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- A.K.A. Williams Pitblady. \ Pitbleddey \ Bleddey
William was covicted as a felon at Carlisle in August 1790 and was transported to Australia on the "Britannia" in 1791. The Journey in the convict ship must have been very traunmatic, with 29 of the 150 prisoners dying on the way. William had no previous convictions, but admitted breaking into a shop of a Mrs Mary Crosthwaite in Kendal while being intoxicated, the property was recoverd. His sentance was Death, commuted to transportation for 7 years. William made a life for himself in Australia, was appointed as a constable, was granted land, married and raised a family. He called his first daughter Jane.
Letter from his 4th great granddaughter, Dinny Laufenboeck 6 September 2021:
Very briefly - he did father two children, a girl Jane and a boy Thomas, in Australia after remarrying. Jane married a Sea Captain, Richard Ballard, and they travelled to British India where it is understood that they both died. Her brother Thomas is also believed to have followed them to India but his trail has proven difficult to establish - certainly no trace can be found of him in Australia after about the age of 21.
Richard and Anne Ballard had left behind in Australia with her Father, William Blady and his wife, a little girl Jane Anne Ballard. Jane married and had a large family, one member of whom ended up in Fiji where our branch continues to this day. William Pitt Blady is therefore my Gt Gt Gt Gt Grandfather. His story and that of his wife have fascinated me for years and some very kind people in the Cumberland Research Centre helped to fill in the gaps. I have often wondered what ever became of the little boy he had to leave behind in England. I hope, when I am able to send you what information I have of William's life in Australia, that you may have more on what became of the little one left behind in England. I wonder did he ever know that his Father had survived and became a man I think his family could have been proud of.
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