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.