Robert Bright

Level 29

Michelle Owl on 28th May 2021

Robert Bright was a native of Surrey, England. The son of James & Elizabeth Bright. On the 14th August 1837, Robert was tried in the Central Criminal Court, London for receiving stolen property & Pawning the items. Robert was sentenced to 7 years transportation to Australia. Robert arrived in Sydney aboard the Bengal Merchant on 21st July 1938 after a voyage of 14 weeks. His convict indent gives an excellent description: he could read and write: trade: ladies shoemaker Height: 5 foot 4 1/2 Inches tall. Shallow complexion, hair and eyes brown, upper front tooth missing: scars on left eyebrow, mark of a boil on left side of neck, small mole on left breast bone. Robert had been married twice in England, firstly to Martha Gordon in 1833. He was widowed and remarried Ann Powell 137. He left 1 son and 1 daughter from is 1st marriage in London. 1844 he was working for John Hearne (ex Convict Mary II) at his property near Bigga NSW. On 31st December 1844 at St Saviours Church Goulburn he married John & Mary Hearne's Daughter Frances. Frances had given birth to a son shortly before her 14th birthday to Robert Bright. They lived, farmed & Grazed around the Bigga and upper Tarlo area. They had 13 children. 1889 his wife Frances aged 57 died suddenly. Robert Newman Bright Died at his sons home, aged 86. He had been ailing for a number of years. His remains are interred in the Church of England Portion of Spicer's Creek Cemetery NSW Australia. Cause of death Senile Decay. NOTES: His Eldest son John Bright born 1844 joined the NSW Police Force and was working with the Mounted Police in Goulburn under John Booral Jaggers who had been given the task of capturing Bushranger Ben Hall and John Gilbert. 1865 Young John shot and killed John Gilbert and received a reward of 130 pounds for his effort. The Bright Family should be very proud of their Convict Ancestor Robert Newman Bright.

Level 29

Michelle Owl on 8th May 2020

Robert Bright arrived in Sydney aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on the 21st July 1838 after a voyage of 14 weeks. His convict indent gives a excellent description; he could read and write; trade: Ladies Shoemaker; height: 5 foot 4 1/2 inches; sallow complexion, hair and eyes brown; upper front tooth missing; scars on left eyebrow; left thumb and left side of head; mark of a boil on left side of neck; small mole on right breast bone. It also revealed that he had a son and daughter, obviously from his first marriage. His crime - On the 14th August 1837, Robert was tried in the Central Criminal Court, London for receiving stolen property and pawning the same; i) a sugar basin and tongs - value 2 pounds, 12 shillings. ii) a watch - value 15 shillings, iii) a chain - value 6 D. iv) one seal - value 2 shillings. The thefts were carried out on the 12th July and for this crime, Robert was sentenced to 7 years transportation. Robert Bright was a native of Surrey, England and was baptized on the 9th April 1815 at St Saviours Church, Southwark, the son of James and Elizabeth Bright of Norfolk Street, Southwark. Robert had been married twice in England, firstly to Martha Gordon at St Mary, Newington, Surrey on the 2nd December 1833. He was widowed and remarried in the same parish on the 6th June 1837, to Ann Powell. In Australia, Robert married for a 3rd time to Frances Hearne (Her father John Hearne was a convict arriving on "The Mary II"). Shortly after Frances's 14th Birthday, she gave birth to a son John. Robert may have been working for Frances's father John Hearne at the time they met as his sentence expired August 1844. They married 31st December 1844 in a ceremony held at St Saviours Anglican Church, Goulburn, NSW. They lived in the Bigga area for a number of years before moving the Breakfast Creek around 1850. In December 1857, Robert purchased portion 7 (28 acres 2 roods) at Breakfast Creek. They had 13 children. His wife Frances died after suddenly collapsing at home while making bread on 12th July 1889. She is laid to rest in Upper Taro Cemetery, NSW. Robert spent his final 6 years of his life residing with son, Robert and died 2nd July 1899 at Spicers Creek (35kms from Wellington NSW) and is laid to rest in the Anglican Cemetery, Spicers Creek. He was aged 85.

Level 1

Jill Campbell on 11th January 2012

Left behind a wife and two children in London, England