Researchers who have claimed this convict
There is currently one researcher who has claimed Bridgett Everett
- Researcher (Tony Seymour)
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Biographies
Bridget Everett was born “Lydia” Flint in 1780, at Great Ellingham in Norfolk, the illegitimate daughter of Elizabeth Flint (1758-1835). Elizabeth eventually married a local farmer, Archibald Bale, and Bridget was sometimes known as Bridget Bale (why her name was changed from Lydia is not known). Bridget also had an illegitimate child, Robert Poll, whose father was also Robert Poll but they never married. In 1802 she married Samuel Everett in Deopham in Norfolk and over the subsequent 20 years had six children by him. Having been in and out of trouble several times over the years, Samuel was caught in 1827, with four others (including his step-son Robert Poll!), after they broke into and stole various goods from a general store. As this was not his first brush with the law, for this latest crime he was sentenced to life transportation to Van Diemans Land (Tasmania). Bridget carried on as best she could but, in 1837, her son Archibald and three others stole over 200 kilos of wheat from a local granary. Archibald’s share was hidden in his mother’s house and Bridget and her daughter Hannah were charged with possession of wheat they knew to be stolen. Hannah was sentenced to just three months imprisonment, however Bridget was sentenced to a harsh 14 years transportation to New South Wales.
After being imprisoned for several months awaiting transportation, Bridget was boarded onto the Henry Wellesley, together with 139 other female convicts, and set sail for New South Wales on 20th July 1837. After a long and tedious voyage which at least took in an unscheduled stop at Cape Town bringing much needed relief from seasickness and confinement, the Henry Wellesley arrived at Sydney Cove on 22nd December 1837. The ship’s surgeon, William Leyson, gives a detailed account of the voyage in his journal noting the activities he introduced, such as dancing and allowing the women on deck as much as was practicable. None of the women died on the voyage, a feat in itself, and their general good condition was noted by the authorities.
The convicts could not disembark until 3rd January 1838 due to the weather. Bridget was initially assigned to Dr James Mitchell, the father of David Mitchell, the founder of the Mitchell Library in Sydney. In late 1839 Bridget was re-assigned to her husband Samuel, who by this time was relatively free, and was sent to Tasmania on board the Caroline. Bridget was reunited with her husband in Launceston, having spent some 12 years apart. She earned her Ticket of Leave in August 1840 and lived with Samuel until his death in August 1843, just four months after he received his Full Pardon. Bridget stayed in Tasmania until late 1845 when she was granted a Conditional Pardon and, at some stage after this, returned to Sydney. Her movements up to December 1852 are not known, at which point, on 27th December of that year, she married a John Bourke in Sydney and moved to the tiny township of Bong Bong, about 130 kms south west of Sydney. Sadly their marriage was short lived as on 22nd April 1854, Bridget died as a result of what the coroner described as “suffocation by accident”. Further details are not known as whatever the incident was, was not reported in any of the contemporary newspapers. Bridget was 74 years old, a very creditable age for the times. Although Bong Bong township no longer exists, the local church, Christ Church Bong Bong, near Moss Vale, continues to service the local area and is Bridget’s final resting place.
Submitted by Researcher (Tony Seymour) on 25 February 2022
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Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/11, p.97
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