Edward Risby was sentenced at Gloucester to seven years transportation on 24 March 1784 for theft of three yards of broadcloth and two other pieces of cloth. After being sentenced Edward was sent to the Censor Hulk and three years later embarked aboard Alexander in February 1787. At Port Jackson Edward worked as a sawyer on Sirius, and later ordered to Norfolk Island. He married Ann Gibson (Lady Juliana) and had six children on the Island. On 17 September 1807 Edward was listed for VDL with a wife and five children, arriving there by City of Edinburgh. The family settled on 30 acres at Argyle and another child was born. Edward’s age was given as 69 when he died on 6 February 1823, and was buried on the 10th at St David’s Hobart.
James Morrisby was sentenced to seven years transportation at the Old Bailey on 7 July 1784 for theft of a ten pound iron bar, value 10d, and for wrenching it from the house. He was a blacksmith and said to have served for ten years in the guards. On 6 September 1784 he was received on the Censor hulk and three years later sent by wagon for embarkation on the Scarborough. Following the Fleets arrival James was sent by Sirius to Norfolk Island and took up farming. In June 1794 he was living with Ann Brooks (Lady Juliana) and they had four children. In December 1807, with his wife and five children he left for VDL by Porpoise, and later took up land at Clarence Plains. Ann Morrisby was buried on 2 February 1813 and later James married Eleanor Murphy (Catherine 1814). She was buried on 14 February 1821 and James Morrisby was buried at Clarence Plains on 29 May 1839.
Eucalyptus Morrisbyi (1939), commonly known as ‘Morrisby’s Gum’, is a
Eucalyptus Morrisby at Calverts Hill National Park Tasmania (Wikepida)
threatened eucalypt species, and is endemic to south-eastern Tasmania. The common name and botanical name commemorate Arthur Morrisby (grandson of James Morrisby) on whose property the species was first collected.
Gum leaves were sent to Nurses and Soldiers at the front as a remembrance of home
Honouring their WW1 Descendants
6243 Jack Risby
Was my Great Uncle, the younger brother of my Grandfather. Jack enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces on 17 October 1915 at Claremont aged 22 years and 8 months old. Joined 12 reinforcements 1st Divisional Ammunition Column, 24th Howitzer Brigade as a Gunner Regimental Number 6243.
Embarked 10 December 1915 to Egypt via the HMAT Barambah A37. Arrived Cairo, Alexandria 15 February 1916. JR became part of the reinforcements of the new 4th Division training in Egypt. Disembarked at Marseilles France on 13 June1916; sent to front lines initially in the nursery sector near Armentieres, later on at Pozieres Heights, Mouquet Farm, and Flers.
Transferred to 10th Field Artillery Brigade 25 January 1917, 37th field artillery battery. Suffered pleurisy 29 February 1917, transferred to England via Hospital Ship Formosa departing Havre until recovered 2 June1917 at Horton County of London Hospital. Due to his hospitalisation in the UK, JR missed the assault on the Hindenburg Line and the First Battle of Bullecourt and the Battle of Polygon Wood.
During his convalescence JR went AWOL for three days and was awarded 7 days confinement to barracks and docked 4 days pay. He returned to France on 10 March 1918 to the Somme region, battles at Hebuterne, Dernancourt and in April Villers-Bretonneux. JR gassed 31 May1918 by shell gas hospitalised at Rouen and Trouville till 13 July 1918. Returned to his battery, promoted Bombardier 13 August 1918. Other 4th Division battles included Hamel, Amiens, Albert, and Hindenburg Line reaching Bellenglise which is where a Divisional memorial is located.
Promoted Corporal 22 December 1918. On leave in London from 28 December 1918 till 25 January 1919. Returned to Australia via the transport Port Denison departing 25 March 1919. Honourably discharged 16 July 1919.
Returning to Hobart and there married Jean Isobel Johnston and had two daughters. He was 68 when he died on 1 April, 1960. I recall he wore an old hearing aid which amused me as a boy because he would answer a phone call and put the receiver on the battery on his chest (wire to ear).
Service Medals Awarded: Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Jack Risby WWI (courtesy W Risby)
My father Jack Lyndon Risby born 3 March 1918 during the World War I was named after his Uncle Jack as communication from Europe took months by ship. Jack Lyndon Risby joined the Militia just as his Uncle had done and served in the Second World War in the Middle East, Greece (where JLR was wounded). He also served in New Guinea and Borneo. My brother Mark and I are proud of our Great Uncle Jack and father JL Risby, who died 19 February 1998.
Submitted by Warwick Risby