Elizabeth Mary Broad [nee Fradd] 1831

Elizabeth Mary Fradd was born about 1831 in Lanvean Downs, Tregurrian, Cornwall, England.  She was christened on the 10^th of May 1831. She was the eldest of 5 children born to John and Jane Fradd [nee Williams].

Elizabeth married Thomas Henry Broad on the 5^th of August 1848 also in St Mawgan in Pydar, Cornwall, England.  They had two children Margaret Jane and Nicholas before emigrating to Happy Valley near Burra in South Australia.

The 456 ton barque “Lysander” was the 13^th ship to sail from England to South Australia with government passengers in 1851. She sailed from London in July of that year via Plymouth where Elizabeth and her family would have boarded on the 30th July, arriving at Port Adelaide, South Australia on the 20^th of November 1851.

Cornwall's great migration around this time coincided with the decline in copper mining.
When the Cornish people heard that free emigration to South Australia was being provided to impoverished miners and labourers, many of them (sometimes entire villages) decided to migrate to the 'copper towns' of Kapunda, Burra, Moonta and Wallaroo in South Australia.

Thomas was listed as a 25 year old Farm Labourer on the shipping list although his listed occupation was that of a Carpenter in the 1851 England census.

For Elizabeth, who was 20 at the time, and her two children Margaret (3) and Nicholas only a few months old, it must have been a journey full of courage and trepidation.
3 infants died during the 113 day voyage as well as the vessels Surgeon-Superintendent, Dr. Carr.
All were buried at sea.
A typical voyage to Australia from England 'under canvas' in this period was about one hundred and eleven days while the shortest voyage on record was eighty three days.

They settled in a small farming area of Happy Valley out from Burra - 100 miles north of Adelaide known because of a warrant which was issued for Elizabeth’s brothers apprehension.

"William Fradd about 28 or 30 years of age, about 5 foot high, dark hair and complexion, large whiskers all round. Supposed to be at Henry Broads, Happy Valley".

(2nd and 6th April 1868, South Australian Police Gazette)

It is thought that Thomas ‘Henry’ Broad and his brother Samuel went off to Ballarat during the gold rush leaving Elizabeth at home with her two children.

In 1851 South Australians heard that gold have been discovered in Victoria, and it seemed that almost every able-bodied man left South Australia in the hope of making their fortune on the goldfields.

Emigrants from across the world arrived in Adelaide, heard of the discoveries and began making plans to 'go to the diggins'. English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, French and Germans left, soon joined by gold seekers from the Orient whose hazardous sea voyages concluded in Adelaide.
These enthusiastic gold seekers set out of what would be a long and arduous journey travelling by land or sea to the Victorian goldfields. Those that could, travelled by foot, often to save what little money they had. For those who found success on the goldfields, the "Gold Escort" was created by the South Australian Commissioner of Police in 1852 to ensure that gold worth more than £2,000,000 was received home safely. By 1853 many of these gold seekers had returned home to new lives, and challenges. Both Thomas and Samuel are thought to have returned to Burra.

Elizabeth and Thomas had a further 11 children while living in Burra.

 

Elizabeth and Thomas Broad on thier 50th  Wedding Anniversary

 

Elizabeth died at age 76 on the 6^th of June 1907 in Burra, South Australia.