George Bliss

  General Notes:

George emigrated on 30 Apr 1848 from Plymouth, England. He immigrated on 07 Aug 1848 to Sydney, NSW, Australia.

The Bliss family was a part of a group of 100 people or so who arrived at Bathurst on the 22nd of August 1848.

Also known as George Bliss Senior.

THE LATE SHOOTING CASE AT KELSO.- George Bliss, John Bliss, and Thomas Newcomb were again brought up before the Coroner, -on the 16th instant, charged with causing the death of a man called "Long Joe"
A great deal of additional evidence was taken, the most important of which was the medical testimony. Dr
Machattie deposed that upon examining the body he had discovered in it 29 shots ; the upper lobe of the left lung was quite riddled with shots, which had passed through it : he was of opinion that the shots could not have been fired at a greater distance from the deceased than eight or ten yards. The case was then left in the hands of-the jury, who, after consultation, returned a verdict of wilful murder against George Bliss, and they found that John Bliss and Thomas Newcomb were accessories, and that the murder was committed in Kelso on the 14th August inst. The prisoners were therefore committed to take their trial at the next Circuit Court, to be holden in Bathurst.- Abridged from Bathurst
Free Press, Aug. 19.
1863 'GENERAL NEWS.', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 22 August, p. 3. , viewed 03 Jun 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18699845

BATHURST CIRCUIT COURT.
Abridged from the Free Press)
BEFORE his Honor Mr. Justice Wise. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.
His Honor took bis seat punctually at half-past nine.
WILFUL MURDER
George Bliss, John Bliss, and Thomas Newcombe were indicted for that they, on the 14th day of August
at Kelso, falenioualy did kill and slay one Joseph Brown, alias Long Joe.
Tbs prisoners pleaded not guilty, and were defended by Mr. Stephen: attorney, Mr. McIntosh.
Before the case-was opened, his Honor took an opporunity in discharging the jury (who were not impanelled) to return them his thanks in the name of the country for tbe discrimination and impartiality with which they had discharged their duties.. It was sometimes almost impertinent for any one to compliment another for the mere discharge of his duties, but in the present circuit there were so many peculiar circumstances connected with its sittings-the number of atrocious cases they had to try, that it was satisfactory to find jurles were not wanting who would exercise patience and judgment in the investigation
of the matters they had to try, and he thanked the jury sincerely. The police deserved great praise for their
untiring zeal and courage. It was gratifying now to consider that honest men could pursue their avocations
without fear of personal violence. He believed and hoped crime had met with a most effectual check. His
Honor; after delivering a few moral observations upon the enormity of the crimoe which had lately been perpetrated, and of the sure and speedy justice which would soon and inevitably overtake future offenders, trusted the next calender he had to try here would not assume so heavy a character.
The Crown Prosecutor having opened this case, unfavourably to the prisoner,.and gone through the parti,
culars, (with which our readers are already in- full possession) after a short argument upon the accuracy of
the law as laid down by him (Mr. Stephen calling his attention-to the recent ruling of the Chief Justices upon the subject, and bis Honor remarking that be happened to know the authorities cited by Mr. Stephen bad been written by the Chief Justice). dwelt at some length upon the conduct of the prisoners in reference to the charge, and submitted to them that however harmful it might be to them to find such a verdict that whether the prisoners shot the deceased by mistake for the man who had committed robbery or not, that if he was recklessly killed it was murder. (His Honor here pointed out for the Crown prosecutor's consideration the 10th section of 16 Vic, No, 17, pointing out tho power given by that Act to any person to apprebend any person found guilty of or intending to commit an indictable offence during the night, and mentioned that he thought it was highly desirable to let the public be informed upon the subject).
William Lee : I reside at Bathurst, and keep a labour office ; I knew a man of the name of Brown for many
years, and saw bim dead a short time ago in the Bathurst hospital; he hired at my office for a Mr. Smith, at Winburndale Greek, on the 12th August ; I saw him on the 13th, asleep at my shed; he had been tipsy the day before; he was accustomed to drink: I do not know whether the man whom I saw in the hospital is the man who was taken from Kelso; the swag produced I recognise as being that which I saw in the deceased's possession.
Cross-examined : I have heard where the body was found-convenient to a haystack..
Mrs. Wilson deposed : I am the wife of George Wilson and live at the Denison Bridge, Kelso ; I know a man
named Long Joe, and heard be was shot ; I had seen him the morning before at our house, and at two o'clook in the afternoon ; be slept at our house between ten and two o'clook ; he appeared under the influence of drink ; he got half a pint of rum from us in the morning ; he had a swag with him.
Constable Price deposed : I remember seeing the prisoners at six o'clock in the morning after the deceased
was shot ; John Bliss called on me at the lockup, and told me his brother George bad shot a man ; I asked him where, and accompanied him to the spot, where I found the deceased dead ; be was lying slightly inclined upon his right side, with a cabbagetree hat over his face; he was lying across the bed-ticking produced ; there was a pair of trousers lying by his side ; there was a pipe by his side. The prisoners George Bliss and Newcombe were at the spot when I got there, John Bliss told me that his brother had shot a man because he bad broken into his house. I said I must detain the prisoners in custody until I had further orders; I did so. The plan put in of the immediate locality is a pretty fair representation of the place where the deceased was shot. The body was lying about a quarter of a mile from George Bliss's; Newcombe's house is about forty yards from Bliss's.
By a juryman: There was no impression upon the bed tick of a man having laid for any length of time. I
heard George Bliss tell me that a man had got through his window on to his bed, and that be had got out of bed end struck him on the mouth.
Cross-examined : The prisoners said they had all three run after the man. Other houses bad been attempted
that night besides the prisoner's.
Re-examined : About 11 o'clock in the evening previous I heard screams. I know a black-fellow has been commilted for trial on a charge of house breaking.
By a juryman : I did not notice any flesh wounds upon the deceased man's mouth, although it was covered
with blood.
Constable John Blood deposed : I saw George Bliss and Thomas Neweombe, they called me up about 6 o'clock in the morning. Bliss told me a man had come into his house through the window, and got upon his bed where he and his wife were; that he had hit him with his fist on the mouth ; that a man had gone into his brother's and Newcombe's house as well; that they had run after him and shot him; John Bliss said he did not know whether he had injured the man or not ; he wished me to come down as quickly as posslble, to prevent the man running away: I went accordingly. (The witness here described the appearance of deceased, and the appearance of the spot where he was lying.
Jessie Harrison deposed (in cross-examination): I was examined by the Coroner. The man who attempted
my house corresponded with the height of the deceased man who was shot ; his clothes also corresponded.
Dr. Machattie deposed: I am a duly qualified medical practitioner. I remember attending an inquest upon
the body of the deceased ; he died from the effects of a gunshot wound.
By Mr. Stephen : I have known the prisoners some fifteen years ; I have always looked upon them as good,
industrious, honest young men.
The Rev. Mr. Lisle gave the two Blisses a most excellent character. He knew Newcombe a short time, and
had married him.
His Worship the Mayor knew the prisoners for about fourteen years ; he always looked upon them as good and quiet young men.
Thomas Kite, Esq., had known the two Blisses ever since they had been children; ha had always found them good and honest and kind.
Mr. Stephen then addreased the jury in a feeling and eloquent speech.
His Honor, in summing up, stated that the jury, as well as himself, must have felt with pain the circumstances which had been detailed in this case, for no person could have received higher characters from people of such high respectability ; and consistent had that character shown itself by the conduct of the prisoners after the death of the unfortunate man, by honestly and undisguisedly, and without delay, communicating the circumstances to the police. As far as regarded the younger Bliss and Newcombe, he did not think there was sufficient evidence to go before them, and that they ought to be acquitted. With reference to George Bliss, the jury would say whether the evidence was such as conclusively carried to their minds the conviction that he committed wilful murder. For his part he did not think there was. They would say whether they thought a felony was in contemplation, or had been committed by any one at the residence of the prisoner, and could be reasonably be supposed to have legitimate suspicions that the deceased man was the robber. If they thought there was a felony committed by the deceased, then the
prisoners were entitled to arrest him; and if the deceased was killed because he could not be otherwise
arrested, and was so killed by the prisoner, it would be justifiable homicide on the prisoner's part. But it he
could have been otherwise arrested by the prisoner, then the act of his shooting the deceased would be
manslaughter.
The jury returned a verdict of not guilty against the prlsoners John Bliss and Newcombe, and returned a
verdict of guilty of manslaughter against the prisoner George Bliss, with a strong recommendation to mercy.
His Honor, in a most feeling speech, addressed the prisoner, and sentenced him to three months' imprison-
ment in Bathurst gaol.
1863 'BATHURST CIRCUIT COURT.', Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), 18 September, p. 2. , viewed 03 Jun 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60548471

Occupation in 1863 stated on marriage record for George and Hannah at the Holy Trinity Church Kelso, Brickmaker. On the baptism record from the Holy Trinity Church at Kelso for his son George Henry Bliss, also known as George Bliss Jnr, George and wide Hannah were living at "Winburndale" at Kelso. In 1895 George Bliss Snr stated on the marriage register at the Holy Trinity Church Kelso, NSW, Australia for son Arthur James and Emma Mary Russell's marriage, was Horse-Driver, the same as his son Arthur James Bliss.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.
George Bliss, John Bliss, and Thomas Newcombe were indicted for, on the 14th of August, at Kelso, killing
one Joseph Brown, alias Long Joe. All three prisoners pleaded not guilty. The jury returned a verdict of not
guilty against John Bliss and Newcombe, and a verdict of guilty of manslaughter against George Bliss, with a recommendation to mercy. Sentenced to three months in Bathurst gaol.
1863 'BATHURST CIRCUIT COURT.', The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 19 September, p. 5. , viewed 03 Jun 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18708653

MURDER
George Bliss, John Bliss and Thomas Newcombe were indicted for the felinously killing and slaying of Joseph Brown alias Long Joe at Kelso on the 14 August . The jury qcquitede John Bliss and Thomas Newcomb, and found George Bliss guilty of manslaughter, with a strong recommendation to mercy. Prisoner was then sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour.
1863 'BATHURST CIRCUIT COURT.', Sydney Mail (NSW : 1860 - 1871), 19 September, p. 12. , viewed 03 Jun 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166652553

On the 6th of August 1867 George was recorded as being one of the witnesses to his grandfather William Horner's burial at Kelso, this was likely to have been at the Holy Trinity Church as the Bliss and Horner families had strong ties with this church and a lot of the family are buried there.

George and his two younger brother's John Jnr. and Levi took over the brickyard that their father John Snr had started on Howick Street section 99 Lot 2. When they did this the business was called Bliss Brothers. In the book Men of Mark, Volume 2, Appendix 1 the following entry is made:

"BLISS BROTHERS BATHURST. This firm was established in 1873. Mr. John Bliss was born in Northampton, England, in 1845 and learnt the trade of brickmaker with his father in this colony. At the present works they employ eight hands, and turn out 600, 000 bricks per annum. Mr Levi Bliss was born in Bathurst in 1885, and is now a partner with his brother in the business originally established by their father, 2362-3." Note the date for Levi is 1885 this should be 1855, this was a mistake made by the authors. The authors of the books "The Men of Mark Vol's 1 and 2" were paid by the people listed to be included in the books. By the time this was published George Bliss was dead and this is why he is not mentioned.

George and wife Hannah are believed to have raised at least their first five children at Kelso until late 1874 or early 1875 when the occupied the house on Howick Street section 100. Their daughter Jane certainly had her first year at this house then the family moved to the land and house which George had purchased some time in late 1875 or early 1876 in section 102. This is where the rest of George and Hannah Bliss's children were born as they were still in the brick home of two rooms in 1883.

By the time George had died in 1884 he had already purchased and leased land for use as a brickworks in the Russell/Lyal/Howick Streets section where the Bliss family were concentrated.

These would later be taken over and run by his wife Hannah. These blocks of land included a brickworks, several homes, gardens which may have been used to grow vegetables for the collective family or as a market garden as a side business and another form of income.
Bradley and Melanie Bliss- Family information

George married Hannah Dawson on 21 Jul 1863 in Holy Trinity Church, Kelso, New South Wales, Australia..⁵⁶⁷ (Hannah Dawson was born on 19 Sep 1844 in Grafton, Northamptonshire, England.,⁵⁶⁷ died on 9 Apr 1904 in Havannah Street, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. ⁵⁶⁷ and was buried on 10 Apr 1904 in C of E. Cemetery, Kelso, New South Wales, Australia. ⁵⁶⁷.)