The Bollard Family
What's in a Name?
Apparently the word Bollard comes from the Anglo-Saxon word Bulluc which means Bull Herder (a keeper of cattle). Variations of the name include; Bullard, Bohard, Bulard, Buliard and Bulward.
An Overview of the Family Tree
Fortune and Transportation
The first Bollard in Australia, John Bollard was born in 1772. He married Hannah Johnson in Lidlington Parish church, Bedfordshire on 30 October 1798 and they had seven children; Frances, Sarah, Thomas, Hannah, William, Benjamin and John.
John Bollard was a shepherd.
On 12 October 1811, John was sentenced to death, by hanging for stealing ten ewe sheep, the property of Richard Randall, valued at 25 pounds.
On 5 March 1812 in the Lent Assizes, John was reprieved of the death sentence and after (apparently) spending more than 12 months in the County Jail [the dates don't line up unless he was in jail for a while before he was sentenced], he was placed aboard "Ye Captivity Hulk" at Portsmouth on 13 March 1812.
He was transported to the colony of New South Wales on the convict ship "FORTUNE" under the command of Capt. Thomas Walker on its 2nd voyage, leaving England on 3 December 1812 and arriving in Botany Bay on 11 June 1813.
Providence II - The Family Comes Out
This information came from here.
The first "free" Bollard family arrived in Australia aboard the convict ship "Providence II" on 7 January 1822.
The Providence was launched at Lynn in 1812. She made two voyages transporting convicts to Australia - 1822 (NSW) and 1826 (VDL).
Voyage: 208 days
Embarked: 103 women
Deaths 0
Captain James Herd.
Surgeon David Reid
Exports to Botany Bay
The ship Providence, which has been chartered by government for the purpose of conveying female convicts to New South Wales, is now lying at Woolwich. She will take out about 100, above 60 of whom go from Newgate. Fifty were sent from that prison on Friday and Saturday; they appeared in general young and decently dressed women, and most of them went off in good spirits. Considering the great disproportion that exists between the numbers of the two sexes in New South Wales, which is said to be ten males to one female, perhaps a more desirable consignment could not be made to the colony than a cargo of women: government seems to be aware of this fact, as scarcely any female convicts are now sent to the Penitentiary at Millbank. In the above-mentioned ship there are also between 30 and 40 females who are going out as free settlers.
- The Spirit of the Times
Free Passengers
Passengers on the Providence included Settler John Laurio Platt, his wife Rosanna, sons Frederick, and Robert and daughters Jane and Rosanna; as well as Mrs. Ann Halloran, Miss Laura Halloran, Lawrence, Henry, Arthur, Ellen, Anne, William, Catherine Halloran, all relatives of Lawrence Halloran who arrived as a convict on the Baring in 1819. Misses Anna Mary, Margaret, and Eliza Magill and Mr. and Mrs. James Robertson and family. Benjamin Bollard later a settler at Bathurst, John and Hannah Bollard, Zilpah daughter of John and Hannah and William Bollard all arrived free passengers.
Freedom
In 1822 a petition for a Conditional Pardon was submitted to the Governor on behalf of John Bollard. The form of the petition was as follows :-
To, His Excellency. Lachlan Macquarie Esquire Captain General Governor, and Commander in Chief
The humble Petition of John Bollard.
Sheweth
That Petitioner was Tried at Bedford March 1812. and received Sentence of Exile for Life. came to this Colony by this Ship, Fortune [2d] Walker Master - has been the whole of the time in the Government Employ as a Shepherd endeavouring by good Conduct to merit the approbation of his Superiors -
That Petitioner humbly solicits your Excellency to take his long Servitude - together with good Conduct into your favourable Consideration - and extend to him such Mitigation of the Sentence he yet labours under as to your Excellency's Wisdom and Goodnefs shall seem meet - and for Such mark of favour.
Petitioner as in Duty bound will Pray.
New South Wales
November 10 1822
"I beg leave to recomend
The petitioner to Your Excellency's kind consideration.
David Johnstone"
[Initialed on the left hand side of the page by GOV. LACHLAN MACQUARIE]
John was granted Conditional Pardon No 1610 on 28 November 1822.