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Thomas Baker's Story

In the summer of 1800, Elizabeth Baker gave birth to a son, she and her husband, William, named him Thomas, after William’s father and he was to be the last of their six children. Their eldest child, Ann, was my 3x great grandmother. The family lived in the rural Sussex parish of Keymer, on the South Downs. The village is ten miles north of Brighton, which, at the time of Thomas’ birth, was a rapidly developing seaside town, thanks to the patronage of the future George IV. In 1800, the after effects of the French Revolution were about to erupt into the Napoleonic Wars. Wordworth was writing poetry, Beethoven and Hayden were composing and Humphrey Davy was investigating the properties of Nitrous Oxide as a form of pain relief. None of this would have had much impact on William and Elizabeth Baker, as they presented their son for baptism, on the 6th of July, at the quaintly named church of St. Cosmas and St Damian in Keymer. [1]

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St Cosmas and St Damien Church, Keymer

St. Cosmas and St Damian, Keymer, Sussex

Image via Wikimedia

Young Thomas’ early years were ones of comparative security for agricultural workers, as farmers sought to increase production in the face of a rising population and a halt to the importation of food from Europe, due to the Napoleonic blockades. The resulting favourable profits for British farmers were short-lived. When the wars came to an end, in 1815, continental markets opened up and despite the Corn Laws that sought to protect the price of corn, British agriculture was thrust into a depression that was to last for two decades, leaving many farm workers’ families in poverty. The increasing mechanisation of agricultural processes and the development of threshing machines meant that fewer labourers were required.

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Thomas worked on local farms as a ploughman.[2] He may have married in the 1820s, as there are children baptised to both a Thomas and Mary and a Thomas and Ann Baker in Keymer[3] but no marriages have been found and we cannot be sure that either of these are the same Thomas. Neither of these families are in the Keymer area in the 1841 census.

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In April 1830, Thomas found himself in trouble with the law. He was in front of the Sussex Quarter Sessions Court as Thomas Baker alias Buck, together with William Osborn alias Roper. The two were accused of feloniously entering a building belonging to John Springate at Westmeston and stealing seven hens and one pullet.[4] This was Thomas’ third offence. He had previously been found guilty of stealing wood and another unspecified theft and had spent a month in gaol. The fact that Thomas was stealing food and fuel, suggests that these were crimes driven by necessity. Thomas and William Osborn were both transported for life. 

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Thomas’ conviction means that we have a description of him. He was five foot nine inches tall, with a fair complexion, brown eyes and reddish brown hair and whiskers. His head and visage were described as round, his forehead high, his nose Grecian and his mouth wide, with a thick upper lip. He had two pugilists and a mermaid tattooed on the inside of his right arm and three fish, stars and the initials LC TB on the inside of his left arm. He also had a cutter and anchor tattooed on the back of his left hand.[5]​​​

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Unfortunately, parts of Thomas’ Conduct Report are very faint but his conduct in gaol was described as very good. There is a record of a Thomas Baker on the prison hulk Retribution in 1830 and it seems likely that this is the same Thomas.[6] His behaviour on an unnamed hulk was reported as being was ‘good’,[7] so we know he did spend time on a hulk awaiting transportation. Hulks were decommissioned ship that were permanently moored and used to hold those sentenced to transportation, whilst they waited for space on a transport ship. The aptly named Retribution was formerly HMS Edgar and had been built more than fifty years earlier.​

The Retribution in its days as HMS Edgar

The Retribution in its days as HMS Edgar

Image in the public domain via Wikimedia

Thomas and William Osborn left from London on the Royal George in June 1830.[8] The Royal George, carrying 215 convicts arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) on the 18th of October 1830.[9] Conditions aboard convict ships were notoriously poor and the long voyage would have been arduous. Hobart, on the banks of the Derwent River, had only been established as a penal colony in 1803.

 

​The Convict Musters reveal that, in 1832, Thomas was assigned to Josiah Spode Esquire.[10] Josiah was the grandson of the founder of Spode pottery and at this time, Josiah junior was the principal superintendent of convicts.[11] It is not known if Thomas had been hand-picked by Spode for some reason. No date is specified but an appropriation list describes Thomas as a ploughman and hop and kitchen gardener for J Spode.[12]

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On the 23rd of April 1833 Thomas absconded from Spode and failed to account for some apples in his possession. For this, he was punished by having to  spend fourteen days on the treadmill.[13] He did not learn his lesson as, on the 29th of October 1833, Thomas was again absent without leave and was sentenced to three months hard labour.[14]

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Despite these misdemeanours, the musters of 1835 state that Thomas had been assigned to the field police.[15] Lt. Governor Arthur had established the field police in 1828 and many of their number were convicts. They were organised into nine police district, controlled by a magistrate who worked under the chief police magistrate,[16] a role that Spode was to hold in 1839.[17] “By 1835, 453 policemen, mostly convicts, provided a high ratio of one policeman to every 88.7 people, which was never surpassed. Some policemen abused their powers by using violence and arresting without cause, and corruption was rife, though property and person were more secure.”[18]

Hobart

Image in the public domain via Wikimedia

Hobart

It seems that Thomas was not a perfect example. On the 8th of July 1835, he was found in neglect of his duty as he had allowed a prisoner who had been left in his custody to go at large. For this, Thomas found himself in a cell on bread and water for twenty four hours and had his pay stopped during that period.[19] On the 3rd of November 1835, “being beastly drunk when on duty” let to another four days and nights in a cell on bread and water without pay.[20] On the 12th of July 1836, there was a charge of neglect of duty and drunkenness, resulting in a further three days’ punishment.[21] Finally, on the 12th of June 1840, following misconduct, Thomas was admonished and discharged, as well as spending yet another four days on bread and water.[22]

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On the 16th of April 1838, Thomas had applied to marry.[23] Two months later, on the 14th of June 1838, he married Elizabeth Williams in St David’s, Hobart.[24] Elizabeth was from Glamorgan and had been transported for seven years in 1834.[25] Later that year, Thomas absconded on two more occasions, on the 12th of October and the 7th of December.[26] He was nonetheless granted a ticket of leave on the 22nd of May 1839. [27]

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Thomas and Elizabeth settled in New Norfolk, about twenty miles northwest of Hobart. The settlement had been established by former inhabitants of Norfolk Island, who were resettled there after the Norfolk Island penal colony closed. The area was renowned for its hop farming.

 

Various unsourced online trees suggest that three children were born to Thomas and Elizabeth at New Norfolk, Eliza in July 1839, Ellen in 1843 and Luke in 1846. A three year old Henrietta Baker was buried at St. Matthew’s Church of England Cemetery, New Norfolk in October 1839. She had died of burns. Some people believe that she was another daughter, born to Thomas and Elizabeth before their marriage.[28]

New Norfolk

New Norfolk

Image in the public domain via Wikimedia

There is a record of Thomas being granted another ticket of leave in 1841[29] and he gained a conditional pardon on the 1st of July 1842.[30] There are records of further conditional pardons, one on the 25th of October 1843, when it was stated that Thomas had nearly twelve years in the colony and had ticket of leave for three years. “For good conduct having been charged with only one offence and held ticket of leave required time”[31] and on the 3rd of May 1847.[32]

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Thomas died on the 9th of December 1867 of heart disease at New Norfolk; his occupation at the time was stated to be a labourer.[33] He had spent more than half of his life in the colony and left descendants to help shape the Australia of today.

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Sources

Baptism registers for St. Cosmas and St Damian, Keymer, Sussex via www.ancestry.co.uk

Sussex Advertiser 26 April 1830p 3 col d

Transportation Registers 1829-1830 HO11/7 folio 205 Originals at the National Archives via www.ancestry.co.uk

Transportation Registers HO11/9 folio 229 Originals at the National Archives via www.ancestry.co.uk

Home Office Quarterly Returns of Prisoners HO8/24 folio 210 Originals at the National Archives via www.ancestry.co.uk 

Australian Convict Musters 1832 HO10/48 folio 23 No. 1394 Originals at the National Archives via www.ancestry.co.uk

Australian Convict Musters 1841 HO10/50 folio 16 No. 1394 Originals at the National Archives via www.ancestry.co.uk

Australian Convict Musters 1841 HO10/51 folio 15 No. 1394 Originals at the National Archives via www.ancestry.co.uk

Australian Convict Pardons and Tickets of Leave 1843-1844 HO10/58 folios 40-41 Originals at the National Archives via www.ancestry.co.uk

Convict Records, the Royal George https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/royal-george/voyages/270?convicts=5

CON27/1/4 Image 132 Appropriation List via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au

CON31/1/4 Image 65 Conduct Record via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au

CON18/1/2 page 290 image 150 Description List via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au

CON23/1/1 Image 56 No. 1394 Description List via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au

CSO1/1/373 Page 8510 Muster Roll via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au

Australian Marriage indexes via www.ancestry.co.uk

Australian Death Indexes via www.ancestry.co.uk

St. David’s, Hobart Town, Tasmania marriage register via www.findmypast.co.uk

Australian Dictionary of Biography https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/spode-josiah-2686

The Companion to Tasmanian History www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/P/Police.htm.

www.findagrave.com

Burial register for New Norfolk, Tasmania via www.findmypast.co.uk Hobart, Tasmania death registers via www.findmypast.co.uk

New Norfolk, Tasmania death registers via www.findmypast.co.uk

[1] Baptism registers for St. Cosmas and St Damian, Keymer, Sussex via www.ancestry.co.uk.

[2] CON18/1/2 page 290 image 150 Description List via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au.

[3] Baptism registers for St. Cosman and St Damian, Keymer, Sussex via www.ancestry.co.uk.

[4] Transportation Registers 1829-1830 HO11/7 folio 205 via www.ancestry.co.uk; Sussex Advertiser 26 April 1830p 3 col d.

[5] CON18/1/2 page 290 image 150 Description List. CON23/1/1 Image 56 No. 1394 Description List all via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au.

[6]Criminal Registers HO19/5 Originals at the National Archives via www.findmypast.co.uk.

[7] CON31/1/4 Image 65 Conduct Record via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au.

[8] Sussex Advertiser 26 April 1830p 3 col d.

[9] https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/royal-george/voyages/270?convicts=5.

[10] Australian Convict Musters 1832 HO10/48 folio 23 No. 1394 Originals at the National Archives via www.ancestry.co.uk.

[11] Australian Dictionary of Biography https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/spode-josiah-2686.

[12] CON18/1/2 page 290 image 150 Description List. CON23/1/1 Image 56 No. 1394 Description List. CON27/1/4 Image 132 Appropriation List. All via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au.

[13] CON31/1/4 Image 65 Conduct Record via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au.

[14] CON31/1/4 Image 65 Conduct Record via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au.

[15] Australian Convict Musters 1841 HO10/50 folio 16 No. 1394 Originals at the National Archives via www.ancestry.co.uk

[16] The Companion to Tasmanian History www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/P/Police.htm.

[17] Australian Dictionary of Biography https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/spode-josiah-2686.

[18] Australian Dictionary of Biography https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/spode-josiah-2686.

[19] CON31/1/4 Image 65 Conduct Record via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au.

[20] CON31/1/4 Image 65 Conduct Record via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au.

[21] CON31/1/4 Image 65 Conduct Record via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au.

[22] CON31/1/4 Image 65 Conduct Record via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au.

[23] www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438.

[24] St. David’s, Hobart Town, Tasmania marriage register via www.findmypast.co.uk.

[25] Transportation Registers HO11/9 folio 229 Originals in the National Archives via www.ancestry.co.uk.

[26] www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438.

[27] www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438.

[28] www.findagrave.com. Burial register for New Norfolk, Tasmania via www.findmypast.co.uk. Hobart, Tasmania death registers via www.findmypast.co.uk.

[29] Australian Convict Musters 1841 HO10/51 folio 15 No. 1394 Originals at the National Archives via www.ancestry.co.uk

[30] CON31/1/4 Image 65 Conduct Record via www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438 and https://talis.ent.sirsidynix.net.au.

[31] Australian Convict Pardons and Tickets of Leave 1843-1844 HO10/58 folios 40-41 via www.ancestry.co.uk,

www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438.

[32] www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=fasai02438.

[33] New Norfolk, Tasmania death registers via www.findmypast.co.uk.

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