Soldiers of Gloucestershire & Transportation
It may not have meant a black cap, At those Quarter Sessions, Epiphany, Easter, Trinity and Michaelmas, But it probably meant a lifetime’s separation – And Gloucestershire was high on the list Of counties for transportation, Whilst the Stroudwater area itself, ‘Sent one-quarter of … Gloucestershire convicts, Although containing little more Than one-eighth of the county population’;
I leave it to you, gentle reader, To breathe life, emotion and meaning into The names of the convicts, Their occupations, Their ages, Their villages and towns, The names of the ships, The word transportation, Their sentences …
Ponder on their offences … What might they have been? Offences against poverty, Against property, Against privation; Ponder on the heartbreak, The prison hulks, The chains, the irons, the nine-month voyage … The abuse of the women – And who knows? Perhaps family conversations and research might result, In consequence, About these representatives of Burke’s ‘swinish multitude’, And the Gloucester Journal’s ‘pernicious members of society’;
But for now, reflect on scarlet-clad marines,
Guarding prisoners on that long voyage,
And soldiers from the 28th and 61st
Maintaining order in the antipodes,
And the following county soldiers and volunteers,
Who were transported themselves:
Richard Baker, Kings Stanley, Labourer,
Volunteered from S. Glos. Militia
into Waggon Train, aged 23, transported 1820,
on the Elizabeth 1 to New South Wales, 7yr;
Job Buck, Frampton Cotterell, Labourer,
Recruit in 61st Reg. of Foot,
aged 17, transported 1840 on the Barossa, to Van Diemen’s Land, 10yr;
Dutton Clarke, Meysey Hampton, Labourer,
Volunteer from N. Glos. Militia into 9th Reg. of Foot. 6d. per day pension, aged 42, transported 1827 on the Asia, to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
John Davis, Clopton, Mickleton, Labourer,
Served in N. Glos. Militia, aged 22, transported 1832 on the Parmelia
to New South Wales, Life;
Thomas Day, Cirencester, Labourer,
Formerly in Glos. Militia, aged 44, transported 1817
on the Lady Castlereagh to Van Diemen’s Land, 14yr;
George Hendy, Kingswood, Collier,
In S. Glos. Militia, aged 26,
transported 1833 on the Hive to New South Wales, Life.
John Kinsey, Bristol, Sawyer.
Also in Glos. Militia, aged 23,
transported to Van Diemen’s Land 1832, 7yr;
William Nicholls, Dursley, Spinner.
Private in S. Glos. Militia, aged 27, transported 1823
on the Asia to Van Diemen’s Land, Life;
James Ryley, St Philip & St Jacob, Bristol, Labourer.
Formerly a drummer in N. Glos. Militia, aged 18,
transported 1821 on the Lady Ridley to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Thomas Smith alias Thomas Riddifer, North Nibley, Labourer.
Formerly in local Militia, aged 28,
transported 1827 on the Guildford to New South Wales, 7yr;
James Stone, St George, Bristol, Fish & bacon carrier.
In N. Glos. Militia, aged 19, transported 1817
on the Batavia to New South Wales; 7yr;
Joseph Which, St Philip & St Jacob, Bristol, Chairmaker.
In S. Glos. Militia, aged 22,
transported 1833 on the Jupiter to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Isaac White, Tewkesbury, Labourer.
Served in N. Glos. Militia, aged 20/22,
transported 1820 on the Elizabeth to New South Wales, Life;
Thomas Wood/Woods, Shipton Moynes, Labourer.
Served 5 years in S. Glos. Militia, aged 28,
transported 1832 on the Mary to New South Wales, Life.
It may not have meant a black cap, At those Quarter Sessions, Epiphany, Easter, Trinity and Michaelmas, But it probably meant a lifetime’s separation …