Share this
Heroes, Rebels and Radicals of Convict Australia
By Jim Haynes
By Allen and Unwin
ISBN: 9781761470370
The latest in the series by author Jim Haynes makes fascinating, interesting about the beginning of modern day Australia as a penal colony, it's convicts and those who carried out the punishments.
Beginning with the true founder of the colony, Joseph Banks and the Surgeon John White who was the saviour of the First Fleet. From this we learn there would have been many more deaths aboard ship, if not for this doctor who really cared for his patients. The stories about the encounters with the local Eora people are quite eye opening, especially with Pemulwuy, the Bidijigal man, a warrior and freedom fighter.
Some who were caught stealing for minor offences in Britain would go onto have far better lives than they would have achieved had they remained at home. However, some went on to have what can only be described as terrible, desperate lives where hanging would have been the better option.
One such person comes to mind is William Westwood or Jackey Jackey as he became known after dreadfully harsh treatment, torn away from his family and all that he knew at the age of 14 in what was then rural England, for a minor stealing offence. But because it took place on a road formed part of a much greater crime and therefore punishment. There are of course many others who suffered for stealing food such as a loaf of bread or an apple, everything from petty crimes to gruesome murders.
As explained in the book there were 230 offices for which hanging was the punishment but when transportation was seen as an option to rid Britain of it's criminal classes by sending them to the other end of the world, this provided plenty of new inhabitants for this colony.
The writing style is very easy to read and Jim Haynes as the author of several other books on Australia's convicts, two are referred to with reviews at the end of this one, gives an excellent potted history of each of the convict men and women. Clearly, his in-depth research has been carried out over a long period of time and readers like myself who know various places in Britain will piece together pictures of where these people lived and where sent to for punishments in the prisons and hulks,
Some characters went to households as servants and farms as labourers as we know and got on relatively well until they earned their ticket of leave. Some prospered beyond their wildest dreams. Different people react in various ways and in an era where no understanding or allowances were made for these traits as we do now, it really isn't surprising to read how Norfolk Island and Van Diemans Land became such a harsh places of punishment for the worst of these convicts.
As we read Norfolk Island wasn't originally set up this way. Some Governors believed in the benefits of reform and convicts were given their own garden in which to grow their food, utensils to cook their food and so on which they could do after their day's hard labour. But the authorities in Britain were firmly set against this and replaced the Governor of Norfolk Island to a much harsher one. It is no wonder they rebelled and the consequences that followed.
The chapters include some colourful characters such as Henry Lovell the Romani who returned home to England with his Eora wife, believed to be the first Australian indigenous person to live in England. Their daughter Sapy Lovell who after committing various crimes was transported to Australia to her mother's homeland.
Elizabeth Fry really was a remarkable woman with her work to help women convicts. I doubt many would have survived without her good work.
The author gives some interesting educated guess or options as to what may have happened to some convicts in certain circumstances and through their criminal careers.
One curious person that makes very interesting reading is Mary Reiby. She had no need to become a horse thief, yet she did. Her name changes several times in her life, not only through marriages, her change in persona, but her story of how she became extremely prosperous is fascinating.
Some legends exposed, such as those behind well known and loved songs may surprise you.
This is a great collection of stories about a notorious convicts and saviours and makes enjoyable reading.
Highly recommended reading.
This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review, Buy me a coffee
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
