My first encounter with genealogy led me to the life of George Brand, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Growing up in Australia, it had always been a likely possibility that I was to come across some convict ancestry, one way or another. And I have, a couple of times. However, George’s story has had the deepest impact on me, and he holds a special place in my heart for being my first discovery.
George Brand was born in Perthshire, Scotland in either 1816 or 1820 (trust me, it’s a whole ‘nother story) to parents I am also yet to find. He married Isabella Duncan and moved to Larbert, Stirlingshire, where he first worked as a carter. A carter is simply as the word suggests, a transporter of goods in some sort of vehicle (usually a wagon) from one place to another. It was hard and dangerous work with meagre pay, and when the Scottish Railway Company opened a new line that ran close to his township, he jumped on the opportunity and became employed as a railway porter. This job would mean George would be handling passenger’s goods and an assortment of goods that came into Larbert township for various companies and small businesses.
He had four children and a wife to care for by 1851; George Jr, David, Isabella and Andrew (not in age order).
George’s first conviction came in 1849, as he stole whiskey while in the employ of the SRC. He spent four months in Stirling Prison. In 1850, George once again stole numerous items from manufacturers and wholesalers, with the intent (I assume) to sell for a profit or to feed their families. Some of the most interesting items are as follows; 5 gallons of Raspberry Cordial, 80 pounds of tea, shawls and dresses, cheeses and hams.
In fact, on the 12th of November, 1851, Isabella Brand made a declaration that one of her Lockfast chests was used to store the stolen items, and when Criminal Officers searched her house, they found the stolen goods and took them away.
George Brand was convicted of theft once again and was sentenced to 14 years transportation in 1852. He was convicted with several others, and eventually I’d like to find what became of them. He spent the next three years in different prisons over Scotland and England and was eventually sent to Australia onboard the “Stag” in 1855.
Working hard and maintaining a good character record, George was given his ticket of leave in 1856, only 11 months after arriving in Western Australia! With this, he sent for his wife and four children, who came over on the “Hamilla Mitchell”. They were given land in Greenough, and built a homestead named “Ironbarks” (still there to this day) which would eventually be turned into a shop. After his wife’s arrival in Western Australia, the couple had one more child, John, who would be my great great grandfather!
George died in 1872 after he fell from his trap (pony and carriage) that had crashed while on their way to a party.
I think George would be proud of his descendants, who are spread out all over Western Australia, and especially his great-grandson, Sir David Brand, who became the Premier of Western Australia in 1959.
