The Elizabeth Saville Story

Elizabeth Saville was born circa 1835 at Selby, Yorkshire to John and Hannah Saville. John Saville was born circa 1804 in Yorkshire, England, married Hannah Burgen on 4 November 1828 at Snaith, Yorkshire, England (John was aged 24 and Hannah was 20) and died in July 1837 at Howden, Yorkshire. Hannah was born circa 1808 at Brigg, Lincolnshire, England and died in July 1878 at Hull, Yorkshire. John and Hannah had four children: • Harriet Saville. • Charles Saville born c1832 at Selby, Yorkshire. • Elizabeth Saville born circa 1835 at Selby, Yorkshire. • Ann Saville born c1837 at Selby, Yorkshire. Elizabeth’s father, John, died when she was only two years old and we can only presume that things must have been pretty tough for Hannah and the children. Two years later, on 1 October 1839, Hannah married Edward Ryley at Selby, Yorkshire. Edward was born circa 1805 at Louth, Lincolnshire (his father was John Ryley) and was a shoemaker by trade. Edward and Hannah had one child, Hannah Maria (or Mary) Ryley, born 3 July 1840 at Selby, Yorkshire. By the 1841 census Edward, Hannah and four children – Charles (8), Elizabeth (6), Ann (4) and Hannah M (1) - were living at St Mary, Kingston-Upon-Hull, Yorkshire. We do not know where Harriet was. At the age of fifteen, Elizabeth was living at home in Skirbeck (part of Boston, Lincolnshire) when she was tried for larceny on 14 October 1850. She was found guilty and imprisoned for two months. 1 The 1851 census shows Hannah and Edward Ryley living at Skirbeck, Lincolnshire (near Boston) with three children – Elizabeth (15), Ann (14) and Hannah M (11). So we know that after her release from gaol, Elizabeth returned home. Then in April 1851 she ran away from home and went to Nottingham and worked as a servant. Here we suspect she turned to prostitution and other crimes, simply as a matter of survival. Not long after her arrival in Nottingham she broke into a house and stole four items of clothing. She was tried, found guilty and sentenced to three months hard labour. 2 Ann Elizabeth Saville , 20, servant, to having on the 12th of May, broken into the dwelling house of William Jones, at Radford, and stolen therefrom a gown, a shawl, a pair of boots, and a pair of gloves, his property. Committed to hard labour for three months. After being released from gaol this time Elizabeth sought assistance from the Wakefield Poor Union – Wakefield is about 100km north from Nottingham.

Workhouse at George Street, Wakefield http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Wakefield/

The Wakefield Poor Union was formed in 1837 to assist the extreme poor and was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians. The Board ran a workhouse in George Street, Wakefield, so Elizabeth may have spent time here. Although entry to the workhouse was supposedly voluntary, it was seen as the last resort because life inside was hard, families were segregated and the able-bodied were set to work. The diet was limited consisting mainly of gruel, bread and cheese. The Wakefield workhouse building was regularly condemned for its squalor. In 1851 there were 103 inmates in residence (perhaps Elizabeth was one of them), with the Wakefield Journal reporting: 3 In the females' day room there are several idiotic and also some insane girls and it is frequently the case that girls of the town, full of loathsome disease, have to be sent into the house, but there is no separate place to put them in and they are left to mix with other inmates whom they contaminate by their obscene language and songs.

1 England & Wales Criminal Registers 1791-1892. 2 Nottinghamshire Guardian, East Midlands, England, 3 July 1851. 3 http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Wakefield/

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The Board considered Elizabeth’s manner as “most penitent and circumspect” and recommended her for a position with Joseph Whitley and his wife. Elizabeth started work for the Whitleys on 8 November 1851 at Black Bull Street in Leeds. Over the next two weeks Elizabeth behaved well, but on 24 November, Mrs. Whitley left Elizabeth by herself. It was then that Elizabeth stole several items of clothing, a magnifying glass, a watch and a basket and left the house. She went to Nottingham and met three other young prostitutes -Mary Butler (aged 19), Catherine Porter (aged 17), and Isabella Ashforth (aged 16) - with whom she shared the spoils of the robbery. By 26 November Whitley had traced her to Nottingham and informed the police. Elizabeth was arrested in a liquor shop on Long Row by Inspector Raynor with some of the goods in her possession. Mary Butler was with Elizabeth and after she was searched was found to have some pawn tickets and was also arrested. Shortly after, the other two girls were arrested for receiving goods knowing them to have been stolen – they were found to have also pawned the goods Elizabeth had given them. The robbery was reported in the local paper: 4 ROBBERY BY A SERVANT – On Monday last, a servant in the house of Mr. Whiteley, Black Bull-street, Hunslet-lane, absconded, taking with her a patent lever silver watch, about ₤2 in gold and silver, and a large quantity of wearing apparel. She has since been apprehended at Nottingham, to which place Mr. Whiteley traced her. Most of the apparel was found in her possession, and upon the person of a female companion. The watch has not yet been traced. The girl’s name is Elizabeth Saville, and she is only 17 years of age. The four girls appeared in Court on 27 November. Elizabeth acknowledged she had stolen the goods and was remanded in custody. The other girls pleaded that they did not know the goods were stolen as Elizabeth had told them the goods were her own. As such they were allowed to leave the Court, pending their appearance again on 1 December: 5 Elizabeth Saville , Mary Butler, Catherine Porter, and Isabella Ashforth, remanded from Thursday last, the first charged with stealing, and the others with receiving, a quantity of articles, the property of Mr. Whitley, Saville’s master, were again brought up. Mr. Bowley attended for the three last, and urged that they had not known that the articles were stolen; and on his undertaking for their appearance next Monday, they were allowed to leave the court. Saville was remanded till Monday, with a view to being committed on that day. A BEVY OF BAD ONES – Elizabeth Saville , aged 20, Leeds, Mary Butler, aged 19, Pear Street, Nottingham, Catherine Porter, aged 17, Denman Street, New Radford and Isabella Alforth, aged 16, High Cross Street (young prostitutes) brought up by Inspector Raynor and serjeant Wilkinson, charged the first person with stealing a silver watch, and a large quantity of wearing apparel, the property of Mr. Joseph Whiteley, Black Bull Street, Leeds, on Monday last, and the other prisoners with receiving portions of the same, knowing them to have been stolen. Saville was in the prosecutor’s service until Monday, when she decamped, taking the articles. On Wednesday she was apprehended by Raynor in a liquor shop on Long Row, with some of the goods on her. Butler was with her, and on being searched some pawn tickets were found in her possession. The other prisoners were afterwards apprehended, and it appeared that to each she had given various articles, which they had pawned. They asserted that the girl told them the things were her own; but Porter stated that she had previously known the prisoner, and that she was once convicted at Nottingham Sessions for felony. Saville acknowledged that she had stolen the articles from her master’s house. Remanded until Monday. Saville had entered Mr. Whiteley’s service on the 8th instant, from a recommendation of the Wakefield Board of Guardians, to whom she had applied for relief, and had conducted herself in a most penitent and circumspect manner. She had behaved herself well until Monday, when she decamped in the absence of her mistress. Elizabeth’s plight was also reported in a regional newspaper: 6 Intelligence has been received at Boston of a robbery at Leeds by a maid servant named Elizabeth Saville , late of Boston. She left home unexpectedly about eight months ago, since which time her friends had no idea of her whereabouts, till she wrote to them requesting that her clothes might be forwarded to her at Leeds. Before, however, that could be done, she decamped from her situation there, and took with her some valuable property belonging to her master and mistress, and nothing has since been heard of her. Elizabeth’s case was heard by the Magistrates on 8 December 1851. 7 THE LEEDS CASE. – The whole of the evidence connected with this case was read over in the presence of the witnesses, and Elizabeth Saville , the prisoner, was fully committed to take her trial at the next Borough Sessions. The Mayor on behalf of his brother magistrates, wished to show their approbation of the very creditable manner in which all things connected with this case has been performed by the officers. He also cautioned masters and mistresses never to take parties into their service before duly considering the character. The Magistrates determined there was a case against Elizabeth and her criminal trial was heard at the General Quarter Sessions in Nottingham on 5 January 1852 before Richard Wildman Esquire. Her trial record reads: Elizabeth Saville Junior Maid Servant to Joseph Whitley steals on 24 November one carpet bag val. 2/-, one shawl val. 20/-, one velvet bonnet val. 8/-, one apron val. -/8 d, two shifts val. 5/-, 3 pairs stockings val. 3/-, one pocket val. -/4 d, one magnifying glass val. 3/-, 2 pairs of drawers val. 2/-, one cloak val. 15/-, two gowns val. ₤3.5.0, 4 petticoats val. 10/-, one night jacket val. 2/-, one silver watch val. ₤9, one watch guard val. 2/- & one basket val. 3/-, her master’s property. and previously convicted by name of Jane Elizabeth Saville at Nottingham June Sessions 1851. True Bill returned – Plea guilty. Sentence to be transported for 7 years.

4 Leeds Mercury, Yorkshire and the Humber, England, 29 November 1851. 5 Nottinghamshire Guardian, East Midlands, England, 4 December 1851. 6 Stamford Mercury, East Midlands, England, 5 December 1851. 7 Nottinghamshire Guardian, East Midlands, England, 11 December 1851.

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Explanation of “True Bill returned” – After a jury has deliberated and believes sufficient evidence has been provided to suggest the accused person probably committed the crime, the jury will return a “True Bill”. If they believe the accused is innocent they will return a “No True Bill”. The trial was reported in the newspapers: 8 Elizabeth Saville , aged 18, to having on the 25th of November last stolen a silver watch, a carpet bag, two gowns. And various other articles of wearing apparel, the property of Joseph Whiteley. A previous conviction was proved against her. Transportation for seven years. THE LEEDS ROBBERY. – On Thursday last a young woman, Elizabeth Saville , was brought up in custody charged with having stolen a silver watch and a large quantity of wearing apparel, the property of Mr. Joseph Whitley, of Leeds. The watch had not been found, although the principal portion of the other articles had been traced to the possession of three young prostitutes, who were also brought up under surveillance, charged with receiving the same knowing them to have been stolen. All the prisoners were ultimately remanded until Monday. This morning Inspector Parkinson produced the watch in question, which he found in the possession of Elizabeth Rothers of Leen Side, who was in attendance to tell the Bench how it had come into her possession. She said she was a dressmaker, and resided with her sister on Leen Side. On Monday night she had to go on an errand up to the barracks, where she met the prisoner, who at that time was a perfect stranger to her. She asked her where she should be able to get lodgings, but not knowing who she was, she left her without directing her any where. On Tuesday morning she was going down the Market Place when the same young woman went up to her. She appeared to be in great trouble, and said, “You saw those shawls I had last night; some girls took me to a house, and stole them from me. I have no money left, but I have a watch at a watch maker’s where I took it to have a glass put in, and I am in the want of money to fetch it away. If you will lend me half-a-crown you may keep the watch until I redeem it.” She afterwards asked me if I would give her a pound for it, and I did. By Mr. Ald. Heard: The watch was at Mr. Hall’s, Bridlesmith Gate. Before I bought it I asked him what it was worth, and he told me about ₤3. The watch was detained, and Mrs. Rothers was allowed to go home on promising to appear again on Monday. (The watch cost ₤12 when new.) This might have been a case of “three strikes and you’re out” as Elizabeth was sentenced to seven years transportation. From her English convict record we find Elizabeth was: • Aged 18. • 5’ 1¾” tall. • A nurse and needle woman. • A native of Selby (about 24km south of York). • Anglican. • Literate as she could read and write. • The daughter of Anna (sic) and had sisters Anna, Mary and Harriet. • Of “good” character. • Committed for “Robbing my employer of money and clothes. Prior Whitby 3 months for a dress and clothes. 2 months for ditto.” As an aside, it seems that Elizabeth’s sister, Harriet, may have also been “misbehaving” at this time. On 9 April 1850 Harriet was tried for larceny at the Easter Sessions, Northallerton (near York), Yorkshire, but was found not guilty and acquitted. The 1861 census shows Edward and Hannah Ryley living at Kingston-Upon-Hull with their married daughter Hannah Backhouse (a boot binder) and her two children John E Saville and Harriet E Ryley. By 1871 Edward and Hannah were living at Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire, with their grandson, John Saville (a roper, aged 14). Edward Ryley died in October 1876 and Hannah Burgen/Saville/Ryley died in July 1878 at Hull, Yorkshire. Their daughter Hannah M Ryley led a very complicated life, especially from a genealogical point of view. In 1856, aged 16, she had a son, John Edward Rodgers. Then in 1858 Hannah gave birth to a daughter, Harriet Emma Ryley. At around the same time, in October 1858, Hannah married Richard Bowling Backhouse, but because Harriet’s birth surname is recorded as Ryley, we suspect Richard was not Harriet’s father. Harriet went on to marry Henry George Smith. Richard Backhouse was born 24 September 1837 at Drypool, Yorkshire to Richard (born 12 August 1802 and died 26 April 1867) and Mary Backhouse (nee Taylor born 30 July 1804 and died in October 1871). We do not know what happened to Richard Backhouse, but by the 1861 census, Hannah is back living with her parents in Kingston-Upon-Hull, with no mention being made of Richard. Between 1863 and 1871 Hannah had another four children: • John Backhouse born circa April 1863.

8 Nottinghamshire Guardian, East Midlands, England, 8 January 1852.

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• Kathleen Little Backhouse born circa January 1867. • Minnie Little Backhouse born circa July 1869. • Charles Edward Backhouse born 19 September 1871, married Blanche Ramskill on 25 December 1890 at Grimsby, Lincolnshire and died in September 1958 at Lincoln, Licolnshire. We suspect Hannah had a liaison with someone with the surname “Little”, hence the “Little” in two of the children’s names. The 1871 census tells us that Hannah was now calling herself Hannah Little. In 1874 Hannah had a son, Neasham Barker Bell and in 1877 she married Neasham’s father, Thomas Bell, a railway ticket collector. Thomas was born in 1847. By the 1881 census, sadly, Minnie Little and Charles Edward, were inmate pauper scholars in the Caistor Union Workhouse in North Kelsey Road, Caistor, Lincolnshire, whilst older sibling Kathleen was living with Thomas and Hannah at Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire. Here Thomas was a shipwright. Minnie became a Captain in the Salvation Army and according to the 1891 census was living in Northamptonshire. We wonder if the Salvation Army offered comfort to Minnie and Charles whilst they were in the Caistor Workhouse and Minnie continued their work throughout her life. In the 1891 census Thomas (still a railway ticket collector) and Hannah Bell were living at Gateshead, Durham with their son, Neasham (aged 16, a railways clerk). The 1911 census shows Thomas and Hannah Bell still living at Gateshead with Neasham. Neasham Bell died in December 1952 at Durham, England. Hannah possibly died circa June 1923 at Hull, Yorkshire.

Returning to Elizabeth Saville - Elizabeth was transported to Van Diemen’s Land aboard the “Sir Robert Seppings ”, along with 219 other female convicts and several children. The ship was built in Moulmein, India in 1844 and was an A1 class ship weighing 628 tons. The “ Sir Robert Seppings ” departed Woolwich on 18 March 1852. The Master was R. S. Stewart and the surgeon was Dr L. T. Cunningham. Dr Cunningham’s Log follows: Journal of the Convict Ship Sir Robert Seppings Dr L T Cunningham – Surgeon Superintendent 16 March to 16 July 1852 General Remarks This ship has been employed in carrying 220 female convicts and their children from England to Hobart Town Van Diemen’s Land. She is a fine vessel and well adapted for the particular duty in which she has been employed. She is about 620 tons built with good s…. and large hatchways. A great improvement has been made in the fitting of one of them (to) the main hatchway. It has been fitted with iron bars instead of the large upright posts which tended much to stop the light and free ventilation. I think the iron bars infinitely superior to the original wooden ones and would strongly recommend that all the hatchways in Convict Ships be similarly fitted. One of the water closets for the prisoners was fitted on the top with an iron grating the invention I believe of the Honourable Captain Dundas it answered most admirably and I requested the master to have the opposite one fitted as far as in his power in a similar way which was done to the very great comfort of the prisoners. We were never annoyed with bad weather after the above was properly fitted. When the women embarked the weather was extremely cold with a strong north east wind and frost. The thermometer ranging from 30 o at night to about 40 o in the day. This weather continued for several days until we got off ship when it changed, the wind drawing around to the south west and we encountered much bad weather. The thermometer rising up to 56 o gradually. From the Cape we encountered the usual kind of weather in these latitudes the thermometer gradually falling from 60 o to 44 with strong gales of wind and rain at times. … to the symptoms it will be found that the very large number of 337 cases were placed on the sick list of which number 320 were discharged aboard, six died from various diseases and those that were not quite recovered were discharged to the Colonial Hospital at this place. For the sake of arrangement I will speak of them as they are arranged and note briefly the deaths all of which cases will be found detailed at length in the journal. Not one case of Continued Fever (fever that does not vary more than one degree fahrenheit in 24 hours) occurred during the whole voyage and which I in a great degree attribute to the very great attention that was paid to ventilation, drying and cleaning carried out through the whole voyage. 16 cases of Phlogosis (inflammation) were placed on the sick list many of them were rather severe cases but they all did well under the usual treatment. One case of Hepatitis was added to the list, the subject, a young girl of 17 years of age. The disease was well marked and readily yielded to the free use of purgatives at first and getting the mouth under the influence of mercury, with the application of blisters to the seat of pain and antiphlogistic (anti-inflammatory) regimen of Sp?mation. These rather severe cases were placed on the list. They readily yielded to the use of purgatives and diaphoretics (promotes perspiration) with attention to diet.

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One case of Gastritus (inflammation of the stomach) was placed on the list. It is detailed at length in the journal. Two cases of Otitus (inflammation of the ear) they readily yielded to the use of aperients (gentle purgative) antiphlogistic (anti-inflammatory) regimen and the application of blisters behind the ear with frequent injections of warm water into the organ. Two well marked cases of Bronchitis were treated in the usual way and discharged cured. Five cases of Cyanche (severe sore throat) were placed on the sick list. It yielded readily to the means employed. One case of ?y?ipulas occurred in a woman who has at various periods of her life suffered much from the same disease. The last of the disease was in the head and neck and on two different occasions the swelling and redness left the surface and terrific constitutional symptoms improved but by great care and attention she became convalescent and when we arrived here she had so far recovered and to be able to sit up I had to open firstly a large abscess that formed at the outer angle of the left jaw and neck. She was sent to the Colonial Hospital, the only complaint at the time being great debility. Three cases of Hemorrhoids were placed on the list, two were discharged cured by taking mild aperients (gentle purgative) and attention to diet, but the third, a woman who has been afflicted with the disease for years and a great sufferer from Diarrhea. She was often in the sick list and underwent a variety of treatment with but partial benefit. On our arrival here I discharged to the Colonial Hospital. Of Catarrh (inflammation of a mucous membrane) the great number of 70 were placed on the list 68 of whom were discharged cured having taken purgatives, saline diaphoretic (promotes perspiration) medicines and occasional doses of the Palo? Ipecacuanha (used as an expectorant agent to promote coughing) Co at bed time with proper attention to diet. One case of Dysentery was placed on the list. The case terminated fatally, it is detailed at length in the journal. Two cases of Dyspepsia (impairment of the power or function of digestion) were treated both depending on suppression of the catamenial flow (menstruation) . One of them got rapidly better on appearance of the monthly discharge and the other I had to send to the Colonial Hospital. This case is detailed at length in the journal. Fifty four cases of Diarrhea were placed on the list, fifty-one of whom were discharged cured from the use of ? in the first place and the use of the ? Comp c (with) ?, Opi?, the use of Palo? Ipecacuanha (used as an emetic agent – cause vomiting) Co, one that had not quite recovered was sent to hospital on our arrival. Two children died. Their cases are detailed in the journal. A well marked and very severe case of Angina Pectoris (thoracic pain with feeling of suffocation and impending death) was placed on the list. The subject of it, a woman aged 26 years of a robust make and phlegmatic (dull and apathetic) temperament had had several attacks of the same disease during the last four years. It yielded to the use of antispasmodics, lotion and the use of purgatives. She was on the list from the 1 st to the 13 th of the month when she was discharged apparently quite well. One case of Convulsive Hysteria was at various times on the list. The woman would be for hours in violent convulsions and the body bent forward with a highly symptomatic state of the stomach and as the convulsions subsided she would evacuate large quantities of wind from the stomach. On the attack subsiding she would be very sore all over the body and very languid. She was treated with antispasmodics, purgatives and great attention to the Alimentary canal. Two cases of M? ruptured and having died, they will both be found detailed in the journal. One case of Anasarca (generalised massive edema) was placed on the list. It was that of a woman of middle age and who had for years before her conviction had a life of great intemperance. She was employed on board the vessel as hospital attendant and from the nature of her duties she was much below. She had been often ill with derangement of the stomach and bowels for which she took the usual remedies and with great benefit, but about fourteen days ere our arrival she just complained of swelling of the lower extremities and general debility. She had diuretic medicines administered with alternatives and she was quite convalescent, when she went to the Colonial Hospital, the principle complaint being debility – this case is detailed in the journal. One case of secondary Syphilis was treated. It was well marked, there being sore throat and blotches of a copper colour over the body. It was treated effectively by the use of small doses of the Bichloride of Mercury, tonics and a course of nitric acid three times a day. Four cases of Scrophula (tuberculosis of lymphatic glands) occurring in children were much benefited by a course of tonics and regimen. I am inclined to think that the frequent bathing of the children and the sea air with a generous diet tended much to bring them round. Three cases of Icterus (jaundice) were placed on the list. One had a severe attack of the disease from which she recovered and was apparently well, but towards the end of the voyage the disease again made its appearance and she was treated up till the time of our arrival here when she as well as the others were discharged to the Colonial Hospital being nearly well, the only complaint being debility. A case of Porrigo (spreading lesions) in a child yielded to the use of alternatives, purgatives, shaving the head and the daily application of the unguentum (ointment) Hydrarg (mercury) Nitrates. Seven cases of Ophthalmia (severe inflammation of the eye) were treated. Six of them yielded to the usual treatment, one of them in a Scrophulous (tuberculosis) elderly woman resisted every kind of treatment and I had to send her to the Colonial Hospital. There were three cases of Nyctalopia (night blindness) treated. They all yielded to purgatives and the application of blisters. Two cases of Tinea Tarsi (ulcerous inflammation of the eyelids) readily yielded to the application of ?Lapri sulphates Solutn ? nit with an occasional Aperient (gentle purgative) with attention to cleanliness and diet.

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Four cases of Gonorrhea were treated. They all yielded to the use of mixture Copaiba (resinous juice of trees of tropical America) with occasional aperients (gentle purgative) and the greatest degree of cleanliness with a lotion of the Sulph. Zinci. Twelve cases of Menorrhagia (excessive menstrual flow) were placed on the list. They all, though some were violent cases, yielded to the use of cold applications, perfect rest, low diet aperients (gentle purgative) , the use of acid drinks and infusion of S/P? Con? which I found to act most beneficially. One case of Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) was treated by perfect rest, the use of opium and Aperients (gentle purgative) to the woman, though she suffered much, soon got quite well. The great number of 101 cases of Obstipatis (constipation) were treated, many of them very obstinate. But they all yielded to purgatives such as castor oil, Palo? Jalap (dried root) composit c (with) Hydrog Chlorid, magnes sulphate c (with) A? Tart? ? ? and the free use of enematas (enemas) . Thirteen cases of Amenorrhea (absence or abnormal stoppage of menstruation) were placed on the list. They were treated with Aperients (gentle purgative) , Pills of Pil?. Aloin (from aloe, used as a purgative) composite, moderate exercise ? which answered effectually. Two cases under this head will be found detailed at length in the journal, one terminating in Phthisis Pulmonalis (tuberculosis of the lungs) and the other a subject of Convulsive Hysteria dependent evidently on derangement of the uterine system – both of whom I had to send to the Colonial Hospital. One case of Dysuria (painful or difficult urination) was treated with the use of the warm bath, anodyne (a medicine that relieves pain) , diuretics and aperients (gentle purgative) , it did well. A case of Suppuss Urina was treated in the same way and soon recovered. One case of Chronic Tumour of long standing situated under the median line of the lower jaw was nearly removed by the frequent application of blisters. It was at first brought to my notice as large as a good sized orange and by the time we arrived here it was not larger than a hen’s egg. Two cases of Contusion (bruise) from falls were treated by ?cation and occasionally cold applications. They were not of any great moment. Three cases of Ulcers were cured by rest, uniform pressure by means of bandages. The use of the solution Argent (silver) ? and simple drying, with one case of inveterate (long established and difficult to cure) ulcer on the leg, the additional use of alternatives and tonics. One case of labour occurred before our leaving when one of the women prisoners was prematurely confined with twins stillborn, and about three weeks before our arrival, another the woman was delivered safely of a male child. One case of Ambustis (burn or scald) of a considerable extent was treated by the free use of oleasinous (of the olive tree) applications and afterwards by simple dressing and rest. L. T. Cunningham M.D. Surgeon Superintendent Hobart Town Van Diemen’s Land 20 th October 1852 The only picture of the “ Sir Robert Seppings ” that we can locate was a photograph taken in 1868 at Madras. It shows two ships following a cyclone and the “ Sir Robert Seppings ” (on the right) has been dismasted. The other ship is the Kingdom of Belgium.

Sir Robert Seppings (right) P369 from National Maritime Museum, Woolwich, England.

Elizabeth was recorded in the surgeon’s log three times during the voyage: • 8 April 1852 with Obstipatis (constipation). She was considered “Well” on 10 April 1852. • 5 May 1852 with Amenorrhea (absence or abnormal stoppage of menstruation). She was considered “Well” on 8 May 1852. • 8 June 1852 with Obstipatis (constipation). She was considered “Cured” on 10 June 1852.

James Montagu Smith was a member of the crew aboard the “ Sir Robert Seppings ” on this voyage. James kept a diary

Page 6 The Elizabeth Saville Story of his adventures and this was turned into a book called “Send the Boy to Sea – The Memoirs of a Sailor on the Goldfields ”. The following excerpts were taken from this book. When the women initially boarded the “Sir Robert Seppings ”: The Women’s appearance was anything but promising; that greatest ornament of women, hair, had been cut pretty close, and there was a great deal of crying and yelling together with a considerable sea-sickness. When one reads of thieves and other bad characters one thinks of them with disgust and abhorrence. But if you see them every day, this feeling gradually wears off and you find that there is not so much difference between them and the rest of the world after all; and come to look at things a little closer and one finds that the fault does not so much lie in the act but in the way it is done. The sailors soon became intimately acquainted with them, and I was frequently employed to write love letters for the old salts. Description of a punishment device: ….. I had everything taken off and rigged with some dry things, and then locked up in the Black Box. This was a box made like a coffin standing on its end – one can neither sit or lie, nor indeed stand comfortably – with little holes at the top to breathe through. It is anything but a pleasant place. It was placed on board for the use of the women – there were some placed in there every day. I was kept in there till 12 o’clock the next day, so I had been fourteen hours without food. Overall description of the women: The women were a curious lot enough, nearly all short sentences, seven or fourteen years. Every sailor had one or more sweethearts with whom he carried on a correspondence by means of letters. They were allowed on deck during the day and in fine weather had their meals there; but were all sent below and locked up at sunset. The only way of communicating with the ‘tween decks being by means of the hospital in the after part. Convict “constables”: The system of government was founded on the old proverb “Set a thief to catch a thief”. Several of them were promoted and promised rewards to watch over the rest – thus, one not being able to trust the other, they were all kept under. These constables were far more tyrannical to their fellow prisoners than free ones would have been. They had several fights among themselves, and once there was a general mêlée caused by the tyranny of the constables. This made more noise than all the fiends of hell and Bedlam let loose, but did very little damage. The hatches were put on and some of them were informed that the sailors would leave in boats and scuttle the ship if they were not quiet. On this lie getting wind, they raised such awful yells that it was truly horrible to hear them. Fancy the lungs of two hundred and fifty well-conditioned women, and pretty good lungs some of them had too. They were soon quieted and the officers were sent down to apprehend the most violent. The punishment: They were taken on the poop and put in irons. The mate was very violent to several of them. One of them gave him such a tongue-whacking that he was trying gag her, but he was served out for she caught his fingers between her teeth and bit them to the bone. He struck her violently in the face with his disengaged hand. At this unmanly act there was a great shout among the women and enquiry was made into the cause by the Skipper, and the mate was severely reprimanded. Nearing Van Diemen’s Land: They were all exceedingly good when they imagined that they were nearing their destination. The doctor had sole charge of the women. He was, I believe, a good doctor, but at the same time an infernal old scoundrel. He had two very pretty girls to make his bed and clean his birth. To see him stalking down the ‘tween decks he put one in mind of a lecherous old Turk in the midst of his harem. On dit – that one of these women got in the family way and threatened to ruin his reputation by swearing the child to him and that he kept her quiet with a sleeping potion which caused her to be delirious until the day of her death. This happened shortly after her landing. How far this may be true I know not. The “Sir Robert Seppings ” arrived in Hobart Town on 8 July 1852, completing the voyage in 112 days. One of the convicts died on the voyage, as did five children aged between six months and eighteen months. One male child was born on the voyage. The Colonial Times reported the arrival: 9 Sir Robert Seppings, ship, 728 tons, Stewart, with 219 female convicts from Woolwich 18th March. Passengers - Mr and Mrs Barlow and 4 children, Dr. L. S Cunningham, Surgeon-Superintendent. There are 33 children of the prisoners. 5 children and 1 convict died. 1 birth (male). As did The Courier: 10 Arrived the female convict ship Sir Robert Seppings, 628 tons, Stuart (sic), from Woolwich 18th March, with 219 female prisoners. Cabin - Dr. L. T. Cunningham, Surgeon-Superintendent; Mr. Barlow, Mrs. Barlow, Matron; Miss Barlow, Assistant-Matron. The Sir Robert Seppings has 219 female convicts on board; the state of health is good. There are thirty-three children of the convicts on board, all under 14 except one girl. One convict and 5 children died upon the passage. One birth took place, a male. The Sir Robert Seppings reports that the Pestonjee Bomanjee and the William Jardine were to leave for this port in ten or fourteen days. The mail consisted of 1 bag despatches, 2 boxes, 1 ship’s bag, newspapers and letters. Elizabeth was single and her surgeon’s report was “good”. Elizabeth’s convict record tells us her number was 1045, complexion was fresh, head small, hair black, visage oval, forehead low, eyebrows black, eyes grey, nose, mouth and chin medium and she had a scar on her right cheek, near her nose. Again from “ Send the Boy to Sea – The Memoirs of a Sailor on the Goldfields ”: 11

9 Colonial Times 9 July 1852. 10 The Courier 10 July 1852.

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They all went ashore at Hobart Town and were instantly taken to a factory called the Brickfields where they were detained until they were hired out, which is never very long. It is too handy to get a servant for a mere nominal charge. But on the event of a complaint of bad conduct being made by the master or mistress they are sent to the Cascades and placed at the wash tub for a time; and what they bewail far more, their hair is cut short. I believe that this punishment is feared next to death by the young ones, but they get used to it after a little colonial experience. The dread of transportation is far worse than the reality. It is the best thing that ever happened to many of them. Directly they arrive at the Colony they are comparatively free, and in a short time completely so. Some of them get a year or two probation at Millbank or some other prison in England which I have heard is worse than all the rest. If they behave well their time is considerably shortened. Any free man or ticket-of-leave can, by applying to the Governor, marry any of the newly-arrived convicts. The city of Hobart is a fine place built at the foot of a large mountain called Mount Wellington, the top of which is continually covered with snow. The scenery from the mouth of the Derwent is exceedingly pretty, very mountainous and thickly- wooded. The trees grow to an enormous height… One woman and three children (actually 5) died on the passage. This one was transported for life in consequence of a murder committed by herself and husband at their house in Liverpool. The husband was hanged but the evidence not being very clear against her, the sentence was mitigated. But her conscience was a far worse punishment than death, than which a more useless and barbarous law was never made. She refused to eat and literally died of starvation. A burial at sea is a peculiarly mournful affair and when the body goes it seems as if a great weight is off one’s chest. Upon arrival in Hobart Town, Elizabeth and the other women convicts were marched up Argyle Street to the Brickfields Hiring Depot – the location of which is now the North Hobart Football Ground. Here they waited until they were hired out to a household within Hobart Town or to a farm somewhere in the interior of the island. At this time there was a feeling of discontent about the number of convicts arriving in the Colony. In July 1852 The Colonial Times printed a letter: 12 PROTEST AGAINST THE CONVICTS PER FAIRLIE AND PER SIR ROBERT SEPPINGS. Southern Tasmanian Council of the League, 10th July, 1852. SIR, - The undersigned, as the Council of the Southern Tasmanian Branch of the League protested on the 25th May last, against the introduction of Prisoners into this Colony from any part of the Empire as a breach of faith, on the part of Her Majesty’s Government, They have to renew their Protest in consequence of the arrival of 292 male convicts per “Fairlie” from Plymouth and of 219 female prisoners per “Sir Robert Seppings”, from Woolwich. In doing so they are confident that the honor of the Crown will now be redeemed, and that the solemn promise given, will be fulfilled, as they know that the Noble Earl at the head of the Administration of which you are a member, declared only last year, “that he and his party defended in the strongest terms, the colonial construction of Earl Grey’s promise”, and further “that any danger and any hazard ought to be preferred to the disgrace of violating the pledges held out by the Government”. We have the honor to be, Sir. Your most obedient humble servants, Thos. D. Chapman, R Officer, M.L.C., William Rout, John Dunn, jun. M.L.C , Joseph Allport, Henry Hopkins, Alex McNaughtan, W. Crooks, F. Haller. To the Right Honorable Sir John S. Pakington, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Within a week Elizabeth was assigned to P. Snape of Davey Street, Hobart Town, the owner of a men’s clothing shop. She started with Snape on 16 July 1852 and was there less than two months when she absconded on 5 September. We don’t know why Elizabeth absconded, but it seemed to have been quite a common practice among the women convicts as they were frequently mistreated, being sexually, verbally and physically abused by their masters. The women ran away and tried to get back to a female factory where they felt relatively safe. In fact, the Cascades Female Factory in Hobart actually had a “break-in” problem, rather than a “break-out” problem. Elizabeth was found and sentenced to six months hard labour for this misdemeanour and spent the time between September 1852 and February 1853 at the Cascades Female Factory. Here “hard labour” meant that she was assigned to the washing tub and cleaning the prison’s slop buckets and water closets. The washing was done by hand in cold water. We can only contemplate the state of Elizabeth’s hands with them being in water all day along with rubbing the clothes to make them clean. It was during this time that she was reported for “loud talk at work” and “not attending to her work” and received 3 days bread and water for each offence. About 20 months before Elizabeth arrived at the Cascades Female Factory, a Colonel Mundy visited this establishment on New Year’s Day 1851 and reported: 13 On January 1, 1851, Colonel Mundy found the Cascades Factory at Hobart Town a model of good order. A matron maintained faultless discipline, the cleanliness was dazzling and the turnkeys vigilant. In dead silence the women, in their

11 James Montagu Smith - Send the Boy to Sea – The Memoirs of a Sailor on the Goldfields. 12 Colonial Times 13 July 1852. 13 Female Convicts Research Centre.

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white mob caps and duffle dresses, were drawn up in hollow square and greeted the Colonel with a "running fire of curtseys". At this date there were at the Cascades 730 women and 130 infants. As usual they were engaged in laundry work or fine sewing. A few turbulent inmates were dosed with ipecacuanha, put on half-rations and locked into darkened cells.

Washing trough at Cascades.

The regulations for the convicts were published in the Hobart Town Gazette in October 1829 and an extract follows: 14

FEMALE CONVICTS No Female Convict shall be received into the Establishment (excepting such as may be placed there on their arrival from England) without the written authority or warrant of a Magistrate, stating the offence of which she has been guilty and her sentence, - if any shall have been passed. Every Female brought to the Establishment shall be placed in the reception-room until she shall have been examined by the Surgeon; - she shall then be bathed, washed, and dressed in the clothing of the Establishment; and, if incarcerated for any offence, she shall have her hair cut short. The clothes which she shall have brought with her shall be burned, if foul or unfit to be preserved; but if otherwise, they shall be washed and kept for her benefit on her discharge from the Establishment. The Females are to be placed in three distinct classes, which shall on no account be suffered to communicate with each other. The 1st. Class shall consist of those Women who may be placed in the Establishment on their arrival from England, without any complaint from the Surgeon Superintendent, - of those who are returned from service with good characters, - and of those who have undergone at least three months' probation in the second, after their sentence in the third class has expired. The Women of this class alone shall be considered assignable, and shall be sent to service when proper situations can be obtained. The 2nd Class shall consist of Females who have been guilty of minor offences, and of those who, by their improved conduct, merit removal from the Crime Class.

A painting of the Cascades attributed to R.P. Beauchamp. W.L. Crowther Library, State Library of Tasmania.

The 3rd, or Crime Class, shall consist of those Females who shall have been transported a second time, or who shall have been guilty of misconduct on their passage to the colony, - of those who shall have been convicted of offences before the Supreme Court, who shall have been sent in under the sentence of a Magistrate, or who shall have been guilty of offences within the walls, - they shall never be removed from the 3rd to the 1st Class.

14 Hobart Town Gazette 3 October 1829.

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The dress of the Females shall be made of cheap and coarse materials, and shall consist of a cotton or stuff gown, or petticoat, a jacket and apron, with a common straw bonnet of strong texture; and the classes all be distinguished as follows, viz: - The 1 st Class shall wear the dress without any distinguishing mark. The 2 nd Class by a large yellow C on the left sleeve of the jacket. The 3 rd Class by a large yellow C in the centre of the back of the jacket, one on the right sleeve, and another on the back part of the petticoat.

Each Female is to be furnished with clean Linen every week, viz: - 2 Aprons, 2 Shifts, 2 Caps, 2 Handkerchiefs, and 2 Pair Stockings.

The 1st. Class shall be employed as Cooks, Task-women, Hospital Attendants, - or in such other manner as shall be directed by the principal Superintendent. The 2nd Class shall be employed in making Clothes for the Establishment, in getting up linen, or in such other manner as shall be directed by the Principal Superintendent. The 3rd Class shall be employed in washing for the Establishment, for the Orphan Schools, Penitentiary, in Carding Wool, Spinning, or in such other manner as shall be directed by the Principal Superintendent. The hours of labour shall be as follows:

1st Nov. to end of Mar. Apl. Sept. & May Jun. Jul. &

Feb Oct Aug

Muster ½ past 5 Six Seven

Labour Six ½ past 6

Breakfast Eight Eight Eight

Prayers & ½ past 8 ½ past 8 ½ past 8 Labour

Dinner Twelve Twelve Twelve

Labour Sunset Sunset Sunset

Evening Meal ½ past 7 ½ past 6 ½ past 6

Prayers Eight Seven Seven

The Diet of the several Classes shall be as follows:

BREAKFAST DINNER SUPPER

¼ lb. Bread ½ lb. Bread ¼ lb. Bread

pint of Gruel pint of Soup pint of Soup

* The soup to be made in the proportion of 25 lbs. of meat to every 100 quarts of soup, and to be thickened with vegetables and peas, or barley, as may be most convenient. Ox or sheep heads may be used advantageously for making the soup. The Females in each class are to be formed into messes consisting of twelve each; - the best conducted Woman is to be named Overseer of her mess, and to be responsible for the conduct of the other eleven. Each mess is to sleep in the same room, and their hammocks are to be slung together. Females guilty of disobedience of orders, neglect of work, profane, obscene, or abusive language, insubordination, or other turbulent, or disorderly, or disrespectful conduct, shall be punished by the Superintendent with close confinement in a dark or other cell, until her case shall be brought under the consideration of the Principal Superintendent. Elizabeth would have therefore been placed within the Crime Class section of the Cascades and assigned the nastiest tasks that could be allocated. On 8 February 1853, Elizabeth was assigned to Robert Ryan, a wheelright, of Brown’s River (now known as Kingston, about 15km south of Hobart). Elizabeth had been with Ryan for a little over two months when she absconded on 19 April and this time was sentenced to twelve months hard labour. She spent another nine months at the Cascades between May 1853 and February 1854. On 4 February 1854 she was assigned to Nathaniel Manning of Spring Hill (on the Midlands Highway about 40km north of Hobart) and this assignment seems to have been completed satisfactorily.

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On 22 March 1854 Elizabeth was assigned to William Redford, the Post Master of Oatlands, and it was here that she fell pregnant in April 1854. She spent almost six months with Redford before being reported “absent” in September 1854. For this she was sentenced to two months hard labour and spent six weeks at the Ross Female Factory. From 23 October to 18 November 1854 she was assigned to Reverend William Brickwood (Church of England) of Campbell Town, about 10km north of Ross. William Smith applied to marry Elizabeth and their intention to marry was published on 13 November 1854. However, the application was not approved with the justification being “woman another 6 months”, meaning Elizabeth had to wait another six months before she could marry. William Smith was a convict who was transported to Van Diemen’s Land aboard the “ Lady Kennaway ” which departed Portsmouth 5 February 1851 and arrived in Hobart Town 28 May 1851. Upon arrival William was 21 years of age (therefore born circa 1830). Was William Smith the father of Elizabeth’s child? Maybe it was coincidence, maybe it was not, but in March 1854 William Smith was charged with being Absent Without Leave (around the time Elizabeth’s child was conceived). And in April 1855 (a year later) Smith was charged with “Misconduct in being in the bedroom of the Revd Mr Brickwood’s female servant at night”; so we know that Smith knew his way around Brickwood’s servant’s bedrooms as well. All conjecture, but maybe!! Or, as we later know, John Walker came from Oatlands, so might Elizabeth and John have met around Oatlands and John Walker was the father of the child? On 18 November 1854 Elizabeth returned to the Ross Female Factory for two weeks and then returned to the Cascades Female Factory in Hobart Town for the remainder of her confinement. On 5 December 1854 Elizabeth was sent to the infirmary section of the Cascades, where she gave birth to a son, Charles Frederick Saville, on 16 January 1855.

Model of the Ross Female Factory.

Pregnant convict women were returned to the Cascades Female Factory for their confinement and an account of the conditions there for mothers and babies at the time of Elizabeth’s confinement follows: 15 In June 1854, Doctor Edward Swarbreck Hall took up a temporary appointment as medical officer at Cascades. Hall was an English doctor in his early 50s who was highly experienced in the medical management of institutions. Among other posts, he had had medical charge of an orphanage in Liverpool, and then various of the convict establishments on his emigration to Van Diemen's Land. Hall was a great humanitarian who was not afraid of causing trouble in high places to get results. On his arrival at Cascades, Hall found 60 women and 110 children housed in four damp cold rooms of 20 feet square. The children were in a feeble and emaciated state, many of them requiring medical treatment on a daily basis, ‘and the mortality frightful.’ Dr Hall attributed this to a ‘complication of causes’ under the heading of ‘general mismanagement.’ The children were kept outside all day, whatever the weather, with only an open shed in which to shelter. No heating was available in the rooms. The clothing of both mothers and children was quite insufficient to preserve vital warmth, and was often issued damp. Hall examined the children daily and ‘scarcely ever felt a child's feet otherwise than stone cold’. Neither the women nor the children got sufficient food. Breastfeeding mothers were allocated a miserly half diet. The food given to weaned children was often burnt or rancid. Children were frequently kept in solitary confinement with their mothers. Dr Hall urgently requested that fires be lit in the nursery to ward off the cold and damp. However the authorities ‘appeared afraid of dirtying the grates, or of taking the trouble of lighting fires’. He ordered extra daily arrowroot for a sick child. For two days the extra rations were not provided. On inquiry, the matron said that the arrowroot could not have been on the requisition otherwise she would have received it from the storekeeper. She was challenged to produce the requisition which would show whether the arrowroot had been ordered or not. Instead of bringing the requisition, the arrowroot was produced with the explanation that it was an oversight. The arrowroot so produced was substantially short of the requested weight. Hall asked for warm woollen cloaks for the children. He was put off, and then eventually told that the cloaks were being made in the workroom. So he went to the workroom where he found that there was no material with which to make them.

15 Rebecca Kippen – Research School of Social Sciences, ANU.

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One morning a child was brought to the Factory surgery. Hall asked the mother how she could expect the child to be anything other than ill seeing the child was wet and cold. The mother replied that the child's clothes had been provided to her in that state. Hall spoke to the officer responsible for issuing clothes, who said that ‘if the clothes were wet the child must have wetted them.’ Dr Hall ‘rose up out of his chair, and said with warmth, having put his hand between the shoulders of the child, “You don’t mean to say a child would have wet itself up here”.

All that remains today is the superintendent’s house at the top left of model. This photo taken from top right of model looking to superintendent’s house.

Dr Hall was frustrated at every turn by convict authorities who appeared to have no interest in the health of the children. So he arranged to circumvent the authorities altogether by having the mothers and children at Cascades transferred to the Infirmary in Hobart where they would be under the sole care of the Medical Department, rather than the Convict Department. This was done on 5 July 1854. At this time Hall had been at Cascades for less than one month. Even though almost all the women and children were suffering from disease, immediately the mortality fell by around 75 per cent and the children ‘thrive[d] better than was ever known before’. Only ten deaths occurred in the second half of 1854, four of them in July, as opposed to 68 deaths in the first six months of the year. In March of 1855, Hall was forced to resign from the service. Three months later, the Convict Comptroller General decided to commandeer the Infirmary for office space, and the women and children there were sent to the hiring depot at Brickfields, again under the control of the Convict Department. Within about two months, one quarter of the children moved had died, eight within one week. Even though he had retired, Hall again took action, this time publicly. He wrote a number of very detailed exposés which were published in the press. Hall accused the Convict Department of a ‘heartless, murderous experiment’ in taking the children from the Infirmary and sending them to Brickfields, ‘which had formerly been so fatal to them, and again proved so’. At the very least there had been ‘reckless indifference to the life or death of the infant children of convict parents’. Hall had demography on his side, backing up his claims of high mortality with meticulous research. For several weeks he went to the Registrar's Office every day and compiled statistics on child mortality in the Hobart nurseries and the Hobart district in general. He was also able to include deaths that he knew had occurred in the nursery, but had not been registered. He showed that mortality in the nursery in 1851, 1852 and 1853 was around four times higher than mortality of children of a similar age in the general Hobart district. He calculated death rates under the age of three of around 40 per cent. He argued: “With the unlimited means at the command of the convict authorities as regards lodgings, ventilation, cleanliness, food, clothing, artificial warmth, nursing, medical attendance, in many of which a great part of the population at large is so ill-provided I can not see any valid grounds on which the mortality in the convict nurseries should not be greatly below, instead of so much above that of the district ... It will be patent to all, that at least 269 out of the 371 children that perished in the convict nursery for the three years and a half ending 30 th June 1854, might and ought to have been alive, and were sacrificed to mismanagement alone.” Around the same time, the local Legislature appointed a committee to investigate accusations of ‘fraud, peculation and embezzlement’ made against officers of the Convict Department. The committee was to also ‘make such other inquiries into the abuses in the Convict Department which may appear to affect the colonial interest’. These ‘other inquiries’ included the high death toll in the convict nurseries. Dr Edward Swarbreck Hall was their star witness. Hall described conditions at the Cascades during his time there as medical officer and the resistance encountered from officials of the Convict Department, who had ignored his requests for adequate heating, and additional food and clothing for the women and children. He also exposed the petty pilfering of food meant for the convict women and their children. He “knew well how plentiful a ration may appear on paper, but how regularly it became "fine by degrees and beautifully less" before it reached the plundered recipients’ hungry mouths”. The Committee found that the ‘sickly state of the children’ and ‘excessive mortality’ in the convict nurseries was caused by ‘general mismanagement, exposure to cold, insufficient food and clothing, badly arranged dormitories,... and an insufficient allowance of nourishment to mothers who were nursing’. This was the fault of the Convict Department which was ‘chiefly responsible for a reckless negligence which has resulted in the loss of so many lives’. What is more, the Committee named names, stating that culpability mainly attached to the Convict Superintendent and the Comptroller General. All those who could share some blame in the staggeringly high level of mortality fell over themselves to prove that the mortality in the nurseries was not so high as Hall stated, or to say that it was not so high compared to other places, or to blame the parents for the high mortality. The Comptroller General - who had been responsible for moving the women and children from the Infirmary - argued that, if mortality was high, it was because the children had ‘constitutions tainted by the hereditary diseases derived from their vicious parents’. Additionally, that he was only trying to save the government money in shifting the women and

Page 12 The Elizabeth Saville Story

children from the Infirmary. He also argued that Hall was calculating the level of mortality incorrectly, either through ‘ignorance or malevolence’. He thought Hall should have used the actual number of different individuals passing through the Nursery rather than the mean daily strength.

Cascades Female Factory with Mount Wellington in the background. The building in the foreground is yard four – the nursery yard . UTAS ePrints

This inquiry into the Convict Department was highly embarrassing for the Lieutenant Governor, who peremptorily shut down parliament before a final report could be produced. However by this time Van Diemen's Land had already received its last load of convicts from Britain. Within a couple of years the convict system had been almost entirely dismantled. Elizabeth’s child was born while the women were still in the infirmary under the supervision of Dr Hall and she was allowed to stay in the infirmary to breast-feed and generally look after the baby. However, following Hall’s forced resignation in March 1855 and the subsequent degradation of facilities for the woman and their babies, the baby was one of the large number who died in their infancy because of the poor treatment given to them by the Convict Department. Charles Frederick Saville lived for 6½ months, when, like so many other children of convict women, he died on 20 July 1855 of syphilis consecutiva (we have not been able to gain a modern explanation of what this means, but we assume that syphilis was passed from mother to child). Charles Frederick was probably buried in the burial ground at the Cascades, behind yard five. In January 1873, the cemetery was described by The Mercury as: 16 … a pretty little green patch of three-quarters of an acre, and ... it has no denominational subdivisions. Prisoners, paupers and juvenile offenders, of all creeds, find a last resting place in the same spot, and a few graves are marked with neat little crosses erected by the friends or relations of those buried there. The cemetery is now a road and housing. Women convicts who gave birth were then penalised for their licentious behaviour and the typical sentence for this was a further six months hard labour. Elizabeth was returned to the work section of the Cascades where she remained until November 1855. A brief synopsis of Elizabeth’s life between July 1852 and June 1857 follows: 13/7/1852 to Brickfields Hiring Depot located in Argyle Street, North Hobart. The site is 16/7/1852 now occupied by the North Hobart Football Oval. 16/7/1852 to Assigned to P Snape of Davey Street. 5/9/1852 5/9/1852 Absconded. 5/9/1852 to “On the run”. 16/9/1852 16/9/1852 Recaptured. 18/9/1852 Sentenced to 6 months hard labour for absconding. 1/10/1852 Sentence approved. 16/9/1852 to Cascades Female Factory. 8/2/1853 Reported by Mrs. Rhodes for “loud talk at work”. Penalty - 3 days bread and 15/11/1852 water. Reported by Mr. Serviss (overseer) for “not attending to her work”. Penalty - 22/12/1852 3 days bread and water.

16 The Mercury 1 January 1873

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8/2/1853 to Assigned to Robert Ryan of Brown’s River. 19/4/1853 19/4/1853 Absconded. 19/4/1853 to “On the run”. 9/5/1853 9/5/1853 Recaptured. 17/5/1853 Sentenced to 12 months hard labour for absconding. 21/5/1853 Sentence approved. 9/5/1853 to Cascades Female Factory. 4/2/1854 4/2/1854 to Assigned to N Manning of Spring Hill. 22/3/1854 22/3/1854 to Assigned to W Redford of Oatlands. 12/9/1854 12/9/1854 Sentenced to 2 months hard labour for being absent. 15/9/1854 Sentence approved. 14/9/1854 to Ross Female Factory. 23/10/1854 23/10/1854 to Assigned to Rev W Brickwood of Campbell Town. 18/11/1854 13/11/1854 William Smith applies to marry Elizabeth, but this was not approved – “woman another 6 months”. 18/11/1854 to Ross Female Factory. 1/12/1854 1/12/1854 to Cascades Female Factory. 5/12/1854 5/12/1854 to Infirmary at Cascades to give birth to Charles Frederick Saville on 16 6/6/1855 January 1855. 6/6/1855 to Cascades Female Factory. 5/11/1855 16/10/1855 John Walker applies to marry Elizabeth and this is approved. 5/11/1855 Elizabeth marries John Walker. 15/1/1856 Ticket of leave granted. 2/9/1856 Conditional Pardon recommended. 9/6/1857 Conditional Pardon approved.

Elizabeth was one of the 12,460 female convicts to have disembarked at Van Diemen’s Land between 1803 and 1853. In October 1855 John Walker applied to marry Elizabeth. Approval for their marriage was granted on 16 October 1855 and notice of their intention was published in the Government Gazette on 16, 23 and 30 October 1855. They were married on 5 November 1855 at St George’s Church of England, Hobart. John was 27 and living at Oatlands, and Elizabeth was 21 and living in Hobart. John was born 15 January 1828 and baptised on 10 February 1833 as John Walker, when he was 5 years old. The baptism took place on the same day his mother, Sophia Nightingale, married Thomas Walker, with both the marriage and baptism ceremonies being conducted by the same chaplain, R. C. Drought. The baptism was registered at Green Ponds (now Kempton) and the Baptism Record shows Thomas was a shoemaker and they were living at Broadmarsh (about 40km north-west of Hobart).

Sixteen months after John Walker and Elizabeth Saville were married, Elizabeth gave birth to Martha Walker on 29 March 1857. John was a carpenter and they were living in Harrington Street, Hobart. Elizabeth Saville was granted her Ticket of Leave on 15 January 1856; she was recommended for a conditional pardon on 2 September 1856; the Queen’s approval for her conditional pardon was received by the Governor on 5 June 1857; and the pardon was formally published in the Government Gazette on 9 June 1857. But what happened to Elizabeth’s marriage to John Walker? John seems to have just “disappeared”. Might Elizabeth have married John whilst she was still part of the convict system to simply escape “the system”? Following the birth of Martha and receiving her pardon, she perhaps decided to seek “alternate habitation arrangements”.

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Affidavit for John Walker and Elizabeth Saville to marry

It was around this time that Isaac Cohen and Elizabeth got together and over the next twenty plus years nine children resulted. 1. Sarah Hannah Cohen born c1859. 2. Enoch Cohen born 23 January 1861. 3. Esther Cohen born 31 August 1863. 4. Elizabeth Ann Cohen born 19 April 1866. 5. Abigail Cohen born 1 September 1868. 6. Ralph Cohen born 8 September 1870. 7. Rachel Cohen born 1874. 8. Maria Cohen born 3 February 1875. 9. Florence Harriet Cohen 8 August 1879.

Isaac Cohen died on 24 May 1906 of a cerebral hemorrhage at Bellerive. He was aged 75, born in England in 1830 and was stated as an engineer of Bellerive. The certificate gives no details of his family. He was buried at Queenborough, in the same grave as his son Enoch. A map of the cemetery shows Enoch and Isaac Cohen in row 16, plot 52. Elizabeth placed a “thank you” notice in The Mercury: 17 Mrs Isaac Cohen and family wish to return thanks to all kind friends for their letters and cards of sympathy in their late sad bereavement, especially Messrs O’May Bros.

Queenborough Memorial Garden, Hobart.

An In Memoriam notice was placed in 1907: 18 COHEN. — In loving memory of our dear father, Isaac Cohen , who departed this life at Bellerive May 24, 1906; also Ralph, youngest son of the above, died at Sydney, N.S.W., May 24, 1906; also Enoch, eldest son of the above, died

17 The Mercury 2 June 1906. 18 The Mercury 24 May 1907.

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at Hobart, March 29, 1905. "Oh, teach us from our hearts to say, Thy will, not ours, be done." Inserted by a loving son and daughter, and an affectionate brother and sister, T. and S. Goldring. Queenborough Cemetery was closed as a burial ground in December 1934. Some of the graves were reinterred to Cornelian Bay Cemetery, but many of them remained at Queenborough. The cemetery was then turned into playing fields and a school was built. A memorial garden was created and the tombstones of some of the more prominent citizens of Tasmania are displayed in this garden – but none of the Cohen family. Elizabeth died at her daughter Maria’s residence at 364 Upper Murray Street, Hobart on 14 January 1912. 19 COHEN. – On January 14, 1912, at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr. J. Price, no. 364 Upper Murray-street, Elizabeth , relict of the late Isaac Cohen, Bellerive, and beloved mother of Nurse Price, in the 77 th year of her age. At Rest. Friends are respectfully invited to attend her funeral, which will move for Queenborough Cemetery at 2:30 to- morrow (Tuesday) Afternoon. The cause of her death was pneumonia and meningitis. She was 76 years of age and had been in the colony for 56 years. Elizabeth’s death record shows she had two sons (both deceased) and seven living daughters. Hers was a truly remarkable life - a product of the disrupted social conditions in England and cast aside with other women of the times to the horrific conditions forced upon convict women on the other side of the world. Elizabeth’s early years in both England and Hobart were indeed turbulent. However, given a stable home and a steady relationship, she raised a fine family of children whose many descendants are typical of the strength which has built this country. Another amazing woman!!

Document written by Geoffrey A Court.

19 The Mercury 15 January 1912.

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