With the aid of many friends and his editor, this remarkable story of the Wesleyan Chaplains who were appointed by the Government of the day to provide moral guidance to the convicts, military and civilians who lived at Port Arthur from 1833 to the end of 1843 has been completed.
Read more about this book on The Wesleyans of Port Arthur page, or buy it from the Shop.
MacFie, Peter, 2022, The Wesleyans of Port Arthur, https://petermacfiehistorian.net.au/publications/wesleyans/
This history of the Wesleyan ministers and their relationship with convicts, military and civilian personnel covers the eleven years during which they held the official role of Chaplain at Port Arthur. There they were primarily responsible for moral instruction through services, prayers, religious instruction and consolation, and oversaw schooling for the free children, the boys of Point Puer and the adult convicts. In addition, they buried the dead and baptised the babies. The Wesleyan chaplains were involved in the design of the grand sandstone church which was consecrated and in regular use from July 1837. Most of the Chaplains took their wives and children with them to Port Arthur, living in a cramped and damp cottage. Their position was taken over by the Anglicans when a new brick parsonage was built at the start of 1844.
199 A4 pages, 98 images including 7 historic maps & charts, plus footnotes, bibliography and detailed index.
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The Index from the book is provided here but not the page numbers.
Adams, John
alcohol
Andrews, Alfred
Anglicans
Anstey, Thomas
Arden, James
Armstrong, George
Armstrong, Joseph
Arrowsmith, John
Arthur, Lt Gov. George
Ashforth, Robert
Ashworth, Henry
Atkinson, Joseph
Axtell, George
Backhouse, James
bakehouse
baptisms
barracks
Barrow, Peter
Barrow, Sir John
Batman, John
Beattie, John Watt
Bedford, Rev. William
Belfield, Henry
Bell, Thomas
Belliard, Edward
Bench Books
Bennett, John
Benson, Dr William
Bethune, Drinkwater
Bibles
Bickley, Richard
Birch, Robert
Birch’s Bay
Black Line
black-market trading
Blake, George
Boardman, Thomas
Bobbie, Jack
Bond, Father William
Booth children
Booth, Charles O’Hara
Booth, Elizabeth (Mrs Charles)
Boulder, Charles
Bowles, William
Boyce, James
Boyd, Alexander
Boyes, William
Boys, Thomas
Bragg, Sarah
Brailsford, William
Bray, George
Briggs, Thomas
Brissa, Richard
Brock children
Brock, Bethia (Mrs Frederick)
Brock, Dr Frederick
Broughton, Bishop William
Brown, Joseph
Brown, Simon
Brownell children
Brownell, Dr Thomas
Brownell, Elizabeth (Mrs Thomas)
Brownell, Rev. John
Browning, Rev. Dr Colin A.
Bryant children
Bryant, Mrs
Bryant, Private ?
Buller, James
Bullocks
Bullying
Bunker, William
Burn, David
Burnett, John
Burns children
Burns, Andrew
Burns, Mary (Mrs Andrew)
Burrows children
Burrows, Josephine (Mrs Samuel)
Burrows, Judith (Mrs Samuel)
Burrows, Mary Ann (Mrs Samuel)
Burrows, Samuel
bushfires
Butcher, Solomon
Butters children
Butters, Jane Middleton (Mrs William)
Butters, John
Butters, Rev. William
Byron children
Byron, Isabella (Mrs John)
Byron, John
Campbell, Charles
Capon, Thomas
Carte children
Carte, Honoria (Mrs William)
Carte, William
Carvosso, Deborah (Mrs Benjamin)
Carvosso, Rev. Benjamin
Cascades
Casey, Dr Gavin
Caston, Thomas
Catechist’s Quarters – PP
Catholic Chapel
Catholics
Cavanagh, Robert
Champ children
Champ Street
Champ, Helen (Mrs William)
Champ, William
Chaplain’s Quarters – PP
Chappell, Henry
Charles, Frederick
Charlton, John
Chidy, John
Chief Constable’s Quarters
childbirth
Children
Church of England
Clark, William
Clarke children
Clarke, Grace (Mrs William)
Clarke, John
Clarke, Marcus
Clarke, William
Coal Mines
Coans children
Coans, Ellen (Mrs Jonothan)
Coans, Jonothan
Collins, David
Collins, Dennis
Collins, William
Collison, James
Commandant’s office
convict clothing
convict escapes
convict servants
convict tramway
Cook, Thomas
Cookhouse
Cooper children
Cooper, Jansay (Mrs Thomas)
Cooper, Thomas
Copperwaite, Richard
Cotham, Rev. James
Courtenay, Capt. G.H.
Crawley, Jeremiah
Crossland, George
Cummins, William
Cuthbertson, Lt ?
Danes children
Danes, Abraham
Danes, Sarah (Mrs Abraham)
Daniels, Joseph
Darby, Ensign ?
Davies, Martin
Davis children
Davis, Ann (Mrs William)
Davis, John
Davis, William
Dawson, John
Day, Thomas
de Castanos, Perez
de Marsa, Joseph
Deane, Joseph
deaths
Denison, William
Dermer, William
Dickenson, Constable ?
Dickson, William
Dobbs children
Dobbs, Edward
Dobbs, Elsey (Mrs Edward)
dog
dogs
Doherty, John
Donn, Charles
Dove, H.D. (Mrs Thomas)
Dove, Rev. Thomas
Downes, Charles
Downie, Andrew
Drake, George
Dumont d’Urville, Jules
Durham children
Durham, ? (Mrs Edward)
Durham, Rev. Edward
Eagle, Elizabeth
Eaglehawk Neck
East Bay Neck
Eastman children
Eastman, Louise (Mrs George)
Eastman, Rev. George
Edwards, William
Elliott, William
Ellis, Charles
Ellis, Joseph
Elston, Richard
Errington, Capt. Arnold
Evans children
Evans, Ellen (Mrs Jonathan)
Evans, Jonathan
Evenden, John
Fenton, Thomas
Firearms
Fisher, James
Fletcher, James
Fletcher, Richard
Flinders Bay
Flinders Island
Flogging
Flowers children
Flowers, Mary (Mrs Robert)
Flowers, Robert
Flowers, Thomas
Foggo, Neil Gow
Forrest, Ann
Forster, Honoria
Forster, Matthew
Forsyth, John
Foundation Plaque
Franklin, Lady Jane (Sir John)
Franklin, Lt Gov. Sir John
Frazer, Miss H.D.
Freeman children
Freeman, Mary (Mrs William)
Freeman, William
Gale, William
Garden Island
Garrett, William
Geary, George
Geils, Charles
Gellibrand, Joseph Tice
Gibbons children
Gibbons, Capt. John
Gibbons, Dinah Ann (Mrs Robert)
Gibbons, John
Gibbons, Robert
Gibson, Helen
Gibson, William
Ginneresley, John
Goodman, John
Gordon, James
Goulter children
Goulter, Anna Maria (Mrs Henry)
Goulter, Henry John
Green, Ann
Greensmith, Samuel
Griffiths, James
Groves, Richard
Gruby, Edward
hair-cuts
Hall, Robert Heath
Hambrook, Jonathon
Hancock, John
Harding, Nathaniel
Hare, John
Hargreaves children
Hargreaves, ? (Mrs John)
Hargreaves, John
Harkness, James
Harris, Joshua
Harrison, William
Harry, John
Haydon, Peter
Heath children
Heath, John Scott
Heath, Mary Ann (Mrs John Scott)
Henning, Joseph
Henry Tatlow
Hepburn, John
Hill children
Hill, James
Hill, Mary (Mrs James)
Holden children
Holden, Ellen (Mrs Peter)
Holden, Peter
Holmes, Samuel
Hooper, Fred
Hornsley, William
horrid crimes
Horses
Horton College
Horton, Rev. William
Horton, Samuel
Howell, Howell
Howling, Morris
Howse, Robert
Hoy, David
Hughes, J.H.
Hughes, John
Hunt children
Hunt, James
Hunt, Margaret (Mrs James)
Hunter, Frederick
Hurley, Constable ?
Hurst, Mary Ann
Hutchinson, Mary (Mrs John)
Hutchinson, Rev. John
Impression Bay
Indigenous People
Informers
Isle of the Dead
Jamison children
Jamison, Ann (Mrs Robert)
Jamison, Robert
Jeanneret children
Jeanneret, Dr Henry
Jeanneret, Harriett (Mrs Henry)
Jones, Francis
Jones, Richard
Keast, Catherine
Keefe, John
Keefe, Margaret
Keegan, Michael
Kelly children
Kelly, Alastair
Kelly, Elizabeth (Mrs Alastair)
Kelly, Thomas
Kidney, Daniel
Kimberly, Richard
King, George
Knopwood, Rev. Robert
Laing, Henry
Langford, Anna Maria
Langham, William
Laplace, Cyrille
Law, Benjamin
Law, Edward
Law, Hannah (Mrs Benjamin)
Lea, Charles
Leanard children
Leanard, Catherine (Mrs Michael)
Leanard, Michael
Leary, John
Leeming, William
Lees, Benjamin
Leigh, ? (Mrs Samuel)
Lemprière children
Lemprière, Charlotte (Mrs Thomas)
Lemprière, Mary Earle
Lemprière, Thomas
Levi, Philip
Lhotsky, Dr John
Lillis, Sarah
Linaphon, Crussa
Lisdillon
Logan, William
Longworth, John
Lovell, Samuel
Lowe, ? (Mrs Alexander)
Lowe, Alexander
Lucas, George
Lucas, Margaret
MacBraire, Dr John
Macdonald, Captain ?
Mackie, George
Maconochie, Alexander
Macquarie Harbour
Mahon, Capt. John
Mainday children
Mainday, Ann (Mrs ?)
Mainday, Private ?)
Manton children
Manton, Ann (Mrs John)
Manton, Rev. John
Manuel, Michael
Maria Island
Martin, John
Martin, Peter
Maskey, Ann (Mrs Edwin)
Maskey, children
Maskey, Edwin
Mason, George
Mason, Joseph
Matthews, Josephine
Maxfield, Francis
McCaig, Duncan
McCann, Thomas
McConochie, Alexander
McGregor, Malcolm
McGuire, Hugh
McInally, James
McKnight, William
Meggett, Peter
Merritt, Harriett
Meyers, James
Meyers, Thirza (Mrs James)
21st Fusiliers
48th Regt
51st King’s Own
63rd Regt
84th Regt
88th Connaught Rangers
96th Regt
guards
Miller, Linus
Milnes, Martha
Minehan, Patrick
Mitchell children
Mitchell, Catherine (Mrs John)
Mitchell, John
Mitchell, William
Mollyneaux, Daniel
Montagu, John
Montgomery children
Montgomery, ? (Mrs John)
Montgomery, John
Moore children
Moore, Hannah (Mrs William)
Moore, William
Morris, Robert
Mount Arthur
Mountshire, James
Mousher, James
Murdoch, Lt Peter
music
Muster Master’s Quarters
Myers children
Myers, James
Myers, Thirza (Mrs James)
Neill, Robert
New Town Farm
Newington College
Newman children
Newman, George
Newman, Richard
Newman, Sarah (Mrs Richard)
Nichols, Arthur
Nixon, Bishop Francis
Nokes, Benjamin
Norfolk Bay
O’Halloran, Father John
O’Neil, John
Oakes, Mary
Oliver, Robert
Olsen, Hans
Orangemen
Orton children
Orton, Rev. Joseph
Orton, Sarah (Mrs Joseph)
Overly children
Overly, Mary (Mrs William)
Overly, William
Oyster Cove
Padmore, Henry
Paisley, Walter
Palmer, Rev. Philip
Parry, John
Partridge, Chief Constable ?
Pegus, Mary Sophia (Mrs Peter)
Pegus, Peter
Peyton Jones, Ensign John
Point Puer map
Pollard, John
Poultney, Robert
Power children
Power, Dr ?
Power, Ellen (Mrs John
Power, John
Pringle, James Jones
Pringle, Mary (Mrs James)
Probation Stations
Probation System
Pydairrerme
Quick, Rev. William
Randall children
Randall, ? (Mrs Walter)
Randall, Walter
religious boys
Ribbonmen
Riley, William
Roberts, R.A
Roberts, Robert
Robinson, George Augustus
Robinson, William
Roby, Edward
Rogers, George
Rose, George
Ross, James
Russell, Dr John James
Rutland, Henry
Salmon, George
Saltwater Creek
Saltwater River
Samuel
Sarah Island
Saunders, Joseph
Scanlon, Margaret
schedule – Point Puer
Schofield, Martha (Mrs William)
Schofield, Rev. William
schooling
schools
Scott, James
Scrimshaw, William
semaphore
Separate Prison
sermons
servants
Settlement Creek
Settlement Road
Sharpe, Joseph
Sharpe, William
Shaw, Thomas
Sheffield, William
shipyards
shoemakers
Shuttleworth, Joseph
Sickness
Simcock, Edward
Simpson children
Simpson, Rev. William
Simpson, Rev. William West
Simpson, Sarah (Mrs William)
Skardon, George
Skardon, Mary Sophia
Slaves
Slopen Main
Smith, James
Smith, Job
Smith, Judith
Smith, Timothy
Smith, William
Snodgrass, Kenneth
Somercote, Richard
Sorell, Lt Gov. William
Sparks, Henry
Spencer children
Spencer, Agnes (Mrs James John)
Spencer, James
Spencer, James John
Spencer, John James
Spencer, John jr
Spillard children
Spillard, James
Spillard, Sarah (Mrs James)
Spottiswood, Alicia
Spottiswood, Capt. John
Spottiswood, Catherine
Spottiswood, Elizabeth (Mrs John)
Stanfield, William
Stanton children
Stanton, ? (Mrs Benjamin)
Stanton, Benjamin
Steele, Joseph
Stevens, Bax
Stevens, Benjamin
Stevens, James
Stewarts Harbour
Stimpson, Elizabeth
Storey, William
Stuart, John Ramsay
Summercotes
Superintendent’s Quarters – PA
Superintendent’s Quarters – PP
Taite, James
Tams, Charles
Tassett, Henry
Tatler, Henry
Taylor, John
Teayhorn children
Teayhorn, Richard
Teayhorn, Rose Anne (Mrs Richard)
The Marshes
Therry, Father John
tobacco
Tom children
Tom, Catherine (Mrs Henry)
Tom, Henry
Tonga
Towers, John
Travers, James
tread mill
Trial Book
Turner children
Turner, Ann (Mrs Nathaniel)
Turner, Rev. Nathaniel
Twist, Emmanuel
Veitch, Robert
Visitor’s Accommodation
Waddy, Sgt ?
Walker, George Washington
Walker, Thomas
Ward, Senior Constable ?
Warner, Ashton
Waterhouse, Jane Middleton
Waterhouse, Rev. John
Waters, Richard
Waterson, William
Weatherston children
Weatherston, Mary (Mrs John)
Weatherston, Rev. John
Webb, William
Weddings
Wedge Bay
Welsh, James
Wesley, Edward
Wesley, Rev. Charles
Wesley, Rev. John
Wesley, Rev. Samuel
Whaleboats
White, William
Whitsett, Thomas
Willett, William
Williams, John
Williams, Samuel
Wills children
Wills, Frederick
Wills, Sarah (Mrs Frederick)
Willson, Bishop Robert
Wilson, Capt. ?
Wiltshire, Charles
Wiltshire, Francis
Wood, Ann
Woods, Andrew
Wright, Bethia
Wright, John
Wyballena
Wynne, James
Young, Robert
From 1824 the Calvinistic Lt Gov George Arthur attempted to reform the convict-centred culture, introducing a nine tiered system of graduated reformation. Architect /engineer John Lee Archer over-saw a wide ranging building program , with churches and schools established in rural Van Diemen’s Land. Arthur introduced a system of nine police districts to control the unruly community, which became the basis for later municipal government. In conjunction with these he established a convict record system to manage his charges – which has become a boon to historians and genealogists.
The British HO was persuaded by George Arthur that the task work system was abolished; in fact it was alive and well at pre-Port Arthur sawing stations.
Government Sawing Establishments of Van Diemen’s Land, 1817-1832
In 1830, Port Arthur Penal Settlement established on Tasman Peninsula replaced the two remote stations- and abolished finally the task work system – only to see a drop in production.
As frontier clergy, the Wesleyans attempted to ameliorate the violence of the prison stations. From working class backgrounds like many of the prisoners , the Wesleyans were resented by the established Anglican church which from 1840 began evicting the Wesleyans’ from their “domain” on the Tasman Peninsula. By the end of 1843, the last of the Wesleyans were gone.
Henry Laing, Convict architect
* Colonial Gardens of Port Arthur
Convict Musicians and Entertainers
* A Fiddler & a Juggler & Mrs Champ (playscript)
* A Schoolboy Tourist at Port Arthur
An Historical Survey of the Port Arthur Garrison and Military Barracks
Eagle Hawk Neck – Prison or Pleasure?
Port Arthur Visitors Centre Interpretation, Carnarvon Era Proposal:
* Convict Health & Diet at Port Arthur & Tasman Peninsula
Excursion to the Coal Mines on Tasman Peninsula 1985
* The Point Puer lads: a reappraisal with the aid of a computer.
** The Point Puer lads database
** The Point Puer Lads: Tried and Transported
** The Empire’s first stolen generation: the first intake at Point Puer 1834-39:
Branded – A Point Puer Story (a play)
Pt Puer Conservation Study: Peter MacFie Background Notes
** Convict Health & Diet at Port Arthur & Tasman Peninsula
** Changes and continuations: the post-penal settlement of Tasman Peninsula 1877-1914
Before and After Sunday Afternoon – Reflections on the Port Arthur Massacre