Thomas Hase BLAKE

Transported from Norfolk to New South Wales

Thomas Hase BLAKE (1812-1896) was the second son of Thomas BLAKE of Bergh Apton, Norfolk and his wife Elizabeth Nicholls

The boy’s Hase forename presumably commemorated Thomas HASE of Bergh Apton, farmer, born c1747 died 1799 aged 52. Benefactor to his father, Thomas BLAKE

Convict - Records state 5ft 4 3/4, Protestant, Can Read and Write, Occupation given as Servant and Groom, Native place "Nr. Norwich"

Tried originally at Yarmouth Norfolk Quarter Sessions 6 April 1833.

court transcript for Thomas Hase Blake. He was charged "by association" at Great Yarmouth on 29 December 1832 with stealing a jacket from a shop owned by a Mr. Rackman. Thomas stated that he was in a shop at the same time as the co-accused James Rudrum. They left the shop and ran into each other again later at the Freemasons Arms in Charlotte Street where they were charged with stealing the blue sailors jacket that Rudrum was wearing.

Transported for 7 years on Lloyds. Arrived NSW 18 December 1833.

he was well tattooed- "scar knuckle fourth finger of right hand, five blue dots betwixt thumb and forefinger of right hand, T Blake, WBGBEBMB, 3 birds, man and gun, 2 dogs T or H Blake lower left arm, star back of left hand, blue ring middle finger of left hand, scar fore finger of same" !

Absconded into the Bush with Jacob Newton's daughter for nine weeks and was given a three months extension on his sentence.

Tried at Maitland NSW Quarter Sessions 3 February 1841 for Harbouring Bushrangers

Stated at the time that he just gave some tea to the fellows who stopped by his place. These men , John Edrett, Jack Shears and John Marshall, were eventually all hanged in Sydney and Thomas Hase Blake was given another 14 years and transported to Norfolk Island, per Lloyds 2, approx May 1841. Three years at Norfolk Island.

Arrived Van Diemans Land 6 June 1844.

Ticket of Leave 9 March 1847

Married Mary PARFITT 24 April 1848 in Hobart, Tasmania

Conditional Pardon Approved 30 January 1849

Mary Parfitt had been tried at Bath on 11/4/1844 and transported for stealing 3 pairs of boots from her employer, Mr Poole of Bath. She had 2 children and apparently stole boots for them, and herself. Her convict indent states occupation as Shoe Binder.

Convict - transported to Australia for stealing three pairs of boots from a Mr. Poole at Bath Somerset. Tried at Bath on 11 April 1844. Records state 3rd Conviction - had been previously transported for 10 years for stealing money but sources advise me this sentence may not have been actually carried out and she may have been in the hulks in England. Single at time of transportation with 2 children. Records (291) state arrived 20 December 1844. Records also state 22 years old at this time. According to Tasmanian Convicts CDRom Mary Parfitt arrived on TASMANIA 1 from London. Ship arrived 20 December 1844.

Delivered of an illegitimate child in Hobart - child died (1847)

Another child Sophia (2 years of age) died in Orphanage

No record of other child.

Ticket of leave 6/5/51

Recommended for Conditional Pardon May 4 1852

Conditional Pardon approved 25/7/1854.

From 1850 onwards Thomas Hase BLAKE and his wife Mary PARFITT had 5 children, the first three in Tasmania, the others in Victoria.

Matilda, Thomas, Mary Ann (Polly), Charlotte and William.

From the Mount Alexander Mail 23/1/1896: some print unclear marked [?]:

"An old and respected Pioneer named Thomas Blake, 87 years of age, has joined the great majority. Deceased arrived in Fryerstown in 1852[?] and engaged in mining pursuits. Of late he had resided with his son in law (Mr. J. Thompson) at Ten Foot Hill and on Tuesday the deceased succumbed[?] to general debility".

Towards the end of her life, Polly BLAKE (1854-1945) settled in New Zealand, where Annie Hope BLAKE (1842-1938) the daughter of her father’s older brother William had also found a home. But Polly was in Auckland, North Island, while Annie was in Kaikoura, South Island.

One of Polly’s descendants is New Zealand author James McNeish

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