the key. Not being able to find it she broke it open. We took the watch from the bottom of the box. Prisoner Blake. He gave me the watch for having connexion with me. Prosecutor. Upon my oath, I never did. Blake's Defence. He gave me this watch at the time he was ill. I was lighting him to bed. He took the opportunity of ill using me. He gave me a dollar. I would not have it. I knew it was a bad one. He then said, take my watch. I consented, and took it in keeping until the next morning I had no place to keep it. I gave it to this gentlewoman, for fear I should lose it. This woman is innocent. She knows nothing at all about it. Cassday's Defence. Blake came to me one day when my husband was at dinner. She said, Mrs. Cassday take care of this, and give it to nobody but me. The officer broke open my box. I was so frightened I could not find the key. I know nothing about how she got the watch. I am quite innocent indeed. JAMES KING. I am an officer. I apprehended the two prisoners. Blake confessed that she had taken the watch, and given it to Cassday to keep. She shewed us Cassday's house, Cassday denied having the watch. I took her down to the watch-house and confined her two hours and a half. She told us in the watchhouse, if we would forgive her she would take us back to her house, and give us the watch. We went back and found the watch in the bottom of her box. This is the watch. Prosecutor. It is my watch. Cassday called four witnesses, who gave her a good character. BLAKE, GUILTY, aged 22, Of stealing to the value of 39 s. Transported for Seven Years. CASSDAY, NOT GUILTY. First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Recorder. (Source: Old Bailey on-line www.oldbaileyonline.org ) ALSO ON SHIP EMU 1812 Certificate of Freedom 2232 (indent) 1814 Muster: Eleanor BLAKE, Broxbornebury, con, on stores, FF, Parra (3312) 1814, June – Peter McAlpin was on a list of settlers to receive government cattle on credit. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Received – Reel 6038; SZ758 p497) [Note: Future spouse of Eleanor] 1820 - Eleanor Blake married Peter McAlpin at St Peters C of E, Richmond, on 7 March 1820. (V1820-2501-3A) [Note: Peter McAlpin had arrived in NSW as a free settler & at the time of his marriage to Eleanor was a widower with 3 children. Peter & Eleanor did not have any offspring.] 1821, 4 August – “CAUTION.-The Public are hereby cautioned against giving Trust or Credit to my Wife, Eleanor McAlpin, on my account, she having eloped from her home without any just cause or provocation. Peter M'Alpin” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 04/08/1821, p4) 1822? - Peter put in a claim from the estate of Annsley McGraw & David Bell, for the amount of 3 pounds & 17 shillings, for blacksmith work. There were also many others with claims. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Received Reel 6053; 4/1754 p86) 1822, 19 Feb. – A letter was sent to Mr’s J & P McAlpin from Gov Brisbane, asking them what happened to Annsley McGraw’s property after his execution? (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6008; 4/3504A p459) 1822 Muster: Eleanor BLAKE, Broxbornebury, FBS, 7 years, wife of P McAlpin, Windsor (A01531) & 3 children [who are the offspring of Peter & his first wife] 1823, 17 July – Similar notice as above 04/08/1821 in newspaper re Eleanor’s having left her husband. (Source: Sydney Gazette, 17/07/1823, p4) 1823-1825 Muster: Elenor (sic) BLAKE, FS, Broxbornebury, 7 years, wife of P McAlpin, Richmond (12148) & spouse – Peter McALPIN, CF, General Graham 1812, landholder, Richmond (30368) [& his 3 children to 1st wife, Peter 14, William 13 & Catherine 9] 1828 Census: Eleanor McALPIN, 40, FS, Broxbornebury, 7 years, catholic, (M0023), wife to – Peter McALPIN, 60, CF, General Hewitt (?) 1812, prot, blacksmith at Richmond *(M0022) & also – William McAlpin, 18, CF, General Hewitt (?) 1812, prot, son of Peter McAlpin (M0024) 1850 - Peter McAlpin, aged about 82, died at his Richmond home in February 1850, leaving a will which stated: “my wife Ellen McAlpin be allowed to reside during the term of her natural life, in the house, free from all cost for rent”. Peter was buried at St Matthews, C of E, Windsor, beside his first wife, Elizabeth. 1850 - Eleanor McAlpin (nee Blake) died soon after, in July 1850, aged about 60, but she was buried in the Roman Catholic Section of St Matthews Church burial ground. The death of Eleanor McAlpin nee Blake was not found on NSW BDM index. [Ellen (sic) McAlpin, of Richmond, aged 69, wife of a farmer, was buried on 01/08/1850 at St Mathews Catholic Cemetery, Windsor. Source: Burial records, http://www.hawkesbury.net.au ] Notes from the book “Journey to a New Life…” the story of the ships Emu & Broxbornebury by Elizabeth Hook (3rd ed. 2014). I am the author & can be contacted on tbeth3370@gmail.com for further info
Just over a year after their wedding the Sydney Gazette reported in 1821: “…The Public are hereby cautioned against giving Trust or Credit to my Wife, Eleanor McAlpin, on my account, she having eloped from her home without any just cause or provocation. Peter M'Alpin”. Eleanor returned to her husband, however again in 1823 Peter placed a similar notice in the newspaper. Peter McAlpin, aged about 82, died at his Richmond home in February 1850, leaving a will which stated: “my wife Ellen McAlpin be allowed to reside during the term of her natural life, in the house, free from all cost for rent”. Peter was buried at St Matthews, C of E, Windsor, beside his first wife, Elizabeth. Eleanor McAlpin (nee Blake) died soon after, in July 1850, aged about 60, but she was buried in the Roman Catholic Section of St Matthews Church burial ground.
Sainty & Johnson; 1828 Census of New South Wales: Page 243... [Ref M0022] McAlpin, Peter, 60, came free, General Graham, 1812, Protestant, blacksmith, Richmond. [Ref M0023] McAlpin, Eleanor, 40, free by servitude, Broxbornebury, 1814, 7 years, Catholic. [Ref M0024] McAlpin, William, 18, came free, General Hewitt, 1912, Protestant, son of Peter McAlpin.
Eleanor Blake was assigned from the female factory compound at Parramatta to Peter McAlpin to help out in his home and care for his 4 young children following the premature death of his wife Elisabeth Elton. Peter was a free immigrant, a blacksmith. Eleanor and Peter subsequently married 7th March 1820. It would appear that the couple themselves did not have children.
Eleanor BLAKE was sentenced to transportation for 7 years, she sailed on the ship "Emu" which was captured by the American privateer "Holkar" on 30th November 1812. The "Holkar" was commanded by Captain J Rowland. After being freed by the Americans the female convicts were landed on the island of St Vincent - one of the Cape Verde Islands. They were subsequently sent back to England, eventually arriving on the ship "Broxburnbury" 28 July 1814.
Old Bailey Records: (www.oldbaileyonline.org) t18120701-73 ELEANOR BLAKE was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 8th of June , a watch, value 10 l. a seal, value 10 s. and two watch-keys, value 6 d. the property of Phineas Taytasac , in his dwelling-house ; and ELIZABETH CASSDAY for receiving, on the same day, the said goods she knowing them to be stolen . PHINEAS TAYTASAC I am a merchant . I live at 71, Great Prescot-street, Goodman's-fields . I lost my watch on the 4th of June. I missed it from the parlour. It was hanging at the mantle-piece. Immediately I missed it I had a number of hand-bills printed, and distributed them among the silversmiths and pawnbrokers without any effect. On the Sunday following I called Eleanor Blake , my servant, into a room, and told her, that I suspected she had taken the watch, and that I was well convinced that nobody else could have taken it. She then denied it very strongly. I said, if you have taken the watch, I will forgive you, on condition that you return me the watch. She said, if I would forgive her she would confess. Q. Did you find it afterwards - A. I did, in the box of Elizabeth Cassday. Prisoner Blake. You know very well that you gave me that watch, and what for; so you need not go on no more. Prosecutor. I did not. She said, if I would forgive her she would disclose the circumstance. I answered, I would, provided I got the watch back again. She then said, that she had taken it from the parlour, and gave it to Elizabeth Cassday to save. I immediately applied to the headborough of the parish. The prisoner Blake, the headborough, and myself, went to Cassday, and asked her for the watch. Cassday denied having the watch. I immediately gave her in charge of the headborough. He took both the prisoners to the watchhouse. Cassday, previous to her being brought before the magistrate, she said, if you will not do any more to me I will acknowledge it. She immediately took the key of her house out of her pocket, and gave it me. We went to her house. She took us up stairs into the first floor. She said, that is the box where the watch is in. She looked for the key. Not being able to find it she broke it open. We took the watch from the bottom of the box. Prisoner Blake. He gave me the watch for having connexion with me. Prosecutor. Upon my oath, I never did. Blake's Defence. He gave me this watch at the time he was ill. I was lighting him to bed. He took the opportunity of ill using me. He gave me a dollar. I would not have it. I knew it was a bad one. He then said, take my watch. I consented, and took it in keeping until the next morning I had no place to keep it. I gave it to this gentlewoman, for fear I should lose it. This woman is innocent. She knows nothing at all about it. Cassday's Defence. Blake came to me one day when my husband was at dinner. She said, Mrs. Cassday take care of this, and give it to nobody but me. The officer broke open my box. I was so frightened I could not find the key. I know nothing about how she got the watch. I am quite innocent indeed. JAMES KING. I am an officer. I apprehended the two prisoners. Blake confessed that she had taken the watch, and given it to Cassday to keep. She shewed us Cassday's house, Cassday denied having the watch. I took her down to the watch-house and confined her two hours and a half. She told us in the watchhouse, if we would forgive her she would take us back to her house, and give us the watch. We went back and found the watch in the bottom of her box. This is the watch. Prosecutor. It is my watch. Cassday called four witnesses, who gave her a good character. BLAKE, GUILTY, aged 22, Of stealing to the value of 39 s. Transported for Seven Years. CASSDAY, NOT GUILTY. First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Recorder.