James Bradley (abt. 1764 - 1838)

Born about 1764 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Sarah (Barnes) Bradley — married about 12 Aug 1791 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 14 Feb 1838 at about age 74 in Kissing Point, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: KerrieAnne Christian [send private message] and Dom Swinkels [send private message]

First Fleet, Australia, 1788

Biography

James Bradley was a convict on the First Fleet.

In 1785 James Bradley was sentenced to transportation for 7 years at the Old Bailey in London. He was transported in the First Fleet in the Scarborough. He died at Kissing Point on 16 February 1838 and was buried in what became St. Anne's, Ryde. The Bradleys had at least 10 children James (1792), James Joseph (1795), Lucy (1796), Sarah (1799), George (1801), Thomas (1803), John (1806), Job (1809), Rachel Rebecca (1811) and Isabella (1813), only the first, James, died in infancy. Bradley's wife, Sarah, survived to 1853, her age at death given as 77.^[1]

Conviction

The Fellowship of First Fleeters website notes that there were two Old Bailey trials for men called James Bradley, but there is disagreement as to which one relates to the man of this profile.^[2] Both trials were for the theft of a handkerchief, and both resulted in a sentence of 7 years transportation.

Possible Trial 1: James Bradley, Theft: Grand Larceny, 26th May 1784.

592. JAMES BRADLEY was indicted for stealing, on the 11th of May, one linen handkerchief, value 1 s. the property of John Hughes.
JOHN HUGHES sworn. "I lost my handkerchief on the 11th of May, the next witness saw it taken, I did not perceive any body take it; I followed the prisoner, and saw him drop my handkerchief; he was taken directly."
JOHN SUTTON sworn. "I saw the prisoner pick the prosecutor's pocket, and I told him of it."
Prisoner. "I have nothing to say."
The prisoner called two witnesses to his character.
GUILTY. Transported for seven years.
Tried by the London Jury before Mr. RECORDER.^[3]

Possible Trial 2: James Bradley, Theft: Grand Larceny, 29th June 1785.

698. JAMES BRADLEY was indicted for feloniously stealing on the 8th of June one white linen handkerchief, value 2 s. the property of Robert Thornton, Esq.
ROBERT THORNTON sworn. "I was coming up Chancery-lane the 8th of June about four, and just by one of the courts I felt somebody put a hand in my pocket, I had just wiped my face before, the prisoner pushed between me and the pallisadoes, I caught him by the collar, he endeavoured to escape."
(The handkerchief deposed to.)
GUILTY. Transported for seven years.
Tried by the second Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice BULLER.^[4]

Some researchers appear to prefer "Possible Trial 2" for the man of this profile.

James Bradley, age given as 21, was sent to the Ceres hulk, from which he was transferred to the Justitia hulk on 13 January 1787 and thence to Portsmouth for embarkation on the Scarborough on 27 February 1787. It is clear from later Colonial records that the Scarborough James Bradley was the man who lived to reach NSW in the First Fleet.^[1] (The other James Bradley was assigned to the First Fleet ship Alexander, but died aboard it on 12 Feb 1787, before the Fleet departed from England).^[5]

The james Bradley of this profile was transported aboard the First Fleet ship Scarborough, a transport of 430 tons. Master: John Marshall; Surgeon: Dennis Conssiden. The Scarborough was built at the port from which she derived her name in 1782. She had an extreme length of 111 feet 6 inches (34 metres), an extreme breadth of 30 feet 2 inches (9.2 metres). She was a two-decked three masted vessel, rigged as a barque, and was owned by three Scarborough merchants, Thomas, George and John Hopper. Carried 208 male convicts.^[6]

The First Fleet

The First Fleet weighed anchor at 3.00 am on Sunday, 13 May, 1787.

Phillip planned to go ahead in the Supply followed closely by the fastest sailing convict ships to prepare for the landing of the main body. On 25 November, 1787 Phillip transferred to the Supply and accompanied by the Alexander, the Friendship and the Scarborough crowded on sail. These three transports under lieutenant John Shortland's command were to follow as closely as possible behind the Supply. Bateson says “that the convicts aboard them must have been thoroughly miserable; for it grew much colder and a succession of gales and heavy seas were encountered. The vessels, pitching and rolling, shipped water continuously”.

On 19 January, 1788 the three transports entered Botany Bay, where the Supply had anchored the previous afternoon. The entire Fleet moved to Port Jackson on 26 January,1788.

The Scarborough, in which the convicts had embarked in a healthy state, had not lost a single person during the passage.

The provisions and stores having been unloaded, Scarborough, together with Charlotte and Lady Penrhyn, the three transports under charter to the East India Company, sailed early in May for China and eventually reached England with their cargoes of tea.

Land Grant

At Port Jackson Bradley did not escape the usual difficulties of convicts in the early days when provisions in short supply meant drastic punishment for thieves, and strict discipline usually brought immediate punishment for disobedience for insolence. He suffered 25 lashes on 23 February 1789 for insolence to a sentinel.^[1]

By the beginning of 1789 food stocks were extremely low, the first attempts at growing crops failed, and a relief vessel sent out from England foundered off the coast of Africa. Governor PHILLIP put the entire colony on strict rations and soon both prisoners and guards were stealing anything they could. The situation was relieved when the second fleet arrived in June 1790 with fresh supplies.

Bradley married Sarah Barnes (Mary Ann 1791) on 12 August 1792. Less than two years later, on 20 February 1794, he received a grant of 30 acres at the Eastern Farms.

By Land grant number 161 on 20 February 1794, he received a grant of 30 acres situated at Eastern Farms [subsequently renamed Kissing Point]. The annual Quit Rent to commence after 10 years be 1 shilling. ^{[7][8] [9][10]} Another convict, John Small received his grant at the same time as James Bradley so his story offers insight into the probable experience of James.^[11]

The thirty acres proudly owned by John and Mary Small in the Eastern Farms were beyond the reach of the floods like those that would so disastrously devastate the farms of the Hawkesbury area opened in January 1794. Twelve settlers had been allocated land in the area before Phillip left in December 1792; at that time some 53 acres were either under cultivation or cleared of timber, and there were huts and small sheds already erected in the small clearings.

John's grant was officially entered as at 20 February 1794 in the regime of Francis Grose. It is likely that he was in actual possession of the land a few months earlier. He is not in the list submitted by Augustus Alt, surveyor general, dated 16 October 1792, but the twelve Eastern Farms settlers shown there are all credited with dates varying from one to two months earlier than the official date of their grants.

John also seems to have been short-changed in the size of the grant. Instructions laid down by George III to Phillip in April 1787 clearly stated that “ every Male [emancipated convict] shall be granted 30 Acres of Land, and in the case he shall be married 20 Acres more, and for every Child who may be with them at the Settlement at the time of making the said Grant a further Quantity of Ten acres, free of all Fees, Taxes, Quit Rents, or other acknowledgements whatsoever, for the space of Ten years, provided that the Person to whom the said Land shall have been granted, shall reside within the same, and proceed to the Cultivation and Improvement thereof ....” .... Why he did not receive his entitlement is not known

20 acres was added to a grant at Prospect Hill, a month after the initial grant, it not being then known that he was then married, but this was in December 1792, the month when Phillip left the colony so it could be that that decision was taken by Phillip, or before the military interregnum was well established.

Here Bradley raised a family, and spoke at the enquiry instituted in 1798 to examine the grievances of small farmers. He was particularly incensed against the commissary, James Williamson, who had been hounding them for small debts. 'He had been obliged to kill four pigs,' wrote Bradley'... [had] paid him this Season 40 Bushels of Wheat' without ever having been able to get a clear account from him.'^[1]

By mid 1800 he owned six pigs, a ewe and two lambs with two and a half acres of his grant sown in wheat and five ready for planting maize. The household, comprising Bradley, his wife and three children was supported from public stores. Two years later he had 15 acres cleared of which one was sown in wheat and seven ready for maize. He owned three hogs and the household, by now including four children, was off stores, with 20 bushels of maize in hand.^[1]

In 1806 Bradley had four acres in wheat and four in maize, the remainder of his land was pasture or fallow, except for a half acre orchard and garden. With six hogs and 15 bushels of wheat in hand the household (Bradley, his wife and six children and one convict) was self supporting. He continued to hold his land through the following years, and in in 1828 with 20 acres cleared and five cultivated, still with Sarah, he gave his age as 64, when the first major census of N.S.W. was taken in 1828.^[1]

To survive as a farmer at that time was a considerable achievement: of 274 farmers settled by 1795 only 84 were still farming five years later in 1800.

Marriage and Children

On Sunday 12 August 1792 at Parramatta, James Bradley married Sarah Barnes, a third fleet convict who arrived on the Mary Ann in 1791. The Reverend Richard Johnson conducted four wedding services at Parramatta on this day. Luke Jones witnessed each one: "James Bradley was married to Sarah Barnes in the presence of Edward Wharton".^[12]

They had the following children:

• James 1792 died 1793.
• James Joseph 1795.
• Lucy 1796.
• Sarah Elizabeth 1799.
• George 1801.
• Thomas 1803.
• John 1806.
• Job 1809.
• Rachel Rebecca 1811.
• Isabella 1813.

Timeline

• 8 June 1785 James Bradley pickpocketed a white linen handkerchief of the value of two shillings from Robert Thornton.

• 29 June At the Old Bailey on he was sentenced to seven years transportation and sent, age given as 21, to the Ceres hulk.

• 13 January 1787 he was transferred to the Justitia hulk and thence to Portsmouth for embarkation on Scarborough on 27 February 1787.

• 13th May 1787, The ship left Plymouth, England on and arrived at Sydney Cove eight months later on 26th January 1788. Her master was John Marshall, and the surgeon was Dennis Considen.

• 23rd April 1789 James Bradley was given 25 lashes for insolence to a sentry

• By the beginning of 1789 food stocks were extremely low, the first crops having failed and relief ships having foundered. Governor Phillip put the entire colony on strict rations.

• 1792 - James married Sarah Barnes. (Sarah Barnes was also a convict and had been convicted in the same court in 1790, as a 14-year old, of stealing 8 quart pewter pots valued at 8 shillings and 5 pint pewter pots valued at 2 shillings from ‘The Plough’ Pub in Bloomsbury.) She arrived in Sydney on the 9th of July 1791 after 5 months at sea on the Mary Ann, which had sailed alone just ahead of the Third Fleet. Nine of the 155 convicts on the voyage died at sea.

• 1794 - James Bradley’s sentence expired.

• 20th February 1794, he received a land grant of 30 acres at the Eastern Farms, Hunter’s Hill near Kissing Point on the Paramatta River (the area is now known as Putney).

• 1798 he gave evidence to a Government Inquiry on the problems faced by small farmers.

• According to the 1800 Census, he had two and a half acres in wheat and 5 acres in maize.

• By the next year, he had cleared a total of 15 acres, possessed 3 hogs and had 20 bushels of maize in store.

• In 1821 It appears that he was a Wesleyan Sunday-School teacher, and that he fell foul of the Anglican cleric Samuel Marsden as a consequence of attracting children away from the church.^[13]

• In 1822, James Bradley was one of twenty-three residents of Kissing Point who submitted a Memorial to the Governor seeking permission to establish a burial ground on land obtained from John Small. They stated that many of the petitioners were in poor circumstances and experienced inconvenience and danger in removing the bodies of the dead for burial at either Sydney or Parramatta. They therefore sought the sanction of the Governor to have a part of this land appropriated as a burial ground. The oldest portion of St. Anne's Church was built on this property in 1826.^[14]

• 1828 - James was recorded as still living on his farm at Kissing Point in the 1828 census: age 64, free by servitude, Scarborough, 1788, 7 years, Protestant, labourer, with his wife Sarah Bradley, age 53, Mary Ann, 1791, 7 years, Protestant. The farm of 30 acres had 20 acres cleared, and 5 acres cultivated.

• 1835 his farm at Kissing Point was mortgaged.^[15]

• 20 May 1837 grant for annuities for James and his wife.^[16]

• 1838 - James Bradley died at Kissing Point on 16th February 1838 and is buried in what became St. Anne’s church cemetery Ryde NSW.^[17]

Death

James Bradley continued to live on his farm with Sarah till his death on 16th February 1838, aged 73 years. He was buried at St. Anne's, Ryde (A burial ground that both he and his son-in-law John Berringer were among the petitioners to the Governor to have established in 1822. The church was built there in 1826.)

Monument Inscription:

SACRED TO THE MEMORY

OF

GEORGE BRADLEY

WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE

ALSO

JAMES BRADLEY

WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE

ON THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 1838

AGED 74 YEARS

In 1988 during Australia's Bicentennial Celebrations a special plaque was put on his grave by the "Fellowship of the First Fleeters". (His son George, who predeceased him is buried in the same grave). James Bradley's name has also been added to the "Welcome Wall" at Darling Harbour.

Research Notes

It is clear from other colonial records that the Scarborough James Bradley was the man who lived to reach NSW (see James Bradley, Alexander). Records show....The first burial was James Bradley on board the Alexander on 3 February 1787.

Do NOT confuse with:

• James BRADLEY, Convict "Alexander", died before arriving 1788.
• James BRADLEY, Convict "Fortune", arrived 1813.

This profile had his birth 9 January 1764 at "St James". PeopleAustralia has his name James Edward Bradley and birth 9 January 1765! Does anyone know the primary source for these "facts"? Note that he was NOT referred to as "James Edward Bradley" in any record relating to his conviction, nor in any Colonial record.

This profile had "In 1803 Bradley was described in a land census as 'worthless and lazy'." This is also in Fellowship of First Fleeters.Does anyone know the primary source for this fact?

Note he is not the James Bradley who operated a Mercantile Academy first in Parramatta and then in Sydney - that is the 1812 James Bradley, Schoolmaster ^[18]

This profile had the incorrect trial at the Old Bailey: 26 May 1784 James Bailey who had also pickpocketed a handkerchief. This James Bradley was the convict who was embarked on the Alexander on 6 January 1787 but died on 12 Feb 1787. See Old Bailey and Gillen p.402. This has been corrected.

Mollie Gillen in her book Founders wrote "James Bradley was late of the Liberty of the Rolls (Chancery Lane) but it was in Kensington that he stole a 'white linen handkerchief with a purple border "... This was not in the Old Bailey record and does not appear to be correct.

James Bradley's biography in the Fellowship of First Fleeters has "In general James was said to have behaved in a 'tolerably decent and orderly manner'". Note that 'tolerably decent and orderly manner' was NOT in any record for James Bradley. It was the personal opinion of Mollie Gillen in her book Founders.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia, p.44
2. ↑ Biography of James Bradley at fellowshipfirstfleeters.org.au. Accessed 31 July 2023.
3. ↑ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 31 July 2023), May 1784, trial of JAMES BRADLEY (t17840526-74).
4. ↑ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 31 July 2023), June 1785, trial of JAMES BRADLEY (t17850629-91).
5. ↑ James Bradley (ship Alexander) at convictrecords.com.au/ (Accessed 31 Jul 2023).
6. ↑ 'The Convict Ships 17871-1868' Charles Bateson
7. ↑ Registration Book A Page 83.
8. ↑ Register of Land Grants 20 Feb 1794 Eastern Farms, New South Wales, Australia Ancestry sharing link
9. ↑ Also recorded in Land Grants on pp. 114-115 'Sydney Cove 1793-1796' John Cobley
10. ↑ Grants and Leases of Land Registered, 20 Feb 1794 Ancestry sharing link
11. ↑ 'The Search for John Small, First Fleeter' Mollie Gillen p 123.
12. ↑ John Cobley, Sydney Cove 1791-1792, pp 290-291.
13. ↑ James Bradley, Oct 1821,Re drawing children away from the established Church, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856 Ancestry sharing link
14. ↑ 1822 James Bradley, Signatory to petition from settlers, landholders and residents of the District of Kissing Point for leave to appropriate a piece of purchased land for a burial ground, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856 Ancestry sharing link
15. ↑ James Bradley, Registers of Memorials, 23 Jun 1835 Ancestry sharing link
16. ↑ James Bradley, Registers of Memorials, Kissing Point, New South Wales, Australia Ancestry sharing link
17. ↑ New South Wales. Department of Justice and Attorney General. NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages. Data-base on-line Death BRADLEY JAMES 2877/1838 Vol.22 AGE 73 CQ (Church of England, Field of Mars, Marsfield, Ryde)
18. ↑ Entered by Kerrie Christian.

See also:

• James Bradley and Sarah Barnes Family Tree by Kerrie Christian
• Marion Purnell, Australian Royalty database, "James Bradley, 1764–1838"
• First Fleet Timeline
• First Fleet Bibliography - Nicole Cama
• The Weather of the First Fleet voyage to Botany Bay, 1787–1788
• The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay - Arthur Phillip

From The Search for John Small, First Fleeter by Mollie Gillen, p 125:

"Grants bearing the same date as John Small's went to James Bradley and Thomas Jones. Whether Bradley and Jones had already arrived, or would follow shortly, or indeed, came up river at the same time in a mini-Armada, we cannot know, but the Eastern Farms community was to consist of 15 occupied lots till the end of the year, when Edward Marsh and Ann Thorne received grants dated 19 November, and James Stewart, immediately west of John in December … Bradley's land met John's at the northwest corner, above that of Richard Cheers. James Bradley,whose daughter, Rachel, would marry John Small's youngest son, Samuel, in October 1833, had been 21 and “late of the Liberty of the Rolls” (Chancery Lane area) when he stole “a white handkerchief with a purple border”, value 1 s. from a gentleman in Kensington. After sentence to seven years' transportation at his Old Bailey trial in June 1785, he went to New South Wales on the Scarborough transport. Two men named James Bradley were ordered for the First Fleet, thoroughly confusing the authorities and the contractor, William Richards. The man who eventually arrived was on the Justitia hulk, and ordered to Alexander, but the other man on the Censor hulk, was sent in error. This is apparent from the hulk records and comparison of the name order on various lists and warrants. Alexander's James Bradley, also 21 and tried in London 26 May 1784 for similar theft died on board on 12 February 1787."

The 1788-1820 Association's Pioneer Register Vol 1 contains an entry on James Bradley. He was married at St John's Parramatta and is buried at St Anne's, Ryde.

From A Brief History of Ryde, Ryde City Council Internet site:

"On the 3rd January 1792, the first land in the Ryde area was granted to eight marines, along the northern bank of the river between Sydney and Parramatta. The area was named by Governor Phillip the 'Field of Mars', Mars being the ancient God of war, named to reflect the military association with these new settlers. Today's Field of Mars Reserve is the remnant of a district which once extended from Dundas to the Lane Cove River. These grants were followed soon after by grants to ten emancipated convicts in February 1792, the land being further to the east of the marines grants, thus the area was called Eastern Farms or the Eastern Boundary. By 1794 the name Eastern Farms had given way to Kissing Point, a name believed to have originated from the way in which heavily laden boats passing up the Parramatta River bumped or 'kissed' the rocky outcrop which extends into the river at today's Kissing Point.

Further grants were issued in 1794 and 1795, gradually occupying most of the foreshores between Meadowbank and Gladesville.

Most of the Grants were small, from thirty to 100 acres.

By 1803 most of the accessible land had been granted. Settlement was based along the Parramatta River and overlooking ridges. Governor King recognised that most of the smaller settlers had insufficient land for their stock but it was not possible to grant them larger allotments. In 1804 it was decided that a 'traditional English common' - a large area of public land for use by local inhabitants - would be set aside. Six commons were gazetted.

The Field of Mars Common, an area of approximately 5,050 acres located north of the Field of Mars and the Eastern Farms, covered most of the Ryde municipality."

From Governor Macquarie's Journal, November 1810 Saturday 10th:

"I made an Excursion this day to visit the different Farms in the Districts of the Ponds, Field of Mars, and Eastern Farms, being accompanied part of the way in the Carriage by Mrs. M. whom I left at Mr. Marsden's Farm of One-Tree-Hill, whilst I rode on Horseback to see the intermediate ones lying between that and Kissing Point, which was the extent of my Tour this day. -- I was accompanied on this Excursion by the Revd. Mr. Marsden, Mr. Blaxland &c. &c. -- I went with the latter Gentleman to see his Farm the Brush, which is a very snug good Farm and very like an English one in point of comfort and convenience. -- I looked at a great many Farms this day, some of which were well cultivated and promise tolerable good Crops of Wheat. -- But the Houses in general are miserably bad, and their Inhabitants poorly clothed & poorly fed. -- We returned home to Dinner between 5 & 6 o'clock and Mr. Blaxland dined with us. ---"