THE
LILLEY STORY
The Early Days.
Thanks to Brian James Lilley of Bedford, UK and the
research carried out by him for his book 'Three Hundred Years of Lilley Family History'
the earliest date this website takes you back to is 1696, the birthdate of Elizabeth Tapp,
wife of John Lilly the Weaver from Radwell, UK. Just to put that in perspective,
John Lilly was my 5th Great Grandfather and NO I haven't spelt the name incorrectly.
That is how it was recorded back then.
A Grandson of John Lilly was Thomas Lilley who married
Mary West in Kempston, UK in 1793. It is interesting to note that Thomas and Mary's eight
children were all christened on the same day i.e., 28 May 1815.
A great number of the Lilley’s at that time came from Kempston and the surrounding
area. Kempston, still today, is a fairly small town not far from Bedford in Bedfordshire,
UK. It seems nearly all the Lilley's were farmers.
Not far from Kempston in the next County,
Hertfordshire is a tiny town named 'Lilley'. I have not been able to establish whether
there was any link between this town and members of our family. However my wife Margaret
and I visited 'Lilley' in 1979 and despite the existence of a Lilley Manor and a Lilley
Bottom (a laneway in 'Lilley'), we couldn’t find anyone who knew anybody with the
surname Lilley.
In the World Book of Lilleys published by Halbert’s Family Heritage it is stated -
“The surname Lilley appears to be locational in origin. Our research can be
associated with the English meaning ‘one who came from Lilley’ (a meadow where
flax was grown) in Hertfordshire”
One of the eight children of Thomas Lilley and Mary West was John Lilley b.1795 who
married Rachel Hunt in 1818. John and Rachel themselves had the following seven children -
James b.1819
George b.1822
Mary b.1824
Joseph b.1829
Ebenezer b.1831
Reuben b.1833
Samuel b.1834 or 1836.
Australia’s Second Fleet.
Listed among the convicts who set sail from England on two of the six ships, which
formed the second fleet to Australia, was William Lilley and Nathaniel Lillie
(Lilley). William had been sentenced in London to seven years and Nathaniel had been
unfortunate to receive a Life sentence. It is not known what their crimes
were. It seems all the convicts in those first couple of fleets were sentenced to
either seven, fourteen year or Life terms.
I have included a report, which I never saw in any school history book, about the
gruesome journey those people had to endure. It has been taken from Patricia Downs
Internet Website.
A second fleet of six ships left England - Guardian,
Justinian, Lady Juliana, Surprise, Neptune, Scarborough. The Guardian struck ice,
and was unable to complete the voyage. She was stocked with provisions. Only
48 people died in the first group of ships, but this time 278 died during the
voyage. This time transporting the convicts was in the hands of private contractors.
From the "SYDNEY COVE CHRONICLE", 30th June,
1790
At last the transports are here
DIABOLICAL CONDITION OF THE CONVICTS THEREON
278 died on the fearsome journey to Sydney Cove
----" The landing of those who remained
alive despite their misuse upon the recent voyage, could not fail to horify those who
watched.
As they came on shore, these wretched people were
hardly able to move hand or foot. Such as could not carry themselves upon their
legs, crawled upon all fours. Those, who, through their afflictions, were not able
to move, were thrown over the side of the ships, as sacks of flour would be thrown, into
the small boats.
Some expired in the boats, others as they reached the
shore. Some fainted and were carried by those who fared better. More had not
the opportunity even to leave their ocean prisons for as they came upon the decks, the
fresh air only hastened their demise.
A sight most outrageous to our eyes were the marks of
leg irons upon the convicts, some so deep that one could nigh on see the bones. ----
---- We learn that several children have been borne
to women upon the Lady Juliana, the cause for which were the crews aboard African slave
ships which met up with the transport at Santa Cruz.----"
----" So the Guardian is lost and with it our
provisions. What, in the name of Heaven, is to become of us? ----" |
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