Marry Me



St Lukes Church Richmond Tasmania

  On Sunday, I drove through Richmond and stopped to take photos of St Lukes Church, where Ephraim and Bridget married in 1850. I wonder whether the moment of their marriage took their attention or whether they had time to look around and enjoy the atmosphere. Did they notice the warmth of the sandstone, quarried from Butcher's Hill to the right of the church or the interest of the curved ceiling with the interest of the open timberwork. Erected in 1835, at a cost of 1000 pounds, the church was designed by John Lee Archer and took only 22 months to build. It originally had cedar fittings and a three decker pulpit. This was surrounded by high backed box pews, fitted with doors and from which it was difficult to see out, no doubt, intended to keep the parishioner's thoughts from wandering.
These continued two thirds of the way down the church. Behind these, were backless benches on which the prisoners sat. Above in the gallery sat the choir.



Rear of church





 Ephraim and Bridget were both in their early thirties when they married, he a farm servant and she a servant. Bridget had been widowed before her arrival in Australia but for Ephraim it was his first marriage. He had however previously been given permission to marry Ann Connors but very wisely changed his mind.



Looking towards door at rear of church, showing choir gallery.



Topsy the escapee

It seems that Topsy herself, the elephant pictured yesterday, was not immune from making a breakout. Topsy belonged to Sole Brother's Circus and probably came to Tasmania a few times. I had fun looking at Sole Brothers when I discovered that Albert Doe had married Ethel Sole in 1916. Sadly, he caught influenza after WW1 and did not surviveI think the reporter fom the Townsville Daily Bulletin enjoyed writing the following report

12 Aug 1935 Townsville Daily Bulletin
ELEPHANT AMOK. Shop Windows Smashed. BRISBANE. August 10. Topsy, the star performing elephant   of Sole Brothers' circus, caused a sensation in Stanley Street. South Brisbane late to-night, when she broke from her tether, ran amok, and pushed her head through the plate glass of a shop window. Although she is 60 years of age. and ought to know better, Topsy, said to be suffering from an over-abundance of hay, became suddenly skittish, and with a twist of her foot snapped her shackles and decided to take a midnight stroll down Stanley Street.   Like her famous namesake she simply growed. One minute she was not there. the next minute she loomed a grey wraith, mountain high, and to the astonishment of motorists, pedestrians, and late lovers, four and a half tons of elephant ambled ponderously in the direction of the city. Apparently she had never heard of  either of Police Commissioner Caroll or his white traffic lines, for she disobeyed  all traffic rules and jay walked dangerously, causing homeward bound  motor drivers to swerve around her fore and aft.  Cries of passers-by attracted the attention of circus attendants, who clad in pyjamas, rushed out to lead   Topsy back to the tent. Topsy had other views, and gambolled across the street through the window of the second-hand shop occupied by Mr. C. Baynes. Despising all attempts to show her the way to home, Topsy trumpeted, stood on her hind legs, and pirouetted ted in the waltz as she had done earlier in the evening before an admiring audience.   Awakened from their sleep by the crash of splintering glass, Mr. and Mrs. Baynes, candle in hand, came running downstairs, and were just in time to gaze with awe upon the  disappearing stern of the mammoth. Nothing in the window had been damaged, for if Topsy was looking for a more varied diet than hay, used cameras, tripods, biscuit boxes, and boots she found not to her liking. Before she had time to do any more damage the circus attendants with motorists and others, persuaded her to return to her tent, where with others or her kind, she calmly continued the munching of hay. Topsy is 60 years of age, and came to Australia from Singapore. In 1928, and has been with the circus ever since. She is a highly trained animal, being able to juggle, dance, and play the mouth organ. She stands 9ft. 4in in height

Elephants like to explore



Topsy from Sole Brother's Circus pushes a truck out of the bog.

 Circuses have come to Tasmania  to provide entertainment  to the people for many years. Early circuses consisted of both human and animal performances. People had few opportunities to see large cats, elephants and camels and these were always a drawcard. Without today’s safety standards (and lack of animals in circuses), there were many accidents and escapes. I looked at newspaper reports during the thirties, forties and early fifties and discovered that (a) it was not a good idea to pat the lions and tigers, (b) you should keep back from the elephants and (c) the animals don’t know the rules. Nobody was eaten in Tasmania but on the mainland, several were killed and crushed. Children and adults tried to pat and feed animals or just chanced their luck

It was reported in the Examiner in January 1929, that an elephant from Wirth’s Circus with an attendant on its back did not want to wait and charged into a moving train at Pedder Street Campbelltown and smashed the railings but was thrown clear of the train. The attendant was thrown clear but was hospitalised with a broken foot. On return to Melbourne a few days later, six elephants bolted when being removed from the vessel Loongana at South Melbourne. They were being driven along the road by foot when they seemed to sense that they were almost home and took off at a trot. Elephants already at the Olympia sensed that they were coming and set up a trumpeting which was answered by the excited animals. Needless to say, traffic was somewhat disrupted.

In 1930, it was the turn of the bears. Again, Wirth’s Circus was involved, this time at Wynyard.  As animals were being moved prior to the show, a bear managed to bolt for freedom. People scattered in all directions as the animal foundered in a deep drain. It was held there by attendants with poles until its cage was pushed to the locality by elephants and it was recaptured. (Mercury 8 Dec 1930)

Stanley was the scene of excitement in September 1936 when an elephant slipped its moorings on the Friday night and could not be found in time to catch the train to Smithton next morning. Imagine the surprise of Mrs R Mollison who discovered it in her garden at 7 in the morning, or in what little remained of her garden. Her spring veggie crop had seen better times.

Devonport was not to be starved of excitement either. In 1947, an elephant really got busy, breaking into a house and raiding the larder. No mention was made in the newspaper of demolished walls  or other damage. This well trained pachyderm, broke down the back fence, then the back door and stole butter, sugar and other items from the pantry. I think most of us would expect a few more indications that an elephant was on the loose in our house. The police were called. What were they going to do, use trunkcheons? A keeper from the zoo managed to remove the recalcitrant animal and return it to the circus. (Examiner 15 may 1947)

Elephants had their good points too. In 1952, three elephants from Wirth’s circus were used to remove a building in Hobart so that the new railway station could be built on the spot. Mechanised equipment brought in, had not been able to complete the task and had broken down.

Safety standards have changed a little since the following article was written in 1951

1. When The Circus Comes...

The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Thursday 25 January 1951 p 5 Article Illustrated

A Bare Faced Swindler

"On Tuesday, a woman named Bridget Norton, of shabby genteel appearance, appeared before the magistrates under the following circumstances. It appeared thaty on the preceeding day, the prisoner walked into a shoe shop in St James Street and intimated that she wanted some shoes for a friend of hers, who was troubled with swelled legs. Several lots were then shown to her, and she chose four pairs, saying that if they could be sent to Sparling Street, where she lodged, they would be paid for.. The proprieter of the shop accordingly sent the shoes by his daughter, who found the prisoner at the place stated. The prisoner with great politeness, introduced her to the parlour, and taking the shoes, said she would go and fetch the money. The messenger waited upwards of an hour, and her patience being exhausted, she sought the prisoner, when it was ascertained she had decamped with the shoes. Information was immediately given to the police, which led to her detection shortly afterwards. The prisoner had previously been convicted of similar offences."
The Liverpool Mercury Dec 1847.
Did Bridget think she was going to get away with this crime? If she had been convicted of similar offences, she must have been successful in the past. I have searched the criminal registers and newspapers under the names Bridget McDonald and Bridget Norton and found nothing. Bridget came from Athlone and I have found no trace there either. Her parents Hubert and Julia McDonald seem to have disappeared down the same abyss of nonentity. Where did she marry and what became of the child? She was described as a widow with one child, so the child must have been living. Maybe it went to the workhouse. I have no idea whether it was male or female. How long had Bridget been in England?
I made a phone call to Liverpool some years ago in pursuit of some answers and my big thrill was that the person at the other end sounded just like one of the Beatles. Unfortunately, there was little trace of Bridget. At least, I know that she knew how to dress and had manners. As a laundress, one would expect her to be clean so her clothes had probably seen better times.

What's for dinner?

Potatoes, spuds, call them what you like, we have eaten them lots. In the 1840's the VDL company in Tasmania, guaranteed a price to those who leased land from them and others grew potatoes to take advantage of the market. They were shipped to Melbourne and shipped to other ports in Tasmania but there were so many that they just went to waste. This was a pity, as the people of Ireland were crying out for potatoes. In fact, they were dying for want of potatoes.
I have been reading, "The Great Irish Potato Famine" by Professor Cormac O Grada (now there is a good Irish name for you). It is pretty heavy reading, with the result that it is now overdue at the library, but it sheds a bit of light on the famine. It was not just Ireland that was affected but most of Europe. Ireland just happened to have the wet conditions at the right time of year to create the greatest tragedy. Blight had been in Peru but also in the United States in 1843 and 1844. The mould grew under the leaves and was spread by the wind at a rapid rate. In 1845, Ireland was badly affected. The early crop was not healthy but as the later crop came in, it also rotted in  the ground or quickly after harvest. The following year, there were not enough healthy potatoes to sow a crop of sufficient size. Indian corn was brought in but people did not like it. An adult male had been used to eating 10 lbs of potatoes per day. (must have had big plates!) The equivalent of corn to provide the same energy was only 1 lb. The lack of bulk meant that people were always hungry. 1847 saw great efforts to grow more potatoes but in 1848, the blight hit again with renewed vigour.
I really can't imagine eating that many potatoes. Going home every night to the same meal of boiled potatoes day after day would be so boring. The again, cows eat grass every day.
How would the wife answer the question, "What's for dinner tonight?"
Do you have good and bad cooks when the only thing to eat is potatoes? How would you train as a chef?
All this was too much for one lady called Bridget. Her maiden name was McDonald but prior to 1847, she had married a man, Norton, had a child and become a widow. Bridget had left the troubles of Ireland and made her way to England.

Wanted

Things went missing in Tasmania’s early days. Sometimes people went missing. There were adverts in the papers and in the Police Gazette. It was interesting to see what was stolen, but also interesting to see the descriptions of the people who were wanted on warrants for suspicion of theft. One of my favourites is of “Holy Joe”, wanted for horse theft.

Holy Joe was 30-35 years old, 5 feet 8 inches high, with a pale complexion inclined to swarthy. (Is that possible?) He had blue eyes, nose slightly turned up, high cheek bones, long black hair in ringlets, no whiskers, upper part of face of effeminate appearance, flat footed, low ankles, shuffling gait, dressed in red and brown jumper, worsted trousers and a new billy cock hat (like a bowler hat) with broad brim.

Presumably Joe’s trousers reached his feet so it must have been difficult to assess how low his ankles were. How can one be part effeminate or part swarthy? I can only say that the person who wrote this had a hard time making decisions. A week later, it was found that William Woolfe had been found to have stolen the horses which were now at Longford, so Holy Joe, if he hadn’t been found by now, was free to go.

Henry Faulkner was also sought. He was described as 17 years old and rather good looking! James Green, missing from the Orphan School was described as of genteel appearance. William Forward had a defect in one eye and turned his toes out when walking. Richard Storer was a man with a rather downcast look. Henry Smith had lost his wooden pipe lined with clay. It had been taken by a man with half Wellington boots with the heel of the left boot worn over on the inside.

Interestingly, missing teeth were included in several descriptions. It would seem that this was not the norm, so the general diet must have been low enough in sugar, to preserve the appearance of most.

If you had seen someone in a dark Sydney Shooting coat, wearing an opossum skin cap, having a white speck in one eye and accompanied by a large brindle kangaroo dog, he was wanted too. Another to fit into the animal theme, was “Ducky”. Ducky was 5 foot 8 inches tall, fresh complexion, thin face, light brown hair, small sandy whiskers and usually carries a duck with him!

Goodnight

Convict bed at Oatlands. Note how it folds

Never were the words more unlikely to be realised than when one said “Goodnight” to a convict. Many probably spent nights on straw mattresses on the floor, but it cannot have been much less comfortable than the convict bed. This one was at Oatlands and I can remember seeing them on verandahs or in outbuildings on some of the large old properties in the area. These were places where convicts had been assigned in the 1800s.

The iron bed would have been so cold and the lack of warmth must have conveyed itself to the sleeper. When I was small, mattresses were made from ticking, a stripey material and filled with kapok. There were also shreds of fibre which looked like recycled cotton fabric. They had most likely been that way for a very long time. Unlike the convicts, I graduated to foam rubber when I was about four and I had coloured woollen blankets. Information about blankets can be gleaned from reports of robberies from the police gazettes later in the century. Along with clothing and cooking utensils, they were a prized item for thieves.

Rugs were either woollen or cotton and sometimes had stitched or bound edges.  The colour was rarely mentioned, which leaves one thinking that they were probably naturals, creams or greys. They often had square patches, or even large chunks missing, and mended edges, as did the sheets. Some sheets were reported stolen even though they had seams down the middle, a common way to get extra wear, by splitting them and turning the outer edges to the centre before restitching. An occasional quilt was mentioned, which is to be expected as convict women were given fabrics (by Caroline Chisholm) and encouraged  to sew quilts on board the convict ships.



Kapok plant at Kimberley



Would a convict have been lucky enough to have a possum skin rug? These were made from multiple skins, each cut into a rectangle. It would have taken maybe 20 or thirty to make a rug, but possums are very common in Tasmania and it would not take long for a person with snares to catch the required number. Wattle bark was being harvested in the North West to assist with the tanning process. I found quite a few reports of these having been added to a thief’s booty. Our Auntie and Uncle had one on their bed and it must have been cosy. He had spent many years trapping when young.



Kapok fibre inside fruit (2011). How many would be needed for a mattress?



Let's get building



House with paling steps and friends



These photos from Lower Wilmot show just how much palings of all sorts were being used 100 years later. It seems that paint or any other protection was still not being used at all. The menagerie of animals seem quite comfortable sitting on the doorstep. I am not sure that this door would keep out too many draughts.

Nut and Meg the goats resting under a tree

Meg is resting happily next to a wooden box,

probably her shelter. The other white blob on the other side of the tree is Nut. The shed behind looks

relatively new and quite well constructed.

Shelves or a saw horse rest behind the tree.

The timber shed in the background of this photo looks pretty ramshackle and I think Brownie really missed out on architectural

design  when his kennel was constructed.

It really looks as if it was all made from leftovers.

The end of the wall is all different lengths, and on all different angles, the piece under the eaves looks a bit second rate

and there is a fair hop to get over the threshhold.

At least it is raised from the ground to give ventilation in summer and stay dry in winter.

A dog cannot expect too much



 



Cut it down

Was it in 1844 that Ephraim learnt to make palings? His assignment at this time took him into the Don and Forth River country where tall timber was felled and a thriving industry was underway.

Trees were being ringbarked and felled, cut into palings and sent to Launceston, Adelaide and further afield. There were different sizes for different purposes: fencing, housing wharves etc. There must have seemed so much timber in Tasmania that it was an endless supply, and with the number of navigable rivers in the North West, the distance to haul it to the nearest waterway was not great. Convicts were to be punished, so were used in preference to animals for such a tough job. Living conditions were tough too. His master had a reputation for meanness.

I imagine they lived in tiny wooden huts with shingle roofs as they were also cutting shingles. All the furniture, which probably amounted to a bit of a chair, a table and a bed, was most likely made from split logs, if it was allowed at all. Some of this type of furniture is quite fascinating in its simplicity but I wouldn’t want to be trying to move the chairs to sweep the floor on a regular basis.

Undressed timber was commonly used for building houses and sheds and was not even painted for protection from the weather. When I was small and petrol was cheap, we would go for country drives, which parents loved and kids hated. Often we would see picturesque but tiny old houses with greying timber, used as haysheds. The walls would be fairly straining with yellow bricks of the dried grass poking through glassless windows, the sills and doors, powdering away into splinters and dust.

The mantel piece

 18 Months ago, Auntie Bett Doe had a sale to move items she had stored for some years. The kettle here is not the one seen sitting at the side of the fireplace at Wilmot in the photo below about 1960. It probably predates that one and came from Lower Wilmot . I should look up the manufacturer and see what I can find. The boiler is probably what was referred to as a camp oven and was kept over the fire for a continuous hot pot supply. Ephraim the younger !854-1834 noted in his diary that he paid 8/- for one about 1890, so they were rather expensive back then. A new suit cost the same amount.
Of course, the contents of the mantel piece were also a source of wonder. There was usually a clock, vases either empty or with flowers, often kitchen canisters, matches, candles, lamps, bunches of letters, corks ornaments and almost anything else that could be fitted. I doubt that many mantel pieces ever were dusted. The chore was just too great.
Photos were a later addition, and probably would have deteriorated from the continual heat. Sadly, this useful shelf which gave such interest and character to a home and explained so much about the lives of the people who lived there, is not a vital part of modern buildings. I wonder what Ephraim and Bridget kept on their mantelpiece.

 

Fire Fire

I have been looking at fireplaces recently as they were always the hub and the comfort of the home. I was surprised to find that on some early homes the fireplace was really quite wide and made of wood. No wonder so many houses burnt down. We used to gather round the fire at night and listen to the radio, read or do craftwork but these days that has all gone as the lounge room is now organised around entertainment and the heating unit is something we try to hide. A fire was used for cooking though that often took place in a room separate from the main building to guard against fire. Fireplaces were a luxury item and the Hearth tax in England was levied on the amount of chimneys on the house. We saw a tiny house at Oatlands proudly boasting four chimneys which seemed to dwarf the rest of the building.



three chimneys one side and one on the other



The best fireplaces had a kettle on a hook dangling from chimney, waiting for the moment when the teapot would arrive. The gurgling, hissing water would hit the tea leaves and the pot would be sealed with a lid and decorated in a knitted cosy to wait for the arrival of the cups. At the side, would be a toasting fork with its long handle designed to save the cook from singeing eyebrows but still not quite long enough to protect from the red hot coals. A couple of patched well worn kettle holders or mitts would hang from a nail to be used to protect the hands when moving items around.

Poking the fire was fun. Knocking the charcoal from the blackened log to see the fiery coals underneath as the sparks would shoot upwards was a wondrous thing. Within those coals, patterns of light and colour would whirl and weave signalling the heat contained within.

To get it all started, the bellows were used, a leather and wooden teardrop decorated with studs, from which a metal tube emerged. What fun it was pumping away and getting that tiny spark to turn into a flickering orange flame and feel the warmth generated.

As the evening faded, the solid logs would gradually be reduced to ash  the burnt ends being poked together to eke out the last of the energy before bedtime called.

Turning off the heat pump is just not the same.

Pound Keeper

In 1841, Ephraim was assigned to Richard Kirkham who lived in the Liffey area. Kirkham had arrived free, with his family  in 1821. He had lived at Carrick before moving to Liffey where he resided until he died in 1863 at the age of 77.

 Kirkham had been a pound keeper, though the pound was discontinued at Liffey in 1841. He was not particularly good at his job as he had been fined twice in 1834 for breaches of the impounding act. As properties were not well fenced at the time, there were numerous reports of straying animals. He must have continued to collect animals and deliver them to the pound however, as there were several advertisements in the Examiner newspaper regarding animals he had found over the next couple of years

18 May 1842

Impounded, at the above pound, on the 1st April, by Richard Kirkham — One dark brown mare, black points, white star in forehead, off knee broken. One bay mare, black points, G near side under saddle, white saddle mark each side withers. One light chestnut horse foal, white blaze down the face. Damage claimed, 2s. 6d. per head ; poundage fees, per head, 2s. 6d. per day ; food and water, per head, 1s. 6d. per day. If the above animals be not claimed and redeemed within the time allowed by law, they will be sold by me, at the above pound, on Wednesday, the 18th day of May, 1842 according to the provisions of the Impounding Act. JOHN JONES, Poundkeeper.

EXAMINER November 8, 1843.

Westbury. IMPOUNDED by Mr. Kirkham, of Hagley, on the 31st October, 1842 :_ I White bullock, strawberry neck, branded I 8, or 8 apparently, near hip. Damages 2s.; poundage fees, food and water, 9d. Per diem. If the above animal is not claimed and redeemed within the time allowed by law, it will be sold by me at the above Pound on Wednesday, the 16th November next, pursuant to the provisions of the Impounding Act. Robert H. Spark, Poundkeeper.

The assignment system was considered unfair as the treatment a convict received, depended very much on the values of his master. Some were treated with utmost leniency and almost became part of the family, while others were very badly treated and it was decided that a system of keeping probation stations would be better. It took some time for this to be implemented. By 1844 Ephraim had moved on and several other convicts had moved to work with Richard Kirkham who had increased his land holding in the area as the advertisement of Mar 1844 shows.

13 Mar 1844 CONVICT DEPARTMENT. Comptroller. General's Office, March 10, 1844. The following engagements for private service have been sanctioned by the Lieutenant-Governor: Samuel Spreadborough, Tortoise, to the service of William Smart, Launceston Samuel Lester, Westmoreland, to Henry S. Hutchinson, Longford Joseph Wilson, Westmoreland, to Richard C. Kirkham, Kelsey Joseph Dallon, Waverley, to J. F. Sharland, Hamilton Lewis Pilsbury, Waverley, to Robin V. Hood, Liverpool Street James Rooney, Barossa, to R. C. Kirkham, Kelsey Ellen Jones, Emma Eugenia, to J. Burrowes, Pontville Henry Risby, Susan Redpath, Lord Lyndoch 3, to George Greaves, Harrington-street Mark Salom, Elphinstone, to Robert Drummond, Hobart Charles Christie, Hindostan, to William Beadle, Hobart Henry Moodie, Asia 5, to ditto Charles Baker, Sir John Byng, to P. S. Tom lins, New Town Robert Newton, Duncan, to W. T. Parramore, Richmond William Read, Layton 4, to R. C. Kirkham, Kelsey Gerard Glover, Gilmore 3, to Richard Pitt, Hunting Ground John Smith Richard Yeates, Duncan, to Richard Kerkham, Liffey Rivulet Joseph Townsend, David Clarke, to William Gunn, Brighton William James Ogden, ditto, to ditto John Woodford, ditto, to ditto John Dolman, ditto, to ditto Robert Witham, ditto, to ditto John Gibson, Lady Raffles, to ditto William Smith, Asia 5, to ditto Eagling Barker, ditto, to ditto James Rogers, Tortoise, to ditto Thomas Battlemore, Barrosa, to Francis Cotton, Kelvendon Henry Collins, Tortoise, to Richard Kerkham, Liffey Rivulet.

Smoking is bad for your freedom

It seems that for a couple of years after arrival, Ephraim worked on the roads and managed not to break the rules of the establishment.  In fact, he was on the roads within a week of his arrival in VDL.

Then, when working for Richard Kirkham, he was twice caught with tobacco in the lock up. Tobacco was kept as a privilege for free folks and was certainly not for convicts. On May 1^st, he was caught with tobacco and given a month’s hard labour. Only a week later, he was caught again and given an additional two months hard labour. Was it worth it?

In the Oatlands archaeological dig, a number of stems from pipes of the period have been found so someone was using them there too.  Apparently, the stem was thin and could break and you just attached a new one to the bowl.

The shipping list I mentioned earlier, also listed huge amounts of tobacco so it was used widely. Ephraim’s son, (also named Ephraim) left a diary which contained many shopping lists and this too had frequent mentions of figs of tobacco or just figs. I remember my paternal grandfather showing me how to use a pocket knife to scrape the leaf pieces from a hard dark block of tobacco purchased in a tin. Then he would clean out the pipe, again with the knife and pack in the tobacco. A match and a few puffs and he would be set. The whole process was part of the enjoyment.

More than 20 years later, Ephraim left his pipe at the crime scene when John Harris was killed. Smoking was probably a habit he could have done without.

A Trip back in time











The old gaol where I made pottery as the bats flew above



Today we visited Oatlands to see the results of an archeological dig that has taken place there over the last three weeks. Ephraim would have passed through here on his trips from the north to the south of the state and may have stayed here overnight but no records were made on travelling convicts. In 1971, I began my teaching career in this village, which was originally planned to become the capital of Tasmania. It was freezing cold and windy in winter and warm in summer.  It is north of Richmond and part of the grain producing area where Ephraim lived after gaining his ticket of leave. There are numerous sandstone buildings, a wonderful antique shop, a windmill and lots of memories . The place seemed so much tidier and we couldn't understand how so many magnificent buildings seemed to appear from nowhere. I think fences have been pulled down, trees trimmed, later untidy and out of character extensions moved from buildings, some buildings opend up and signs added to make the experience great. We will go back again.





Remains of cells






















Ivy Doe



Snakes! For some, shudders, shrieks and horror, for others, fascination and wonder. Most Tasmanians would have seen these slithery reptiles sliding silently through the grass or twisting an undulating body across a warm road. Sometimes it is a rustle and sudden movement near our feet when walking through the bush that sends shivers down our spines. The sheer numbers, the size and the relative ferocity of snakes in Van Diemen’s Land would have made early settlers wary. We know that to walk through long grass near rocks or fallen trees we need to be ever aware. Convicts and free alike knew the danger. In Britain, there had been only three types of snakes, the grass snake, the smooth snake and the adder, of which only the adder at 90 cm long is poisonous and even then, it does not inject much venom. Snakes in Britain are shy, and not seen in great numbers.



Will Miller



 In Tasmania, there are also three snakes, the small whip snake, the tiger and copperhead. All are poisonous and the larger tiger and copperhead can be quite aggressive. The two photographs here were taken at Lower Wilmot and show Ivy Doe (wifeof Roland) and William Miller (husband of Ruby Doe). They are both probably tiger snakes, which were very abundant. Roland once lost a small dog which disappeared into the ferns, yelped as it was taken by a snake and was not seen again. Another time, he killed a snake, placed it on a log and finding it at his feet again, took another swipe. When he turned to the log, the first snake was still there and a third snake was now taking it's chances at his ankles.

Betty Doe was terrified after hearing a hiss in the passageway of the home and discovering a snake.

The following request was made by the Police magistrate at Georgetown. It seems to be aimed at collecting rather than slaughter of snakes and reflects the interest in nature at the time. Many later Tasmanians had no such ideals and the cry of "snake" was quickly followed by the words "Kill it"

 Hobart Police Office  28^th January 1837

The Chief Police Magistrate sends his compliments to the Resident  Magistrate at George Town and requests the favor of his instructing his constables to kill and collect all the snakes they can in their rambles on duty and forward the same to the Chief Police Magistrate for the purpose of a Public Collection.

John Harris, who are you

Last night I was surfing the net when I came across a site containing some police books from the early 1800s in the north of Tasmania.

Echoes of Bushranging  Days in Van Diemen’s Land: Brady, McCabe, Perry, Geffreys  and Britton
1837 – 1851  box 2 vol 5
National Library of Australia Manuscript collection MS3251

I found them really interesting and as I read, I came across a report on a fight which involved a John Harris and in which a man died. In 1867, Ephraim Doe went to Port Arthur for killing a man called John Harris in a fight over sheep stealing and I wondered whether this could possibly be the same John Harris. If Ephraim knew that the man he was fighting had already killed someone some years before, it would certainly give him some impetus to fight back. The answer is that I still don’t know if it was the same person but I am going to try to eliminate as many as possible and see what I have left. John Harris who died at the hands of Ephraim in 1867 was about the same age as Ephraim. There are about three pages of John Harrises in the Colonial Index. If I eliminate all the ones too young, and all those who died too early, that is going to cut the list down. Then I can check the convict “permissions to marry” (fight no 1 John H was not a convict)and that will eliminate a few more. If I cross reference with newspaper reports, I might be able to rub a few more out. I am never going to know for certain but I will do my best. I have another puzzle to solve!

I also came across a reference to a Guernsey frock so I did a check via the net and found this site which explains how all these clothes came to be named and what they actually were

http://www.nationaltrust-gsy.org.gg/content.aspx?p=137

Yes we are descended from John Doe

Looking for records on family is rewarding but it is not always easy. Weeding out the extras is frustrating and time consuming. And so it is with Ephraim Doe and family. The biggest problem is that those legislators of the past ruled in England and America that an unknown person was to be known as Richard or John Doe. True to form, Richard seems to have disappeared (he really is unknown) but John turns up relentlessly to confuse us.

The next problem is all those doeskin trousers, happily worn by the gentle and not so gentle men of days gone by. Every search engine finds dozens of references to them. Made from wool, they must have been warm and the array of colours in which they were made, allowed them fit into every man’s wardrobe.

Of course, our “Does” married into families with names like Carter, Bishop, Smith, Bell, Walker and Cook. They do not stand out in a crowd all being everyday words.. Even when Amelia Doe married she chose Charles Chiplin. My computer keeps directing me to Charles Chaplin which created more problems. Other people were born with one name and used another all their lives. What was wrong with being called Jack or Michael? I once found a baby born, christened and died within a few days and had a different name on each occasion. Was the mother confused or just trying to please all the relatives?

I have found the name Doe spelt as Doe Doo Dore Doer, Daw, Dow, Dhu, Due. When just three letters are so confusing it allows pity for those with longer names.

I am thankful that his mother called him Ephraim.

Have you seen my firkin?

What were the good people of Van Diemen’s Land up to as the year 1839 drew to a close? Some idea can be gained by taking a glance at the “Shipping News” for the day. The port was a bustling place, noisy with the dozens of workers needed to haul ashore the goods required for the colony and load the produce ready for export. There were no machines or neat rectangular containers; it was all manpower.

Just one report, covering a few days,  gives a real insight into what was going on. One schooner had gone down the river to collect timber for Port Philip, the cutter, “Mart” was taking in whaling stores, the schooner Adelaide had arrived from Port Philip with a cargo of sheep, two other ships were also on their way to the whaling grounds. Several ships were loading or unloading general cargo, the barque Arab had begun loading oil for London (whale I imagine). The barque Cygnet was loading wool for London and several other ships were being refitted.

Some of the cargo was of such an ordinary nature that it was just “general.” However, it is the lists that are so interesting.  In those days, cheap factory made clothing was called slops. I guess that is what makes us look sloppy today when we buy the cheap stuff and forget to put on our make up or have a shave. The silks which came in were packed in eight cases. There were also cases of slops but other slops were in casks. In fact, casks were pretty popular. Shoes and millinery also joined the fashion parade.

Eight casks of epsom salts must have had far reaching effects. Washing must have been fashionable. Over 200 boxes of soap came in. A barrel of cream of tartar, dates, 29 barrels of raisins and a cask of currants, packets ginger and cloves arrived to give spice to the cooking. For those with more savoury tastes, there were barrels and casks of hams, beef and pork, and salt fish, herrings, pickles and curry powder. Salt, sugar, flour rice and tea also came in to fill the canisters lined up on peoples’ kitchen shelves.

Plaster of Paris, bags of cement and steel along with a quantity of ironmongery formed the basis for the building industry. There were 480 pieces of hoop iron, bundles of steel and 636 iron bars, along with 72 casks of nails but only 2 pieces of timber and 12 pine planks. (That would go a long way). To stick it all together, there were 12 boxes of glue.

There was glassware and earthenware, bottles and corks for brewers and a quantity of hops. This was just the beginning of the provision for drinking. The amount of alcohol was just phenomenal: barrels and barrels of wine, brandy, stout, beer and arrack. It came in hogsheads, cases, puncheons and bottles. No wonder Bridget Doe was found in the halfway house “not quite drunk and not quite sober.”

Some of the more interesting measurements were firkins of butter, tierces of beef, pipes of lemon juice and caroteels of currants.

Lead, shot and hawse pipes, books, cases of tobacco, snuff, stationery, books, lamps and oil also filled the holds of the ships. Gunny or hessian bags were an important commodity, used for holding all manner of goods. And what is or was Geneva? There were 50 cases of it. The eight bundles of mop handles would have come in handy.

From New Zealand, there was yet more wine, 75000 feet of pine, 2 round spars 200 hand spikes and 48 tough oars.

As for the exports, there were bales of wool and 30,000 feet of timber,  40,000 shingles, laths, bark, hay oats and gooseberries. VDL was using free labour to advantage to clear its forests.

highways

There are many parts to building a road. Someone has to choose a route, trees have to be cut, land cleared, a base prepared and a surface laid. Once the trees have been cut, they have to be cleared from the site, the land levelled and rock crushed and brought in to create the roadway. It was not Ephraim’s choice to be part of this but it was his lot in life. The tools were primitive and purposely so. A convict was there to be punished and that punishment often meant that inferior methods were chosen in order to make the work harder.

What did these convicts think as they left for work in the morning? Did the warmth of the sun on their shoulders bring joy to their souls or just an ache at thoughts of the greater exertion required to labour under the intensity of a hot summer’s day. Was there pride in a job well done or was every little effort given grudgingly? There must have been pleasure and surprise as the Tasmanian bush uncovered its secrets and each convict saw his first echidna or heard the call the many bush birds. Snakes, not happy to be turfed from their homes under fallen timber would have often shown some resistance. Jackjumpers surging from their nests would have given many a man a nasty reminder that the territory was already claimed.

In winter, the wet and the cold would have been soul destroying. Knowing that each day would be the same as the last with the added difficulty of moving through wet forest and slippery mud, trying to avoid the constant threat from dead branches as they fell from forest giants, they were forced to labour on. Men, chained, weary, cold and suffering, broke , carried and spread rock on the roads.

They still sail

Today, just by chance, I looked out my window and there was a sailing ship so I took a photo. It wasn’t easy. It was a couple of kilometres away so I sat the camera up and let it look down the telescope. With the curtains over my shoulder, my foot balanced on the windowsill, the telescope pivoting when I didn’t want it to and the ship taking opportunity from the wind and sailing way too fast, I managed to get most of it.

These ships were mainly barques and schooners, classified by the types of sails they carried. I know nothing about ships but illustrations seem to show that barques have more square sails and schooners more triangular ones. I have more hope of sewing a sail than rigging a ship. It amazes me how they know which rope to pull to get the sail to move. I am still trying to master my venetian blinds.

Ephraim came on a barque, the ” Layton” which was getting rather aged, having been built in 1814. It was the seventh convict ship to have come to Van Diemen’s Land that year and the slowest having taken 147 days. The fastest two took only 111. This was the second and last voyage of the Layton to VDL so was called Layton 2. They stopped at Teneriffe on the way but it would not have been for the shopping and sightseeing.

It is hard to imagine how people managed to keep clean, do washing cook and live in such a small space for such a long time. Some of the earlier ships found just how difficult it was and large numbers died on the way.

How do I look?

Derwent River by the shining light of the Bruny lighthouse, only a year old itself, the Layton 3 made anchor. Formalities would have kept the men on board for a few days before they were moved onto the Hobart gaol. At this stage, a description was made of each man in case he escaped.

Ephraim was 5’ 7’’ tall and 27 years old. His mouth and chin were both medium. What does this mean? If I were asked to identify someone from their chin I would be stumped. His head and nose were long and he had a high forehead. Does this mean he was starting to go bald and was already practising the long comb over he wore when a prisoner at Port Arthur? I am sure he felt really good when a note was made of his pockpitted skin. Maybe he had had smallpox or something similar or maybe his teenage acne wasn’t quite yet under control. His little finger was bent, perhaps a childhood accident or he may have broken it when undertaking one of his crimes. Whether he could read or write is not certain but he would have had some instruction in earlier years while on the hulks. Quite a few prisoners could read but not write. I imagine pencils were not readily available and paper was probably not found in every home.

These descriptions could change, depending on who wrote them.  One prisoner I followed through his arrival and a couple of warrants. His hair changed from red to brown to black in only about five years. He also grew and shrank alarmingly. Prisoners were also identified with a number and their ship of arrival was quoted in all correspondence, court records etc. Ephraim description stayed the same but as he aged, his hair and whiskers were described as greying and he changed his coat, I am pleased to say. At one stage, he was described as “well known in the Richmond area”, so he was obviously out and about.

Descriptions were used to advertise for workers who had broken contracts or people who had gone missing. I found one in which the last line stated,” and has exceedingly bad breath.” Several times I have seen ads for people who were normally seen to be wearing odd shoes.( and it wasn’t because they got dressed in a hurry).  I don’t think people changed their clothes as often as we do today!

Just when you think you have found the answer.

Today I talked with cousin Pam about her father, a child born to my grandmother several years before she married Roland and became my Nan Doe. A copy of only one side of the birth certificate can be located at the moment. I hadn’t had this info before, so it was somewhere new to start. The address where the birth took place was 28 Wellington Street, St Kilda. Excitement....an address. I googled it and came up with a street full of “past their use by date” looking flats. Obviously, it was a case of “ashes to ashes” and this is what rose from the dust. Next strategy was to try my “friend” Trove, the old newspapers. The first item I found was about a man who lived there and had to go to court, about 1944, a bit late and not promising. Next I found an ad for a flat at the address. Again, a bit past the time I was looking but it sounded OK, 3 rooms, balcony, hot and cold water and a phone, garage and stables. This sounded pretty upmarket for the times and made me think a little more about the circumstances of an unmarried mother in 1913. A bit more searching and I came across another ad offering the rooms to let, the practising rooms of the late Dr Schlessinger. This was 1917. I immediately decided that my uncle had been born in private rooms under the guidance of the kindly doctor. Until, wanting more, I changed my search words to gather a wider catch. I now discovered that the good Doctor had died in 1911, fully 2 years before the birth I was researching! I found an engagement notice for his son, who seemed to spend his life playing tennis and noticed that the Doctor’s wife now had a new name.

I am guessing now that

The rooms were used by the doctor as a surgery with inpatient facilities.

After he died, someone else kept the business going for a couple of years.

The place was divided into flats, which were later demolished

New flats were built there

And what happened to the good doctor? Well, my husband says it would be the death of anyone if they barracked for St Kilda.

Are we there yet?

When are we gonna get there?  -  the question of thousands. The trip from England was usually about three months, but first you had to leave and this was not as easy as it sounds. Sailing ships had to , well ,sail, and the wind did not always blow in the right direction. And so it was for Ephraim. There they were with all the excitement of the voyage in front of them and they went home again. The second attempt was better. The wind came up, blew the right way and they were off. They had begun loading on 26^th June, added a few more on the 29^th, then sailed from Portsmouth on the 3^rd July . By the 15^th, they were back home and the trip did not restart till the 26^th. None of them demanded compensation for the late start, fortunately for the captain who had his mind on more important matters. It was the responsibility of the surgeon and the captain to get the cargo to Van Diemen’s Land in good condition. As it was, four did not make it.

P. E consisted of daily laps on the deck. In fact, whether they liked it or not, that’s where they were most of the day, except when they were scrubbing the decks with saltpetre. Extra beef and vegetables were taken on at Teneriffe. I hope it wasn’t parsnips as they really don’t taste nice. Quite a few became ill after a couple of months, despite all the vegies. Scurvy blackened the teeth despite doses of vinegar, and ruined their smiles.

Rough weather, whales, dolphins, seabirds would have differentiated one day from another.  The constant sound of sails being hoisted, flapping in the wind and the strain of the timbers would have reminded them they were at sea.

 Still, after 135 days, the ripples of the Derwent, the soft green of the gum trees, and the seagulls welcomed them to land. They probably were down in the hatches, polishing up their chains and sprucing  up the suits, making sure they were wearing matching socks and had a handkerchief.

A ship full of unwilling invaders was about to disembark on a sunny December morning in 1839.

Leviathan

Ephraim had made it to court and his companion was talking. He was not going to get away with it this time. Like any respectable criminal, he had been out in the wee small hours but the 'get away' cart had let him down. He had not done his homework. It was kind of the judge to say that he had until recently been a "comparatively respectable " character. Of course, it was all a matter of judgement.
It was time to pack his holiday clothes, clean underwear, best shoes, a little reading material and a good hat.
With the clink of his chains measuring his steps, Ephraim was marched back to the hulks. The Leviathon was not the place to be. Smelly docks, seawater sludge and hard work were part of the treatment. Everyday, prisoners were rowed (I would think they had to do this bit themselves) into the docks to work, then out to the ship for a gentle rocking lullaby at night. I wonder whether he had regrets. Did he think this was the beginning of an adventure?
No more green fields of England or meandering country lanes.