The Horrors of Transportation
The accounts given by our brethren who have been restored to their country and families - (thanks to the cowardice of our Whig ministry, who possessed of the cruelty and inhumanity to punish the unconsciously-offending peasant, had not the moral courage to prosecute the intentionally-guilty prince, and were thus compelled to perform an act of justice in spite of themselves) - of the conduct of the colonial government, and its baneful effects upon that society over which it rules, affords a melancholy picture, and one which calls loudly for improvement; of which however, there is but little hope, until the onward progress of public opinion has swept away both those heartless and unprincipled factions that now contend for supremacy in the government, sacrificing the interests of the nation in their disputes, and their places occupied by practical, enlightened, and benevolent men, whose sole aim and object would be the advancing the interests and happiness of the whole people, independent of class or party.
Some objections having been made to the term 'Dorchester Labourers', as generally applied to these 'Victims of Whiggery', I take this opportunity of saying, that the men having lived in the neighbourhood of, and having been tried at the assizes held in, the town of Dorchester, the committee thought that the title of 'Dorchester Labourers' would be both necessary and appropriate to distinguish them from the unfortunate Dorsetshire labourers who were transported under the Special Commissions of the 'liberal and enlightened' government of Earl Grey, in 1830.
R. Hartwell Sec. of the Dorchester Committee
STATEMENT OF JOHN STANDFIELD
My Uncle, George Loveless, having, in his pamphlet recently published, presented to the public a detailed statement of the causes that led to the formation of the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers at Tolpuddle, our subsequent unjust apprehension and committal to prison, and the circumstances connected with our mock trial and harsh sentence, it is unnecessary for me here to repeat them: I shall therefore commence my short statement from the period when we left Dorchester Castle for the hulks.
Dorchester Castle , March 27, 1834 . - We received orders early this morning to prepare ourselves for the coach bound to Portsmouth . After we were ironed together the coach drove up to the castle door and we mounted: the officer in charge was a Mr. Glenister. We arrived at Portsmouth about eight o'clock in the evening, and were instantly conveyed to the York hulk; the irons that we wore from Dorchester being struck off, and fresh ones put on. We remained there until the 29th, in No. 9 ward. In the morning all hands were ordered on deck, and after an examination there were 100 men chosen. After dressing, another pair of irons were put on, and we were taken in a lighter on board the ship Surrey , at Spithead , where another hundred men were brought from the Leviathan to join us. On the 31st we set sail for Plymouth , and arrived there on the 2nd of April, and took sixty men from the Captivity. I then addressed a letter to my mother and received an answer two hours before we set sail. On the 11th April we weighed anchor and bore away for New South Wales .
I then began to feel the misery of transportation. - confined down with a number of the most degraded and wretched criminals, each man having to contend with his fellow or be trodden under foot. The rations, which were served out daily, were of the worst quality, and very deficient in quantity, owing to the peculations indulged in by those officers whose duty it is to attend that department. In addition to this, the crowded state of the vessel, rendering it impossible for the prisoners to lie down at full length to sleep, the noxious state of the atmosphere, and the badness and saltness of the provisions, induced disease and suffering which it is impossible to describe. Added to all this, in the case of myself and brethren, the agonizing reflection that we had done nothing deserving this punishment, and the consciousness that our families, thus suddenly deprived of their protectors, and a stigma affixed to their names, would probably be thrown unpitied and friendless upon the world.
After a voyage of 111 days we arrived at Sydney on the 17th of August, and on the 4th of September were conveyed on shore, and marched four a-breast to Hyde Park Barracks, where we found about 300 (what they called) old hands - men, if possible, worse than those with whom we had already been associated.
We had all been assigned to our respective masters previous to coming on shore, and we had not been in the barracks more than three hours when James Brine was called for by the messenger to proceed to his master. On the 5th James Loveless and my father, Thomas Standfield, were called for the same purpose, and as I ran to bid my father farewell, my little bundle of necessaries was stolen from me. On the 6th James Hammett was called, and on the 8th I was sent for. I went to the clerk's office, and after much entreaty he gave me directions where I might find my father. I was then forwarded to my master, Mr. Jones, M.C., in Sydney, in which place I remained five days, when he sent me on board the Sophia Jane steam-boat, to proceed to one of his farms on the Hunter's River, called Bawarra, about 150 miles from Sydney; and on the following day I arrived at my journey's end, being a farm three miles from the rising town of Maitland.
When I had been there about three weeks, I got liberty from the overseer to go and see my father. This was on a Sunday. I went to his master, a Mr. Nowlan, three miles distant from where I resided, and was informed by some of the men that he was in the bush with a flock of sheep.* I went in search of him, however trusting to Providence for finding my way back. After some time I found him in great distress, and he related to me some of the sufferings he had already gone through. In a few days after this he was sent to an out-station with a flock of sheep, and in about three weeks afterwards I saw him again. He was then a dreadful spectacle, covered with sores from head to foot, and weak and helpless as a child. I went to see the place assigned him for his lodgings, and when I arrived at the spot he pointed to the place where he slept, called a watch-box. After my father had been out in the bush from sunrise to sunset, he had then to retire for repose to a watch-box, 6 feet by 18 inches, with a small bed and one blanket - a watch-box, where he could lie and gaze upon the starry heavens, and where the wind blew in at one end and out of the other, with nothing to ward off the peltings of the pitiless storm - these were the comforts of the watch-box. Besides this he had to walk four miles for his rations, which journeys he was compelled to perform by night. I visited him thus at intervals for about nine months, until he was removed to a station on the Williams River , at a distance of thirty miles. My visits were then broken off, for my overseer would not permit me to go so far, thinking it too great an indulgence.
* My father was acting in the capacity of a shepherd. The flocks generally consist of from five to six hundred head of sheep, which the shepherd will have to conduct into the bush, probably several miles from the farm. The bush is an immense forest of trees and brushwood, with here and there a clear spot of ground, upon which the sheep are driven. It frequently happens that prisoners when first assigned, on being thus sent out lose themselves and their flocks in the bush, and are several days before they find their way back, during which time they experience great danger and misery, from the fear of meeting with the natives, and from hunger, being allowed one day's rations when they leave the farm. On their return the sheep are counted by the overseer, and should one be missing the shepherd is almost certain to be flogged, although, from the number in the flock, it is next to impossible fro him to prevent the natives stealing them, particularly at dusk.
On the 25th of January, 1836 , as I was sitting in my hut trying to devise some plan by which I might be enabled to see my father, a constable came and enquired of me. He informed me that he had received orders from the Patterson's Bench to forward me to the Maitland Bench. I inquired about my father, and was told a constable had also gone for him, and that he would join me at Maitland. The next day I was guarded there, where I arrived early in the morning. Orders were given that I should be sent to the lock-up, where I laid that day and the following night. Next morning I requested the chief lock-up keeper that he would let me go to the court-house, to know what was going to be done with me, and I also asked him for some food. He said that I was not due* for any food until I had been there two days. I was then guarded to the court-house by two constables; whilst standing there my father came in under charge of a constable. The magistrates would not give us any more information than that we were to be put in the lock-up. My father and myself then laid in the lock-up for two more nights, with a little bread and water, but neither bed nor blanket. Early in the morning orders were given to get ready for the steam-boat bound for Newcastle , and ten of us that were in the lock-up were called out, and chained together, two abreast. Before starting I asked for some victuals, but was told that I should get some where I was going. We marched thus chained together to Morpeth, where we were put on board the steam-boat. I asked the constable if he would unlock my father from the chain, but he said he would not. We remained in that state until we reached Newcastle , and were then taken out of the steam-boat and marched to gaol, where we were examined in the usual form. I then asked for some provision, but was told that I ought to have got it where I came from, for we were not due there until the next day. I was now almost exhausted. We remained in gaol three days and three nights, and on the fourth morning orders were given that five men - John and Thomas Standfield, with three others - should get ready for the steam-boat bound for Sydney .
* There are stated periods for prisoners receiving their allowances of food, clothing, &c., which periods are called, being “due”.
We had some mamony meal (Indian corn) for breakfast, and were to get dinner at the end of our journey. About eleven o'clock we were called out to the gaoler's office, and there was a constable ready to guard us on our journey. The constable coming up to me to put the handcuffs on, I told him to stop, for I wanted to speak to the authorities; upon which a clerk stepped up to know what I wanted. I said that I wished to know the reason why my father and myself were to be locked in irons, not being aware that we had committed a crime; and that we would conduct ourselves properly without being handcuffed. The gaoler then acknowledged that he did not see the necessity of putting us in irons, but he must act in accordance with his directions. I was then handcuffed between two others - my father and a stranger. When on board the steam-boat I again asked the constable to unlock our hands, but he refused, saying we might be bushrangers for aught he knew. The distance from Newcastle to Sydney is about 100 miles. After being at sea a few hours we were very sick, but not one of our hands were loosened to help ourselves. In that miserable condition we arrived at Sydney about nine o'clock in the evening, and were conducted from the steam-boat to the common gaol in George Street . After going through the form of examination, we were placed in a ward, after a week's starvation without bed or blanket, where we remained one day and two nights, laying on the cold flagstone. There were about 100 convicted criminals in the same dungeon, waiting to receive judgement from the Criminal Court. On the second morning all hands were let out into the yard and arranged in uniform order; and twenty men were picked out to attend court that day, my father and myself making two of the number. We were guarded into a dark room until called for. About ten o'clock a number of constables came with a long chain, and we were all handcuffed to it, and marched through the streets of Sydney like a lot of wild beasts. I now began to think that some evil-disposed person had lodged a false complaint against us. When we arrived at the court-house, however, my father and myself were released from the chain and conducted to Hyde Park Barracks, and examined by some of the barrack-officers, and then put into the watch-house. I asked the watch-house keeper for some provision, as we were nearly starved, but he said that we were not due until the following morning, so for that day we fasted. We were kept in this place two days and nights, and then I spoke to the keeper, requesting him to allow me to see Mr. Foster, the barrack superintendent. Mr. Foster accordingly came, and thus I addressed him: “Sir, do you know the reason of our being confined in this miserable place, as we are not criminals? I am determined to go out, and if we are not released I shall seek for further redress.” Accordingly, the next morning we were let out into the barrack-yard. We had thus been ten or eleven days and nights without having our clothes off, and without bed or blanket, dragged from place to place and suffering under every species of indignity, associated with, and handcuffed to, the most depraved and reckless portion of the wretched convicts, without the slightest charge having been preferred against us, or any explanation offered for such extraordinary conduct. The authorities, it is true, informed us that the reason of our being called in from our masters, was in pursuance of orders received from the home government, to the effect that we were to be employed on government work only, but they did not inform us why we had been treated in so severe a manner on our way to Sydney; I have, however, every reason to believe that orders were sent out by the home government to treat us with the utmost severity.
After we had been in the barracks a few days, we were sent to work with one of their gangs, and while so engaged one of our brethren, James Brine, came and joined us, and in a few days more my uncle, James loveless, came also. We then ceased going to work. After having been in the barracks about a month, we were called in to the principal superintendents office, and informed that the home government had granted us a conditional pardon at the expiration of three years from our arrival in the colony, but that an order had been received from the governor that we were to proceed to the penal settlement at Port Macquarie for twelve months, until his Majesty's further pleasure should be made known. The authorities wanted James Loveless to have his wife and children brought out, and promised to place him in such circumstances as would enable him to receive them on their arrival; notwithstanding their threats, promises, and entreaties, however, he would not consent.
As I did not like the idea of going to Port Macquarie, on the 10th of March, 1836, I drew up a memorial and sent it to the governor by Mr. Nowlan, my father's former master, praying he would allow us to return to our former masters, or that he would let me go with my father. The petition was granted on the 15th, and on the 16th we left the barracks and our two companions. James Hammett had not then arrived. We were sent on board the Ceres steam-boat in charge of Mr. Kealy, and next day arrived at the farm, and from thence proceeded to a sheep station on the Williams River, about thirty miles from Maitland. We had the charge of the flocks at that station, and to watch them night and day: and after getting the sheep in at sunset I had to go six miles for our rations. During the time we were there my father had a severe illness, owing to his being exposed in the bush on a very boisterous, rainy day, and was confined to his bed for two months We had been living nine months with Mr. Nowlan, when I was informed by a friend that George Loveless, was in Van Diemen's Land . I instantly wrote him a letter dated Nov. 27, 1836, and received an answer , dated January 21, 1837, in the following February, informing us that he was going to sail for England, and giving us directions in what manner we could obtain a passage for ourselves. I immediately sent a letter to my uncle, James Loveless, informing him of the good news, and requesting him to make application for our passage and send up for us accordingly. Great delay took place in consequence of M. Brennen, the principal superintendent, wishing to keep us in the colony; but by my uncles' perseverance a passage was at last obtained. Not the slightest communication was ever made to me or my companions by any government officer of our free pardon having been received.
We left Sydney on the 11th of September, 1837 , in the ship John Barry, bound for Plymouth , and touching at New Zealand to take in timber for her Majesty's dock-yard at Plymouth . We lay at New Zealand about nine weeks, during which time we were fully occupied in loading the vessel with timber, having engaged with the captain to make ourselves generally serviceable on the voyage home, in order that we might earn a little money to provide ourselves with clothing and other necessaries on our arrival in England . After a rough and boisterous voyage we arrived in Plymouth Sound on Saturday, March 17, 1838 , and landed in that town on the same day, having been absent just four years. We were very kindly received by Mr. Morgan, of the Dolphin Inn, Barbican Quay, and as soon as it was made known in the town who we were, many of the inhabitants came to visit us. On the 18th Mr James Keast, of the Friendly Society of Operative Bricklayers, very kindly invited us to his house, where we remained during our stay in the town. Several members of the above society waited upon us, and expressed a wish that we should remain a few days in the town, as they intended calling a public meeting of the working men to congratulate us on our return. Though anxious to see our families we could not but comply with their request, after having received so much kindness from them, and on the following day a public meeting was advertised to be held at the Mechanics Institute. The meeting was very numerously attended, and we received their hearty congratulations on our return. The next day we left Plymouth and proceeded through Exeter , where we were also welcomed by a public meeting, to our native village, Tolpuddle, Dorsetshire, arriving in safety to the great joy of our relatives and friends.
John Standfield
STATEMENT OF JAMES LOVELESS
We landed at Sydney , September 4th, and were placed in Hyde Park Barracks. On the 6th I left the barracks and travelled on foot to Strathallan, the place of my assignment, about 300 miles distant from Sydney , in the new country, carrying with me my blanket and rations, which consisted of flour and raw beef. I was fourteen days on the road, and at night slept under a gum-tree. On the 20th I arrived at my master's farm, in the county of St. Vincent , and in his service I remained nineteen months. In November 1835 a letter was sent to my master to know how I had behaved myself since living with him, and in the following February he received notice to send me up to Sydney . When I arrived there I was examined by the Superintendent of the Barracks as to the reason of my coming. I told him I could not say further than that my master received an order to forward me to Sydney . He then said that I must remain in the barracks until called for; and I remained there three months, not knowing what they were going to do with me, for I was informed the order was not to let me out of the barracks. After some time I was called to the superintendent's office, when he told me the governor wished to know if I would agree to have my wife and family brought out to me. I said I could not agree under present circumstances - not while I was a prisoner. “I believe,” said he, “that the governor will grant you a free pardon as soon as your family arrives.” I replied that I should like to be in possession of my pardon first. Mr. Brennen, the superintendent, then said that he would give me two days to consider of the proposal. On the expiration of that time he sent for me to know my decision. I informed him that I had considered the subject, and could not consent, as it was my intention to return to England whenever I obtained my liberty. “Well, Loveless,” said he, “what is the reason you are not willing to stop in this country? I think you could do better than at home.” - “I think not , sir,” said I; “I have seen nothing but misery in the colony.” - “But you must consider this will not be the case when you become free,” said he; “you had better make up your mind and stop.” - “I cannot, sir.” Mr. Brennen then said that as I would not consent to have my family brought out to me, I must be sent to Port Macquarie, a penal settlement for refractory convicts, little better than Norfolk Island , until his Majesty's pleasure should be further known. A few days after this Mr. Brennen asked me whether I would sooner go to Port Macquarie or to his own farm at Prospect, twenty-two miles from Sydney . Having heard of the dreadful ill-treatment experienced by prisoners at Port Macquarie, I preferred going to prospect, and proceeded there accordingly.
On the 17th of August, 1836 , it was advertised in the Sydney Gazette, that “James Hammett, James Brine, and Thomas and John Standfield, were to have a conditional pardon after having been two years in the colony, and James Loveless after being three years in the colony.” Soon afterwards my master told me that I was to serve a twelvemonth longer than my companions. I inquired if he could inform me of the reason for this distinction. He said that the home government thought me one of the ringleaders. “Ringleader of what , sir?” - “Of your secret combination; and you may think yourself well off in not being hung, as I believe you were bordering on high treason.” - “Do you know, sir, if my brother in Van Diemen's Land is in the same situation as myself.” - “I don't know, but I think it is very likely.” I was then sent to Mr. Brennen's farm at the Kurryjung, about fifty miles from Sydney , where I remained until December 1836, when a friend informed me that he had seen in a newspaper the account of a free pardon having been granted to me in the colony. I instantly proceeded to Sydney to learn it's truth. The Superintendent of convicts said I was free, but that the reason I had not obtained my pardon sooner was through a mistake of the Secretary. I then asked Mr. Brennen if the government intended giving myself and companions a passage to England . He said no; only a pardon in the colony. I then made an agreement with Mr. Brennen to go back to his farm; and in about two months afterwards he came up to the farm, and told me that a free passage was to be offered me to England. I immediately went to Sydney to make the necessary arrangements; but no vessel being bound for England that month, Mr. Brennen engaged to secure a passage the first opportunity. That gentleman neglected to fulfil his promise, wishing to keep me in his employ, and I did not sail from Sydney until September 1837, having been three years in the colony, exclusive of the four months occupied in the voyage out.
James Loveless
STATEMENT OF JAMES BRINE
On September the 4th we landed in Sydney , and I was assigned to Dr. Mitchell, Surgeon of the Government Hospital , and in a short time proceeded to the farm of Robert Scott, Esq., at Glindon, Hunter's River. I went on board the steam-boat, and reached the green hills the following day. I had then about thirty miles to travel on land before reaching the place of my destination. My master had given me at starting, a small bed and blanket to take with me, and one shilling to bear my expenses, besides a suit of new slops. On landing, being weary and fatigued, I laid down to take rest under a gum-tree. During the night the bushrangers came upon me and robbed me of all I possessed, excepting the old clothes I had on, which were given me at Portsmouth . On Sept. 7th I arrived at the farm at Glindon, exhausted from want of food, having had but one meal for three days.
I was instantly taken by the overseer to the master, who asked me where my slops and bedding were. I told him the bushrangers had robbed me; but he swore that I was a liar, and said that he would give me a “D d good flogging” in the morning. “You are one of the Dorsetshire machine-breakers,” said he; “but you are caught at last.” He gave me nothing to eat until the following day. In the morning I was employed to dig post-holes, and during the day he came and asked how I was getting on. I told him I was doing as well as I could, but was unable to do much through weakness, and that having walked so far without shoes, my feet were so cut and sore I could not put them to the spade. “If you utter another word of complaint,” said he, “I will put you in the lock-up; and if you ask me for another article for six months to come, or if you do not do your work like another man, or do not attend to the overseer's orders, whatever they may be, I will send you up to Mr. Moody, where no mercy shall be shown to you.” I afterwards got a piece of an iron hoop and wrapped it round my foot to tread upon, and for for six months, until I became due, I went without shoes, clothes, or bedding, and lay on the bare ground at night. Shortly afterwards I was sent to the pool to wash sheep, and for seventeen days was working up to my breast in water. I thus caught a severe cold, and having told my master that I was very ill, asked him if he would be so good as to give me something to cover me at night, if it were only a piece of horsecloth. “No,” said he, “I will give you nothing until you are due for it What would your masters in England have to cover them if you had not been sent here? I understand it was your intention to have murdered, burnt, and destroyed everything before you, and you are sent over here to be severely punished, and no mercy shall be shown you. If you ask me for anything before the six months is expired, I will flog you as often as I like.” He then asked me to explain to him the designs of the Union , and said if I would tell him it would be a good thing for me, as he would try to get me a ticket of indulgence. I told him that I knew nothing of what he was talking, and that the Unions had no idea of murdering, burning, or destroying. “You know all about it, “ said he, “and it will be better for you to tell me.” I still replied that I had nothing to communicate. He then said, “You d - d convict, if you persist in this obstinacy and insolence I will severely punish you! don't you know that not even the hair on your head is your own. Go to your hut, or I will well kick you.” My master was a magistrate!
In the latter end of the year 1835, a constable was sent to forward me to Sydney , and we proceeded to Maitland. I was there put in prison, and two days and two nights I was locked in the dark cells, with twelve ounces of bread, and half a pint of cold water in twenty four hours. On the third night I was chained to fifteen more prisoners, and we were all compelled to lie down together in the open yard until morning. We were then put on board the steam-boat and proceeded to Newcastle , about forty miles distant. On our arrival there, we were put into the prison with those who were waiting to take their trial at the Quarter Sessions. I remained there about a fortnight, when, without having undergone any examination, and not being conscious of committing the slightest offence, I was chained to about twenty others, and placed on board the steam-boat bound for Norfolk Island, the worst and most terrible of all the penal settlements, where those only of the convicts who have committed some heinous offence are sent, and where punishments the most inhuman and cruel are daily practised by the authorities upon the unfortunate and wretched prisoners.
After being some time at sea a gale of wind sprung up which drove us back to Newcastle . Being chained together on the deck, the waves kept continually dashing over us, and we were wet and miserable; in this situation we were taken on shore and locked into cells, there remaining three days. We then proceeded to Sydney , where we arrived in the night, and I was ordered into the cells with the condemned men, but this I strongly protested against, and demanded to know what charge was lodged against me, to cause me to be thus treated. After some delay I was sent to the barracks, and placed in the lock-up for twenty four hours, when the muster-master came to me. I begged of him to let me know what offence I had been charged with, that I was kept in chains, locked in the prison, and placed in the cells with condemned men. He then ordered me to the wards, and once more I had a blanket to wrap round me, which was a great comfort, having been so long without one, and the next morning I saw, to my great satisfaction, two of my brethren in captivity, Thomas and John Standfield; and in a few days after, James Loveless also, with whom I afterwards proceeded to Mr. Brennen's farm, at Prospect, where I remained until I left the colony.
James Brine
