Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Joseph Bridge was transported on the Fortune And Alexander, departing 31st Dec 1805 and arriving 12th Jul 1806 with 309 passengers.
Fortune And Alexander (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/1, Page Number 372 |
| 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
"Joseph Bridge is my 5th Great Grandfather"
"Joseph Bridge is my 5th great-grandfather."
"father in law of first cousin 4 times removed"
"Joseph & Elizabeth Bridge are 5th great grandparents to my two sons on their father's side."
Photos
No photos have been added for Joseph Bridge.
Convict Notes
New South Wales Certificate of Freedom. [NRS 12208] Register of Certificate of Freedoms 1814 - Ticket of Leave No; 79/711 Name; Joseph Bridge Ship and arrival year; Fortune - 1806 Date of Certificate; Dated 31 Jan 1814 - Delivered 30 June 1814 Description and Remarks; Parramatta Native County; Lancashire Trade; Cotton weaver Age; 33 years [1781] Height; 5 ft 8 1/4 in Complexion; Ruddy fair Hair; Dark Brown Eyes; Hazel
Regarding the crime for which Joseph was originally sentenced:.... The Tottington, Lancashire, Manor Rolls indicate that the Bridge family had lived there for centuries. Joseph himself was baptised nearby at the Holcombe Emmanuel Church of England chapel in 1776. Around 1800, some if not all of the family moved to Little Bolton, Lancaster. It was while living and working as a weaver in his rented cottage at Little Bolton that Joseph was arrested with his brother, James, at Rochdale, Lancaster. The brothers were charged with uttering and disposing of a forged banknote which James had apparently received some days earlier in payment for some clothing he had sold. Following sentence at Lancaster Assizes on 11 Aug 1804, James was hanged on 8 Sep at Lancaster Castle while Joseph was held for transportation for life. A petition of 2 Oct 1804 signed by the leading clergy and gentlemen of the Town and Parish of Bolton was presented in London by the two local members of Parliament. It failed to secure a reduction of the sentence. Justice Chambre, after reviewing the case, reported on 19 Feb 1805 that he could not represent Joseph as deserving more favourable treatment. Joseph was then transported on the ship 'Fortune', arriving in the colony on 12 Jul 1806.
In the 1828 Census several of the family can be identified. Page 61.... Four of the sons... [Ref B2257] Bridge, Benjamin, BC, Servant for Cartwright at Cabramatta. [Ref B2258] Bridge, Thomas, 17, Servant for Cordeaux at Minto. [Ref B2259] Bridge, William, 9, at the Male orphange, Cabramatta. [Ref B2260] Bridge, Joseph, 14, Labourer for Coghill at Kirkham. also Joseph himself at Moreton Bay Penal settlement. [Ref B2266] Bridge, Joseph, Fortune, 5 years at Moreton Bay. ## There seems no mention of Elizabeth or indeed of the other three boys, James (20), John (18) and George (10). However, they were all in the colony and lived on to become married and raise families of their own. Elizabeth herself did not die until 1872, aged about 84 years.
After living for some 18 years at Parramatta, Joseph and Elizabeth were arrested at Melville, out from Parramatta, and convicted of receiving stolen goods. Joseph was sentenced to seven years transportation while Elizabeth's like sentence was subsequently remitted. Joseph spent more than a year in prison in Sydney, including some time on the prison hulk 'Phoenix', awaiting transfer to Norfolk Island. Setting out in Dec 1826 for Norfolk Island in the brig 'Wellington', Joseph was destined never to serve his sentence there. Following the mutiny on this vessel, in which he took no part, and the ship's recapture in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, he was returned to Sydney to spend more time on the 'Phoenix'. Joseph petitioned on 12 Mar 1827 for a mitigation of his sentence and asked not to be sent to a penal settlement. He stressed his long residence at Parramatta and that he had raised a family of seven sons by honesty and industry. While his sentence was reduced to five years, he was sent to Moreton Bay Penal Settlement, again on the 'Wellington'. He arrived there on 20 July 1827. On 19 Jan 1829, because of their father's ill health and failing strength, five of his sons petitioned the Governor for his return to the family. It was successful but unfortunately Joseph died shortly after on 15 Feb 1829, aged 53, when in hospital at Moreton Bay suffering from dysentry.
1825 Colonial Secretary's Papers: NSW Supreme Court. Convicted along with wife Betty, for theft and receiving stolen goods. Sentence 7 years transportation (Norfolk Island). Betty later had the remainder of her sentence remitted after plea. Children sent to Male Orphanage School, Liverpool NSW. 1828 Moreton Bay - hard labour.
Received an absolute Pardon in 1825 or while living in Rose Hill Settlement Parramatta, NSW with wife (Elizabeth "Betty" Buffey and children. Although it seems something may have happened and the sentence was changed to be sent from Port Macquarie to Moreton Bay Penal Settlement. He arrived in 1829 at Moreton Bay only to die there of dysentery. Conditions were pretty bad back then.
Married Elizabeth 'Betty" Buffey. Died in Moreton Bay Penal Settlement of Disentry.