The Norfolk ISLANDER

"Honour Norfolk Island"
Founded 1965 Successors to - The Norfolk Island Pioneer c. 1885:
The Weekly News c. 1932: the Norfolk Island Monthly News c. 1933
The N.I. Times c. 1935: Norfolk Island Weekly c. 1943: N.I.N.E. c. 1949: W.l.N. c. 1951
Norfolk News c. 1965
Volume 36, No. 15 SATURDAY,
3rd MARCH 2001 Price $1.50

FOUNDATION DAY ON NORFOLK ISLAND

In 1987, Mike Prentice, proprietor of Pinetree Tours and David (K1k) Quintal started the first re-enactment of Foundation Day on 6th March. Our picture, taken at a previous re-enactment shows the actors drinking a toast to" His Majesty". "The Queen", "Prince of Wales", "Governor Phillip" and "Success to ye Colony". To all our visitors who have arrived to participate in this special day - greetings to the second British Colony in the Pacific - we hope you have an historically rewarding time.

The Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island and Van Diemens Land :-

In this day and age when we hear so much about "the Lost Generation" or "the Stolen Generation" it comes like a breath of fresh air to receive a copy of a book with the above heading, which has been kindly loaned to us by Mr. Arthur (Totos) Buffett of Auckland.

Written by Reg. Wright and publishedin 1986 by the Library of Australian History of 17 Mitchell Street, North Sydney, the book tells of the first settlement of Norfolk Island in 1788 and the effect that the men , women and children had on the history of Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) when they were shifted there in 1813.

Author Wright, in his Introduction, writes :"Norfolk Island has seen three distinct periods of settlement. The third and recent period began in 1856 when the Pitcairn Islanders were brought to Norfolk Island. They took up residence in the series of substantial freestone buildings which remained as a legacy of the harsh convict era of the 2nd Settlement between 1825 and 1855. By contrast, the end of the first settlement 1788-1813 was marked by the deliberate destruction over the next 12 months, of all those assets so painfully constructed in the previous 25 years. The work of a generation of people, a group similar in size to today's permanent population, was so effectively demolished that eleven years later the pioneers of the 1825 settlement found it necessary to rebuild all structures. Today the only evidence of the first settlement is a cleared and habitable island which was stripped of its rain forest in the 1790's, the points and bays named after personalities who helped found the infant colony of New South Wales, and the Middlegate Road. The route of the Middlegate Road deviates only slightly at its Cascade and Kingston extremities, from the road of Lieutenant-Governor King's day, which ran between Phillipburgh (Cascade) and Sydney (Kingston). The road to Queenborough town is now very effectively covered by the Norfolk Island Airport."

There is no doubt that Norfolk Island played an essential part in the colonisation of Australia and the theory that Australia was settled to provide a distant dumping ground for the convicts of Great Britain has been accepted without question. This has been a conveniently easy solution which had a strong element of truth once the Colony became properly established.

Author Wright goes on to say "A recent study by Alan Frost suggests a different reason for the founding of New South Wales. Frost demonstrates that the foreign policy of William Pitt's government of the 1780's envisaged the construction of a naval base in the South Seas to counteract the activities of the French and the Dutch, and to protect the sea route to British India.

A plan was developed for the construction of a naval base at an as yet unspecified location in the South Seas, requiring a task force of ships to carry provisions, marines and 1,000 convicts. The convicts were needed to physically construct the base, its services, and to provide food for the fledgling settlement. Several spots on the globe were identified with the least favoured being New Holland or Cook's eastern coast of New South Wales.

The preferred locations were on or around the coast of Southern Africa. A trial settlement In 1782 on the African mainland had ended in disaster as after 12 months, only 30 survivors remained of the original 200. The embarrassing questions in the British Parliament caused a proposed new settlement in Gambia to be shelved..

The remaining preferred locations for the base were then re-examined in greater detail and found to be deficient in various aspects. On the other hand the observations and integrity of Sir Joseph Banks and Captain James Cook were beyond challenge. Cook's statement that Norfolk Island held huge stands of pine and an abundance of flax plants which were ideal for ship's masts and rigging, would have excited an administration aware of the difficulties being created by the current shortage of imported naval stores. Norfolk Island may have been that prize which tipped the scales in favour of Botany Bay as the final location of the new Southern Seas Settlement.

When the First Fleet left England it consisted of eleven ships, including the two navy ships nominated by earlier planners, but the landed complement was in the region of 1,030 convicts, marines and administrators, rather than a target figure of some 1,000 convicts.

Governor Phillip's first task after locating a permanent settlement in N.SW., was to secure Norfolk Island. The First Fleet was shifted from Botany Bay to Port Jackson on 26th January, 1788. Preparations for the transfer of a party to Norfolk Island was then started, and the Supply left Port Jackson for Norfolk Island on 15th February 1788. Today Frost's ideas may seem a little controversial, but in his lectures of 1888 James Backhouse Walker pointed out that all the early Australian settlements in N.SW. and Van Diemens Land were chosen by their commanders as potential military posts. Aspects such as future growth and accessibility to farming land were not considered. Finally it is worth remembering the Home Office suggestion to Governor Phillip in June 1789 that it might be appropriate to abandon Port Jackson and move his establishment to Norfolk Island.

"The soil of Port Jackson, which you have very properly chosen, from the very extensive harbour it possesses, is certainly a far preferable situation to Botany Bay. According to the information, hitherto obtained from you, it does not appear to be as fertile as could have been wished, and exclusively of that consideration, the number of natives inhabiting its vicinity must render its cultivation both difficult and dangerous, particularly whilst they continue to avoid any friendly intercourse with the settlement.

"From these circumstances Norfolk Island, where the settlers possess the advantage of a luxurious soil and carry on their operations unmolested by any other inhabitants, is, 1 conceive, the most favourable position, and were it not from the great labour and expense incurred already at Port Jackson, I should have been inclined to have recommended that island's being made the principal settlement." (W. Grenville to Gov. Phillip. 19th June 1789).

This implies that at that time the British government considered Norfolk Island of more strategic importance than the whole of the N.S.W. coastline. By 1795 the British held the Cape of Good Hope following its surrender by the Dutch. They were then in possession of an outstanding southern naval base which would have made settlement in N.SW. unnecessary had not the colony already been established.

Unfortunately Norfolk Island history demonstrates some of the hard economic realities of life. Within a few years the Norfolk settlers were producing large quantities of pork and other foodstuffs which helped to sustain the colony at Port Jackson. Unfortunately there was no safe harbour and the few ships that visited the island were often at risk when loading or unloading cargo.

Without some economic advantage the island was doomed, and the first blow fell when Lord Hobart advised Governor King on 24th June 1803---it appears to be advisable that a part of the establishment now at Norfolk Island should be removed, together with a proportion of the settlers and convicts, to Port Dalrymple ......... The Norfolk population which had been over 1,100 for many years, started to dwindle from year 1805 onwards as people were withdrawn or forced to emigrate from the island.

By 1807 the population had fallen to 820, before the deportation of some 578 settlers and dependants to the Derwent between November 1807 and October 1808. By 1809 roughly 48% of the European population of Van Diemens Land had previously been Norfolk Island residents. In the final major evacuation of Norfolk in 1813 another 108 persons were located in the Port Dalrymple settlement, while a handful landed at Hobart in 1814.

Thus, the initial Norfolk Island residents, forced from their homes through the lack of viable occupation, formed the base stock for a Tasmanian population which today faces a real threat of experiencing a repetition of the history of Norfolk's First Settlement.

The remoteness of the southern State from mainland markets, coupled with costly and uncertain shipping, has caused the withdrawal of a number of industries to the mainland. If the gratuitous intervention of foreigners into the affairs of Tasmanians frustrates plans to convert the natural potential of the State into real comparative advantages which can provide some future for residents, then those sixth and seventh generation descendants of the original Norfolk Islanders will continue to be forced from their long time island home".

And who were those first settlers on

Norfolk Island 203 years ago?

Lieut. Philip Gidley King - Commandant James Cunningham - Midshipman and Master's Mate of Sirius Thomas Jamison - Surgeon and 1 st Mate of Sirius John Turnpenny Altree - Surgeon's Assistant ex Surgeon Lady Penrhyn Roger Morely - Seaman ex Sirius William Westbrook - Seaman ex Sirius Charles Heritage - Marine ex Sirius John Batchelor - Marine ex Sirius John Williams - Convict ex Charlotte Charles McClellan - Convict ex Alexander aged 14 years old Nathaniel Lucas - Convict Scarborough Edward Garth - Convict ex Scarborough John Mortimore - Convict ex Charlotte Noah Mortimer - Convict ex Charlotte Edward Westlake - Convict ex Charlotte Richard Widdicombe - Convict ex Charlotte aged 72 years old. John Rice - Convict ex Charlotte Ann Innet - Convict ex Lady Penrhyn Elizabeth Colley - Convict ex Lady Penrhyn Elizabeth Lee - Convict ex Lady Penrhyn Elizabeth Hispley - Convict ex Lady Penrhyn Olive Gascoigne - Convict ex Lady Penrhyn Susannah Gough - Convict ex Friendship Since they were the first settlers on Norfolk Island each deserves a brief pen picture.

Bowes Smyth, surgeon of Lady Penrhyn nominated six women for the founding party,whose behaviour on board has been least exceptional". One of the chosen, Ann Yeates, did not want to join the party and was allowed to remain at Port Jackson. The fact that she was 7 months pregnant at the time probably played a part in her decision. Presumably she was not disadvantaged by her choice as she later became the mistress of Judge-Advocate David Collins, bearing him two children, Marianne Laetitia and George Yates/Collins.

At the age of 31 years Ann Innet mightbe regarded as the matron of the group. She had come from the Parish of Grimley in the County of Worcester and was listed as a "mantua maker" (i.e. dressmaker). She had been sentenced to hang after being judged Guilty of breaking and entering with force and arms, and stealing a petticoat, two aprons, five handkerchiefs, a pair of shoes, a cap, gown, and stockings to a total value of eighteen shillings and sixpence. The sentence was reduced to seven years transportation.

She became King's mistress and the first child, Norfolk King, to be born on the island arrived 8th January 1789. They had another son, Sydney King, before both returned to Port Jackson in 1790.

Elizabeth Colley was 23 years and came from London. Her crime was also associated with clothing, although her 14-year sentence was for receiving stolen goods.

Elizabeth Lee was another Londoner of 25 years of age. By contrast her sentence of 7 years transportation seems remarkably light. She stole "thirty gallons of wine called red port value £10, twelve gallons of other wine, called Malmsey Madeira value £12, three gallons of of white port value 20s, three gallons of Malmsey Madeira value 40s, three gallons of Claret value 40s, three gallons of raisin wine value 6s, three gallons of orange wine value 6s, three gallons of brandy value 36s, three gallons of rum value 36s, three gallons of Geneva value 20s, one gallon of arrack value 16s, four hundred and twenty-four glass bottles value £31/10/-, one hundredweight of tallow candles value 50s, two linen stocks value 4s, two pair stockings value 5s, one gold ring with garnets value 10s".

There may have been a belief that Elizabeth, who was in service as a cook, could hardly have committed this crime alone.

Elizabeth Hipsley was also a Londoner aged 29 with an occupation given as needlework. She received 7 years transportation for stealing possessions of one William Fincham valued at £4/6/8. Olive Gascoigne was 25 years of age and came from the Parish of Severn Stoke in the County of Worcester. She was in service and stole with force of arms £13/4/6 in coin and was sentenced to hang. Again her reprieve reduced the sentence to 7 years transportation.

Susannah Gough appears to have been called Susan Garth in the First Fleet records which list her on Friendship . As such she was 25 years old when sent to Norfolk Island. Another Londoner, she received a seven year sentence for stealing nine guineas. An 1811 record at Hobart Town shows that Susan Gough's trial date corresponded with that of Susan Garth but the ship of arrival as Charlotte. It is possible that Susan Gough was chosen for Norfolk Island because of an earlier relationship with her future husband, Edward Garth, who was already in the founding party. When selecting his small group Lieutenant King had advised"...that if any partiality or reciprocal affection should take place between male and female convicts going there or after their arrival at Norfolk, they might marry, and that he had authorised the Surgeon Mr. Jameson (sic) to perform that office, and after a time the Clergyman would be sent there to remarry them."

At the Old Bailey Edward Garth was sentenced to hang for his crime of stealing two live cows valued at £17. Luckily the sentence was reduced to seven years transportation allowing him to ultimately continue his dairying interests at Hobart Town. Garth later married Susan Gough about 1795.

Nathaniel Lucas had been a fellow passenger of Edward Garth on Scarborough, and married Olive Gascoigne from the founding party. Nathaniel was a carpenter and joiner from London, who occupied the role of overseer and master carpenter in later years. His seven-year sentence came from the theft of muslin caps, handkerchiefs, aprons and towels valued at fifty-two shillings.

Six male convicts who arrived at Port Jackson on the Charlotte came from Devon and were all convicted at Exeter. The remaining prisoner was Charles McClellan or McLaughlin of Durham who was 14 years of age. His crime was stealing a purse containing fourteen shillings and sixpence at Sutherland on Sea. One assumes that the sentence "Guilty of Petit (sic) Larceny - value 10d. to be transported for the term of seven years .. ... He was framed to avoid his receiving the Capital punishment.

Three of the Devon men, John Mortimore, Noah Mortimore and Edward Westlake, had been jointly tried at Exeter for stealing a sheep valued at twelve shillings, and forty pounds of mutton valued at ten shillings. The sheep stealing charge was dismissed but each received seven years transportation on the second count. John and Noah may have been father and son as John was stated to be 70 years of age when he received 100 lashes on Norfolk Island in 1791.

Another elderly Devon man was Richard Widdicombe who stole a winch and other goods valued at £4/6/-. He was said to be seventy-two years of age. John Williams and John Rice were also convicted at Exeter for stealing. The choice of male convicts from the same geographic region with a common ship of arrival may have contributed to some unan1mity among the group, but its effectiveness as a work force may have been reduced by inclusion of members of 72, 67 and 14 years of age.

Lieutenant King's executive included James Cunningham a Midshipman and Master's Mate from Sirius, and Thornas Jarnison who had been Surgeon First Mate on Sirius. Jamison was an MA from the University of Dublin and was a mature 43 years of age when he arrived at Norfolk. John Turnpenny Altree had arrived at Port Jackson as Surgeon of Lady Penrhyn although he was said to be unequal to the task and on the voyage out, much of his work was performed by Arthur Bowes Smyth.

William Westbrook and Roger Morley had been seamen aboard "Sirius" but the former was also recorded as a Sawyer. Morley has been described as an adventurer who had been a master weaver. During Major Ross’s period of control Morley acted as Storekeeper before returning to England. Charles Heritage and John Batchelor had been marines on the "Sirius"

Philip Gidley King, the Commandant of the First Settlement, was a Second Lieutenant from the Sirius.He had joined the Navy at the age of twelve years as a Captain's Servant, and had already seen 17 years of Navy service prior to his Norfolk Island appointment. At the age of 15 years he was promoted from Able Seaman to Midshipman, and a further five years were to elapse before he received a post as Second Lieutenant. In 1780 he was transferred to HMS Ariadne commanded by Captain Arthur Phillip.; when the Captain transferred to HMS Europe King went with him.

When Captain Phillip was appointed to lead the First Fleet, he requested King's appointment as Second Lieutenant on Sirius. Phillip Gidley King is said to have been a great friend of Governor Phillip, but this friendship was seemingly based on the loyalty and ability of the younger man. King appears to have been fluent in French, and his letters are well phrased although his handwriting must be considered almost indecipherable. The leader of the Founding Party was therefore a man accustomed to Navy discipline, who had made his way through the ranks without the benefit or influence of Navy forebears. His seven years experience as leader of the Norfolk Island community was ultimately seen as the right qualification for the third Governor of the Colony of N.SW.

The Supply arrived off Norfolk Island on 28th February 1788 having discovered Lord Howe Island en route. Ball's Pyramid at Lord Howe was named after the commander of the Supply. Over the next 6 days King sought a suitable landing area, but no safe harbour was apparent. Eventually on 6th March an entrance to Sydney Bay was found and people and provisions were landed. On March 8th the Supply departed for Port Jackson, leaving King and his party to fend for themselves.

The group was soon reduced in numbers. Batchelor was washed overboard in a swell while fishing on 15th June. When the Supply returned with stores on 26th July, rough weather delayed the off-loading, subsequently Cunningham, Westbrook, Williams and a seaman from the Supply were drowned when a boat capsized.

FOUNDATION WEEK

Programme Sunday 04 March 7.30pm,

FIRST FLEET DESCENDANTS WELCOME DINNER TO-BE HELD IN THE MARQUEE IN THE COMPOUND AT KINGSTON $35 per person. Pre-booking at The Travel Centre essential. A chance to mingle with First Fleet descendants. (All Travel Centre Functions for the week are fund-raisers for the community centre) Monday 05 March 12.30pm,
GARDEN LUNCHEON AT THE HOME OF JOHN, FIRST FLEET DESCENDANT JOHN FORRESTER Sorry this has sold out. Monday 05 March, 3.00pm -
FIRST FLEET DEDICATIONS AT THE NORFOLK ISLAND CEMETERY Dedications to First Fleet descendants. Monday 05 March, 4:30 - 6:00pm -
OFFICAL RSL RECEPTION AT THE NORFOLK ISLAND RSL By invitation only. Presentation of memorial to the unknown soldier, by the Governor-General of Australia, Sir William Deane.
Tuesday 06 March (FOUNDATION DAY) 8:30am REMEMBRANCE SERVICE AT THE CENOTAPH, KINGSTON Includes parade of Norfolk Island Cadet Unit augmented by approximately 50 army cadets from Sydney (including band) and 40 air training corps from Adelaide, together with approximately 100 Norfolk Island veterans. His Excellency to speak as Guest of Honour.
Tuesday 06 March (FOUNDATION DAY), 9:30am - FIRST FLEET RE-ENACTMENT AT KINGSTON Wittness the re-enactment of the landing of Lieutenant Philip Gidley King at Kingston pier on the 6th March 1788. 'Tuesday 06 March (FOUNDATION DAY), 11:00am DEDICATION CEREMONY AT KINGSTON (Behind Royal Engineers Caf’e H is Excellency to speak and dedicate monument commemorating the wreck of the HMS Sirius on Norfolk Island 'n 1790. Tuesday 06 March (FOUNDATION DAY), 1:00pm COMMUNITY PICNIC LUNCHEON IN THE GROUNDS OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE Bring your own food and drink. The Governor-General of Australia (Sir William Deane) and Lady Deane will [)c among the special guests in attendance.
Tuesday 06 March (FOUNDATION DAY), 7:30pm OUTDOOR MUSIC AND DANCE AND FIREWORK DISPLAY AT HISTORIC KINGSTON $10 per person admission - tickets available at the door. Join us for a wonderful night of entertainment, 'beginning with a Ball for all ages, fireworks display at 9:30pm and music and dancing till late.
Wednesday 07 March, 1:00pm to 3:00pm - OPEN DAY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE Government House, will be open for inspection. $5 per person donation towards local fund-raising.
Wednesday 07 March, 7:00pm DINNER AND VARIETY CONCERT AT NORFOLK ISLAND RSL CLUB $30 per person, pre-booking at The Travel Centre essential, almost sold out A fun night with Norfolk Island Entertainers
Thursday 08 March, 7:00pm DINNER AT RSL CLUB WITH KEITH PAYNE VC AND EDWARD KENNA VC $20 per person, pre-booking at the Norfolk Island RSL essential Guest speakers Mr. Tony Messner - Administrator of Norfolk Island and Keith Payne VC.
Friday 09 March, 6:00 to 8:00pm - DINNER AT RSL CLUB (Blackboard Menu) RSL. raffles and dinner from 6:00pm. Mingle with the locals!

FOUNDATION DAY at Kingston Tuesday 6th March 2001 Programme

8.30a.m. Short Remembrance Service at Cenotaph and Parade of Norfolk Island Cadet Unit, augmented by approximately 50 Army Cadets from Sydney (including band) and 40 Air Training Corps Cadets from Adelaide, together with approximately 100 Norfolk Island Veterans. His Excellency, Sir William Deane AC KBE, The Governor General of Australia, to speak as Guest of Honour.

9.25a.m. Address by His Honour The Administrator, The Honourable Tony Messner on the lawn of the Re-enactment site. 9.30a.m. RE-ENACTMENT of the Landing of Lt. Philip Gidley King and Party on 6th March 1788 at Kingston (Commentary by Mr Tom Lloyd AM).

9.30a.m. Around the Island Athletic contest commences from Lone Pine End of Emily Bay - sponsored by Centenary of Federation.

11.00a.m. Dedication of the Memorial of the wreck of HMS Sirius at Norfolk Island in 1790 by His Excellency, Sir William Deane AC, KBE, The Governor General of Australia.

12.30p.m. Community Picnic Luncheon in Quality Row side of Government House Grounds. Everyone take their own lunch (finger lunch if preferred), or whatever their choice. (we had luncheon provided). Their Excellencies, the Honourable Sir William Deane, AC KBE. The Governor General of Australia and Lady Deane will be present at the Community Picnic Luncheon, providing Island residents the opportunity to get together to commemorate this very special historic day.

12.30p.m. ish Athletic contest winners will start arriving into grounds. Trophies provided by Centenary of Federation. 1.00p.m. Period Costume Cricket Match - Trophies provided by Centenary of Federation. 2.00p.m. Their Excellencies depart Community Luncheon. 5.00p.m. Their Excellencies depart Norfolk Island by VIP Aircraft. 7.30p.m. Foundation Day Dance at the Compound in the New Marquee - Military Band. 9.30p.m. Fireworks Display 10.00p.m. onwards - Party on until late! Happy Foundation Day Everyone!