George Faulkner's admission records:
"Nov 11th, 1872:
This man is a native of England, a Protestant: 70 years of age and by trade a Blacksmith. Admitted by Warrant from Goulburn Gaol Oct 28th. Is serving a sentence of three months for "indecently exposing his person", which sentence expires Nov 2nd 1872.
"On admission he looked ill - fatigued, badly clothed, and ill-nourished. At once desired to write letters to his wife and family, as he had property at stake of great value. These are false delusions as he is said in the "Medical Certificate" to be "homeless and destitute". Eats well, sleeps well, is cleanly in person and habits. Suffers from Senile Dementia, aggravated by long periods of intemperance. Is in fair bodily health.
"Dec 1st, 1872: Continues in good bodily health and is somewhat mentally improved.
"Jan 2nd, 1873: Is in good health, and mentally improved. I think if it could be ascertained that this man has relations willing to receive him he might be discharged to their care.
"Jan 30th, 1873: A letter received from his son expressing his willingness to receive his father when fit to be discharged.
"Feb 3rd, 1873: Continues in good health: and much improved mentally.
"Feb 20th, 1873: Should be brought before the Board. No answer has been received from his son who was informed that his father could be given up to him after the Board Meeting in February.
Less than three months after his admission, George Faulkner "being of perfectly sane mind" was "discharged cured" from Parramatta Asylum on February 24th 1873.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
"Indecently exposing his person"
On 3 August 1872, a few months before he turned seventy, George Faulkner was committed to Queanbeyan Gaol for three months after pleading guilty, under the Vagrant Act, before Joseph Styles and Arthur Affleck, JPs, of “indecently exposing his person” in a public street, namely Cork Street, Gundaroo on 2 August.
The Yass Courier reported the story, omitting details of the offence: “On Saturday last George Falconer [sic], better known as Old Blocker, was brought before Messrs. Styles and Affleck under the Vagrant Act. The unfortunate was in the horrors of drink, and as this was his second offence, he was sent to prison at Queanbeyan for three months.”
On 16 September, he was transferred to Goulburn Gaol where he was examined separately by two doctors, William Hayley and Selby Norton.
George Faulkner, Hayley found, was "restless", "talked a great deal of nonsense" and "labors under hallucinations and illusions". Selby added that "he is constantly asking for a warrant for persons who have wronged him". Both noted that their patient believed he had a hole in his chin which "he had stopped up with bread". His gaoler reported that he was "disgustingly filthy in his habits", a reference, perhaps, to masturbation.
Hayley wrote that his patient "believes that he has a house, wife and family and is the possessor of property, whereas he is homeless and destitute".
Certified insane by the two doctors, "George Faulkner, blacksmith, late of Gundaroo" was transferred from Goulburn Gaol to the lunatic asylum at Parramatta on 14 October.
Colonial-Secretary's Correspondence (72/7893)
Yass Courier, 9 August 1872
The Yass Courier reported the story, omitting details of the offence: “On Saturday last George Falconer [sic], better known as Old Blocker, was brought before Messrs. Styles and Affleck under the Vagrant Act. The unfortunate was in the horrors of drink, and as this was his second offence, he was sent to prison at Queanbeyan for three months.”
On 16 September, he was transferred to Goulburn Gaol where he was examined separately by two doctors, William Hayley and Selby Norton.
George Faulkner, Hayley found, was "restless", "talked a great deal of nonsense" and "labors under hallucinations and illusions". Selby added that "he is constantly asking for a warrant for persons who have wronged him". Both noted that their patient believed he had a hole in his chin which "he had stopped up with bread". His gaoler reported that he was "disgustingly filthy in his habits", a reference, perhaps, to masturbation.
Hayley wrote that his patient "believes that he has a house, wife and family and is the possessor of property, whereas he is homeless and destitute".
Certified insane by the two doctors, "George Faulkner, blacksmith, late of Gundaroo" was transferred from Goulburn Gaol to the lunatic asylum at Parramatta on 14 October.
Colonial-Secretary's Correspondence (72/7893)
Yass Courier, 9 August 1872
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Mary Faulkner, died Glebe 1852
Wondering if the Mary Faulkner who died in 1852 might possibly be Maria Faulkner, I ordered her death certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages New South Wales.
The information on her death certificate is scant. She had lived in Glebe, in Sydney. She was fifty. And her burial on 21 August 1852 was in Sydney South Circuit, County of Cumberland - possibly the old Devonshire Street cemetery. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. B. Chapman, a Wesleyan minister. Her "quality or profession" is not stated, nor is the cause of death.
Going by her age and religion, she may have been the Mary Faulkner from Sussex who arrived on the Roxburgh Castle in 1839, aged 37.
Her exit from this world did not warrant a death or funeral notice in the Sydney Morning Herald.
The information on her death certificate is scant. She had lived in Glebe, in Sydney. She was fifty. And her burial on 21 August 1852 was in Sydney South Circuit, County of Cumberland - possibly the old Devonshire Street cemetery. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. B. Chapman, a Wesleyan minister. Her "quality or profession" is not stated, nor is the cause of death.
Going by her age and religion, she may have been the Mary Faulkner from Sussex who arrived on the Roxburgh Castle in 1839, aged 37.
Her exit from this world did not warrant a death or funeral notice in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Convicts named Steward arriving in Australia
Twenty-five men and three women with the surname Steward appear on the British convict transportation registers. Seven were named William Steward, five Thomas, four John, three Robert, three Charles, two George and one Henry. All the women were Elizabeths. In 1814 a Sarah Steward, the wife of a convict, arrived with her two daughters, Jane and Mary.
Other convicts named Steward arrived under different names. The Colonial-Secretary's Index has an Ann Jemima Steward who arrived on the Morley in 1820, her name recorded as Seward. The 1828 Census records a John Steward who supposedly arrived on the Somersetshire in 1814, but whose name doesn't appear on the British convict transportation registers. At the time of the census he was an overseer assigned to a Mr Barber "at Yass, on the Goulburn Plains".
Others were transported from Ireland. Bridget Steward arrived from Cork on the Almorah in 1824, her name recorded as Stewart. An entry on the Colonial-Secretary's Index noted she was "not be assigned from the Female Factory, Parramatta until the Almorah left Port Jackson". The Samuel Steward who has five entries under his name in the index to the Colonial-Secretary's records may have arrived from Ireland.
At least three convicts named Steward were employed in the Gundaroo area before 1846.
William Steward who arrived on the Countess of Harcourt in 1828 was living in Bathurst when he received a ticket of leave in 1834 and his freedom in 1835. A black Jamaican, he had been tried at Lancaster Quarter Sessions.
Another William Steward who arrived on the Asia in 1833 was in Yass when he received his ticket of leave in 1837.
Thomas Steward arrived in 1836 on the Strathfieldsay and was in Yass when he received a ticket of leave in 1840.
Maria Steward's name doesn't appear in the British convict transportation registers, on lists of convict women or on the Colonial-Secretary's Index.
British convict transportation registers 1787-1867, One Search database (http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au), State Library of Queensland
NSW State Records, Index to the Colonial-Secretary's Correspondence
NSW Convict Women on Ships arriving from England and Ireland 1788-1828, http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/convicts/confem66.html
Other convicts named Steward arrived under different names. The Colonial-Secretary's Index has an Ann Jemima Steward who arrived on the Morley in 1820, her name recorded as Seward. The 1828 Census records a John Steward who supposedly arrived on the Somersetshire in 1814, but whose name doesn't appear on the British convict transportation registers. At the time of the census he was an overseer assigned to a Mr Barber "at Yass, on the Goulburn Plains".
Others were transported from Ireland. Bridget Steward arrived from Cork on the Almorah in 1824, her name recorded as Stewart. An entry on the Colonial-Secretary's Index noted she was "not be assigned from the Female Factory, Parramatta until the Almorah left Port Jackson". The Samuel Steward who has five entries under his name in the index to the Colonial-Secretary's records may have arrived from Ireland.
At least three convicts named Steward were employed in the Gundaroo area before 1846.
William Steward who arrived on the Countess of Harcourt in 1828 was living in Bathurst when he received a ticket of leave in 1834 and his freedom in 1835. A black Jamaican, he had been tried at Lancaster Quarter Sessions.
Another William Steward who arrived on the Asia in 1833 was in Yass when he received his ticket of leave in 1837.
Thomas Steward arrived in 1836 on the Strathfieldsay and was in Yass when he received a ticket of leave in 1840.
Maria Steward's name doesn't appear in the British convict transportation registers, on lists of convict women or on the Colonial-Secretary's Index.
British convict transportation registers 1787-1867, One Search database (http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au), State Library of Queensland
NSW State Records, Index to the Colonial-Secretary's Correspondence
NSW Convict Women on Ships arriving from England and Ireland 1788-1828, http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/convicts/confem66.html
Sunday, May 9, 2010
To Newcastle as an assigned servant...
The Index to the Colonial-Secretary's Papers, 1788-1825, includes an entry for a John Faulkner, who also supposedly arrived on the Eliza (2) in 1822. On 25 July 1823 this John Faulkner was permitted to travel to Newcastle on the Fame as the assigned servant of A. McLeod.
Since the convicts on the Eliza (2) did not include a John Faulkner, the "John" seems to be an incorrect transcription of George.
Alexander McLeod had a large property called Luskintyre, near Wallis Plains (Maitland). Chas. McLeod, the defaulter in payment for George Faulkner almost a year later, was presumably a member of the same family.
NSW State Records, Index Colonial-Secretary's Correspondence, Reel 6010; 4/3508, p.712)
Since the convicts on the Eliza (2) did not include a John Faulkner, the "John" seems to be an incorrect transcription of George.
Alexander McLeod had a large property called Luskintyre, near Wallis Plains (Maitland). Chas. McLeod, the defaulter in payment for George Faulkner almost a year later, was presumably a member of the same family.
NSW State Records, Index Colonial-Secretary's Correspondence, Reel 6010; 4/3508, p.712)
Maria Steward
All that is known of Maria Steward comes from three official documents: her marriage certificate, the baptism certificate of her first child, and a death certificate that may or may not be hers.
Maria Steward married George Faulkner in Gundaroo on 26 January 1846. The minister was Church of England, E. Smith, the witnesses F. Timmins and M. Timmins of Gundaroo. Maria was seven and a half months pregnant. Six weeks later, on 6 March, she gave birth to their first child, George. Frederick was born in 1848, but his birth was not registered.
Maria and George gave consent to the marriage themselves. Maria was not so young she needed the consent of her parents to marry, and nor did she need the consent of the government. She wasn't a convict or a ticket-of-leave holder.
There is a death certificate for a Maria Falkner, without the "u". She died a pauper in Hyde Park Asylum for Infirm and Destitute Women (now Hyde Park museum) in 1883. Her death, on 16 February, is recorded as caused by "senile debility". She was 63. She was buried in Church of England section of Rookwood Necropolis. The death certificate leaves blank her place of marriage, age at marriage, and children. Her place of birth is listed as Gibraltar.
Maria Steward married George Faulkner in Gundaroo on 26 January 1846. The minister was Church of England, E. Smith, the witnesses F. Timmins and M. Timmins of Gundaroo. Maria was seven and a half months pregnant. Six weeks later, on 6 March, she gave birth to their first child, George. Frederick was born in 1848, but his birth was not registered.
Maria and George gave consent to the marriage themselves. Maria was not so young she needed the consent of her parents to marry, and nor did she need the consent of the government. She wasn't a convict or a ticket-of-leave holder.
There is a death certificate for a Maria Falkner, without the "u". She died a pauper in Hyde Park Asylum for Infirm and Destitute Women (now Hyde Park museum) in 1883. Her death, on 16 February, is recorded as caused by "senile debility". She was 63. She was buried in Church of England section of Rookwood Necropolis. The death certificate leaves blank her place of marriage, age at marriage, and children. Her place of birth is listed as Gibraltar.
Faulkners arriving from Northampton in 1844
A Faulkner family arrived as bounty immigrants on the Dale Park in Port Philip, Victoria on 21 July 1844.
Abraham, an agricultural labourer, and Anne Faulkner were both 32. Their four children were George 10, William 8, Hanna 6 and Jane 3. Their native place was Northampton, their religion Protestant.
Abraham and Anne could read, but not write.
Along with other "Persons on bounty ships arriving at Port Philip", a microfilm copy of the Dale Park's passenger list has been digitised. It can be viewed here:
http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/guides-and-finding-aids/nrs-lists/nrs-5316
Abraham, an agricultural labourer, and Anne Faulkner were both 32. Their four children were George 10, William 8, Hanna 6 and Jane 3. Their native place was Northampton, their religion Protestant.
Abraham and Anne could read, but not write.
Along with other "Persons on bounty ships arriving at Port Philip", a microfilm copy of the Dale Park's passenger list has been digitised. It can be viewed here:
http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/guides-and-finding-aids/nrs-lists/nrs-5316
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The convict settlement at Hunter's River
John Thomas Bigge visited Hunter's River (Newcastle) in 1819-20 as part of his investigations for the British government into the cost and effectiveness of the convict transportation system.
The convict settlement at Newcastle provided coal and timber for Port Jackson. After the closure of Norfolk Island in 1813 it was also the place where convicts who had re-offended in the colony were sent as a secondary punishment.
Major Morriset, the commandant, lived on a hill overlooking a town of 890 inhabitants, of whom 700 were convicts. The town's seven streets contained thirteen houses owned by the government and 71 by convicts. Convicts who could not find their own lodgings or who "were not to be trusted in the houses of others" were housed in a newly-built wooden barracks of four rooms and two sheds. Here men slept three to a "crib" - a space 4 feet 3 inches wide and 6 feet long. The barracks accommodated 246 men. Bigge reported that the construction of the barracks had reduced the number of instances of men bartering their rations for tobacco and other "illegal articles" and prevented "nocturnal escapes". Escapes from houses were reduced by making householders responsible if their lodgers "[quit] the settlement without leave".
By 1818, Newcastle had a the commandant's house, a church, hospital and gaol. The following year a surgeon's quarter, officer's quarter, workhouse, blacksmiths and forge had been completed and the breakwater was under construction. By 1820 a parsonage and windmill had been built.
Bigge reported that convicts worked from 5 am to sunset in summer, with six hours off on Saturdays. They were mustered four times each day. Constables and overseers, convicts themselves, received increased rations, but the superintendent reported he "had no confidence in the constables, and they connived at the escapes of the prisoners".
Convicts worked as timber-cutters, miners, builders and lime-burners. Some were sent 70 miles inland for a month at a time to cut timber and float it downriver. Others worked at a coal mine close to the barracks or were set to work building a breakwater. Those who had re-offended or who had "bad characters" were sent across the river where they collected oyster shells and burned them into lime which they carried in baskets on their shoulders to boats moored in the shallows. Bigge reported that the convicts' shoulders, being unprotected, were sometimes "slightly burnt" when sea spray mixed with the lime. Lime-burners also suffered eye damage from smoke, sometimes deliberately "exposing themselves...that the state of their eye might afford a pretext for their removal from the settlement".
"The punishment for offences at Newcastle", Bigge wrote, "consists of work in the chain gang, and flogging inflicted with more severity than at other settlements."
Bigge goes on to describe the inadequacy of rations (convicts often ate their day's ration at one meal), the frequency of escape attempts, the role of local Aborigines in recapturing escapees, the establishment of a settlement at Wallis Plains (Maitland), the measures taken to restrict alcohol, the requirement for convicts to attend church services, the opening of a school for children of soldiers and convicts, and the completion dates of Newcastle's public buildings, houses and boats.
Bigge's Report of the Commissioner of Inquiry into the state of the Colony of New South Wales [London] 1822
The section of Bigge's report dealing with The Convict Settlement at Hunter's River is published online by Hunter River Genealogy.
The convict settlement at Newcastle provided coal and timber for Port Jackson. After the closure of Norfolk Island in 1813 it was also the place where convicts who had re-offended in the colony were sent as a secondary punishment.
Major Morriset, the commandant, lived on a hill overlooking a town of 890 inhabitants, of whom 700 were convicts. The town's seven streets contained thirteen houses owned by the government and 71 by convicts. Convicts who could not find their own lodgings or who "were not to be trusted in the houses of others" were housed in a newly-built wooden barracks of four rooms and two sheds. Here men slept three to a "crib" - a space 4 feet 3 inches wide and 6 feet long. The barracks accommodated 246 men. Bigge reported that the construction of the barracks had reduced the number of instances of men bartering their rations for tobacco and other "illegal articles" and prevented "nocturnal escapes". Escapes from houses were reduced by making householders responsible if their lodgers "[quit] the settlement without leave".
By 1818, Newcastle had a the commandant's house, a church, hospital and gaol. The following year a surgeon's quarter, officer's quarter, workhouse, blacksmiths and forge had been completed and the breakwater was under construction. By 1820 a parsonage and windmill had been built.
Bigge reported that convicts worked from 5 am to sunset in summer, with six hours off on Saturdays. They were mustered four times each day. Constables and overseers, convicts themselves, received increased rations, but the superintendent reported he "had no confidence in the constables, and they connived at the escapes of the prisoners".
Convicts worked as timber-cutters, miners, builders and lime-burners. Some were sent 70 miles inland for a month at a time to cut timber and float it downriver. Others worked at a coal mine close to the barracks or were set to work building a breakwater. Those who had re-offended or who had "bad characters" were sent across the river where they collected oyster shells and burned them into lime which they carried in baskets on their shoulders to boats moored in the shallows. Bigge reported that the convicts' shoulders, being unprotected, were sometimes "slightly burnt" when sea spray mixed with the lime. Lime-burners also suffered eye damage from smoke, sometimes deliberately "exposing themselves...that the state of their eye might afford a pretext for their removal from the settlement".
"The punishment for offences at Newcastle", Bigge wrote, "consists of work in the chain gang, and flogging inflicted with more severity than at other settlements."
Bigge goes on to describe the inadequacy of rations (convicts often ate their day's ration at one meal), the frequency of escape attempts, the role of local Aborigines in recapturing escapees, the establishment of a settlement at Wallis Plains (Maitland), the measures taken to restrict alcohol, the requirement for convicts to attend church services, the opening of a school for children of soldiers and convicts, and the completion dates of Newcastle's public buildings, houses and boats.
Bigge's Report of the Commissioner of Inquiry into the state of the Colony of New South Wales [London] 1822
The section of Bigge's report dealing with The Convict Settlement at Hunter's River is published online by Hunter River Genealogy.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Newcastle barracks
In the early years of New South Wales, general musters were held annually to count the population of each district and record whether they were victualled, or on government rations. In an episode of the television series The Colony, a government officer arrives at the settlement to collect the details of every man, woman and child present - except, if I remember correctly, the Aborigines. In 1828, writes NSW State Records, the first census was conducted "after it was found that the Governor had no power to compel free men to come to a muster".
George Faulkner, his name misspelt Fawlkner, is recorded in annual musters held in 1823, 1824 and 1825 as being in "Govt Employ" in Newcastle.
In November 1828, when the first census was conducted, his residence is "Newcastle barracks".
Short Guide 12 - Muster and census records, 1788-1901, NSW State Records
General Muster Lists of New South Wales for 1823, 1824 and 1825
1828 Census
George Faulkner, his name misspelt Fawlkner, is recorded in annual musters held in 1823, 1824 and 1825 as being in "Govt Employ" in Newcastle.
In November 1828, when the first census was conducted, his residence is "Newcastle barracks".
Short Guide 12 - Muster and census records, 1788-1901, NSW State Records
General Muster Lists of New South Wales for 1823, 1824 and 1825
1828 Census
Saturday, May 1, 2010
"The pulse of the deceased was very low..."
"CORONER'S INQUEST.---Yesterday, an inquest was held before the Coroner, at the Sportsman's Arms, Pitt-street, on view of the body of George Falkner [sic], then lying dead in Goulburn-street. From the evidence of Mr. Robert French, residing in Goulburn Street, it appears that deceased, who was his brother-in-law, and about 31 years of age, had care of witness's horses. On Saturday morning deceased was in the stable-yard, and was passing a horse which witness had just purchased, when the animal kicked him in the lower part of the abdomen. Dr Fullerton was immediately sent for, who prescribed for deceased, but the latter lingered until about eight o'clock on Sunday morning, when he expired. The horse was stated to be a very quiet one. Dr Fullerton stated that he was called in on Saturday last to attend deceased, who, he was told, had been kicked by a horse. He complained of injuries received at the right groin and over the lower margin of the liver. He said the horse had kicked him with one foot only, which caused Dr. F. to remark that one foot could not have injured both parts at the same time. The pulse of deceased was very low, and his extremities very cold, and he appeared to be suffering greatly. Dr. F. prescribed for him, and in about two hours found that the pulse had slightly rallied, although the pain continued to be equally severe. Leeches and other remedies were applied, but he died on Tuesday morning. There were no external marks of violence, and without making a post mortem examination, Dr. F. could not say what was the immediate cause of death. Verdict, died from injuries accidentally received." – Sydney Morning Herald, 6 July 1852
George Faulkner's death certificate leaves blank his "quality or profession", but his age is stated to be 31 and his religion Wesleyan. He was buried the day after the inquest, on Tuesday, 6 July. The funeral took place in Sydney South Circuit, performed by the Rev. B. Chapman.
Is he the George Faulkner who arrived with his family in 1839?
Sydney Morning Herald, 6 July 1852, p.2
NSW Burial Registration 521 Vol 110
George Faulkner's death certificate leaves blank his "quality or profession", but his age is stated to be 31 and his religion Wesleyan. He was buried the day after the inquest, on Tuesday, 6 July. The funeral took place in Sydney South Circuit, performed by the Rev. B. Chapman.
Is he the George Faulkner who arrived with his family in 1839?
Sydney Morning Herald, 6 July 1852, p.2
NSW Burial Registration 521 Vol 110
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