William Blackhall (abt. 1762 - 1827)

Born about 1762 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Ann (Yeomans) Blackhall — married Nov 1791 in Norfolk Island, Australia

Died Aug 1827 at about age 65 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

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Biography

William Blackhall was a convict on the First Fleet.

William Blackhall/Blackall was born about 1762. He passed away in 1827.

William Blackhall/Blackall was found guilty on 6 March 1786 at Abingdon, Berkshire, of the theft of 200 pounds of lead from a house. Sentenced to seven years transportation he was sent to the Censor hulk on 6 January 1787 after attempting to escape from Reading gaol. He arrived in Sydney in January 1788 aboard the Alexander as part of the First Fleet.^[1]

Blackall was sent to Norfolk Island on the Golden Grove in October 1788. By July 1791 he was supporting two people on a one acre lot at Sydney Town. He shared a sow with Ann Yeoman and a pig with Joshua Peck and Mary Frost. In December 1789 he received 50 lashes for insolence to Stephen Donovan.^[1]

Marriage: He married Ann Yeoman in November 1791 in one of the mass wedding ceremonies held on the island, conducted by Reverend Richard Johnson. Ann later showed that she had a marriage certificate signed by Reverend Richard Johnson certifying that she and Blackall had married on 18 November 1790(sic).^[2]

They were recorded in 1794 as being without children. By the end of 1791 Blackall was a member of the Grenvale Vale night watch. In December 1796 he leased 36 acres and worked as a sawyer, becoming overseer of sawyers in 1806.^[1]

Blackall and his wife were among the last to leave Norfolk Island for Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). In 1812 William had been overseer of sawyers for 18 years, he had 3½ acres of land in cultivation, and he owned 28 female sheep, 6 hogs and 6 goats.^[1]

William and Ann left Norfolk Island for Port Dalrymple (without children) on the Lady Nelson in January 1813. From 1813-1824 they lived on a 40 acre grant of land at Norfolk Plains, Launceston.^[1]

His salary as an overseer was £25 per annum, and he had been allowed to retire owing to infirmity on an annual pension of £12.10s.^[2]

Death: William died on 6 August 1827.^[3] He was buried at the Episcopalian Burial Ground (now known as the Cypress Street Burial Ground) at Launceston, his burial recorded in the register of St John's Church of England on 8 August 1827: his age was given as 80 and his occupation as 'pensioned overseer'.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), pp 37-38.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Michael Flynn, The Second Fleet: Britain’s Grim Convict Armada of 1790 (1993), p 633.
3. ↑ Death Date of death is in a petition by his wife Ann asking for continuance of his pension: Tasmanian Archives Colonial Secretary Correspondence CSO1-1-206-4877 https://stors.tas.gov.au/CSO1-1-206-4877$init=CSO1-1-206-4877-2
4. ↑ Burial: Tasmanian Archives, St John's Launceston burials https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD34-1-1p068j2k

See also:

• Blackhall, William (c. 1762–1827)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/blackhall-william-30330/text37613, accessed 29 December 2023
• "Cypress Street Burial Ground", All Saints Anglican Network https://resources.allsaints.network/cypress-street-burial-ground/