a Silk Weaver, made off with 51 ells of half-ell lining, one pound of unwound black silk, and 32 ounces of double black silk would, and was chased by the worker who missed them. Found later by searchers, he was sentenced at the Old Bailey on 12 January 1785 to seven year’s transportation. Following time spent in the prison hulks he embarked on 24 January 1787 on Scarborough. In March 1790, Jacob was sent to Norfolk Island, where he successfully farmed and was selling grain to the public stores.
Ann Harper had been sent to the Island, having arrived in the Sydney Cove aboard Lady Juliana and in mid June 1794 was living with Jacob. On 2 September 1808 Jacob, as a second class settler, with Ann and their eight children were evacuated to VDL (Tasmania) by City of Edinburgh. Following their arrival Jacob was granted land in vicinity of Hobart at Queenborough (Sandy Bay) and Gloucester. Jacob Bellett was buried at St David’s Cemetery, Hobart, aged 47, on 2 December 1813. Ann was aged 70 when she died in 1842.
Honouring his WW1 descendants
2871 Albert Bellette
Private 59th Infantry Battalion – 6 to 9 Reinforcements (October 1916 – July 1917)
Born 23 July 1888 Glamorgan to Frederick James and Mary (Quinn) Bellette Occupation Wool Washer
Enlisted 18 September 1916 aged 26. Next-of-kin Father Frederick James Bellette, Tasmania
Embarked Sydney 3 November 1916 aboard HMAT Afric A19
Died of Wounds in Belgium 27 September 1917 aged 28
Buried: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Lijssenthoek, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (Plot XXV Row D, Grave No.9A)
Albert Bellette (courtesy T Mason)
1057 Norman Godfrey Lovell Bellette
Private 26th Infantry Battalion (June 1915) and Lance Corporal
Born 16 April 1892 Sorell Tasmania to James Jacob Bellett and Emily Ann Lovell Occupation Draper
Enlisted 29 March 1915 Claremont Tasmania
Embarked 29 June 1915 aboard HMAT Aeneas A60
Service on the Gallipoli Peninsula
Returned to Australia 4 January 1920 per SS Ypiranga
Discharged at Hobart 8 April 1920 – Termination of period of Enlistment
Norman was shipped to Gallipoli and was wounded twice, in the face and twice in the leg, it was serious enough to put him out of active service. On leaving hospital he was transferred to London and into the Record’s Office where he remained until his discharge in 1920. He had spent five years overseas.
In 1940 WW11 he again enlisted in the army and was posted to the Records Officer, Angelsea Barracks, where he worked as a Staff Sergeant until his discharge in 1948. He remained in the Army as a civilian clerk until he retired. He passed away 1981, aged 83 years.
Norman Bellette (courtesy T Mason)
52600 Stanley James Cameron Bellette
Sapper 3rd Divisional Signal Companies April 1918 Reinforcements 1 to 5 Divisional Signal Companies and Signallers General Reinforcements, Special Draft (Egypt), also November 1917, February, April, August 1918 and Special Reinforcements. 1 to 4 Signal Troops – March 1917 to February 1918 Reinforcements. 1 Signal Squadron Engineers – December 1917 to February 1918 Reinforcements. 1 Field Squadron Engineers – December 1917 and January 1918 Reinforcements.
Born 1899 Tasmania to Stanley Milford and Eva Emily (Larkins) Bellette
Occupation Railways Porter and Telephone Operator – Excelled in Morse Code Enlisted 29 October 1917 Claremont, Tasmania aged 18, with the consent of his mother Mrs A Bellette, Gladstone Tasmania, who was also next-of-kin
Embarked 1 May 1918 from Sydney aboard HMAT Euripides A14
Service in France
Returned to Australia 8 May 1919 per SS Devanha Discharged 9 August 1919
Reason Demobilization
When the Second World War broke out Stanley served in the Army Provost stationed at Sydney. He was demobilized in 1943.
The herb ‘Rosemary’ bush, a commemorative emblem – a sprig is worn on Anzac Day
Married into the Bellette Dynasty
2144 Albert James Sutton
Private, 40th Infantry Battalion – 1 to 9 Reinforcements (July-October 1917)
Born 24 February 1881 Tasmania to George and Hannah Elizabeth (Stebbings) Sutton Occupation Farmer
Enlisted 13 July 1916 aged 35. Next-of-kin, wife Mrs Ida Ann (Bellette) Sutton, Richmond Tasmania
Embarked Melbourne 23 September 1916 aboard HMAT Seang Choon A49
Service in France
On his return from the war, Albert moved his family to New Norfolk Tasmania and worked for a local farmer.
Albert’s younger brother
1643 Percival Vernon Henry Sutton
Private 12th Australian Infantry Battalion
Killed in action on 23 April 1918 at Gallipoli, France, aged 26
Buried Meteren Military Cemetery, Meteren, Nord Pas de Calais, France, Plot V.D. 655
Information sourced
Mason, Thais, From Chains to Freedom Vol.11 – The Bellett Linkage plus the Kidner Family 1788-1988 published 1988
Australia War Memorial
National Archives of Australia