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From: "Janice Doughty" <>
Subject: MACQUARIE AND DR. REDFERN
Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 07:24:19 +1000


Good morning Listers,

I am hoping SKS can assist me regarding a story, I either read in a book, on a Rootsweb List or was told, about an occurrence, which took place at Government House, at the time of Governor Macquarie. Here is how story went:-

"...Governor Macquarie held an official dinner at Government House and had invited influential Military Officers, plus Dr. William Redfern.

Dr Redfern had arrived in the Colony as a convict in 1801, on board the convict ship "Minorca". He had been a Surgeon's mate in the Royal Navy and was on board the HMS "Standard", when its crew took part in a revolt in 1797, known as the "Mutiny of the Nore". Because Redfern had advised the men to be more united, he was included among the leaders who were court-martialled. He was sentenced to death, however he was reprieved because of his youth, and his sentence was commuted to transportation for Life to the Penal Colony at Port Jackson. He served as an assistant surgeon on Norfolk Island and was granted a pardoned in 1803. He remained on Norfolk Island until 1808, when he returned to Sydney, where he was appointed Assistant Surgeon, after being examined in medicine and surgery by Surgeons Jamieson, Harris and Bohan. After Governor Macquarie arrived in the Colony in 1810, it was not long before Redfern and Macquarie became good friends.

The story of the dinner at Government House goes, the Military officers were seated at the dining table, when Dr. Redfern was shown into the dinning room. When the officers realised who the last guest was, they all rose from the table as one, took their leave of the Governor and left the room, leaving Macquarie and Dr. Redfern. The Officers were showing thier contemptuous of Redfern as an emancipist. The story continued that at first Governor Macquarie and Dr. Redfern were shocked at the Officers' behaviour, however Macquarie turned to Redfern and invited him to join him at the table and both men enjoyed a hearty meal together..."

If anyone can point me in the right direction to find this story, I would appreciate it.

Regards,
Janice



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