CLAVERING
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THE ELMDON POACHING GANG OF 1828
One of the most dramatic poaching incidents in north-west Essex occurred on a winter night in 1828 at woods near Wendon Lofts, Elmdon. After a violent confrontation with gamekeepers, a large gang of poachers were rounded up and many of them were put on trial and then transported. The poachers came from a number of different villages in north-west Essex and east Herts. One of them was Adam Bond, one of three Clavering brothers who were transported at different times for different offences. The descendants of Adam Bond in Australia today have put together the following research which they are sharing on the Recorders website in the hope that others can add to the information compiled. Those wishing to contact the authors should do so direct.
Research by Noel Robson & Donna Turner
We, Noel Robson, Donna Turner, Jan Thompson and Bryan Garvey are all descendant from an Adam Bond of Clavering, who was transported to Australia in 1829 for 7 years after being convicted after a poaching affray at Pond Street Wood, Wendon Lofts on 18 December 1828.
Contacts:
Noel Robson njkrobson@hotmail.com Adam’s 2 x great grandson
Donna Turner donna.turner7@bigpond.comAdam’s 3 x great granddaughter
Jan Thompson ednjan@optusnet.com.au Adam’s 2 x great granddaughter
Bryan Garvey bryan17@optusnet.com.au Adam’s 3 x great grandson
All reside in the Sydney area of New South Wales.
We suspect that all those listed below were involved in the poaching affray:
Adam Bond
James Unwin (alias Onion),
Joseph Burgess,
George Burgess,
George Canning,
John Hollingsworth,
John Sell,
Thomas Barker, Richard Boyton, James Bailey, John Wisby, John Brown, John Graves, Thomas Graves, Thomas Martin, John Martin, John Pledger, Joseph Gates, John Pickett, James Baker and Jonathon Seamer and possibly George Canning, Thomas Barker and John Pledger.
We are trying to
establish
more details on the Bond family who came from several villages in NW
Essex. We
suspect that Thomas Martin,
John Martin
and Jonathon Seamer were related to Adam, but
we would be delighted to receive any communication from any descendants
of any
of the above, most of whom were transported for 7 or 14 years as a
result of
their conviction. With some 20 of them, it is hardly surprising they
were
caught!
Below is a selection of what we have found out so far.
THE POACHING AFFRAY
A report of the trial appeared in the Chelmsford Chronicle 20 March 1829:
GANG OF POACHERS
John Hollingsworth, Adam Bond, Thomas, Richard Boyton, James Bailey, John Wisbey, Brown, John Graves, Thos. Graves, Joseph Burgess, James Onion alias Unwin, George Burgess, Thomas Martin, John Martin,John Pledger, John, Joseph Gates, John Pickitt and James Baker indicted for maliciously and feloniously shooting at (?) Richard Warren, with powder and (?)intent to kill and murder. - Mr.J.and Mr.Knox conducted the prosecution and Mr.(?) Sergeant Andrews and Mr.Alfred Dowling appeared for the prisioners. – Nathan Warren, gamekeeper John Wilkes, Esq of Wenden Lofts, said he was (?) on the night of Thursday, the 18th December, with (?) six assistants, and went to Chissel Park Wood (?) there heard several guns fired, one of which (?) supposed was not more than four rods from them (?) when in the wood, he heard the ramming of (?) the (?) wadding of a gun, saw the flash, and immediately afterwards heard something fall from a tree; he then(?) sent to the village of Elmdon, for more assistance (?) and 13 others came, making his party to consist of (?). They then went to the wood and again be...(?) report of a gun, but could not see anyone; then went to Mr.Wilkes's house, and on his (?) heard guns fired, apparently at about half distant; he then went on his horse to Pond Street Wood, (which also is the property of Mr. Wilkes(?)) where he joined his companions, whom he had(?) previously desired to go forward to that spot then heard several guns fired, upon which he ordered all his men into the wood except Joseph Hayes who he kept along with himself; hearing a gun(?) noise, he told Hayes to go to the end of the wood(?) whence the sounds proceeded. Hayes having only(?) a(?) small stick, witness gave him a pistol, but cautioned him against using it, unless he was actually forced(?) to do so in his own defence; (it was a dull moonless(?) night,) he then saw two men come out of the wood(?) but upon their seeing witness they retreated then saw two others who did the same; he re(?)turned back to the corner of the wood, and went to a pasture called Potton Green from whence he(?) could see into Cockscroft Field, and also theside of Pond Street Wood, he saw a great many come into the bottom of Cockscroft; he should there were 30, but could not count them; they had(?) some pheasants in their hands, he rode right into(?) the(?) midst of them; as he approached, they said here(?) comes the d___d old Devil, shoot him, smash(?) him(?), they were armed with sticks six or seven feet long(?), five or six guns were pointed at his body. He(?) told them if they injured either him or he would shoot them; don't know where his companions were during this time; he then rode(?) round the wood, and was pelted by the gang(?) with stones. Witness then called to his party to follow him, but they did not immediately do so, again rode around, when he saw a dog behind the poaching party, which appeared to be a lurcher, after the party had got by so that he was surecould not injure them, he fired and shot the dog. Two or three of the gang then came back to the dog. - Cross-examined by Sergeant Andrews. Witness(?) went out between ten and eleven; his mother him up; the affray was over about half past one. lasted about two hours in the whole. Witness was(?) not near his brother when some one attempted to shoot him; he did not know any thing about Richard Warren, brother to the last witness, de.....(?), that on the night of the 18th of last December,accompanied his brother and a large party of assistants to Pond Street Wood, where he saw upwards of(?) twenty poachers, armed with guns and sticks. The(?) poachers rushed upon the keeper's party, whofrom the wood upon seeing the formidable arms(?) against them; a gun was fired, and witness was with some shot in the back, but was not injured. He(?) was afterwards knocked down, and his shoulder bone(?) broken in several places; his head was severely cut(?). - Cross-examined. Some of his party were behind him and some before him, as he was rushing out of the wood. - Mr.Wilkes takes very good care of his game(?) is rather a sharp hand in that way. - Robert B.....(?) corroborrated the testimony given by the previous witness. Upon his cross-examination he said that(?) he was the nearest of his party to the person who(?) fired the gun, but he was not fired at. - Thomas(?) Jeffrey gave similar testimony. - Jonathon Seamer, an accomplice, but who was admitted evidence, identified the prisoners Unwin, Bailey, Brown, Boyton, Barker, Wisbey, Graves, Bond, Hollingsworth, Joseph and George Burgess, Graves, Thomas and John Martin, John Sell, James Baker, and John Picket as being of the party of poachers on the night of the 18th of December, in Pond Street Wood. There were about nine guns amongst the party. Upon his cross-examination he admitted that he gave information against the prisoners to save himself. - George Bird, another poacher admitted evidence identified John Pledger and Joseph Gates as being of the poachers party. - The examinations of Unwin, the two Martins and James Baker, were put in and read(?). Mr. Serjeant Andrews objected to the confessions of the above prisoners being exhibited against them, as those confessions were made at a time when the prisoners were not charged with a capital offence, they were then only charged with poaching. - Mr.Dowling followed, and contended that to support the indictment upon which the prisoners were being tried, it would be necessary to support a malicious intention on the part of the person who fired the gun. The contrary, he contended, was proved by the evidence, for instead of the gun being fired at the nearest of the keeper's party, it was fired at those that were at the greatest distance. - An alibi was attempted to be (?) up in favour of the prisoner Pledger, which completely failed. - The sister of the prisoner, Thomas Graves, deposed that he was at home on the night of the 18th December, and that he could not get out of the house without her knowledge. - The case for the prosecution and the defence having closed, the Learned Judge summed up at length, and commented as he proceeded upon the nature of the evidence adduced in support of the prosecution, and in favour of the prisoners Pledger and Graves. - Jury, after a consultation of more than an hour, returned a verdict of not Guilty for all the prisoners. - The trial excited considerable interest, and occupied the attention of the Court from two o'clock until in the evening.
The following morning the same prisoners (with the exception of three who were indicted for fowl stealing) were arraigned, being found armed in a certain wood, for the purpose of destroying game. The evidence, as given the previous day, having been read, and Mr.Serjeant Andrews having addressed the Jury on behalf of the prisoners, they were all found guilty. John Hollingsworth was first placed at the bar. - The Learned Judge in passing sentence observed, that from various circumstances that had transpired it was clear he was the leader and contriver of the affrays, and therefore sentenced him to 14 years transportation. - James Bailey, John Brown, Richard Boyton, Thomas and John Wisbey, were next placed at the bar and received a similar sentence. - John Graves, Thos. Graves, John Pledger, and John Pickitt, were then brought up for judgement, the two former, the Learned Judge said, had much aggravated their cases by attempting to prove an alibi; and he had heard such circumstances of the two latter as induced him to transport them also for fourteen years. - Adam Bond, Joseph Burgess, George Burgess, Thomas Martin, John Martin, John Sell, and Joseph Gates otherwise Thomas Gates, 7 years' transportation. - The Learned Judge addressing James Baker said, his conduct had been represented in a favourable light, and therefore sentenced him to twelve months' imprisonment and hard labour."
*****************
The Assize Agenda Book reads:
"Essex Lent Assizes
Saturday 14th March before the Lord Chief Baron in the Crown Courts
1. Joseph Arthy)( 7. Matthew Flack
2. William Rudds)( 8. Thomas Abrey
3. Benjamin Bacon)Petit Jury Sworn( 9. Henry Mills
4. Issac Curds)( 10. George Fitch(?)
5. James Davey)( 11. Samual Bloomfield
6. Thomas Dennis)( 12. Gainsford Dixon
(Puts himselfJury say GuiltyTrans: Life
( John Deans
(47
(Puts himselfJury say GuiltyTrans: Life
Bill not found (James Unwin alias Onion
52(22
( Joseph Burgess
( John Graves (?) Breaking and Entering a Building within the Curtilages of the Dwelling house of (Allen Kurrell & Stealing therein live Fowls
((?) valueL3..3..26 Dead Fowls
(Puts himself Jury say not guilty acquitted
( Daniel Gilby(?) receiving part of Goods value L2..11..
(27
(Puts himself convicted that judgement(?)(?)
53( James Unwin alias Onion
Bill not found( John Dean
Bill not found( Joseph Burgess
Bill not found( George Burgesss
Bill not found( George CanningStealing a Sheep price 25 of John Scott
Hyam Walton and William Marriot Sworn in the Petit Jury instead of Thomas Abrey and Gainsford Dixon
Now Indicted and puts himself / in Custody / and Jury
say Guilty - Trans: 14 years
( John Hollingsworth
(27
(The like - Like VerdictTrans: 7 years
( Adam Bond
(17
(The like - Like VerdictTrans: 14 years
( Thomas Barker
(20
( The like - Like VerdictTrans: 14 years
( Richard Boyton
(17
(The like - Like VerdictTrans: 14 years
( James Bailey
(19
(The like - Like VerdictTrans: 14 years
( John Wisbey
(17
(The like - Like VerdictTrans: 14 years
( John Brown
(22
(The like - Like VerdictTrans: 14 years
( John Graves
(26
(The like - Like VerdictTrans: 14 years
( Thomas Graves
(23
(The like - Like VerdictTrans: 7 years
( Joseph Burgess
(18
(The likeConvicted & had Judgement on another (Ind’t?)
( James Onion alias Unwin
(22
( The likeJury say GuiltyTrans: 7 years
( George Burgess
(27
( William Walker"
The next page of the Assize Agenda Book was not received, so whether additional names and details are on the next page is unknown.
The previously referred to letter of 21st November, 1986 from the Public Record Office refers to Adam Bond and 27 other men being mentioned in the indictment. The article in the Chelmsford Chronicle lists only 19 members of the poaching party. The copy of the Assize Agenda Book is believed to be missing a page and therefore not all names are listed.
The Assize Agenda Book would appear to contain some clerical errors. In particular, the sentence given to John Hollingsworth in the Assize Agenda Book is 7 years transportation, but in the article from the Chelmsford Chronicle we are told that the Judge regarded John Hollingsworth as the ‘leader and contriver of these affrays’ and convicted him to 14 years as a result. Similarly, and of relevance to this paper, Adam Bond is listed in the Assize Agenda Book as receiving a sentence of 14 years, but the article from the Chelmsford Chronicle states his sentence as being 7 years transportation. The 7 years transportation is quite correct as this term appears in later documentation. Also, before the expiry of the 14 years, Adam Bond was living in Sydney with Mary Prior and had a son. At what stage the Assize Agenda Book was ‘corrected’ (if such was necessary) to the 7 year sentence given to Adam Bond is not known.
Also, as Adam Bond was born on1st March, 1810, he was 18 years of age when the crime was committed in December, 1828 and had just turned 19 when the Assize Trial occurred in March, 1829. The Assize Agenda Book is incorrect by stating his age as 17. However, Adam ‘Thomas Seymour’ Bond's age is regularly wrong (including on his gravestone) and it leads to the speculation that he did not know his exact year of birth.
NSW RESEARCH ON THE POACHING GANG
We took with us various details that have been unearthed, including
- Donna’s discovery of the extremely likely possibility/ fact that Adam Bond’s and Sarah Bond’s other 2 convict brothers (William and Adam) were members of the 1845 (6?) expedition by Sir Thomas Mitchell and
- the details of the Bonds of Clavering.
Donna went looking in the 1880’s Sands Directories and located a Joseph Strange living in the same street and area as Adam and his descendants. There is a lady by the name of Leslie Muir at the Canterbury Historical Society who did her major works for her Masters and PhD on the original land grants in SW Sydney and the development of the railroad in the Sydney basin. Many of her notes are in the CHS records and have been used by me in the past. Leslie is a wealth of information (much straight off the top of her head). She recognised the name Strange and went looking in her files and uncovered the following details originally sourced from the Land Titles Office under the old (per Torrens) system.
142/541 (Book and title, Book and transaction or the like under the old system) Conveyance 18/5/1874
“Adam Bond of Bonds Road near Canterbury, yeoman to Elizabeth Mary Strange, niece of the said Adam Bond and Joseph Strange (her father) of Canterbury Road, yeoman.
Deed of release 28/5/1864 between Joseph James Wiley and Adam Bond, this land was sold to Adam Bond.
Now he sells and gives part of this land to E.M. Strange (5/-). Commencing at the SE side of Canterbury Road, at the NE corner of Strange’s lot 2, containing 1 ac 18 p. Bounded on the NW by that road…………………and on the SW by Strange’s lot 2……………………
I think this answers the question of whether Adam Bond and Sarah Strange (nee Bond) being brother and sister met up or knew of each other in NSW.
TRANSPORTATION
When the convict ships arrived in Sydney Harbour, there was a muster made of the convicts by the Colonial Secretary. They were called indents and were (among other things) the basis by which the government established which convicts they wanted-those with skills as well as I would guess some administrative control system as they contain a fair amount of information about the convicts. Some were reproduced in typed text, some are in the original handwriting. These are now on microfiche reels organised by ship and years. The State Archives has some 4,000 reels containing all sorts of good information including the indents. We located the indent for
Adam Bond (dated 12/1829-ship Sarah),
William Bond (dated 16/10/1832, ship Hercules 3 and 4-the 3 being it’s third trip, but confusion over the number),
the Martin Boys from the Elmdon poaching (missing date-ship Katherine Stewart Forbes),
John Wisbey (ship Katherine Stewart Forbes)
After Donna left I located the indent for
Allen Bond (dated 17/2/1833-ship Camden).
The convict after Allen on the indent appears to be William Wright
data base of NSW Convicts,I located Adam, William and Allen Bond and John Wisbey, but there was no mention of:
James Rickett, Oliver White (who I believe went to Tasmania), James Abraham (death sentence maybe carried out as he wasn’t in Tasmania either) nor Boyten (who we know came through NSW).
However, I located the indent of a James Rickett The details are in the attachment. The convict I located was 37.
WILLIAM BOND
Catalogue on the letters sent to the Colonial Secretary between 1827 and 1870 something, by date, person writing, the ship they can from and a reference number. The actual letters are at Kingswood. They do have a register on microfiche of the letters giving a brief idea of the topic. I came across one on William Bond (bap 11/2/1807) from the Hercules. It is an official letter dealing with giving him some indulgence. Searching on, it appears William was regularly in front of the courts (at Bathurst and Maitland), spent two years incarcerated on Norfolk Island and had the rare? indignity of having his ticket of leave cancelled. William Bond was Adam Bond’s brother, but he seems to have been an habitual petty criminal and appears to have not made a good go of it like Adam did with wives, children and lands.
ALLEN BOND
Allen Bond was also Adam Bond’s brother and was also transported. We searched the NSW Death Registers for his death, but he wasn’t listed, which made us wonder if he had gone home after doing his time or whether he died young before civil registrations and was missed in the church records. We assume if he had gone home, he would have returned to his home territory.
THE CLAVERING BONDS
All 3 were sons of James and Mary Bond of Clavering. Having 3 sons transported is not only juicy stuff to research but does make you wonder about James and Mary’s parenting skills. Mind, the transportations were good for colonial policy and population and in Adam’s case, he was stunningly successful, given the number of Australian grandchildren he had.
As best I can make out, Mary Westwood died in 1799 while married to James the carpenter who died in 1833. Mary Seymour married our James in 1805 (I have the marriage entry from the church register with Vicar Bowra officiating) and then produced William, Adam and siblings starting with William in 1807. So Mary Westwood was dead before William, Adam and siblings were born. Also (and something that is not recorded in the UK) is that Adam took on the full name of Adam Thomas Seymour Bond in later life, the Thomas being his grandfather and Seymour being his mother’s maiden name. Jan Thompson’s grandfather was also Adam Thomas Seymour Bond and various other descendants of Adam have also Seymour or Seamore in their name. We are very comfortable with Mary Seymour being William’s, Adam’s and siblings mother, which is reinforced by the parish registers.
ADAM BOND’S FIRST WIFE, MARY PRIOR
Donna, Jan and I went to hunt down the burial location of Adam Bond’s first and common law wife, Mary Prior, from whom we are all descended. She was buried in 1850 (at the age of 32) at St. Stephen’s, Camperdown (just west of the CBD). Some 60% of the cemetery was subsequently resumed and is now mostly a park, surrounded by terrace housing, so it was an exercise in using old maps, which Donna had obtained, existing landmarks and doing some good old fashioned pacing out. We believe we were successful at the end of the day, within a few feet, so we were pleased as Mary Prior she has been one of those genealogical enigmas and remains so in some areas such as knowing where she was born and inevitably the names of her parents. We then went off see the grave of Jan’s and my great grandmother (Mary Waters in my writings) and then to meet up with another cousin (Ken Bond) and his Mum, who are more closely related to Donna. It was an enjoyable and fruitful day.
MEETING OTHER BOND RESEARCHERS
Donna and I went to Jan Thompson’s house in Grays Point in the Sutherland Shire, wHere we met Jan and Bryan Garvey for the first time. Donna, myself, Jan and Bryan are descendant from Adam’s grandchildren. My grandfather and Jan’s grandfather were full brothers and we never met until yesterday! It was a good day and Jan and her husband went to a lot of trouble to make us welcome. There was much swapping of information and we are going gravestone searching on 23rd July.
BONDS OF CLAVERING, ESSEX
The Bond parish records for Clavering covering marriages, baptisms and burials for the years 1755-1840 provide the very plausible (but unproven) result set out below:
Thomas Bond married Elizabeth Symmonds 31 January, 1758, having 8 children
Lucy baptised March, 1758
Jesse baptised 2 January, 1760
John baptised 6 June, 1762
Edmund baptised 13 January, 1765
Sarah baptised 10 July, 1768
Thomas baptised 8 July, 1770
Mary baptised 5 October, 1777
James baptised 4 August, 1779
It appears highly likely that the last born child, James is the James recorded in the parish registers as having married on 3 occasions. James Bond was buried in Clavering on 19 July, 1845 age 66, (birth 1779). His marriages and the resulting issue were:
a). To Elizabeth Martin (born 1781, died 2 August, 1804 and buried 4 August, 1804) on 28 October, 1800 having 2 children
- Sarah born 27 March, 1801, baptised 12 April, 1801
- Elizabeth born 9 December, 1802, baptised 2 January, 1803
b). To Mary Seymour on 7 November, 1805. having 5 children
- William born 11 February, 1807, baptised 15 March, 1807
- Adam born 1 March, 1810, baptised 18 December, 1810
- Eve baptised 21 April, 1814
- Allen baptised 19 May, 1816
- John baptised 9 January, 1820, died 23 December, 1821
Mary Seymour was buried in Clavering on 26 June, 1830, aged 45.
c). To Hannah Coxall (born 1795) on 19 July, 1836, having no children. However, it appears that Hannah Coxall had 2 children from a previous marriage being twin girls Emma and Sarah born in 1826 outside Clavering.
So, in summary, the Clavering Bonds resulting in the convict Adam (acknowledging the unproven nature of the above) are:
Thomas Bond m Elizabeth Symonds 31 January, 1758. Their youngest child James (baptised 4 August, 1779), in his second marriage to Mary Seymour on 7 November, 1805 resulted in the second child being Adam, transported in 1829.
MARRIAGE OF JAMES BOND AND MARY SEYMOUR
The marriage of James Bond and Mary Seymour occurred on 7 November 1805 in the parish of Clavering, Essex. The officiating vicar was William Bowra.In the entry of their marriage, James Bond is described as being of ‘this parish, Widower’. Mary Seymour is described as "of the same (Parish), Spinster". Neither James Bond or Mary Seymour could write. One of the witnesses was a James Seymour, who similarly could not write. The relationship of James Seymour to Mary Seymour is not specified.
ADAM "THOMAS SEYMOUR" BOND
Adam Bond was born 1 March, 1810 to James Bond and Mary Seymour, inEssex and was baptised on 18 December, 1810. This list is signed by William Bowra, Vicar. A point of note is that on this baptism entry, Adam Bond is referred to as Adam Bond only. No reference is made to the ‘Thomas Seymour’ in his name, that appears in his later life and or after his death. If he was actually named Adam Thomas Seymour Bond, it is reasonable to assume that he would have been baptised as such.
There is no documentation to hand on Adam Bond until his prosecution. At about midnight on 18 December, 1828, Adam Bond was a member of a party of poachers who entered Pond Street Wood (the property of John Wilkes) in the parish of Wenden Lofts, armed with firearms, which they discharged. Wenden Lofts is a parish of small acreage, 3 parishes removed from the parish of Clavering. The present day Lower Pond Street and Upper Pond Street are only some 2 to 3 miles from Clavering.
As a result of being caught during this poaching exercise, the gang of poachers appeared before the Essex Lent Assizes. The original charge of attempted murder was successfully defended, but the lesser charge of poaching was proven and most of the poaching party were transported.
According to a letter from the Public Record Office, London, dated 21 November, 1986, a summary of the information contained in Adam Bond's indictment is: ‘He and twenty-seven other men, all described as being of Wenden Lofts, labourers, were charged with entering land in that parish, belonging to John Wilkes, at about 12 midnight on 18th December, 1828, for the purpose of destroying and taking game and rabbits. Some of the men were sentenced to transportation, some to hard labour, and some were acquitted. The calendar of prisoners gives Adam Bond's age as 17 and states that they were charged on the oath of Nathan Warren and on the confession of Jonathon Seamer, one of the poachers. The scene of the crime was named as Pond Street Wood, Wenden Lofts.’
TRANSPORTATION
The earliest located record of Adam Bond within the colony of New South Wales appears in the Index of Convicts - Arrivals November, 1828 to December, 1832, Entry 561 reads ‘Adam Bond, Age 17, on Sarah, 1829’.
From the State Archives Reel 398 (Microfilm) Details of Ships & Passengers – Sarah:
43-Adam BondReference: C36/885
Education: NoMarital Status: Single
Native Place: EssexTrade or Calling: Lab (Milk &
Reaps?)
Offence: PoachingWhere Tried: Chelmsford
When Tried: 9th March, 1829Sentence: 7 years
Height: 5' 3 1/2 "Complexion: Ruddy
Hair: BrownEyes: Light Blue
How Disposed of: Peter Howell-Illawarra
According to The Convict Ships (SAG reference A3/23/1 page 221) by Charles Bateson, the Sarah “A ship of 488 tons, built in London in 1819, she was making her second voyage as a convict ship, and she seems to have been especially fortunate in the weather she encountered. On her first voyage with convicts in 1829, she ran out from London to Port Jackson in 100 days, despite short calls at Tristan d’Acunha and South America’ and St. Paul’s Island.
From the book Log of Logues in the Mitchell Library, the 1829 passage of the Sarah is listed with the departure from London on 29 August and the arrival in Port Jackson on 7 December. She is also listed as carrying 200 males convicts.
On the web site Convicts Ships to Australia the details of the 1829 convict run of the Sarah to Sydney are: Sailed: 29 August, 1829, from London; Arrived: 7 December, 1829 at Sydney; Days: 100; Embarked 200 male convicts, Disembarked: 199 male convicts; Master: Henry C.Columbine; Surgeon: Alick Osborne.
On the web site www.tasfamily.net.au/-howard/convicts/admin/shipedit.php? the details of the 1836/37 convict run of the Sarah are: Departure: 22 December, 1836 from London; Arrival 29 March, 1837 at Hobart; Embarked: 253 or 255 male convicts; Disembarked: 245 male convicts after 9 deaths and 1 relanded; Master: J.T.Whiteside; Surgeon: Jas. McTernan.
From investigations to date, it appears that Mary Prior was not resident in New South Wales in 1828 as she does not appear in the muster of that year. She also does not appear on the bounty records at the Society of Australian Genealogists, being the listing of young women who came out to New South Wales in and around the 1830’s. It also appears that she was not a convict. The summary appears that Mary Ann Prior was not in New South Wales in 1828, but was living with and pregnant to Adam Thomas Seymour Bond in 1840.
Mary Ann Prior was pregnant on 4 known occasions, the children being:
a). John Charles Prior Bond, born 4 April, 1841, baptised 16 May, 1841 in the Parish of St. James, Sydney. The record of the baptism (Society of Australian Genealogists microfiche reel 0061 St. James Sydney 1824-1856) lists the parents as Adam and Mary Ann Bond, their abode at Castlereagh Street, Adam’s profession or quality as a labourer and that the ceremony was performed by R. Allwood;
b). Sarah Elizabeth Bond, born 26 April, 1843, baptised 7 May, 1843 in the Parish of St. James, Sydney. The record of the baptism (Society of Australian Genealogists microfysh reel as a) above) lists the parents as Adam and Mary Bond, their abode at Castlereagh Street, Adam’s profession or quality as carter (or carrier) and that the ceremony was performed by Thos. W. Boderham;
c). James Richard Bond,
born
d). An unknown child, the birth of which in 1850 resulted in Mary Ann Prior’s death.
It appears that Mary Ann Prior was Adam ‘Thomas Seymour’ Bond’s common law wife. All the known children of their relationship, with the exception of John Charles Prior Bond, were infant mortalities.
Mary Ann Prior died during child birth on 13 August, 1850. The Camperdown Cemetery Burial Butt (Society of Australian Genealogists microfish reel 3228) sets out the Particulars of Registration listed below:
Name in Full: Mary Ann Bond
Profession Trade or Calling:Wife of Labourer
Residence: Strawberry Hill
Date and Hour of Death:13 August a.m.
Cause of Death:Child Birth
Age:32 Years
Date the Ceremony is to Take Place:14 August???
Noted in hand writing in the top right hand corner of the burial butt is the note ‘Private Grave, Section E, 17’.
Adam Thomas Seymour; Bond married Ann Parrett presumably before the birth of their surviving son Adam Thomas Bond in 1851 or 1852. This relationship produced seven (?) children, of whom only two survived. These were Adam Thomas Bond (born 1851/2) and Mary Ann Bond (born 1853?).
Ann Bond (Parrett/ nee Martin) died on 17 July, 1884, aged 70. She is buried with the other Bond family members at Belmore.
LANDS OWNED BY ADAM ‘THOMAS SEYMOUR’ BOND
Bracken's Grant
This 60 acres of land was originally granted to John Bracken on 30th June, 1823. John Bracken sold the land to James Wilshire on 22nd November, 1828, who on his death on 9 December,1840, left the land in his will to his grandson, Thomas Wilshire Elliott.
Adam "Thomas Seymour" Bond purchased the land from Thomas Wilshire Elliott (Old System Title Ref 28, Book126) on 6th September, 1853 for 150 pounds. This acquisition would appear to be the first land held by Adam "Thomas Seymour" Bond in the Belmore area.
In terms of the 1990's, the land lies to the east of Bonds Rd, with the southern boundary being approximately Skinner Ave, the northern boundary just south of Payten Ave and the eastern boundary approximately Chick St. The land lies virtually immediately to the west of the Roselands shopping complex.
The land was sold by Adam "Thomas Seymour" Bond is portions. The details are:
i). 31 acres, 2 roods sold to Hamilton White, esq on 10th October, 1882 for 420 pounds (Old System Title Ref 256, Book 824);
ii). 10 acres, 2 roods, 9.5 perches sold to Adam Thomas Bond (the son of Adam "Thomas Seymour" Bond and Ann Parrett who was described as a householder and carrier) on 9th June, 1883 for 49 pounds (Old System Title Ref 271, Book 247).
According to Kenneth William Meade Bond, this portion of the land (which he believed was 12 acres), was ultimately sold after the death of Adam Thomas Bond in September, 1929. This sale occurred as a result of a vote amongst the surviving children of Adam Thomas Bond and Margaret Maria (Moloy) Wallace, including their illegitimate son Ernest (Sonny) Bond, who passed this information on to Kenneth William Meade Bond. It is believed that this sale represents the transfer out of the Bond family of the last part of the Belmore lands;
iii). 10 acres, 2 roods , 29.5 perches to Jabez Francis of Rooty Hill on 27th June, 1883 for 170 pounds (Old System Title Ref 272, Book 16 in RPA Vol 908, Fol 95); and
iv). 9 acres, 2 perches to Isaac Doust, Importer on 25th April, 1885 (Old System Title Ref 308, Book 341) for 450 pounds, 12 shillings and 6 pence. In turn, Isaac Doust agreed to sell this portion of the land to W.G.Cameron, draper for 630 pounds, 17 shillings and 6 pence. At the time of the sale by Adam "Thomas Seymour" Bond of his final portion of Bracken's grant, he was terminally ill with cirrhosis of the liver.
The 60 acres of land that was the original grant to John Bracken was converted to Torrens Title by Primary Applications 5848 and 6364.
2). Holmes' & Plunkett's Grants
There is confusion amongst the records in relation to this piece of land. This is caused by the use of the name William Holmes and William Hollness throughout the papers and maps concerning the land.
50 acres of land were granted to Williams Holmes, a convict transported on the "Cornwallis" in 1800. This grant would appear to be in 1820, but this date is only based on the recorded date of a reference for William Holmes and cannot be regarded as reliable or referring to the grant.
50 acres of land were granted to William Hollness, who arrived on the "Royal Admiral" in about 1800. This grant was made about 1809 and was subject to Governor Macquarie's proclamation of 4th January, 1810. William Hollness'
petition dated 22nd January, 1810 seeking the reinstatement of his grant, is part of the Memorials of 1810 located in the State Archives Office (A.O. 4/1822. No 145). The land was regranted effective from 1st January, 1810.
As can be seen in the subsequent pages, conveyancing details refer to Holmes' grant as does the map of the original grants of land in the Belmore area. However, with Primary Application 5720 (converting the eastern half of the Holmes and Plunkett grants to Torrens Title), a letter from J.R.Peake and some conveyancing details refer to Hollness' grant. Within the papers investigated both Holmes' and Hollness' farms are referred to as "Thorn Farm".
On 10th December, 1811, William Hollness transferred his 50 acres to James Wilshire. The 50 acres was part of the estate (as was Bracken's grant) of James Wilshire, who on his death on 9th December, 1840 left this land in his will to his son, Austin Forrest Wilshire.
It is reasonable to conclude that William Holmes and William Hollness are the same person. It is clear from the records that the 50 acres at Belmore held by each persona is the same land.
This 30 acres of land was originally granted to James Plunkett in 1809 and regranted effective from 1st January, 1810 as a result of Governor Macquarie’s proclamation. As with Holme's grant, this 30 acres of land was also part of the estate of James Wilshire, it being left in his will to his son, Austin Forrest Wilshire.
Adam "Thomas Seymour" Bond purchased the 80 acres comprising both the Holmes' and Plunkett grants of land from Austin Forrest Wilshire (Old System Title Ref 83, Book 924) on 23rd January, 1860 for 550 pounds.
This 80 acres of land lies
between the present day Bonds Road
and Belmore
Road
and has the M5 motorway running through it. The southern boundary is at
the
existing
Adam "Thomas Seymour" Bond gifted 80 acres, known as “Thorn Farm”, to John Charles Prior Bond (his son by Mary Prior) on 23rd May, 1863 (Old System Title Ref 83, Book 925). This appears difficult to reconcile with the subsequent sales of the 80 acres of land by Adam "Thomas Seymour" Bond to parties outside the Bond Family. However, Primary Application 5949 converting the western half of the Holmes and Plunkett grants to Torrens Title support this conveyance by Adam "Thomas Seymour" Bond to John Charles Prior Bond.
The two recorded sales by Adam "Thomas Seymour" Bond to other parties are:
i). 43 acres, 1 rood and 28 perches to Lucy Jane Marsh of 2 Elizabeth Terrace, North Shore on 14th December, 1880 (Old System Title Ref 211, Book 691) for 347 pounds, 8 shillings. This land commenced at the western side of “Bond Street” at the northeast corner of Piper's 80 acres and was bounded on the east by Bonds “Street”, on the south by Elizabeth Hannan's land, on the west by John Charles Prior Bond's portion and on the north by Piper's 80 acres.
It was reported by Mr B. Madden, from the research of M/s L. Muir, that this 43 acres was sold with the expectation of the railway coming to the area and affecting the land. The 43 acres were the eastern half of the Holmes and Plunkett grants, leaving Adam "Thomas Seymour" Bond with the western half running down to Belmore Road. The sold 43 acres had John Charles Prior Bond in occupation and as the railway did not eventuate in that location, he continued in occupation of Lucy Jane Marsh's land.
Lucy Jane Marsh sold the 43 acres to Charles Cyrus Bullock and William Henry Bradburn on 31st May, 1882 (Old System Title Ref 247, Book 719) for 697 pound, 15 shillings. This portion of the land was converted to Torrens Title by Primary Application 5720 by Bullock and Bradburn.
ii). The balance of the Holmes and Plunkett grants at the Belmore Road end of 42 acres, 3 roods and 25.5 perches was sold to Herbert Harrington Brown and Frederick Charles Rooke on 26th September, 1883 (Old System Title Ref 277, Book 315) for 1,287 pounds, 5 shillings and 8 pence. M/s Muir states that these men were speculators and that Adam "Thomas Seymour" Bond was probably duped in this transaction.
Primary Application 5949 converting this land (the western half of the Holmes and Plunkett grants) to Torrens Title confirms, but does not clarify the issue of the gifting of the 80 acres by Adam "Thomas Seymour" Bond to John Charles Prior Bond. Extracts from this Primary Application are:
"Appn 5949
We, Herbert Harrington Brown and Frederick Charles Rooke of Sydney, N.S.W. are the owners of land situate at Belmore, 43a 3r 25.5p.
Commencing at the intersection of the E side of Belmore Road with the N side of a road 1ch wide dividing the said land from Mrs. Hannan's property thence bounded on the S by said road bearing E 14ch 60lks to Mr. Bullock's land (formerly Bond's) thence on the E by that land bearing N along a fenced line 29ch 60.5lks to Mr Fullerton's property-thence on the N by that land bearing W along a fenced line 14ch 42lks to the Belmore Road, thence on the W by that road bearing S 29ch 54lks to commencement.
Valued at 1,287 pounds, 5 shillings 8 pence
Parts of grants to James Plunkett and William Holness 1/1/1810.
Land is now in the occupation of Mr.John Charles Prior Bond as a weekly tenant to applicants.
Adjoining land owned by C.C. Bullock (Mills & Piles Chambers, Pitt St) and H. Bradburn of Mudgee.
App'n dated 4/10/1883
Abstract of Title
26 Sep 1883Conveyance Adam Bond to applicants
30 Sep 1883Mortgage applicants to J.C.P. Bond
Declaration byJames Pethers9 Sep 1883
Sarah Smith19 Sep 1883
Adam Bond6 Feb 1883
J.C.P. Bond27 Sep 1883
A.F. Wilshire3 Mar 1883
James Ridgewell3 Feb 1883
Fredk Meredith9 Feb 1883
John Robert Peake9 Oct 1883
23 May 1863Conveyance Adam Bond to J.C.P. Bond
1882 Covenant to produce Bullock and another to Bond”
The declaration by John Robert Peake of 9th October, 1883 supporting Primary Application 5949 reads:
"J.R. Peake of Peakhurst, Farmer
I am 69 and have been living at Peakhurst for upwards of 32 years which place is called after me-for the last fifty years I have known the lands called Wilshire's Bush situate at Belmore, Canterbury, consisting of two parts (of 50a and 30a) granted respectively to William Holness and James Plunkett-at the time I first knew these lands they were owned by the late James Wilshire and at that time the said lands were occupied by James Ecclestone and Joseph Wilks as tenants to the late James Wilshire. I recollect the erection of the present fence on these lands-it was originally erected about 46 years ago by the said James Ecclestone and Joseph Wilks who remained in possession of these lands as the late James Wilshire's tenants until the said James Wilshire's death about 1841. From James Wilshire's death his representatives and his tenants were claiming under their were in free and undisturbed possession and enjoyment of the said lands until the conveyance of the said land to Adam Bond on or about the 3rd January, 1860-since which time the said Adam Bond and his assigns have been undisturbed possession of the whole of the said lands.
9 October, 1883John R.Peake"
EXTRACTS FROM A HISTORY OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CANTERBURYby James Jervis (1951)
Adam Bond held timber land beyond Belmore and had a depot at the back of the Rising Sun Hotel (the site of the present Sunrise Hall). He would load his dray at Belmore, put the horse on the track and send him with the load unattended to Canterbury where the dray would be unloaded and the horse and vehicle sent back to Belmore. This went on for years. When the wood heap was large enough it was sold to the proprietors of the St Peter’s brick yard.
The question of the establishment of a Municipality seems to have been discussed for the first time in 1868. A public meeting was held at the Rising Sun Inn on 24th August, 1868 with Luke Featherstone in the chair. The following notice convening the meeting was published in the Sydney Morning Herald on August 22nd?, 1868
"NOTICE:A Public Meeting will be held at the Rising Sun, Canterbury on Monday next, August 24, 1868 at 7 o'clock p.m. on the subject of having, or not having, a MUNICIPALITY and to adopt a petition and other measures to counteract any clandestine effort for its introduction into Canterbury
Thomas Perrett"
When the meeting was held, Perrett moved and one Quigg seconded the following resolution:
"that the formation of a Municipality in Canterbury is premature as the neighbourhood is not in a position to bear the expense necessarily incurred in supporting one and that, therefore, the wishes of the majority of householders resident in the said locality are opposed to its establishment."
A petition was read against having a Municipality which, with the resolution, was by the meeting unanimously carried. It was then moved by Neil Quigg that the movement reported to be in operation to obtain a Municipality for Canterbury is not conducted in a fair and open handed manner to meet public approbation. Quigg stated that the present landholders were not in a position to bear additional burdens consequent upon the incorporation of a locality. Quigg's resolution was carried unanimously.
Another 10 years passed before any further steps were taken to establish a Municipality of Canterbury. In the Government Gazette of September 26, 1878, a petition was published praying that a Municipality should be formed. It was said to contain about twelve sections-about 7,200 acres. The population of the area was estimated to be about 800 persons. One hundred and twenty three persons signed the petition...... The signatories were attested by John Nightingale, Charles Gabb, John Gelding, John Campbell Karp and Thomas Perrett. These members were responsible for collecting the names..... It is of interest to note that only three of the signatories were those of marksmen. At that period it was unusual for a proposal to form a Municipality not to be opposed and on December 28, 1878, a counter petition appeared in the stodgy pages of the official publication, The Government Gazette. Ninety-six names appeared in the petition and it is significant that twenty-three of the ninety-six were marksmen. It was alleged that the original petition was altered after the signatures had been obtained and that without the consent of the signatories. It was also alleged that several of those who signed the original petition were not liable for assessment and therefore should not have attached their names. Some of the names on the counter petion were:- ....... A.Bond and A.T. Bond of Belmore......
However, the government decided in favour of the establishment of the Municipality and it was gazetted on March 18, 1879. The proclamation was dated March 17, 1879.
The details of Adam ‘Thomas Seymour’ Bond’s death certificate are:
Reference: Certificate 3240 of 1885
Date and Place of Death: 20th June, 1885
Name and Occupation: Adam BondFarmer
Sex and Age:Male74 years
Cause of Death: Cirrhosis of liver
Duration of Last Illness:6 months
Medical Attendant and When Last Saw Deceased:Dr. James?18th June, 1885
Name and Occupation of Father:James BondFarmer
Name and Maiden Name of Mother:Unknown
When and Where Buried: 23rd? June, 1885Belmore
Where Born and How Long
in Australasian Colonies or States: Essex, England, 56 years N.S.W.
Place of Marriage, Age and To Whom: Details unclear, but refers to 2
Marriages, one unknown, one to Ann Parrett
Children of Marriage: 2 Males, 1 Female living, 4 Males, 1 Female dead
Analysing these details, the first obvious factor is that the children of Adam “Thomas Seymour” Bond seem to have been unaware of their paternal grandmother’s identity (Mary Seymour). Also Adam “Thomas Seymour” Bond’s exact age is not known. The death certificate and his gravestone state that he was 74 when he died. This is not the case as he was born on 1st March, 1810. When he died in June, 1885, he was 75 years old.However, as shown earlier, the assize records had Adam “Thomas Seymour” Bond’s age incorrect as well.
Also from the death certificate, it would appear that Adam “Thomas Seymour” Bond’s son, John Charles Prior Bond who was the informant to the death, states that Adam “Thomas Seymour” Bond’s first marriage details as “unknown”. Yet this marriage/ relationship was with Mary Prior, John Charles Prior Bond’s own mother. Yet on his own death certificate, John Charles Prior Bond’s mother is named as Mary Prior.
The child of Adam “Thomas Seymour” Bond and Mary Prior to reach maturity.
In the Pioneer Index at the Family History Section of the State Library of N.S.W., the details on the Baptism of John Charles Prior Bond are:
St James Church of England, Sydney, date 15 or 16th May, 1841. Ref 131 (not 425), being baptism 131 in the church register (on Microfilm). Parents Adam and Mary Anne. Date of Birth: 4th April, 1841. The residential address of Castlereagh Street supports the fact that Adam “Thomas Seymour” Bond (John Charles Prior Bond's father) did not buy land in the Belmore area until 1853.
Mary Jane Gorman
John Charles Prior Bond married Mary Jane Gorman when aged 19 on 29th October, 1860. She is referred to as Jane Gorman on John Charles Prior Bond’s death certificate. An inspection of a map of the original landholders in the Belmore area shows that James Gorman had a grant of land between Canterbury and Punchbowl Roads, in close proximity to the grant held by William Bond from the first fleet.
Mary Jane Bond (nee Gorman) was born 15th August, 1842 to James Gorman and Isabella Gorman (nee Browne) at St. George, N.S.W. and died on 14th May, 1902 at Galdesville, aged 59. She is buried at St.Saviour’s Church of England Churchyard, Punchbowl, where the headstone she shares with John Charles Prior Bond is now indistinct, but records her death as May, 1907 aged 60. This record on the gravestone is not engraved, rather appearing to be “stencilled”. It is possible that it is a repaint job of the original. The original burial records of the church record Mary Jane Bond’s (nee Gorman) date of death as 14th May, 1902, her place of death as Gladesville Asylum and her age 59. Mary Jane Bond (nee Gorman) was an inmate of the Gladesville Mental Hospital between 29th November, 1867 and 20th January, 1868. She was subsequently readmitted 4th November, 1869 at the age of 27 and is assumed to have remained institutionalised right through to her death.
This marriage between John Charles Prior Bond and Mary Jane Gorman produced three surviving children being James Robert, Mary and Jane.
The cause of Mary Jane Gorman’s mental problems are unknown. It has been speculated that she suffered from milk fever with the accompanying high temperature causing brain damage. As this matter has not been pursued, the cause of the mental problems remains unknown.
Mary Elliott? Bennett (nee Waters)
My interpretation of Mary Jane Bond (nee Gorman) being institutionalised is that her mental instability was not a grounds for divorce. As a result, John Charles Prior Bond had a de facto relationship with Mary Waters. Despite written evidence that John Charles Prior Bond and Mary Waters were married, it is fairly clear that this was not the case.
The youngest surviving child from John Charles Prior Bond’s relationship with Mary Jane Bond (nee Gorman) was born in 1869. The first of his children with Mary Waters was Ann Bond born in the early 1870’s.
It has been assumed until 2005 that Mary Waters had been married to a Bennett before her de facto relationship with John Charles Prior Bond, but this has now clearly been disproved as seven years after the death of John Charles Prior Bond in 1888, Mary Waters married Thomas George Henry Bennett on 26th July, 1895 at Hurstville, New South Wales (New South Wales marriage reference 1895/5882). Mary Bennett (nee Waters) and Thomas George Henry Bennett had a son Thomas George Henry on 18th November, 1996, (New South Wales birth reference1896/035790)the birth occurring at home at Lawrence Street, Alexandria. Therefore, Mary Bennett (nee Waters) did not formally acquire the initials M.B. until the mid 1890’s, despite being referred to as Mary Bond (M.B.) during her relationship with John Charles Prior Bond.
It is worth noting that Thomas George Henry Bennett was descendent from the Huegenots (the French Protestants) of Windsor and whose uncle Thomas and aunt Sarah brought their family to New South Wales in 1836-37 on board the fever ship “Lady McNaughten”. Mary Waters’ husband, Thomas George Henry Bennett arrived in New South Wales in 1855.
The argument that John Charles Prior Bond and Mary Waters were not married is supported by several facts:
a). Their second child, Edward John Bond, (and the writer’s maternal
grandfather), was born 16th May, 1876. The birth certificate sets out that his parents were married in 1868 at Morpeth, N.S.W. According to M/s L.Muir of the Canterbury Historical Society, on other documentation relating to land, the same two people have stated that they were married in 1873. These two dates lead to the conclusion that John Charles Prior Bond and Mary Waters were not married. It also begs the question as to why they were not consistent in their fabrication.
b). John Charles Prior Bond’s death certificate only refers to his marriage to “Jane” Gorman and her children. If John Charles Prior Bond had been married to Mary Waters this marriage would also have been mentioned on his death certificate along with the children from that marriage.
c). John Charles Prior Bond’s gravestone, which he shares with Mary Jane Bond (nee Gorman), has the notation “Erected by M.B.” between John Charles Prior Bond’s monument inscription and that of Mary Jane Bond (nee Gorman). It would appear easy for this to be interpreted as being erected by Mary Bond (nee Gorman). At the time of John Charles Prior Bond’s death in 1888, it is unlikely that Mary Jane Bond (nee Gorman) would have been of sufficient sound mind (or sufficient wealth?) to have erected this. Assuming that Mary Jane Bond (nee Gorman) did erect this gravestone, or that someone did it on her behalf, why not use her full name instead of initials. A conclusion is that Mary Waters, (known as Mary Bond), who also had the initials “M.B.” erected the gravestone, but “hid” her identity. In itself, this is a little speculative.
However, a gravestone or two from that of John Charles Prior Bond and Mary Jane Bond (nee Gorman), is that of two infant girls (Ellen and Mary Ellen Bond) who died on 2nd January, 1885 and 9th October, 1886. These two girls were the children of John Charles Prior Bond and Mary Waters. This gravestone is also bears “Erected by M.B.” It is not plausible that a woman like Mary Jane Bond (nee Gorman), with mental problems, living in an hospital would erect a gravestone to the deceased children of her husband and de facto wife. This gravestone was clearly erected by Mary Waters for her two daughters and supports the argument that Mary Waters erected John Charles Prior Bond’s gravestone and that she was hiding the fact that they were never married. Whether these gravestones were erected by her as Mary Bond at the time of the respective deaths or later in the 1890 when she was Mary Bennett is unknown.
In the 1903 New South Wales Electroral Rolls, Mary Bennett is listed as:
Name: Bennett, Mary
Town: Alexandria
Roll Number: 183
Division: South Sydney
Sub Division: Zetland
Occupation: Domestic Duties
Mary Bennett’s (nee Waters) listed address is the same at the place of birth of her son to Thomas George Henry Bennett as well as the residential address of Edward J. Bond and Mabel Mary Bond in the 1903 New South Wales Electoral Rolls, they being the first son and daughter in law from Mary Waters’ de facto retaionship with John Charles Prior Bond.
Of interest to the writer, Edward John Bond is my maternal grandfather. He would clearly have known about his half brother Thomas Bennett, but there was never any mention of him in any records or family discussions. In late 2005, I questioned my mother, Zeta Robson (nee Bond) who is Edward John Bond’s youngest daughter. She remembered the name Lawrence Street, but never any mention of her father’s half brother Thomas Bennett. My mother has mentioned many times that before Edward John Bond passed away, he had told her of a file of papers that would be of interest to her. When Edward John Bond died in 1936, these papers were allegedly burnt by Mabel Mary Bond and her sister before they could be read.
Mary Bennett’s (nee Waters) death certificate (New South Wales death reference 1920/010601) sets out the following details in support of the above.
Date: 31st August, 1920
Name: Mary Bennett
Sex and Age: Female 70 years
Cause of Death: Senile Decay, Bronchitis Exhaustion
Duration of Illness: 3 months
Medical Attendant: W.Digam Langton
When Last Saw Deceased: 27th August, 1920
Name and Occupation of Father: John Waters Labourer
Name and Maiden Surname of Mother: Unknown
Informant: T.Bennett Son 158 Lawrence Street, Alexandria
When and Where Buried: 1st September, 1920 Church of England Cemetery,
Rookwood
Name of Undertaker: Wood Coffill Limited
Name and Religion of Minister: J.Howell Price Church of England
Witnesses at Burial: John Pllebel?, James Wood
Where Born: Sydney, New South Wales
Place of Marriage, Age and To Whom:
1). Sydney, New South Wales, 19 years, John Prior Bond
2). Sydney, New South Wales, 44 years, Thomas Henry George Bennett
(note middle names wrong way around)
Children of Marriage: 1st Marriage Edward 45, Adam 43, John 40 and Elsie 28
Living, 4 Females deceased
2nd Marriage Thomas G.H. 23 living, none deceased
Mary Bennett (nee Waters) is buried at Rookwood, Church of England, Section T, Grave Number 5187 with no headstone. She is buried with Alice Abbott, aged 34.
LAND OWNED BY JOHN CHARLES PRIOR BOND AND MARY WATERS
Draper's Grant
This 39 acres of land was sold by James Draper to John Charles Prior Bond on 30th December, 1884. It was in turn sold by John Charles Prior Bond to Mary Elliott Waters on 30th January, 1888 (Old System Title Ref 379, Book 181) for 195 pounds.
This land lies on the eastern shore of Salt Pan Creek at Lugarno, opposite One Tree Point which is on the western shore. The northern boundary is parallel to and south of Ulster Street, the eastern boundary is Belmore and Forest Roads and the southern boundary is north of Redgum Drive.
In 1996, this foreshore land still had mangroves growing in substantial quantities in the area at the bottom of Cypress Drive, which in the Sydney metropolitan area is quite remarkable.
The sale of this land by John Charles Prior Bond to Mary Elliott? Waters, his de facto spouse and the mother of most of his children appears to be linked to his being diagnosed as being terminally ill. John Charles Prior Bond's death certificate sets out that he died of cirrhosis of the liver on 31st July, 1888 and the doctor states that John Charles Prior Bond had suffered with the disease for 6 months, or since late January, 1888 when the sale of the 39 acres at Lugarno to Mary Elliott Waters occurred. It is assumed that having received the news on his health, John Charles Prior Bond transferred this land to Mary Elliott Waters to set her and his children up, but possibly also because the de facto relationship would have represented problems for Mary Elliott? Waters in the distribution of the estate.
The details of the death certificate of John Charles Prior Bond are:
Date and Place of Death:31st July, 1888, Yule Street, Petersham
Name and Occupation:John Charles Prior Bond Labourer
Sex and Age:Male 47 years
Cause of Death: Cirrhosis of liver
Duration of Last Illness: 6 months
Medical Attendant and When Last Saw Deceased: R.Jones, day of decease
Name and Occupation of Father:Adam Thomas Seymour BondGentleman
Name and Maiden Surname of Mother:Mary Prior
When and Where Buried:2nd August, 1888 Belmore Cemetery (St
Saviour’s Church of England Cemetery, Punchbowl)
Where Born and How Long in the Australian Colonies or States:Sydney
Place of Marriage, Age and To Whom:Sydney19Jane Gorman
Children of Marriage:James R27,Mary24,Jane20
1 male, 2 females deceased
ADAM THOMAS BOND
The elder of the surviving children of Adam “Thomas Seymour” Bond and Anne Parrett (nee Martin) born in 1851 or 1852.
Adam Thomas Bond was married on three occasions.
Rebecca Matilda Vance 1874
Jane Porrett 1883
Margaret Maria Wallace 1886
The details of the death certificate of Adam Thomas Bond are:
Date and Place of Death: 28th September, 1929 Home of Peace (30th
September, 1929 on gravestone)
Name and Occupation:Adam Thomas BondLabourer
Sex and Age: Male 77 years (78 years on gravestone)
Cause of Death: Epithelioma of face
Duration of Illness: 1 Year 10 months
Medical Attendant and When Last Saw Deceased:Richard Trimdall27th
September, 1929
Name and Occupation of Father:Adam BondFarmer
Name and Maiden Surname of Mother: Ann –
When and Where Buried:30th September, 1929 Church of England Cemetry,
Punchbowl (St Saviour’s Church of England)
Where Born and How Long in the Australasian Colonies or States: Sydney,
N.S.W.
Place of Marriage, Age and To Whom:
1st Sydney22 yearsRebecca Matilda Vance
2nd SydneyJane Porrett
3rd Sydney33 years Margaret Maria Wallace
Children of Marriage:
1st Marriage: Thomas A54, John S 53, Annie E 49, two males one female deceased
2nd Marriage: No issue
3rd Marriage: Adam W 43, Joseph A 41, Rebecca V M 39, Leslie V 37, James R 35, Lilly 33, Matilda 31, one male deceased
It is worth noting that the first child of the relationship between Adam Thomas Bond and Margaret Maria Wallace was born before they were married. Therefore, this child, Ernest “Sonny” Bond, does not appear on the death certificate of Adam Thomas Bond as a child of the marriage.
CHILDREN OF ADAM THOMAS BOND
Ernest “Sonny” Bond (1st born to Adam Thomas and Margaret Maria Bond)
According to the book “Canterbury’s Boys” his World War 1 war service details are listed as:
Bond, Private Ernest no. 1062, 33rd battalion
Born at Canterbury, son of Adam Thomas and Margaret Maria Bond.
Enlisted at Coffs Harbour, 23/1/1916. Next of kin, mother, Margaet Maria Bond.
Returned to Australia 12/6/1919
MARY ANN BRAND (NEE BOND)
The younger of the surviving children of Adam “Thomas Seymour” Bond and Anne Parrett (nee Martin) born in 1853?
Mary Ann Brand married Peter Phillip Brand on 27th September, 1875.
THE DEATH OF MARY ANN BRAND (NEE BOND)
The details of the death certificate of Mary Ann Brand (nee Bond) are:
Date and Place of Death:26th September, 1929Woolaware Private Hospital,
Cronulla, Sutherland ShireUsual address Yowie Bay, Port Hacking, Sutherland Shire
Name and Occupation:Mary Ann Brand
Sex and Age:Female 75 Years
Cause of Death: Vascular disease of Heart
Duration of Last Illness:12 Years
Medical Attendant and When Last Saw Deceased:John R. Broome26th
September, 1929
Name and Occupation of Father:Adam BondFarmer
Name and Maiden Surname of Mother:Unknown
When and Where Buried:27th September, 1929Church of England Cemetery,
Punchbowl (St Saviour’s Church of England)
Where Born and How Long in Australasian Colonies or States:Sydney,
N.S.W.
Place of Marriage, Age and To Whom:Belmore, Sydney, N.S.W., 22 Years,
Peter Phillip Brand
Children of Marriage:Catherine 52, Jane 50, Louise 48, Peter 46, George 44,
Mary 41, John 40, Walter 38, Ernest 35, Sydney 33, Leonard 31, 1 male and 1 female deceased
The two children of Mary Ann Brand (nee Bond) and Peter Phillip Brand who died as children were Sarah Seamore Brand and Adam John Brand. Both these children died on 29th February, 1884 of different causes. It has been reported that one died at a doctor’s surgery and that the other was scalded and killed at home, while the first was been attended by the doctor. These children share their grave with their parents.
Postscript
WILLIAM BOND OF THE FIRST FLEET
A hurdle we Bond types over here all need to get over in the early stages of Bond research in N.S.W. is a William Bond, who was on the First Fleet. He did his time as a baker and after being freed, appears in the Canterbury, Belmore, Bankstown area on a piece of ground. He was attacked (with his neighbour) by aborigines in September, 1809 on the land before the land was actually granted in November, 1809. When Lachlan Macquarie arrived as governor he revoked all grants of land (including William’s) that had been granted by the insurrectionary government of Johnston, Foveau and Patterson after the rum rebellion and Bligh was given his marching orders. Macquarie’s concern was impartiality in the grant process. William Bond and his neighbour were successful in having the land grants ratified.
William ultimately sold the land about 1815 and saw his days out in what is now the Sydney CBD. He was the second person to die in the colony over 100 years old, at 101 in 1839. He was tried in Exeter Castle and was on the Charlotte on the first fleet.
William was an interesting character. He was tried at Exeter Castle in 1785 and died at 101 in 1839, the second person to die over 100 years old in the Colony. He did marry a Sophia Parker (d. 1833 aged 84) and one daughter who died in the late 1800’s as a Miss Bond. William was a baker in the Sydney CBD after his foray into Canterbury and we believe that the small Bond Street in Sydney is named after him. The Tank Stream (which was the original water supply for Sydney) runs under Bond Street, between Pitt and George Streets. William was described as a Baker, Pitt Street. We believe the Tank Stream was used by him for water for his baking. William is well documented which made him reasonably easy. He had another brush with the law in 1804? when he was supposed to be supplying 6 oz loaves to the navy? which turned out to be 4 oz.. I am a bit vague on the details, but it appears that the petty scoundrel was in him somewhere.
There has, in the past, been much speculation that William was Adam’s father. We know for sure from this end he wasn’t, but William’s above land was very close to where Adam bought in 1853(?) after the death of his common law wife, Mary Prior. There is actually some 35 years between William selling and Adam buying, which is a long time, but is just a blip looking back from our position, but it is easy to see how the possible relationship between the two causes confusion.
© Noel Robson & Donna Turner 2008
