Life and Adventures of William Buckley/Addenda
ADDENDA.
THE JOURNAL OF THE REV. ROBERT KNOPWOOD.
1803-4.
At the eleventh hour, and when the preceding pages were about to be handed to the bookbinders, we were by the kindness of a friend permitted the perusal of the private journal kept by the late Reverend Robert Knopwood, so well known and respected by the early Settlers of Van Diemen's Land. The Reverend Gentleman was the first Chaplain of the Colony, and from his daily narrative we take (by permission) the following extracts, remarking upon them occasionally in passing, as may be necessary:—
His Majesty's Ship Calcutta, Spithead.
April 24, 1803.—At 9 a.m., unmoored ship, and sent a boat on shore at Portsmouth for Lieutenant-Colonel Collins. At 12 the boat returned with the Lieutenant-Governor. Twenty minutes past one, weighed anchor, and stood for St. Helens. Fresh breeze and squally. Half-past two, anchored at St. Helens, in company with the Ocean transport, Captain Matthew.
April 25.—At 9 a.m., Lieutenant Houston and myself went on shore at St. Helens, Isle of White. 11 a.m., Calcutta fired a gun for our return. Half-past eleven, weighed and made all sail; Ocean in company. Fresh breezes, but hazy.
April 26.—At 10 a.m. fresh breezes and clear. Ocean in company. Several strange sail in sight. 3 p.m. off the Isle of White. At 4, strong breezes, with dark threatening weather; Needles Point N.N.E. 7 or 8 miles. Bore up for the Needles, and at five crossed the bridge. At six, Calcutta and Ocean anchored in Yarmouth Roads.
April 27.—Fresh breezes and clear. Weighed, and made all sail; Ocean in company.
April 28.—At 9 a.m. spoke a French fishing boat and got some mackerel. At 10 hove-too; sent a boat on board the ship Bowen, from Biddeford bound to London. Noon, the Lizard Light-house N. three leagues. 7 p.m. fresh breezes and clear; took our departure from England.
The Calcutta and Ocean anchored in Teneriffe Roads May 16, 1803. Here met a Spanish Ship-of-War, and exchanged public and private civilities. The authorities and the inhabitants treated the voyagers with great hospitality. The ships left Santa Cruz on the 20th of the same month, and made Rio de Janeiro on the 20th June. Here they remained until the 17th of July, when they again got under weigh for Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope, where the Calcutta anchored August 12. My good, most hospitable old friend, thus notes their departure:—
August 25.—Made all sail. On our departure from the Cape it is natural to indulge the reflections which obtrude themselves upon those who are to be the first Settlers at Port Phillip. The land behind us, is the abode of a civilized people; that before us, the residence of Savages. When (if ever) we shall again enjoy an intercourse with the world, is doubtful and uncertain. The refreshments and pleasure we had partaken at the Cape, are to be exchanged for coarse fare and hard labour. We may truly say all our communications with our families and friends, are now cut off. We are leaving the civilized world behind us to enter upon a career unknown.
October 8.—At 1 a.m. double-reefed the topsails. At 8 fresh breezes. At 10 made the land of New South Wales. 3 p.m. hard squalls; a very heavy W. swell, the sea going over the poop. At 7 sounded; found no ground at 45 fathoms. 10 p.m. sounded 37 fathoms; brown sand. At 11 blowing very hard and ship labouring much. 12 strong gales and a heavy sea.
October 9.—Strong gales and squally, Sounded in 43 fathoms. Carried away the larboard tiller rope. At 5 a.m. saw the land about Port Phillip. The land near the entrance of the Harbour appeared low, and from a distance, very beautiful. Seal Island, and Whale Point, (so named by Captain Woodriff, the head being very like one) lies on the larboard side, as you enter. At 15 m. past 10 we anchored with the best bower in 6 fathoms. Found laying there, the Ocean transport, which had arrived on Friday, the 7th of October. Moored Ship. Captain Woodriff and Colonel Collins went on shore on the Island; returned at 6 p.m.; could not find fresh water. They reported the soil to be very bad, and the trees small, and unfit for the use of H.M. Navy. The Bay is very large, more so than any I have seen, but the entrance does not exceed a mile and a half, though from the camp S.W. to the N.E. of the Bay, it appears to be not less than sixty miles across. At 10 it blew a heavy gale of wind, so that it was fortunate we had arrived at our destination in the morning.
October 10.—At 10 a.m. Lieutenant Petershall, Mr. White, and myself, went on shore on the opposite side, but could not find any water which was not brackish. The land a bad light soil. A great many trees blown up by the roots. Did not see any natives, but many of their huts, in which were numbers of cockle and muscle shells. A few birds, such as parrots and quails, but no quadrupeds or fish along the shore. Returned on board by no means satisfied with the country. The Captain and the Governor went on shore also, but they found only a very small stream of good water.
[Near what is now called Arthur's Seat, to the eastward of the bar.]
October 11.—The same party and myself went to the Island in the middle of the Bay, where we saw a great number of black swans. Three were killed, and many caught alive, and also pellicans, and some sea birds. Captain Woodriff and the Governor, with Mr. Tuckey, went on the west side of the Bay, in search of water, but could not find any. Three of the natives came to us, and were very friendly. They gave Mr. Tuckey a spear. The information the Governor, &c., gave us, was by no means favorable, there being a great want of good water, soil, and trees.
October 12.—Sent a party on shore cutting grass, and another watering. At 7 a.m. the Governor, Captain Woodriff, and Lieutenant Tuckey, went in search of water, and to see the same three natives. The Colonial Surgeon reports the water found by sinking wells, to be good and fit for use. The Captain gave one of the natives a blanket. Sent the carpenter on shore to look for wood fit for his purposes.
October 13.—The carpenter returned, not having found timber fit for securing the head and knees of the ship. Sent the small launch watering, and a party of officers went in her surveying on the S. E. part of the Bay.
October 14.—Sent the Master up the Bay to sound for a convenient place to take the ship to, for removing the colonial stores. At 30 m. past 9 a.m. he returned, and reported good anchorage three or four miles further to the eastward. At 10 cleared hawse. Sent on shore a party of the Colonial Marines, also some convicts, with Lieutenant Johnson, to pitch tents. They took with them the equipage, and live stock.
[Ships get under-way and anchor again.]
October 15.—Ocean at anchor, one mile distance. Employed unloading stores. Where we are, we can see the Camp, distance from us four and a half miles. Launch fitting for surveying the harbour.
October 16.—Sent the launch and cutter away with the First Lieutenant, Mr. Tuckey, attended by two Civil Officers, Messrs. Harris and Collins, and Mr. Gammon, in a six-oar cutter victualled for six days, to survey the Bay, from the Camp to the Northward, to find if possible a more eligible situation for forming a settlement. Employed landing baggage, and convicts.
[The intervening days, landing stores.]
October 21.—Launch and cutter returned from having surveyed the harbour. At the N.W. point of the Bay, they discovered a straight passage apparently to the sea, which Lieut. Tuckey intended to have explored, but was driven by a strong current to the Southward during the night, and at daylight finding himself near the ship he came on board. He reported having landed at several places, and found the soil bad, the trees very small, and but little water.
October 22.—Lieutenant Tuckey, Mr. Gammon, Mr. Collins, and Mr. Harris, found a fresh water river near the N.E. point of the Bay, where they pitched their tent for the night.
[Messrs. Tuckey and Harris thus report—]
At 8 a.m., October 23rd, observed three natives, who approached them. Mr. Tuckey gave them fish, bread, and many presents, they being much pleased and very friendly. At ten Mr. Collins and Lieutenant Tuckey went across the Bay, about five or six miles, with a boat's crew, leaving Mr. Harris and Mr. Gammon, with two men, in charge of the tent, provisions, &c., and to make observations on shore. The three natives seeing Mr. Tuckey go away, went away also. Early in the afternoon they returned, and a great many other natives with them. At 2 p.m. those in the boat coming back observed seventy in one party. Mr. Tuckey called to them, and they pointed to the spot where the tent was. On the boat coming up, Mr. Tuckey found Mr. Gammon surrounded by the blacks, the chief having seized the latter, Mr. Harris being also surrounded at the tent, of which they had taken possession and were pillaging. Mr. Gammon called out to Mr. Tuckey to fire. He fired over them, and they ran away to a small distance; but immediately returned with their Chief, who wore a sort of turban crown. Whenever he ordered them to halt or advance, they did so immediately. Mr. Tuckey fired over them a second time, at which they again retired a short distance. They were in great numbers, and all armed. Finding that none of their party were wounded by the firing, they again advanced; but when one of them was about to throw his spear at Mr. Tuckey, he gave orders to shoot him as an example. Our people fired, and Innis killed him, and another was wounded; on which they all fled. When this occurred, the number of the savages had encreased to 150. Had not Lieutenant Tuckey fortunately come up with his boat, there is no doubt but they would have killed Mr. Gammon and Mr. Harris, and their two men, and perhaps have eaten them, for there is great reason to believe they are cannibals.
October 23.—At 11 a.m. the Camp assembled, the Governor at the head of the Royal Marines, to hear Divine Service performed in the barrack-square, before all hands.
October 24.—Convicts mustered, and put into different gangs for work.
October 25.—At 8 a.m. the British Flag hoisted at the Camp for the first time, it being the anniversary of His Majesty's accession to the throne. At 12 the Royal Marines fired three vollies in honor of the day. At 1 p.m. H. M. S. Calcutta fired twenty-one guns on the same occasion. The day excessively hot; thermometer at noon 92. The sudden changes from heat to cold are very great; much more so than in England.
[The Reverend Gentleman was seized with illness this day, and was an invalid until the end of the week; during which time he acknowledges having received great attention from the Governor, and from the establishment generally.]
October 31.—Rain, and much lightning. At 10 came on a dreadful tempest, the lightning being very severe.
November 1.—Continual rains, with heavy thunder; thermometer 90 at noon; went down to 50 in the evening.
[The following is the first notice we find of Buckley—]
November 2.—Rain at intervals. Being much better was able to go to the Camp. Waited on the Governor. Complaint brought before me as a Magistrate, that one Robert Cannady, a servant of Mr. Humphrey, had promised Buckley, the Governor's servant, a waistcoat, in return for a pair of shoes which Cannady had taken and worn. Cannady would not give the waistcoat, although he had his shoes. After hearing both sides, I ordered the waistcoat to be given to Buckley according to promise.
November 6.—Mr. Collins, with six men in a large boat, sailed with despatches from the Calcutta and the Camp, to Governor King, at Port Jackson.
November 9.—Three more convicts missing. The men employed making a battery, and mounting guns.
November 10.—Mr. Collins got out of harbour this morning.
November 12.—An armed party left in search of runaway convicts. Eight in all absent.
November 13.—All the Officers, Military and Civil, with the convicts, attended at Divine Service. The Sermon preached was to induce feelings of thankfulness to Almighty God for our safe arrival.
November 14.—Lieutenant Petershall killed the first Kangaroo. It weighed, when dressed, more than 68 lbs. Colour dark sandy brown.
November 15.—The barge's crew of the Calcutta killed a sea elephant, weighing more than 110 lbs. The head like a bulldog's.
November 16.—The Ocean transport dropped down near the harbour's mouth. Five of the escaped convicts brought back to Camp. Burried on shore the first dead body: the cook of the Calcutta.
November 17.—At half-past 10 Captain Woodriff arrived at the Camp, with as many of his officers as could be spared. At 11 the Garrison was under arms; at half-past, all the convicts were clean dressed and assembled on the left side the parade. The Lieutenant-Governor's Commission was read by me as the Chaplain of the Colony. When that was done, the Military fired three vollies, and all gave three cheers for His Honor. The day would have passed off with the greatest joy, but that His Honor was obliged to punish the five deserters who had been brought back, in order to deter others from deserting. Captain Matthew, with his ship, the Ocean, got out of the Bay.
November 18 and 19.—Calcutta shifted her berth. Received a letter from her stating that the natives had obliged the wooding party to return on board. The blacks were nearly 400 in number. Three of the deserters returned to Camp. Placed an outpost near the Governor's garden, to give notice should the blacks approach the Camp. Heavy rains, with dreadful thunder and lightning.
November 20.—Calcutta under way, standing for a fresh water river. All assembled at Divine Service.
[The next few days immaterial. The weather unsettled, with thunder and lightning very frequent.]
November 25.—Sergeant Thomas's wife delivered of a boy, the first child born of European parents at Port Phillip.
December 5.—Calcutta having completed her water, took up her old station off One Tree Point.
December 9.—Lieutenant Tuckey, Lieutenant M'Cullock, Mr. White, Lieutenant Johnson, Mr. Bowden, Mr. Harris, with their servants, and three Marines, (all armed,) left the Camp for Western Port.
December 10.—Mr.Sladden and myself occupied a long time enquiring into a charge brought against a man for coining.—Found it be a false and malicious information.
December 12.—At 10 a.m. a signal made from the station at the S.W. side of the Island, that a ship was in sight. Communicated immediately with the Calcutta. Ship proved to be the Ocean transport, Captain Matthew. She had been taken into the Colonial Government Service for four months. She brought back Mr. Collins and his boat's crew who went with him to Port Jackson with dispatches from Governor Collins. By her we learnt that there had been a Settlement formed in Van Diemen's Land, by a party of Convicts, male and female, under the command of Lieutenant Bowen, R.N., and that the Ocean and Lady Nelson which had sailed on the 28th November were to remove us there, or to any other place Governor Collins might think proper.—Early this morning, Lee and another convict, went to the Governor's garden and procured a gun and ammunition from the gardener, saying he came from the Governor, and had orders to receive it.
[This man Lee was one of Buckley's party of absconders, and the gun here mentioned was probably the one referred to in his Narrative.]
December 14.—At noon, signal made for a strange sail in sight. At 3 p.m. she came to an anchor, and proved to be the Francis schooner, from Port Jackson, sent round by Governor King to assist in removing the Settlement to Van Diemen's Land. Party under Lieutenant Tuckey returned from Western Port.
December 17.—Calcutta moved to near the harbour's mouth, preparatory to her sailing for Port Jackson.
December 18.—Calcutta sailed, and I took leave of Captain Woodriff and all those I knew on board.
December 25.—Christmas Day. The Governor, the Civil and Military Officers, convicts, &c., attended Divine Service. Publicly baptized Sergeant Thomas's child, the first born at the Settlement. The Governor named him Hobart. Last night a daring robbery was committed at the Commissary's marquee whilst he was in bed. They stole a gun which was hanging up near the side of the bed, and took a pair of boots from his bed side. The hospital tent was also robbed.
December 27.—At 9 p.m. six convicts endeavoured to make their escape. They were beset by a look-out party, and one man shot,—very badly wounded.
[This was Buckley's party.]
December 28.—Corporal Sutton reported that the man shot was Charles Shaw. A cart, and Assistant-Sturgeon Bowden, sent to bring him into Camp.
December 29.—People employed loading the Ocean. The Governor communicated his wish that the Civil Establishment should form a patrol at night, in case of an insurrection.
December 30.—People employed in getting the guns from off the wharf, and on board the Ocean. Great fires seen at a distance, supposed to be made by runaways. At 10, a great fire across the Bay.
[The names of Buckley's party are here given, but the journal states that one man was taken besides Shaw, who was shot, which circumstance it is probable Buckley had forgotten when he related to me the history of his life.]
January 2, 1804.—Civil Officers met to consult upon the plan of the association, and at 9 p.m. Mr. Anson and myself took the first night watch.
January 6.—At 5 a.m. Mr. W. Stocker, two men, and myself, all armed, went to the harbour's mouth, but did not find any trace of the runaway convicts. At 3 p.m. returned.
January 7.—At half-past 2 a.m. drums beat to arms. The Military, and all the Officers of the Association, with their subordinates, attended. Each received a brace of pistols, and four founds of ball cartridge, 1 lb. beef, 1 lb. bread, and half a pint of spirits. At half-past 3, nine Marines, armed and with the same supply of ammunition, joined us, together with Sergeant-Major M'Cauley: in all we mustered Military 11, Association 18. We went in search of the men who had escaped from the Camp, but discovered only traces where they had been, although we travelled a distance computed at fifty miles.
January 12.—Observed a schooner coming into the Bay. She proved to be the Edwin from Port Jackson. Anchored near the Ocean.
January 15.—The Ocean lost three men drowned by the upsetting of a boat coming from an island in the Bay. At 2 p.m. there came on a very severe tempest.
[The repeated storms of rain, with thunder and very vivid lightning, are noted in the journal as being of very frequent occurrence.]
January 16.—M'Allender went to the Governor's garden and surrendered himself, with a gun which was the Commissary's (Mr. Fosbrook's) property. At 2 he was brought into Camp.
[This man was also one of Buckley's party.]
January 17.—Engaged all the morning in taking the deposition of Daniel M'Allender, the prisoner who escaped with Pritchard and the party when Shaw was shot. Sailed for King's Island, the Edwin.
January 18.—The day very fine. At 11, thermometer stood at 82; and at 1 p.m. 92 in the shade, 110 in the sun. At 1 the Military, in their new clothing, paraded, and fired three vollies. At half-past 3, the hut of Lieutenant Johnson, R.M., and another of Lieutenant Lord's, R.M., caught fire, and were burnt, very nearly setting the whole of the marquees on fire.
January 20.—At 2 p.m., the Ann, from Port Jackson, with despatches from Governor King to Governor Collins, came to an anchor in the Bay.
January 21.—Engaged all the morning taking the deposition of Charles Shaw (the wounded man). At 1 p.m. information was given that two vessels were in sight from the flag staff, standing toward the harbour. Proved to be the Lady Nelson from Port Jackson, and the Edwin from King's Island.
January 22.—Lady Nelson and Edwin anchored off the Jetty. Performed Divine Service, all persons off military duty attending.
January 24.—120 Convicts sent on board the Ocean, with the guard. One of the prisoners who had been a long time in the bush, returned to Camp in a very weakly state.
January 25.—At 10 a.m. all the Settlers who were to embark on board the Lady Nelson, (Mr. Simons, Commander,) embarked with their baggage. The remainder of the convicts went on board the Ocean.
January 26.—At 10 a.m. struck my marquee, and sent all my baggage on board the Ocean. Got on board myself about six p.m., with Lieutenant Lord, Mr. Harris, Mr. Bowden, and others.
January 28.—At 2 a.m. weighed anchor, and ran down to the harbour's mouth. At 3 anchored. All on board. Contrary winds. Observed large fires near the Camp.
January 29.—At 10 a.m. Captain Matthew, Mr Humphrey, and myself, went on shore for a walk. Returned at 4 p.m. Heard from the Camp that many of the Natives were about the neighbourhood.
January 30.—At half-past 4 a.m. weighed anchor and made all sail out of the harbour of Port Phillip. At 3 p.m. I dined with the Governor.
It is always desirable to leave a friend in a comfortable position; and having thus seen the good ship Ocean well outside the Heads of Port Phillip, and the worthy, kind-hearted Chaplain of the Expedition happily seated at the Governor's table, where no better man could fill a place, we once more close the Narrative, hoping this unexpected addition may not be considered ill-timed or uninteresting.