A5 Arrival Norfolk Island 1803 The Buffalo - Elizabeth Bradshaw's Lands

Elizabeth Bradshaw on Norfolk Island.  1803

After selling all the goods, Elizabeth and her family joined Robert on the HMS Buffalo to Norfolk Island.

The HMS Buffalo which sailed from Port Jackson 21 April 1803 arriving Norfolk Is 9 May 1803 under the command of master Wm. Kent.

Sydney Gazette, 2 April 1803:

On Saturday the 16th Instant and two following days a number of prisoners convicted of misdemeanors, were shipped on board the Buffalo for Norfolk Island. Robert Jillet was also put on board, with Hailey, implicated in the same offence, and several of the Store Attendants, whose conduct had been such as to render them suspected. Several persons were permitted to go at their own request, some to accompany their husbands, and others from a desire of a change of air.

SHIP NEWS: Sailed on Thursday last for Norfolk Island and from thence to proceed for the Moluccas and Calcutta, His Majesty’s Ship Buffalo, Capt. W. Kent, Commander.
Passenger list - Women are listed by the maiden name
* died on Norfolk Island
Ashman, Susannah    Earl Cornwallis 1801    Convict
Barnes, Hannah (Mrs)    Royal Admiral 1800    Came Free - Soldier’s wife
Barnes, Richard    Born in the Colony
Barnes, Richard    Sergeant - NSW Corps
Barnes, William    Born in the Colony
Bradshaw, Elizabeth    Hillsborough 1799    Free -  wife of Convict
Bradshaw, James    Born in the Colony
Bradshaw, Mary    Hillsborough 1799 Child - Born England
Bradshaw, William   Born in the Colony
David, Catherine    Minerva 1800   Came Free - Soldier’s wife
Davis, Evan     Minerva 1800   Private - NSW Corps
Frost, Mary    Neptune 1790    Buffalo May 1803    Convict
Grey, William    Born in the Colony
Hailey, James    Convict
How, Mary    Minerva 1800  Came Free - Soldier’s wife
Jillett, Robert    Hillsborough 1799     Convict
Jones, John    Glatton  1803     Convict  *
Peck, Joshua    Scarborough - 1788    Convict
Peck, William    Born in the Colony - Norfolk Island
Peck, Elizabeth    Born in the Colony
Peck, Mary Ann  Born in the Colony
Peck, Jane    Born in the Colony
Peck, Thomas    Born in the Colony
Peck, John    Born in the Colony
Spears, William    Earl Cornwallis 1801    NSW Corps
Stokes, Elizabeth    HMS Glatton 1803    Convict
Vine, Thomas    Coromandel 1802    Convict   *
Warwick, James    Matilda  1791    Convict


Many of these people are featured in Rev. Henry Fulton’s Baptism, Burial and Marriage records of 1801 - 1806 on Norfolk Island - More details

Research has indicated that Elizabeth Bradshaw (Creamer) may have been the first "free" woman settler to transact land on the First Fleet Settlement at Norfolk Island.

Elizabeth came to Botany Bay as a "free" settler on the "Hillsborough", with her convict husband, Thomas and her 2 year old daughter Mary Ann.

Accounts of life aboard the Hillsborough give an insight as to just how difficult the conditions were especially for the 6 free women who were among the 300 male convicts and crew.

Perhaps this was an event that shaped Elizabeth as to the person she became.

During the First Fleet Settlement on Norfolk Island the ladies who had land recorded in their names, were the partners, spouses and children of the Military.

None were "free" settlers in the form that Elizabeth was.

                        


Elizabeth and her partner, Robert Jillett (Gillett/Thomas Elston) and three children travelled to Norfolk Island aboard the ss "Buffalo" in May 1803, from Sydney.

By that time the colony had been established for quite some years, and the lands had been surveyed by Chapman in 1796.

Elizabeth bought her first allotment on Norfolk Island, known as Lot 42. This land is high and is bordered by a creek.  It has been cleared but is still full of overgrown undergrowth.  The land looks out onto Cascade Bay.

    

She owned Lot 42, which encompassed 60 acres.     

The history of the dealings of Lot 42 is as follows from other researchers:-

*   Granted to Owen Cavanagh, a seaman from the Sirius arriving on Norfolk Island 6^th March 1788. The rent was 1/- a year after 5 years from 16^th May 1791.
*  Sold to Robert Leggatt, convict who arrived in the Colony 23^rd April 1792  (He left December 1805)   

*  Sold to William N Chapman, convict arrived on Earl Cornwallis prior to 1802 (Left  after Febr 1805)  

(This information seems to be incorrect in fact William Neate Chapman was included in the First Fleet as a friend of Governor Arthur Phililip.  He subsequently went to Norfolk Island with King in 1791.
He was appointed a storekeeper at Phillipsburg, (Cascade) and later surveyed the island.
    
*  Sold to William Dempsey a 1^st Fleet Marine,   (left 26 December 1807)        
*  Sold to Elizabeth Bradshaw  
*  Sold 31^st August 1802 to Thomas Chaffey convict  for 43 pounds arrived on Scarborough 7^th August                                                        1790 left 26^th Dec 1807) 

* (Records of the land dealings may be incorrect as Elizabeth probably purchased the land after she arrived in 1803)


Lot 52, which encompasses 60 acres

     

*  Granted to Charles Heritage, a 1^st Fleet Marine  (left 26 October 1793)                                                                                                     
*  Sold to Thomas Restil Crowder, convict who arrived on Alexander, 2^nd March 1789   (left 26 Dec 1807)                                                                                                                                                            
Another land purchase

Lot 52, which encompasses 60 acres.      

The researched history of the lot includes:    

*  Granted to Charles Herritage, a 1^st Fleet Marine  (left 26 October 1793)                                                                                                        
*  Sold to Thomas Restil Crowder, convict who arrived on Alexander, 2^nd March 1789   (left 26 Dec 1807)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
*  Sold 30 acres on 1 Mar 1799 for 35 pounds to John Bentley convict arrived Neptune 23 April 1792      left 15 May 1808                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
*  Sold on 26 July 1803 with stock to Elizabeth Bradshaw      (left 1808)                                      
*   Sold 14 ½ acres on 4^th July 1804 to William Dempsey          


Recent research at Norfolk Island reveals that Lot 52, a beautiful allotment, in the centre of the Burnt Pine Township was previously owned by Nathanial Lucas.
                                                                                                    

So Lot 52 had been subdivided in 1799 with only 30 acres of the original grant available.

Of that 30 acres Elizabeth sold 14.5 acres to William Dempsey leaving her with 15 ½ acres.    
She must have had another holding of 68.5 acres which has not been sourced.  


The land once again has a creek running through, and for those visitors to Norfolk Island, stroll down the cul-de-sac at the Village past the media shop and follow the driveway.

Later in 1804 Elizabeth was the only female landowner to sign a petition to Captain Piper regarding the closure of the settlement.


Her last block was supurb  Lot 91  Going into lot 91 she owned the whole street to the clifftop overlooking the ocean. Beautiful land any wonder they objected to being sent to Tasmania

None on this one it is all house lots. All the land was resurveyed when the Pitcairns came, and i think they were all 20 acre blocks then. Sam farms on Lot 91

Behind the pink bushes is lot 91

We had dinner on Elizabeth Bradshaw's lot 91, what a beautiful bit of land she chose. 

Elizabeth almost immediately bought land on Norfolk Island as John Bentley who purchased 30 - 60 acres of land at Norfolk Island from Thomas Crowder in 1799; this land subsequently sold by Bentley to Elizabeth Bradshaw in July 1803. 

This land of Lot 52, is located in the middle of Norfolk Island, original granted to Charles Herritage (arrived Norfolk Island, Supply 1788 left October 1793), and owned by Nathaniel Lucas in 1796, of which 14 and a half acres were subsequently sold to William Dempsey by Elizabeth Bradshaw in January 1804.

 On 31 August 1803, Elizabeth Bradshaw sold sixty acres of land at Norfolk Island to Thomas Chaffey, in trust for his son Zachariah. - SRNSW Colonial Secretary's Papers 1788-1828, Fiche 3267; 9/2731 p.77 and Fiche 3267; 9/2731 p.81.

Elizabeth Bradshaw's signature on a petition

The following is a list of all the land holders as at 1796              Thanks to Researcher Sue Collins

The names of the people who were granted lands on Norfolk, are intertwined many times in this website.  Many married into or are related to members of the Jillett/Bradshaw family.  The lands were granted to the officers and the convicts.

Elizabeth Bradshaw purchased her land, and it is quite possible that she was the first Woman to enter into a Real Estate Transaction for lands on Norfolk Island.  In the list below Ann Harper is shown as getting a land grant.

Ann married Jacob Billet (Bellett) in 1791.  She was a First Fleet convict sentenced to 7 years transportation, and by the time she was transferred to Norfolk Island she had served her sentence thus allowing her to be granted land.

1	60	Daniel Stanfield
2	60	Daniel Stanfield
3	24	Edward Westlake
4	60	John Beresford
5	20	not able to be read
6	60	Thomas Fisk
7	60	John Owles
8	55	William Thompson
9	17	William Thompson
10	60	Stephen Martin
11	60	William Dempsey
12	60	James Sheers
13	60	Samuel King
14	15	not able to be read
15	10	Luke Normington
16	60	John Munday
17	60	John Munday
18	12	John Murphy
19	12	Richard Brown
20	12	William Blunt
21	12	Stephen Martin
22	12	Edward Risby
23	60	Richard Slaney
24	60	William Moulton
25	12	Jacob Billet
26	12	Thomas R Crowder
27	14	Thomas R Crowder
28	14	Thomas R Crowder
29	12	Edward Garth
30	10	John Mortimer
31	10	John Rice
32	10	Noah Mortimer
33	15	Nathaniel Lucas
34	12	Henry Hathaway
35	12	John Hall
36	10	Richard Phillimore
37	39	Ann Harper wife of Jacob Billet
38	10	John Dodding
39	10	John Anderson
40	60	Richard Brown
41	60	George Plyer
42	60	Zachariah Sponsford
43	60	Matthew Wood
44	60	Robert Stephens
45	60	William Hambly
46	60	William Mitchell
47	60	Thomas Sherwin
48	60	Alexander Hand
49	60	Thomas R Crowder
50	12	Thomas Eddington

51	54	Joseph Trimby
52	60	Nathl Lucas
53	60	James Proctor
54	60	Peter Hibbs
55	33	John Cross
56	10	George Whitacre
57	20	James Morrisby
58	12	John Read
59	12	Thomas Eddington
60	12	Edward Kimberly
61	24	James Morrisby
62	12	Aaron Davis
63	60	Thomas Clarke
64	60	Andrew Goodwin
65	30	John Best
66	60	William Collins
67	60	Edward Kimberly
68	12	Samuel Hussey
69	60	Thomas Williams
70	60	Thomas Williams
71	60	John McCarthy
72	60	Thomas Gregory
73	16	James Reilly
74	60	Thomas Hibbins
75	60	Thomas Hibbins
76	12	James Bryan Cullen
77	12	James Bryan Cullen
78	60	John Folley
79	60	Henry Hathaway
80	10	Richard Morgan
81	10	Humphry Lynch
82	10	John Boyle
83	60	Henry Hathaway
84	22	Martin Colls
85	15	Fane Edge
86	60	Thomas O'Brien
87	15	Mitch Nowland
88	66	D'Arcy Wentworth
89	20	Edward Garth
90	12	Thomas Dixon
91	10	Thomas Dixon
92		Not listed
93	40	James Garth
94	34	William Shirbird
95		Not listed
96		Not listed
97		Not listed
98	9	Jasper Harris
99	50	Norfolk King (son of Gov King and Ann Innett born 1789) He was only 7!
100	50	John Townson

101	34	William Blackall
102	60	Thomas Lucas
103	45	Henry Girdler
104	24.5	William Moulten
105	35.5	James Chamm
106	10	Thomas Eccles
107	31.5	John Triffett
108	5	Joseph Hall
109	19	John Brabyn
110	37	John Drummond
111	23	James B Cullen
112	41	James Redman
113	9.25	William N Chapman
114	34	James Jamison
115	15	Robert Jones
116	7.25	William Rayner

John Piper  

by Marjorie Barnard

This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 2, (MUP), 1967
John Piper (1773-1851), military officer, public servant and landowner, was born on 20 April 1773 at Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland, the son of Hugh Piper, a doctor. The Pipers were in the main an army family, and Scots only by adoption, having come from Cornwall and before that from Germany. Through the influence of his uncle, Captain John Piper, young John received a commission as ensign in the newly formed New South Wales Corps in April 1791, as his younger brother Hugh was to do in 1799.

John sailed in the Pitt and arrived in Sydney in February 1792 when the infant settlement was still fighting for its life in the face of starvation. Piper was an immediate social success and became a close family friend of John Macarthur.
In 1793 at his own request he was sent on duty to the even more primitive settlement at Norfolk Island, possibly because of an entanglement from which his more discreet friends were anxious to rescue him. While he was away they looked after his interests and secured him a land grant of 110 acres (45 ha) at Parramatta. On the island he received a liberal education in those savage military quarrels which beset the early days of the colony.

In 1795 Piper was promoted lieutenant and returned to the mainland. From 1797 to 1799 he was away on leave. In 1800 he was given the local rank of captain. In the struggle between the corps and Governor Philip Gidley King, of which Macarthur was the ringleader, Piper stood with his friend, and in September 1801 acted as his second in a duel with Colonel William Paterson, his commanding officer. King arrested both Macarthur and Piper, but decided that Piper could be dealt with locally. At his court martial in 1802 he apologized and was acquitted, much to King's disgust.

In 1804 he was again detailed for duty on Norfolk Island. It was fortunate for Piper that he spent the next six years on the island and so was thrown clear of the troubles on the mainland, notably the Rum Rebellion. In September 1804 Lieutenant-Governor Joseph Foveaux left on prolonged sick leave and Piper became acting commandant, with the inadequate extra allowance of 5s. a day. His rule was mild. As one of his charges, Joseph Holt, declared, 'the new Governor had the good will and respect of everyone, for he had always conducted himself as a Christian and a gentleman'. He was promoted to the full rank of captain in November 1806.

By this time Norfolk Island had become an expense rather than an asset, and the British government was planning to close down the settlement and transfer its inhabitants to the mainland or Van Diemen's Land. The duty of beginning to carry out the frequently altered instructions fell to Piper and in it he appears to have exhibited both tact and organizing ability.

In 1810 he returned to Sydney. It is probable that on Norfolk Island he met Mary Ann Shears, the 15-year-old daughter of a convict, and formed an attachment to her that lasted throughout his life. When he sailed for Britain on leave in September 1811 he took her with him, as well as their two little boys, and Sarah, the child of an earlier liaison. He faced a problem connected with both his family and his career, but he preferred Mary Ann and New South Wales to his regiment. Whereas his brother Hugh, now a captain, left the colony with his regiment to continue his army career, John resigned his commission and decided to seek civilian employment in the colony. In 1813 he was appointed Naval Officer in Sydney and arrived back in February 1814. On 10 February 1816 he married Mary Ann, by special licence. She had borne him two more sons while they were away and in due course they had nine more.

His duties included the collection of customs duties, excise on spirits and harbour dues, control of lighthouses and work which is now the province of the water police. The post was very much to Piper's taste and proved very remunerative: with a percentage on all monies collected, his income from it rose to more than £4000 a year.

He bought the property now known as Vaucluse House. In 1816 he was granted 190 acres (77 ha) of land on Eliza Point, now Point Piper, for the site of his official residence. Here he built Henrietta Villa (also called the Naval Pavilion) at the cost of £10,000 and furnished it in the most luxurious style. It was completed in 1822 and became the scene of many sumptuous entertainments.