Jacob Bellett(e) and Ann Harper

http://norfolkislandfirstfleetersandfamilies.blogspot.com.au

Jacob Bellett and Ann Harper

Jacob Bellett's story in HMS Sirius Museum, Norfolk Island.

Jacob Bellett's story in HMS Sirius Museum.

Jacob Bellett's name on First Fleet Wall in HMS Sirius Museum.

First Fleet Wall in HMS Sirius Museum, Norfolk Island.

Jacob Bellette's story hanging in Research Centre, 9 Quality Row, Kingston.

Jacob Bellett's name - December 1791.  Hanging in Research Centre 9 Quality Row.

Research Centre- No.9 Quality Row, Norfolk Island.

Jacob Bellett & Ann Harper

Jacob was transported on the “Scarborough”.  After reading the Journals of John Hunter and John Easty (a Private on Board the Scarborough) there is no mention of the conditions experienced by convicts on board the First Fleet. There is some indication, however, of the trials experienced when John Hunter wrote of  the "poor animals" experience of violent seas, "were frequently thrown with much violence off their legs, and exceedingly bruised by their falls, although every method, which could be contrived for their ease and comfort was practised; the ship was very ill fitted for such a cargo."

The First Fleet arrived in New Holland on the 26 Jan 1788. Transcription of the Australian Convict Transportation Registers – First Fleet, 1787-1788 reads,

Where convicted         Name                  County   Town            Crime   Date                   Term

Middlesex                     Bellet Jacob        London                       12th Jan 1785                7 years

On Board “Scarborough”.

Jacob was offloaded on the 27th January at Port Jackson and, "was immediately set to work clearing away the ground, ready for ye encampment." This work advanced quickly so that by January 29th a great deal of work has been done in clearing away but much remains to be done some Carpenters preparing for fixing the Governors Portable £115 House12 & a number of ye Convicts digging up ye Ground for a garden.  30th A Number of Plants belonging to the Governor was landed & put into ye ground."

It must have felt strange to him, coming from London, with its established buildings, infrastructure and shops, to having to build their shelter and grow or catch their food. In the couple of years between landing at Port Jackson and being sent to Norfolk Island as part of the First Settlement, Jacob would have been involved in 1788.  Building barracks for the soldiers, 4 houses, and for the convicts, little edifices quickly multiplied on the ground allotted them to build upon.

Hunger was experienced by the First Fleeters as, "Provisions were become scarcer than in a blockaded town."  Although gardens were quickly dug, crops failed due to theft and sowing at the wrong time of the year.

Perhaps Jacob heard or saw the "natives". One account from Captain Tench noted that they could be heard talking on the perimeters of the camp. "In the dead of night the centinels on the eastern side of the cove were alarmed by the voices of the Indians, talking near their posts....... From the darkness of the night, and the distance they kept at, it was not easy to ascertain their number, but from the sound of the voices and other circumstances, it was calculated at near thirty."

Lt Ralph Clark observed that during an expedition up the river, two of his convicts were so frightened of the "natives" that, "(Davis) my Convict Servant who was in the Boat with me begd of me not to goe on Shore — he is one of the greatest Cowards living.... trembled the whole time."

Norfolk Island was established for two reasons: to make masts and sails from the pine and flax on the island, and to prevent the island falling in to the hands of the French. Jacob was sent to Norfolk Island on Board the Supply in 1790.  On arrival he would spend the next couple of days helping evacuate the “Sirius” of people and supplies before she sunk, "Everybody employd in assisting the People in getting on Shore from the wreck as the[y] Expect her to goe to Pices any moment." 

Jacob may have killed mutton birds for meat and was given provisions of, "Flour 3 lb, Beef 11/2 lb, or 17 ozs of Pork and 1 lb of Rice to each person per week."  Land clearance for planting crops was a priority, as was building shelter.

As a free man, Jacob was granted 12 acres of land on the island. Transcription of the source can be seen below:

No of Grant    Grantee Name     No of acres    Grant or lease   When granted     When quittant ceases

637                  Jacob Billett          12                    Grant                   30th ? 1796         30th June 1800

Remarks: Found on the south side of the Settlers Gully, extended 28th  - links the S side 8:12 N 25chains & This day 21 October 1821.

In an unusual step, Ann was also granted land beside Jacob. Transcription can be seen below:

No.        date                         Grantee                 Situation                   Exact acres

669       1796 Dec 30          Ann Harper           Norfolk Island          37

Term of Grant        Annual Amt rent                                     By Whom Granted  Registration

Grant                   After 5 years from 30th Oct 1796            Governor Hunter 145

Remarks: Nine and a half acres of this lot sold by the grantee to John McMahon on the 15th Feb 1805 – up this 5th Oct 1821. Signed F Goldboro.

John Hunter describes agricultural conditions on Norfolk Island in 1791 as, "This very great unevenness of the ground occasions much labour in cultivation, and renders it wholly impossible to use the plough, even if the ground were sufficiently cleared, and there were cattle to work; every labour of that kind must be done by hand. There was, when I left the island, in February, 1791, something more than 100 acres cleared for the public, exclusive of private gardens."

With very little knowledge, Jacob the Londoner farmed the land. Crops such as Indian corn and potatoes were grown with some success. He may have felt proud that as a landowner, 12 years after arriving as a wretched convict, Jacob sold some of his land, on the 26th August 1800.

Transcription reads:

No.      date                     Grantee                Situation                Exact acres

665      1796 Dec 30       Jacob Billett        Norfolk Island        12

Term of Grant         Annual Amt rent                                      By Whom Granted

Grant                        After 5 years from 16 May 1791           Governor Hunter   B2 140

Remarks:  Sold by the grantee 10 acres hereof to William Hambly on the 26th August 1800 and ten acres to Eliz Thackeray on the 1st May 1800. This deed now recorded on this 4th day of Oct by me. Signed F Goldboro.

Jacob worked reliably and he was made a Constable on the Island.   But this was not until after a decision was made to remove inhabitants from Norfolk.   On the 3rd of September 1808, Jacob had no choice but to walk away from the land he had cleared and the house he had built. On 15 Feb 1813, he was on list of settlers who have left livestock at Norfolk Island.  He must have been disheartened to leave not only his buildings, which were valued at £60 and he also had a stock entitlement of £82/10/. Taking his wife and eight children, he boarded the City of Edinburgh, bound for Van Dieman's Land.

Jacob James Bellett born 21 January 1765 in Shoreditch, London, England and died 2 December 1813, aged 47 in Ralphs Bay, Tasmania. He was buried in St David's Cemetery, Hobart. Tombstone says Jacob Bellett “Free Settler” died 2 December 1815, aged 27, therefore born 1788. Was the year 1788 of great significent to him as the year he commenced a new life in a new country?  Read the framed story about Jacob Bellett in the Research Centre to understand just how he felt about being relocated to Van Diemen's Land after 18 years on Norfolk Island.

Ann Harrison Harper born 1772 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England and died 10 September 1842 in Sorell, Tasmania.  Ann was aged 17 when tried for Felony.  She received 7 years and transported on "Lady Juliana".

Jacob Bellett married Ann Harper on 5 November 1791 on Norfolk Island. 

Together they 9 children:

1. Elizabeth Harper Bellett born 18 January 1792 on Norfolk Island and died 24 December 1866 in Rokeby, Tasmania.  Elizabeth Bellett married Robert Carter Alomes  born 1770 in Dublin, Ireland and died 31 August 1853 in Clarance Plains, Tasmania, on 21 August 1809 in Hobart, Tasmania. They had 11 children, including Emmaline Alomes who married John Morrisby, son of convicts James & Ann Morrisby.  Also Robert Alomes who married Jane Wood.  Their daughter Elizabeth Maria Alomes married Christopher Calvert, the son of Christopher Calvert  who was the brother of Sarah Calvert/Macdougall.

2. Susannah Harper Bellett born 1 February 1794 on Norfolk Island and died 10 January 1878 in Sorell, Tasmania.  Susannah Bellett married John Birchall born 6 May 1779 in Woore, Shropshire, England and died 4 May 1860 in Pittwater, Tasmania, on 24 October 1809 in Hobart, Tasmania.  They had 1 child, William Thomas Birchall.

3. Mary Harper Bellett born 30 April 1796 on Norfolk Island and died 23 January 1877 in Cygnet, Tasmania.  Mary Bellett married James Garth born 9 August 1791 on Norfolk Island and died 4 October 1872 in Franklin, Tasmania, on 22 September 1815 in Hobart, Tasmania.  They had 13 children. James Garth was the son of  convicts Edward Garth & Susannah Gough.

4. Ann Bellett born 30 April 1796 on Norfolk Island and died 29 April 1896 in Hobart (1 day short of her 100th birthday).  Ann married Edward Garth born September 1794 and died 21 July 1873 in Hobart, on 4 November 1816 in Hobart, Tasmania. They had 12 children. Edward Garth was the son of Edward Garth & Susannah Gough.

5. John Bellett born 1800 on Norfolk Island and died 23 January 1877 in Sorell, Tasmania.  John Bellett married Susanna Garth born 18 May 1803 on Norfolk Island and died 5 May 1871 in Sorell, Tasmania, on 4 November 1816 in Hobart, Tasmania.  They had 7 children.  Susanna Garth was the daughter of convicts Edward Garth & Susannah Gough.

6. Jacob Bellett born 7 December 1802 on Norfolk Island and died 20 May 1834 in Clarence, Tasmania

Jacob Bellett married 1. Mary Louise Fisher, born 1806 on Norfolk Island and died 19 February 1826 in Pittwater, Tasmania.  They married on 29 December 1824 in St David's Cathedral, Hobart, Tasmania.  Jacob and Mary had a daughter Elizabeth Ann Bellett, born 29 September 1825 and died 1907 in Hobart. Elizabeth Bellett married Samuel Smith born 1820 and died 1900.

Mary Louise Fisher's parents were Edward Fisher (1751-1838) & Elizabeth Gregory (1780-1842).
Edward Fisher was sentenced for 7 years on 30 July 1788 and arrived in Sydney on "Matilda" July 1791.  Edward went to Norfolk Island August 1791 and later relocated his family to Sandy Bay on "Porpoise" in December 1807.  Edward & Elizabeth lived together from 1798.

Elizabeth Gregory's parents were Thomas Gregory (1741-1809) and Sarah Gregory (1750-1807).  Thomas Gregory was sentenced for 7 years on 22 October 1788 at Old Bailey for stealing 2 pigs.  Thomas arrived in Sydney on "Neptune" on 2nd Fleet.  Sarah Gregory was sentenced to 7 years in March 1789 for stealing 4 pigs and arrived on "Lady Juliana" in June 1790 with daughter Elizabeth Gregory (1780-1842).  Thomas & Sarah Gregory arrived on Norfolk Island August 1790 on "Surprize". Elizabeth was sexually assulted in July 1791 by 1st Fleet Marine Henry Wright at the age of 11.

Jacob Bellett married 2. Susannah Free born 25 July 1801 on Norfolk Island and died 1833 in Tasmania, on 16 April 1827 in Clarence, Tasmania.  They had 4 children.  Susannah's parents, Samuel Free & Elizabeth Smith were convicts on Norfolk Island.  They were resettled onto Van Diemen's Land on "Porpoise" on 25 December 1807 along with their 5 children, Elizabeth, Mary, Samuel, Sarah and Susannah.

7. William Bellett born 10 June 1805 on Norfolk Island and died 27 May 1875 in Sorell, Tasmania.
William Bellett married Catherine Irwin born 1804 on Norfolk Island and died 26 October 1878 in Sorell, Tasmania, on 2 June 1828 in Sorell.  They had 10 children.

8. James Bellett born 19 October 1809 in Sandy Bay, Hobart and died 15 June 1837 in Sorell.  James Bellett married in 1831.  His wife died 1837 also.  They had 3 children.

9. George Bellett born 3 March 1812 in Sandy Bay, Hobart and died 16 March 1885 in Sandy Bay.  George Bellett married Jemima Larsom born 24 November 1818 and died 6 August 1891 in Sorell, Tasmania, on 11 February 1835 in Clarence Plains, Tasmania.  They had 12 children.  Jemima was the daughter of convicts Richard Larsom & Ann Whiting Kidner.

Settler Lots on Norfolk Island 1796

Jacob Bellett - Parcel No.25, 12 acres.

Ann Harper Parcel No.37, 39 acres.

Jacob Bellett's 12 acres (Parcel No.25) and Ann Harper 39 acres (Parcel No.37).

Remains of Jacob Bellett's house

Fireplace ruins at Jacob Bellett's house.

Cooking implements in Jacob Bellett's fireplace.

Old cooking implement found at Jacob Bellett's house.

Some photos taken in 2018 

Quality Row with Cemetery on right, going towards Jacob Bellett's land.

Looking back at Bloody Bridge, built by convicts from 2nd settlement to ensure a route over the stream when it flooded.

During the building of the bridge a work-gang murdered their overseer and walled him up in the bridge.  Next day the replacement overseer saw blood oozing from the mortar.  Hence Bloody Bridge.

View from Jacob Bellett's land on Driver Christian Drive.

Jacob Bellett's land in 2018 - Driver Christian Road, Kingston.

Jacob Bellett's land in 2018.

Jacob Bellett's garden in 2018.

Jacob Bellett's land in 2018.

Memorial to First Fleeters and Norfolk Islanders in St David's Park, Hobart, Tasmania.

Jacob Bellett, wife Ann Harper and 7 children (Ann, Elizabeth, Jacob, John, Mary, Susan, William) were resettled from Norfolk Island to Van Diemen's Land on "City of Edinburgh", arriving on 2 October 1808.

If you have any comments, corrections or additions to make, please contact the author of this blog, Joy Olney via email - joyolney@gmail.com