Blaber Family Genealogy

Eighth Generation

51. James BLABER^33,131 was born in March 1782 in Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, England.^45,52,134 James' actual date of birth cannot be ascertained. It could be any year from 1781 to 1786.
He was christened on 30 April 1786 in Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, England.^52,135,136 He was reported to have deserted his family on 12 May 1812 in Kent, England.¹³⁷ Reported in the 12 May 1812 Edition of the Kentish Gazette:
"RUN AWAY,
And left his Wife and Family chargeable to the parish of
HERNE,
JAMES BLABER, Labourer, formerly of Ringmer in Sussex, and of late years has worked in the Isle of Thanet and its neighbourhood.
Whoever will apprehend the said JAMES BLABER, and will deliver him to the Overseer of the Poor of the parish of HEARNE, shall receive a reward of TWO GUINEAS."
In 1814 James was a Shepherd.¹⁰⁶ He was tried for Larceny in April 1817 at April Sessions in Lewes, East Sussex, England.¹³⁸ He was found guilty and sentenced to 14 days in prison. He lived at home in Bentley, Framfield, Sussex, England between 1821 and 1823.¹³⁹ James lived at prison in Lewes, East Sussex, England from November 1826 to February 1827.¹⁰⁶ He was tried for Larceny in 1827 at Winter Special Assizes in Lewes, East Sussex, England.¹⁴⁰ He was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years deportation. He lived at prison in Lewes, East Sussex, England from June 1829 to August 1831.¹⁰⁶ James lived at prison in Lewes, East Sussex, England from May 1832 to June 1832.¹⁰⁶ He lived at prison in Lewes, East Sussex, England from August 1832 to October 1832.¹⁰⁶ He lived at prison in Lewes, East Sussex, England from February 1833 to April 1833.¹⁰⁶ James was tried for Riot on 29 June 1835 at County Sessions in Lewes, East Sussex, England.¹⁴¹ He was found guilt and imprisoned for 8 Months. John Trigwell was also accused of riot and found guilty with him. He lived at Prison in Lewes, East Sussex, England from June 1835 to February 1836.¹⁴¹ He was tried for Larceny before convicted of Felony on 30 November 1836 at County Adjourned Sessions in Lewes, East Sussex, England.¹⁴² He was found guilty and sentenced to deportation for life. James emigrated on 6 June 1837 to Australia.^143,144,145 He was sentenced to be transported for life at the adjourned Lewes Michaelmas Quarter Sessions, 30th November 1836. He was deported on the prison ship "Charles Kerr". The ship sailed from Spithead on 6th June 1837 and arrived on 9th October 1837 in New South Wales, Australia. His accomplice was John Trigwell, James' daughter Charlotte's father-in-law. James was pardoned between 1846 and 1849. He obviously decided to remain in Australia after he was pardoned.

From the 'Passenger List': Ship: Charles Kerr; Master: Harford ARNOLD
Arrived from England: 9th October 1837.
Prisoner No. 37 2303. Aged 54. Protestant. Married. Children: 3 boys, 4 girls. Residence: Sussex. Labourer. Offence: Stealing fowls. Convicted at Sussex Quarter Sessions on 30th November 1836. Sentence: Life. Former convictions: 7 years mitigated to 4 years 8 months. 5ft 8.1/2ins. Sallow complexion. Brown hair. Hazel grey eyes. Identifying marks: whiskers meeting under the chin, wart knuckles of middle finger of right hand, AA and heart inside lower left arm, scar left shin.

He was granted a 'Ticket of Leave' on 13 December 1845 in New South Wales, Australia.¹⁴⁶ A 'Ticket of Leave' allowed prisoners to integrate into society, though with some restrictions. In James' case, he was restricted to remain the the District of Goulburn, New South Wales.
He lived at Taralga in New South Wales, Australia in 1872.¹³⁴ James died on 21 March 1880 at the age of 98 in Bolong River, Kempsey, Goulburn, NSW, Australia.^98,106,147 He was buried at Phills River in New South Wales, Australia.¹⁴⁸ James, his wife Ann and their 4 small children aged 1-5 were removed back to Ringmer from Chislet, Kent, by an order dated 3rd February 1813. (We have large amounts of information on James and his family. We hope to upload this information, possibly to a separate page on this site, in the very near future).

James BLABER and Ann were married before 1808. Ann¹³¹ was born about 1782 in Hearn, Kent, England.^{45,106,149,150} The 1861 census gives her birth place at Canterbury, Kent. She lived at Rushy Green in Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, England between 1841 and 1851.^{106,151,152,153} At the 1841 Census, Ann is stated to be a widow, although this appears to have been crossed out and a 'P' added. We can assume that this is because her husband James BLABER had been deported to Australia. At the 1851 census, Ann was lodging with Lucy Foord, her daughter (31 - widow) and family. She lived at Ringmer Almshouse in Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, England in April 1861.¹⁵⁴ Ann died in 1861 at the age of 79 in Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, England.⁹⁸ She was buried on 17 June 1861 in Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, England.¹⁰⁶ Stated as aged 80.

James BLABER-1141 and Ann -1341 had the following children:

68	i.	Thomas BLABER⁹⁸ was born about 1808 in Chislet, Kent.⁹⁸ He died in 1824 at the age of 16 in Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, England.⁹⁸ He was buried on 3 July 1824 in Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, England.¹⁰⁶
69	ii.	Sarah BLABER⁹⁸ was born about 1809 in Chislet, Kent.⁹⁸ She was christened on 23 April 1809 at St Mary's Church in Reculver, Kent, England.¹⁵⁵ She died in 1824 at the age of 15 in Minster-in-Thanet, Kent, England.^98,106,156 Sarah was buried on 30 May 1824 in Minster-in-Thanet, Kent, England.¹⁵⁷
+70	iii.	Ann BLABER-3399.
71	iv.	James BLABER⁹⁸ was born about 1812 in Chislet, Kent.⁹⁸ He was christened on 29 March 1812 at St Martin's Church in Herne Bay, Kent, England.
+72	v.	Hannah BLABER-2629.
+73	vi.	Charlotte BLABER-2628.
74	vii.	William BLABER¹³¹ was born about 1818. He was christened on 14 June 1818 in Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, England.¹³¹ In 1840 he was a Labourer.¹⁵⁸ William died of "Decline" on 24 November 1840 at the age of 22 in Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, England.^158,159 Charlotte Blaber, his sister, was present at his death. She was illiterate as she had to make her "mark" on the death certificate, rather than sign it. He was buried on 29 November 1840.¹⁰⁶
+75	viii.	Lucy BLABER-3401.
76	ix.	George BLABER¹³⁵ was born on 20 June 1821 in Bentley, Framfield, Sussex, England.^106,135,143 Attended by a Dr Mantell of Lewes who sent his bill for 16s 6d to Ringmer Parish Council. He was christened on 12 August 1821 in Framfield, East Sussex, England.¹⁰⁶ He served in the Royal Navy in 1845.¹⁵³ In 1845 George was serving onboard HMS Rodney. He was recorded as sending moey home to his mother, Ann, living in Ringmer. He was an Ordinary Seaman, Paybook Number 249. George died on 10 May 1853 at the age of 31 in Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, England.¹⁴³ He was 32 at his death (Grave stone).
+77	x.	Sarah BLABER-2630.