George Branch (1817-1904)
Born: Abt 1817, Fyfield, Essex, England
Died: 6 February 1904, Bothwell, Tasmania
Parents: Joseph Branch and Mary Unknown
Spouse: Eliza Pegram (1821-1912)
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George Branch was born around 1817 in Fyfield, Essex, England, the son of Joseph and Mary Branch. At age 22, he was convicted of housebreaking in Essex and sentenced to 15 years’ transportation. He arrived in Hobart, Tasmania, aboard the Layton in December 1839. Described as a red-haired farm labourer from Chelmsford, George served his sentence without further offence, receiving a conditional pardon in 1848. By the 1860s, George had settled at Weasel Plains near Bothwell and began acquiring property in the township. He owned land and buildings in Elizabeth Street and Dennistoun Road, which he leased to tradesmen and tenants, including his stepsons. One notable property was a blacksmith’s shop and cottage that he advertised for rent as early as 1863. Though not formally married until late in life, George lived with Eliza Saxon (née Pegram) for many years, raising her children as his own. He later married her at Green Ponds in 1898, at the age of 82. George remained active in Bothwell’s civic and property affairs well into his 80s. He died on 6 February 1904 at his home in Bothwell, aged 88, and was buried in the local cemetery.
Unless otherwise stated, all events took place in Tasmania.
GEORGE BRANCH
c. 1817: Born in Fyfield, Essex, England.
26 February 1876: Cluny, near Bothwell; foreman at the inquest of Louisa Emily Early, who died by accidentally falling into a tub of water at Cluny and suffocated and drowned.
19 February 1839: Colchester, Essex, England; housebreaking; sentenced to 15 years transportation. Gaol Report: indifferent character. Stated his offence: "Housebreaking and stealing tools, prosecutor Mr Fitch, Stanford River. Single."
13 July 1839: Departed from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, aboard the Layton bound for Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Hulk Report: good.
8 December 1839: Arrived in Hobart; Surgeon's Report: very orderly and useful. Description: Trade: farm labourer; Age: 24; Complexion: fresh; Head: long; Hair: red; Whiskers: none; Visage: long; Forehead: high; Eyebrows: red; Eyes: hazel; Nose: medium; Mouth: medium; Chin: broad; Remarks: Freckled arms and face; Native Place: Chelmsford, Essex, England.
15 December 1846: Ticket of Leave approved.
29 June 1847: Conditional Pardon recommended.
22 August 1848: Conditional Pardon approved.
8 August 1857: Signed the Waste Lands 1857 petition.
Before 25 March 1863: [16] Elizabeth Street; conveyed from William Record; a deed has not been located.
25 March 1863: Newspaper advertisement:
TO BLACKSMITHS. To Let, in the township of Bothwell, a Blacksmith's Shop, with tools complete, and a comfortable cottage. The above will be let at a moderate rate to a respectable tenant. For further particulars, apply to Mr Harcourt, Hobart Town, or to George Branch, Weasel's Plains. [TROVE]
8 March 1864: [16] Elizabeth Street; Land Grant issued.
9 March 1864: [16] Elizabeth Street; Deed of Grant enrolled and recorded.
15 November 1864: Resided at Dungrove, near Bothwell.
1867: Resided at Dungrove, near Bothwell; occupation: shepherd.
23 December 1868: Witness at the marriage of Witness at the marriage of his stepson, Matthew Branch, and Frances Sims at [C3-C4] Young Queen Inn, Dalrymple Street, Bothwell.
7 February 1871: Resided at Dungrove, near Bothwell.
26 February 1876: Cluny, near Bothwell; foreman at the inquest of Louisa Emily Early, who died by accidentally falling into a tub of water at Cluny and suffocated and drowned.
Before 12 October 1877: [19.2] Dennistoun Road; conveyed from the executors of Robert Blake for £225; a deed has not been located.
12 October 1877: Newspaper advertisement: [16] Elizabeth Street.
REAL PROPERTY ACT... BOTHWELL - 1 rood 5 perches. Part of 1 acre 26¾ perches originally granted to Robert Blake. GEORGE BRANCH (Application 1774). [TROVE]
16 November 1877: [16] Elizabeth Street; Certificate of Title registered to George Branch, a shepherd living at Dungrove, near Bothwell.
4 March 1884: Notified the birth of his step-grandson, Percy Edward Branch.
13 March 1890: Named in the newspaper article Bothwell.
George Branch and his wife made application under the Licensing Act for a prohibition order against their son, Matthew Branch, which was granted. [TROVE]
14 September 1898: George Branch, an 82-year-old shepherd, married Eliza (Pegram) Saxon, a 77-year-old widow, in Green Ponds; witnesses: Jane E. Kennedy and Isabelle Flexmore.
14 October 1898: [16] Elizabeth Street; conveyed to Mrs Sarah Ann Earley for £200.
28 March 1899: [16] Elizabeth Street; George Branch (owner, occupier); cottage, garden; capital value £150; annual rateable value £11.
6 February 1904: Died in Bothwell; aged 87; cause: senile decay.
9 February 1904: Buried in Bothwell Public Cemetery.
BRANCH - On February 6, 1904, at his residence, Bothwell, George Branch, in the 88th year of his age. [TROVE]
Spouse: ELIZA (PEGRAM) SAXON
c. 1821: Born in Hertfordshire, England.
19 December 1843: Matthew Saxon married Eliza Pegram, aged 22, in Evandale.
25 September 1882: Notified the birth of her grandson, Edgar Percy Branch.
31 December 1885: Notified the birth of her grandson, Arthur James Branch.
14 September 1898: George Branch, an 82-year-old shepherd, married Eliza (Pegram) Saxon, a 77-year-old widow, in Green Ponds; witnesses: Jane E. Kennedy and Isabelle Flexmore.
29 August 1912: Died in Bothwell; aged 91; cause: bronchopneumonia.
31 August 1912: Buried in Bothwell Public Cemetery.
BRANCH - On August 29, at her granddaughter's residence, Bothwell, Eliza, relict of the late George Branch, aged 91 years. [TROVE]
George Branch and Eliza Pegram had no children.
Eliza Pegram and her first husband, Matthew Saxon, had the following children, who took on the surname of Branch.
William (Saxon) Branch - c. 1843: Born in Tasmania.
Matthew (Saxon) Branch - 4 August 1845: Born in Launceston.
Henry (Saxon) Branch - 10 August 1847: Born in Launceston.
Residences and Properties
The following properties and records relate to the Branch family during their time in Bothwell. Click the images to view the full history of each property.
Complete maps located on the Property History page. Tasmanian Archives: Bothwell B37, AF819/1/26 (modified)
Resources Used:
Bateson, Charles. The Convict Ships : 1787-1868. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Library of Australian History. 1985.
FamilySearch: Australia, Tasmania, Civil Registration, District Registers, Deaths. Australia, Tasmania, Government Gazette, 1833-1925.
Libraries Tasmania: Conduct Registers of Male Convicts arriving in the Period of the Assignment System (CON31). Deeds of Land Grants 1832-1935 (RD1). Description Lists of Male Convicts (CON18). Findings relating to Coroner's Inquests (SC195). Registers of Births (RGD33). Registers of Marriages (RGD37).
Tasmania: Bothwell Cemetery Records. Central Highlands Council. The List: Properties & Titles. Historic Deeds, Grants & Titles.
Tasmanian Parliamentary Papers 1856-1901. Parliament of Tasmania.
TROVE: MacPhail's Directory of Tasmania 1867-68. The Mercury (Hobart, TAS : 1860-1954