William Bragg (1797 - 1861)

Born 1797 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England

Husband of Hannah (Sage) Bragge — married 27 Jun 1818 in Bedminster, Somerset, England

Husband of Ann (Rumsby) Bragge — married 3 Feb 1823 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 22 Oct 1861 at about age 64 in Wooloomooloo, NSW

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Biography

William Bragge was born in 1797. He passed away on the 22nd October 1861 in Wooloomooloo, NSW, Australia. William married Hannah Sage on the 27 June 1818 in Bedminster, Somerset, England, but they were separated the day after their trial and Hannah was never seen again. William married Ann Rumsby on the 3rd February 1823 in Parramatta, Sydney, NSW.

Notes for William Bragge:

Although more research is needed to be able to be 100 percent certain, it would appear that William Bragge and Hannah Sage were married sometime before or after committing their crime of theft on the same day they were married.

William and Hannah were alleged to have committed their crime on the 27th June 1818, and on the same day, an entry appears in the Bedminster, Somerset Marriage Register, "1818 Jun 27 William BRAGG, Bachelor & Hannah SAGE spinster, both of this parish by banns [Groom signed, Bride X, witnesses Benjamin John ROOM, Frances THIERY". This certainly makes for an interesting talking point.

On the 30th August 1818, William and Hannah Bragge were admitted to the County Jail of Gloucester, "Charged upon the oath of Jacob Amos Smart, of the Parish of St. Philip & Jacob, Lime Burner, with feloniously stealing; one silver watch valued 30 shillings, one gold seal valued at 20 shillings, and various other articles of property of him, the said Jacob Amos Smart"

Their trial was held the following day. William was sentenced to 14 years transportation for receiving the stolen goods by his wife, while Hannah received 2 years imprisonment for stealing the goods.

On the 2nd September 1818, Hannah Bragge was sent to the Penitentiary, a seperate section of the jail. Nothing further is known of Hannah except the description in the jail register (Q/GC 5/2).

Hannah Bragge: Sandy hair, light brown eyes, fair complexion, round face, scar on right side of her neck, several scars on her right temple, and a small mole on her right cheek. (Can) read a little. Labourer 5' 3 1/4"

Willam Bragge's voyage commenced on the 27th January 1819 on the 842 ton "Baring". The voyage lasted 139 days to Hobart, and a total of 152 days to Sydney, during which time, 5 of the 305 convicts on board had died. William arrived in Sydney on the 26th June 1819.

After some time in the new Colony, William was bought forward to give evidence in a court case involving charges by Hannibal McArthur and Samuel Marsden, that a Dr. Douglass was unfit to be a Magistrate because of continuous drunkardness. Douglass won the case.

From the evidence, some relationship must have developed between Dr. Douglass and William, as William had asked Douglass' permission to marry a convict girl, Ann Rumsby, over whom Douglass had authority, both as Superintendent of the Female Factory at Parramatta, and as head of the household in which Ann served.

Ann eventually consented to the marriage and they married in 1823. William was 26 years old, and Ann was 21 years old. Both were still convicts which was a Government Policy of the time, with a view to stabilize and increase the Colony's population.

Ironically enough at some point in time we see William Bragge taking employment with the New South Wales Police Department in Parramatta, ranking "Ordinary Constable".

The Sydney Gazette, 10th March 1829, contained the following public notice;

"Government notice

Colonial Secretary's Office, 9th March 1829.

His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to approve of the following alterations in the Police of the Colony vis... Paramatta....William Bragge, Ordinary Constable to be District Constable for Melville in the room of Joseph Barsden, who resigned on the 4th Instant; and Robert Champman, to be Ordinary Constable in the room of Bragge, promoted; Appointments to bear date the 7th March.

By His Excellency's Command

Alexander McLeav"

The position of District Constable was first held by the Grandfather of William Bragge's two sons in law, John Small. From here, very little is known of Williams Police record, as few records exist going back to this period, however he apparently remained in the Police Force as there is a publication titled "The Arm of the Law in Ryde" which shows references to New South Wales Archive Records of cases. Among them the following details are shown:

On 18th August, 1852 William Bragge, in making a prosecution stated "I am a District Constable stationed at Ryde... It is interesting to note that this charge concerned a native of China being "Illegally on the premises of Mr. Devlin".

On 27th December, 1853 William Bragge was again laying a charge, this time against James Mills for "Illegally selling spirits on a Sunday". Bragge stated "Defendant holds a Publican's licence, for a house situated on Bedlam Road at Kissing Point".

After appearing in a case at Ryde on the 12th December 1854, there is no known record of William Bragge at Ryde.

William Bragge and Ann Rumsby had eight children together: William (Nov 1823), James (1825), John (28 Nov 1829), Miriam (15 Sept 1831), Susannah (20 June 1834), Thomas (1836), George (1841), and Henry (1842).

Ann Rumsby passed away on the 18th March 1850 in Ryde, NSW,

William Bragge passed away on the 22nd October 1861 in Wooloomooloo, NSW.

His obituary appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on the 23rd October 1861;-

"On Tuesday, 22nd October at the residence of his son, Riley Street, Wooloomooloo, after a short but painful illness, which he bore with Christian fortitude, Mr. William Bragge senior, aged 64 years.

It is interesting to note that the family Surname today is spelt Bragg(e) by the descendants of John Bragge, the third child of William and Ann. It is spelt Bragg by the other seven children, and their descendants to the present day.

Sources

All information acquired through family ownership of the Booklet titled "the Bragge Family 1797-1972. Subtitled - The History Of The Family Of William Bragge 1797-1861 And His Wife Ann Rumsby !802 - 1850. By L.W. Bragge And B.K. Bragge.

Booklet is signed and numbered No. 61 of 500