Agricultural labourers transported to Australia after the 1830s rural riots
Pre-transportation History
| 229: HUGHES, William | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born: | about 1795 | Died: | 1874 |
| Family Relationships: | |||
| Group: | Greater East Anglia (Cambs, Hunts, Norfolk, Suffolk) | ||
| Where tried : | Huntingdonshire County | Native Place: | Gidding Great, Huntingdonshire |
| Occupation: | Farm labourer | ||
| Crime: | Machine breaking/ demolishing | Sentence: | 7 years |
| Prior Offences: | 0 | *Hulk: | 1729 |
| Order of Loading: | 450 | Transport: | Proteus, to Van Diemens Land |
Post-transportation History
| *Police Number: | H1229 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Times charged: | 0 | Times punished: | 0 |
| Granted Ticket of Leave: | Date of Pardon: | 05 Feb 1836 | |
| Type of Pardon: | Free, absolute pardon | ||
| Post-sentence History: | Van Diemens Land resident | ||
| Marriages: | England, 1816 | ||
| Place of Death: | Tasmania | ||
| More Information: | See also Chapter 4 | ||
Notes:
*Hulk NumbersFour figure numbers refer to the York Hulk, others, the Leviathan. No number means either unknown or not held in a hulk
*Police Number
This is shown when known. In Van Diemens Land the initial letter was the first letter of the convicts surname.
William Hughes came before the Special Sessions on Tuesday 14 December 1830 for destroying thrashing machines at Little Stukeley, Alconbury, Sawtry, Connington, Alwalton and Sawtry St Judith but it was not until the Assizes on 8 March 1831, that he was sentenced to transportation for 7 years. He arrived in Hobart on the convict transport Proteus on 4 August 1831, and after a short stay at the Hobart Hospital because of scurvy he was assigned to David Gibson, an ex-convict who had been granted land near Evandale and Perth.
It is believed, but not verified, that David Gibson paid for William's family to join him, and they arrived on the Clyde on 6 July 1834. William and his wife, Ann Arbour, had five children who came to VDL:
- William baptised 22 July 1816
- Joseph, baptised 29 Jun 1820
- Charlotte, baptised 8 May 1825
- David, baptised 10 May 1829 and
- Solomon, baptised 10 Jul 1831.
All the children except Solomon were baptised under the name Hews.1
On 31 December 31 1847, William was the 'Householder, Employer of Servants and Persons in charge of a house at Alveston, an early settlement then part of Westbury but later absorbed into the newer township of Deloraine. He was now a farmer renting land from Alexander Rose. Significantly Rose came from Corra Lynn near Evandale, and in the early 1830s, took possession of a 1000-acre land grant, on the outskirts of what was to become Deloraine.
William Hughes purchased Lot 1 section Gg and Lot 1 Hh in the 'Suburbs of the Township of Deloraine' which were advertised for sale at the upset prices of 30 pounds two shillings and sixpence and 30 pounds nine shillings respectively, in 1851. These lots were situated to the West of the 12 acre Lot U which he then owned and where he had a house in which he was living before 1858. His name appeared in 1848 on the first Valuation Role for the district and he remained on the Valuation Roles to the same house and land until his death. He was listed in 1856 on the earliest House of Assembly and Legislative Council electoral rolls for Tasmania and on subsequent roles. His electoral qualifications were in respect of the freehold house and 27 acres of land that he owned in East Deloraine.
William, his son, is shown in the Valuation Rolls of 1860 as owning property in Deloraine a 10 acre paddock, a 9 acre paddock and a house and 12 acres in Barrack Street. He was also a tenant farmer of 195 acres at Whitefoord Hills, the property of Charles Field. From the valuation Rolls of 11 March 1861, 15 April 1862 and 10 February 1863, William is shown as still owning the properties in Barrack Street.2 There is some contention about his marriage. He may have married Elizabeth Porter on 26 Apr 1837 or more likely Elizabeth Duggan by whom he had a son William born 26 Jan 1851 at Westbury. He died at Port Sorell on 18 Apr 1885.
Joseph Hughes, a farmer married Elizabeth Gee on 25 Aug 1842 in Launceston. They had seven children:
- Joseph William born 12 Jan 1846
- Henry born 20 Oct 1847
- Alfred born 11 Sept 1849
- Ann Elizabeth born 18 Apr 1851
- Thomas Solomon born 6 May 1853
- Edward, Clara born 8 Mar 1855
Joseph died 10 Jan 1856 of inflammation of the lungs and is buried in St Mark's cemetery Deloraine in a grave close to John Thomas's grave.
Charlotte Hughes, aged 17, married John Thomas, a blacksmith in the Police Office at Westbury and after his death she married James East with whom she had two children, Clara born 18 Aug 1864 and James Lewis, born 9 June 1867. Charlotte and James went to Queensland, (Roma and Amby), running and owning hotels before returning to Tasmania and running the Railton Hotel. Charlotte died at Railton at the age of 74 of influenza and exhaustion. Her burial service was held at St Markes Deloraine.
Charlotte and John Thomas had 7 child children; Emma who married Charles Grant the second member of the house. They had one child, Elizabeth. Louisa born 2 May 1845 married Alfred Richardson and they had 6 children. John William born 24 Aug 1847 married Susannah Bennett and they had 7 children. Clara the fourth child died shortly after birth. Isabella born 30 Apr 1856 married William Woolnough and no children could be found from this marriage. Albert born 28 Aug 1859 married Emma Jones and they had 2 children. Clarence born 29 Jun 1861 did not marry. In an era where women were not recognised for their entrepreneur skills Charlotte is frequently written about as a good businesswoman.
The Bush Inn hotel which still stands in Deloraine was built on a site which was apparently given to John Thomas, the first blacksmith in Deloraine, on condition that a blacksmith shop should always remain on the premises. John built the original Bush Inn for which he held the licence until he died in 1863, although he rented it out when he went to Westbury and was involved with the coaching service and was a spirit merchant. In 1858 he had properties in Deloraine valued at 688 pounds.3 He died at the Bush Inn on 30 Jun 1863. John made a will leaving all his possessions to Charlotte, 'in consideration of the kind and faithful conduct to me during the long period of our married life.4
Davis Hughes married Harriet Curnick in 1853 in Victoria and they had 1 child, David Solomon, born 32 Nov 1854 at Deloraine. David died 11May 1858 aged 28 in Carlsruhe Victoria.
Solomon Hughes married Sarah Kelly. They had 6 children all born in Victoria:
Charles, Ann born 1869 in Melbourne, Mary born Seymore, Lillian, William born 1877 at Castlemaine and Margaret born 1878 in Sale. Solomon died 1886 in Melbourne at the Victoria Hospital.
William Hughes senior was 35 years old, penniless, suffering from scurvy and facing the prospect of seven years servitude when he arrived in VDL in 1831. His conduct record testifies to his good behaviour and sober habit during his period of assigned service. Although none of the children were as long lived as the parents all appear to have achieved a degree of prosperity in Australia, they may not have done had they remained in England.
1. Huntington Archives. Sawtry All Saints records
2. From the Westbury and Districts Historical Society
3. Trudy Cowley (comp) 1858 Valuation Roles for Northern Tasmania, Hobart Print Centre, 2005
4. Will of John Thomas, 1863, Tasmanian Archives, AD 960/1/7 p 94.
