[Index]
Robert BLANCH (1835 - 1844)
Children Self + Spouses Parents Grandparents Greatgrandparents
Robert BLANCH (1835 - 1844) Robert BLANCH (1808 - 1885) Edward BLANCH



Maria (BLANCH)



Mercy BALCOMBE (1814 - 1892) Abraham BALCOMBE (1781 - ) Thomas BALCOMBE (1749 - 1780)
Susanna COLLINS (1749 - 1823)
Mercy WEBB (1787 - 1832)



b. 1835 at England
d. 1844 at New South Wales, Australia aged 9
Near Relatives of Robert BLANCH (1835 - 1844)
Relationship Person Born Birth Place Died Death Place Age
Grandfather Edward BLANCH
Grandmother Maria (BLANCH)
Grandfather Abraham BALCOMBE bef 07 Jan 1781
Grandmother Mercy WEBB abt 1787 abt 09 Jan 1832 Ticehurst, England 45

Father Robert BLANCH 19 Apr 1808 Rolvenden, Kent, England 1885 Maclean, New South Wales, Australia 77
Mother Mercy BALCOMBE 22 May 1814 Rolvenden, Kent, England 08 Apr 1892 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 77

Self Robert BLANCH 1835 England 1844 New South Wales, Australia 9

Brother Alfred BLANCH abt 1832 Rolvenden, Kent, England 11 Dec 1898 Casino, New South Wales, Australia 66
Brother George BLANCH 1837 Rolvenden, Kent, England 1838 At sea 1
Sister Maria BLANCH 1839 Raymond Terrace, New South Wales, Australia 1938 Bulahdelah, New South Wales, Australia 99
Brother Abraham BLANCH 1841 Raymond Terrace, New South Wales, Australia 1920 Maclean, New South Wales, Australia 79
Half Brother John BLUNDELL 1843 Liverpool Plains, New South Wales, Australia 30 Oct 1927 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 84
Half Sister Susan BLUNDELL 1844 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 24 May 1875 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 31
Half Brother George BLUNDELL 1846 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 18 Dec 1933 Canberra, ACT, Australia 87
Half Brother Abraham BLUNDELL 1847 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 05 Jun 1884 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 37
Half Brother Richard BLUNDELL 1848 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 28 Nov 1917 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 69
Half Brother William BLUNDELL 1850 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Half Brother Isaac BLUNDELL 1851 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 09 May 1910 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 59
Half Brother Jacob BLUNDELL 1853 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 27 Jul 1927 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 74
Half Sister Mary Jane BLUNDELL 1855 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1873 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 18
Half Sister Rosanna BLUNDELL 1858 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 06 Apr 1939 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 81
Half Sister Catherine BLUNDELL 1860 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1950 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 90

Uncle James BLANCH aft 1809
Aunt Mary BALCOMBE 02 Oct 1815 New Romney, Kent, England
Aunt Ann BALCOMBE 30 Apr 1810 New Romney, Kent, England
Uncle John Thomas PILGRIM
Aunt Sarah BALCOMBE 14 Jun 1812 New Romney, Kent, England abt 04 Apr 1816 New Romney, Kent, England 3
Aunt Sophia Sarah BALCOMBE 05 May 1817 New Romney, Kent, England
Aunt Harriett BALCOMBE 12 Sep 1818 New Romney, Kent, England abt 26 Feb 1832 Ticehurst, England 13
Aunt Hannah BALCOMBE 25 Mar 1821 New Romney, Kent, England
Uncle Abraham BALCOMBE 03 Feb 1823 New Romney, Kent, England
Uncle George BALCOMBE 10 May 1825 New Romney, Kent, England abt 19 Sep 1825 New Romney, Kent, England 0
Aunt Eliza BALCOMBE 18 Sep 1826 New Romney, Kent, England abt 06 May 1827 New Romney, Kent, England 0

Cousin Sophia PILGRIM

Nephew Alexander BLUNDELL 1862 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew John BLUNDELL 1864 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1945 Yass, New South Wales, Australia 81
Niece Mary A BLUNDELL 1866 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Joseph BLUNDELL 1868 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 06 Jan 1955 Yass, New South Wales, Australia 87
Nephew Henry BLUNDELL 1870 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Eliza J BLUNDELL 1872 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Catherine BLUNDELL 1874 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Sarah Louisa BLUNDELL 1876 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1923 Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia 47
Niece Margaret BLUNDELL 1879 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Eleanor BLUNDELL 1881 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Florence M BLUNDELL 1884 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Howard Norman SCHUMACK BLUNDELL 1886 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1920 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 34
Niece Muriel Pearl BLUNDELL 1888 New South Wales, Australia 1963 Wamberal, New South Wales, Australia 75
Niece Naomi Edith Sylvia BLUNDELL 1891 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1990 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 99
Nephew Everard Vivian Abraham BLUNDELL 1895 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1964 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 69
Niece Bernice Sophia Hyacinth BLUNDELL 1899 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1916 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 17
Niece Audrey Esmerelda Phoebe Merle BLUNDELL 1902 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1996 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia 94
Niece Sarah Janet (Jessica) ROBERTSON abt 1865 Canberra, ACT, Australia 22 Feb 1926 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 61
Niece Katherine ROBERTSON abt 1867
Niece Mary ROBERTSON 1868 Acton, ACT, Australia 18 Dec 1935 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 67
Niece Margaret ROBERTSON 27 Mar 1870 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 28 Jun 1961 Royalla, ACT, Australia 91
Niece Eliza ROBERTSON 1873 Acton, ACT, Australia
Niece Rosanna ROBERTSON 1874 Acton, ACT, Australia
Niece Flora Susannah BLUNDELL 1875 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1892 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 17
Nephew John BLUNDELL 1878 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Charles Frederick BLUNDELL 1879 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 28 Apr 1923 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 44
Nephew George Arthur BLUNDELL 1881 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Herbert Frank BLUNDELL 1882 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 26 Jun 1957 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 75
Niece Ada Agnes BLUNDELL 1883 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Alice Maud BLUNDELL 1885 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1955 Burwood, New South Wales, Australia 70
Nephew Joseph Lyle BLUNDELL 1888 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Clara Malvina Ann BLUNDELL 1878 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1951 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 73
Niece Dora Emily BLUNDELL 1880 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1941 Yass, New South Wales, Australia 61
Niece Daisy Irene BLUNDELL 1882 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1964 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 82
Niece Lilian Jessie Stella BLUNDELL 1885 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 17 Sep 1965 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 80
Nephew Charles Henry BLUNDELL 1883 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1902 Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia 19
Nephew Edward BLUNDELL 1885 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew William BLUNDELL 1888 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 24 Apr 1960 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 72
Niece Susan Mary BLUNDELL 1891 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Beatrice Ann BLUNDELL 1894 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Sarah Rosaline BLUNDELL 1896 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Irene Emily BLUNDELL 1899 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Adrian Isaac BLUNDELL 1905 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1977 New South Wales, Australia 72
Nephew Richard BLUNDELL abt 1877 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 31 Oct 1966 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 89
Niece Margaret Anne BLUNDELL 1879 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1886 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 7
Niece Caroline BLUNDELL 1881 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1886 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 5
Nephew Allan BLUNDELL 1884 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1963 Murrumburrah, New South Wales, Australia 79
Niece Lucy Anne BLUNDELL 1887 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Alice Jane BLUNDELL 1889 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Arthur BLUNDELL 1891 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Emily BLUNDELL 1893 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Maria BLUNDELL 1895 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Marge BLUNDELL 1898 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Charlotte BLUNDELL 1903 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Olive Mary MEECH 1886 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 04 Sep 1947 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 61
Nephew Richard Alfred MEECH 1887 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 06 Aug 1915 28
Niece Grace Susan MEECH 1888 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1954 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 66
Niece Enid C MEECH 1890 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Louisa Jane MEECH 1892 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Violet Elsie MEECH 1893 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 26 Apr 1974 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 81
Nephew Isaac Arnold MEECH 1895 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1964 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 69
Niece Jessie Elma MEECH 1897 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Freda R MEECH 1901 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1902 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1
Niece Sarah S MELVILLE 1896 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew George W MELVILLE 1897 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Laura MELVILLE 1898 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1969 Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia 71
Nephew Stanley MELVILLE 1900 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Robert R MELVILLE 1901 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Hilda M MELVILLE 1903 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1926 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 23

Sister in Law Sarah Ann MCKENZIE 1843 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1920 Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia 77
Sister in Law Phoebe Anna Laura SHUMACK 04 Dec 1857 Duntroon, ACT, Australia 01 Apr 1943 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 85
Brother in Law John ROBERTSON 1835 Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia 25 Nov 1911 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 76
Sister in Law Flora MCLENNAN abt 1845 Isle of Skye, Scotland 04 Jul 1917 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 72
Sister in Law Emily SHUMACK 11 Jun 1860 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 25 Mar 1927 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 66
Sister in Law Lucy PLUMMER abt 1857 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia 15 Jan 1924 Ginninderra, New South Wales, Australia 67
Brother in Law Isaac MEECH abt 1845 Fordington, Dorset, England 23 Nov 1920 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 75
Brother in Law William (Gillian) MELVILLE abt 1853 06 Dec 1941 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 88
Events in Robert BLANCH (1835 - 1844)'s life
Date Age Event Place Notes Src
1835 Robert BLANCH was born England
26 Jun 1838 3 Immigration Sydney, New South Wales, Australia per 'Westminster'
1844 9 Robert BLANCH died New South Wales, Australia
Personal Notes:
Robert Blanch, the eldest child of Edward and Maria Blanch arrived in, NSW, Australia on the "Westminster" June 26, 1838, with his wife Mercy and their two children, Alfred and Robert. Their third child, George had died only two days out of port. Robert was born in England April 19, 1808, and christened at the church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Rolvenden, July 10, 1809. At the age of 25 he married Mercy Balcombe, daughter of Abraham and Mercy Balcombe on New Romney in Kent. Her younger sister, Mary, had married Robert's younger brother James the previous year. The Balcombe (or Baulkham) family seems not to have been native to New Romney, Abraham Baulkham, a labourer, had married Mercy Webb there in 1809, and had 11 children of whom 3 died young. It is the Webb family which seems to have come from New Romney and it is well represented there from the middle of the 18th century. By profession Robert Blanch was a farm labourer and shepherd. On arrival in, NSW, Australia he was engaged by J.B. Bettingham of Sydney at a salary of £25 per annum. However, as observed elsewhere, it is unlikely that Robert ever worked for Bettingham at all, and almost certainly moved directly to the Williams River. The family's early years in the country would have been arduous indeed as the 1810's brought severe economic depression which meant great hardship, particularly on the land, with the prices to be had for stock plummeting. The atmosphere of despair this engendered may, no doubt, have had some part to play in the unhappy events soon to mar Robert's life. NOTICE (from the Sydney Morning Herald, 9 August 1842, p3) Whereas, my wife, Mercy Blanch, having absconded from my protection, with an infant, and leaving four helpless ones behind her, without any cause or provocation whatsoever, with an emancipated convict of the name of Joseph Blunden, against whom a warrant has been issued by the Bench at Newcastle for robbing me. I hereby offer a reward of five pounds for his apprehension and conviction; and I caution the public not to give my wife any credit, as I will not hold myself responsible for any debts she may contract from this date. Signed - Robert (his X mark) Blanch Witness - John (his X mark) Machonochy NB. - The man served his time with R. Jones, Esq.; has J.B. on his arm, is of a light complexion, about 5 3/4 feet in height, rather bald forehead, and left Ash Island with a horse heavily laden. Newcastle, August 6.
Joseph Blunden was in fact Joseph Blundell, who had arrived in Australia in 1826, sentenced to life transportation for assault (Ident of the "Marquess of Huntly", AO Reel 2425, 2/8269 p211ff). On arrival in Australia, he was assigned to Richard Jones and in 1828 was working as the latter's servant on his property, "Fluer", at Cabramatta. By 1837 he had received his Ticket of Leave, but appears to have been still employed by Jones at Cassilis. There is no indication as to whether or not Blundell had left Jones' employment when he received his Conditional Pardon in April 1842. There is no travel thereafter of either Joseph Blundell or Mercy Blanch, or her infant child. It is interesting to note, however, the departure from Sydney on March 8, 1843, for London of Mr and Mrs Blundell, with child. As the possessor of a Conditional Pardon, Blundell was barred from returning to England but it remains possible that he did so anyway. At the time that Mercy Blanch left her husband in 1842 they had four "helpless" children, as well as the infant she took with her. The children of the couple so far known are:- Alfred - Born c. 1833 Robert - Born c. 1835 George - Born c. 1837, Died 1838 Maria - Born c. 1839 Abraham - Born c. 1841 The four "helpless" ones must be Alfred, Robert, Maria and either Abraham or an otherwise unknown sixth child. The infant Mercy took with her would therefore be either Abraham, or more probably, a new-born child, possibly the child of Blundell. Robert junior, deprived of his mother's care, did not survive childhood.
5 years after the departure of his wife Robert is said to have married Ann Callaghan at Morpeth. Ann Blanch was a native of County Cork, Ireland, the daughter of Timothy Callaghan, a butcher and his wife Catherine O'Keefe. At this period of his life, Robert was farming at Nelsons Plains on the western side of the Williams River, possibly for Jacob Newton. It is quite probable that he had been there since his arrival in the colony. Sometime in the mid 1850's he moved on to the Myall Lakes where Newton, soon to become his son-in-law, had a property. Robert worked there as either a farmer or a bushman until the late 1870's. Here he raised his second family, and here he buried his second wife after her death from dropsy June 22, 1870. They had only 2 children, a daughter who died young and a son, Robert Charles. It is likely that Robert stayed on at the Myall River until 1877 when his son married Elizabeth Malone. In 1877 Robert Blanch was nearly 70 years old. With his youngest son married and his daughter well established he made his last move to join his sons on the Clarence River. By 1881, he had established himself as a farmer at Woodford Island near his son, Abraham. On Oct 17, 1885, he died at Woodford Island and was buried the following day in the Presbyterian Cemetery at Maclean. Whether there was some doubt about his second marriage is unknown but what is certain is that when Samuel Blanch gave the information for the registration of his brother's death there was no mention of either Ann or her son Robert Charles, still farming at the Myall River.

Finally, here is a relevant excerpt from my chapter on Robert Blanch:

Robert Blanch married Mercy Balcombe at Biddenden, Kent, England on 12 October 1831 (Biddenden Parish record #2244). Both Robert and Mercy used a cross to indicate their approval of the marriage. The witnesses were William Milsted and William Button. Mercy Balcombe was born in Kent around 1812 (LDS FamilySearch).

In 1842 Mercy Blanch ran off with an escaped convict, Joseph Blundell, leaving behind Robert and his four children. According to the England & Wales Criminal Registers, Joseph Blundell was sentenced to transportation for life during the 2 January 1826 session of the Kent Court. It is possible that Joseph had been given a death sentence for stabbing with intent in the December, 1825 session of the Kent Court, a sentence that was later commuted to transportation for life. According to the NSW, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls, Joseph Blundell travelled to Sydney, NSW in 1826 on the Marquis of Huntley. The following Notice appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on 9 August 1842.
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