Pentrich Historical Society

: : : : : : : : : : : : : :

: : : : : : : : : : : : : :

: : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Add to Favourites List

: : : : : : : : : : : : : :

: : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Lottery Grants for local groups

: : : : : : : : : : : : : :

: : : : : : : : : : : : : :

: : : : : : : : : : : : : :

© Pentrich Historical Society 2000-2006

Updated Saturday, 28 January, 2006

Web site maintained by Helen Wilson

<<Home  <<Site Map  <<Heritage Trail  <<Trail goes Global  >>Kiama Plaque

George Weightman’s plaque unveiled at Kiama

Saturday 6th November 2004 - Kiama, NSW, Australia

Commemorative plaque regarding George Weightman, a ‘Prisoner of conscience’.

Plaque is located on the corner of Terralong Street and Railway Parade, Kiama.

Photograph by kind permission of Margaret Felton

& the ‘Kiama Independent’ newspaper © 2004

Ten ‘Revolution Trail’ plaques can be found in and around Pentrich and they trace the numerous historical landmarks related to the revolution of June 1817. However the story does not end in Pentrich, as 14 local men were convicted of High Treason and sentenced to transportation.

After narrowly escaping a sentence of execution, George Weightman left England on board the ‘Tottenham’, with nine other Pentrich prisoners. They arrived at Sydney Cove on Wednesday October 14th 1818, exactly one month after their four Pentrich friends, who had arrived on the ‘Isabella’.

It is believed that most of the Pentrich prisoners served their sentences at various places in and around Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ... and many of the men settled in suburbs of Sydney after their sentences had been served & their tickets of leave had been issued. Knowing they would never be reunited with their wives and families back in England, some of the men married and a few remarried and had second families. It is believed none of the 14 men ever returned to Derbyshire.

After receiving his ticket of leave, George Weightman lived for some years near Wallaby Hill, Jamberoo before moving into a small house next to the Kiama Court House ... in more recent years, the Kiama FHC has been operating from a building opposite George’s last home; where he died in 1865 aged 68 ... after never seeing his Derbyshire family again.

In September 2001, the Pentrich Historical Society presented a plaque to Ray Thorburn of the ‘Kiama Family History Centre’ ... the plaque was the 11th made, and issued to commemorate the life of George Weightman. On Saturday November 6th, Kiama Mayor, Clr. Sandra McCarthy, officially unveiled the plaque dedicated George Weightman; it was unveiled before five of George Weightman’s Australian descendants, plus a dozen or more Kiama locals, including Margaret Felton of the ‘Kiama Independent’ newspaper ... who we must thank for kindly suppling us with related information & the photographs shown.

>> Also see - The Pentrich trail goes global

Weightman family descendants ... the plaque was dedicated to their great, great, great Grandfather, George Weightman, they are (from left) - Paul Weightman, his sister Jeanette Davies and her children Justin, Penny and Stuart

Photograph by kind permission of Margaret Felton

& the ‘Kiama Independent’ newspaper © 2004

PRESS USE ONLY

For further details contact Pentrich Historical Society secretary, Neil Matthews c/o mail@pentrich.org.uk

Or E-mail the Kiama Family History Centre