TASMANIAN FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY INC.
Volume 38 Number 4—March 2018 TASMANIAN FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY INC. PO Box 326 Rosny Park Tasmania 7018
Society Secretary: [email protected] Journal Editor: [email protected] Home Page: http://www.tasfhs.org
Patron: Dr Alison Alexander Fellows: Dr Neil Chick and Mr David Harris
Executive: President Robert Tanner (03) 6231 0794 Vice President Maurice Appleyard (03) 6248 4229 Society Secretary Colleen Read (03) 6244 4527 Society Treasurer Ross Warren 0487 330 707
Committee: Gary Bryant Judith Cocker Peter Cocker Robyn Gibson John Gillham Libby Gillham Sue-Ellen McCregan Louise Rainbow Eddy Steenbergen Helen Stuart
By-laws Coordinator Eddy Steenbergen 0418 129 154 Web Manager Robert Tanner (03) 6231 0794 Journal Editor Rosemary Davidson 0408 445 532 LWFHA Coordinator Leonie Mickleborough (03) 6223 7948 Members’ Interests Compiler John Gillham (03) 6239 6823 Membership Registrar Lyndal Ayers (03) 6243 9190 Publications Convenor Beverley Richardson (03) 6225 3292 Public Officer Colleen Read (03) 6244 4527 Society Sales Officer Maurice Appleyard (03) 6245 9351
Branches of the Society Burnie: PO Box 748 Burnie Tasmania 7320 [email protected] Hobart: PO Box 326 Rosny Park Tasmania 7018 [email protected] Huon: PO Box 117 Huonville Tasmania 7109 [email protected] Launceston: PO Box 1290 Launceston Tasmania 7250 [email protected] Mersey: PO Box 267 Latrobe Tasmania 7307 [email protected]
Volume 38 Number 4 March 2018 ISSN 0159 0677
Contents From the editor ...... 190 President’s Report ...... 191 Branch Reports ...... 192 Launching Betty’s Book, Patron, Alison Alexander ...... 196 Voices from the Orphan Schools: Mary Ann Sarsfield: ‘a convict woman’s offspring’, Dianne Snowden ...... 199 In-service Training for Teachers, Model Small Schools, 1910–1950, Betty Jones ...... 205 Lost in the Bush, Our Gloomy Fascination with a Terrifying Aspect of Life in the Australian Colonies, Don Bradmore ...... 211 German-Australian Genealogy and History Alliance, Michael Watt ...... 216 New Members ...... 217 New Members’ Interests ...... 218 Centrefold—38th Conference and Annual General Meeting 2018, Ross ...... i–iv Book Review and Help Wanted ...... 219 Are the Ancestors Hanging from your Family Tree really your own?, Kimberly Powell ...... 220 A Conundrum of Kings, Bugg and King Families at Wynyard Tasmania, Lyn Hookway and Jeff Ward ...... 221 Richard Usher: Family Man, Convict and Petty Constable, Jennifer Wood ...... 229 The Case of the Town Clerk who Absconded, Roger Jennans ...... 233 Smallpox Epidemic, Launceston 1887, Jennifer Jacobs ...... 241 What is that Publication About?, Maurice Appleyard ...... 245 Library Acquisitions ...... 246 Society Sales ...... 248
Deadline dates for contributions by 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October
From the editor Journal address
PO Box 326 Rosny Park TAS 7018
email [email protected]
I was lucky to be in Hobart at the Articles are welcomed in any format— beginning of December to attend the handwritten, word processed, on disk or by launch of School Days, School Days … email. Please ensure images are of good the land of youth and dream, the book by quality. Betty Jones. It was lovely to see Bev and Beryl after spending most of the year Deadline dates are: emailing and talking on the phone and to 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October be able to introduce them to Betty. I had only met Betty personally for the first If you wish to contact the author of an time the previous week when I attended article in Tasmanian Ancestry please email the launch at Burnie Branch. the editor, or write care of the editor, enclosing a stamped envelope and your You can read the paper Alison Alexander correspondence will be forwarded. presented at the Hobart launch on page 196. The opinions expressed in this journal are Some students who attended the Univer- not necessarily those of the journal sity of Tasmania Family History Course committee, nor of the Tasmanian Family last year have taken up a suggestion to History Society Inc. Responsibility rests submit articles they had researched as with the author of a submitted article, we do part of their course to Tasmanian not intentionally print inaccurate inform- Ancestry. These have been gratefully ation. The society cannot vouch for the received and I look forward to being able accuracy of offers for services or goods that to accept more. appear in the journal, or be responsible for the outcome of any contract entered into Many readers will be familiar with the with an advertiser. The editor reserves the name of Faye Gardam a resident in the right to edit, abridge or reject material. Devonport district. Her latest book, Discovering Devonport Tasmania, was © The contents of Tasmanian Ancestry are also released recently and having spent subject to the provisions of the Copyright most of my schooldays in Devonport I Act and may not be reproduced without have been browsing my way through its written permission of the editor and author. more than 500 pages and looking forward to delving into it more deeply.
Cover: Inside Cooee Observation School, Rosemary Davidson 1915. Courtesy of Jessie Whitsitt in Kerry Pink, Campsite to City, Burnie City Council, 2000, p. 235.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
OST of us now use a computer user that the first or second drive needs to record our family history replacing. For the technically minded, M research. How well do you this is purposely a rather simplified back it up? There is a saying among com- explanation of RAID (redundant array of puter professionals, ‘It’s not a question of independent disks). But of course this IF your hard drive dies, it is a question of would not be much help in the event of WHEN your hard drive dies, that you theft or fire. So every Tuesday and Thurs- need to have a good backup.’ day the system is backed up to one of two There are many ways to back up your plug-in hard drives which are then kept at data and the simplest is to always keep a the homes of two different committee second copy on your computer. Then if members. Not everyone will want to go you accidentally delete something you that far, but I cannot state strongly can just copy the back up and keep going. enough how important it is to do a regular But this is not a very good way to do it back up! because you will lose both copies when Here is a web site on this subject, which your hard drive dies, or if the computer is may further convince you of the stolen, or if, heaven forbid, you have a importance of backing up. fire. So you are better served by storing a https://www.backblaze.com/backup- copy on a plug in hard drive. You could your-computer.html use a USB thumb drive, but they don’t hold as much data as a plug-in hard drive Robert Tanner, President which these days can provide one tera- byte of storage for less than $100. But if you keep it beside your computer you will still lose everything if you are subjected to theft or fire. It is better to REMINDER have at least two copies so that you can Annual membership leave one with a friend or relative, then regularly swap them over. These days subscriptions are due by the you can even back up to a cloud system 1 April 2018 which means your data is stored on a server somewhere else away from your Tasmanian Ancestry, is part of your own set-up. You can back up regularly by subscription, so to ensure your next just copying your data, or there are many copy arrives on time see the back programs which can be set to do this for cover for a listing of amount due if you. you haven’t already renewed.
The ‘office computer’ at the Hobart Thank you to all who regularly Branch Library is a good example of contribute. backing up. It uses a RAID system which New material always welcomed. means it has four hard drives and all data is automatically copied to the second one. If either breaks down, the third drive automatically takes over and informs the
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BRANCH REPORTS
Burnie topics that you would like to see covered please let either Peter or Judy know. http://www.clients.tas.webnet.com.au/ It is pleasing to advise we have had four geneal/burnbranch.htm microfilm readers donated to the branch. President: Peter Cocker (03) 6435 4103 Secretary: Ann Bailey (03) 6431 5058 They are only small manual machines but PO Box 748 Burnie Tasmania 7320 are perfectly OK for reading the news- email: [email protected] paper reels.
Our last meeting for Peter Cocker, Branch President 2017 was held on Saturday 25 November. Hobart The first presentation http://www.hobart.tasfhs.org was by John Graham, President: Louise Rainbow the CEO of the Ryerson email: [email protected] Index. This was most informative and Secretary: Howard Reeves many of us were shown functions of the PO Box 326 Rosny Park Tasmania 7018 Index we were not aware of. email: [email protected] After John’s presentation we had a book All telephone enquiries to (03) 6244 4527 launch of Betty Jones’ book, School Days, School Days … land of youth and It is hard to believe we dream. Betty signed copies of the book. are at the start of Our branch still has some copies of the another year, with the book for sale if you have not bought your holiday season behind copy yet. Following the launch a soup us, and the branch again and sandwich luncheon was provided. in full swing. We are With the festive season over and schools always looking for ways to attract new back there is no excuse for all of us not to membership and maintain our current do some serious research. If you are stuck members. behind a brick wall and have no more The branch has purchased and received leads why not come into the library, donations of many new books in the past perhaps we may be able to find another year, including journals from other direction for you to head. societies both international and local. Due to the increase in popularity of DNA The Annual Seafarers Festival was held for family historians we intend running on Sunday 29 October on the boardwalk some workshops/meetings this year to immediately opposite the Library. Hobart give members a better understanding of Branch participated by holding an Open the process. We are also getting some Day. We had two bookstalls in operation, publications about DNA testing for our one outside the premises and the other in library. We will also be running some the foyer. As usual the weather lived up more workshops during the year. One to its reputation on this particular day request is a workshop on how to create an with a strong wind blowing right into Index in Microsoft Word. If you have any Kangaroo Bay and we had fun trying to
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hold our books and signs in place. The southern councils and other sources event turned out to be a worthwhile including some from the business sector, undertaking as we sold some books and have provided some funds. Relationships made contact with people who did not are being formed with RSL Sub- know of our existence, and were pleased branches, military organisations, schools to be shown around the library and to see and sporting associations. what resources we hold. At the November meeting, the final Our patron Alison Alexander launched meeting for 2017, the topic was the Betty Jones’ book Schooldays, School- Ryerson Index and the presenter was John days, land of youth and dream. The Graham. He described the foundation of Hobart launch was held at the Sunday the organisation and displayed Power- School Hall, St Johns Park New Town on Point slides of the website www. 3 December. Once again the weather was ryersonindex.org/index.htm and the indifferent, and may have deterred a few search capabilities. members. Alison delivered a humorous The Ryerson Index was founded in 1998 and interesting précis of the book and and is a free index to death notices Betty spoke of her experience as a teacher appearing in Australian newspapers. The with the Education Department and her date range covered extends from the interest in the role of education in Sydney Gazette of 1803 up to newspapers Tasmania from the rudimentary begin- published within the last week or so. The nings in 1838 which she has documented Index also includes many funeral notices, in her articles in Tasmanian Ancestry and and some probate notices and obituaries. has formed the basis of the book. Because the index was originally created Our monthly General Meetings are still by the Sydney Dead Persons Society, its held on the third Tuesday evening of the strength lies in notices from NSW month, and below is a summary of our papers—including in excess of two latest meetings and speakers scheduled million notices from the Sydney Morning for 2018. Herald. The representation from papers The speaker at the October meeting was from other states continues to grow, with Andrea Gerrard speaking on the topic the additional papers being regularly added, Tasmanian Headstone Project. This so that the index can now truly be project, unique to Tasmania, involves considered an Australian index. identifying the unmarked graves of Indexing is being continuously carried returned WWI soldiers and placing a out by a team of volunteers. Site updates simple headstone that identifies them and generally occur weekly. Presently the site recognises their service to the country. To contains almost 6.5 million entries from date 190 headstones have been erected; more than 300 newspapers. there have been a further 26 successful The index itself cannot by definition be applications acknowledged by the Com- considered a primary source of data, but monwealth War Grave Commission and is purely a research aid to direct the re- at least another 100 headstones are to be searcher to the original source of a notice. installed at Cornelian Bay Cemetery. The goal is to complete the Cornelian Bay Speakers for 2018 part of the project by November 2018 and February 20: Mary Bent, TLAB Chair extend the project to country cemeteries. and Liz Jack, LINC Tasmanian The Tasmanian Government, some Director—The future of LINC Tasmania
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March 20: David Boon, Department of search.org). This is a timely topic given Education Curriculum Officer— the recent changes to the site, and the Connecting family histories to the workshop will be held at the LINC library Australian Curriculum on Wednesday 21 March 2018 from 2:00 April 17: Andrea Gerrard, (Historian)— p.m. Please register by coming into the Aboriginal Soldiers from Tasmania who Branch Library or contacting us by email. served in the First World War Our DNA Discussion Circles are contin- May 15: Tony Marshall (Historian)—The uing, with our third group meeting held in short and interesting life of Frances February at the Branch Library. If any Edward Douglas Browne (convict and members are interested in attending an journalist) ongoing group would they please register their interest by coming into the Branch June 19: Ann Owen, Justice Depart- Library or contacting us by email. With ment—What the BDM unit does and why? enough interest we may investigate alter-
native location options to allow increased Louise Rainbow, Branch President attendance.
As usual, the library will be closed on Launceston Easter Tuesday 3 April 2018. http://www.launceston.tasfhs.org The Branch AGM will be held at the President: Helen Stuart (03) 6331 9175 Harry Abbott Scout Hall, 7:00 p.m. on Secretary: Marette Lawson Tuesday 17 April. Our guest speaker will PO Box 1290 Launceston Tasmania 7250 be John Dent, and we look forward to library: [email protected] All telephone enquiries to (03) 6326 1399 hearing about the ‘Kings Meadows Convict Road Station’. During Seniors Week in Check the website for the detailed list of October, the Launceston publications available from Launceston Branch held an Open Branch. Day involving hourly one-on-one appoint- Mersey ments for Getting Start- ed Researching your Family History. http://www.tfhsdev.com Thank you to our volunteers who so President: Roslyn Coss—(03) 6491 1141 willingly gave of their time to make this Secretary: Sue-Ellen McCreghan (03) 6428 6328 possible once again. The day was well email: [email protected] attended, and we welcome our new mem- PO Box 267 Latrobe Tasmania 7307 bers who joined during this time. In November we held a successful work- Our raffle at Christmas shop on Using Electronic Resources for was successful, many your Family History, with John Graham thanks to those who of the Ryerson Index in attendance as one purchased tickets and of the presenters. During this, members to those members who were invited to provide ideas for future helped sell. It was workshop topics and as a result, our lovely to be with mem- March Workshop will focus on using bers for a very nice lunch at the Lucas the Family Search website (www.family Hotel prior to Christmas.
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Mersey Branch’s summer BBQ, under the trees at the back of our library always has good food and good company. Our ORAL HISTORY guests Judy and Peter Cocker from Burnie Branch shared their plans on WORKSHOP indexing the Advocate newspaper photo- graphs which Burnie Branch have been SATURDAY 26 MAY 2018 given. We look forward to learning how they will go about making these 10:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. available. at St Johns Parish Centre With 2017 behind us, the branch is ready Launceston to continue indexing BDMs from the Advocate newspaper and to start projects conducted by for 2018. Jill Cassidy The main focus in 2018 is to edit and President of Oral History Tasmania check our library catalogue, so that it can be put on our website. We are aiming to have the catalogue user friendly. The Learn how to interview intention is, where possible, to list books your relatives, and how to ensure under the areas they cover. your descendants The branch is able to release, for can hear their voices. members use, another section of births, deaths and marriages from the Devonport There will be a demonstration of a area. Details available from the branch. digital recorder. All the best for this New Year. Cost (includes lunch): Huon $50 non-members, $40 members Oral History President: Shirley Fletcher (03) 6264 1546 Secretary: Libby Gillham (03) 6239 6529 Tasmania, PO Box 117 Huonville Tasmania 7109 $30 students. email: [email protected] Prior registration is essential. No report received
Contact Jill Cassidy on 0418 178 098 or [email protected]
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LAUNCHING BETTY’S BOOK Patron, Alison Alexander
Rosemary Davidson, Betty Jones, Beryl Dix, Beverley Richardson and Alison Alexander
OR the last decade, when our In 1977 she married Colin, the principal copies of Tasmanian Ancestry at Ouse District High. This was different F arrive in the letter box, we’ve all again, a country school. They spent a looked forward to a new article by Betty number of years there before a move to Jones. Her interesting, informative and the north-west coast where Betty’s family well-written articles are not only a was, and she taught at various schools, pleasure to read but tell us, each time, a ending her career as principal at Boat little more about the Tasmanian school Harbour. She took early retirement at 55, system. a few years after her husband, after 37 Betty Jones was born and brought up in years of teaching. Burnie where she went through the state When Betty retired, she joined the Burnie education system then trained at the branch of the TFHS Inc., and did work Launceston Teachers’ College as a indexing the Advocate births, deaths and teacher for grades 3 to 6. Her first teach- marriages. At one school she had been at ing job was at East Wynyard in 1971, a there was a clean-up, and a box of old brand new school with carpets, a great Educational Records (the magazine of the luxury, a small staff of four, and a small Education Department) was going to be class of 17. A wonderful introduction to thrown out. Betty saved them, and now teaching. In a couple of years Betty went she remembered them and thought they to New Norfolk, a much bigger school in would be a good source of names of the older style. teachers. She started to work on them, Still in her twenties Betty became senior and became fascinated by the information teacher in 1976—obviously a good they included—not just names but teacher—and was moved to Abbotsfield. information about schools, teachers and
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pupils. She also went to the Archives and Stanley school, and the smaller Black did research there, helped by her husband River State School, ‘a useful case-study Colin. on the rise and fall of educational Betty became very interested in the Cape facilities provided for children in Barren school in about 1900. It was very relatively isolated areas’ (Black River is small with features such as shutting down inland from Stanley). in the mutton-birding season, and, a Nineteenth-century topics deal with the different job for the teacher—escorting schoolroom itself, a very good intro- the Bishop when he visited. Betty wrote a duction; the school residence; pupil paper about it and the co-editor of teachers; education for the poor; child- Tasmanian Ancestry, Betty Bissett, ren’s games and children’s discipline, encouraged her to publish it. It appeared scholarships to private secondary schools in December 2006. Since then, Betty has as there were not government ones; and had an article in virtually every issue: an interesting article contrasting public there have been 45 and she had written and private education in Burnie at the end over 40 articles. of the century. Betty’s life prepared her well for her Some chapters emphasise the difference second career as a historian. With her between then and now—sometimes own schooling and then her teaching, she entertainingly, often with a more serious spent over fifty years, half a century, in note. When we think of nineteenth- the Tasmanian state school system. When century education, strict discipline looms she started school in the 1950s, the as a topic, and Betty Jones has a chapter system had not changed greatly for many on ‘Spare the Rod’. Control, she writes, years, probably since the massive ‘relied largely on the personality of changes brought about by Neale at the individual educators and whatever other start of the century (the book includes an means they could muster’. Those ‘other interesting article about that). So Betty means’ were all too often the cane or the had a real link with the past, having strap. Surprisingly, corporal punishment, experienced inkwells, blackboards, chalk, though widely used, was frowned on by needlework lessons and corporal punish- the educational authorities as early as ment (probably not herself!), and the old 1839, when the Board of Education stated style of teaching. Then as a teacher she that detentions were preferred to maintain saw the other side. As a result, she knows discipline. In 1861 the Board discussed exactly what she is writing about, is abolishing the cane altogether. But completely at home with it. That comes horrific stories were told of excessive across in the articles: they are corporal punishment by teachers. authoritative, trustworthy. Children wore three layers of clothes or The editors of this book chose 22 articles smeared their hands with resin to lessen to reprint here. Wisely, they chose more the pain. of the general ones rather than those The chapter on ‘Instructions to teachers, about specific schools, to give a broad 1905’ is fascinating. It includes these outline of how Tasmanian state education rules: ‘Every teacher must devote the has developed from its beginnings to whole of the day to actual teaching’; about 1930. There are a few about ‘when visitors enter the school, children individual schools, just to give a taste: should be taught to behave exactly as all
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well-bred people do when receiving a There are a number of helpful extras in visitor’; ‘every teacher should draw the book. A good map of school areas by children’s attention to the necessity of Eddy Steenbergen. A timeline of events destroying rats’. On Friday afternoons, in Tasmanian educational history. A list after school hours of course, teachers had of schools with alternative names, which to make a mixture of carbolic acid, is very useful. There are other lists of kerosene, water and a little soft soap, schools with residences provided, details wring out a duster in this mixture, and of playgrounds, pupils who won wipe down desks, seats, architraves, exhibitions, had full attendance—I’m frames and other woodwork. (They did sure Nellie O’Brien from West Zeehan not, however, have to undergo profes- would be amazed to know that she’s sional development, or deal with remembered nearly a century later. There Occupational Health and Safety rules or is an excellent index. mobile phones in classrooms.) A number of TFHS members did a lot of Then came the huge changes under work in putting this book together. Neale, and articles about the early Congratulations to Beverley Richardson, twentieth century: correspondence who conceived the idea, and her editorial school, married women teachers, board- team, Rosemary Davidson and Beryl ing houses, attendance, and needlework, Dix—a huge amount of work, real labour woodwork and cookery lessons. of love. The book was printed in The married female Tasmania, so it is an teacher had a difficult entirely Tasmanian time, cut off from a career production. path. Some had to make a When we read Betty’s choice between a career articles in Ancestry we and marriage. Miss Amy find them enjoyable and Rowntree, the first interesting—but this Tasmanian woman to be book shows that they are promoted to Inspector of much more. Read Schools in 1919, realised together, they build up an this. ‘A professional excellent picture of woman must necessarily education in Tasmania: be cut off from many of its aims, its weaknesses the joys of womanhood and strengths, and how it and there is always a changed and developed danger that she will in the period the book covers. A become hard and narrow’, she wrote to wonderful picture of an engrossing the Education Department in 1940. subject! ‘Generally such women lead arduous Congratulations to Betty Jones on a lives.’ magnificent achievement. And Betty has The articles combine scholarship– an article in the Tasmanian Ancestry thorough research, full footnotes–and published at the same time as the launch. good writing. Betty is obviously There will be plenty more for a second fascinated by her topics, and this comes volume! through to the reader.
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VOICES FROM THE ORPHAN SCHOOLS MARY ANN SARSFIELD: ‘A CONVICT WOMAN’S OFFSPRING’ Dianne Snowden (Member No. 910)
ARY ANN SARSFIELD, whose contact Rev. DOWDEN of Cork to inter- proper name was MURPHY, cede on her half to get a recommendation M was tried in Limerick, Ireland, for a conditional pardon. Rev. Dowden in 1850, and sentenced to transportation wrote, for fifteen years for stealing a cow. The convict when arrested and charged Described as a laundress and house with crime assumed a false name [Sars- servant when she arrived in Van Die- field] to prevent her father and mother men’s Land, she was 22, single, Roman learning of her involvement … 3 Catholic, with a dark complexion, black Mary Ann also had personal news she hair, low forehead, hazel eyes and a long, wanted to share with her family, cocked nose. She was from Cork City. Her family, known as Murphy, comprised I am Happy to inform you that I have got married since I have been here and most her father Michael, mother Julia, brother likely by the time you receive this Letter I Timothy and sister Ellen, all of whom 1 shall be come a Mother if God spairs were living in Cork City. me.4 In October 1851, Mary Ann Sarsfield Earlier that year, in June, Mary Ann and wrote to her parents from Hobart Town. fellow-convict Charles JONES married at Letters written by female convicts to the St Georges Church of England, Battery family they left behind are rare. Mary Point. Charles was a servant who signed Ann’s letter is the only known letter by his name; Mary Ann signed an X (and did an Irish female convict to her family back so consistently throughout her life). in Ireland. Charles Jones, alias Henry JENKINS, It seems that Mary Ann’s parents might was tried in 1845 in Southampton, Ports- not have been aware she had been trans- mouth Borough Quarter Sessions, for ported as she stated, ‘most likely you stealing a pair of pistols and a dressing have been made acquainted with my case. He was sentenced to transportation misfortune before this’. She explained for ten years and arrived on the Pestonjee that she had been transported in Limerick 2 Bomanjee (1) later that year. A 26-year- as Mary Ann Sarsfield. In her letter, old shoemaker from Hereford, his be- Mary Ann appealed to her parents to
1 TAHO, CON40/1/28 No.955 Mary Ann Sarsfield alias Murphy 1850 Duke of 3 NAI, CRF 1852 S31 Mary Ann Sarsfield. Cornwall; TAHO, CON15/1/6 pp. 276– Dowden commented he was asked to try 277 Mary Ann Sarsfield alias Murphy to get her liberty, so that ‘her honest 1850 Duke of Cornwall; NAI, CRF 1852 husbands children should not be a convict S31 Mary Ann Sarsfield woman’s offspring’. 2 NAI, CRF 1852 S31 Mary Ann Sarsfield 4 NAI, CRF 1852 S31 Mary Ann Sarsfield
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haviour on board the convict ship was Police and living at Avoca.7 Two sons— described as ‘most exemplary’.5 Henry William Jones (born 30 December In her letter, Mary Ann added, ‘My Hus- 1853) and James Michael Jones (born 12 March 1856) were also born when band at present is very kind to me but he 8 wishes to go to Sidney’. This may explain Charles was a police constable at Avoca. the urgent tone to her letter: Charles was For some reason, Mary and Charles’ recommended for a conditional pardon in fourth child was registered as GRIF- June 1851 but Mary Ann, who had a FITHS. He was born on 28 July 1858 to fifteen-year sentence, was not yet free to Charles Henry Jones Griffiths, boot- leave Van Diemen’s Land and sought her maker, and Mary Ann (née Sarsfield). At parents’ support to get a the time of the conditional pardon. She registration, he did not was pregnant when she have a given name wrote the letter and no recorded. When he doubt did not want to be entered the Queen’s left behind in Van Asylum for Destitute Diemen’s Land with a Children, he was known child and no husband. as George Jones. His Mary Ann’s release was date of birth, recorded on hampered by her long the application, was 28 sentence. She did not July 1858. His mother, receive her ticket of ‘Mary Ann Griffiths’, of Launceston, registered leave until June 1855 and 9 her conditional pardon the birth. When Mary until November 1856. By Ann died, her son was this time, the wish for a recorded on her death certificate as George family she expressed in 10 her letter home had been Augustus Jones. fulfilled; she had five Mary Ann’s youngest children between 1852 child, Esther, was born and 1862. However, her on 24 April 1862 in Henry William Jones husband Charles died of Hobart.11 Esther married phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis) in April 1863, aged 40, leaving Mary Ann 7 6 TAHO, RGD33/1/30 District of Fingal destitute with five young children. 1852/166 Mary Amelia Jones Mary’s first child, Mary Amelia Jones 8 TAHO, RGD33/1/32 District of Fingal (later known as Amelia) was born on 7 1854/227 Henry William Jones; TAHO, March 1852. Mary Amelia’s father was RGD33/1/34 District of Fingal 1856/289 employed as a constable with the Fingal James Michael Jones 9 TAHO, RGD33/1/36 District of Launceston 1858/1107 Griffiths, given name not recorded; TAHO, SWD26/1/9 5 TAHO, CON33/1/74 No. 17522 Charles [Image 463] George Jones Jones alias Henry Jenkins Pestonjee 10 Victorian Death Certificate 1888/9028 Bomanjee (1) 1845 Mary Ann Jones 6 TAHO, RGD35/1/32 District of Oatlands 11 TAHO, RGD33/1/8 District of Hobart 1863/382 Charles Henry Jones 1862/5354 Esther Jones
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John CAULFIELD in 1886 in hoped to be able to provide for her other Collingwood. Her brother, James, was a three children but later that year, witness. Esther died in 1946 aged 84 and application was made by the Warden of survived all but one of her seven children. Oatlands for the admission of Mary Ann’s Her son, William Stanley Caulfield, youngest son, George, to the Queen’s served in the AIF in World War I.12 Asylum. At the time, Mary Ann was Henry William Jones and James working as a charwoman and laundress. When at work, she left her children in the Michael Jones 15 Henry William Jones aged 10½ and his care of Mary Amelia, aged 11. The younger brother James Michael Jones application for George’s admission was approved in August aged 7 years 3 months 16 were admitted to the 1863. Queen’s Asylum for Mary still found it Destitute Children on 15 difficult to survive and June 1863, only weeks in December 1863, her after their father died. daughter Mary Amelia, Their mother, Mary Ann, then aged 11 years 8 made the application months, was admitted to with the assistance of the the Queen’s Asylum for Oatlands Municipal Destitute Children. This Council, followed an application, I came to Oatlands with on 24 November 1863, my husband about nine from George HUNTER, weeks [ago]. He fell ill, Catholic Chaplain, to the and died and left me Colonial Secretary, with five children. I am requesting assistance, [destitute] of means, The father died a short and therefore unable to time since leaving the support my five 13 mother with five young children. children, three of whom are at present in the Mary Ann also had three James Michael Jones other dependent children, Asylum. This woman Amelia Mary, aged 11, George 4, and appears to be in a very Esther, 13 months. She was employed destitute condition, without home or washing clothes. The application for her means of protecting and instructing this little girl. They are residing at Norry two boys was approved and they were 17 admitted in June 1863.14 Mary Ann had Donahoo’s, Harrington Street. The letter activated the usual process of 12 Victorian Marriage Certificate 1886/3801 investigating and reporting, beginning Esther Jones and John Caulfield; Victorian Death Certificate 1946/5252 Esther Jane Caulfield; Argus (Melbourne) 20 May 15 TAHO, SWD26/1/9 [Image 464] George 1946 p. 2 Jones 13 TAHO, SWD26/1/9 [Image 461] Henry 16 TAHO, SWD26/1/9 [Image 465] George William and James Michael Jones Jones 14 TAHO, SWD26/1/9 [Image 462] Henry 17 TAHO, SWD26/1/6 [Image 634] Mary William and James Michael Jones Amelia Jones
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with the Colonial Secretary’s request for write’ and her mother was unable to a report from the Inspector of Police. The provide for her.20 Inspector of Police visited Norry DONA- The formal application for admission was HOO’s house where he found Mary Ann made on 2 December 1863 by Rev. G and her two children in ‘a most deplor- Hunter. Mary Ann’s name was recorded able state of poverty’. He also reported as ‘Sourcefield’, one of many spellings of that Mary Amelia was ‘a very interesting her surname. It is not clear when Mary girl [and] the mother appears anything Amelia left the institution. but a strong woman’.18 Mary Ann and Henry William Jones Mary Amelia were obviously found to be No discharge date from the Queen’s worthy candidates for assistance, Asylum was recorded for Henry and an The mother appears to be a very destitute element of mystery surrounds his life. His woman, and as she has been placed in her great-granddaughter, Denise GOODFEL- present miserable condition by the LOW, writes, ‘He apparently disappeared visitation of God and not through any for 47 years, from misconduct and it is 1876 to 1923, and was presumed to be moreover certain that 21 the girl can never be dead’. In 1923, the expected to become a Mercury published the moral and subse- following, quently useful mem- LONG LOST ber of society by HOBART MAN. being left to grow up TO BE PRESUMED in such a place as one DEAD. the low lodging In the Practice Court house[s] of the City, yesterday, … the Chief we beg to recom- Justice … applied for mend that she be an order presuming admitted in to the Henry William Jones, Queen’s Asylum for at one time of Hobart, Orphans.19 to be dead, and that his A letter of support share in £1,000 with his Emily Esther Jones from E SWAR- daughter of H W Jones sister and two brothers BRECK Hall, Chair- in the estate of the late man of the Executive Committee of the Amelia White (also a sister) be dis- Hobart Benevolent Society, was attached tributed among them, their names being to the application. It stated the Society’s Esther Caulfield, James Michael Jones, unanimous recommendation that Mary and Henry William Jones. [George Amelia be admitted to the Orphan Jones?] Counsel stated that, as ordered by School, ‘as she can neither read nor the Court, the missing brother had been advertised for in the mainland States. The
18 TAHO, SWD26/1/6 [Image 635] Mary 20 TAHO, SWD26/1/6 [Image 636] Mary Amelia Jones Amelia Jones 19 TAHO, SWD26/1/6 [Image 632–633] 21 Denise Goodfellow, personal Mary Amelia Jones communication, August 2017
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two surviving brothers and sister were Henry and Emily had at least ten children parties to the application. The missing between 1883 and 1903. He died at the brother’s share to be distributed would be age of 84 in Fulham, South Australia, on £225, but he had not been heard of for 47 7 December 1938.25 He was survived by years, when he left Hobart, whilst seven of his children, perfectly friendly with all the family, and for some time corresponded with a Miss JONES.—On the 7th of December, at Fulham. Henry William, beloved husband Salmon, of Oatlands, and then ceased writing altogether, though he was of Emily Jones, and father of Harry, engaged to be married to her. Miss George, Ern, Alf, Mary, Ada and Eva. Salmon died about 12 years ago. Aged 85. Rest after weariness. JONES—On the 7th of His Honor said he was satisfied that every December, at his late precaution had been residence, Henley Beach taken to find the long road, Fulham. Henry William, dearly beloved lost brother, and ordered husband of Emily Jones, that the share be dis- 26 tributed among the sur- aged 84 years. At rest. viving two brothers and James Michael Jones a sister, costs of the James Michael Jones application to come out received a special of the sum.22 mention for religious Henry was not dead but knowledge for Roman living in South Australia. Catholic children at the In 1882, Henry, aged 27, annual Orphan School 27 and the son of Charles prize giving in 1867. Jones, married Emily He was apprenticed to Randall, aged 18.23 Patrick BURNS on 1 February 1870. JONES–RANDALL.— On the 13th July, at the George Albert Jones James, a boot maker minister’s residence, by aged 22, married Annie licence, by the Rev. Henry Morgan, KNAPTON in Collingwood, Victoria, in Henry William Jones to Emily Randall; 1879.28 Aged 83, he died in 1940 in the all of the Grange.24 Melbourne Benevolent Asylum, Chelten- The newspaper notice was repeated in ham, Victoria. According to his death several newspapers over the following certificate, he had lived 15 years in week. Tasmania and 68 years in Victoria. He was survived by six of his seven children.
22 Mercury (Hobart) 24 July 1923 p. 4; TAHO, AD961/1/14 Letters of 25 South Australian Death Certificate District Administration No.3667 p. 217 Amelia of Adelaide 1938 608/5415 Henry White William Jones 23 South Australian Marriage Certificate 26 Advertiser (Adelaide) 9 December 1938 District of Adelaide 1882 132/166 Emily p. 20 Randall and Henry William Jones 27 Mercury (Hobart) 31 December 1867 p. 3 24 Express and Telegraph (Adelaide) 14 July 28 Victorian Marriage Certificate 1879/1063 1882 p. 2 Annie Knapton and James Jones
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James was buried in the Melbourne deceased was a widow with no children, Cemetery, Carlton.29 her relatives being resident in Victoria.33 George Jones A slightly different version appeared in George Jones has not been traced. He was the World, alive in 1923 when his sister’s estate was WOMAN’S SUDDEN DEATH. 30 resolved. A widow, Amelia White, aged 67, Mary Amelia Jones residing with Mrs. Grimmond, at 165 Mary Amelia Agnes Jones, aged 21, and Murray street, collapsed suddenly at her Job WHITE, a mariner aged 32, were home on Monday evening, and died married on 6 December 1872 by shortly afterwards. The body was Congregational Minister John Wilkes removed to the morgue, where a post SIMMONS in the residence of Thomas mortem examination was held yesterday HILL, 217 Elizabeth Street. Her brother by Dr. Crowther, who reported that death James was one of the witnesses.31 was due to chronic heart trouble. The deceased, who was a widow, leaves no Amelia’s husband, a warder at the Hobart children, and it is understood that she has gaol, died in 1904, a brother and sister living in Victoria.34 WHITE.—On July 31, 1904, at his Amelia’s death notice referred to her as residence, angle Bathurst and Campbell ‘the relict of the Job White, Chief streets, Job, the dearly beloved husband Wardsman H.M. Gaol’.35 She was buried of Amelia White, in the 74th year of his at Cornelian Bay.36 age. Funeral will leave his late residence for Cornelian Bay Cemetery on Tuesday Amelia had acquired two properties (This Day), at half-past 2 o’clock.32 during her lifetime: a weatherboard house Amelia died suddenly in 1920, at 12 Thomas Street and a brick cottage at 58 Ware Street.37 THE SUDDEN DEATH AT HOBART. Mary Ann moved to Victoria about 1886. The City Coroner … yesterday ordered a Two years later, aged 56, she died of post-mortem examination to be made of pleuro-pneumonia at the residence of her the remains of Mrs. Amelia White, a son, James, in Collingwood. She was sur- mainland visitor for some time resident at vived by her five children and was buried 165 Murray-street, who suddenly expired 38 whilst visiting neighbours several doors in the General Cemetery Melbourne. away. It had been stated by those with whom she had been living that the For more orphan stories, visit deceased had frequently complained of Friends of the Orphan Schools, heart trouble, and the examination con- St John’s Park Precinct: ducted by Dr. W. L. Crowther disclosed www.orphanschool.org.au that death was due to heart failure. The
29 Victorian Death Certificate 1940/534 33 Mercury (Hobart) 19 May 1920 p. 4 James Michael Jones 34 World (Hobart) 19 May 1920 p. 2 30 Mercury (Hobart) 24 July 1923 p. 4 35 Mercury (Hobart) 20 May 1920 p. 1 31 TAHO, RGD37/1/32 District of Hobart 36 SRCT (Millingtons) 1B21947 CE Section 1873/315 Mary Amelia Agnes Jones and X No. 15 Amelia White Job White 37 Mercury (Hobart) 5 October 1921 p. 8 32 Mercury (Hobart) 2 August 1904 p. 1; 38 Victorian Death Certificate 1888/9028 TAHO, AD960/1/27 1904 Will No. 6435 Mary Ann Jones; Age (Melbourne), p. 163. He left a small estate to his widow. 4 August 1888 p. 5.
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IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS MODEL SMALL SCHOOLS, 1910–1950 Betty Jones (Member No. 6032)
East Launceston Model School, 1909–1916 Courtesy of Derek Phillips, Making More Adequate Provision, Education Department of Tasmania, 1985. p. 133
ROM early in the nineteenth teacher’s direct attention presented century, one- and two-teacher another challenge, as did an F schools were the most common understanding of the monitorial system in providers of education for children in certain settings. country and isolated areas throughout This contribution examines one of the Tasmania. In January 1911, out of more important systems implemented by the than 370 schools supported by Education Department specifically for government, just over 70 per cent were training and bringing up-to-date staff classified as Class V1 and Provisional, 1 already employed in small schools during staffed by only one or two teachers. The the twentieth century. Model one- and problems confronting teachers of small two-teacher schools, attached to selected schools were of a different character from large practising schools used for teacher those of the class teacher in a large training, were introduced first in school. The comparatively small enrol- Launceston, Hobart and Cooee (Burnie) ment in the five, six, or sometimes seven prior to, and during, the years of the classes under the control of one teacher Great War. More were opened and presented the need for grouping and plans prospered beyond the end of World War for keeping all pupils continuously and II. Some readers of this article and/or profitably engaged. Ensuring that each their family members are likely to have student received a fair distribution of the attended such a school themselves, and those with ancestors who were educators 1 The Educational Record, 15 January 1911 during that era may have heard
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entertaining stories about teaching in such 9 a.m. to 12 midday:—Observation of situations. ordinary schoolwork in various classes on Between 1909 and 1916, East Launceston successive days; Practising School offered fifteen-week 12 midday to 12.40 p.m:— training courses designed to prepare or Conversational discussion on the Jean Graham PORTER as the original morning’s work under the guidance of the demonstration teacher. Lansdowne inspector; Crescent School, situated in West Hobart, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m:—Observation of opened in 1916 as a model two-teacher ordinary schoolwork in various classes on school built specifically as an adjunct to successive days; the Training College and Elizabeth Street 4 p.m. to 4.40 p.m:—Conversational Practising School. Mr William Woodman discussion on the morning’s work under HOWARD of the Bellerive School was the guidance of the inspector; placed in charge, and Miss Ivy WATSON, a trained teacher from 7.30 p.m. to 9 p.m:—Lectures upon Elizabeth Street, was his assistant. organisation, discipline, and method of Wellington Square Model Small School teaching the various subjects set down in 2 replaced the previous training facility at the curriculum. East Launceston from 1917.
A more co-ordinated approach by the Some Elizabeth Street Practising School Education Department to make use of Teachers, 1916 Left to right: Mr Frank McCABE, Misses Lilian such schools for training purposes was CROCKER, Elsie White and Kate MILES3 obvious between June and September Such was the success of those week-long 1917 when one-week courses, each schools of method that their offer and limited initially to twenty teachers, were format were continued annually for offered at four venues: Lansdowne decades. By the 1930s, one-day schools Crescent, Elizabeth Street and Wellington of method conducted by the inspectors Square Model two-teacher schools, and were also held in a variety of small also Cooee Observation School, a one- country schools throughout the state. teacher school with the assistance of a monitor. The work was carried out under Another four practising schools later the supervision of the district inspectors included model small schools—Charles of the time—Messrs Robert S WRIGHT, Street in Launceston, West Devonport, R H (Harry) CRAWFORD, Albert L BROCKETT and John F JONES—and followed a set daily routine: 2 The Examiner, 23 June 1917 3 Courtesy of The Tasmanian Mail, 7 September 1916 and TAHO
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and Campbell Street and Albuera Street were listed in the school’s admission in Hobart. A snapshot of the one at West register for 1922:6 Devonport follows. Phyllis ANDREWS, Myra ARCHER, West Devonport Model Small School, Leonard BARRETT, Lorna BARRETT, 1922–44 George BOND, Maggie BONNEY, Joyce Left, Mr Oscar BRYAN, Jean BUCHANAN, Alan Albert McCALL BURROWS, Alan BUTLER, Lance (1888–1959) 4 BUTLER, Maxwell W BUTLER, Albert In 1922, West COBBING, Elsie COLEMAN, Albert Devonport Prac- COLLINS, Ena COLLINS, Isabell tising School COLLINS, Selma CONINGSBY, under the head- Llewellyn DAVIS, Marjorie DAZELEY, ship of Mr Percy Melba DRAKE, Nancy DRAKE, Philip HUGHES had DUKE, David EASTMAN, Charles an enrolment of EDMUNDS, Ian FINDLAY, Lewis 620 pupils, mak- GARDNER, Wilfred GIBSON, Alfred ing it one of the GRAHAM, Reg GRAVES, Alfred largest in the state. A special feature of GREGORY, Minna GRICE, Beatrice that year’s operation was the introduction GRUNDY, Eileen HADFIELD, Willie of a model two-teacher school led by Mr HAWKINS, Alexander HOBSON, Roy Oscar McCall with assistance from Miss HOBSON, Alice HOLLOWAY, Florrie Lynda J COOLEY. The school was con- HUTCHINS, Gwen JESSUP, Frank ducted in the building that previously KELLY, Jack KIRBY, Maud KIRBY, housed Devonport Intermediate High Norman LANDON, Jesse LAWSON, School pupils prior to the move to their Tasman LAWSON, Joyce LAYCOCK, new purpose-built high school on the Stanley LEARY, Vincent LEARY, Effie corner of Best and Williams Streets. Mr LEE, Jean LOWRY, Rita LOWRY, Bert McCall took responsibility for Grades II McCALL, Joan McLEAN, Jean to VI, and Miss Cooley was in charge of McORRIE, Max MONSON, Max the younger classes.5 (Mr McCall later MORGAN, Percy MOURANT, Stella returned to Devonport Practising School MULLIGAN, Norman MURFET, Frank as its Master of Method (Head Teacher) PHILPOTT, Rhoda PHILPOTT, George from 1941–44.) POULTER, Ena REID, Freda SAWYER, Don SCHULZ, Nellie SEARLE, Jean The model two-teacher school was SMITH, Max SMITH, Dennis reported as ideally having 72 pupils THOMPSON, Mervyn TURNER, across all classes (six pupils—three girls Bernice WALSH, Jack WEATHER- and three boys—at each of the six grade HEAD, Kathleen WEATHERHEAD, levels), selected from the list of pupils Gertie WELLING, Steele WELLING, showing average ability. They were Joyce WHITEHORN, Claire WHITLEY, described as bright children and attentive Kenneth WILLIAMS, Jean WILSON, to their work. The following children Willie WILSON, Hilda WOOD, Neil WOOD.
4 Courtesy of Ancestry.com member J_Cowburn1 5 The Advocate, 24 January 1923 6 TAHO: ED124/5/1/1
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The Department’s intention to erect a special attention to tuition in that area new two-roomed model school was was in view of the perceived weakness of announced in April 1924. Built of brick, many pupils in the prime subject of the structure faced Fenton Street on one English at that time.9 of the finest sites of the school’s elevated The week-long schools of method were grounds. One advantage of having the offered annually throughout the life of the new school detached from the main model school, the in-school and after- building was that there was no hours sessions both being found of great 7 interference with the lighting. In April value. In 1924, the topic of ‘What 1925, it was noted that the model school Constitutes a Successful School?’ caused pupils were temporarily housed in lively debate and participants reportedly buildings near the Town Hall pending the enjoyed being entertained at the local 8 completion of the new school. National Café one evening by the The demonstration aspect inspectors.10 In 1928, there was an em- On a day-to-day basis, the school opera- phasis on physical education, including ted along the lines of many others in the the teaching of eurhythmics and a demon- state, the children enrolled being taught a stration on physical drill. Miss Mary regular curriculum and taking part in BLACKBURN, by then the only teacher activities usually offered through the in charge of the model school with government system of the time. The assistance from a monitor, was presented defining difference was the requirement with a round picture of the Devonport of best practice/excellence being demon- Bluff as a token of appreciation from the strated to visitors, not just by the participants for the trouble she had teacher/s-in-charge, but also by the pupils taken.11 through their work and behaviour. In 1937, in addition to the usual detailed In September 1922, the first week-long demonstrations given by Miss Alison class of instruction was held for a group SMITH, the teacher, observation lessons of thirty visiting teachers from as far were provided by the practising school afield as Forest in the north-west and staff, including Mrs Gwen MEER, Miss Swansea in the east. Following the Elvie ILES, Miss Catherine LILLICO, previously successful format established Miss Irene KERSLAKE, Mr Athol elsewhere, the guest teachers were given GOUGH and Mr Bruce HEAZLE- the opportunity over five days to view the WOOD. Nature study, speech training, latest methods of conducting a small health talks, formal and comprehension school. At mid-day and in the evening, reading, composition, grammar and they were invited to ask questions and physical drill were all covered.12 discuss methods with the two inspectors, Teachers who attended came from a wide Mr Wright and Mr Jones. On one evening geographical area. In 1938, participants Mr Wright spoke of self-instruction for included: teachers and dwelt on the Montessori system; while on another night Mr Jones spoke on the importance of teaching English. The necessity of devoting 9 The Advocate, 26 September 1922 10 The Advocate, 28 June 1924 7 The Advocate, 4 April 1924 11 The Examiner, 24 August 1928 8 The Advocate, 17 April 1925 12 The Advocate, 29 May 1937
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Misses Edith J BLACKBURN became a Rhodes Scholar in 1947 and, (Bishopsbourne) after an illustrious career in education in Bertha M BOATWRIGHT (Western Australia and overseas, was appointed Creek) Professor of Education at the University Mr I Vernon BURK (Don) of Tasmania from 1981 to 1991. Mr Margaret J CAREY (Wilmot) Hughes recalled visiting teachers would Elvira CASTLE (Gowrie) sit in neat rows at the back of the Dora M CHILCOTT (Brookhead) classroom observing the complex patterns Freda CORNELIUS (Sassafras) of teaching being demonstrated through- Myrtle A CREEDON (Birralee) out the day. The teacher would instruct Lorna M CULLEN (Montana) Dorothy J DAZELEY (Cluan) one or two grades at a time, having set Mr Norman E DODDRIDGE (Detention) each of the others to work on their own Joyce ELLIOTT (Quamby Brook) tasks, and then she would move to Joan M EUSTACE (Robbins Island) another group. A timetable under glass Mr Leo J FAHEY (Wilmot) above the fireplace gave the order of Florence E GRAINGER (Magnet) lessons for each day and was followed Mr John HEALY (Aberdeen) strictly. The front wall was lined with Mr William J LECKIE (Sassafras) blackboards, their content catering for the Mr William T LOVELL (Ashley Home different grade levels, carefully prepared for Boys) the night before with enough blank Heather J MacRAE (Paradise) spaces to allow for more spontaneous Patricia M MAHONEY (Central Castra) daily additions. For the 36 children in the Annie M MEDCRAFT (Moriarty) 13 room, Miss Smith reportedly provided a Mr Terrance M OATES (Northdown). sense of certainty that she knew what Joyce K PARKER (Liena) every one of them was doing and, above Mavis RANSOM (Winkleigh) all, cared what they were doing.15 Mr Mac W SMITH (Golden Valley) Mr Alan R THORNE (Moriarty) It is interesting to Florence A WYATT (Port Sorell) look more closely Emeritus Professor Phillip HUGHES AO at Miss Alison (1926–2011), a Smith (1904–90). pupil of West She was in charge Devonport Model from 1935 to School from 1932 1944, making her to 1938, remem- the school’s long- est-serving and last bered well the set 16 up with Miss teacher. Alison Smith.14 was born at East Devonport, the Miss Alison Smith Mr Hughes pro- eldest child of vided testament to William Smith and his wife Agnes the excellent tui- tion offered under Prof. Phil Hughes the system. He 15 Peter Brooker, Phillip Hughes, Bill Mulford, Teachers Make a Difference, University of Tasmania Faculty of 13 The Examiner, 3 September 1938 Education, 2000, p. 8 14 Australian National Museum of Education 16 Courtesy of Mrs Elaine Page, in ibid, p. 7
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Maxwell (née McFARLANE), both of Miss Smith, by then in her declining whom were of Scottish descent. Her years in a nursing home at Ulverstone. father had been a pioneer of Erriba near During their interaction, Miss Smith Cradle Mountain since 1899 and the related to Mr Hughes an amusing incident family made its home in that isolated, that illustrated her human dimension, not small farming community still known something shared with her young pupils. today for its extreme winter temperatures. The teachers who came to watch me used After attending the little school there to ask if I was nervous, teaching in front (then called Belmont), young Alison of them. One of them told me one lived at 15 Tarleton Street, East Devon- morning that I had looked tense. I didn’t port during term time for at least the last tell him but the elastic band had broken three years of her schooling with her on my knickers and I was afraid I’d lose mother’s eldest sister, Miss Lucy them. I kept my arm close to my side to 17 McFarlane. She achieved the Qualifying hold them up. Certificate at East Devonport in 1917, as Closure well as gaining first place in the Sixth At the end of 1944, it was announced that Class that year. There is no evidence that the Department would in future confine Miss Smith attended high school, but her model small schools to Hobart. In education undoubtedly continued at addition to the Elizabeth Street School, home. Teaching could be said to have there were to be practising schools at been in her blood. Her mother had been a Campbell Street and Albuera Street to teacher with the Education Department assist with the training of teachers. The for seventeen years prior to her marriage schools at Charles Street, West Devon- in 1903, and two of her mother’s siblings port and Burnie lost that status.18 were also government teachers. However, The mid-1920s small school building at it was not until 1923 that Miss Smith West Devonport, the envelope of which joined the Department as a Junior still stands, has been put to a number of Teacher at the small school at West uses by the Department over the years, its Kentish. From there she became the early conversion to a residence for the teacher at Erriba for a short time after it head teacher remembered by many. In was reduced to subsidised status. Follow- more recent decades it has served as an ing a year at Storey’s Creek, Miss Smith important regional administrative office attended Teachers’ College in 1927. Her for the Department. appointments then included the schools at For about forty years, model small Waratah, Allen Creek and Nook. A schools were seen as a practical adjunct transfer to the model school at West to teacher training in Tasmania. Lonely Devonport represented the pinnacle of her teachers, often left to their own devices career for, in 1944, aged just 40, she for long periods in isolated places, resigned from the Department on the welcomed the opportunity to spend a grounds of ill-health. week at a demonstration school in a In later life, Phillip Hughes remembered larger centre where they could enjoy both his former teacher with great respect, but professional and social interaction with as a young pupil he viewed her as a colleagues from similar settings. severe and uncompromising figure. In 1988, fifty years after he left the model 17 ibid, p. 9 school, he renewed his acquaintance with 18 The Advocate, 14 December 1944.
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LOST IN THE BUSH OUR GLOOMY FASCINATION WITH A TERRIFYING ASPECT OF LIFE IN THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES Don Bradmore (Member No. 6756)
number of commentators in pointing particularly to Frederick recent times have pointed to the McCUBBIN’s painting, ‘Lost’ (1886), A prevalence of the image of the and to films including Peter DODDS’ ‘lost child’ in Australian literature, art ‘Lost in the Bush’ (1970), Nicholas and film, arguing that that motif has ROEG’s ‘Walkabout’ (1971), Peter played a major part in the making of the WEIR’s ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ nation’s culture.1 (1975), David WADDINGTON’s In 2012, for instance, Elspeth TILLEY ‘Barney’ (1976), Manuela ALBERTI’s argued that Australians have long been ‘The Missing’ (1998), John HONEY’s ‘gloomily fascinated’ with the image of ‘Manganinnie’ (1980), Rachel the lost child. Her contention supports the PERKINS’, One Night the Moon’ (2001) and Philip NOYCE’s ‘Rabbit-Proof earlier findings of Peter PIERCE who 3 claimed that almost every major Fence’ (2002). Australian writer of the 19th century had a These artistic and imaginative creations ‘lost child’ story, citing the novels of were underpinned, of course, by stories of Henry KINGSLEY and Joseph FURPHY lost children that were true—and often and the short stories of Marcus CLARKE incredible! Of the many examples to be and Henry LAWSON. To Pierce’s list, found in colonial newspapers, three in observers have added Charles ROW- particular created more than the usual CROFT, Ethel PEDLEY and Banjo level of interest. Each evoked a huge PATERSON among others.2 outpouring of emotion throughout the Other commentators and critics have colonies. made similar claims about the ‘lost child’ The first occurred in 1864, when the image in the visual arts in Australia, DUFF children—Jane, twelve years old, her brother, seven, and her sister, five—
1 were lost in the bush near Horsham, Tilley, ‘The Lost-Child Trope in White Victoria, for over a week. Eventually, Australian Literature’ in Cross/Culture, when even their parents felt sure that they Issue No. 152, January 2012 2 Pierce, The Country of Lost Children: An must have perished, they were found Australian Anxiety (Cambridge University alive. Jane Duff was deemed a heroine Press, Melbourne, 1999); Kingsley, The Recollections of Geoffrey Hamslyn, 1859; Furphy, Such is Life, 1897; Clarke; ‘Pretty 3 McCubbin: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au Dick’, 1870; Lawson, ‘Babes in the Bush’, /australianimpressionism/education/insi 1899; Rowcroft, Tales of the Colonies, ghts_ssites.html; cinema: 1843; Pedley, Dot and the Kangaro, 1899; https://www.jukolart.us/australian- Paterson, ‘Lost, 1887’ cinema/the-lost-child-found.html
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and lavished with praise when it became could join the search parties, the bodies known that she had managed to keep her of the little boys were found huddled brother and sister alive by taking off her together in the hollow of a tree, their frock at night to give them protection bones already gnawed by animals. from the bitter cold. Newspapers of the Mercifully, the position of the bodies, day referred to the Duff incident as ‘the with the youngest in the middle for most remarkable ever recorded in such warmth, seemed to indicate that the boys cases’, adding that ‘seldom has a tale had died in their sleep, possibly on their been told which relates so much patient first night in the open. As it happened, suffering as those little children under- that night was reported to have been the went, and seldom has brotherly or sisterly coldest of the season.5 4 affection been so beautifully illustrated.’ The third case to have generated an A couple of years later, colonial emotions unusually high level of interest and were stirred to a similar degree when emotion in the colonies was that of three small boys—brothers William and twelve year-old Clara CROSBIE, who Thomas GRAHAM, aged seven and four was lost in the bush, without food or respectively, and their friend Arthur water, near Lilydale, Victoria, for twenty BURMAN, five—were lost in the bush days in 1885—and remarkably survived!
near Daylesford, Victoria. Sadly, the Tombstone of the Lost Children story ended tragically this time. After five at Daylesford6 days, during which almost every store, bank and public office in the shire was closed so that owners and employees 5 Leader (Melbourne), 6 July 1867, p. 21; 4 Star (Ballarat), 29 August 1864, p. 4; Braidwood Independent, 28 September Hamilton Spectator and Grange District 1867, p. 8 Advertiser, 7 September 1864, p. 2; 6 Courtesy of Greg Johns, http://hiking Leader (Melbourne), 17 September 1864, fiasco.com/2014/06/20/three-lost- p. 8 children-walk-daylesford/
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She had been visiting a neighbour’s place from his home. It was assumed he had and had decided to walk through the bush starved to death.8 to her own home about a mile away. Although the case of twelve year-old When found, she was said to be emaci- Emma RANDALL in June 1866 did not ated and exhausted. Her eyes were end quite so tragically, it was another sad sunken and her feet swollen and in- story which stirred emotions in flamed. Her rescuers believed that she nineteenth-century Tasmania. For twelve could not have survived another day. She days Emma was lost in the bush near told them that she had made a nest of Oatlands. Miraculously, she came across sorts for herself in a tree near a creek, and a box of matches which had been lost or it is believed that she had avoided some discarded in the bush, and when her dog of the depredations of hunger and caught a wallaby she was able to cook exposure by remaining in one place and and eat it. Eventually, she managed to not roaming about much. It is said that find her own way back to the hut where her extraordinary case was the inspiration 7 she lived but soon discovered that it had for McCubbin’s ‘Lost’. been deserted by the person who was While it can be argued that these three supposed to be her guardian. Police, who cases in Victoria were primarily res- found the girl alone at the hut a short time ponsible for generating the emotion that later, said that she was in reasonably gave rise to the prevalence of the ‘lost good health. However, as she had no child’ image in Australian art and other friends or family, they were at a literature, it must be said that many of the loss to know what to do with her.9 cases of lost children in Tasmania were Also lucky to survive was a small boy almost, if not equally, dramatic. Here are named POULTER who wandered into the some, chosen at random. bush near his home at New Norfolk in In mid-July 1846, three year-old William July 1866. Dressed only in light clothing, HODGSON, described in newspapers as and without shoes, he was found alive ‘a fine little child’, wandered away from after being missing for fifty-one hours in his parents’ home near Richmond. When, bitterly cold weather. He had had nothing after a week of frantic searching, he had to eat in that time. Although he was not been found, a reward of £25 was unable to stand when found, rescuers offered for information about his were amazed at his condition, reporting disappearance. In addition, Sir John that he was surprisingly ‘sensible’ and EARDLEY-WILMOT, the Lieutenant- aware.10 Governor, was pleased to announce that On the afternoon of 22 January 1869, any prisoner who might discover a clue to four year-old Mary Ann WILSON went the whereabouts of the lost child would missing in the Brown Sugar Loaf district be granted a conditional pardon immed- near Birralee, north of Westbury. She had iately. Unfortunately, the rewards did not produce the desired result—and it was not until late August that the remains of 8 Britannia and Trades Advocate (Burnie), the boy were found about three miles 23 July 1846, p. 3; Colonial Times, 18 August 1846, p. 4; Launceston Examiner, 26 August 1846, p. 4; death: 7 Bacchus Marsh Express, 13 June 1885, RGD35/3/1846, Richmond p.3; 20 June, p.4; Star (Ballarat), 19 June 9 Tasmanian Times, 27 June 1866, p. 3 1885, p .4 10 Mercury (Hobart), 28 July 1866, p. 2
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followed her two older brothers from her Of course, it was not only children who home to watch them drive some pigs became lost in the bush in Tasmania— from a neighbouring field. While the boys and some of the stories of the adults who were working they asked little Mary Ann did not survive or were missing for days to sit on the bank of a dry creek to wait are even more terrifying than those of the for them. But when they came back for children. Many people will be familiar her, she was gone. Despite vigorous with the horrific story of Alexander searches which continued for weeks, no PEARCE, the Irish-born convict, who trace of the child could be found and escaped with seven others from the police feared that she had either been Macquarie Harbour Penal Station on the kidnapped by some person or carried off wild west coast of the colony in 1822 and by hyenas which were numerous and attempted to walk to Hobart Town fierce in that region. Distressingly, it was through the bush. When they became to be nine months before her remains, hopelessly lost, they resorted to canni- consisting only of bones, some clothing, balism to survive. When recaptured, her shoes and several pieces of hair, were Pearce was hanged for murder.13 discovered three miles from where she In 1837, Private Thomas RILEY of the was last seen. The girl’s mother was able 21st Regiment deserted his post at Hobart to identify the clothing but, considering Town and headed south-west through the the roughness of the terrain, police could bush in the direction of the Huon River in not imagine how she had managed to an attempt to reach Port Cygnet and from stray so far. Nevertheless, it was ultim- there to reach a whaling station where he ately decided that foul play had not could take a ship to another country. occurred and that the poor little girl had Thomas SMITH, a police constable, was been alone in the bush when she 11 ordered to lead a search party to find him perished. and bring him back. For the next week, In 1870, a three year-old boy named Smith and his men searched for Riley up EVANS strolled away from his home at and down the Huon without success. Cressy to go to his father who was Later, Riley, close to death, turned him- working nearby. It was not until his father self in. He had been lost in the bush for returned to the house at dusk that anyone six days during which he had had nothing realized that the boy was missing. A to eat but berries and tea-tree leaves.14 search party was quickly arranged and for It was not only enlisted men who became the next two days and nights twenty or lost in the bush; it also happened to thirty men scoured the nearby bush. experienced, high-ranking officers. In When the boy was found, he was curled 1838, Captain Charles O’Hara BOOTH, up asleep almost five miles from his Commandant of the convict settlement at home. In freezing weather and without Port Arthur, set out to inspect another of shelter, he was considered very fortunate 12 the stations under his control on the to have survived. Tasman Peninsula. Before leaving, he
13 Paul Collins, Hell’s Gates: The Terrible 11 Mercury (Hobart), 9 February 1869, p. 2; Journey of Alexander Pearce, Van Launceston Examiner, 30 September Diemen’s Land Cannibal, Melbourne: 1869, p. 3 Hardie Grant Books, 2002 12 Cornwall Chronicle, 27 April 1870, p. 3 14 Hobart Courier, 2 June 1837, p. 2
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told fellow officers that he would be back returned by nightfall, the alarm was the following day. When he had not raised. For two days, search parties, returned four days later, a search party comprising about seventy men in all, led by Thomas LEMPRIERE, the Com- some on horseback and others on foot, missariat Officer at Port Arthur, headed and accompanied by their dogs, looked out to look for him. Luckily, only after for her. Fortunately, word reached them two days of searching through very late on the Sunday afternoon that she had difficult country, Booth was found but he been able to find her own way to George was in a very bad way. When discovered, Town where, despite the suffering she he was lying almost insensible, having had endured, she was comfortable. She lost the use of his legs and arms. He told told police that when darkness fell on the his rescuers that, on his second day out, Saturday night, she had taken refuge in a he had lost his way while riding through a hollow tree after covering up the opening thick, scrubby swamp. Later, he was to as well as she could with branches.17 say that it was the cold rather than the Even today, the Tasmanian bush has a hunger which had been the worst part of fearsome reputation. Experienced bush- his perilous situation and that he had 15 walkers say it is easy to become lost resigned himself to die. among the thick ferns, fallen trees, moss Women also became lost in the bush. In and muddy soil of the dense forest, 1881, a Mrs GILLESPIE, the 50-year-old especially on the south-facing slopes of wife of a farmer at Pipers River, east of the ranges. When a thirteen year-old boy George Town, had a narrow escape from and his father were found alive after three death when she lost her way while freezing nights in the bush in October looking for some missing cows. For 2017, a police spokesman described the almost thirty-six hours she wandered terrain the missing pair had been in as backwards and forwards in very rough ‘impenetrable’. ‘It’s the type of terrain country, crossing creeks and climbing that you can’t walk through,’ he said. ‘If over fallen logs. When found, she was in you want to get through it, you get on your an exhausted condition. Her rescuers hands and knees and push through.’18 believed that she would not have survived 16 Considering the frequency of incidents another night in the bush. such as these, and the drama they In 1887, a Miss BURTON of Perth, provoke, it is little wonder that the image Tasmania, was lost in the bush for a day of the ‘lost-child’ has become so common and a half near St Marys, where she had in the Australian cultural landscape. It is gone to visit her married sister. Early on a fair to say that in the nineteenth century Saturday afternoon, she had gone out to the idea of losing one’s child to an alien gather berries and ferns and had country reflected the early settlers' inadvertently strayed from the track distrust of their strange, new land. Does which became hard to see when heavy that distrust still exist, perhaps? rain started to fall. When she had not
15 Bent’s News and Tasmanian Register, 8 June 1838, p. 2; Hobart Town Courier, 17 Launceston Examiner, September 27, 8 June 1838, p. 3; 15 June 1838, p. 2; 1887, p. 3 Launceston Advertiser, 21 June 1838, p. 4 18 The Mercury (Hobart), 21 October 2017, 16 Launceston Examiner, April 12, 1881, p. 2 p. 7.
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GERMAN-AUSTRALIAN GENEALOGY AND HISTORY ALLIANCE Michael Watt
N March 2016, Colleen Read, its establishment, the Genealogical secretary of the Tasmanian Family Society of the Northern Territory, the Ku- I History Society, referred me to ring-gai Historical Society, the Wend- correspondence received from Dirk Sorb Society of South Australia and the Weissleder, national chairman of Genealogical Society of Victoria have Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft Genea- joined GAGHA. logischer Verbande (DAGV), an umbrella In July and August of 2017, Dirk organisation of German genealogical Weissleder undertook an international societies. The correspondence sought tour. First, he visited the USA to foster contacts with genealogical societies the work of the German-American Gen- involved in researching German heritage ealogical Partnership. Then, he travelled in Australia, and referred to an initiative to Australia and New Zealand for a series taken in May 2015 to form the German- of seminars organised by Unlock the American Genealogical Partnership for Past, a collaborative venture of expert genealogical societies in Germany and speakers, writers, organisations and the USA to collaborate on various commercial partners across Australia and projects. The intention of the correspond- New Zealand promoting history, geneal- ence, which had been sent to genealogical ogy and heritage. Seminars he ran in societies and German interest groups Brisbane, Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, across Australia, was to form a similar Canberra, Adelaide and Perth, examined network between Germany and Australia. topics relating to genealogical research in In January 2016, the South Australian Germany. While in Adelaide, he met Genealogy and Heraldry Society’s with representatives of GAGHA. Germanic and Continental European In October 2017, GAGHA announced Group (SAGHS) and the Lutheran that it will hold its first conference in Archives began discussing the concept of August 2018 at the University of establishing a German heritage group to Adelaide for researchers to discuss collect German-Australian family history German-Australian history, heritage and information. Coordinated by Benjamin culture under the theme: Australisches Hollister, a professional genealogist Deutschum – Reconnections, Recollec- specialising in tracing German connec- tions, Resilience. Presentations will tions in South Australian families, include workshops running from two to DAGV, SAGHS, the Genealogical six hours, one-hour presentations and Society of Queensland, the Queensland lightning talks of 30 minutes. Readers Family History Society and the Lutheran interested in learning more about Archives established the German- GAGHA and its forthcoming conference Australian Genealogy and History can contact Benjamin Hollister at Alliance (GAGHA) in August 2016. In [email protected] September 2016, GAGHA launched a website at germanheritage.org.au. Since
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NEW MEMBERS
A warm welcome is extended to the following new members 7911 GIBBONS Mr Colin 38B Saltburn Road MILFORD AKL NZ 0620 [email protected] 7912 COTTERELL Mrs Sally 22 Walker Street WYNYARD TAS 7325 [email protected] 7913 STEVENS Mrs Margaret 9 Marlou Court RIVERSIDE TAS 7250 [email protected] 7914 ROSS Ms Lynette 9 Adams Street MOWBRAY TAS 7248 [email protected] 7915 BARRETT Mr Douglas PO Box 245 LATROBE TAS 7307 7916 BARRETT Mrs Elizabeth PO Box 245 LATROBE TAS 7307 7917 DONAGHY Mrs Collene 3 Mersey Place DEVONPORT TAS 7310 [email protected] 7918 DUNN Dr Helen 10 Village Drive KINGSTON TAS 7050 [email protected] 7919 McGEE Ms Di 2204 East Tamar Highway MT DIRECTION TAS 7252 [email protected] 7920 HAMMOND Mr Wayne 54 Sunset Boulevarde CLARENCE POINT TAS 7270 7921 GIPTON Ms June U1 12 Avonbury Court NORWOOD TAS 7250 7922 CALABRIA Mrs Christine PO Box 69 TINONEE NSW 2430 [email protected] 7923 JOHNS Mrs Beverley 31 Silwood Avenue HOWRAH TAS 7018 [email protected] 7924 JOHNS Mr Ross 31 Silwood Avenue HOWRAH TAS 7018 [email protected] 7925 ASHLIN Ms Catherine 279 Roslyn Avenue BLACKMANS BAY TAS 7052 [email protected] 7926 BETRIDGE Miss Sharon PO Box 168 VERMONT VIC 3133 [email protected] 7927 MOLLINEAUX Ms Lindy 43 Belar Street HOWRAH TAS 7018 [email protected] 7928 WALDON Mrs Sandra 93 Arthur Street HOBART TAS 7000
CORRECTION 7888 McFARLANE Mrs Helen PO Box 562 LOCH SPORT VIC 3851 [email protected]
Privacy Statement Unless specifically denied by members when joining the Society, or upon renewing their membership, contact details and member’s interests may be published in Tasmanian Ancestry and other publications of the Society. A copy of the ‘Privacy Policy’ of the Society is available on request at Branch Libraries or from State or Branch Secretaries. The ‘Privacy Policy’ document sets out the obligations of the Society in compliance with the Privacy Act of 1988 and the amendments to that Act.
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NEW MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
NAME PLACE/AREA TIME M’SHIP NO. BEST/SYKES Sarah 7919 BESTON 7917 BROWN 7917 BYRNE Patrick 7919 CAPEL Elizabeth Nottinghamshire ENG 1800–1843 7925 CHEYNE/CHAMBERS Margaret Hobart TAS AUS 1841 7926 FARRELL Louisa Tasmania AUS/UK 1880–1950 7920 GEARD Amelia Gretna TAS AUS c.1890 7923 GIBBONS Henry Rose Sevenoaks KEN ENG 1700–1900 7911 GOOD Matilda Penguin TAS AUS 1865–1946 7921 GRANT Jessie Duncan Launceston TAS AUS 7919 HALL/SIMPSON Charlotte Clarence Plains TAS AUS 1808 7926 HAMMOND Charles Walker Tasmania AUS/UK 1800–1880 7920 HAMMOND Robert Kennedy 7919 HARTLEY William Hobart TAS AUS 7926 HIGGINS Mary Ann Tasmania AUS/UK 1840–1865 7920 HOBSON Mary Ann Campbell Town TAS AUS 1824–1845 7914 IVORY 7917 KIDD William Larling NFK ENG c.1830 7921 KIDD William Robert Port Sorell TAS AUS 1864–1954 7921 McCASKER Patrick Campbell Town TAS AUS 1824–1845 7914 McGINNIS William Sorell TAS AUS 1838 7926 MOLLINEAUX John Somerset ENGLAND 7927 PALMER 7927 PIERCE 7917 ROSS James 7914 SEABOURNE George Somerset ENGLAND 7927 SELF Thomas Trowbridge SOM ENG 1797–1843 7925 SHEPHARD 7917 TATE Charlotte Port Sorell TAS AUS 1862–1886 7921 WALPOLE Ellen Tipperary IRE 1800–1850 7925 WARD William Gordon Ireland c.1778 7919 WARD William Gordon ENG/Portugal/AUS 1770–1820 7913 WILLISON Thomas MLN SCOTLAND 1780–1824 7925 WOLFE Apolonia Genovena Gajdel Hungary/Klacno, Slovakia 7913
All names remain the property of the Tasmanian Family History Society Inc. and will not be sold on in a database If you find a name in which you are interested, please note the membership number and check the New Members’ listing for the appropriate name and address. Please enclose a stamped self–addressed envelope and don’t forget to reply if you receive a SSAE.
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BOOK REVIEW
Glorious! Exploring Tasmania in 1914 – PRO Vic by Margaret Deacon. Advise New Records to A nicely crafted book using many quotes Explore from her grandmother’s travel diary taking the reader from southern Under Section 9 of the Public Records Queensland to Hobart in Tasmania. An Act 1973, files of a personal or private exciting journey for a group of young nature can be closed for up to 99 years women, friends, when the rest of the to prevent the violation of personal world was focused on a world war. They privacy. As of the 1 January 2018, were brave to set out at such a time, but another year of files has been opened thrilled by the adventure, the things they to the public to access for the first time. did and saw, and the people. Records include capital sentence and Margaret‘s choice of older illustrations criminal files, male prison registers, gives the story an authentic charm; or divorce case files and cause books from 1942 as well as children’s court should I say a ‘glorious’ charm? Yes! registers from 1917 and birth registers Tasmania is a glorious place to visit and from 1911–1918 among others. to live in. Well done Margaret, a good read! Jenny Gill
HELP WANTED HELP WANTED Joseph WARD Queries are published free for members of the Tasmanian Family History Jeff Ward has an ancestor, Joseph Society Inc. (provided their membership WARD transported to Van Diemen’s number is quoted) and at a cost of Land in 1824 aboard the Chapman for $10.00 per query to robbing a carrier’s cart. He was born in non-members. Layham, Suffolk, 8 September 1806, Special Interest Groups are subject to eldest of nine children. His brother advertising rates. Thomas, born 1811, was transported to Members are entitled to three free NSW in 1836. Parents Joseph Ward born entries per year. 1782 and Jemima HARRINGTON born All additional queries will be published at a cost of $10.00. 1785. Jeff has been unable to find any Only one query per member per issue further trace of him. A Joseph Ward will be published unless space permits married a Mary KETLEY 22 September otherwise. 1834 at New Town, VDL. However Jeff
Queries should be limited has established this is unlikely to be his to 100 words and forwarded to Joseph, as a subsequent well publicised [email protected] dispute between Joseph and Mary gave or rise to a detailed description of this The Editor Joseph being issued, and it did not fit his Tasmanian Ancestry, Joseph. If anyone can help, please contact PO Box 326 ROSNY PARK Lyn Hookway and who will put them in Tasmania 7018 touch with Jeff. [email protected]
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ARE THE ANCESTORS HANGING FROM YOUR FAMILY TREE REALLY YOUR OWN?
The Genealogical Proof Standard information provided by an original consists of five elements: source may seem the most conclusive, 1 A reasonably exhaustive search for all the individuals who created that record pertinent information—The keyword may have erred in their statements or here is ‘reasonably.’ Does this mean that recording, lied about certain details, or you have to locate and interpret every omitted pertinent information. On the record or source available for your other hand, a derivative work which ancestor? Not necessarily. What it does expands on the original through further, assume, however, is that you have careful research of alternative sources to examined a wide range of high quality fill in holes and inconsistencies, may be sources which relate to your specific more dependable than the original itself. genealogical question (identity, event, The goal here is to apply sound relationship, etc.). This helps to mini- interpretation of the data contributed by mize the probability that undiscovered each source based on its own merits. evidence will overturn a too-hasty 4 Resolution of any contradictory or conclusion down the road. conflicting evidence—When evidence is 2 A complete and accurate citation to the contradictory the problem of proof source of each item used—If you don’t becomes more complex. You will need know where a piece of evidence came to determine just how much weight the from, how can you evaluate it? For this conflicting evidence carries in relation to reason it is very important to document the evidence which supports your all sources as you find them. Keeping hypothesis. In general, each piece of track of sources also provides the side evidence needs to be re-evaluated in benefit that fellow researchers can easily terms of its likelihood to be accurate, the locate the same sources in order to verify reason it was created in the first place, your information and conclusions for and its corroboration with other themselves. It is very important in this evidence. If major conflicts still exist, step to record all sources that you have you may have to take a step back and do examined, whether or not they provided another search for additional records. any new facts for your family tree. These 5 Arrive at a soundly reasoned, coherently facts which seem useless now, may written conclusion—Basically, this provide new connections down the road means to arrive at and document the when combined with other sources. conclusion that is best supported by the 3 Analysis of the collected information’s evidence. If conflicts arose which have quality as evidence—This is probably the still not been resolved, then an argument most difficult step for most people to needs to be constructed to provide well- grasp. In order to evaluate the quality of grounded reasons why the contradictory your evidence, it is first important to evidence is less credible than the bulk of determine how likely the information is to the remaining evidence. be accurate. Is the source original or derivative? Is the information contained Powell, Kimberly. ‘Evidence or Proof?’ in that source primary or secondary? Is ThoughtCo, March 4, 2017 your evidence direct or indirect? It is not thoughtco.com/genealogical-evidence- always cut and dried. While primary or-proof-1420515
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A CONUNDRUM OF KINGS BUGG AND KING FAMILIES AT WYNYARD TASMANIA Lyn Hookway (Member No. 726) and Jeff Ward
Lyn Hookway writes: children on arrival were: Drucilla (11 was born in 1948 in the small town years), Jonathon (10), Philip (7), Charles of Wynyard on the North West Coast Randle (3), and Ellis James (1). Three of Tasmania. more children were born in Tasmania— I William, Eliza Ann and Betsey. My mother’s maiden name was BUGG and her ancestors were Jonathan and On the marriage certificate, Jonathan’s Anna Maria Bugg who came from Lay- father is named as Joseph Bugg, and ham near Hadleigh in Suffolk, England, Anna Maria’s father as James King. I did and settled at Table Cape (as Wynyard some basic research on the Bugg side, was then known) in 1860. If you live in and determined that Jonathan’s parents Tasmania and your name is Bugg, or you were Joseph and Mary Bugg—Mary died have Buggs in your family tree, there is a in January 1859 and Joseph died in the ninety-nine per cent chance you are workhouse at Semer in July 1865. I was descended from this one couple. unable to find any siblings of Jonathan. Jonathan Bugg and Anna Maria KING I didn’t get very far with Anna Maria’s were married in Layham, Suffolk, in 1838. parents, there seemed to be James Kings By the time they came to Tasmania they all over the place and I put it in the ‘too had eleven children, but only five came hard’ basket, assuming that her parents with them. The Bugg family sailed in the would have died and been buried some- Indiana which left Glasgow on the 24 where in Suffolk or nearby. December 1859 and arrived in Laun- Then, one day, many years later, on going ceston, Tasmania on 24 April 1860. They through my file, I found an obituary in settled at Table Cape. Details of the 1933 for the eldest daughter, Drucilla
Lower Layham c. 1900
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Bugg, who married James WEEKS. The Larkins on 18 June 1831, James arrived last line read ‘Mrs Weeks was a grand- in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) in daughter of the late Mr James King of October. The birthplace on his convict Wynyard.’ This set alarm bells ringing— record is given as Stoke on Trent, James King was here in Wynyard! Some Staffordshire, but in the light of more diligent research needed on James subsequent findings I believe this is an King! error and he was actually born at Stoke The Bugg family’s passage to Australia by Nayland, Suffolk. He probably said he was paid by a James King. He paid £68— was born at ‘Stoke’, and the clerk wrote £16 each for the parents, £8 each for four down where he believed Stoke to be. of the children, and £4 for the baby. James King was assigned to the VDL There is a Jas King buried in the Jenner Company on 31 January 1832, and on 13 Street Cemetery in Wynyard—no details January 1844 he married Betsey PERCY; other than his name. A James King died and according to the marriage certificate, at Emu Bay in 1863 aged 59 therefore he was a widower aged 39 and she was a born about 1803. (For him to be Anna widow aged 40. By this time James had Maria’s father he would have been only received a conditional pardon, but Betsey about 18 when she was born—but that is was a recently arrived convict so they had possible.) to apply for permission to marry. I discovered there were two James Kings Betsey Percy came from near Launceston who were convicts and assigned servants in Cornwall. In 1842 she was convicted for the Van Diemen’s Land Company of stealing two sheep in collaboration (VDL Co.), one arrived in 1832 and one with her brother Robert and sentenced to in 1833.1 15 years’ transportation. She was arrested The first James King I investigated was as Mrs RUSSELL, but at her trial she sentenced to 14 years’ transportation after said she was single, had no children and being found guilty at Bury St Edmunds, preferred to be called Percy. There was Suffolk of stealing a fat hog from Mr quite a lengthy report of the trial in the BERRY of Layham. The coincidence of Royal Cornwall Gazette. Her brother this crime being committed at Layham, Robert was also sentenced to transporta- the same village the Buggs came from is tion. Betsey received a conditional very interesting. If he is Anna Maria’s pardon in 1850. Betsey King died in 1882 father, she would have been about 10 at and is buried in the Jenner Street Ceme- the time. tery Wynyard. According to the head- stone inscription she was aged 80 years, At the time of conviction, James stated he the wife of James King, late of Inglis was 30 years old and a widower with two Farm, Table Cape. children. He had previous convictions of stealing flour (6 months), and leaving his James King’s Death 1863 wife (1 month). Transported on the ship In 1863 James King died. At the time he owned the property called Inglis Farm, 200 acres on the northern side of the 1 Assigned servants were convicts who were Inglis River, and a property of some 400 assigned to work for free settlers. The VDL Co. also employed indentured servants, free acres around Camp Creek on the southern settlers who had their passage paid for by the side of the Inglis. He made a will leaving company and were bound to it for a period of his property to: 7 years.
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1 his wife Betsey King for her lifetime Betsey said she was single and had no 2 after her death to James Morton for his children. John was born in 1831, so if he lifetime; was Betsey’s son, he would have been 3 after his death to the ‘children of my about 10 or 11 when she was convicted. I stepson John King Percy’ can find no record of a John King Percy There is no mention of a daughter Anna being born here or in England, or arriving Maria or her husband or children. here either as a convict or a free settler. So who is James Morton? Betsey was arrested as Betsey Russell. He arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (VDL) There were a couple of John Russells on 24 October 1826 aged 21 years on the born in Cornwall about the appropriate Tranmere which was the first vessel time, with a mother named Elizabeth bringing indentured servants to the VDL (Betsey?), but nothing definite to go on Co. at Circular Head. He hailed from near there. His name is interesting, why ‘King’ Edinburgh in Scotland. James Morton as his second name? worked around Circular Head and The first mention we have of John King acquired property there. He later (1850s) Percy is his marriage in 1857 to Sarah moved to the Wynyard area and had a Ann RIDGE at Table Cape. block of land at Mount Hicks, near Mr John King Percy, of the River Inglis, Wynyard. to Sarah Ann, second daughter of Mr In an article in The Mercury, 28 April John Ridge of Table Cape. 1884, Howard HAYWORTH wrote one The couple had five children—Lucy, of a series called ‘Through Tasmania’, Ellen, Sarah, James King, and Mara. He about Emu Bay and Table Cape, which is shown as being a landholder at Table included a short sketch of the life of Cape (Wynyard) in 1858 when a group of James Morton. An extract from this says: landholders met to fix the rate of In 1850 he came to Table Cape and has assessment for the roads trust. Also in lived there since … When he came over 1858 he was appointed a Special Const- to the Cape he had a partner, and they able at Table Cape. In 1858 Wynyard was jointly acquired and worked a piece of officially declared a ‘port for the lading land. They had no deed between them, of goods’ and John King Percy was and an unreckoned thing happened – the appointed clearing officer for the partner died. He had made a will leaving Customs. He held many government the property, except an annuity, to his positions including Summoning Officer own relatives; hence Mr. Morton, with of the Court of Requests, Examiner of this exception, lost his share. He has, Balances Weights and Measures, Provis- however, enough for his wants. ional Officer of Customs at Circular Was this partner James King? Head, Collector of Rural Police Rates for James Morton never married, but appar- the district of Horton, and in June 1866 ently had a son back in England. He was appointed Tidewaiter (whatever a 2 returned to his home country and died tidewaiter is!). there in 1895. Who is John King Percy? He is a mystery. ‘My stepson, John King Percy’ would lead one to assume he was 2 Tidewaiter: (formerly) a customs officer the son of Betsey Percy, but at her trial who boarded and inspected incoming ships [Ed.]
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On 7 August 1866, John King Percy Golf Club, was owned by Wynyard’s first drowned in the West Inlet at Smithton, settler, John King. In 1841 John King when attempting to cross at high water. purchased two neighbouring blocks of So, after the death of James Morton in 640 acres at Table Cape. It is possible 1895, the King properties at Wynyard that John King farmed the property be- passed to James King Percy, the only son longing to Frederick Ford as the two of John King Percy. His name is interest- blocks he had purchased were covered in ing. He was born in 1864, not long after forest which was difficult to clear. In the death of James King. Was he named January 1845 John King was drowned in after him? the Cam River. John King’s daughter Ellenor married Frederick Ford in April The Properties 1845, and not long after, the King family I made a visit to the Land Titles Office in and Frederick Ford moved to Circular Hobart. This is a very interesting place, Head. Whether John King built the house and I had a wonderful time trawling on this property is uncertain, but it seems through the indexes and examining land unlikely that he would build such a sub- titles bound up in huge ledgers. I found stantial dwelling on land which did not out quite a lot about the properties owned belong to him. The homestead is more by James King. likely to have been built by Frederick
Inglis Farm: Ford or James King. This 200 acre property (pictured above) After James King’s death in 1863, the on the northern side of the Inglis River property was farmed by Betsey King with was originally purchased from the Crown James Morton as her overseer. In the for £100 in February 1842 by Edward 1870s Betsey moved across the river to a Curr, the manager of the VDL Co. In cottage on the Camp Creek property and December 1842 he sold this land to Inglis Farm was leased by John ALEX- Frederick Wilbraham FORD for £250. ANDER. In 1883, after the death of James King purchased it from Ford in Betsey, James Morton took over, and the 1847 for £200. property was leased to various people. On There is a common misconception that the death of James Morton in 1895 the this land is now the site of the Wynyard property passed to James King Percy (the
224 TASMANIAN ANCESTRY March 2018 Inglis Farm
son of John King Percy), and has The Bugg family lived at Table Cape remained in the Percy family virtually (Wynyard) after their arrival in VDL, since then. where James King owned property. Camp Creek: My main stumbling block was, and still James King purchased 400 acres on the is, that there was no mention of the Bugg southern side of the Inglis River around family in James King’s will. There is also Camp Creek on 1 March 1859 for £800 no mention of James King junior, Anna from, of all people, John King Percy! Maria’s brother. We have evidence he This land was part of a 500 acre block was here as well. A James King died at originally purchased from the Crown by Emu Bay in 1874, aged 50, and the John King Percy in December 1856. In informant on the death certificate was the original deed the name was incor- ‘Maria Bugg, the sister’. I have not been rectly cited as ‘John King’ (i.e. the last able to establish when James King junior name Percy was omitted), so in some arrived here. maps this land appears to have been There is also no direct evidence that originally granted to John King, which is James King the convict is the same James not correct. King who owned the land around Table In 1860 a small part of this (about 2 Cape. As an ex-convict, where did he get acres) was sold to MOORE and QUIG- his money from to buy these properties? GIN, local sawmillers, and in June 1862 Did he owe money to James Morton and about 1 acre on the point between Camp John King Percy, and that is why these Creek and the Inglis River was sold to people are mentioned in the will? There Joseph STUTTERD, leaving James King are still many questions, but the coinci- in possession of 397 acres at the time of dences are striking. his death in 1863. Robert Quiggin leased The Coppin Family this land and eventually bought it from Another family of interest is the COPPIN James King Percy about 1896. family, Joseph and Eliza and children, Evidence that James King is the father who came to VDL on the same ship as of Anna Maria Bugg the Bugg family. A fellow researcher in I was becoming convinced that this James Western Australia, who has connections King was indeed Anna Maria’s father, to the Coppin family, believes they are although I had no written evidence direct- related. Joseph and Eliza Coppin were ly linking them. However, there were a married in the Registry Office, Baintree, lot of coincidences: Essex, in 1848, citing their residence as Marriage certificate of Jonathan and Stisted. Born about 1820, Eliza was of a Anna Maria 1838 states her father is similar age to Anna Maria. Her father’s James King. name on the marriage certificate was James King was convicted in Layham John King. Were they cousins perhaps? A Suffolk. newspaper item on the death of Joseph Coppin in 1904 stated he was a ‘brother- James King paid for the Bugg family to come to VDL. in-law of the late James King of Wyn- yard’. If this was the case, Eliza would be Obituary of Drucilla Weeks states she James’ sister, however the age difference was a granddaughter of James King of Wynyard. made it seem unlikely.
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Help needed Maria. Trying to find exactly who her I now felt it was time to enlist further father was proved a problem. King is not help, so I joined the Suffolk Family a common name in Layham; there was History Society and posted an item in the only one family and between 1754 and Help Wanted section. I was very fortun- 1900 the church register shows only nine ate to receive a reply from Jeff Ward, children named King being baptised. who has been very helpful with the Only one of these was named James, in research in Suffolk. I will let Jeff 1793, so not our James. continue with the story. At Layham, on the 16 November 1821, James King married Maria HEAD. There Jeff Ward continues: was a daughter named Maria born Some time ago I discovered that an Polstead, 3 March 1822. Another pos- ancestor of mine, Joseph Ward (b. 1806), sibility was Mary Anne, baptised 21 April was convicted of theft and transported in 1819 at Polstead, parents James and 1823 to Van Diemen’s Land for seven Elizabeth. Finally, Anne King born Stoke years. In so doing he implicated four by Nayland 17 May 1820, parents James other men. One of whom was a David and Susan. The parishes of Layham and Bugg who was transported to New South Polstead join, and Stoke is next to Pol- Wales for life. Joseph served his time, stead. Also Sir Joshua ROWLEY had receiving his certificate of freedom in large estates at both Layham and Stoke 1830 and then disappeared without a and there was an interchange of staff trace. End of story. between the two locations. It was decided on balance of probabilities that James Thus when I opened my June 2016 copy King and Maria Head were her parents. of Roots and saw Lyn Hookway’s request Subsequent discoveries were to confirm for help regarding Jonathan Bugg and his this. wife Anna Maria (née King) who went to Australia in 1860, I was immediately Using the Suffolk Family History Society interested, for I was aware that David database looking for children baptised Bugg was uncle to Jonathan Bugg and it between 1820 and 1830 whose parents seemed that perhaps I owed her a favour. were James and Maria King, five names She was also interested in whether the came to light. Bugg family was related to the Coppin Maria Bapt. 3 March 1822 Polstead family who travelled out to Australia on James Bapt. 5 February 1824 Hadleigh the same ship. There was apparently a James Bapt. 8 October 1826 Hadleigh suggestion that Mrs Bugg was related to Anne Bapt. 27 March 1827 Hadleigh Mrs Eliza Coppin, on the grounds they (bur. 2 March 1828 aged one each had King as a maiden name. Polstead) Anna Maria’s father was James King and Ann Bapt. 13 January 1828 Polstead Eliza’s was John. Maria King, aged 24, was buried at My first reaction was to concentrate on Polstead on 7 May 1827. establishing who exactly Anna Maria It was also confirmed there was no other was, her parents and siblings etc. Anna couple named James and Maria King Maria married as a minor so she must living in Hadleigh or surrounding parish- have been born after 1817. Her name is es at the time. James King born 5 Feb- stated in various places as Anna Maria or ruary 1824 must have died but no record
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of his death can be found. King is a and leaving them a burden on the parish. common family name in Polstead so that By extraordinary coincidence my own the Ann born 13 January 1828 can ancestor Joseph Ward was sentenced to reasonably be disregarded, bearing in seven years’ transportation on 30 July mind Maria’s death in 1827. This leaves 1823 in the same court and the same day two children, Maria (1822) and James that James received six months. In 1831 (1826). In subsequent court appearances he was convicted of stealing a fat hog in James King was to state he was a Layham and the Suffolk Chronicle of 23 widower with two children. Furthermore April 1831 records that James King, aged in 1874 Maria Bugg (née King) was 30, who was to be transported for 14 registered as being present at the death of years, was removed from Bury goal and her brother James in VDL. placed on board the hulk Cumberland. He Attention then turned to Maria’s father, later sailed for Van Diemen’s Land in the James King. His parents were John King convict ship Larkins on 18 June 1831. and Lucy Lilly who married in Polstead This left Maria aged nine and James aged on 5 April 1796. They were to have at five effectively orphans—were they des- least sixteen children of which nine tined for the work house or would their appear to have survived. The eldest was father’s many siblings rally round? It was John (born 1797) and the youngest Eliza at this point the penny dropped. Their (born 1819). James was the fifth child, father’s youngest sister, born in 1819, born in 1803. was named Eliza, and whose father was A search of the Polstead parish records John. Despite Eliza only being three provided a great deal of information. In years older than Maria she was their aunt. 1817 James King (aged 15) was an Now all we had to do was prove she was inmate in the Tattingstone House of the Eliza Coppin on the ship. Industry. He was indentured as an At the moment what happened next is apprentice to John Kettle farmer of Shelly conjecture. The admittance records for on 1 November 1817. Shelly joins both the Cosford Union Workhouse at Semer Layham and Polstead. It is known that no longer exist, so we can’t say if the two James’ parents were living in Shelly at children spent any time there. There was the time. On the 11 January 1821 a work for young children in the silk mills removal order was issued sending him in Hadleigh, and at the time children as from Polstead to Shelly, however on 21 young as five were employed. In view of June another was issued sending him what happened later it would be nice to from Polstead to Layham. He married think Eliza was involved in their upbring- Maria Head on 16 November 1821 at ing but that is unlikely. A more likely Layham. candidate is Margaret RAND who was The Bury and Norwich Post of 30 July their aunt and their mother’s sister. Her 1823 recorded he was imprisoned for six husband had acted as witness at their months for stealing five pecks of corn mother’s marriage. We do know Anna and 19 shillings in silver from the water Maria married Jonathan Bugg 25 Decem- mill at Layham. The Ipswich Journal of ber 1838. 12 November 1825 records that James As for Eliza she has proven elusive. She was given one month hard labour for was baptised at Polstead 31 October absconding from his wife and children 1819. In the 1841 census her parents were
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living alone at Shelly. A possibility in the GAUNT and only the Buggs were paid census is an Eliza King aged 20, a servant for by James King. We have not been living in Bocking Essex, now joined to able to establish just who Mr Gaunt was. Braintree. But her place of birth is given So it could have been just a coincidence as Essex. In 1848 she was able to sign her the two families were on the same ship. name on the marriage register. For 1851 They travelled to Tasmania on the ship census she gave her place of birth as an Indiana which left Greenock on the unknown location in Essex. However Clyde late December 1859. Of the 260 Joseph Coppin’s obituary in July 1904 passengers on board 245 were sponsored contains a reference to the fact that he by the Scottish Immigration Society of St was James King’s brother-in-law and that Andrew. The Buggs and Coppins were he landed in Launceston in 1860 from the among the other fifteen. The ship arrived ship Indiana. So she must be our Eliza. in Launceston Tasmania on the 25 April A possible scenario is that Eliza, the last 1860 after a passage of 110 days, which of a large number children in a poor was described as being pleasant and family, left the family at a very early age prosperous. There was one death and one and had no further contact with them birth recorded on the voyage. Our two until much later in life and was thus families then transhipped onto the Titania uncertain where she was born. It should for Table Cape. The 245 sponsored by the not be forgotten that Polstead is close to Society of St Andrew, based in Tasmania, the Essex border. The Guardians of the travelled free on the understanding that Poor had been making payments to John they would stay for at least four years and King for his sick wife certainly as late as that within six months they would 1824. It is also relevant that the reimburse the society at the rate of £8 per Guardians regularly apprenticed children family or £5 for individuals travelling into North Essex. Their four previous alone. At this time, with the cessation of children had died at early ages. Unable to transportation, Tasmania was short of cope in 1819 when Eliza came along, the labour and inducements were being child had been removed from her offered to encourage immigrants. mother’s care. That James King should send for his Lyn Hookway concludes: daughter is understandable, but why, out This has been a most interesting journey, of his many siblings, did he single out his and it all started with just happening to youngest sister for free passage to VDL? notice one line in a small newspaper item. Was he aware that the two women were As with all family history research, there friends or was it that she was the only one are still many unanswered questions. But who would go? The fact that his son was that is what makes it so addictive! not on the ship suggests he was already in VDL. We know he died there in 1874 but Previously published in the Suffolk Family how and when he arrived has still to be History magazine Suffolk Roots. resolved. He was still in Layham in 1841 living next door to his sister. With the discovery of the ship’s passen- ger list a further complication arose. The Coppins were sponsored by a Mr M
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RICHARD USHER: FAMILY MAN, CONVICT AND PETTY CONSTABLE Jennifer Wood
ICHARD USHER was a family ‘larceny in a dwelling house’, this seems man. Married to Mary in 18081 more like a premeditated act rather than R and lived together with their five an opportunistic one. The Proceedings of surviving children, George, Richard, the Old Bailey, in particular, crimes tried Hannah, Samuel and baby Thomas.2 at the Old Bailey, defines burglary as Another daughter Sarah had died aged six breaking into a house at night with the in 1815.3 Convict records give us much intent of stealing.5 It is not known what more of an idea of his life than for most led Richard to steal—was he out of work people living in the 19th century. and trying to feed his family? Or was he
At the age of 31 Usher was tried for lar- part of a criminal class? The reasons ceny in a dwelling house and sentenced behind Richard’s offence are not recorded. Historians have been debating to death. His trial took place in August 6 1821 at Eatington in Warwickshire, the two suggested scenarios for decades. where the family was living at the time of After the trial, Usher spent time in the their youngest son Thomas’s birth.4 York prison hulk,7 one of the floating Looking more closely at his crime of prisons, moored at Portsmouth. This register records Usher as arriving at the hulk in October 1821, approximately 6 1 Ancestry. Marriage record for Richard weeks after his trial. The register records Usher and Mary Mills married 21 his sentence as ‘Life’. November 1808. Warwickshire, England, Marriages and Banns 1754–1910. County Record Office; Warwick, England; Document Reference: DRO 40. Accessed 15 May 2017. 5 The Proceedings of the Old Bailey, 2 Ancestry. Baptism for Thomas Usher. London’s Central Criminal Court, 1764– Warwickshire, England, Baptisms, 1813– 1913. Crimes tried at the Old Bailey. 1910. County Record Office; Warwick, https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/static/ England; Roll: Engl/2/1012. Accessed 15 Crimes.jsp. Accessed 16 May 2017 May 2017. 6 Dillon, Margaret C. ‘Convict Labour and 3 Ancestry. Burial of Sarah Usher 20 Colonial Society in the Campbell Town August 1815. England, Select Deaths and Police District: 1820–1839’, unpublished Burials 1538–1991. Accessed 20 May PhD thesis, University of Tasmania, 2008, 2017. FHL Film number 350514, at http://www. convicthistory.com Reference ID p1–2, n9. Accessed 15 May 2017. 4 Ancestry. Richard Usher trial record. 7 Ancestry. Richard Usher received 3 England & Wales, Criminal Registers, October 1831. UK, Prison Hulk Registers 1791–1892. Home Office: The National and Letter Books, 1802–1849. Microfilm, Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, HO9, 5 rolls. The National Archives, England. Class: HO 27; Piece: 22; p. 24. Kew, England. Class: HO9; Piece: 9. Accessed 20 May 2017. Accessed 20 May 2017.
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In November 1821 Usher left England on muster. New Norfolk, situated on the the convict ship, the Phoenix.8 Medical River Derwent, was the third planned journals provide quite a bit of useful settlement in Van Diemen’s Land. information for the family history Usher was appointed a Petty Constable researcher. The medical journal kept by for the district of New Norfolk in May Surgeon Superintendent Evan EVANS 1827.12 Convicts with a life sentence and states the ship took on board 64 convicts who were of ‘very good conduct’ could from the York, along with 120 convicts serve with the police force for a number from the Leviathan Hulk. The Phoenix of years and be rewarded with a condi- arrived in Van Diemen’s Land on the 20 tional pardon.13 Usher received his May 1822 less two convicts who had died conditional pardon nine years later, in on the voyage. 1836. Five days after the ship arrived, the While not specifying his actual convicts were assigned to their employ- participation, it is highly likely that Usher ersand began their new lives in the 9 took part in the Black Line, also known colony. Convict musters are a good as the Black War as Lieutenant-Governor source of information for obtaining the ARTHUR gave orders that the colony name of the settler to whom the convict was to be defended by all able bodied was assigned. Musters were used both as men. This defence of the colony came in a census and to keep an eye on the the form of attack. The objective of the convicts. The 1826 muster lists Mr campaign was to capture ‘hostile tribes of PATTERSON as the name of Usher’s 10 the Natives which are daily committing employer. renewed atrocities on the Settlers’.14 It is Myles Patterson arrived in Van Diemen’s estimated that 1600 soldiers, free men Land in 1822,11 and owned quite a bit of and convicts formed divisions to create a land around New Norfolk and had a line across the countryside particularly number of convict servants, so it is where the Aboriginal people frequented.15 possible that Myles Patterson is the Mr Patterson referred to in the convict 12 ‘Government Notice’. Hobart Town Gazette Saturday 5 May 1827, p. 1. 13 ‘After Arthur: policing in Van Diemen’s 8 Richard Usher Transportation record. Land 1837–1846’ by Dr Stefan Petrow, Australian convict Transportation University of Tasmania. Paper presented Registers – Other Fleets & Ships, 1791– at the History of Crime, Policing and 1868. Class: HO 11; Piece: 4. Accessed 20 Punishment Conference, 1999. May 2017. http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/co 9 Free Settler or Felon? http://www.jenwill nferences/hcpp/petrow.pdf Accessed 31 etts.com/convict_ship_phoenix_1822.ht May 2017. m Accessed 20 May 2017 14 ‘Government order No. 11 Colonial 10 Ancestry. Richard Usher Convict Muster Secretary’s Office September 22, 1830’ record. New South Wales and Tasmania, Launceston Advertiser Monday 4 October Australia Convict Musters, 1806–1849. 1830, p. 4 Class: HO 10; Piece: 47. Accessed 20 15 ‘Frontier conflict in Van Diemen’s Land.’ May 2017. Nicholas Patrick Clements. PhD thesis, 11 Bothwell Historical Society http://www. University of Tasmania, 2013. http:// bothwellhistoricalsociety.org.au/Bothwe eprints.utas.edu.au/17070/2/Whole- ll%20Chronology.html Accessed 20 Clements-thesis.pdf Accessed 20 May May 2017. 2017.
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Since first contact, Aboriginal people had Norfolk in 1853 aged 70.19 Mary is often stolen the colonists’ property and buried at Back River Chapel Cemetery many settlers had been injured or killed. near New Norfolk. It is likely that Mary’s The outcome of the war was violent death headstone and possibly her remains, were on both sides of the line. While this was relocated from the old cemetery in New the most intense of the frontier clashes, Norfolk which was covered by units Australians are practically unaware of it. many years before.20 The convict musters for 1832 and 1833 The colony was a not a safe place to live. record that Richard Usher was assigned By 1856 Usher was now an old man. One to his wife Mary. This change of evening Usher was walking along a road assignment could well be due to the death when he was approached by a wounded of Myles Patterson in 1828. I find it man by the name of Patrick FALLON. interesting that he was assigned to his Usher worked for the same employer as wife and not another settler. To date, no Fallon, Mr BRADSHAW of Back River, records have been found as to when Mary and knew the man by sight. Usher Usher came to Australia. The earliest assisted the stricken man to a nearby hut. record of Mary Usher in Van Diemen’s The victim alleged that he was stabbed by Land is for the birth of a daughter Mary a mate with a knife after a quarrel over Ann Usher in 1830.16 It appears Mary rations. A doctor was sent for, but Fallon brought some of her children with her. later died of his wounds. Usher was Richard Jnr, Samuel and Thomas all required to be a witness in court where married, had children and died in the new John CURTIS was charged with land, while George stayed behind in murder.21 Richard Usher died at 73 years England.17 A daughter, Hannah died in of age in 1861 at New Norfolk, the place 1823, so it is conceivable that Mary and where he had made his home.22 the younger children came to Van Diemen’s Land between 1824 and around 18 Bibliography 1829. Usher’s wife Mary died at New Australia, Birth Index 1788–1922. Accessed 20 May 2017. Australia, Death Index 1788–1985. Accessed 16 Ancestry. Birth Certificate of Mary Ann 20 May 2017. Usher. Australia, Birth Index 1788–1922. Australia, Marriage Index 1788–1950. Registration no. 4093. Accessed 20 May Accessed 20 May 2017. 2017. 17 Ancestry. Marriage certificates of Richard Jnr, Samuel and Thomas Usher to their 19 Ancestry. Death Certificate for Mary wives Rosanna McCourt, Mary Keating Usher. Australia, Death Index 1788–1985. and Margaret McClure. Australia, Accessed 20 May 2017. Marriage Index 1788–1950, Australia, 20 Rootsweb discussion list Birth Index 1788–1922 for the children of http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/t the unions. Death certificates for Richard h/read/AUS-Tasmania/2012- Jnr, Samuel and Thomas Usher. Australia, 05/1337124615 Accessed 20 May 2017. Death Index 1788–1985. Accessed 20 21 ‘Supreme Court – Wednesday.’ The May 2017. Hobarton Mercury. Friday 6 June 1856, 18 Ancestry. England & Wales Civil p. 3. Registration Death Index 1837–1915. 22 Ancestry. Death certificate of Richard Death certificates for George and Hannah Usher. Australia, Death Index 1788–1985. Usher. Accessed 20 May 2017. Accessed 15 May 2017.
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Australian convict Transportation Registers – Warwickshire, England, Marriages and Banns Other Fleets & Ships, 1791–1868. 1754–1910. County Record Office; Accessed 20 May 2017. Warwick, England. Accessed 15 May Bothwell Historical Society. Bothwell and its 2017. Chronology. Error! Hyperlink reference Warwickshire, England, Baptisms, 1813– not valid. Accessed 20 May 2017. 1910. County Record Office; Warwick, Clements, Nicholas Patrick. Frontier conflict England. Accessed 15 May 2017. in Van Diemen’s land. PhD thesis, UK Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, University of Tasmania, 2013. Error! 1802–1849. The National Archives, Kew, Hyperlink reference not valid. Accessed England. Accessed 20 May 2017. 20 May 2017. Dillon, Margaret C, Convict Labour and Colonial Society in the Campbell Town Police District: 1820–1839, unpublished PhD thesis, University of Tasmania, 2008, at http://www.convicthistory.com Accessed 15 May 2017. Free Settler or Felon? http://www.jenwilletts Tasmanian Family .com/convict_ship_phoenix_1822.htm Accessed 20 May 2017. History Society Inc. England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837–1915. Accessed 20 May 2017 2018 England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791– 1892. Home Office: The National Lilian Watson Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Accessed 20 May 2017. Family History England, Select Deaths and Burials 1538– Award 1991. Accessed 20 May 2017. Hobart Town Gazette. for a Book The Hobarton Mercury. Launceston Advertiser. however produced or published New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia on paper, dealing with family or Convict Musters, 1806–1849. Accessed 20 biographical history and having May 2017. significant Tasmanian content. Petrow, Stefan. After Arthur: policing in Van Diemen’s Land 1837–1846. University of Entries close 1 December 2018 Tasmania, Tas. Paper presented at the History of Crime, Policing and Punish- Further information and entry forms ment Conference, 1999. available from http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/co TFHS Inc. Branch Libraries or nferences/hcpp/petrow.pdf Accessed 31 www.tasfhs.org May 2017. or The Proceedings of the Old Bailey, London’s The Secretary Central Criminal Court, 1764–1913. PO Box 326 ROSNY PARK Crimes tried at the Old Bailey. TAS 7018 https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/static/ Crimes.jsp Accessed 16 May 2017. Rootsweb discussion list http://archiver. email: [email protected] rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/AUS- Tasmania/2012-05/1337124615).
Accessed 20 May 2017.
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THE CASE OF THE TOWN CLERK WHO ABSCONDED Roger Jennans
NE sentence in the letter made NEWTON.3 Partnership followed and the me curious. On the table in front firm became Newton and Winterbottom.4 of me at the Derbyshire Record Thus when James Antrobus Newton died O 5 Office in Matlock was a box of letters in 1823 John Kenyon Winterbottom and other items, surviving records of the found himself well placed to become a Thornset Turnpike Trust, a leading solicitor, participating in nineteenth century organis- the public life of Stockport. ation responsible for a Furthermore in 1832 he number of roads in and married Lucy Ann, around New Mills. The daughter of James letter was written in Antrobus Newton,6 just 1844 by Edward a year after she had REDDISH, clerk to the come of age to inherit trust, to Ebenezer a substantial sum from ADAMSON, treasurer. her father’s estate.7 Reddish mentions a The couple had two ‘hiatus’ in the books daughters.8 between 1840 and 1843 John Winterbottom’s ‘following the abscond- position enabled him to ing’ of the previous clerk, accumulate a large John Kenyon WINTER- 1 number of public offices. BOTTOM. What was his In 1823 in partnership with story? three others he established a John Kenyon Winterbottom was born in bank in Stockport, known briefly as Stockport, Cheshire, in 1789.2 His father, Christy Lloyd Winterbottom and Henry Winterbottom, was a cotton manufacturer who no doubt envisaged a 3 Court of King’s Bench: Plea Side: prosperous future for his son. Henry Affidavits of Due Execution of Articles of Winterbottom saw his son articled to a Clerkship 1 August 1806 successful local solicitor, James Antrobus 4 For example: advertisement Chester Courant 10 March 1818 5 Burial register St Mary Stockport 14 April 1823 1 J K Winterbottom, second Town Clerk, 6 Marriage register, Cheadle: 21 February Hobart 1857–1867, (pictured), Allport 1832 Library and Museum of Fine Arts, 7 Will: Chester diocesan consistory court: Tasmanian Archive and Heritage probate 22 April 1823 Office http://stors.tas.gov.au/ 8 Baptism register St Mary, Stockport: Lucy AUTAS001144589181 Anne Winterbottom, 26 August 1833; 2 Baptism register High Street Chapel, Frances Mary Winterbottom, Stockport 15 June 1789 30 September 1834
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Company and then as the Stockport and Ironically it was the Manchester and Cheshire Bank:9 John Kenyon Winter- Liverpool District Banking Company that bottom’s name was printed on bank in 1840 initiated bankruptcy proceedings, notes.10 The partnership was dissolved in asserting that Winterbottom was su- 1829 after the bank had been merged bstantially in debt to the bank.16 Up to with the Manchester and Liverpool forty further creditors attended the first District Banking Company.11 Winter- creditors’ meeting17 and by the end of a bottom became clerk to a number of second meeting creditors had given turnpike trusts, including the Thornset evidence of debts amounting to almost trust.12 He served two terms as mayor of £30,000.18 More seriously it became Stockport and later as town clerk.13 He known that while dealing with the estate was clerk, registrar and presiding officer of a man named John ISHERWOOD of of Stockport Court of Requests, a court Marple Hall Winterbottom had forged which heard cases involving debt.14 signatures, received a payment of £5,000 John Winterbottom was a staunch advo- from a life insurance policy and not transferred the money to Isherwood’s cate of the Conservative cause but by 19 1836 in a changing political climate he widow and daughters. was replaced as town clerk by a nominee Winterbottom absconded. (He would of the Whig persuasion. Local Con- later say that he left having ‘accidentally servatives responded with a dinner heard’ about the imminent bankruptcy attended by 170 supporters who heard and that he did not then know about the rousing speeches. Winterbottom was forthcoming forgery charge.)20 An arrest presented with eleven pieces of silver warrant was issued and a reward of £200 plate, including tureens, salver and bread was offered. Rumours were rife: he had basket ‘subscribed for in small sums as a been seen on the quayside at Liverpool public testimonial of the estimation in about to board a ship for America;21 which Mr Winterbottom is held’ at a cost alternatively he was thought to have gone of some £350.15 to France and a police officer was 22 But Winterbottom was soon to face the dispatched in pursuit. Winterbottom’s wife took their daughters to stay with her fact that for whatever reason his financial 23 circumstances had become precarious. married sister in the Isle of Man and later moved to Liverpool.24
9 Winterbottom managed to avoid arrest Pigot and Son’s General Directory of for several years. He would later claim Manchester, Salford 1829: list of provincial bankers page xxviii 10 https://www.the-saleroom.com/en- 16 London Gazette 4 August 1840 gb/auction-catalogues/spink/catalogue- 17 Manchester Courier 22 August 1840 id-srspi10034/lot-0642b2ca-13f0-451d- 18 Derbyshire Courier 3 October 1840 9720-a45100da2667 19 Chester Chronicle 14 August 1840 (and in 11 https://www.rbs.com/heritage/ many other newspapers) companies/christy-lloyd-and-co.html 20 Home Office: Criminal Petitions: 12 Derbyshire Record Office: D535 HO18/163: Petition by John Kenyon 13 Manchester Courier 20 February 1836 Winterbottom 19 July 1847 14 Parliamentary Papers Vol. 46 [1835]: 21 Derbyshire Courier 15 August 1840 Courts of Requests (England) Return of 22 Kendal Mercury 22 August 1840 the Amounts of Fees, [etc] p. 24 23 1841 census HO 107/1465/1 f9 15 Manchester Courier 20 February 1836 24 Derbyshire Courier 14 September 1844
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that after having spent time abroad he in London.29 Winterbottom may have returned to England in May 1844, want- been taken out of sight of his family and ing to see his wife.25 On a September day associates but he was certainly not out of in 1844 two men were walking along mind. There was widespread disquiet at Great Howard Street near the river in the severe implications of the sentence; Liverpool when they saw a miserably disquiet which generated action. While clad emaciated man whom they recog- Winterbottom remained at Millbank his nised. Mindful of the reward they gave supporters sustained the hope that his chase, enlisting the assistance of a sentence might be reduced to involve policeman they met during the chase. imprisonment in England. In accordance John Winterbottom was found trying to with the practice at the time pleas for hide between a farmhouse and cowshed.26 mitigation were considered not by the Subsequently at Chester Assizes John judge at the time of passing sentence but Kenyon Winterbottom was found guilty subsequently by the Home Secretary and of forgery.27 The facts seemed indispu- his officials. Within two weeks of the table so why did he plead ‘Not guilty’? sentence the Cheshire MP John TOLLE- He had for several years been authorised MARCHE presented a petition signed by as the confidential agent of the Isherwood eminent men of Stockport and district, family. Perhaps he saw his actions as including almost every magistrate and legitimate within that role. But it seems clergyman.30 George CHAPPELL, chair- he was unable to appreciate how it would man of what was now known as the Bank appear to others that he had signed in the of Manchester lost no time in putting names of Mrs Isherwood and her forward the bank’s interest. The bank had daughters; had received and used the made loans to Winterbottom of some money; and had given a false explanation £16,000, secured in part by a life of why they were having to wait for insurance policy the premiums of which payment. were being paid by the bank. The policy Sentence was delayed for several months would become void if Winterbottom were to allow the Exchequer Chamber to con- to travel beyond Europe or to die at sea. sider points of law raised by the case. At So the sentence of transportation would Chester Assizes in April 1845 Winter- bring the bank a loss of some £5,000. The bottom was sentenced to be transported implications of transportation for Winter- for life. An observer noted Winterbottom bottom’s wife and daughters were appeared deeply affected, as also did immense. His wife Lucy Ann Winter- many others in the court.28 After a time in bottom was by now living in Chester the prison at Chester Winterbottom was where she was assisted by Charles held with other criminals at Millbank TAYLER, rector of Chester. He had prison situated close to the River Thames never met Winterbottom but responded to Lucy Winterbottom’s plight. He added weight to her immediate letter to the
25 National Archives: Home Office: 29 National Archives Home Office Criminal Petitions: HO18/163: Petition by Correspondence and Warrants HO John Kenyon Winterbottom 19 July 1847 13/86/152 8 April 1845 26 Derby Mercury 11 September 1844 30 These petitions and appeals are at 27 Manchester Times 7 December 1844 National Archives: Home Office: 28 London Evening Standard 4 April 1845 Criminal Petitions: HO18/163
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Home Secretary. She emphasised that in feasible for Winterbottom’s wife and punishing her husband ‘the severity of the daughters to settle there. But that appeal law will fall with dreadful weight upon was rejected.34 us’. Perhaps sourly she ended her letter Time was running out: on 19 August an with a prayer for God’s blessing on Sir eye-witness watched as 200 prisoners, James GRAHAM, the Home Secretary, Winterbottom amongst them, were as a father and husband. The force of her marched down steps from Millbank appeal was strengthened in a remarkable prison to two river steamers fancifully way. Her letter was accompanied by a named Nymph and Fairy. Several of letter from Elizabeth Isherwood, who Winterbottom’s friends were present to could be said to have been the victim of take what would be a last sight of him. the forgery. She, a widow, wrote in an His appearance was better than might be attempt to save Lucy Winterbottom and expected in the circumstances; and he her children from the permanent loss of a seemed pleased when he was recognised husband and father. by some who did not forget his kindness None of these pleas achieved any mitig- when he was placed in a different ation of the sentence. But further efforts situation. on John Winterbottom’s behalf were At Woolwich the prisoners were transfer- already under way. On 22 April about red aboard the ocean-going ship Mayda.35 200 people gathered at the ‘Bull’s Head’ Separately Charles Tayler and Robert in Stockport Market Place as part of a Grundy made further attempts to secure campaign to raise a public petition: some mitigation. Robert Grundy wrote Stockport was divided into canvassing ‘Surely it is not too late to withdraw him areas; separate petitions were promoted from the ship?’ Charles Tayler submitted for men and for women; contributions a medical report from Richard FLINT, were expected from Manchester and 31 formerly Winterbottom’s doctor, who Liverpool. Three weeks later the three described inflammation of the kidneys: leading petitioners set off to address the Winterbottom was totally unfit for severe Home Secretary in London. Robert labour. On 26 August William BALY, GRUNDY, Thomas CARTWRIGHT and medical officer of Millbank prison, under John HAMER carried petitions holding 32 instruction from the Home Office, more than 20,000 signatures: they also examined Winterbottom on board the held a letter of introduction from Edward 33 Mayda. He declared Winterbottom fit for ALDERSON, a senior judge. He had transportation. Mayda set sail on 29 recommended them to accept that August. In November the ship called for transportation was inevitable and to plead provisions at the Cape of Good Hope and that Winterbottom should be spared the reached Norfolk Island, Australia on 8 horrors of the penal colony of Norfolk January 1846, despite having lost her top Island in favour of a period of imprison- ment in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). Alderson envisaged it would then be
31 Manchester Times 26 April 1845 34 National Archives Home Office 32 Blackburn Advertiser 14 May 1845 Correspondence and Warrants HO 33 National Archives: Home Office: 13/86/269 14 June 1845 Criminal Petitions: HO18/163 35 Hereford Times 6 September 1845
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masts a few days earlier.36 Norfolk Island collection of recently built brick and lies in the Pacific Ocean, almost 900 stone buildings situated on the north coast miles east of the mainland of Australia of the Tasman peninsula.41 There the and at this time was occupied solely as a principal activity of convicts was cutting penal colony. Daniel JONES, a corporal timber, but as a result of a on military duty in Hobart Town, wrote recommendation from Colin Arrott to his father Thomas Jones, a carpenter Browning, Winterbottom was immed- living in Chester. His account of iately made a monitor in the school Winterbottom being robbed of £180 on maintained on site. As on Norfolk Island arrival at Norfolk Island found its way his exemplary conduct was noticed by a into newspapers in England.37 There is number of those in authority.42 In some evidence Winterbottom was spared particular Francis BROWNRIGG, a some of the harshness of the colony’s Hobart clergyman who worked at Cas- hard labour regime, being required to cades station as a religious instructor and work as a clerk in the engineer’s office: a was moved to offer assistance. Three benefit which generated resentment months after Winterbottom’s arrival at amongst some of his fellow convicts.38 Cascades Francis Brownrigg wrote to He remained at Norfolk Island until Thomas NOLAN, incumbent of St March 1847.39 His exemplary conduct Barnabas church in Liverpool: he was noticed by a number of those in enclosed the testimonials brought from authority; and when he along with 300 Norfolk Island and asked that they be other prisoners boarded the sailing ship forwarded to Winterbottom’s wife to sup- Pestonjee Bomanjee for transfer to Van port a further application for mitigation. Diemen’s Land he carried with him Brownrigg reported Winterbottom had important testimonials:40 from Thomas received a letter from her, written a year ROGERS, chaplain, an outspoken critic earlier, and intended to write to her of the Norfolk Island regime; John ISON, through the proper channels. He was in chaplain; George BOLT and Henry moderate health and ‘expecting to hear BLACKFORD, superintendents, and from her every post’. It seems that Lucy perhaps most significantly an endorse- Winterbottom received the testimonials ment from John PRICE, civil comman- and sent them to Charles Tayler, who had dant. During the voyage Winterbottom by now moved from his parish in Chester acquired a further testimonial from Colin to that of Otley near Ipswich. In May Arrott BROWNING, surgeon superin- 1848 Charles Tayler sent the testimonials tendent of the Pestonjee Bomanjee. to the Home Office: ‘though I cannot John Winterbottom’s new home was the hope at present for any commutation of Cascades probation station, housed in a the convict’s sentence the testimonials may produce a favourable impression’. A 36 Home Office official made a dismissive Extract from surgeon superintendent’s note on the papers: ‘Nothing is asked at journal https://jenwilletts.com/ convict_ship_mayda_1846.htm 37 Manchester Courier 8 August 1846 41 http://ontheconvicttrail. 38 Sydney Morning Herald 26 August 1847 blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/cascades- 39 Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office, probation-station.html TAHO: Conduct record CON-33-1-79 42 The following correspondence is at 40 National Archives: Home Office: National Archives: Home Office: Criminal Petitions: HO18/163 Criminal Petitions: HO18/163
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present.’ In parallel John Winterbottom rector. With the petition were enclosed addressed his own appeal to Queen testimonials of Winterbottom’s exemp- Victoria. He challenged the legality of his lary conduct as a convict, including a sentence. He had been the authorised commendation from William TURNER agent of the individuals concerned. ‘The Bowling Green Hotel’ and reports Furthermore the sentence was invalid from Cascades station by two visiting because it had been passed by a judge magistrates, a convict superintendent and who had not heard full details of the case, a chaplain. Yet again the Home Secretary the trial judge having died before the and his advisors saw no reason to amend sentencing hearing. This appeal was the original sentence: forwarded by William DENISON, lieut- The respectability of the persons signing enant governor of Van Diemen’s Land; the petition and the testimonials is and then by Herman MERIVALE, per- undoubted but the case remains the same. manent under-secretary for the Colonies. This, numbered by the Home Office as It was not until May 1849 that a decision the ninth submission, would prove the was reached to reject the appeal. last appeal on Winterbottom’s behalf. In the meantime Winterbottom was In December 1853 Winterbottom was confined and occupied at the Cascades assigned as an assistant to Arthur station. In January 1849 he became PERRY, a solicitor active in the public eligible to work for a civilian employer. and commercial life of Hobart Town.46 He was assigned to successive employers Perhaps Winterbottom saw parallels in Hobart Town, including William between his earlier life in Stockport and TURNER, proprietor of the ‘Bowling Arthur PERRY’s position and range of Green Hotel’, and John WATTS, interests. In March 1855 Arthur Perry 43 proprietor of a private academy. There was elected a member of the Tasmanian appears to be no surviving evidence of Legislative Council. In August Winter- when the news reached Winterbottom bottom was granted a conditional pardon: that in March 1849, in Stockport, his wife the main condition being that he did not 44 had died. return to England.47 He now held the One of her brothers, James NEWTON, formal status of solicitor’s clerk.48 But continued to be mindful of John Winter- not for long. In November Arthur Perry bottom’s circumstances. Together he and suffered a sudden fatal illness. Winter- William Newland WELSBY, a Cheshire bottom was involved in dealing with barrister who had earlier represented Perry’s immediate financial affairs, as it Winterbottom, submitted a fresh petition became clear that Perry’s estate was to the Home Office.45 This petition was insolvent.49 He then appears to have signed by some 150 leading Stockport secured employment with Frederick men, headed by John BOOTHROYD, Robert LEES who combined private mayor and Charles Kenrick PRESCOTT, practice as a solicitor with the office of
43 TAHO: Conduct record CON-33-1-79 46 TAHO: Conduct record CON-33-1-79 44 Burial register St Mary Stockport 10 47 National Archives Home Office March 1849; announcement Manchester Conditional Pardons HO 10/64/page 23 Courier 10 March 1849 48 The Courier, Hobart, 4 October 1855 45 National Archives: Home Office: 49 The Hobarton Mercury 14 November Criminal Petitions: HO18/163 1856
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town clerk.50 The post of assistant town their mother’s sisters, they inherited clerk of Hobart became available in investments in the Thornset Turnpike January 1856: Winterbottom was one of Trust and the surviving records of the 34 applicants, but was not successful.51 It Trust at Derbyshire Record Office was not long before he saw a further include impeccably polite letters written opportunity. The post of town clerk of by one or other of the sisters on behalf of Hobart, with an annual salary of £300, them both, asking about and acknow- became vacant. In July 1857 against ledging the payment of interest on their competition from fourteen other investment.56 applicants, including Henry WILKIN- In Hobart Winterbottom held the office of SON who had earlier beaten Winter- town clerk for ten years. By 1867, by bottom to the post of assistant town clerk, which time he had reached his late Winterbottom was appointed. A news- seventies, his performance at work was paper editorial claimed that the causing some misgivings. How might appointment was irregular: as town clerk aldermen confront the deteriorating Frederick Robert Lees had attended the competence of a venerable senior em- private selection meeting, but he was also ployee? At the end of a meeting of 52 Winterbottom’s employer. Winter- Hobart council in July 1867 the oldest bottom had produced testimonials from alderman, David LEWIS, grasped the six local worthies and a seventh testi- nettle. He proposed that Winterbottom monial signed by a number of Stockport should take a period of leave, after which residents, including solicitors, recom- he might be able to return to duty. This mending him as ‘a person of great legal was enough to allow the unspeakable to 53 attainments’. be voiced. Newspaper reporters were In England a number of newspapers excluded and discussion continued in reported the appointment: the Chester private. The council resolved that Chronicle added the headline ‘Good Winterbottom should be asked to resign Luck at Last.’54 It is tantalising to wonder by the end of the month: in return he whether Winterbottom’s two daughters would be paid a year’s salary.57 But there learned of this news. Following their was more that could now be voiced. The mother’s death in 1849 Frances Mary and mayor was now told about a financial Lucy Anne Winterbottom were cared for irregularity. Two years earlier Winter- by their mother’s sisters, settling in bottom had re-issued council debentures, Southport, where they remained, un- made no record of the transaction and married, living together throughout their received £400 which he had not paid into adult lives.55 From Frances JONES, one the council’s accounts. Winterbottom explained that there had been some 50 confusion at the time and that he would Tasmanian Daily News 16 July 1857 58 51 The Hobarton Mercury 23 January 1856 repay the money. But no repayment was 52 Tasmanian Daily News 16 July 1857 made: Winterbottom was dismissed from 53 Tasmanian Daily News 22 July 1857 his post and charged with embezzle- 54 Chester Chronicle 10 October 1857 55 1851 census HO107 2196/f453;1861 census RG9 2761/f75; 1871 census RG10 3874/f46; 1881 census RG11 3749/f115; 56 Derbyshire Record Office D535 1891 census RG12 3035/f31;1901 census 57 The Mercury, Hobart 2 July 1867 RG13 3537/f7 58 The Mercury, Hobart 8 July 1867
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ment.59 At his trial in September, in an date of his death. The date of his death is uncanny reflection of his earlier trial in not known, nor is anything known of his Chester he accepted the facts of his relatives. actions but pleaded not guilty. His advocates spoke in court of the difficulty they faced in representing him, but suggested that the issue was more to do INDEX TO COURT with the inadequate state of the council’s RECORDS OF TASMANIA records than about misappropriation of Vol. 1 1827–1834 funds. One of those who gave prosecu- and tion evidence was Henry Wilkinson, INDEX TO COURT Winterbottom’s long serving assistant who by the time of the trial had been RECORDS OF TASMANIA appointed town clerk. The jury found Vol. 2 1821–1833 John Kenyon Winterbottom guilty. The judge said that in determining the length These indexes have been compiled of a prison sentence he was mindful from four of the early Tasmanian Winterbottom might not live long enough Papers held at the Mitchell Library, to complete the sentence. A sentence was NSW, as described in an article by passed of two years’ imprisonment.60 Malcolm Ward in Winterbottom served the full length of his Tasmanian Ancestry Vol. 37, No. 3 sentence in Hobart prison. He was December 2016, pp. 136–138. released in September 1869, a few weeks after his eightieth birthday.61 No record Volume 1 is an index to has been found of the last years of his DLSPENCER165 1&2 life. He died in Goulbourn Street, Hobart and DLSPENCER 434 62 17 May 1872. Did his daughters learn Volume 2 is an index to of his death? Perhaps not. Frances Mary 63 64 DLSPENCER 96 died in 1894 and Lucy Anne in 1919. Following Lucy Anne’s death her estate The accused persons before the courts was the subject of a case in the Chancery in Launceston and Hobart are mainly court. The court felt it necessary to guard convicts transported directly to against the possibility that Winterbottom VDL, but many came via NSW. had heirs in Tasmania. In 1922 an Where possible advertisement appeared in a Hobart their ship to the colony and police newspaper:65 John Kenyon Winterbottom number have been included. went to Tasmania in 1845 and is believed Many witnesses are also named. to have lived in Hobart Town until the $25.00 each plus p&p $6.30 each 59 The Tasmanian Times 16 July 1867 60 [email protected] The Mercury, Hobart 11 September 1867 61 Tasmania Police Gazette vol. 8/440 10 PO Box 326 September 1869 Rosny Park, Tasmania, 62 RGD35-1-8, Death, Hobart 23 May 1872 63 AUSTRALIA 7018 London Evening Standard 10 April 1894 64 National Probate Calendar 1919 65 The Mercury, Hobart 2 June 1922.
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SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC, LAUNCESTON 1887 Jennifer Jacobs (Member No. 1826)
ILENTLY and stealthily smallpox crackling sparks rose into the air. had arrived. In 1887 Launceston Firebugs had solved the problem. Nobody S was victim of a smallpox would be looking for the guilty party. The epidemic. Centred in the wharf and isolation hospital was gone. Five miles riverside areas it claimed a number of away, in Launceston, curious heads lives and unsettled the population of the watched as the glow melted into the night city. By tracing the contacts of the sky and dissipated behind the clouds. victims and their families, authorities “Just a rash, probably measles or were later able to track the spread and chicken-pox, nothing to worry about,” progress of the disease. announced the doctor. One of the victims was five-year-old Like an unseen vapour, it had crept along Alfred BENNETT who lived with his the dank lanes, curling past broken parents George and Mary-Ann and older doorways, flooding tendrils of disease brother Thomas at the lower end of into the dilapidated neighbourhood. Charles Street. He had played with a Gathering pace, it infiltrated the hovels of child from the BISHOP family who had the wharf area, terrifying the nervous an hotel on the waterfront and were one residents. Beginning as tiny spots the of the earliest infected families. George, illness rapidly blossomed into reddened, who was a sea captain, was initially weeping pustules. Whole families isolated on his ship in the Tamar during became ill, the sufferers sometimes dying the outbreak but after entering their within days. Mary-Ann could still hear contaminated house, he walked out to the grief as Mrs PEARSON had shrieked Mowbray to join his wife and sons at the from her doorway, “Poor Emily is dead; isolation hospital at Mowbray. Frances, won’t anyone come?”2 their two-year-old daughter, had died No-one came. The hysterical woman, earlier in the year from diphtheria. recovering from the illness herself, had to The following story, written as part of the prepare her own daughter’s body for a UTAS Family History Course is based on hasty burial. Police guards at the doors of facts reported in Tasmanian newspapers infected houses kept all others away. At at the time. ‘Bishop’s Hotel’, where cases had occur- The Crisis red, starving boarders threatened to riot Leaping and dancing, flames licked up as no-one was allowed to bring food. the walls and exploded through the roof.1 Letters at the Post Office were being Smoke billowed out across Mowbray as fumigated. Shipping between Tasmania
1 ‘The Quarantine Station’, The Tasmanian 2 ‘Small-Pox Outbreak’, Launceston (Launceston, Tas. : 1881–1895), 17 Dec- Examiner (Tas. : 1842–1899), 27 Sept ember 1887, p. 30, viewed 12 August ember 1887, p. 3. , viewed 12 August 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news- 199550575 article39536584
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and other states was disrupted. been laid beneath them to prevent damp Launceston was in a state of siege and the and contagion. Scrim linings did little to list of affected properties was growing: keep out the wind and cold. Bishop, WATSON, SPIERS, and now Perspiration enveloped his body as Alfred Bennett. How the teacher must have was taken to the sufferers’ ward. Mary- recoiled as she had noticed the reddened Ann, as a suspect, was in an alternate blotches on Alfred’s face the previous day. room. Only one doctor, one nurse, a His mother, Mary-Ann cradled him carpenter and a handyman were to control gently, welling tears weaving down her and cure a growing number of patients, face and falling on the soft upholstery. yet twelve policemen manned the gate. Normally such a new and magnificent Little thought had been given to the vehicle would have enthralled her, but comfort of the latter and it was suggested today she hardly noticed the beautiful that there were plenty of hedges for them woodwork and gleaming varnish. They to sleep under for the time being. were being cast out, isolated to the ‘Mowbray Hotel’ volunteered to feed them Mowbray Racecourse. Apprehensive on- when the problem of food was raised. lookers stared as the ambulance powered Newspapers accepted the responsibility along through Invermay, before deviating of informing the public of the progress of up the hill. The rhythmical clopping of the disease and of stirring politicians to the horse’s hooves slowed as they action. Twice-daily reports from the ascended the rise, the thick odours of the quarantine station were printed: Adye city melting away as the passengers BLANCHFLOWER reported convales- became aware of the soft rustle of the cent, Harry Watson died, William Bishop breeze in the tall gum trees. feverish, Cecilia HINES not so well, Ann And suddenly there it was, Mowbray CLARKE improving, Alfred Bennett Quarantine Station. Mary-Ann gasped as restless night. a sudden gust lifted the flag from the ‘Cecelia Hines died, Susannah Watson pole, its skull and crossbones design 3 not so well, Alfred Bennett better, rest wavering menacingly. ‘Stay away, come doing well,’ stated the report on 11 within,’ it messaged. November.4 A day later, Susannah His uniform rumpled, a policeman step- Watson, Alfred Bennett and William ped from the sentry box to register their Bishop were all worse. arrival. Recently conscripted to fulfil the Debate centred about the value of vac- role he checked their credentials with cination. Although compulsory, many care. Slowly the ambulance carried the considered it dangerous and a cause of stricken child and mother along the drive syphilis. Mary-Ann had been vaccinated. to the drab wooden buildings. Stored at Why had her son not been given this the Launceston Hospital, they had been protection? When supplies ran low, calf originally designed as an emergency lymph was imported and unsuccessful leprosy hospital. Asphalt a foot thick had
3 ‘Outbreak Of Small-Pox’. The Tasmanian 4 ‘[By Electric Telegraph.]’, The Mercury (Launceston, Tas. : 1881–1895), 1 Octo- (Hobart, Tas. : 1860–1954), 11 October ber 1887, p. 21, viewed 12 August 2016, 1887, p. 3, viewed 12 August 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article http://nla.gov.au/nla.news- 199550101 article9138663
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attempts were made to produce supplies of vaccine from deliberately infected calves. Cakes, lollies and fruit arrived in CEMETERIES abundance from benevolent citizens of the city. Soap, boxes of eggs, jars of OF SOUTHERN calves feet jelly, cornflour, sago and barley accompanied them. Mary-Ann TASMANIA surveyed the variety in awe. Pineapple, with its acid juices, had crinkled her eyes. Vol XI Donated toys, books and newspapers entertained those who could read. Extra tents were erected to cope with new arrivals, among them Mary-Ann’s son KINGSTON Tom and housemaid, both considered REGIONAL contacts. Fifty-five people were now under observation. CEMETERY As his disease progressed, Alfred became delirious, wandering aimlessly from his 1983–2013 bed at night. Scabs formed across his ravaged skin and his breathing became unsteady. A festering pustule distorted his An index to eye threatening his vision. Finally as the the headstones and eruptions began to heal, bronchitis plaques in this cemetery, invaded his lungs, sending him into compiled from convulsions, arching his depleted body as transcription cards held he gasped for breath. Fingers tightening by Hobart Branch. around the cloth, Mary-Ann gently squeezed water back into the chipped Price $25.00 plus enamel bowl. Dried brown scabs played between the droplets as they fell. $6.30 p&p All members are entitled Across the room, empty stretchers and to 10% discount stacked blankets stood like ghosts, each signifying the recovery or death of a patient. Politicians had voted to burn them all including the buildings, yet now Write to when the main threat of the disease had Sales Officer TFHS Inc. waned, they were not so certain. PO Box 326 “Fumigate, boil,” they chanted, “how do ROSNY PARK we know they will not be needed again?” TASMANIA 7018 The debate had continued for a month or after Alfred and Mary-Ann had left with email [email protected] the last of the patients. No-one in authority dared make the decision. Someone without authority did.
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WOMEN IN TROUSERS: WEB ARCHIVE RECORDS WOMEN’S HISTORY
Visual Archive is a new website A from Cardiff University that is collecting images of bloomers, knicker- bockers, culottes and all manner of bifurcated or ‘divided’ garments to tell
the story of trouser wearing women over MARITA more than a century. BARDENHAGEN The innovative web-site at www.women MEMORIAL AWARD introusers.org offers a visual account of FOR LOCAL HISTORY the complex and sometimes contradictory meanings represented by women was launched by the Minister for ‘wearing trousers’ from the 1850s to the Heritage, the Hon. Brian Wightman. Almost 50 of Marita’s friends and 1960s, and provides an illuminating colleagues attended the launch in document of the momentous cultural, Launceston. historical and political shifts affecting women’s lives across this period. The Marita Bardenhagen Memorial Members of the public can submit their Award for Local History is a biennial award to honour the own family photographs of women memory of well-known historian wearing trousers via email to wearing Dr Marita Bardenhagen. [email protected] The aim of the Award is to The archive is the work of Dr Becky encourage local historians to Munford, of Cardiff University, who said publish the results of their research. the response to the request for images The Award is for a book with ‘has already been fantastic’, adding, ‘We significant Tasmanian local history would love to hear from anyone who has content. a photo to share or a story to tell’. The Award will be determined by an independent judging panel of Reprinted with the kind permission of three, approved by the Trustees of Family Tree, January 2018, p. 10 the Award. www.family-tree.co.uk Entries for the Award will close on 14 June 2018. For more information about the Award, please contact Dr Dianne Snowden at [email protected]
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WHAT IS THAT PUBLICATION ABOUT? Maurice Appleyard (Member No. 4093)
UMEROUS publications are REV. PETER WALKDEN’S DIARY named in the Acquisition Lists & EARLY NONCONFORMIST N of the various Branches of our BAPTISMS Society but on some occasions the title A5 book, 200 pp. was first published in does not give a clear indication of the August 1996 by the Lancashire FH & HS. subject matter. The following details of a Peter Walkden performed an important few in the Hobart Branch Library may service to history by keeping a diary in help to describe some of the more which he recorded all the ordinary events obscure titles and deserve a look. of his daily life. Through his diary local Perhaps the publication may also be and family historians can gain an insight held in your local library? into what life was like in rural Lancashire over 250 years ago. In addition to main- taining a diary, Rev. Peter Walkden and THE GLASS WORKERS OF his son, Rev. Henry Walkden, in a private SCOTLAND notebook, recorded the baptisms they A4 book of 40 pp. by Diana Connell, performed. published by the Glasgow & West of This publication consists of two parts; Scotland Family History Society, 2001. Part A features Rev. Peter Walkden’s Glass making in Scotland commenced diary for 1725, 1729, and 1730; whilst hundreds of years ago, and continues to Part B contains the baptism register of be manufactured to the present day. The Rev. Peter Walkden (1709–1769) and central belt of Scotland was where the Rev. Henry Walkden (1747–1793). main glass houses were located and by the eighteenth century the large cones of THE PEOPLE OF KING-EDWARD such works could be seen in towns like & MONQUHITTER 1696 Alloa, Dumbarton, Leith and Glasgow. A5 booklet, of 58 pp. published in 2000 This book contains names, addresses, by the Aberdeen & Northeast Scotland date and place of birth, as well as occu- Family History Society. pation of hundreds of glass workers in The information it contains was trans- Scotland. It covers the period between cribed from the List of Pollable Persons circa 1720 and circa 1880, and whilst within the Shire of Aberdeen, Volume V1 there are almost 1,000 entries, it is not (Presbytery of Turreff). meant as a comprehensive work. It contains hand drawn maps of the old The entries contained within this work parishes of King Edward and Monquhit- are reproduced with the original spellings of familial names as well as place names. ter (showing boundaries, major roads and villages), in the centre. For each of the Skills shortages prompted the hiring of parishes; alphabetical indexes of individ- workers from outside Scotland—the earl- ual names are provided, together with a iest came from Bohemia while later small list of the number of people follow- workers also came from England and ing the occupations listed. Small place Ireland. name indexes are also provided.
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LIBRARY AQUISITIONS
Hobart Branch
Accessions—Books *Aberdeen & North-East Scotland FHS; The People of King-Edward & Monquhitter 1696. [A5 929.34 GAL] *Connell, Diana; The Glass Workers of Scotland. [A4 929.35 CON] *Foster, G A; Rev. Peter Walkden’s Diary & Early Non-conformist Baptisms. [929.3109427 FOS] Howard, Patrick James; Pubs and Publicans of Tasmania’s Old West—A History of the Hotels of the West Coast of Tasmania. [647.9409466 HOW] *Jones, Betty; School Days, School Days … land of youth and dream [371.9946 JON] *McNie, Alan; Clan Macmillan. [929.4 MCN] *McNie, Alan; Clan Scott. [929.4 MCN] *National Library of Australia; Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook—Vol. 8 [Q994.106 NAT] *Num, C; Irish Research on the Internet. [929.309415 NUM] Richardson, Garry; Up Country—The History of Goshen, Terryvale, Goulds Country, Priory, The Marshes, Pyengana, West Pyengana, Bullock Drivers and the Sawmills of the Municipality of Portland, North-East Tasmania. [Q994.64 RIC] *Schaffer, Irene; Nature In Its Wildest Form (Mt Wellington)—James Dickinson, Merchant, Convict, Florist. Hobart Town 1837–1853. [Q929.2 DIC] *Simpson, Kim & Julieanne Richards; Home from War—Stories from the Newstead War Service Homes, Launceston, Tasmania. [Qto 355.12099465 SIM] *TFHS Inc. Hobart; Index to Court Records of Tasmania, Vol. 1 1827–1834. [Q345.9946 IND] *TFHS Inc. Hobart; Index to Court Records of Tasmania, Vol. 2 1821–1833. [Q345.9946 IND]
*Denotes complimentary or donated item
Launceston Branch
Accessions—Books *Deacon, Margaret; Glorious! Exploring Tasmania in 1914 Farmer, Kerry; DNA for Genealogists *Giblin, L A; Tracing My Giblin Ancestors *Jones, Betty; School Days, School Days ... land of youth and dream *McCormack, Tony; The Blessington McCormacks TFHS Inc. Hobart Branch; Index to Court Records of Tasmania, Vol. 1 1827–1834 TFHS Inc. Hobart Branch; Index to Court Records of Tasmania, Vol. 2 1821–1833
246 TASMANIAN ANCESTRY March 2018
Accessions—USB *Archive Digital Books Australasia; Tasmanian Government Gazette Collection 1827–1945
Mersey Branch
Accessions—Books Biggs, John; Tasmania Over Five Generations Centenary Organising Committees [Comp]; Devonport High School 1916–2016 Gatenby, Kris; Death or Liberty! Rose Lane Convict Burial Ground Giblin, L A; Tracing My Giblin Ancestors Jones, Betty; School Days, School Days ... land of youth and dream TFHS Inc. Hobart Branch; Index to Court Records of Tasmania Vol. 1 1827–1834 TFHS Inc. Hobart Branch; Index to Court Records of Tasmania Vol. 2 1821–1833 TFHS Inc. Mersey Branch; The Advocate Personal Announcements January 2016 – December 2016
1788–1868
Any person who has convict ancestors, or who has an interest in convict life during the early history of European settlement in Australia, is welcome to join the above group. Those interested may find out more about the group and receive an application form by writing to:
The Secretary Descendants of Convicts’ Group PO Box 229 COLDSTREAM Victoria 3770
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dcginc/
TASMANIAN ANCESTRY March 2018 247
SOCIETY SALES
Tasmanian Family History Society Inc. Publications Payment by Visa or Master Card now available (mail order only)
Mail orders (including postage) should be forwarded to: Society Sales Officer, TFHS Inc., PO Box 326 Rosny Park Tasmania 7018
Books Van Diemens Land Heritage Index, Vol. 3 (p&p $6.30) ...... $10.00 Van Diemens Land Heritage Index, Vol. 4 (p&p $8.50) ...... $10.00 Van Diemens Land Heritage Index, Vol. 5 (p&p $8.50) ...... $10.00 Tasmanian Ancestry Index Volumes 1–20 (p&p $8.50)** ...... $15.00 Tasmanian Ancestry Index Volumes 21–25 (p&p $6.30)** ...... $15.00 Tasmanian Ancestry Index Volumes 26–30 (p&p $6.30)** ...... $25.00 Tasmanian Ancestry Index Volumes 31–35 (p&p $6.30)** ...... $25.00
(p&p $13.80 for 3 books or more)
CD-Rom Tasmanian Ancestry Vols 1–20, [Jun 1980–Mar 2000] (p&p $8.50)** ...... $50.00 TAMIOT (p&p $8.50) **…… ...... ……… $50.00
** members discount of 10% applies
248 TASMANIAN ANCESTRY March 2018 BRANCH LIBRARY ADDRESSES, TIMES AND MEETING DETAILS
BURNIE Phone: Branch Librarian (03) 6435 4103 Library 58 Bass Highway Cooee Tuesday 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Saturday 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Meeting Branch Library, 58 Bass Highway Cooee 10:30 a.m. on 1st Monday of each month, except January and December. Night Dinner Meetings are held in winter and end of year, check with Branch Librarian for details
HOBART Phone: Enquiries (03) 6244 4527 Library 19 Cambridge Road Bellerive Tuesday 12:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Wednesday 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Saturday 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Meeting Sunday School, St Johns Park, New Town, at 7:30 p.m. on 3rd Tuesday of each month, except January and December.
HUON Phone: Branch Secretary (03) 6239 6823 Library Soldiers Memorial Hall Marguerite Street Ranelagh Saturday 1:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Other times: Library visits by appointment with Secretary, 48 hours notice required Meeting Branch Library, Ranelagh, at 4:00 p.m. on 1st Saturday of each month, except January. email [email protected]
LAUNCESTON Phone: Branch Secretary (03) 6326 1399 Library 45–55 Tamar Street Launceston (next door to Albert Hall) Tuesday 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Monday to Friday by appointment only (03) 6326 1399 Check the Branch News and the website http://www.launceston.tasfhs.org for locations and times.
MERSEY Phone: Branch Secretary (03) 6428 6328 Library (03) 6426 2257 Library 117 Gilbert Street Latrobe (behind State Library) Tuesday & Friday 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Saturday opening has ceased and is now by advance appointment only. Meetings Held on the 3rd Monday of the month at Branch Library in Latrobe at 1:30 p.m. or sometimes for lunch at 12:00. Please check the website at www.tfhsdev.com or contact the Secretary for updates.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE TASMANIAN FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY INC.
Membership of the TFHS Inc. is open to all individuals interested in genealogy and family history, whether or not resident in Tasmania. Assistance is given to help trace overseas ancestry as well as Tasmanian.
Dues are payable annually by 1 April. Membership Subscriptions for 2018–19:- Individual member $45.00 Joint members (2 people at one address) $55.00 Australian Concession $35.00 Australian Joint Concession $45.00 Overseas: Individual member: A$50.00: Joint members: A$55.00 (inc. airmail postage) Organisations: Journal subscription $45.00—apply to the Society Treasurer.
Membership Entitlements: All members receive copies of the society’s journal Tasmanian Ancestry, published quarterly in June, September, December and March. Members are entitled to free access to the society’s libraries. Access to libraries of some other societies has been arranged on a reciprocal basis.
Application for Membership: Application forms may be downloaded from www.tasfhs.org or obtained from the TFHS Inc. Society Secretary or any branch and be returned with appropriate dues to a Branch Treasurer. Interstate and overseas applications should be mailed to the TFHS Inc. Society Treasurer, PO Box 326 Rosny Park Tasmania 7018. Dues are also accepted at libraries and at branch meetings.
Donations: Donations to the Library Fund ($2.00 and over) are tax deductible. Gifts of family records, maps, photographs, etc. are most welcome.
Research Queries: Research is handled on a voluntary basis in each branch for members and non- members. Rates for research are available from each branch and a stamped, self addressed, business size envelope should accompany all queries. Members should quote their membership number.
Reciprocal Rights: TFHS Inc. policy is that our branches offer reciprocal rights to any interstate or overseas visitor who is a member of another Family History Society and produce their membership card.
Advertising: Advertising for Tasmanian Ancestry is accepted with pre-payment of $30.00 per quarter page in one issue or $90.00 for four issues. Further information can be obtained by writing to the journal editor at PO Box 326 Rosny Park Tasmania 7018.
ISSN—0159 0677 Printed by Mark Media—Moonah Tasmania
38th Conference & Annual General Meeting
Tasmanian Family History Society Inc. (formerly Genealogical Society of Tasmania Inc.)
ABN 87 627 274 157
to be held at TOWN HALL, CHURCH STREET
ROSS
Saturday, 23 June 2018
TASMANIAN ANCESTRY March 2018 i
38th Annual General Meeting Tasmanian Family History Society Inc.
10:30 a.m. Registration & Morning tea
10:55 a.m. Welcome by President, Robert Tanner Presentation of ‘Early Bird Prize’
11:00 a.m.–11:35 a.m. Colin Thomas Whaling in early Hobart Town and Scrimshaw, the Ancient Art of the Mariner.
11:35 a.m.–12:10 a.m. Garry Richardson Chinese in the Portland Municipality & European migrants at Pyengana.
12:10 a.m.–1:10 p.m. Lunch
1:10 p.m.–1:45 p.m. Alison Alexander The O'Connors of Connorville: wealthy graziers employing many Tasmanians.
1:50 p.m. Annual General Meeting incorporating presentation of Lilian Watson Family History Award Best Journal Article Award Tasmanian Family History Inc. Awards
Book Stalls with publications from branches will be on offer during the day.
The Tasmanian Wool Centre & Museum
ii TASMANIAN ANCESTRY March 2018
Registration Form
Closing date for registration and payment is 6 June 2018 The State Secretary Tasmanian Family History Society Inc. PO Box 326 ROSNY PARK Tasmania 7018 Phone: 03 6244 4527 email: [email protected]
Name ...... Name ...... Address ......
I/we will be attending on Saturday, 23 June 2018
Morning Tea and Lunch: $20.00 per person.
Early Bird Prize Register before Monday 17 May 2018 to be in the draw for the President’s ‘Early Bird’ Prize.
A cheque/money order is enclosed
OR debit by: Master Card VISA (Please tick) @ $20 = $......
Name on Card (please print): ......
TASMANIAN ANCESTRY March 2018 iii
About our Guest Speakers
Colin Thomas is an unashamedly proud Tasmanian who is motivated to preserve artefacts of Tasmania’s colonial past. He spent his formative years at Midway Point where he lived on the waterfront and developed a keen interest in marine activities. After furnishing the family home with colonial furniture he developed an interest in early Tasmanian pottery, pre 1830 Tasmanian charts and scrimshaw. Colin has assembled a major, predominately Tasmanian collection of scrimshaw and whaling related artefacts and paintings which have previously been exhibited at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery as part of the 2011 Australian Wooden Boat Festival and at TMAG’s House Museum, Narryna. Colin was the keynote speaker at the Annual World Scrimshaw Conference in 2017 held at the New Bedford Whaling Museum in Massachusetts. His topic was Scrimshaw in Tasmania. Whilst in the USA Colin had the opportunity to examine museum scrimshaw collections in Honolulu, New Bedford, Nantucket, and Mystic. He is a member of the World Scrimshaw Forensic Group and the Chair of the Tasmanian Chapter of The Australiana Society, a group formed in 1978 to research, collect and preserve Australia’s heritage.
Garry Richardson was born at Franklin in the Huon Valley and went to school at Huonville, Sorell and Rose Bay High. At 15 he joined Forestry Tasmania as a Trainee Forest Ranger and worked all over the State before settling in the North East; firstly at Branxholm, then St Marys before finally settling at St Helens in 1980. He retired in 2005 and since that time he has been working away at the history of the old Portland Municipality (now part of Break O’Day). Four books have been published; Tin Mountain on the history of the Blue Tier; Sail & Steam on the trading vessels into Georges Bay; Lottah and the Anchor on the Lottah township and the Anchor Tin Mine and the latest Up Country on all the small towns and farming areas inland of St Helens. He is now researching what he plans to be the last book in the series on St Helens and the coastal settlements.
Our Patron, Dr Alison Alexander, really needs no introduction. Alison was born and educated in Tasmania with a doctorate in Tasmanian history. She has a career of writing commissioned 30 histories of various Tasmanian institutions such as municipalities, schools, industries and sporting groups. She has also written general books: Tasmania’s Convicts, how felon’s built a free colony; Corruption and Skullduggery: Edward Lord, Maria Riseley and Hobart’s tempestuous beginnings; and The Ambitions of Jane Franklin, which won the Australian National Biography Award. Alison has also written biographies of writers Mary Grant Bruce and Marie Bjelke Petersen, and Governors’ Ladies, a collection of biographies of early governors’ wives and mistresses. At present she is working on Duck and green peas for ever! The search for utopia in Tasmania, and a biography of the artist Patricia Giles. She is married with three children and two grandchildren. iv TASMANIAN ANCESTRY March 2018