The rest are either sick
and removed to the hospital, or are run away in the woods."
"How much is each labourer's daily task?"
"Seven rods. It was eight, but on their representing to the governor
that it was beyond their strength to execute, he took off one."
Thirteen large huts, similar to those beforementioned, contain
all the people here. To every hut are appointed two men, as hutkeepers,
whose only employment is to watch the huts in working hours to prevent them
from being robbed. This has somewhat checked depredations, and those endless
complaints of the convicts that they could not work because they had nothing
to eat, their allowance being stolen. The working hours at this season
(summer) are from five o'clock in the morning until ten; rest from ten to two;
return to work at two; and continue till sunset. This surely cannot be called
very severe toil; but on the other hand must be remembered the inadequacy
of a ration of salt provisions, with few vegetables, and unassisted by
any liquor but water.
Here finished my remarks on every thing of a public nature at Rose Hill.
But having sufficient time, I determined to visit all the private settlers
to inspect their labours, and learn from them their schemes, their hopes
and expectations.
In pursuance of my resolution, I crossed the country to Prospect Hill,
at the bottom of which live the following thirteen convicts, who have accepted
allotments of ground, and are become settlers.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Men's names. | Trades. | Number of | Number of acres
| | acres in each | in cultivation.
| | allotment. |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
John Silverthorne Weaver 40 1 3/4
Thomas Martin " 40 1 1/2
John Nichols Gardener 40 2
William Butler*, and his wife Seaman 50 )
- - Lisk* Watchmaker 40 ) 4
William Parish, wife, and a child Seaman 60 2 3/4
William Kilby, and his wife Husbandman 60 1 1/4
Edward Pugh, wife, and two children Carpenter 70 2 1/2
Samuel Griffith
John Herbertt**
James Castle
Joseph Marlow***
John Williams, and his wife
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[*In partnership.[Butler and Lisk]
[**Not out of his time; but allowed to work here at his leisure hours,
as he has declared his intention of settling.]
[***In a similar predicament with Herbert.]
The terms on which these allotments have been granted are:
that the estates shall be fully ceded for ever to all who shall continue
to cultivate for five years, or more; that they shall be free of all taxes
for the first ten years; but after that period to pay an annual quit-rent
of one shilling. The penalty on non-performance of any of these articles
is forfeiture of the estate, and all the labour which may have been
bestowed upon it. These people are to receive provisions,
(the same quantity as the working convicts), clothes, and medicinal assistance,
for eighteen months from the day on which they settled.
To clear and cultivate the land, a hatchet, a tomahawk, two hoes, a spade
and a shovel, are given to each person, whether man or woman; and a certain
number of cross-cut saws among the whole. To stock their farms, two sow pigs
were promised to each settler, but they almost all say they have not yet
received any, of which they complain loudly. They all received grain
to sow and plant for the first year. They settled here in July and
August last. Most of them were obliged to build their own houses;
and wretched hovels three-fourths of them are. Should any of them fall sick,
the rest are bound to assist the sick person two days in a month,
provided the sickness lasts not longer than two months; four days labour
in each year, from every person, being all that he is entitled to.
To give protection to this settlement, a corporal and two soldiers
are encamped in the centre of the farms, as the natives once attacked
the settlers and burnt one of their houses. These guards are, however,
inevitably at such a distance from some of the farms as to be unable
to afford them any assistance in case of another attack.
With all these people I conversed and inspected their labours.
Some I found tranquil and determined to persevere, provided encouragement
should be given. Others were in a state of despondency, and predicted
that they should starve unless the period of eighteen months
during which they are to be clothed and fed, should be extended to three years.
Their cultivation is yet in its infancy, and therefore opinions should
not be hastily formed of what it may arrive at, with moderate skill
and industry. They have at present little in the ground besides maize,
and that looks not very promising. Some small patches of wheat which I saw
are miserable indeed. The greatest part of the land I think but indifferent,
being light and stoney. Of the thirteen farms ten are unprovided with water;
and at some of them they are obliged to fetch this necessary article
from the distance of a mile and a half. All the settlers complain sadly
of being frequently robbed by the runaway convicts, who plunder them
incessantly.
December 6th. Visited the settlements to the northward of the rivulet.
The nearest of them lies about a mile due north of Mr. Clarke's house.
Here are only the undernamed five settlers.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Men's names. | Trades. | Number of | Number of acres
| | acres in each | in cultivation.
| | allotment. |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Thomas Brown*, wife, and child - - 60 )
William Bradbury* - - 30 ) 3 1/2
William Mold* - - 30 )
Simon Burne, and wife Hosier 50 3
- - Parr, and wife Merchant's clerk 50 3 1/2
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[*These three cultivate in partnership.(Brown, Bradbury, Mold.)]
These settlers are placed on the same footing in every respect
which concerns their tenure and the assistance to be granted to them
as those at Prospect Hill. Near them is water. Parr and Burne are men
of great industry.
