John Kenneth Blade1

M, #44078, b. 1931, d. 1931
View Pedigree
FatherJack Reginald Blade1 b. 1903, d. 1936
MotherMarjorie Millicent Pemberton1 b. 1910, d. 2 May 1992
Relationships4th cousin of Robert Mote
4th great-grandson of James Thomas John Bean
6th great-grandson of Samuel James

Life Span

EVENTDATEDETAILS
Death1931John Kenneth Blade died in 1931 at Canterbury, NSW, AustraliaG.1
Birth1931He was born in 1931 at Canterbury, NSWG.1
He was the son of Jack Reginald Blade and Marjorie Millicent Pemberton.1
ChartsIndented Descendant Chart - Thomas Beane
Box Descendant Chart - Thomas Beane
Descendant Chart - Samuel James
Descendant Chart - Andrew Fishburn
Last Edited6 Jan 2009

Citations

  1. [S802] Ross Blade, "Jack Author Blade," e-mail to Robert Mote, January 2009.

PLEASE NOTE: While I do my best to validate data included on this web page I offer no guarantee as to its accuracy.

James Diggins

M, #44079, b. 21 January 1815, d. 5 September 1879
View Pedigree
FatherRichard Diggins
MotherRose Unknown

Life Span

EVENTDATEDETAILS
Birth21 January 1815James Diggins was born on Saturday, 21 January 1815 at Old Cock Lane, London, EnglandG.1,2
He was the son of Richard Diggins and Rose Unknown.
Baptism13 February 1815James Diggins was baptized on Monday, 13 February 1815 at St Leonard's, Shoreditch, London, Middlesex, EnglandG.2
Marriage1852James was married to Mary Keefe in 1852 at Maitland, NSW, AustraliaG.1
Death5 September 1879James Diggins died on Friday, 5 September 1879 near Kangiara, NSW, AustraliaG, at age 64.1,3

Description

DateDescription
5 August 1832In 5 August 1832 James Diggins was described as 5 ft 61/2 inches tall, with a ruddy complexion, dark brown hair, dark chestnut eyes, no education, single and a weaver by trade. He had a scar on top forehead and a hairy mole on his left cheek. His nose was inclined to the right. He was tattooed with the intials JB on the lower right arm and Fame on the lower left arm.1

Criminal Record

DatePlaceDetails
23 November 1831On the afternoon of 23 November 1831, 18-year old James Diggins, spied a cart carrying goods from a warehouse in Houndsditch towards the Royal Exchange. The cart was drawn by two men with two others following behind. From across the street, a City-officer, Charles Thorogood saw James approach the cart, and when the men's attention was distracted, he lifted up the tarpaulin and draw out a parcel. Thorogood moved across the street and arrested James, and later charged him with stealing two sheets of paper (the parcel wrapping), valued at 1 penny, and 14 pairs of drawers, valued at £2, being the goods of William Bousfield and others.

On 1 December 1831, James Diggins appeared in the Old Bailey on the charge of Simple Grand Larceny, and City-officer Thorogood gave evidence that "… on the afternoon of the 23rd of November, I observed a truck near the Royal Exchange drawn by two men, and two men were following it behind - I walked on to the end of the Exchange, by the Mansion-house, when I saw the prisoner lift up the tarpauling which was over the truck, and draw out this parcel; I took him into custody.

In cross-examination, by Mr. Heaton, Thorogood explained that he had been an officer for ten years and had never been suspended. He said that "… the prisoner had not got more than twenty yards from me - I had not lost sight of him; I asked him what he had got, and he said he did not choose to answer - when I asked him again, he said a gentleman gave it to him to carry from Wood Street, Cheapside, to his house - he did not say the Spread Eagle [a public house]; I asked where he lived - he said in Wood Street, Spitalfields; I asked where the gentleman lived - he said he did not know; he did not ask me to go to Gracechurch Street - I went according to the direction on the parcel, to Cheapside, to ask whether they expected such a parcel, and they said they did; the truck was going towards Cheapside and the prisoner towards Whitechapel: it was dark, but the lamps were lighted.

A warehouseman, Edward Hitchcock, an employee of William and John Bousfield gave evidence that he had packed the parcel and that the parcel contained the items stated in the indictment. On cross-examination, Hitchcock said "… I know this parcel by my own writing on it, and the drawers have my figures on them."

John Ludford, another employee of the Bousfield's, gave evidence that he "… had placed this parcel in the truck with other goods, which I received at the warehouse. On cross-examination Ludford said that the truck was covered with a tarpaulin and "… was tied down - no one could have got the parcel without lifting up the tarpauling."

James Diggins told the court, "What the officer states is all false - he asked what I had; I said I did not know, but a gentleman gave it to me to carry to the Spread Eagle - I asked him [Thorogood] to go there, but he declined."

Constable William Drane, who had been a witness in the earlier trial of Joseph Lawrence and James Diggins (alias Thompson), now appeared and produced and read from a certificate and told the court "… I was present in April last, and saw the prisoner tried here by the name of James Thompson; I apprehended him, and know he is the [same] man."

The Jury found James Diggins guilty as charged, and as it was James' second conviction, the Judge sentenced him to fourteen years transportation to the colony of NSW.1
8 October 1841James Diggins received his Ticket of Leave (No: 41/2104) on 8 October 1841.1

Voyages

DateDetails
15 March 1832James Diggins was a convict aboard The Ship Lady Harewood which sailed from Portsmouth, Hampshire, EnglandG, on Thursday, 15 March 1832 and arrived in Sydney, NSW on 5 August 1832. The Master was Richard W Stonehouse and the Surgeon was John Inch.

Family with

Mary Keefe b. c 1835, d. 5 Jan 1869
Children
Last Edited28 Jan 2012

Citations

  1. [S804] Colin McJannett, "James Diggins," e-mail to Robert Mote, January 2009.
  2. [S855] Fran Negline, "The Family of Ernest Diggins," e-mail to Robert Mote, November 2009.
  3. [S978] Donald Burke, "James Diggins," e-mail to Robert Mote, January 2012.
  4. [S2] Index of BDM records, NSW BDM, Place of Registration: Mudgee; Year: 1857; Number: 8857.

PLEASE NOTE: While I do my best to validate data included on this web page I offer no guarantee as to its accuracy.

Mary Keefe1

F, #44080, b. circa 1835, d. 5 January 1869
View Pedigree

Life Span

EVENTDATEDETAILS
Birthcirca 1835Mary Keefe was born circa 1835 at County Cork, IrelandG.1
Marriage1852Mary was married to James Diggins, son of Richard Diggins and Rose Unknown, in 1852 at Maitland, NSW, AustraliaG.1
Death5 January 1869Mary Keefe died on Tuesday, 5 January 1869 at Kangiaroo, NSW, AustraliaG.2

Also Known As

DescriptionDateName
Married Name1852As of 1852, her married name was Diggins.

Family with

James Diggins b. 21 Jan 1815, d. 5 Sep 1879
Children
Last Edited28 Jan 2012

Citations

  1. [S804] Colin McJannett, "James Diggins," e-mail to Robert Mote, January 2009.
  2. [S978] Donald Burke, "James Diggins," e-mail to Robert Mote, January 2012.
  3. [S2] Index of BDM records, NSW BDM, Place of Registration: Mudgee; Year: 1857; Number: 8857.

PLEASE NOTE: While I do my best to validate data included on this web page I offer no guarantee as to its accuracy.