New Norfolk December 1839
New Norfolk December 1839What do you mean, she’s gone back to him? She’s gone to South Australia? I don’t believe it.’
On a trip to Hobart Town, John Lilley Pearce, Betsy’s husband called on Catherine to find she had sold the flour mill and sailed to South Australia.
‘I’m sorry, my love, but this is the case. She took the infant, she left Hobart on 24 November.’ John explained to his wife.
‘How do you know?’ Betsy demanded.
‘They print the ships’ sailing dates and cargo and passengers in the newspaper. When I discovered someone else living in the house, I asked at the Post Office 1 They had newspapers, I looked.’
Since her marriage to James Blay Jr in 1823, Betsy’s older sister, Catherine, had been abandoned by her husband and reunited with him so often they
