Sarah Prosser

F, #4457, b. circa 1801, d. 20 June 1830
Last Edited29 Mar 2025
Birth*Sarah Prosser was born circa 1801 at England.1 
Marriage*She married Samuel Bradley, son of Thomas Bradley and Thamer Johnson, on 18 May 1830 at St David's, Hobart, TasmaniaG; Rev Mr Bedford ;reg: 1400**.2 
Death*Sarah Prosser died on 20 June 1830 at Clarence Plains, Tasmania; reg: 2349**. 
Burial*She was buried at Saint Matthews Anglican Cemetery, Rokeby, Tasmania.3 

Family

Samuel Bradley b. 21 Dec 1803, d. 10 May 1869

Citations

  1. [S518] Elaine Green,Australind, WA.
  2. [S118] Desmond Tatchell, online www.ausiebox.com.au/ace/convict.html.
  3. [S632] Find A Grave, online findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/272594442/sarah-bradley

Mary Curnock

F, #4458, b. 4 April 1785, d. April 1852
Father*William Curnock1
Mother*Mary (?)1
Last Edited30 Jun 2021
Birth*Mary Curnock was born on 4 April 1785 at Brentford, Middlesex, EnglandG.2,3 
She was the daughter of William Curnock and Mary (?)1 
BaptismMary Curnock was baptized on 1 May 1785 at Christ Church, Spitalfields, Tower Hamlets, Middlesex, EnglandG; 27 days.3 
Marriage*She married George Mortimer, son of John Mortimer and Hanna Newman, on 27 April 1805 at St Anne's, Soho, London, EnglandG
Death*Mary Curnock died in April 1852 at St Pancras, London, EnglandG.4 

Family

George Mortimer b. 3 Oct 1772, d. 1869
Child
MRCA*Mary Curnock and George Mortimer is/are the Most Recent Common Ancestor(s) of Neil James Bradley and 13 known descendant(s) who have DNA matches to Neil. 
Relationship4th great-grandmother of Neil James Bradley
ChartsIra Bradley Ancestors
George Bradley Pedigree

Citations

  1. [S309] Ancestry.com, online www.ancestry.com, London Metropolitan Archives, Christ Church, Spitalfields, Register of baptisms, Jul 1763-Jul 1795, P93/CTC1/002.
  2. [S118] Desmond Tatchell, online www.ausiebox.com.au/ace/convict.html.
  3. [S309] Ancestry.com, online www.ancestry.com, London England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1538-1812 P93/CTC1 Item 002.
  4. [S309] Ancestry.com, online www.ancestry.com, MarkDennisGeeves.

Nathaniel Markland1

M, #4460, b. 1691, d. 1769
Father*Richard Markland2 b. c 1640
Mother*Phoebe Holden b. 1662, d. Nov 1728
Last Edited28 Jun 2021
Birth*Nathaniel Markland was born in 1691 at Pendleton, Lancashire, EnglandG.2 
He was the son of Richard Markland and Phoebe Holden.2 
BaptismNathaniel Markland was baptized on 6 March 1691 at Eccles, Lancashire, EnglandG.2 
Death*He died in 1769 at Pendleton, Lancashire, EnglandG.2 
Burial*He was buried on 4 April 1769 at Eccles, Lancashire, EnglandG.3 

Family

Child
Relationship7th great-grandfather of Neil James Bradley
ChartsIra Bradley Ancestors
George Bradley Pedigree

Citations

  1. [S484] Ian McAlpine,Bradford, England.
  2. [S485] Jennifer Finch,NSW.
  3. [S309] Ancestry.com, online www.ancestry.com, Lancashire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 - Bishops Transcripts Drm/2/85a.

James Moore

M, #4473, b. circa 1815, d. 11 February 1889
Father*William Moore b. c 1795
Mother*Hannah Berry b. 6 Feb 1785
Last Edited29 Mar 2025
Birth*James Moore was born circa 1815 at Keighley, Yorkshire, England
He was the son of William Moore and Hannah Berry
Marriage*James Moore married Marianne Mortimer, daughter of George Mortimer and Mary Curnock, on 25 August 1873 at Heywood, VictoriaG; C/E**. 
Death*James Moore died on 11 February 1889 at Drumborg, VictoriaG; Gall Stones; reg: 16805**. 
Burial*He was buried on 13 February 1889 at Drumborg, VictoriaG

Family

Marianne Mortimer b. 1815, d. 14 Nov 1889
Occupation*James Moore was a Labourer, Farmer, Contractor. 
Convicted*He was Convicted of on 3 July 1833 at Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Immigration*He immigrated on 4 January 1834 to Hobart, TasmaniaG, on the ship The Moffat. He was assigned Convict No. 1210. 
Ticket of Leave*His Ticket of Leave was granted on 27 March 1840 at Hobart, TasmaniaG
Conditional Pardon*His Conditional Pardon was granted on 28 October 1845 at Hobart, TasmaniaG
Note*Notes from Bev Moore

The origins of James Moore, for some years, remained a mystery.

Included below, are accounts that have been passed down through generations of the family, and given in turn to me by some of James Moore's grandchildren.

Among these accounts were several facts, that to me, at least, did not ring true. However I feel it is important that all have the opportunity to read the facts as most family believed them to be true. Where research took us will follow these accounts.

Account 1:
The first information obtained came from two of James' grand-daughters, Daisy Rundell and May Price - both now deceased.

"Both grandparents came from London. James was second son of a well-to-do English family. James, at the age of 12 ran away to sea. After travelling the world for several years, he joined Dutton's Whaling Fleet in Tasmania. He came with the Fleet to Portland Bay, probably about 1830.
He was with the Fleet when the Henty's arrived in November 1834. After a lapse of years, unknown how many, he returned to Tasmania and there married, Marion Bradley nee Mortimer, a widow, who had four grown children - Charles, Rosina, Tamar and Thomas.
James returned to the Western District and in 1849 settled at Mt Rouse (Penshurst) where on the 16 November 1850 their first son, William was born. At the age of three months, William was taken to Geelong for registration of his birth and baptism. They travelled by horse drawn dray through blackened Victoria as it was a few days after "Black Thursday" in February 1851.
James always maintained he was an English gentleman and also maintained his portion of the family estate would go to Chancery. One of his sons, James, made inquiries about same but was informed he was not the eldest son and therefore had no claim. William, being the eldest was not concerned about the money.
Marion was also English and older than James. She was known to claim she had "Blue Blood" and that her ancestry went back to French Royalty.
In 1852 James and Marion moved from Mt Rouse and took up a small holding at Drumborg. Here they lived in a small home. The family were supported by James doing various jobs, mainly fencing and shearing for the larger settlers. He never acquired more than sustenance for his family but he never returned to the sea. They remained at Drumborg until their deaths. Both are buried in the Drumborg Cemetery.
A family Bible was destroyed when their home was burnt during bushfires. In the Bible was a character reference belonging to James. The only thing saved was a hand painted inkwell belonging to Marion."
Source:
The above is in a letter written by Daisy in the 1980's.

Account 2

This document was given to me by Allan Moore in January 2000. It too was hand written by Daisy Rundell. My guess, judging by the writing, would have been written late in Daisy's life.

"James Moore was established in Dutton's Whaling Industry, Portland Bay, when Henty arrived in 1834. He was an efficient harpoonist. He was, by then, an adult, having run away from home at the age of 12 years. He travelled, working at sea for 18 years. Being the second son of an Entailed English Family Estate (as all authentic records were burnt in house fires, (1910 Sunnyside, 1939 Uncle Jim's house) mostly now only heresay.
However his name was James Moore and I understand his father was William.
The following record for what it's worth:
Your grandfather being the eldest son of the said James, was notified from England, that an amount of money was being held in Trust for him to claim. This he refused to follow up as he would not travel by sea. His one experience was from Portland to Melbourne, he was so sick that he left the boat at Warrnambool. Our Uncle Jim had inquiries made by lawyers but being the youngest son had no claim. It was then placed in Treasury.
During one of his sojourns between Portland and Tasmania, he married a widow with four children and presumably brought them over by whaling boat. Your grandfather was born at Mt Rouse, some miles inland from Portland, at the foot of Mt Rouse, now known as Penshurst, on the 16th November 1850. At the age of 2 years he came, with his parents and remained on their selected site, which he later purchased and built his home adjacent to his parents, where he brought his bride, Flora Matheson. They travelled by horseback (grandmother side saddle.)
The nearest Church was at Portland. Here they lived their whole life together rearing seven children and each reaching their 90th year."

Account 3:


In a letter date 12/12/98 from Eileen Bell - daughter of James Moore and Emily Holmes. Eilleen recalled the following facts being told to her by her mother.

"Following the death of Marion Moore, James Snr. went to live with James and Emily. One night he became very ill and by morning had passed away.
The night that James died, he had said to Emily:
"You will never want as I have money in the Chancery in England."
In later years, Mr. Learmonth, an auctioneer in Hamilton, for whom Eileen's brother Frank worked, told Frank there was a notice in the Bulletin re money being held in Chancery waiting to be claimed. Also included was an address for replies.
Emily wrote and received advise that she must furnish the dates of birth of both James and Marion. The family had no records therefore the money could not be claimed. Emily kept all the papers and treasured them but they were lost in 1939 when bushfire took the family home and all their belongings."

Eileen also recalled another event related by her mother:
"Being weavers by trade the family worked a loom by hand. One day, while working, James said he had been using a hook of some description when an argument broke out between James and his sister. James lurched towards his sister and thinking he'd done her some damage, he ran away from home and came to Australia. He heard later that his sister was unharmed."

As the James Moore story unfolds, Eileen's mother's account of why he ran away from home is certainly a strong possibility.

Account 4:

On reading Vanda Saville's book -"Dear Friends Drumborg- Greenvale, Heart of the Shire of Portlanf, 1977"- several factors regarding the James Moore family do not appear to be correct. Vanda's sources for this information are unknown - we can only assume she spoke to May, Daisy and Eileen. I do not believe he was the James Thomas Moore referred to in the book.

Joy Moore obtained a copy of James and Marion's marriage certificate. This verified they married at Heywood in 1873. Yet, all their children were born between 1850 and 1861. The reason for this late marriage soon became apparent as Marion was not free to marry until her first husband, Samuel Bradley, had died. It was in 1869 that Samuel passed away at Langdon's Hill, Ballarat.
Their marriage had now become legitimate.

James' parents, according to his marriage certificate were William Moore , a Weaver and Hannah Berry.
William and Hannah married at Keighley, Yorkshire on the 15 December 1813.
No baptism was found for James but a daughter, Martha Moor (note
spelling) was baptised at Keighley on the 10 May 1814.

At this point a professional researcher in Yorkshire was engaged .
She endeavoured to find a baptism for James but with no luck. Nor was she able to find any reference to William and Hannah. She did come up with a theory that William Moore, the father of James, was a son of an Amey Moore. Amey, in turn was the daughter of John Moore and was baptized at Far Oxenhope on the 5 October 1762.
An Amey Moore did marry a David Wright at Keighley in the 15 February 1802.

At this point I ceased the search as it was becoming too expensive and I did not feel any real progress was being made.

Death Details:
James died aged 72 at Drumborg on the 11 February 1889. Cause of death was a Gall Stone. The informant was his son, James Moore.
The undertaker at his burial was J.C. Palethorpe and the Minister ? Kendall, Church of England. James had spent 10 years in Tasmania and 40 in Victoria.
Source: Death certificate purchased by Joy Moore.

It was after noting his ten years in Tasmania that I decided to investigate
the possibility of James being a convict.
"A convict as an ancestor"
Such a revelation today, brings excitement to family researchers rather than the unpleasant stigma which was attached to the term by earlier generations. Few of today's families, who can trace their ancestors to early settlement in Australia, are unable to avoid discovering convict ancestry in at least one of their descent lines. It is not something to be ashamed of as conditions were extremely harsh in England and people were forced to take desperate steps for survival. Punishment for what we would consider minor crimes today, was very harsh.

JAMES MOORE THE CONVICT

Convict Indent:
James Moore No. 1210
Trade: Farm Labourer
Height: 5 feet, two and one quarter inches
Complexion: Fresh
Age: 17 Head: Small Hair: Brown Whiskers: None
Eyebrows: Brown Visage: Small Eyes: Grey
Mouth: Small Chin: Small
Remarks: Mole on left cheek
Native Place: Keighley, Yorkshire
Source:
Archives Office of Tasmania - research by Richard Lord.

From Papers of his Trial at Bradford:

On the 17th April 1833, James Moore, in the company of Joshua Shaw, stole from the person of Samuel Atkinson, one gold sovereign to the value of one pound, a metal purse valued at sixpence and a second purse worth sixpence.
On the 23rd April 1833, the same pair stole from James Griffiths, one silver watch valued at one pound.
Their trials were held at Bradford on the 3rd July 1833, a verdict of guilty being given by the jury.
Their sentence - 14 years transportation.
Both gave their occupations as Labourers and their place of residence, Wakefield.
Source: Trial papers obtained by researcher in Yorkshire.

James arrived in Hobart aboard the "Moffat " on the 9th May 1834. He was aged 17, a Farm Labourer from Keighley, near Bradford. His first crime, stealing a pair of trousers saw him serve a term of nine months in prison.

Convict Documents - Archives Office of Tasmania -
Source: Researched by Richard Lord.

Three reports appear on each convict's record.
1, Gaol Report - Second conviction, a regular pickpocket.
Bad connections.

2. Hulk Report - (Hulks were old ships converted to prisons where the prisoners were held whislt awaiting transportation. Conditions on these hulks were often described as appalling.)
- Orderly, single, stated this offence of stealing money from
the person; once had conviction for stealing trousers.

3. Surgeon's Report - Behaved well.

Also on the report appear any convictions received whilst serving their term. Those sections of James' report which are readable appear below:
8 January 1837 - neglect of duty
26 November 1838 - neglect of duty and drunkedness - two days on
bread and water.

Ticket of Leave granted 27 March 1840.
A Ticket of Leave gave convicts permission to be employed or self-employed and to acquire property on the condition they resided in a specific district. Attendance at Church every week was compulsory as was appearing before the Magistate when required. The Ticket of Leave was usually issued after a convict had served a certain proportion of his/her sentence.

3 June 1840- Misconduct - being in a public place after hours
Reprimanded
12 Janaury 1841 - Absent from his service - 2 months hard labour
9 April 1841 - ......... cell 7 days
1 November 1841 - Misconduct - in attending a muster in a dirty state
48 hours solitary confinement
4 November 1844 - Misconduct - reprimanded
28 October 1844 - Recommended to the Queen for a Conditional Pardon
14 January 1845 - Conditional Pardon approved
Conditional Pardons were received on condition that the convict did not return to England. Once received, the Conditional Pardon freed convicts from their sentences.

James is thought to have been the James Moore who arrived in Victoria
aboard the "Swan" in June 1846.1 
ConvictConvicts

Citations

  1. [S88] Bev Moore Data,Melbourne.