Bella Janson

48

jennifer burgess on 14th August 2022

There is an Isabella Johnson on 1828 census age 51 F/S housekeeper at Lower Portland Head.

53

Beth Taylor on 29th October 2019

JANSON, Bella (or Isabella) (c1785-?) Tried - 21 March 1812 Lancaster Lent Assize Bella was before the Court in Lancaster for stealing calico in the bleaching-ground at Walton-le-Dale, in Lancashire. She was caught red-handed late one night with a bundle of part- bleached calico, later identified as belonging to a local company that laid out the pieces in a field overnight. Isabella was seen to be very drunk, which she later gave as her defence, saying she had no memory of what she had done. She was found guilty and sentenced to 14 years transportation. The gaoler was given instructions to provide the female prisoners from Lancaster extra clothing for the journey, such as shoes, stockings, handkerchiefs, shifts and a jacket. Isabella was first sent to New South Wales in 1812 on the Emu and finally reached Sydney in 1814 on the Broxbornebury. BC: 1785 Sentenced: 21/03/1812 Lancaster Lent Assize [see trial record from newspaper], to death, commuted to transportation for 14 years “Lancaster Lent Assize. Our Assizes did not conclude, at the Crown side, till yesterday morning, when the Hon. Baron Thomson passed the awful sentence of death on six prisoners, viz. Charles Sefton (aged 27), convicted last Assize for burglary; Margaret Cunningham (35) and Martha Entwisle (42) for uttering forged Bank notes; Marg. Cloyd (50) for sacrilege; and James Robinson (19) and Edmund Chadwick alias Barrow (25) for stealing cows. The following are the sentences of the other prisoners. Bella Janson (37) and Ann Lord (32) for robbing bleaching grounds; Thomas Rawstone (38) for having forged notes in his possession; and Mary Gleaves (35) for receiving stolen goods – fourteen years transportation….Jane White (28)…Daniel McLeece (54) for divers felonies, Seven years transportation….Thomas Gleaves (29) for manslaughter. Fined 1s and one months imprisonment…The Judge was pleased to reprieve the whole of those condemned before he left the town.” (Source: Lancaster Gazette, 04/04/1812, p3 & Supplement, 02/05/1812) Crime: Larceny in a bleaching field ALSO ON SHIP EMU IN 1812 1812 - “Whitehall, 24 Sept. 1812 Sir, The Ship Emu which is appointed to convey Convicts to New South Wales, is lying at Woolwich in readiness to receive the Female Convicts named in the Margin; I am therefore to signify to you His Royal Highness the Prince Regent’s Pleasure in the Name and on Behalf of His Majesty that you do, on or before the 2 Oct. next, cause such Convicts to be removed from the Gaol at Lancaster on board that Ship, if their Heath should be such as to allow of heir Sentences being carried into Execution; and that each Convict be cleanly and properly cloathed (sic), as also provided with the additional Articles of Wearing Apparel under mentioned, and accompanied with a Surgeon’s Certificate of their being free from any infectious Sistemper, and in other Respects in a good State of Health, otherwise they will not be received on board, but will be returned to the Person who brings them. I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, [Lord] Sidmouth One spare Jacket or Gown One spare Petticoat Two spare Shifts Two spare Handkerchiefs Two spare Pare of Stockings One spare pair of Shoes Isabella Anderson Ann Best Alice Tomlinson Margaret Procter Jane White Martha Entwistle Mary Cunningham Ann Lord Bella Janson Mary Gleaves Recd. from Thos. Bunce (?) Keeper of HM Gaol Lancaster, the 10 Convicts who are mentioned in the Margin. John Brown” (Source: Copy of document from Lancaster Castle Archive # TRAN/25) Previous Occupation: Housekeeper Age on Convict Indent (Broxbornebury): 39 1814 Muster: No record found. 5 January 1818 – Rev. Cowper applied to Gov. Macquarie on behalf of Isabella Hindson (?), prisoner per Broxbornebury, to marry John Moore, prisoner came by ship Admiral Gambier, & permission was granted to have Banns read. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers Reel 6005; 4/3497 p.277) [Note: No marriage record found in the BDM records] 1822 Muster: Isabella ANSON (?), con, Broxbornebury, 14 years, govt servant to M Bacon, Sydney (A00356) 1823-1825 Muster: Isabella ANSON (?), con, Broxbornebury, 14 years, govt servant to Mrs Bacon, Sydney (10500) 1828 Census: Isabella JOHNSON (?), 51, FS, Broxbornebury, 14 years, prot, housekeeper to Michael Foley, Lower Portland Head (J0466) [Michael Foley, 41, FS, Archduke Charles 1815, Catholic, farmer Lower Portland Head, 15 acres all cleared and cultivated (F0962)] No record of marriage or death found for Bella Janson. 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