Isabella Bland

53

Beth Taylor on 3rd February 2026

• BLAND, Isabella (c1786-1844?) Tried - 14 July 1813 Northumberland Midsummer Quarter Sessions Isabella had been a servant when she appeared before the Northumberland Court in 1813 charged with larceny but was acquitted. She was not so fortunate a few months later, in July, receiving a 7 year sentence for larceny from the same Court. She was banished to New South Wales on the Broxbornebury in 1814. On her arrival in Sydney Isabella was assigned to work at Liverpool for Mr Drummond. In 1816, aged about 30, she was given permission to marry at Windsor to Thomas Simpson (c1790-?), also a prisoner who had arrived in 1813 on the Fortune (2). He had been tried at York County Assize in 1812 and received a life term. Thomas was a miller and labourer with fair complexion, 5’8” tall, with black hair and hazel eyes. In 1819 Thomas received a Ticket of Leave and worked as a “subordinate Constable” from 1819-1825 in Sydney. The wedding took place on the 29th of September 1816 at St Matthew’s Church at Windsor. Both parties were living at Wilberforce. The couple had no children and Isabella became a free woman in July 1819 at the expiration of her 7 year term. She would have been issued a Certificate of Freedom to prove her legal status, however the NSW State Records (Archives) does not hold a copy of the original document. Isabella was admitted to Sydney Gaol on in November 1822, and sentenced to 28 days at the Parramatta Female Factory. Her crime was not stated. Thomas reported in 1824: “Notice.-I hereby Caution the Public not to give Credit to my Wife, Isabella Simpson, as I will not be accountable for any Debts she may contract after this Notice. June 9th, 1824. THOMAS SIMPSON.” Isabella was charged with being drunk and disorderly and “leaving her husband & house” and punished with three months hard labour at the Female Factory. Thomas Simpson and Isabella appear to have separated permanently. Thomas received a Conditional Pardon in 1825 and was described as: dark ruddy complexion, dark brown hair & hazel eyes, and 5’9” tall. Isabella was an inmate at the Sydney Gaol and Parramatta Female Factory on numerous occasions over the next few years. In April 1826: “A man named Darcey, free, and a shattered frail and worn out fair one, named Isabella Simpson, were each fined 5s. to the poor; the man paid the fine, but the female was necessitated to expiate her offence by being exposed as a public spectacle in the stocks for six hours” and again later in the month, “Isabella Simpson, free, charged and convicted of being a notorious common prostitute ; to the factory for 3 months.” A few months later, “Isabella Simpson, a free body, who put Messieurs the constables to more than ordinary trouble, on the preceding night, to restrain her riotous propensities, arising from her too free libations, was sentenced in the usual mulet of five shillings, for the benefit of her poorer fellow mortals. Bella certainly repented of her afternoon's folly, but, according to the old adage, "repentance comes too late when all is spent," and no dollar being forthcoming, an order was made out, whereby she was entitled to enjoy the full benefit of the sun in a certain wooden machine called the stocks, for the allotted period of two hours.” Punished again in December 1826 for being a “notorious drunkard”, Isabella was sentenced to “the 3rd class” at the Female Factory and a further three months in August 1827 for the crime of being a “common prostitute”. In 1828 Isabella’s legal spouse Thomas Simpson was living at Airds near Campbelltown with his brother George Simpson. George had reached Sydney on the same ship as his brother, with the same sentence. Also living there was George’s colonial-born wife Ann and their three children. Isabella was using her maiden name (Bland) and working in Cumberland Street Sydney as a laundress. In October 1828 Isabella was charged with being a “drunken prostitute”. Isabella was sentenced to 28 days at the Female Factory. The court records are silent on Isabella for the next 11 years, until she was admitted to Sydney Gaol in September 1839 for being a “drunkard”. Isabella was sentenced to solitary confinement for 24 hours. Was she the Isabella Bland who died in 1844 at the Benevolent Asylum, Sydney? This woman was aged 54 and had been a convict, now Free by Servitude, however the burial record stated she had arrived on the Sovereign. It is not known where or when her husband Thomas Simpson died. TIMELINE NOTES: BC: 1786 Sentenced: 14/07/1813 at Northumberland Midsummer Quarter Sessions (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) to transportation for 7 years [Found not guilty of larceny at Easter - PRO] Crime: Larceny Previous Occupation: Servant Age on Convict Indent: 28 Certificate of Freedom 2515 (indent) 1814 Muster: Isabella BLAND, Brox, con, off stores, to Mr Drummond, Liverpool (3826) 1822, 18 Nov. – Isabella SIMPSON was admitted to Sydney Gaol on 18/11/1822, and sentenced to “28 days” at the Female Factory. Her crime was not stated. (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Series: 2514; Item: 4/6360; Roll: 850.) 1816, 8 Jan. – Isabella was given permission by the Gov. to marry Thomas Simpson, prisoner per Fortune, by Rev Cartwright. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent Reel 6004; 4/3494 p310) 1822 Muster: No record found. 1823, 29 Jan. – Isabella asked for a duplicate for her COF. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Special Bundle Reel 6039; 4/424 p130) 1823-1825 Muster: Isabella BLAND, FS, Isabella (?) 1814, 7 years, wife of T Thompson (?), Sydney (12185) & 2nd entry - Isabella SIMPSON, FS, Brox, FF, Parramatta (40312) & her husband – Thomas SIMPSON, Fortune 1813, CP, life, constable, Sydney (40315) 1824, 22/24 March – Thomas Simpson was a constable in Sydney. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Received Reel 6061; 4/1778 pp97C,119C & 140C) 1824, 10 June – “Notice.-I hereby Caution the Public not to give Credit to my Wife, Isabella Simpson, as I will not be accountable for any Debts she may contract after this Notice. June 9th, 1824. THOMAS SIMPSON.” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 10/06/1824, p3) 1824, 10 June – Isabell (sic) SIMPSON, free, was admitted to Sydney Gaol on 10/06/1824, charged with being drunk & disorderly & “leaving her husband & house”. Isabella was sentenced to 3 months hard labour at the Female Factory. (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Series: 2514; Item: 4/6428; Roll: 850.) 1825, 20 May – Thomas Simpson petitioned the Gov for mitigation of his sentence. He said he was tried at York with a life term. Received his TOL in 1819 & for the last 6 years has been a “subordinate Constable”. After nearly 13 years in the Colony he had always been on good behaviour. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Petition Fiche 3252; 4/1875 p207) 1826, 15 April – “THE POLICE. A man named Darcey, free, and a shattered frail and worn out fair one, named Isabella Simpson, were each fined 5s. to the poor; the man paid the fine, but the female was necessitated to expiate her offence by being exposed as a public spectacle in the stocks for six hours.” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 15/04/1826, p2) 1826, April – “April l8.-Isabella Simpson, free, charged and convicted of being a notorious common prostitute ; to the factory for 3 months.” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 22/04/1826, p2) 1826, 4 Nov. – “POLICE REPORTS. SYDNEY. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1.—Isabella Simpson, a free body, who put Messieurs the constables to more than ordinary trouble, on the preceding night, to restrain her riotous propensities, arising from her too free libations, was sentenced in the usual mulet of five shillings, for the benefit of her poorer fellow mortals. Bella certainly repented of her afternoon's folly, but, according to the old adage, " repentance comes too late when all is spent," and no dollar being forthcoming, an order was made out, whereby she was entitled to enjoy the full benefit of the sun in a certain wooden machine called the stocks, for the allotted period of two hours.” (Source: Sydney Gazette, 04/11/1826, p3) 1826, 26 Dec. – Isabella SIMPSON, free, was admitted to Sydney Gaol on 26/12/1826, charged with being a “notorious drunkard”. Isabella was sentenced to “the 3rd class” at the Female Factory. (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Series: 2514; Item: 4/6430; Roll: 851.) 1827, 31 Aug. – Isabella SIMPSON, free, was admitted to Sydney Gaol on 31/08/1827, charged with being a “common prostitute”. Isabella was sentenced to “the 3rd class” for 3 months at the Female Factory. (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Series: 2514; Item: 4/6429; Roll: 850.) 1828, 14 Oct. – Isabella SIMPSON, free, was admitted to Sydney Gaol on 14/10/1828, charged with being a “drunken prostitute”. Isabella was sentenced to 28 days at the Female Factory. (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Series: 2514; Item: 4/6430; Roll: 851.) 1828 Census: Isabella BLAND, 37, FS, Brox, 7 years, prot, laundress, Cumberland St Sydney (B1391) & her husband – Thomas SIMPSON, 37, CP, Fortune 1813, life, prot, Airds (S1004) [Thomas was living with George Simpson (his brother), aged 33, AP, Fortune 1813, life, prot, farmer, Airds & his wife Ann, 23, BC & their 3 children] 1839, 26 Sept. – Isabella SIMPSON, came per ship Brox.. 1814, native of Newcastle upon Tyne, prot., servant, was admitted to Sydney Gaol on 26/09/1839, for being a “drunkard”. Isabella was sentenced to solitary confinement for 24 hours. (Source: SRNSW Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Series: 2515; Item: X843; Roll: 1864.) NSW BDM: 1) Isabella Bland married Thomas Simpson at St Mathews C of E, Windsor, on 29 Nov 1816. (Thomas Simpson, Abode: Wilberforce, Signed; & Isabella Bland, Abode: Wilberforce, Signed X; married 14 Jan 1816, registered St Matthew's Church of England Windsor by Banns by Rev Cartwright; Witness: William Sharp, Signed X; Witness: John Downing Wood, Signed. Source: St Matthew's Church of England, Windsor NSW: Church Register - Marriages; ML ref: Reel SAG 53, published in St Matthews Church of England Windsor NSW: Parish Registers 1810 to 1856 'A Complete Transcription', by Lake Macquarie Family History Group Inc, 2003 & V1816-1886-3A) 2) No record of children born to the couple. 3) Was she the Isabella Bland, aged 54, who died at the Benevolent Asylum on 24 Feb 1844? Records say she was FBS, arrived per ship Sovereign, buried 26 Feb by Rev Kemp at St Lawrence C of E, Sydney. (V1844-177-29) 4) Thomas Simpson died ? Jess’ Girls - SAG:  1814 – Muster  1825 – as Simpson, FS, FF, Parra  1828 – Census  4/3494 – banns to marry Thomas Simpson 1816  Mutch – m Thomas Simpson 1816  Mutch – Thomas Simpson, constable of Windsor, drowned 17 June 1816. Service held at St Johns Parra.[Note: Incorrect info!] Convict Indent & Pardon: Thomas Simpson arr per ship Fortune (2) in Sydney on 11 June 1813. He had been tried at York County Assize on 7 March 1812 & was given a life term. He was a native of York, a miller & labourer, aged 23, 5’8” tall, fair complexion, black hair & hazel eyes. TL – 1730 & CP – 104. Thomas received his CP on 17/08/1825. He said he had been born in 1789, had dark ruddy complexion, dark brown hair & hazel eyes, & 5’9” tall. (Source: SRNSW Copies of Conditional Pardons Registered; Reel Number: 774; Roll Number: 149; Volume Number: 4/4430.) 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

342

Maureen Withey on 15th July 2024

NOTICE.—I hereby Caution the Public not to give Credit to my Wife, Isabella Simpson, as I will not be accountable for any Debts she may contract after this Notice. June 9th, 1824. THOMAS SIMPSON. Sydney Gazette, 10 Jun 1824. Reg No 177/1844. Death of Isabella Simpson, age 55. District MF.- Church of England, Sydney, St Lawrence’s.

342

Maureen Withey on 9th July 2024

Permission to Marry. Govt. House, Sydney. 8 Jan 1816. The following person having banns published in the Parish Church of Windsor by the Rev. Robt. Cartwright, as certified by him under date the 6th instant, he has my permission to celebrate the proposed marriages between the parties, viz: Thomas Simpson, prisoner per Fortune and Isabella Bland, prisoner per Broxbournebury. Signed, L. Macquarie.

48

jennifer burgess on 27th July 2022

Married Thomas Simpson 1816. Isabella Simpson d 1844 age 54

342

Maureen Withey on 23rd July 2019

Colonial Secretary Index: BLAND, Isabella. Per "Broxbornebury", 1814 1816 Jan 8 - Re permission to marry at Windsor (Reel 6004; 4/3494 p.310) 1823 Jan 29 - On list of persons who obtained certificates of freedom during the last week; duplicate (Reel 6039; 4/424 p.130)