Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
Joseph Bradley was transported on the General Hewett, departing 31st Jul 1813 and arriving 7th Feb 1814 with 301 passengers.
The Windham and General Hewett left England the 24th of August, in convoy with the Wansted, Capt. Moore, who sailed from hence last Thursday for Batavia; the General Hewett arrived at Rio the 17th of November, and sailed again the 2d of December. Together with the military detachments, she received on board for this Settlement 300 male prisoners, of whom we are sorry to report the death of 35, whose names we shall endeavour to procure an account of, and publish in the next Gazette, for the information of their friends and families in Great Britain. Sydney Gazette, Sat 12 Feb 1814.
General HewettReferences
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 116 |
| 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 |
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Convict Notes
Family connections for Joseph (Bradley) are: BRADLEY CCONVICTdone Joseph (Bradley) was born about 1789 to a respected family. He was convicted w/1other of stealing watches etc of Walter (Mayers), at Cheltenham on 24 2 1813, at Gloucester Assizes in April 1813, was sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW on 7 2 1814 after a 4month voyage on GENERAL HEWETT. He married Mary (Yardley her first marriage) on 14 8 1815. He became chief clerk for Parramatta Chief Magistrate until 1824. In October 1828 he was convicted w/1other of forging a deed of ownership of property in Kent St & sentenced to death. He died on 20 10 128 age39 executed with full acceptance & some remorse. [Some details taken from this Website] Mary (Yar/dley) was born in 1799. She lived secondly with Joseph (Bradley). Details of Mary (Yar/dley)s family are given in entry for William (Yardley SURPRISE 1790) on this Website. Joseph (Bradley) & Mary (Yar/dley) produced 1child: 1.Louisa Jane (Bradley) was born on 17 10 1821 at Parramatta & baptised on 29 9 1822 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She died on 21 10 1822 age1+. Reference: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.
Executed October 20 1828. The Sydney Monitor (NSW : 1828 - 1838) Mon 27 Oct 1828 Page 4 Text: "EXECUTION. Monday forenoon last presented the spectacle of no fewer than nine criminals being led to Execution for their crimes.... Patrick Troy and James Bradley for forgery. A great concourse of persons collected together on the rocks overlooking the rear of the gaol. Great interest prevailed among all classes to witness the exit of one of the unfortunate men, Bradley, a man of good family and connexions in London, and brought up in affluence, but always a dissolute character. ... After about a quarter of an hours further prayer, one of the culprits, Bradley, spake something to Dr Lang who was reading to him, and then stepping one pace forward, addressed the Sheriff and asked permission to say a few words. This the Sheriff immediately assented to. Bradley then spake nearly as follows: "My fellow men, I am now about to suffer for the crime of which I have been convicted, I now own the justice of my sentence. I acknowledge that I deserve death; I have deserved it indeed long ago, but it is only now that Justice has overtaken me. Mine, I can assure you, has been a life of continued sin and crime, but I thank God it has been no worse I die contented; my mind has been prepared for this solemn scene (here the culprit seemed affected). My friends, it is generally expected I know on occasions of this kind, that men should make an open avowal of all their errors through life. It may well be enough to do this; But there are powerful inducements with me not so to act. I once held a place of credit. I was chief clerk to the Parramatta Bench of Magistrates. I had then an opportunity from the confidence reposed in me, to indulge in crime almost with impunity; at all events with little fear of detection. I have been guilty of many crimes of the same nature as that for which I am about to suffer, but I will not reveal names or incidents. What I hope is, those who are aware of what I am alluding to, will benefit from my sad fate, and be at length convinced, that honesty is the best policy for all mankind. My friends, all I have now to beg of you is, and this is the request of a dying man, that you will offer up your prayers to the Almighty to have compassion on us all, and to save our immortal souls". The wretched man then closed his eyes in mental prayer; presently after the cap was drawn over his face, as well as those of his fellow sufferers. The Ministers took their leave, recommending them to the mercy of God in their extremity, and descended the scaffold. The platform then fell, and the unhappy wretches were launched into a dread eternity. They struggled a little; Troy died instantaneously; there were not the slightest movement in his body. Bradley was convulsed for some seconds; the others exhibited but little animation. The bodies after being suspended the usual time were lowered down, and deposited in the coffins. Bradley's body was conveyed away in a hearse; Troy's was also taken away by his friends for interment... Troy was formerly a constable in the Sydney Police; he has left a wife and five children. He was always taken aforetime to be an honest, sober, and industrious man; his conviction of such a crime therefore, afforded surprise to those who knew him."
October 1828: Found Guilty of Forging a deed of gift for a house. Sentenced to Death... The Sydney Monitor (NSW : 1828 - 1838) Sat 11 Oct 1828 Page 3 Text: "Joseph Bradley and Patrick Troy, convicted of forging a deed of gift of a house, situate in Kent Street Sydney, and purporting to be a gift of such property by one Patrick McKew, deceased, were ordered for execution. The Chief Justice, who pronounced sentence in this case, cautioned the unfortunate culprits against entertaining the most distant hope that their sentence would be averted."
/Colonial Secretary Index. BRADLEY, Joseph. Per "General Hewitt", 1814; clerk to the Magistrates, Parramatta. 1817 Dec 9 Clerk to the Magistrates, Parramatta. Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3174; 4/1850 p.33) 1820 Aug 10 Countersigned printed copy of Proclamation on the accession of King George IV; at Parramatta (Reel 6049; 4/1745 p.129) 1822 Jan 24 Clerk to the Magistrates, Parramatta. Re enquiry concerning Robert Stewart (Reel 6053; 4/1756 p.31) 1822 May 27 Clerk to the Magistrates, Parramatta. Evidence in proceedings against John Hendle (Reel 6055; 4/1760 p.15) 1823 Oct 31 Memorial (Reel 6059; 4/1773 p.49) 1823 Dec 2 Requesting attention to his memorial (Reel 6059; 4/1773 pp.95-96c) 1823 Dec 6 Re his salary (Reel 6011; 4/3509 p.663) 1824 Jul 22, Aug 24 Former clerk to the Magistrates, Parramatta. Requesting remuneration for services (Reel 6061; 4/1780 p.216) 1824 Sep 23 On return of wheat and maize on hand in the Districts of Bathurst and Melville (Reel 6061; 4/1780 p.291a) 1825 Mar 10 Witness to signing of articles of co-partnership for Macquarie Tavern (Reel 6017; 4/5782 p.321) 1825 Oct 17 Testifying that John Watson was promised an annuity by Governor Macquarie (Reel 6064; 4/1788 p.45) 1825 Nov 1 Former clerk to the Magistrates, Parramatta. Requesting payment of expenses incurred during investigation of H Douglas (Reel 6064; 4/1788 p.87). Reply, 11 Nov (Reel 6015; 4/3515 p.579)
The King against Burke Jackson and Joseph Bradley.— — Mr. Harris stated the indictment the jury, which charged the Defendants with having obtained from Mr. Walter Mayers, Cheltenham, goldsmith, two watches, and a diamond ring, of the value 781. under false pretences, with intent to cheat and defraud the said Walter Mayers of the same. Mr. Hughes, who was also of Counsel for the Prosecution, briefly stated the facts, which he said had no doubt would fully satisfy the minds of the jury the guilt of the prisoners. The first witness called was the prosecutor, Mayers, who stated, that the prisoners came to his shop in Cheltenham, the 24th of Feb. last, and agreed to purchase two gold watches and a diamond ring for the of 781. —that he was to take the said watches and ring the of the prisoners at No. 4, the High-street, when they would give him the money for them—That at the time appointed, he took the watches and ring to the prisoners, who instead paying for them, one the prisoners (Bradley} drew draft upon upon Messrs. Wright and Selby, bankers, of London, for the amount. ... ... The jury immediately returned a verdict of Guilty. The Judge then asked what they had to state why sentence should not passed upon them, upon which Mr. Bradley addressed the Court, and was afterwards followed by Mr. Jackson, both of whom stated they had no intention of cheating the prosecutor. The Judge, in a most feeling, and impressive manner, addressed the prisoners, stating that they had been convicted on evidence so clear, as to leave no doubt in his mind, or the mind of any person present, of their guilt—that it was most painful him see young men, of so apparent respectability, and whose education ought to have shown them better conduct, in the situation they were—associated with felons of the description and he remarked, with feeling, on the distress and pain they had brought upon their friends by such abandoned conduct; and he then sentenced them to be transported for the term of 7 years. The prisoners, during the whole time, conducted themselves with proper decorum, and took notes of the evidence, which they occasionally handed over their counsel.— The Court was uncommonly crowded, and them general feeling of regret, at seeing young men of respectable connexions, in so degraded a situation. Cheltenham Chronicle, 8 Apr 1813.