Greetings to all who are researching Bridget & Thomas Leaver - have I got news for you! After much research I discovered Bridget's maiden name, where & when she married Thomas. He was 17, she 15. Thomas enlisted when he was 13 & was a trumpheter in the 48th Regiment of Foot &, as many of you know, he came to Australia on Board "Matilda" to assist Gov. Lachaln Macquarie with law & order in the colony. He left Australia in 1824 (I know some sites have him staying in Australia) after the regiment has served their 7 years here bound for India. He was discharged whilst in India as he had developed opthalmia (problems with both eyes) & returned to Bolton, Lancashire, England. I haven't established yet whether he married again or stayed "single"- he was, after all, a widower, but probably wasn't aware of that.The story of their life together, then with Ann makes for interesting reading & I am only too happy to share what I have. Bridget's life in Sydney became rougher than rough, she abandoned her child to the orphanage, became a prostitute, and died in 1826 of "who knows what". She was originally buried in Sydney where Central Station now stands, however many years ago her remains were moved & interred in Botany Cemetery near Sydney, NSW. Regards to all, Kerry