James Bloodsworth (1759 - 1804)

Born 7 Mar 1759 in Guildford, Surrey, England

Husband of Jane (Marks) Bloodsworth — married 9 Dec 1782 in St. Leonards Shoreditch London England

Husband of Sarah (Bellamy) Bloodsworth — married about 1789 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 21 Mar 1804 at age 45 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Craig Hennessy [send private message] and Anonymous Pinchen [send private message]

Biography

James Bloodsworth was a convict on the First Fleet.

James Bloodsworth (1759–1804), master builder and bricklayer, was a convict on the First Fleet. 7 years transportation at Kingston-on-Thames and was embarked on 'Charlotte' for the new colony in Australia. On arrival he was appointed master bricklayer in the settlement at Sydney Cove. Bloodsworth was largely responsible for the design and erection of Australia’s first buildings, including the first Government House in Bridge Street.

Sarah Bellamy (1778–1843) also arrived as a convict on the First Fleet. Bloodsworth and Bellamy lived together and produced seven children. James Bloodsworth received a pardon in December 1791, the second person emancipated in the colony.

In 1794 he was granted 50 acres (20.2 hectares) at Long Cove Creek. A few days later in the name of Sarah Bellamy, Bloodsworth added another 20 acres (8.1 hectares). James Bloodsworth further increased his holdings to 245 acres (99.2 hectares). Bloodsworth Farm and the adjoining Bellamy Farm covered a substantial area of Dulwich Hill between the present Old Canterbury and New Canterbury roads. Although Bloodsworth was good with the mortar, he was not so good with the money. When he died of pneumonia on 21 March 1804 he was insolvent. Despite his convict origins, Bloodsworth was held in high regard by the community of Sydney. Governor King ordered that he should be given the nearest the colony could provide to a state funeral.

Obituary, Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Sunday 25 March 1804, page 4: ^[1]

DEATH.

On Wednesday last died, generally lamented, Mr. James Bloodworth, for many years Superintendant of Builders in the Employ of Government. He came to the Colony among its first Inhabitants in the year 1788, and obtained the Appointment, from his exemplary conduct, shortly after his arrival ; the first house in this part of the Southern hemisphere was by him erected, as most of the Public Buildings since have been under his direction.

To lament his loss he has left a Widow and five Children, the youngest an infant now only one week old ; and the complaint which terminated in his dissolution was supposed to proceed from a severe cold contracted about two months since.

The attention and concern which prevailed at the internment of the deceased were sufficient testimonies of the respect with which he filled, and the integrity with which he uninterruptedly discharged the duties of a Public Trust during so long a period. His EXCELLENCY was pleased to order that the Funeral should be provided for at the Public Expence, and to shew other marks of attention to so old a Servant of the Crown.

Four in the afternoon of Friday being as the wish of the widow appointed for the Funeral, the Relics of the deceased were at that hour removed from his house in South-street, and conveyed to the place of interment, attended by a great number of friends, among whom were most of the Sydney Loyal Association, in which he had been appointed Serjeant.

Opposite to his old residence a Procession was formed, which moved in the following order :---

12 of the Loyal Association, arms reversed

Serjeant of the Association

Drum muffled & Fife

THE BIER

Two Sons, chief Mourners followed by an Infant Daughter,

Fourteen Female Mourners,

Twenty-four Male ditto,

A number of respectable Inhabitants in Rank.

The Non-commissioned Officers of the New South Wales Corps,

And a crowd of spectators.

When near the Burial Ground the Association were obliged to file off, for the accommodation of the friends of the deceased, and the populace, who were become very numerous ; and when the remains were deposited approached the grave and performed Military Honours.

Surname spelling found Bloodworth OR Bloodsworth

Sources

1. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/626104

• James Bloodsworth from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bloodsworth
• James Bloodworth 1759–1804 on the Australian Royalty website at: https://australianroyalty.net.au/individual.php?pid=I55053&ged=purnellmccord.ged
• The Digital Panopticon James Bloodworth, NSW Early Convicts Index, 3rd October 1785, Record ID nec2089 (https://www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=nec2089). Version 1.1, consulted 17th March 2019.
• James Bloodworth (a community contributed record) on the Convict Records website at: https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/bloodworth/james/126780
• Details for the convict James Bloodsworth (1788) from the Claim a Convict website at: http://www.hawkesbury.net.au/claimaconvict/convictDetails.php?convictId=1152
• Basic information from James Bloodworth {Convict "Charlotte" 1788} on GENI at: https://www.geni.com/people/James-Bloodworth-Convict-Charlotte-1788/6000000034332405850
• JAMES BLOODWORTH Convict Charlotte and SARAH BELLAMY Convict Lady Penrhyn - Sydney’s First Designer-Builder from the Fellowship of First Fleeters website at: http://www.fellowshipfirstfleeters.org.au/jamesbloodworth.htm
• Convict Ship Charlotte 1788 on the Free Settler or Felon? website at: https://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_charlotte_1788.htm
• Memorial: Find a Grave
  

Find A Grave: Memorial #218781219 (accessed 13 November 2023)
Memorial page for James Bloodsworth (7 Mar 1759-21 Mar 1804), citing Devonshire Street Cemetery, Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by Lucas (contributor 50499237).