James Henry Darley

On 1 September 1819, John Tattersall, a weaver by trade, who was 5'4¼" tall with dark brown hair, grey eyes and a scar on the corner of his right eyebrow, appeared in court at Lancaster. He was sentenced to transportation for life to Van Diemen's Land. His crime is not listed on his records, but he was later described as a 'capital respite'. Before boarding the transport Maria, he served time in the hulks, where his behaviour was described as 'orderly'. The twenty-three-year-old lived with his wife and two children at Hackerington, Lancashire and, after he left Britain's shores, his family never saw him again. [1]

After a voyage of 126 days, the 427-ton Mariaarrived at the Derwent River. No deaths were recorded during the voyage, and 156 male convicts landed to serve out their sentences in Van Diemen's Land, [2] under the watchful eye of the Lieutenant-Governor, William Sorell. Without delay, Tattersall was employed in the Public Works as a sawyer and less than six years later, on 1 January 1826, he was appointed as a constable in the Field Police. His conduct record lists seven guilty verdicts. The first was on 22 October 1821, when, after refusing to attend work as ordered by his overseer, he was given fifty lashes and ordered to serve in the gaol-gang for two months. The next report was more than two years later, when he was found guilty of not residing under his master's roof. He was ordered to return to his master, H. Ashworth. [3]

Within six months of his appointment, Tattersall failed one of his duties as a constable. He was fined ten shillings for neglect of duty in not attending the Police Office when the Magistrate was sitting. On 13 February 1828, he was more fortunate when a complaint was dismissed against him. It had been alleged that he tried to obtain money from Anthony Fenn Kemp by false pretences and had caused a threatening letter to be written for the same purpose. He was found guilty again two months later on a charge of being drunk and assaulting Michael Keval (Kevall) in Hobart Town, and of destroying several articles of wearing apparel which belonged to Keval. He was ordered to reimburse the rightful owner. [4]

Tattersall committed no major crimes, however, the consumption of alcohol played a role in the crimes for which he was charged. There is no evidence to suggest he had a drinking problem (it seems more likely that it was a social problem: he clearly became boisterous and violent after consuming an excessive quantity). On 29 November 1828, he was found guilty of being drunk at the Lovely Banks Inn, where he also assaulted the landlord, William Guest, and the noise and disorder he caused during the night annoyed and disturbed Mr Willis JP and others who were in the inn. As a result of this episode, he was fined his salary for the quarter. The case was heard by Police Magistrate Thomas Anstey who seems to have been a personal friend. [5]

Two guilty verdicts were recorded on 27 December 1830 and 19 March the following year. In the former incident, again under the influence of alcohol, and this time at Butchers Inn, Bagdad, the constable lost a warrant to convey a prisoner to Bridgewater. This mis­demeanour was expensive. It cost him forty shillings. In the latter case, again drunk, he abused the Chief Constable in the execution of his duty and as a result was fined five shillings. His last official appearance in court was on 10 February 1834, when he was under suspicion of stealing three bullock chains belonging to Mr Brodribb. The case was discharged and no action was taken. Conditional and absolute pardons were granted by the Crown on the recommendation of the Lieutenant-Governor and John Tattersall received his conditional pardon (No. 143) on 11 May 1830. [6] Convicts serving out their sentences became 'free by servitude'. This option was obviously denied to John as he had received a life sentence.

There was more to Tattersall's life than his official duties as a constable in the Field Police. His life also had a personal aspect. It is clear that with the passing of time, and by living in a different society 12,000 miles from his native home, he made a new life separate from his earlier life with his wife and children in Britain. Their names, and what happened to his first family, requires further research.

In 1827, Tattersall applied to the then Lieutenant-Governor, George Arthur, for permission to marry convict Agnes Thompson. He explained how they had formed a 'Mutual affection' for each other and were 'desirous to be joined in the Holy State of Matrimony'. In support of his application, he expressed the hope that his conduct since arrival in the colony had been 'such as to merit the approbation of his Superiors'. [7]

Agnes (or Nanny) Thompson/Thomson arrived in the colony in 1823 aboard the Lord Sidmouthafter being convicted at Jedburg Court of Justiciary on 22 April 1822 and sentenced to seven years transportation. It seems that she was assigned upon arrival, because at the 1823 Muster, she was assigned to Mr McLeod at Hobart Town. [8] In his memorial to Arthur, Tattersall described how he had earlier rented a house for Agnes, but after he left the town (presumably as a constable to work in the country), she was charged with being 'on her own hands' and was 'most unfortunately ordered to the Factory', where she and three children were in the 'most pitiable situation'. When Agnes went to the factory, she was possessed of 'some little property', but during her imprisonment it had been 'squandered in various ways'. [9]

According to Magistrate Adolarius W.H. Humphrey, Agnes Thompson, who had no offences recorded against her in the books of the Police Office, had been transported for 'Assaulting & wounding'. She confessed that she left her husband, Robert Hunter, at Kelso and there were two children 'there' and 'one with him'. A further report on the marriage application was provided by (the aforementioned) Thomas Anstey, who spoke 'very highly' of Tattersall's 'conduct', and described him as being in the 'Band of Field Police'. [10]

A report from John Lakeland, Principal Superintendent of Convicts, about Agnes was not favourable. He understood her to be a scheming woman. She had been 'on her own hands … for near 12 Months in consequence of which she was placed in the Factory'. According to Lakeland's report, Agnes' master, Joseph New, admitted she had been away from his premises with his consent. As a result, Lakeland forwarded New's bond to the Crown Solicitor, and it was recommended that no more convict servants be assigned to him. The report had been endorsed across the corner with 'Agnes Hunter being unable to prove that her former husband is dead. JC 28 Feby'. [11]

Late in 1828, Agnes was employed at the Male Orphan School, but, in October, Chief Constable Capon found her guilty of being drunk at the Scotch Thistle public house. [12] Her punishment was confinement to a cell on bread and water for seven days. On 16 May 1829, she was admonished for obstructing Constable Young in the execution of his duty, and two weeks later, on 30 May 1829, on the expiry of her sentence, her certificate of freedom was issued. [13]

No marriage record has been found for John Tattersall and Agnes Thompson. The reason has not been fully researched. Serving convicts needed to obtain permission before marrying, which, in this instance, may not have been granted because John stated he had a wife and children at his native place, and also because Agnes was unable to prove that her husband was dead. Nevertheless, this difficulty was not the end of John's attempts to form a permanent relationship in the colony.

On 14 January 1829, the convict transport Harmony landed at the Derwent River, Hobart Town. On board was Sarah Waters, who was able to read and write, was 5'1" tall, with light brown hair, brown eyebrows and grey eyes. She was one of 100 female convicts who had left the Downs 123 days earlier. Tried at Middlesex on 29 May 1828, Sarah was transported for seven years after being found guilty of larceny. According to her gaol report, she was a prostitute and single. The eighteen-year-old, who said she was 'on the town', stated that her mother, Maria Waters, lived at Park Place and James Street. When questioned, Sarah said that her offence was robbing her ready furnished room and stealing pillow-cases. She was tried and transported with Mary Ann Williams, who was also sentenced to seven years. Mary Ann married George Scarborough per Calendonia at Launceston on 16 January 1831. [14]

Sarah Waters' colonial offences were petty. She absconded twice from her master Robert Harrison: in April and May 1829, she disobeyed orders and carried off with her a pillowcase, a loaf of bread and a 'Pannakan', all the property of Harrison. She was apprehended by Constable Tattersall in the Brisbane Parish on 16 May and her sentence, which was imposed by Thomas Anstey, was six months in 'C' class at the Female Factory and the wearing of an iron collar for one month. As well, her hair was cut off and she was confined on bread and water for fourteen days. [15] Robert Harrison had arrived in the colony in 1823. His original grant was Woodbury at Antill Ponds, so it is likely that it was there Sarah was assigned. [16]

In January 1830, for 'refusing to do her work and being absent from her service' the previous night without leave from Mr Hiddlestone, she was confined to a cell on bread and water for five days, and then returned to service. Just two months later, she was again absent without permission and remained out after hours from her master, Mr Nairne. The punishment for this was another month in 'C' class. She was then returned to the public service. [17] At the convict musters in both 1832 and 1833, Sarah was 'assigned to Mr McPherson'. Apparently she did not apply for her free certificate (No. 893) at the end of her sentence because it was not sent to her until 8 October 1841, when she was living at Bothwell. [18]

The chance meeting when Tattersall apprehended Sarah on 16 May 1829 was more than an arrest. It changed both their lives. Three times in 1831, during January, June and November, Tattersall applied to marry Sarah. He was unsuccessful. Still determined to marry Sarah, 'by Whom he has one Child', on 2 May 1832, Tattersall approached Thomas Anstey for advice. Mr Anstey directed Tattersall to take his application to the Reverend Mr Drought. This application was also unsuccessful. [19]

In November 1832, Tattersall wrote to Anstey from 'Green Water Holes' and reported that the 'Governor has refused me the indulgens that was requested', and he begged Anstey as his 'Protecktor to let it be known to me or Find out the case why I am refused the indulgens that others receive'. He explained that his feelings were 'very much hurt' since he received the answer. [20]

Marriage certificate of John Tattersall and Sarah Waters [21]

Following Lieutenant-Governor Arthur's consent, John Tattersall and Sarah Waters were married in the Green Ponds Independent Church (Kempton) on 29 April 1833. [22] As well as their son John (1831-1902), John and Sarah possibly had another nine children. John junior was not baptised until 1838 at Hamilton, at the same time as his sister, Maria Jane (1833/5-1890). Their brother, James (1836/7-1907), although younger, was baptised before them, in 1837, also at Hamilton. The other known children were Sarah Evans (1842-1923), Mary Ann (1844-1916), William (born 1847) and Richard (1849-1870), all born in either the Hamilton or Bothwell areas. It seems possible that there were another three children. If so, they were most likely named Francis, Richard and Jane. Despite research by descendants, these three have not being confirmed as children of Sarah and John. The births were not registered, and some church records no longer exist.

In the l842 census, John Tattersall was leasing a property at Littledale , near Bothwell, and in 1848 he was leasing Selma, also at Bothwell. John and Sarah both died in Launceston-John in 1879 and Sarah in 1884. Their daughter, Mary Ann (1844-1916), married George Jacobson, the third child of Nison Jacobson (convict per Lady Castlereagh 1818) and his wife, Hannah (née Athorn). Mary Ann and George added to the increasing population of Van Diemen's Land with their family of eight daughters and seven sons. I am descended from their son George, who married Mary Jane Abberton, and am therefore a great-great-great-grand-daughter of the convicts Sarah (née Waters) and John Tattersall.