B29 Margaret Bradburn - Remembered in Hobart at the Irish Famine Monument

Margaret Bradburn  - An Unwilling Victim

Kingstown Harbour Dublin

Story from Ann Williams Fitzgerald about her 2*Great Grandmother

Life in Ireland in the 1840's was judged by history to be the time of the Great Famine.  No more evident is that unless you visit one of the many Workhouses in any of the Counties.

The stories are of desperate people, who have done desperate things in order to survive.  Imagine having all your crops wiped out, no money to feed and clothe the family, and them eating dirt to survive.  That wasn't living that was not even an existence.

Seeking help from the workhouse was the only solution.  At the matron's office decisions were made.  Children over two taken from their parents.  Boys to live in one wing, girls in another.

All their clothes removed, and sold.  So many died, that every morning, the bodies were loaded onto the carts for mass burials.   And we wonder why researching our family from Ireland is difficult.

One such soul was Margaret Bradburn.   Margaret was Ann Williams-Fitzgerald's 2xGreat Grandmother.

Her son Alfred Boulter married Jessica Sarah Smith, and their daughter was Elsie Margaret Boulter.

Elsie married Cecil Alfred Bradshaw, and as such is the grandmother of many Bradshaw Family members.

   

Margaret was born in Ballyhaise, in County Cavan, in Ireland around 1832.  Her parents were Richard Bradburn and Mary Leveston.

Richard was the son of Edward Bradburn and his wife Elizabeth Hunter, and their DNA has been proven.

Richard and Mary had several children,

·        Bessy               1825 - 1880,

·        Edward             1830 - 1919,

·        James               1831                 m        Agnus Owens 1860  and  in 1851 he was defendant in                                                         Court Trial

·        Margaret           1832  - 1911     In 1856 m   John Boulter in New Norfolk and died in 1911

In 1852 Margaret was tried twice for stealing clothes, once from Catherine Reilly in March and then again in April, for stealing a coat, petticoat and a shawl.  That resulted in 7 years transportation to Van Diemen's Land.

It was the accepted thing, that if you had been arrested, you were sent to the Workhouse before being accepted for any of the migration schemes.

Margaret left Kingstown Harbour in Dublin on 17th November 1852. 

She arrived in February 1853 on board the Midlothian, along with other convicts, and listed as unmarried, and unable to read and write and a house maid.  At the time, the ladies who arrived were virtually offered "for sale", by others in Hobart.  If they missed they were sent to the Cascade Female Factory until assigned.

Initially Margaret was assigned to Mr Horace Rowcroft. He was a Gold buyer and trader in Hobart.

She was reported as missing from Mr Rowcroft's employment. In 1853 she was sentenced to 6 month hard labour for being absent without leave.  She was sent back to the Cascade Female Factory.

She received her Ticket of Leave in January 1855.

https://www.femaleconvicts.org.au/convict-institutions/female-factories/cascades-ff

However, she had an association with William Cripps.  Their daughter was Frances Jane Cripps and she was baptised in the Davy St Congregational Church in Hobart in July  1855.  Mother was noted as being Margaret Bradburn Cripps.  In all likelihood both were in the Female Factory. 

Margaret married John Boulter in 1856, in New Norfolk, and they had a large family, including Alfred Boulter.

Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Thursday 19 July 1866, page 3

Sadder news than this is, that a poor little child about 2 years and 4 months old, named Boulter, whose father works for Mr. York, at Sorell Creek, wandered away yesterday afternoon into the hush, and by this time has undoubtedly perished. Of course diligent search has been made by the neighbors who have been solicitous to appease the anxiety of the grief-stricken parents ; but at the moment while I am writing this (Tuesday evening) the bellman is parading the township and soliciting volunteers to meet to-morrow morning to renew the search,

Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Friday 20 July 1866, page 2

NEW NORFOLK.  LOST CHILD FOUND.    (From a Correspondent.)

I am happy to be enabled to inform you that the lost child of John Boulter has, we may say, most miraculously escaped the death which was thought to he inevitable. The poor little fellow was lost about noon on Monday, and found about the same time on Wednesday. He had then been exposed to two most bitter cold nights, clad only in two garments around his body with no covering for his head, nor any covering to his feet. He had wandered about a mile and a half from his home, which is about five miles from New Norfolk.

When found he was sitting on the sunny side of a tree breaking up a little twig. He had not tasted food for 51 hours, from eight o'clock on Monday to twelve o'clock on Wednesday, and yet, comparatively unclothed and unsheltered, he not only lived, but was perfectly sensible. He could not stand, but knew his father instantly. Some small portions of bread moistened with tea were given to him, which he ate with voracious eagerness. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on the inhabitants generally of the neighborhood in which the unfortunate child was lost.

Some of the inhabitants of the township, too, never broke their fast from seven in the morning until six at night, while scouring the bush in search of the lost child Amongst the foremast of these was Mr. Richard Thompson, of the Union Inn. We must not omit to mention the untiring zeal and energy displayed by Mr. Superintendent Evendon and the small police force under his command.

It so happened that just as the child was found, Dr, Moore was humanely riding down with the intention of rendering any assistance he could, Of course his medical skill was soon brought into activity, and under his care the child was removed to New Norfolk, and is believed to be doing well at the house of Mr. J. Wild. Both Dr. Moore and Mr. Thompson considerately carried with them the necessary stimulant in case a restorative should have been required.

In 1879, Margaret's nieces arrived in Maryborough in Queensland.  They came on board the Scottish Hero. 

John Boulter ~ Timeline ~ CONVICT #1900 ai06076 (by Ann Williams-Fitzgerald)

1813                 Birth Leicestershire, Middlesex England

22/06/1821        Baptism (Middlesex) Father: John Boulter Mother: Elizabeth

18/10/1832        Conviction – Old Bailey, Newgate. Larceny (3pair shoes), 7 years Transportation.

23/11/1832        Prison Hulk ‘Leviathan’ #11668 | hulk report: Orderly

13/04/1833        Departure from Portsmouth UK ‘Enchantress’ voyage#107

Surgeon report: Orderly

31/07/1833        Arrival Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land.

13/11/1834        Found at New Town after hours, to be sent to P.W. at Gatton?

To be strictly looked after & not to be [<nnn??>] after hours from house. P.D

14/11/1834        P.B. Making away with a pair of Gov boots, 24 lashes on the [<Brceah? >] P.D.

24/11/1835        Absent from his gang, <[3 ??? >]Reiley’s Ford, Received forty probation ?>} ???

09/07/1836        R’d Disobedience of orders, 1 month additional to former sentence | J.R.|

1839                 Certificate of Freedom #828

20/06/1839        Permission to Marry (ANN BRIMMER) she ended up marrying Joseph Pedder

08/04/1856        Permission to Marry (MARGARET BRADBURN)

29/04/1856        Married to Margaret BRADBURN, (convict Police #1206) St Matthews Church New Norfolk

22/04/1857        Birth son – William Boulter (1857 - ?)

10/01/1860        Birth son – John Boulter Jr (1860-1891)

21/04/1862        Birth son – Thomas Boulter (1862-1917)

13/04/1864        Birth son – Alfred (Alfie) Boulter* (1864-1954) (my great grandfather-AWF)

1865                 Birth daughter - Edith Lilly Boulter (1865 - 1933)

15/5/1866         Birth daughter - Frances Jane Boulter (1866-1922)

18/07/1866        Lost Child (Alfred 2years 4months) in bush for three days. Found safe on 20 Jul 1866.

John is working for Mr York at the time at Sorell Creek.

06/09/1868        Birth daughter – Mary Ann Boulter (1868 - ?)

19/11/1870        Birth daughter – Margaret Mildred Boulter (1870 - ?)

09/08/1873        Birth Daughter – Elizabeth Boulter (1873 - 1873)

22/03/1876        Birth son – Walter Boulter (1876- 1946)

23/03/1898        Death of  John Boulter (84yrs) (my 2nd great grandfather- AWF)

25/03/1898        Buried, North Circle Cemetery, New Norfolk (cause death: Diarrhoea & Decay)

Colonial Times (Hobart, Tas. : 1828 - 1857), Thursday 2 June 1853, page 2

"GET LABOUR."

Such is the cry. Having taken a warm interest in' the emigration measures of the last two years, we rejoice to find that the government and people are now as one on this subject. We rejoice to find that the backwardness of settlers In former years was truly described it was not reluctance to  act, but a conviction that action was use-less.

They said, and said truly, that while the colony was deluged with convicts the importation of free laborers was perhaps morally wrong-and certainly unavailing. This crisis is now past ; Tasmania, if -not a free country, will be so soon. The last convict ship has anchored-the last British convict has landed-the rag flag is down, and although the department -will be able to flutter it a short time longer, it will never look quite so red, it will only be half-mast high, soon not a rag will remain. Those who have struggled to ruin the social freedom of Tasmania, will hardly realise for some time the great and glorious change. This victory without violence or bloodshed ; this triumph over sordid interests and ferocious passions"! Who can tell how much is included in that one word Freedom ?

Soon all the convict supply will shell out ; the better part will become "the free among the free," not the freed slandered on an isthmus between emigrant distrust and convict envy. An English ship freighted with human beings will be-not a source of regret to one party or the other-but of general joy. We have seen the time past when the arrival of a convict chip -was a scene of un-seemly contention among employers ; when the officers of the convict department could gratify their corruption, pride, and vengeance. The time, too, is past when the arrival of an emigrant vessel drew down to the beach -a mob of villains to scowl and blaspheme and curse the " interlopers." All this is past, and, in fact, will soon be forgotten. Who "can count the price of that liberation which breaks not a foreign but a domestic yoke, which will revolutionise every village and homestead-which will make us all again conscious of British sentiments and principles-which has externally divorced the notion of crime and poverty ; and given honesty once more to our social Decalogue.

The struggle has indeed been long, but great is the victory ! And now we must all join heart and hand and encourage the settlement of our countrymen. We shall certainly And no disposition to depart whenever the circumstances of Van Diemen's Land are not less favourable than those of other colonies. We believe that our numbers will be at least doubled in five years; our fifty thousand will become a hundred thousand. What nonsense it is to talk of the country as nearly occupied : we remember that such was the cry 30 years ago. Centuries will elapse before the country will be filled ; and were land gradually put up, and always purchasable, in small sections as it ought to be, we should no more waul labour than they have generally done in South Australia. We want the 80 acre section plan. This would fill the colony with ploughs, harrows, and waggons lo be let ; and reduce farm service to one half.

The management of the emigrants on their arrival will demand great circumspection, jft is on this point our fears are great. The stoppage of transportation will reduce the feelings of asperity, with which convict servants usually regard emigrants ; but the system of indentures will expose those who happen to fall into bad hands, to much injustice. We say, positively, that the present police laws and officials are not to be trusted with free men. The emigrant in-denture system will enable masters to make unjust bargains if they are so inclined, and some plan must he devised of relieving the [emigrant in such cases-or all the employers' will be injured by the rapacity of a few tyrannical masters who may keep the emigrants constantly before the police, and propagate throughout the laboring community, a sense of insecurity, and thus render indentures worthless in the long run.

We should strongly advise every employer to limit the term to one year, or to insert some clause giving* a servant . remedy against a bargain, which time may show to have been unfair. The emigrant is an individual, will have no chance with a single master ; but where they form " the labor power," as a body they will ultimately break through all restrictions imposed to their secret conviction of right. it is in the power of a few Turkish masters to destroy confidence in the employers ns a class, and make nil workmen discontented and distrustful.

When the general good treatment shall inspire them with confidence, public opinion will support the execution of the law. This subject will be worth the notice of the council.

If a special magistrate were appointed to determine all questions between servant and masters, and were permitted to adjust certain difficulties in relation to contracts, it would probably be useful to all parties. The " pulling" plan must be dispensed with, if any expectation of smooth water is indulged. The least of all would be to bind an emigrant to pay his passage or serve his time, and give him his choice after the first year j and to this the matter will one day come.

We congratulate the colony on the movement in the right direction.

Colonial Times (Hobart, Tas. : 1828 - 1857), Friday 26 November 1852, page 2

We found Sir W Denison writing despatches against immigration. Earl Gtey re-fusing to assist free emigrants, although his government was solemnly pledged to send one free for one bond. Why, while a ship is quitting England daily for the neighbouring colonies with freights of emigrants, is our share a few Irish work-house girls ? Were we free from the convict curse, then, of the tens of thousands who are descending on the opposite shores, many would within a few days land on our  own.

In Dublin the Famine Emigrants are remembered

 

as they are in Hobart, when they arrived.

As happened, many of the Bradburn/Leveston Family emigrated, and there is a line in Ontario in Canada.

*There appears to be many intermarriages in Cavan between members of the Bradburn Family and of the Leveston Family

Coming down a level of the Bradburn/Leveston Family is George Bradburn who was born 1817 and he married Ann Levistone in 1844.  They arrived in Australia on the "Elisabeth in 1845

George was the son of Richard Bradburn and Margaret McDowell.  Richard perhaps to be a cousin of Richard who married Mary Leviston.

On the Levistone lineage there is a relationship between Francis Leviston 1787 who married Sarah Argue 1799.  Francis was the son of Henry Leviston 1762 and Abigail.  They married in 1794.

The Bradburn's had land in northern Cavan, mention is made of George Alexander.  The Bradburns appear to be English Protestants and the Levestons from Scottish planters. Cavan was settled in the early 1800's by natives of Ireland and their descendents.  Among the U.E. Loyalists and military claimants to when early grants of land were made in Cavan, were  Alexander, George and John Bradburn

John Bradburn b 1788 married Elizabeth Foster, and his parents were George Bradburn 1762 and Mary Levinston.  The Bradburns were settlers of Cavan Township, Durham County Ontario Canada.

(When the settlers from Ireland and Scotland resettled in America and in Canada, they were granted new lands, and they called them the same name as the place where they originally lived)