A6 Elizabeth Bradshaw (Creamer) One Very Strong and Remarkable Free Settler

Elizabeth Bradshaw was one determined lady.  Firstly she encountered all the hardships by following her husband on a death ship half way around the world to Botany Bay accompanied by her 2 year old daughter.

Hobart

With her husband dead, and she a "free settler", Elizabeth might very well have been a lady worth pursuing.

Perhaps that is what Robert Jillett thought!                      

He becomes her  partner, fathering two sons and a daughter then he worked in her businesses from 1799 until 1803, where once again he committed an offence serious enough to see him hang!

Instead of letting him go to Norfolk Island and face the consequences, she decides to sell everything and follow him.  That surely speaks of her nature!  Was it love? or was it her devotion to her young children?

One wonders what may have been if she had stayed on her  allotment in Sydney.

So once again her strength overshadowed adversity and she prospered on her different allotments on Norfolk Island.


One thing to remember is that there was no currency at the time.  Trade was done from the commandant's store in barter, or more often in rum.  Currency was not introduced until 1817.

Elizabeth Bradshaw's Lands on Norfolk Island

Manuscript map showing 94 numbered allotments for use by settlers on Norfolk Island in 1794 with relief shown by hachures. The coastline matches a later map 'Plan of the settlers lots and the ground cultivated for the public on Norfolk Island 1795' by William Neate Chapman showing 97 numbered lots and differs from a similar map 'A chart of Norfolk Island by Captain William Bradley RN' of 10th Oct. 1794.

"The land cultivated for the Crown is marked in Green".
In lower right margin: Copied by T.S. Townsend Febry. [1794?].

Elizabeth continued what she had done in Sydney and purchased land.

She owned Lot 42, which encompassed 60 acres.    
It was in an area called Phillipsburg and William Neate Chapman was the storekeeper!  William Chapman was a personal friend of Gov King.

The history of the dealings of Lot 42 is as follows:
*   Granted to Owen Cavanagh, a seaman from the Sirius arriving on Norfolk Island 6th March 1788. The rent was 1/- a year after 5 years from 16th May 1791. 
*  Sold to Robert Leggatt, convict who arrived in the Colony 23rd April 1792  (He left December 1805)    
*  Sold to William N Chapman, convict arrived on Earl Cornwallis prior to 1802 (Left  after Feb 1805)      ****Previous researchers have that information, which I am certain is incorrect.
  Rather, William Neate Chapman ran the store at Cascade Bay and he surveyed the land on Norfolk Island land firstly in 1794 into 94 lots then in 1796 into 97 lots.        He was not a convict.
*  Sold to William Dempsey a 1st Fleet Marine,   (left 26 December 1807)              
*  Sold to Elizabeth Bradshaw      
*  Sold 31st August 1802 to Thomas Chaffey convict  for 43 pounds arrived on Scarborough 7th August 1790 left        26th Dec 1807)

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

The Colonial Secretary's Records

BRADSHAW, Elizabeth
1802 Aug 31	Sixty acres at Norfolk Island sold to by William Dempsey; subsequently sold by Bradshaw to Thomas Chaffey (Fiche 3267; 9/2731 p.81)
1803 Jul 26; 1804 Jan 4	Land at Norfolk Island sold to by John Bentley, of which 14 and a half acres were subsequently sold to William Dempsey (Fiche 3267; 9/2731 p.77)

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

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

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)                                                                  *  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.

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 superb    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.

1806

NSW, INDEX OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES, 1787 - 1814
(Mutch Index)
Records of baptisms by the Reverend Henry Fulton, at Norfolk Island, included in the parish of St. Philips, Sydney:

(i)  BRADSHAW or JILLET,  James              Norfolk Island    
                  1806 Mar 27                s. Robert Jillet & Eliza Bradshaw
                                                                b. Oct 11  1802
                             141/267                        St. Philips, Sydney
(ii)  BRADSHAW or JILLET,  Susanna         Norfolk Island
                           1806 Mar 27                    s.(sic) Robert Jillet & Eliza Bradshaw
                                                                b. Aug 1   1805
                             141/267                        St. Philips, Sydney
(iii)  BRADSHAW or JILLET,  William        Norfolk Island
                           1806  Mar 27                   s. Robert Jillet & Eliza Bradshaw
                                                                b. Sept 2  1803
                             141/267                        St. Philips, Sydney

[Note: the date of William's birth in the transcript is given as 1805,which would have conflicted with the birth of sister Susannah, however, he was recorded already on the February 1805 Muster, some months before the September date of birth given in the transcription.  When he died at Back River, New Norfolk 06OCT1859 his age was given as 59, consistent with a birth date of 02SEP 1800]

HOARE, Merval.  1982.  Norfolk Island, an outline of its history 1774 - 1981. 3rd Edition, University of Queensland Press.

Elizabeth Bradshaw's Norfolk Island born children were baptised by the Reverend Henry Fulton who was (p.29), "a protestant clergyman, transported from Ireland for sedition, arrived at Botany Bay in 1800, and was subsequently, for good behaviour, conditionally emancipated by Governor King, and sent to Norfolk Island to officiate there".
         Note: Norfolk population in February 1805 - 1078, by mid- 1805 - 712.            
1806, 12 December - Elizabeth Bradshaw was the only female signatory (of 80) to a memorial to Capt. Piper,  Commandant of Norfolk Island. [AONSW 4/11678]

1807

MUSTER OF NORFOLK ISLAND, AUGUST 2nd  1807
BRADSHAW, Elizabeth - (Settler) Self and 4 children Off Stores;
                                                one free man employed
                                                         60 Ac - 2 Wheat, 13 Maize, 1 Barley, 44 Pasture
                                                         Sheep - 15 Males, 66 Females
                                                         250 bushels maize in hand
                                                         Hogs - 10 M, 11 F.
Norfolk Islands Records  -  1804  Elizabeth Bradshaw sold several lots of swine flesh to the government stores each time in her own name.

Muster of Norfolk Island, February 1805         Elizabeth Bradshaw  -  Free woman  -  off stores,  Children  James,  Mary Ann, William - off stores
Robert Jillett  - male convict  - labourer  off stores


1807 Muster
                          2nd august    Elizabeth Bradshaw  (settler) self and 4 children off stores
                                                    One free man employed
                                                    60 ac - 2 wheat, 13 maize, 1 barley, 44 pasture
                                                    Sheep 15 males, 66 females
                                                    250 bushels maize in hand
                                                    Hogs 10 M  11 F.

1806, 12 December - Elizabeth Bradshaw was the only female signatory (of 80) to a memorial to Capt. Piper,  Commandant of Norfolk Island. [AONSW 4/11678]

How would Elizabeth  have felt, getting rid of all her crops, and her had work, and then gathering her family and her livestock to make ready to go to yet another land?

One of the most difficult problems that Governor Collins had to face was the flood of settlers from Norfolk Island who were forced upon him at the worst possible time.

This was made worse still by the apparent ignorance in London of the supply of building material and stock that the Governor could put his hand on at a moment’s notice, when in fact there had been a famine in Tasmania in 1806 and a great shortage prevailed of screws, axes, nails and other implements required for building houses.

The settlers and inhabitants from Norfolk Island were divided into three classes:

The first class consist of discharged marines and old servants of the Government who will be allowed food and clothing free of charge for two years, also four workmen rationed and clothed.  These are to have priority in everything.

The second class will be those who have been convicts but have earned complete freedon; they will be clothed and victualled and given two men to work for them for two years.

The third class covers all those islanders owning land or building but with no claims on the Government.  They will be clothed and fed from Governments stores for 12 months, with two men to help clear their grants of land in Van Diemen’s Land for the same period.

All classes are to be supplied with farm implements and other tools for use in cultivating the soild on their land.

Poor old Governor Collins had no idea how he could fulfil these conditions when he received the orders from Sydney.  Most of his men were old or feeble and some of them even the soldiers had been forced through lack of supplies to make their own clothing from the skins of kangaroos and possums.


In 1803 orders were given for the first group of Norfolk Islanders to be removed.  All moveable property belonging to these people, including their livestock, was to be taken at the cost of the Government, to any place they chose.

For every acre of cultivation they had left behind at Norfolk Island, four acres of land were to be granted them by Gov Collins, and two acres for any unimproved land they may possess.  They were also to receive free rations for them and their men.  Only enough people were to be left on Norfolk Island to grow maize and fatten the pigs.

Initially many of the islanders were happy to the terms, but as their crops were on the point of ripening they asked to leave after they had harvested the crops.  But then after having time to think the matter over, some of them objected strongly to being forced away from their tropical paradise, to the harsher conditions of Van Diemen’s Land.

The first Norfolk Islander to arrive at Hobart was George Guest, who came on the “Sydney” with Joseph Holt.  George brought with him his wife and six children and a flock of sheep.  Gov Bligh, when hearing of the arrival told Collins to by any of the sheep that he could for £2/2/- per head.  However many died during the voyage.

Two years later a stream of ships started bringing the Norfolkers in earnest.  The “Lady Nelson”, “Estromnia”, “City of Edinborough”, “Porpoise”, and “Buffalo” all brought their quota and Gov Collins was in despair.

It was easily seen that the Government would never be able to fulfil the promises that it initially gave as an enticement to come to Van Diemen’s Land.

Some of the islanders were billeted with the residents of Hobart Town, and some offered to waive all claims against the Government if Gov Collins would give them livestock equal in value to the homes they had left behind on Norfolk Island.

They were offered sheep and Bengal cows, instead of the houses, outhouses and barns they had been promised.  They required clothing and bedding, but there was none to be given.  Instead of 386 people expected, there were nearly 800, being the whole of the establishment from Norfolk not including the military.

Some of the chararacters had been described by Capt Piper, Commandant of Norfolk Island, as being “desperate characters”.   (Robert Jillett was one such person)

Collins also had to contend with the antics of Governor Bligh.  Bligh was certainly a shifty character, and it was not uncommon for him to just take whatever he wanted from the new settlers.
He took command of the “Porpoise” and moored it midsteam.  He loaded its guns, and ordered all
passing craft to come close enough for inspection.  Later the vessel was moved downstream
towards Sandy Bay where the Norfolkers and others smuggled fresh meat and vegetables on
board against orders.

Eighteen of the Norfolk Islanders expressed their support for Bligh, and there was a seething
unrest in the community.
At one stage Bligh ordered the ship’s guns to open fire on passing craft, but the balls were
fired high and while damage was done no lives were lost.

Collins prohibited all communication between the ship and the shore, and finally Bligh moved
the boat down channel to a commanding position at the mouth of the Derwent near Bruny Island.


  Here he behaved like any other pirate, robbing passing ships at gun point and taking supplies
intended for the settlement at Hobart Town.  Many of the settlers risking Collins’ wrath drove
their sheep and cattle to a point where they could be slaughterd for supplies to the Porpoise. 

Elizabeth and her family were on the Lady Nelson and left for Tasmania in 1808.

The Norfolk Island Evacuation List of 1808/1808 shows:

Elizabeth Bradshaw   Norfolk Settler,  3rd Class, 5 children
   15 1/2 acres cleared, 68 1/2 acres not cleared
   House (Maten boaded) & Flaxed  17 x 11  Outhouse thatch & logs   Value  £8

3rd Embarkation for VDL Lady Nelson  14th February 1808

         2 Male and 28 female sheep
        17 Male, 2 female sheep, 1.2 grown   Value  £59
        11 acres maize

Elizabeth was a remarkable woman.  The trip on the Lady Nelson, with her 6 children and the farm animals must have seemed like a bit of a breeze from her first voyage to Australia aboard the "Hillsborough".

Just consider for a moment how difficult it must have been just to board the ship.  There was no jetty, no wharf, nothing except the row boats. 

Many ships had perished just a few metres from the coastline.  The most famous among them the ss "Sirius", in 1790, before Elizabeth's time on the island, but which she would have been familiar.  The Sirius went down in 1790, with the island losing all its supplies.

 Today there is a very interesting museum on Norfolk Island, called the Sirius Museum.  It stands in an old Church building at Kingston, and should not be missed.

Unloading and loading of ships at Norfolk Island is done exactly the same way as it was in 1789, as these photos will show.

The men who man the boats are residents.  When a ship comes in they down tools at whatever job they are doing and all come to the wharf to assist in the unloading of the Supply ships.  When these photos were taken the sea was calm.  Can you imagine the dangers of this work when the large swells are rolling?

To launch a fishing boat, they have implements on the inside of the boat, which are hooked onto the crane on the jetty.  Within seconds the boat is out, or in!

The boats are called "lighters". This day there were about 3 sets working the unloading. The front vessel tows the rear boat which is stacked full of pallets.  These are then lifted onto the shore by the crane, and taken by a fleet of trucks.



Another Chapter of their life is to begin.

Elizabeth and the family land in Hobart on the Lady Nelson.

The sight could not be what she expected.  After 5 years of living in a fairly warm climate, except for the chilling south eastern winds, she steps out into the cold clime of Van Dieman's Land.  Tents became the home.

As a free settler Elizabeth was granted land in Hobart Town in lieu of the lands that she had left behind on Norfolk Island.

Hobart 1808

By late 1808 they had built on land on the corner of Collins and Campbell Street, Hobart, at the rear of the City Hall).  This would  probably have been a grant to Elizabeth in place of her Norfolk Island land.  It was later described in correspondence as  her land

If you increase the size of this map you will be able to see the land is at the Town Hall site

.   This is new material online!  You can also see the rivulet that she speaks of.  How            amazing,opposite is a market.

Opposite them on the Hobart Rivulet in Collins Street (where the Royal Hobart Hospital stands) a Mrs. Catherine Kearney * (previous contributors alluded that she was a free woman, but that is incorrect) was granted land.

She also came from Norfolk Island with her two sons, William and Thomas.  

The Bradshaw/Jilletts would probably have known her on Norfolk Island.  Her grant was discovered with ti-tree and convicts cleared it.  She became known as the Dairy-woman of the Settlement and supplied the Government and the officers with milk from her herd.

Not far from the Bradshaw/Jillett residence, at the end of Hunter Street was Hunter Island, it has since been filled in and joined up near the I.X.L. Jones Jam Factory.  This Island was the place where all the criminals were hung.

The house was in Wapping at that stage.  Wapping was bounded by Campell, Park, Liverpool and Macquarie Streets. Park Street may have been the street in which St. Davids Burial ground was.

In 1811, when G.W. Evans, the Government surveyor was given the task of drawing up streets etc, it was found that the Bradshaw land was to be bi-sected by Collins and Campbell streets and it was found that one of the angles of the house projected onto Collins Street. Thre was quite a lot of communication regarding this land and house, and eventually in 1827 the Government decided to give 500 acres at Green Ponds (now Kempton) in compensation for the house and land.  Unfortunately that  Grant has not been found as yet.

In 1811 Frederick Bradshaw (Jillett) was born, but while his death was recorded in Thomas Jillett's 

bible (whereabouts unknown).

1811 map

On 4th March 1812, Mary Ann Bradshaw married Charles Horan at St David's Cathederal.  

Neither Mary Ann nor her husband were able to write evidently, as they both signed their

marriage certificate with a cross.  They were married by Robert Knopwood, Colonial Chaplain.

On April 4, 1812, Robert Jillett and Elizabeth Bradshaw were married by the Reverend Robert Knopwood at St. David's Cathedral.  From their marriage certificate, it appears both could write, although often Robert was known as Gillett, or Jillet.        

(Robert indicates on his marriage certificate that he is a widower.  In fact as there was no chance of a convict ever getting back to England to his wife, then on Norfolk Island and in Sydney the Commandants looked on the marriages as dissolved, and the convicts were allowed to live together or to take another partner and on both Norfolk Island and in Sydney there were so few women that many lived together so the authorities preferred co-habitation (or jumping over the broomstick) for a man and woman, rather than the man to live as a homosexual.  In fact the Government even sent a shipload of women not long after the first settlement, purely to provide comforts to the male prisoners and to populate the Colony.  One such ship was known as the "Floating Brothel".)

Built between 1868 and 1936 Saint David’s is widely regarded as the finest example outside England of the 

work of the leading Victorian architect, George F. Bodley.

In recent years the Cathedral has undergone restoration work with a new narthex, 

lighting scheme and restored stonework and floor.

Robert Jillett's pardon

 On 31st January, 1814 a CONDITIONAL PARDON No 323 was sent by the ship ACTIVE and arrived in the River Derwent on 22nd March 1814. It had been sent to B.L.Desrory.

November 1814, Comment from some Official Quarters, "There are no titles on record, whereby a right can be claimed, as individual property by Mr. Jillett", re the house in Ccllins Street.

With her marriage to Robert assured, the life of Elizabeth seemed to take a backward step.

Here she was a battler, a business person in her own right, a free settler, and by marriage he was able to lay claim to all her property.  Wonder who was the smart one in that relationship?

Sandy Bay 1808

Sandy Bay