Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Mary Bleeze was transported on the America, departing 30th Dec 1830 and arriving 9th May 1831 with 198 passengers.
1829 Voyage - Source; The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser. 20 Aug 1829. Page 2. Shipping Intelligence. On Tuesday last arrived, from London, the ship America, Captain Donald, with 168 male prisoners. Surgeon Superintendent, Alexander Stewart, Esq. R. N. The guard consists of a detachment of the 63d Regiment, under the command of Adjutant Montgomery. Passengers, Mrs. Montgomery and two children. 168 Mustered, 8 Died on voyage; Total 176 Embarked. 1831 Voyage - Source; The Hobart Town Courier. SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1831 Arrived on Monday the 9th. instant the convict ship America, Robert Donald, Esq. Commander, from London 6th. January, with, 186 females. Passengers, Mr. Capon, Chief Constable of the Island, Mr. and Mrs. Davies, Surgeon and Superintendent, Dr. Thomson, R. N.; brings also some Commissariat stores. The Surgeons Journal for 1830-1831 voyage: https://www.femaleconvicts.org.au/docs/ships/SurgeonsJournal_America1831.pdf
America (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/7, Page Number 539 (272). Tasmanian Archives - convict records. |
| 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 |
Claims
"Mary Walker Bleeze/Blease/Bleese. She absconded a few times while still in custody. The last time she absconded, she was located on Bruny Island with Thomas Cowen, and a child Mary Ann. The child and Mary Walker Bleeze, were then transported to the Hobart Female Factory in South Hobart. The oral history says that Mary Walker Bleeze only mothered 2 of the children, and that the other 4 were Thomas's to an Aboriginal lady. Do not know where she is buried."
Photos
No photos have been added for Mary Bleeze.
Convict Notes
1833/1834 - Source; AF586-1-1. Baptism Solemnized in the Female House of Correction. Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land. No; 156 When Born; 29 Sept 1834 When Baptized; 9 Jan 1834 ** as per register Childs Christian Name; Mary Ann Parents Name; Mary Bleeze Ship Name; America FRIENDS OF THE ORPHAN SCHOOLS Orphan Number: 362 Orphan: Charles BLEEZE Mother: BLEEZE/BLEESE, Mary Father: , Mother's ship: America Father's ship: Age when admitted: 5yrs Date admitted: 21 May 1833 Date discharged: 28 Dec 1841 Institutions(s): Queens Orphan School Discharged to: mother Remarks: mother married Thomas William Cowen References: SWD24, 28, CSO5/86/1885, CSO5/191/4635 https://www.orphanschool.org.au/showorphan.php?orphan_ID=362
Hobart Town Courier, 7 July 1837, The period for which the undermentioned persons were transported, expiring at the date placed after their respective names, certificates of their freedom may be obtained then, or at any subsequent period, upon application at the Muster Master's Office, Hobart town, or at that of a Police Magistrate in the interior : Mary Bleeze, alias Walker 14th July 1837, America;
n.b. Mary Bleeze/Bleese, nee Walker does not appear to have sailed on the Liverpool but the 'America' to VDL.
Mary BLEEZE (nee Walker) was convicted at Nottingham, England on 14 July 1830 for stealing clothes. Previous offence fro receiving stolen property. 7yr transportation sentence. Sent to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) per the ship 'America' arriving 9 May 1831. Married woman - husband Charles Bleeze, a traveller for Mr. Dakin of Warrington. Child - Charles Bleeze, aged abt 3yrs - accompanied his mother on the voyage. Aged 25yrs; can read & write; house servant; Protestant. VDL: Child, Charles admitted to Queens Orphanage, New Town, Hobart on 21 May 1833, aged 5yrs (a requirement by the Govt of the day). Returned to his mother's care 28 Dec 1841 (now settled and remarried, in Tasmania). (ref. SWD24/28) Charles grew up, became a farmer, married and had a family. Application for permission to remarry: 18 Nov 1835 - to Thomas COWAN (listed as "Free" which may mean free settler or free by servitude). (ref. 52/1/1 no. 24)(note: remarriages were permitted, even encouraged, as persons transported vary rarely could return to Britain.) Marriage: 2 Feb 1836 - Mary Blease, convict, per 'America', spinster to Thomas Cowan, bachelor. St. David's, Hobart. (ref. 36/1/3 no. 3135)