Bedelia (Spencer) Hampton (abt. 1820 - 1883)

Born about 1820 in Dublin, Ireland [uncertain]

Wife of James Hampton — married 27 Mar 1845 in St Luke's Church of England, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 10 Aug 1883 at about age 63 in Laggan, New South Wales, Australia

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Bridget (Spencer) Hampton was a convict after the Third Fleet transported to New South Wales

Biography

Bedelia was sentenced to transportation for seven years and was aboard the vessel Minerva when it departed Dublin on 18 August 1839. It stopped at the Cape on 26 October 1839 and arrived in Port Jackson on 26 December. Aboard were 115 female prisoners plus 30 children and 26 free women and their 6 children, all under the superintendence of Dr. Magovern, surgeon. Dr Magovern's journal reportedly makes reference to 'Biddy Spencer' and this is presumed to have been Bedelia. All of the women were landed at the Dockyard on 3 January 1840.

Dr Magovern noted that:^[1]

In attending to the endless complaints and wants both real and assumed of 119 female convicts, the greater number of whom were victims of dishonesty, it may easily be imagined what trouble the medical officer in charge is put through. Then there is the fighting and scolding day and night above and below. The real sickness and sham illness to obtain hospital comforts are scarcely credible. Then there are the children of convicts, the greater number at the breast from whom the poor wretches had little nourishment to obtain.

As written by Louise Westall Taylor in 2015:^[2]

Bridget had been in gaol in Dublin several times before being transported for seven years in 1839 at the age of 19. This spirited young lady was not happy after her arrival. When assigned to James Smith in Penrith she absconded only to be apprehended two months later. She was then assigned to Mrs Sandwell in Surry Hills to abscond again on 13 October 1843.

Per the New South Wales Government Gazette in July 1841:^[3]

Spencer Bridget, Minerva (6), 21, Dublin, housemaid, 5 feet, ¾ inch, fair ruddy comp., brown hair, light grey eyes, lost a front upper tooth, large mole back of right wrist, from James Smith, Penrith, since 12th instant.

And almost identically per the New South Wales Government Gazette in October 1843:^[4]

Spencer Bridget, Minerva (6) 23, Dublin, housemaid, 5 feet ¾ inch, fair ruddy comp., brown hair, light grey eyes, lost a front upper tooth, large mole on back of right wrist, from Mrs Sandwell, Surry Hills, since 13th inst.

Bedelia met free settler James Hampton. James's father had been a convict transported in 1837 and it appears that he decided to come to the colony to seek opportunity and relief from difficult circumstances in Kent. Given that Bedelia was still a convict they needed permission in order to marry. This was granted on 25 March 1845^[5] and the couple married just two days later at St Luke's Church of England in Liverpool.^[6]

Again as written by Louise Westall Taylor:

James had taken a job on the railways as a porter and/or fettler. He and Bridget produced four children in Liverpool, Sydney before moving south to the Abercrombie Caves region between Goulburn and Bathurst, where James had obtained a licence to mine. Whilst living in this district, they had three more children. Gold fever had hitthe region around Tuena where they settled initially and the area supported between 300 and 500 people by the time they arrived between 1851 and 1853. Alluvial gold was fairly easy to obtain and gold-bearing quartz were found at Junction Point which was close to Tuena but there were no known discoveries made by any of the family.

Bridget died at Laggan, a small town to the north-east of Crookwell, and was buried in the Tuena graveyard.^[7] Her headstone is engraved with a touching message selected by her grieving husband who would follow her into death around 7 years later:^[8][9]

Farewell! farewell! yet not a long adieu

For I, if fulfilled, soon may be with you

In blissful regions, where no sin no pain

Nor parting pangs shall sunder us again

Research Notes

The Convict Records website (linked below) incorrectly indicates that Bridget was a convict transported to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) aboard the ‘Minerva’ in 1838. Unfortunately, review of the original register of convicts on that vessel held by Libraries Tasmania reveals no obviously relevant entry for her as either a convict or otherwise. All of the convicts on that vessel were male. She actually travelled to Australia on the vessel's next voyage which arrived in Port Jackson on Boxing Day 1839.

In trying to trace Bedelia/ Bridget it can appear that she has become confused with another woman of a similar name, but this is not believed to be the case.

Bedelia is a Celtic name meaning "strength or exalted one", and comes from the mythic goddess of fire and poetry. The Latinised/ Anglicised rendering as Bridget is seen in the 6th century Irish abbess St Bridget/ St Bride whose Celtic name is understood to have been Bedelia.

The children of Bridget/ Bedelia were all around the same location. As can be seen, Bridget's daughter Angelina married at Carcoar in 1875, and several of Selina's children were also born there from 1874 onwards.

On balance it seems likely that they have not been confused but represent the same woman, but this can be adjusted if necessary.

Sources

1. ↑ Journal of Patrick Macgovern. The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Medical Journals; Reference Number: ADM 101/54/6B
2. ↑ Recovering Lives: 15 Convicts In New South Wales, A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The Australian National University, February 2015, Louise Westall Taylor, pp 201-207
3. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/230394306/14453585 New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900) Fri 2 Jul 1841 (Issue No.52) Page 895 ]
4. ↑ New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900) Fri 20 Oct 1843 (Issue No.88) Page 1377 THE undermentioned Prisoners having absconded
5. ↑ NSW State Archives & Records:

   Number INX-68-12770

   Title HAMPTON, James SPENCER, Bridget

   Index Name Convicts Applications to Marry 1825-1851

   APPLICANT (MALE) HAMPTON, James

   SHIP (MALE) Cornwall

   REMARKS (MALE) Age: 24; Came free; Condition: Free

   APPLICANT (FEMALE) SPENCER, Bridget

   SHIP (FEMALE) Minerva (6)

   REMARKS (FEMALE) Age: 25; Sentence: 7 years; Condition: Bond

   Place Liverpool

   Date of Permission 27 Mar 1845

   Clergyman DUFFUS, Revd John

   Citation NRS 12212 [4/4514 p.088]; COD 15; Reel 715; Fiche 800-802

   ECommerce Category A

   Index Number 68

6. ↑ NSW BDM marriage reg. no. 529/1845 V1845529 30B, of HAMPTON, JAMES, and SPENCER, BRIDGET, registered at 'CF' [Church of England; Liverpool, St Luke's]
7. ↑ NSW BDM death of HAMPTON, BODELIA, reg. no. 5402/1883, showing parents JOHN and BODELIA, registered at CROOKWELL
8. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 20 November 2018), memorial page for Bedelia Hampton (unknown–12 Aug 1883), Find A Grave Memorial no. 183634766, citing Laggan Cemetery, Laggan, Upper Lachlan Shire, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Gary Knight (contributor 48659261). Find A Grave: Memorial #183634766
9. ↑ This epitaph may have been selected from William Hastings Kelke, The Churchyard Manual: Intended Chiefly for Rural Districts, 1851, C. Cox, p.86

See also:

• Claim A Convict website: Bridget Spencer (1839)
• Convict Records website: Convict Records profile