A reunion of descendants of Gippsland pioneer and former convict, Sarah Phillips, will be held at Rosedale later this year where a book about her incredible story will be launched to celebrate her life.
The story of Sarah Phillips/Ratcliffe/Blake/English, is fascinating, one of a woman’s incredible life journey and the challenges she faced as one of Australia’s early
female convicts.
Born in Bristol in 1802, Sarah was found guilty of stealing a one pound note in 1821. She would spend many months jailed on the prison hulk ‘The Woolawich’, before receiving her sentence of seven years transportation to Van Diemen’s Land.
Sarah arrived in Hobart aboard the prison ship The Lord Sidmouth, on February 2, 1823. After a rough start to her new life in the colony, Sarah was assigned to a new master who would provide security and opportunity. Sarah married fellow assigned convict, James Ratcliffe in 1824 and went on to have six children – James Jnr, William Marshall, Phoebe Elizabeth (Lattmore), Robert Felix, John, and Joseph Josiah.
After James had captured the bushranger John Chadwick in 1832, he received the sum of 25 pounds as a reward. The family was able to purchase additional land at ‘Muddy Plains’, Clarence and they would make a good living from their farm.
James was killed in 1837 and then Sarah went on to marry Thomas Blake in 1840. He was another convict that had been assigned to help her on the farm. They would go on to have four children – Mary-Anne (Portch), Thomas Michael Jnr, Louisa Emily (Varney), and Rose Hannah (Romaro). Sarah also had another child, Sarah Maria (Ward), in 1838. The father of this child is unknown.
In 1849, Sarah relocated to Tarraville with her new partner Richard English and 9 of her 11 children. One of the earliest settlers in Tarraville, Sarah and children owned several properties and business. Sarah would spend her last days living with her daughter Mary-Anne, her partner Encoh Portch and their 15 children at their Rosedale property Fernleigh. Sarah passed away on November 1, 1864 and is one of the first females to be buried at the Rosedale cemetery.
A reunion for her descendants is to be held on November 1, 2025, at the ‘Old School’ in Rosedale, Princess Highway at 1pm. A book, Sarah’s Story – written by five times great granddaughter Toni Blake-Callander, will be launched, and a display of family tree photographs can be viewed.
In the afternoon there will be a tour of the Rosedale Historical Society and a visit to the Rosedale Cemetery. In the evening, descendants are invited to gather for a meal at the Rosedale Pub (bookings are essential).
On Sunday, November 2, a trip to Tarraville and Port Albert will also take place for
those interested.
If your surname is one of these, perhaps you’re a descendant of Sarah: Ashe, Armstrong, Ayers, Blake, Broughton, Bowman, Brodrib, Bowden, Brown, Chandler, Carroll, Cooper, Duggan Day, Desailly, Enderby, Edwards, Forbes, Farrell, Farley, Faulkner, Forbes, Foster, Gay, Gravett, Greenaway, Hunt, Hollingsworth, Halford, Hall, Hill, Hannon, Harper, Harrap, Heur, Johnson, Juster, Kileen, Kemp, Kerr, King, Knight, Kisyma, Krekleberg, Lawless, Linton, Long, Love, Lowe, Lynnes, May, Murcutt, Malane, McDougall, O’Callaghan, Oxley, Palmer, Plant, Pearce, Power, Ratcliffe, Rolf, Rowe, Roberts, Robertson, Robinson, Roamro, Russell, Smith, Timbs, Tregonning, Tunnecliff, Toohey, Thacknell, Theile, Varney, Visscher, Ward, Waters, Weekes, Westward, Wilson and Williams.
These are just some of the surnames discovered as descendants.
For further information please contact Toni or Raelene (details available at James Yeates Printing), or view the Sarah Phiilips/Ratcliffe/Blake/English 1802-1864 Group
on Facebook.
