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From: "Leah Cooke" <>
Subject: [PJ] re: Norfolk Isl Convicts marrying
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2003 21:20:24 +1100


BlankHello Lesley, and other PJ Listers,
Sorry, Lesley, I know I promised but I've been good for at least seven days but I can't take it anymore.
I have always wondered why a couple of convicts who had children in Norfold Island didn't get married until their return to the mainland - in fact they went to VDL and were married in 1804.
I can remember reading somewhere that the convicts that originally went to Norfolk Island were virtually hand picked by Surgeon Bowes and Lt King. The female convicts were said to have gone there by choice and were 'promised' the opportunity of a new family life.
King was reported to have promised that convicts wishing to marry would be married by surgeon Thomas Jamieson.
The two individuals concerned were John Blinkworth and Elizabeth Mary Cummings and one of their children eventually married a step daugther of my ggg grandfather, James Brackenrig, and I know that they had 3 children -John Edward bn 19/101794, Robert
Charles bn 1797, and Elizabeth Mary bn 1798.
Each birth was recorded at Sydney Cove.
There are a lot of Listers out there with a vast amount of experience - has anyone researched this sort of thing in Norfolk Island before and could assist me as to why John and Elizabeth waited until their return to 'civilization' to be married?
Kind regards,
David Cooke,
Maitland. NSW.

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