CIRCUMNAVIGATING AUSTRALIA'S COLONIAL HISTORY - TROVE TUESDAY 19th MAR 2019 Pt. 19

    N.B. Very approximate position

Ever wanted to circumnavigate Australia? We still have a way to go...we'll be going on quite a journey, at least virtually, and clockwise. So as to make sure all states and territories are covered, we started in Western Australia and explored a little of the early history of a small part of this massive state via TROVE...from Rottnest Island to Broome..then across to Katherine Gorge, then Tennant Creek, from there to Darwin on the way to the Tiwi Islands, Bathurst and Melville.

We've had to travel back to Darwin, before leaving the Northern Territory, then across to Cairns, in North Queensland... but we didn't stop there, instead headed to the tropical north, to one of the most beautiful areas you can imagine... isolated yes, but perfect for that great getaway... to Cape Tribulation. It seems you loved that area so well, that Cairns was the obvious place to travel to next... not too far south. That was another very popular place...as was our visit to Fraser Island...

We then headed inland, on an approximately 6 hours flight to a place steeped in history.. what a contrast to the sub tropical island of Fraser ...no waterfalls or clear lakes or rainforest, but Longreach has so much to offer.

We then returned to Hervey Bay, by plane, and then took a short drive of approximately 25 minutes to a town founded in 1847... the charming historical town of Maryborough. So many of you loved that place as I do.

What a contrast the next destination was, though it is also very much steeped in history... a beautiful place, but it was a place of horror, of deprivation and loneliness... St. Helena Island. To get there, we left on a ferry from Manly, across to the island. 

Then we returned to Brisbane, to explore the beautiful, sub tropical capital city of the Sunshine State. Brisbane today, is the third largest city in Australia and growing rapidly... 

It has come a long way from it's beginnings as the Moreton Bay convict settlement, with such an interesting history. In an earlier issue, we explored some of the history of Brisbane, then visited Brisbane of a later period. There is so much to see and do in this beautiful city, once known as the biggest country town in Australia...

After a break, we resumed our travels...  heading in to New South Wales... not too far over the border, to a place that literally stands out, begging to be noticed. It was first given a European name by Captain James Cook...  he recorded seeing " a remarkable sharp peaked mountain lying inland". That place was the very imposing Mt. Warning.. you can refresh your memory here

The New Year saw us travelling again, refreshed and ready to go to yet another beautiful place. Many of you will have stopped there, if only to get a photo taken on the border between Queensland and New South Wales..Coolangatta one side, Tweed Heads on the other. Hard to believe that this was only known as Point Danger in times past, as indeed it was... the lighthouse is a clue... 

That place brought back many wonderful memories for so many of you...it was lovely to read your comments and receive your emails..

We moved south again, to a place that means a lot to my family, but also has a very colourful past. It is beautiful, a popular tourist place, the centre of a very busy district, steeped in Australia's colonial history.. it's the bustling town of Port Macquarie. It is around 5 hours drive south of Point Danger.

I concentrated on the convict history of Port Macquarie, perhaps we will return another time to see how the city has changed.

We then headed down the coast a bit, then inland, to another town connected to my family.. the country town of Aberdeen, where my father and five of his brothers were born, him being the youngest. It seems many of you have driven through this town, but never explored it. You would have passed my family's old home .. on the north side of town, just over the bridge on the left hand side heading north.

After backtracking a few hours and heading back to the coast, we explored the bustling city of Newcastle. It was great to hear that a number of you who thought you knew Newcastle reasonably well found a few new places to check out on your next visit.

It was only a relatively short drive, just a couple of hours away from Newcastle, to our next destination... Wiseman's Ferry. Heard of it, but never been there? It took me many years to actually visit, but I'm glad I did. This is another place that has a family connection for me... this time, on my maternal line...and so many of you enjoyed the visit also, going by your comments and emails. Thank you.

Now we're heading to a place that I'm sure most of have heard of, once a year at least... a reasonably thriving place which has the best New Year's Eve fireworks in the world. 

Sydney Harbour Bridge (i)

Ok, I could be slightly biased and yes, it is Sydney, capital of New South Wales, site of the oldest settlement in Australia and another place which is linked to my family.





Then again, this looks rather familiar to most...

Sydney Opera House (ii)

Maybe fewer of you have ever seen or know of this icon...at least from this vantage point..

Sydney Tower (Centrepoint)  (iii)

Darling Harbour is also a great attraction, there is so much to do and see there.. 
just one aspect of it is beautifully portrayed by 
this game...

Darling Harbour (iv)

All stunning buildings/places, however the ones that really get my attention are those places and buildings of long ago, some of which are still standing and a few are still in use, either for everyday needs or as monuments to the past.

Darling Harbour looked a little different in 1900.. 

Darling Harbour 1900.. (v)

Lachlan Macquarie, who was selected to be Governor of NSW in 1809 and took office in 1810, had quite a few ideas for the development of the new settlement of Sydney, as outlined in this article...

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Saturday 6 October 1810  National Library of Australia    http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article628087

By 1878, there had been lots of progress...

Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Saturday 20 April 1878

National Library of Australia  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162692441

This article appeared across several publications in a similar form...

National Library of Australia     http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article211166061

Among the many items available through TROVE is this interesting book.. you can read the whole edition here... courtesy of

The Australian Historical Society ...

Historical Sketches of Early Churches in NSW....

Two of the older buildings still standing and in use are as follows...

Lord Nelson Hotel & Brewery - Miller's Point, Sydney, New South Wales. Built c1836. Licence issued 1842. The Lord Nelson is the oldest working licensed hotel in Sydney. Located at 19 Kent Street, on the corner of Argyle Place.

Cadman's Cottage - The Rocks NSW

Cadman's Cottage - The Rocks NSW. Built 1816 as the Coxswains Barracks, it gets its name from John Cadman, the longest serving and final Coxswain to reside there from 1827 to 1846. It was located on the original shoreline of Semi-Circular Quay, as it was then known. From 1846 it was the headquarters of the Water Police up until the construction of the Water Police Courts in Philip Street.

It continued to be used as a lockup by the Water Police, and in 1864 became the residence of the Superintendent of the Sailor's Home next door. It was vacant by 1962 and in 1970 it was acquired by the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority. It is the third oldest building in Sydney. Located on George Street.

www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDe...

Three images above are courtesy of sv1ambo Some rights reserved

    

The following are courtesy of TROVE.. both still in use...one as a heritage home to visit..

Elizabeth Farm, Parramatta, 15 miles from Sydney. The oldest building in Australia, built by John Macarthur, a British army officer, who founded the Australian wool industry and pioneered the breeding of merino ship, on a grant of 1900 acres in 1793. Photographer J. Fitzpatrick 1961.

Garden Island Naval Base.. buildings 21 & 22...oldest buildings on the base. City of Sydney Archives.

There are so many more beautiful old buildings around Sydney, a thriving metropolis, which, at this stage, still has retained much of it's past... but for how long? Perhaps we need to revisit while we can...

Credits and further reading..

Sydney Harbour Bridge  (i)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Harbour_Bridge

Adam.J.W.C. - Own work      CC BY 3.0

Sydney Opera House (ii)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Opera_House

Solvasity CC BY-SA 4.0

Sydney Tower (Centrepoint)  (iii)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Tower

Sardaka  CC BY-SA 3.0

Market Street, Sydney, Centrepoint Tower in centre, monorail on the right (now dismantled) (6x6 slide scanned at 6400)

Darling Harbour   (iv)

deepfocus   Some rights reserved

https://darlingharbour.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darling_Harbour

Darling Harbour 1900  (v)

Powerhouse Museum     Public Domain

modern website        https://darlingharbour.com

Biography of Lachlan Macquarie

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/macquarie-lachlan-2419

TROVE TUESDAY 18TH JULY, 2017 - CONDITIONAL PARDONS, CONDITIONAL RELEASE..CONVICTS- ISSUE 3

CONDITIONAL PARDONS, CONDITIONAL RELEASE

Explanations of the various forms of release and pardons are noted below. Here, I have posted various forms of documents with the help of TROVE, also a number of lists of those receiving the same. 

In previous posts, Certificates of Freedom and Tickets of Leave were among items covered. TROVE has many items covering all subjects related to convicts. I suggest you do a broad search first, such as 'conditional pardons', then narrow it as desired. While many of the lists released in Government Gazettes were also published in the press of the time, not all were. It pays to look for Government Gazettes as a separate search. 

Also, don't restrict your search just to one state, as many stories were published over several states, often with more detail in one item than in others.

Richard Coyle 27th August 1866

Conditional pardon

A conditional pardon allowed convicts with life sentences freedom of the colony, but they were not allowed to return to the UK.

Absolute pardon

An absolute pardon gave a 'lifer' complete remittance of sentence. The convict had freedom of the colony and could return to the UK.

National Library of Australia

Reg. No. 9664 Thomas Fenwick January 1867

Conditions of Release...

1. He is not to proceed to either of the newly discovered districts to the North and East.

2. He is to report his place of residence to the senior officer of Police in any district in which he may locate himself.

3. When changing his residence from one place to another, he is to report the same to the senior officer of Police in the district that he is leaving, and in that to which he is going. 

4. These reports may be made personally, or in writing.

FREE PARDON

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Sunday 5 June 1803, page 1

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article625605  

 General Orders.

THE Royal Standard having been hoisted

for the first time in this Territory, on this

the Annivesary of HIS MAJESTY'S Birth,

HIS EXCELLENCY is pleased to extend the

Royal Grace, and Free Pardon to the fol-

lowing Persons, viz.

Colonial Lieutenant of Artillery and En-

gineer, GEORGE BRIDGES BELLASIS; To

the Twenty Soldiers of the New South Wales

Corps, who had received Conditional Eman-

cipations; and to Twelve other Conditionally

Emancipated persons.

Also Conditional Emancipations for Sixty-

Seven Prisoners, under the Sentence of the Law.

The different Gaol Gangs are also to be liberated.

The Commissary is directed to issue the

usual allowance of half a-pint of Spirits to

each Non-Commissioned Officer and Private.

By Command ofHis Excellency. W. N. CHAPMAN, Sec.

Government House,  June 4, 1803.

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Sunday 19 June 1803, page 4 

National Library of Australia

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article625633 

           FREE PARDONS:

Henry Hacking

John Thompson

Elizabeth Beacon

Bryan Spollin

George Cock

Edward Moreton

William Redfearn [Redfern]

Charles Macdermot

George Legg

Ferdinand Meaurant

John Smith

Margaret Fogharty.

CONDITIONAL EMANCIPATIONS:

John Robinson, John Tull,

Thomas McKenna, John Thorogood,

George Mealmaker, George Gambling,

David Lloyd, Henry Marr,

Edmund Redmond, William Parrott,

William Waldron, John Mitchell,

Joseph Salmond, Thomas Bates,

James Vandercomb, Robert Shrieves,

Thomas Wilson, Daniel Gilroy,

George Howe, Christopher Flood,

Daniel Collins, David Audesley,

Timothy Laughton, Philip Tully,

William Claver, Thomas Dwyer,

James Petty, William Smith,

Charles Wilson, Joseph Larkins,

John Austin, William Ogden,

George Jackson, Samuel Larken,

James Collins, Thomas O'Neal,

Edward Wills, Richard Oldham,

James Perks, Samuel Warner,

Thomas Forster, Ann Simmonds,

John Williams, Elizabeth Powell,

John Young, Mary Sargeant,

Samuel Phelts, Miles Fieldgate,

David Batty, Thomas Graves,

George Matthews, Robert Quarryman,

William Brown, Lawrence Deveran,

Francis McLenan, John Robby,

William Stephens, John McKay,

James Mayne, Jeremiah Law,

Garret Kerwin, John Herbert,

Abraham Abrams, John Campbell,

John Rogers, William Murphy,

William Orr, Edward Kenna,

Hugh Crabtree.

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Sunday 3 July 1803, page 1 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article625652 

General Orders.

As much inconvenience is found in De-

lineating the different Allotments on the

Charts of the Settlements, from the circum-

stance of the numerous small Allotments

that have been purchased by individuals

adjoining the Tracts granted to them, or

otherwise acquired, which must in a few

Years occasion much Litigation and Confusion.

To Remedy this growing Inconvenience

as much as possible the GOVERNOR recom-

mends those who hold different Allotments

of the above Description to apply to the

Surveyor General for Information, whether

the whole of the said Allotments can be so

conveniently and accurately described as to ad-

mit of the Whole being included in one Grant.

Those who wish to avail themselves of this

Arrangement will apply to the Surveyor 

General, at his House at Toongabbe, previous

to the 25th of July next that the necessary

measures may be taken before the next 

Geeral Muster of Settlers, which will be soon

after that period.

Notice.

Whereas a most daring ROBBERY and

BURGLARY were committed on the 24th

Instant about Midnight, by Four Men at pre-

sent unknown, on the Dwelling and Property

of JOHN LARKHAM, Settler at the Field of

Mars ; which was aggravated by the most

inhuman and cruel Treatment of Larkham's

Wife, by the Ruffians who committed the

above Crimes.

In order to bring the Offenders to Justice,

HIS EXCELLENCY is pleased to offer a Con-

ditional Emancipation, and the Privilege of

Settling, with future Hopes of a Free Pardon

to either of the Accomplices, prosecuting to

Conviction, excepting the Two Principals,

who are known to be an Elderly and a Young

Man.

By Command of HIS

EXCELLENCY, W. N. CHAPMAN, Sec.

Government House, Sydney, June 28, 1803.

These were tough times, times that most of us would be glad we haven't known...

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Sunday 9 October 1803, page 2 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article625811 

Execution.

Last Friday fo'night Thomas McLaugh-

lane ( distinguished by the appellation of

the Elder McLaughlane), was removed from

Parramatta to Hawkesbury, there to suffer

the Sentence of the Law; and about five in

the evening was lodged in a place of security

near the New Store, and there attended by

the Rev. Mr. Dixon, Minister of the Church

of Rome. At nine on Saturday morning the

then unhappy criminal was taken from his

last confinement to the place of Execution at

the Green Hills, near the back of the Old

Store. In his latter moments he conducted

himself with decency and propriety, as he

had done during the whole term of his im-

prisonment; to the Minister he attended

with fervor, and observed a profound silence.

At ten he was given up to the Executioner,

and in a few moments after atoned for his

offences. This is the Third who has suffered

of the eight cast for death, the rest being

pardoned on condition of remaining Trans-

ports for Life.-- May that Mercy be pro-

ductive of the desired good effect.

The images are from the collections of the State Library of New South Wales.

Conditional Pardons and other documents changed over time, so don't be dismayed if earlier ones are different.

FILE NUMBER:FL1647441

FILE TITLE:Richard Tills - conditional pardon granted 23 September 1834, issued 3 November 1835

Images enhanced, click on to enlarge..

• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Thomas Gorman was sentenced to transportation for life at Cork City in April 1792. He received his conditional pardon for "laborious and Persevering Exertions in Constructing the New Road over the Western Mountains to Bathurst Plains." He received a full pardon for his services as storekeeper at Bathurst, 1815-1817, but committed suicide shortly after.
  
  
• SCOPE AND CONTENT
  Conditonal pardon No. 619 issued to Thomas Gorman. Signed and sealed by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Also signed by John Thomas Campbell, Macquarie's secretary.
• SOURCE
  Acquired from Viscountess Strathallan, 1914
• GENERAL NOTE
  Formerly filed at Am 17/18 
  This document is part of the papers of Lachlan Macquarie in the Mitchell Library. 
  Microfilm available at CY 1717, frames 66 - 74
  Digital order no:Album ID : 880428
  
  

FILE NUMBER:FL1147820

A convict receives the cat o’ nine tails at Moreton Bay in 1836
Mitchell Library, NSW