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The Mail
May-June 2015
No. 170
ISSN 0812-8243
Registered by Australia Post - Print Post 100004694
May-June 2015
The Mail is published bi-monthly (except Jan
- Feb) on behalf of the Descendants of
Convicts' Group Inc.
A0025060G
ABN 65 842 201 084
www. vicnet.net.au/~dcginc
Patron
The Hon. Justice Howard Nathan
Forthcoming Events
Meetings are held at 1:30pm on
Level B1, 257 Collins Street
Melbourne
* Dates for 2015 *
2 May 2015—AGM
4 July 2015
5 Sept 2015
7 Nov. 2015
President
Bronwyn Quint - 9808 1980
[email protected]
* Contents *
President's Report .......................................... 3
Minutes of General Meeting ......................... 4
Vice President
Minutes of General Meeting…………………...5
Pauline McDonald
Notices…………….. ………………………….6
Annual General Meeting …………………. ….7
Secretary
Nomination Form……………………………...8
Yvonne Bethell—(03)9739 1427
[email protected]
Great Britain’s Exiles……………………...…..9
Great Britain’s Exiles…………………………10
Honorary Treasurer
Great Britain’s Exiles…………………………11
Pam Lawrrence
Great Britain’s Exiles………………………....12
Newsletter Dates, Meeting Dates……..………13
Examiner of Proofs
Albany Convict Gaol………………………….14
Laurice Cross - 9874 4553
43 Dudley Street, Mitcham, Vic. 3132
Albany Convict Gaol………………………….15
[email protected]
New Members,……………...………………...16
10 and 20 year Badges………………………..17
Committee Members
Thomas Waineright, Poisoner………………...18
Bill Barber
Thomas Waineright, Poisoner………………...19
Laurice Cross
The Female Convict Ship…………………….20
Stuart Hamilton
The Female Convict Ship……………………..21
Fay Jones
John O’Rielley
Useful Websites………..……………………..22
June Parrott
Tasmanian Family History Society, Email Copies
of the Mail…………………………………….23
All correspondence, membership enquiries, financial
Aims of Group, Membership………………….24
business and other matters related to “The Descendants of
Convicts Group Inc” should be directed to the Honorary
Secretary.
c/- Descendants of Convicts' Group Inc
PO Box 229
Coldstream
Victoria 3770
Australia
Email
[email protected]
All Claim Forms and related material
should be sent to the Examiner of Proofs.
All items for inclusion in an issue of ‘The Mail’ should
be sent to the newsletter editor
Newsletter Editor
Jenny Ford
[email protected]
Printed by:
Apple Print
702 High Street Road
Glen Waverley
All articles and information contained in The
Mail are accepted in good faith and ‘The
Descendants of Convicts' Group Victoria Inc’. take no
responsibility for the content therein.
Membership Fees
2015-2016 Fees
Single and family joining fee
$25
Single subscription
$20
Single Life Membership
$200
st
The subscription fees are due by 1 June each year
2
Family subscription
Family Life Membership
$25
$250
The Mail, No. 170
Presidents Report
The Descendants of Convicts group has again held its own over the last
year. We have had interesting speakers at our meetings and our newsletter has been really informative thanks to Jenny Ford the newsletter editor.
Please keep helping her out by sending her new and interesting articles to
print.
New changes have been made thanks to our treasurer Pam and members
can now pay by bank transfer as well as cheque or cash at meetings. Our
overseas members are happy about this as they have been asking for this
facility for a while.
On a personal note I have been on the committee of the Descendants of
Convicts group for over 20 years now and am stepping down as President
and not re-nominating this year due to health and family reasons. If any
descendant members would like to take on this position please nominate
as it is a worthwhile experience and helps the group out. It is not very time
consuming, there being only a committee meeting on the morning of our
general meetings, also at the GSV, and a few phone calls and emails between meetings.
The next year will hopefully be as good as or better than the last for everyone.
Bronwyn Quint
May-June 2015
3
Descendants of Convict’s Group Victoria Inc.
Minutes of General Meeting held on 7 March 2015
Opening & Welcome: Vice President Pauline McDonald welcomed those
present
Present: .30.members - See attached list
Apologies: .R Dowd, B Quint, K Gulliver, J Gulliver, P Game, R Leetham I
Neal, R Bowman P Fitzgerald, G Golds, M Golds, M Chapman, V Henderson, A
Mason, B Mason
Confirmation of Minutes – 2/11/2014 as printed in “The Mail Ed 169”
Moved J O’Reilly; Seconded L Cross that the minutes of 2nd November 2014 as
printed in Ed 169 of “The mail be received
Carried
Matters Arising from minutes meeting held on 2/11/2014:
None
Treasurer's report
Total of term deposits, cheque account and cash on hand
$24262.34
$1500 is still to be sent to “Founders and Survivors”.
Moved P Lawrence, Seconded S Hamilton, that the Treasurer’s report be received. Carried
Business Arising from Treasurer’s Report
None
Correspondence In
GSV – Invitation to 2 members to attend AGM of member groups on Saturday
23rd May 2015.
Tasmanian FHS Inc. – Lillian Watson Family History Award – for a book on family history, however produced or published on paper, dealing with family or biographical history with a significant Tasmanian content.
Correspondence Out
None.
Business arising from Correspondence.
F Jones and Y Bethell will attend GSV AGM for member groups.
No certificates presented
Meeting dates - 2015
7th March 2015. Colleen Wood - Exiles
2nd May 2015 Don Bradmore .- The Remarkable Edward Myers: Convict, Artist,
Musician, Linguist, Soldier-of-Fortune, Doctor of Medicine and Newspaper Publisher” (2014) and researching and preparing the book for publication
4th July, 5th September, 7th November
4
The Mail, No. 170
Descendants of Convict’s Group Victoria Inc.
Minutes of General Meeting held on 7 March 2015
Agenda items
Sec Yvonne Bethell apologized to Life Members for sending renewal forms to
them as it caused some confusion, although as any contacted per phone or
email their details were updated on the database. Life members do not pay renewal fees.
General Business
20 year badges were given to Pauline Bartlett for Len Bartlett and Dorothy Stein.
A list of members due to collect 10 and 20 year badges will be printed in Ed 170
of “The Mail”. Members to contact Secretary if they are able to attend the May
meeting will be presented with their badge at that meeting. Members not able to
attend will have their badges posted to their address in our records.
June Parrott suggested that some recognition be given to members at 30 years.
Moved Janice Swan, seconded Lyn Johnson that an award be given to 30 year
members.
Carried
Sec Y Bethell explained that although this was looked into last year she would
investigate the cost of some sort of award.
John O’Reilly reminded members that the May meeting was also the AGM and
encouraged members to stand for committee positions. The nomination forms
were published in Ed169 of “The Mail”.
Pauline then welcomed Colleen Wood to speak about Exiles
Colleen gave a PowerPoint presentation about the 1,727 exiles who were sent to
Port Phillip on nine ships between 1844 and 1849. They had come from Pentonville, Millbank and Parkhurst prisons, where many of the adults had been kept
under the ‘separate system’ for eighteen months. When they disembarked in the
colony, the exiles received their conditional pardon certificates, meaning that
they were free. Many labourers took jobs as shepherds or hut keepers, at a time
when the squatters were desperate for cheap labour. The presentation included
images showing prison records and other original documents.
Colleen has recently completed research for a PhD in the School of Historical
and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne. She can be contacted
on:[email protected] for further information
Meeting Closed at; 3.30pm followed by afternoon tea
May-June 2015
5
Electronic Funds Transfers for fees
th
On 10 February we received fees of $35 from a member with no
identifiable reference details.
The EFT was via Bank of Queensland and was received into our account
on 10/2/15. The Secretary has been unable to trace this payment.
Members who use Bank of Queensland, please check your records and
contact Secretary, Yvonne Bethell at [email protected] and let her
know if you made that payment, maybe 2 or 3 days prior to the 10th.
Apology to Life Members
Secretary Yvonne Bethell apologises to The Descendants of Convicts
Victoria Inc. Life members for inadvertently sending them renewal notices.
This caused some confusion. A number of Life Members sent me emails
to which I replied mainly by telephone. I didn’t think of these being sent
until the first phone call about it.
However, there was an upside to it. Those members who contacted me
had their details on the database checked and a number of these were
corrected immediately. Also others sent in their renewal forms marked
Life member and details were also checked and updated where
necessary.
Guest Speakers for 2015
2nd May Don Bradmore - “The Remarkable Edward Myers: Convict,
Artist, Musician, Linguist, Soldier-of-Fortune, Doctor of Medicine and
Newspaper Publisher” and researching and preparing the book for
publication.
4th July 2015 – Laurice Cross – proving your convict/s
5th September 2015 – Colette McAlpine – Female Convicts in Van
Diemans Land.
Colette is part of the Founders and Survivors team
7th November 2015 – Sue Thompson – Nellie Melba
Sue is a member of Lilydale Historical Society
Interest Groups
The list of like interest groups is being finalised and will be printed in the
next edition (171).Yvonne Bethell
6
The Mail, No. 170
Important Reminder
Annual General Meeting on 2nd May 2015
Basement 257 Collins Street Melbourne
A reminder to members that the General Meeting starts at 1.30pm
and is suspended to hold the
Annual General Meeting at
approximately 1.45pm.
At the AGM all committee positions are declared vacant and new
office bearers are elected.
There is a nomination form on the reverse of this notice. We need
the following
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
6 Ordinary Committee Members
All positions are voluntary
Please consider nominating yourself, post the form to
P O Box 229 COLDSTREAM VIC 3770 or email it to
[email protected] and I will find a mover and seconder.
Agenda Annual Gener al Meeting 2nd May 2015
1.Welcome
2. Minutes AGM 2014
3. Reports
4. All committee positions declared vacant
5. Election of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer
and Committee Members
6. General Business
7. AGM Close
Resume General Meeting
May-June 2015
7
The Descendants of Convicts Group Victoria Inc.
A0025060G ABN 63 842 201 084 www.vicnet.net.au/~dcginc
NOMINATION FORM
Annual Election of four Officers
and six Ordinary Members of the Committee
We hereby nominate: ………………………………………..Member No.
…………….
(Candidate’s name in BLOCK LETTERS)
for the position of: President/ Vice President/Secretary/Treasurer
Ordinary Member of the Committee (Delete as desired)
…………………………………….................................................
(Proposer’s Name & Signature)
Member No…………….
…………………………………….................................................
(Seconder’s Name & Signature)
Member No…………….
I ACCEPT THIS NOMINATION and give my consent to act in the elected position.
Signature: …………………………………. Date: ………./………/………
This form is to be returned NOT LATER THAN SEVEN (7) DAYS
BEFORE THE DATE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING to:
The Secretary. The Descendants of Convicts Group Victoria Inc.
PO Box 115
Flinders Lane PO
Victoria 8009
Notes:
1 Only proven descendant members are eligible for election as Officers, but all
financial members are eligible for election as Ordinary Committee Members.
2. Members may be nominated for more than one position.
8
The Mail, No. 170
Great Britain’s Exiles sent to Port Phillip,
Australia, 1844-1849: Lord Stanley’s Experiment
The following is an address given at the 7th March meeting by Colleen
Woods. As not all members can attend meetings, Colleen has kindly given permission to print her talk in DOC. It will be printed over 3 editions of
DOC.
Part 1:
Over the last few years that I have been studying the exiles, I found that
most of them were members of the working class, with a few from the
middle class. Some stand out for sheer force of personality, despite their
difficult circumstances. There were at least four that acquired nicknames
in the colony: ‘Holy Joe’, ‘Lucky Billy’, ‘Clockey Brown’ and ‘Jack the Shingler’. I’ll come back to them later.
The reason I embarked on research into the exiles was because of my
great-great-great-grandfather, William Nicholls. As a 17-year-old lad from
Norwich, he had stolen a horse and was sentenced to transportation for
ten years. After time spent in Millbank prison, he sailed on the Marion and
landed in Melbourne in 1848. William Nicholls married in Kyneton and
raised a family, but in 1877 he re-offended and found himself in Castlemaine Gaol for six months. Our family history lost trace of him, and so his
later years and death remain a mystery.
Many of you would be aware of the work of others, particularly Ian Wynd
who wrote The Pentonvillains in 1996, Keith Clarke, who wrote Convicts
of the Port Phillip District in 1999, and David Dunstan who edited Owen
Suffolk’s Days of Crime and Years of Suffering in 2000. Their groundbreaking work on the exiles has been invaluable in my research.. Keith
Clarke’s book has a useful list of all the exiles in a table at the back of the
book. David Dunstan’s book republishes the only memoir written by an
exile. Owen Suffolk was one of the worst re-offenders in Port Phillip, but
he was obviously a highly intelligent and talented person.
The exile scheme was the work of Colonial Secretary, Lord Stanley, and
of Sir James Graham, Home Secretary. The main reason for its creation
was in response to the debacle in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania),
whereby Britain had flooded the island with convicts, and as a result there
was no work available. Meanwhile, the squatters in the Port Phillip District
of NSW (now Victoria) were crying out for cheap labour in the form of
shepherds and hut keepers. Legally speaking, Lord Stanley was in a dilemma because he could not send the men and boys we now call exiles
to Port Phillip, because until 1851 it was part of NSW. Mercy’, which
meant that Lord Stanley could solve his problem.
May-June 2015
(Cont. on p.10)
9
Great Britain’s Exiles sent to Port Phillip,
Australia, 1844-1849: Lord Stanley’s Experiment
The solution was to call the men and boys ‘exiles’ instead of ‘convicts’,
and to give them conditional pardons, so that they would be free on arrival
in Port Phillip. This meant that they could not return to Britain until their
sentences expired.
The vast majority of the exiles were English, with the next largest group
coming from Scotland. Although there was a small number born in Ireland, others of Irish extraction may have been counted amongst the English, due to the internal migration of their parents.
The 1830s and 1840s in Britain was a difficult time economically and politically, especially for the working classes. It was a time of rioting, unemployment, the spread of Chartism, and efforts to repeal the Corn Laws.
There was no state-organised system of education, so young children
were exploited by working long hours in factories or down the mines.
Many destitute families had to resort to the workhouses. Marx and Engels
predicted revolution in Britain. One way in which people expressed their
frustration was through setting fire to haystacks and the like. I found fourteen exiles who were convicted of arson or incendiarism.
It is sad to come across the fact that not only were some exiles wrongly
sentenced, but that they would never have known it. I came across at
least six individual cases which had the phrase ‘an erroneous sentence’
written in the trial record book.
Thomas Drewery’s case was the only one of an exile who suffered a miscarriage of justice based on mistaken identity. He was a druggist who
sailed on the Joseph Somes. Later he was exonerated, and was given the
opportunity to return to England. Drewery decided that life in Australia
was better, however, so his wife and children were sent out here to join
him. He became a Melbourne City councillor. Drewery Lane, not far from
the State Library of Victoria, parallel to Swanston Street, is named after
him.
Many of the exiles came from rural areas, but of those who came from
cities, the overwhelming majority were from London and were tried at the
Central Criminal Court. The transcripts of their trials are available on the
Old Bailey web site. The exiles’ crimes were often for larceny or vagrancy,
although there were a number of exiles convicted for more violent crimes.
More than half of them had prior convictions. Sometimes magistrates sent
boys as young as eight years old to Parkhurst for their own good.
(Cont. on p. 11)
10
The Mail, No. 170
Great Britain’s Exiles sent to Port Phillip,
Australia, 1844-1849: Lord Stanley’s Experiment
Most exiles were sent to Pentonville Penitentiary, which was a new model
prison where the ‘separate system’ was being trialled. The other adult
prison was Millbank, on the bank of the Thames. It had been established
initially as a penitentiary, but in August 1843 was redesignated as a depot
prison. From then on, all persons sentenced to transportation had to
spend time in Millbank to be classified. Some were then sent on to Pentonville. Boys under eighteen years of age were sent to the Parkhurst Reformatory on the Isle of Wight.
Because the exiles were free on arrival, there were no convict indents for
them. So, in order to find personal information about them, other avenues
must be used. By going through the prison registers, you can find a
wealth of information. Sometimes there is a detailed physical description,
or the religion, or the father’s name and occupation, or details of visits
from relatives. From the Pentonville register I found that, for 24% of the
exiles, the fathers had died before their sons went to trial. If you would like
to look these up the registers for Millbank and Pentonville are on the
AJCP reels at the State Library of Victoria. Because most exiles spent
some time in Millbank, it is useful to look at that register as well, even if
your exile spent most of his time at Pentonville or Parkhurst.
Pentonville Register: AJCP reel no. 5977, P.COM 2/61 & 2/62 (HO 24/1624/19)
Millbank Register: AJCP reels no. 5971-5973, P.COM 2/21 & 2/27 (HO
24/1-HO 24/14)
Parkhurst Register: HO 24/15 at The National Archives, UK.
The designs of Pentonville and Millbank were based on the idea of a panopticon. This meant that all prisoners could be under constant surveillance from a central point.
Pentonville accommodated 500 healthy male prisoners between the ages
of eighteen and thirty-five. They were selected for their potential and for
their apparent willingness to reform .
The prisoners suffered a loss of identity, being known only by their cell
number. Millbank prison catered for about 1,000 prisoners, separated into
adult and junior wards. The adults worked under ‘moderate separation’,
and the juveniles worked ‘in association’ but in silence, for twelve hours
each day.
In the Pentonville Register, those judged to have excellent conduct became exiles on the first exile ship, the Royal George. Obviously the authorities wanted to make a good impression with this first group.
(Cont. on p.12)
May-June 2015
11
Great Britain’s Exiles sent to Port Phillip,
Australia, 1844-1849: Lord Stanley’s Experiment
In Pentonville, prisoners spent 18 months working in their separate cells,
learning a trade. Their only communication was with the warders, a trade
instructor, and the prison chaplain. They were provided with religious
books to read.
They had no communication with other prisoners, even when attending
chapel or during their daily exercise, when they wore a cap pulled down
over their eyes so they could not be identified.
The separate system, particularly at Pentonville had its critics, due to the
negative effect on the mental health of some individuals, leading to
suicide attempts, or feigned acts of suicide. The men who did become
insane were sent to Bedlam hospital.
As time went on, Millbank became overcrowded and the staff were under
pressure to maintain the registers, and so the information recorded in the
register became less detailed.
The legal foundation for the exile scheme was the warrant for the
conditional pardons, using the Royal Prerogative of Mercy. This was
signed by Queen Victoria for each of the nine shiploads of exiles. The
document was sealed with the wax seal of the Home Office, and was
countersigned on the last page by the Home Secretary, Sir James
Graham. These documents are kept at the Public Records Office of
Victoria in Kensington. The one for the Stratheden is missing
unfortunately.
Lord Stanley’s lengthy despatch of 27 July 1844 announced the exile
scheme. Identical copies of this despatch were addressed to Charles La
Trobe (Superintendent of Port Phillip), Sir George Gipps (Governor of
NSW) and Sir Eardley Wilmot (Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen’s
Land). The despatch was sent on the Royal George, the same ship as
the exiles. (You can find a transcription of this in the Historical Records of
Australia, Volume XXIII, 699-704.)
(To be Cont. in DOC 171)
12
The Mail, No. 170
Items in the Convict Store
We have in the Convict Store CD ROMs and books for sale.
The CD ROM “Index to Colonial Convict Movements 1827 to 1853” is for
sale at $10 per copy.
Arrows of Hope Vol 2 is for sale for $5 per copy.
These can be purchased at meetings or with added postage and
handling from:
The Treasurer
The Descendants of Convict's Group Victoria Inc.
PO Box 229, Coldstream
Victoria, Australia, 3770
Newsletter Dates for 2015
If you have an item of interest you would like to see printed in the newsletter please send it by post to 88 Somers Street, Burwood 3125 Australia, or email it to me at <[email protected]>. I am always looking
for items of interest to print so please send any in. The closing dates for
inclusion in the newsletters for 2015 are:
7 June
9 August
11 October
2015
2015
2015
I look forward to receiving your articles, or any other information you find
in newspapers, on the internet, etc. Prefer docs in Word format. What
about book reviews?
Jenny Ford Newsletter Editor
Arrows of Hope Vol 3
I am still looking for stories to put into the 3rd volume of Arrows of Hope.
Hopefully a few relaxing days over the holidays gave you time to write a
short story about your convict ancestor for inclusion. Any stories can be
sent to me by email or posted to the Group’s PO Box. I would like to publish a 3rd volume of the book, but can’t do that without stories to include!
Bronwyn Quint
May-June 2015
13
Albany Convict Gaol
Albany Gaol once was a Convict hiring depot. It was built in 1852.
In Western Australia, unlike Tasmania and New South Wales the convict
system was based on the idea of rehabilitation. With the Convicts being
transported from the Motherland England for over an 18 year period,
between 1850 and 1868, so the Old Gaol began as a Convict Hiring
Depot.
A lot of convicts had their ticket-of-leave and were hired to work by the
free settlers. They were also used to man the pilot boat and worked in
rebuilding York Street and Stirling Terrace; they also turned the track from
Albany to Perth into a good road.
Initially It consisted of men’s cell blocks and wardens quarters, large
depot building, workshops, hospital, kitchen, offices, garden and parade
ground.
A report some years later described the cells as damp and poorly
ventilated, with a spring of flowing water running under the building during
winter.
The gaol was also used as a lock up for “ticket of leave” men who had
committed an offense. A brick wall with a strong door was built to
separate the colonial prisoners from the Imperial convicts.
In 1873 the Old Convict Gaol was enlarged to be used as a public gaol.
A report in the Inquirer (Perth, 27 April, 1853) briefly describes an escape:
“Two more of the ticket-of-leave men have disappeared from Albany Gaol
and it is supposed that they shipped themselves on board one of the
American whalers.”.
Another report in the Inquirer (Perth, 23March, 1870) states:
“Our little gaol is crowded. There are now in it 2 white men waiting for
trial, 2 white women undergoing 3 months sentence and 3 blackfellows
for an indefinite period--l —remanded from time to time on a charge of
murder amongst themselves; 25 British seamen in the depot for refusing
to work, and I very much doubt if we do not have bloodshed among them
yet, if great precaution is not taken bv the authorities.”
(All information and photo/map were summarised from Trove, The History of the
Albany Convict Gaol by Susanne Horton, and website:
http://www.albany.asn.au/convictgaolalbany.htm)
The idea for the article and access to the map and a few pages of the book came
from member Helen Reichenbach.
14
The Mail, No. 170
May-June 2015
15
NEW MEMBERS
New members who have joined since the last meeting and are now Associate
Members, they are:
Associates: 1602 Lyn & Ian Cair ncr oss
1605 Kate Scanlan
1606 Sandra Roundsevell-Aidon
Proven Members:
Member Name:
Member No.:
Convict Name:
Ship Name:
Place of Arrival:`
Date of Arrival:
Date Proved:
Phillip Johnson
1521
Primmer, Charles John
Ocean
Sydney
1816
23 March 2015
Member Name:
Member No.:
Convict Name:
Ship Name:
Date of Arrival:
Date Proved:
Phillip Johnson
1521
Sullivan, Mary
Brother
04 February 1827
23 March 2015
Member Name:
Member No.:
Convict Name:
Ship Name:
Date of Arrival:
Date Proved:
Phillip Johnson
1521
Johnson, William
Mangles
1837
23 March 2015
Member Name:
Member No.:
Convict Name:
Ship Name:
Date of Arrival:
Date Proved
Samuel Vernon Miller
1344
Inman, Mary
Maria
11 October 1818
29 March 2015
Member Name:
Member No.:
Convict Name:
Ship Name:
Date of Arrival:
Date Proved:
Samuel Vernon Miller
1344
Miller, James
Indefatigable
19 October 1812
29 March 2015
16
The Mail, No. 170
10 and 20 Year Badges for 2015
Those present at the May meeting will be presented with them at the
meeting or will have them posted out after the secretary receives
confirmation of a current address. Members can phone me on (03)
9739 1427 or mobile 0400 981 238 between 9.00am and 9.00pm any
day.
Yvonne Bethell
May-June 2015
17
Artist, Writer, Dandy, Forger, Poisoner and Convict
A convict who poisoned his uncle to get his property, then insured the
lives of his mother-in-law and sister-in-law, and poisoned them, too, is the
artist who drew two portraits to be hung soon at the National Gallery here .
Wainewright poisoned off his three relatives in England. He was never
charged with murder, but was arrested for forgery. He was transported to
Tasmania, arriving at Hobart in November,1837.After a time it became
known that there was an artist in the Hobart Gaol who had shown at the
Academy, and a group of citizens asked if he could visit homes in the
town to paint portraits. It is said that he was usually accompanied by an
armed guard.
At one time, when he was painting a beautiful young woman of 18, his
drug phial fell to the ground. She went to pick it up." Not with your innocent fingers, "he muttered, stopping her. Wainewright later worked in the
Hobart Public Hospital, where ,his only friend was a black cat. He died of
apoplexy at 53.
Wainreight’s early background is interesting. On 13 November 1817 he
married Eliza Frances Ward, the daughter by a previous marriage of Mrs
Abercromby. His grandfather had left him the income from £5250, which
amounted to some £200 a year. Wainewright placed the capital sum of his
inheritance in trust for his young wife, arranging that the money would go
to her at his death. However, he lived above his income and was soon
heavily in debt; by forging the signatures of his cousin, Edward Foss, and
his father, Edward Smith Foss, a solicitor, to a power of attorney in July
1822 he obtained £2250 of his capital from the Bank of England. Two
years later with a second forgery he obtained the remaining £3000.
In 1828 he and his wife went to live with his uncle, George Edward Griffiths, who soon died, leaving him his house and some money. In 1830 'old
Mrs Abercromby' died a few days after making her will in favour of Mrs
Wainewright. The two other daughters, Helen and Madeleine Abercromby, came to live with the Wainewrights. Almost immediately Helen, still
only 20, took out life policies with various insurance companies for some
£16,000. Ten months later Helen Abercromby died after a brief illness.
The insurance companies were suspicious and refused to pay. Wainewright, as executor, brought an action for recovery.
After long delay the case was heard before Judge Abinger on 29 June
1835, but the jury disagreed.
18
The Mail, No. 170
Artist, Writer, Dandy, Forger, Poisoner and Convict
The portrait by former convict Thomas Wainewright was
found in a private collection in Scotland.
When the case was heard again the verdict was in favour of the
defendants on the grounds of 'concealment by Miss Abercromby and an
evasion of the statute'. Wainewright had left his wife and son in 1831 and
remained out of England for six years.
During Wainewright's absence in France the Bank of England
discovered his forgeries and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He
returned to England, was arrested on 9 June 1837 and charged with
having attempted to defraud the Bank of England with a forged power of
attorney. He was sentenced to transportation for life .
He worked at first on the roads in a chain-gang and was quartered in the
prisoners' barracks in Campbell Street; later he was transferred to the
Hobart Hospital as a wardsman. His health started to decline. The
doctors were unable to diagnose the complaint, which was probably
disseminated sclerosis. He was allowed some freedom and this enabled
him to practise his beloved painting. Many of the portraits he produced at
this time are among the best of his works and were mostly painted in
gratitude for small favours by the subjects. In 1844, helped by the
hospital authorities, he petitioned the governor for a ticket-of-leave, but
his conditional pardon was not granted until 14 November 1846. He died
one year later.
(All information summarised from Trove, Adelaide News 15 March, 1945,
Australian Dictionary of Biography and ABC News)
May-June 2015
19
THE FEMALE CONVICT-SHIP
BY THOMAS HAYNES BAYLY
The tide is in, the breeze is fair,
The vessel under weigh ;
The gallant prow glides swiftly on,
And throws aside the spray :
The tranquil ocean, minor-like,
Reflects the deep blue skies,
And, pointing to the destined course,
The straightened pennon flies.
Oh ! none of those heart cradled prayers
That never reach the lip,
No benedictions wait upon
That fast-receding ship :
No tearful eyes are strained to watch
Its progress from the land ;
And there are none to wave the scarf,
And none to kiss the hand.
Yet women throng that vessel's deck—
The haggard, and the fair,
The young in guilt, and the depraved,
Are intermingled there !
The girl, who from her mother's arms
Was early lured away ;
The hardened hag, whose trade had been
To lead the pure astray !
A young and sickly mother kneels
Apart from all the rest ;
And with a song of home she lulls
The babe upon her breast.
She falters,—for her tears must flow,—
She cannot end the verse ;
And nought is heard among the crowd
But laughter, shout, or curse !
'Tis sunset. Hark ! the signal gun ,
All from the deck are sent
The young, the old, the best, the worst,
In one dark dungeon pent !
Their wailing, and their horrid mirth,
Alike are hushed in sleep,
And now the female convict-ship
In silence ploughs the deep.
But long the lurid tempest-cloud
Hath brooded o'er the waves,
And suddenly the winds are roused,
And leave their secret caves, And up aloft the ship is borne,
And down again as fast,
And every mighty billow seems
More dreadful than the last.
20
The Mail, No. 170
THE FEMALE CONVICT-SHIP
Oh ! who that loves the pleasure-barque,
By summer breezes fanned,
Shall dare to paint the ocean-storm,
Terrifically grand ?
When helplessly the vessel drifts,
Each torn sail closely furled ;
When not a man of all the crew
Knows whither she is hurled ! And who shall tell the agony
Of these confined beneath,
Who in the darkness dread to lie—
How unprepared for death ! Who, loathing, to each other cling
When every hope hath ceased, And beat against their prison door,
And shriek to be released !
Three times the ship hath struck. Again !
She never more will float.
Oh ! wait not for the rising tide,
Be steady—man the boat.
And see, assembled on the shore,
The merciful, the brave ;—
Quick, set the female convicts free,
There still is lime to save !
It is in vain ! what demon blinds
The captain and the crew ? The rapid rising of the tide
With mad delight they view.
They hope the coming waves will waft
The convict-ship away !
The foaming monster hurries on
Impatient for his prey !
And He is come ! the rushing flood
In thunder sweeps the deck ; The groaning timbers fly apart,
The vessel is a wreck !
One moment from the female crowd
There comes a fearful cry ; The next, they're hurled into the deep,
To struggle, and to die !
Their ebbing tide ; And sixty in a ghastly row
Lie numbered side by side !
The lifeless mother's bleeding form
Comes floating from the wreck, And lifeless in the babe she bound
So fondly round her neck !
'Tis morn ,—the anxious eye can trace
No vessel on the deep ;
But gathered timber on the shore
Lies in a gloomy heap
In winter those brands will blaze
Our tranquil homes to warm,
Though torn from that poor convict-ship
That perished in the storm !
(Published in The Sydney Gazette 24 June 1834)
May-June 2015
21
Descendants of Convicts’ Group Victoria Inc. website
For those who want to check out our very useful website, here is where
you go:
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dcginc/
Useful Websites
Convict Records (Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/ConvictRecords
A Reference website, quite interesting.
Convict Stockade
http://convict.historyaustralia.org.au
Quite a good varierty of information on this site. Fairly new.
Convict Trail
http://www.convicttrail.org/history.php
Convicts Transported from South Australia
http://www.jaunay.com/convicts.html
Convicts… Where to Start
http://www.janetreakesgenealogy.com/ConvictResearch/
ConvictResearch.htm
Project Gutenberg
http://gutenberg.net.au/
Contains a huge range of free history downloads
National Archives
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/australasia/
Contains many old photos from around Australia.
Trove
http://trove.nla.gov.au/
Guest Speakers for 2015
May 2 Don Bradmore - “The Remarkable Edward Myers:
Convict, Artist, Musician, Linguist, Soldier-of-Fortune, Doctor
of Medicine and Newspaper Publisher” and researching and
preparing the book for publication.
22
The Mail, No. 170
Tasmanian Family History Society Inc.

Membership of the TFHS Inc. is open to all interested in genealogy and
family history, whether resident in Tasmania or not.

Membership includes receipt of Tasmanian A ncestry, its quarterly journal, free entry to branch libraries and discounts on some publications.

Research is undertaken for a fee by each branch: Burnie, Devonport,
Hobart, Huon and Launceston.
Enquiries:
State Secretary
PO Box 326
ROSNY PARK TAS 7018
or
[email protected]
Ph 03 6244 4527
Further details about the society and its publications may be found at
www.tasfhs.org
Email copies of DOCs Newsletter
Would you prefer to get your colour copy of The Mail by email?
The benefits of receiving your copy of The Mail by email instead of receiving a
printed copy are many. Just a few are that you will receive your copy earlier, not
having to wait for the printed copies to come back from the printer and be put into
envelopes then posted. Files can be stored on your computer or copied onto disk
requiring little storage space.
If you would like to receive your newsletter by email you will need to have a program to read PDF files, such as Adobe acrobat which can be downloaded free
from the web if you don’t already have it on your computer.
Anyone who would be interested in receiving their newsletter by email or would
like more information can contact the Secretary by email at
<[email protected]> and we will add your name to the list.
Bronwyn Quint
May-June 2015
23
The Descendants of Convicts' Group
Victoria, Incorporated
Aims of the Group
The aims of the Group are to educate participating members on matters pertaining to the convict system. These matters will include:
Conditions which prevailed in the United Kingdom and the Australian
colonies at the time;
The Transportation system;
Relevant sources of information both within the United Kingdom and
Australia;
Processes for tracing one's ancestry and levels of proof required for Group
membership;
Matters of general genealogical interest.
These aims are achieved through regular meetings, field visits, workshops and
social events.

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the
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24
Membership
Members: Any per son is eligible to join the Gr oup and become an
Associate Member.
Members may submit claims for pr oof of descent fr om a convict to
Group's Examiner of Proofs and Certificates will be issued for claim
proven.
Descendant Members: Member s attain the status of Descendant
Members on proof of their claim, Certificates for each descended convict
will be issued at the first meeting of the Group, following verification of
proofing documents.
A joining fee, together with the year ly subscr iption fee, must accompany each application for membership. The annual fee is payable in May
of each year thereafter, and must be lodged with the Treasurer by 1 st June
of each year. First annual fees for members joining after the November
meeting will fall due on the following May twelve months.
Joint Family membership is available to two member s at one addr ess
on payment of the joining fee and the joint yearly subscription fee. Children up to 18 years of age are included in a family membership.
Life membership is available on payment of ten times the annual subscription.
Current fees, as set at the Annual Gener al Meeting in May of each
year, are listed on Page 2 of “The Mail”.
The Mail, No. 170