William Blake

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Maureen Withey on 23rd August 2021

Mentioned in Anne-Maree Whitaker’s “Unfinished Revolution: United Irishmen in New South Wales 1800-1810.” Around 19 January, a group of prisoners escaped from the colony in an 18 foot open boat, intending to board the Harrington which was about to sail to Madras. They were lead by Cork-born United Irishman Thomas Prosser, exiled to Norfolk Island in May 1802, following rumours of an insurrection. He had returned to Sydney in late 1805 or early 1806, and was living with English convict, Frances Allen (William Pitt). Among the escapers was Prosser’s assigned convict, William Blake, who arrived with him on the Minerva and was flogged for his involvement in the September 1800 conspiracy and sent to Norfolk Island. Patrick Galvin, a political prisoner who arrived on the Friendship, Tristram Moore from Derry (Atlas II) and Patrick Mitchell from Antrim (Hercules) were also among the escapers, as were two other convicts, Robert Matthews and William Saunders. The were caught in a storm and blown north, landing at Newcastle before the Harrington had even left Sydney harbour. On Monday 16 February the eight were tried for stealing the boat and rigging. Prosser offered the novel defence that they had not intended to deprive the owner of the boat as it would be returned to Sydney by the pilot after they boarded the Harrington. Impressed by the ingenuity of the defence, the court acquitted them. Governor Bligh was not impressed, however, and had the group arrested again and retried before a bench of magistrates. Prosser and Blake were sent to Port Dalrymple and the others were sentenced to be flogged. ——————————————————————————— Reported in the Newspapers: At the beginning of last week several prisoners were missing from their respective avocations; and a boat of 18 feet keel, belonging to E. Wills being also absent, leads to a conjecture of their having taken her away with a weak design of attempting an escape from the Colony, though miserably provided for carrying such a determination into effect with any other prospect than that of foundering on the coast. The names of the prisoners are, Thomas Prosser, Tristram Moore, Robert Matthews, Patrick Garvin, ? ? and Frances Allen, who cohabited with Prosser. As soon as they were missed some whale boats were dispatched in pursuit. Sydney Gazette, 25 Jan 1807. ————————————————————————— On Monday (to morrow) a Court of Criminal Jurisdiction will assemble at Sydney; before whom the following persons are for trial; viz. Robert Matthews, Thomas Prosser, William Blake, Tristram Moore, Patrick Galvin, William Saunders, and Frances Allen, for stealing a boat the property of E. Wills, &c. Sydney Gazette, 15 Feb 1807. ——————————————————————————- R. Matthews, T, Prosser, W. Blake, T. Moore, P Galvin, W Saunders, and Frances Allen were indicted for stealing a boat the property of E. Wills, and a mast, sail, and oars belonging to Thomas Randall, and being all acquitted were desired to be held in custody as prisoners that had attempted to escape from the Colony, until HIS EXCELLENCY’S pleasure concerning them should be known ; Blake for a breach of Orders, he being a freeman. Sydney Gazette, 22 Feb 1807. ————————————————————————— Thomas Prosser and William Blake, two of the persons who lately attempted to escape by taking away a boat, were put on board the Lucy for Port Dalrymple, the day before she sailed. Sydney Gazette, 29 March 1807.