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Archiver > AUS-PT-JACKSON-CONVICTS > 2004-08 > 1092193528


From: "Lesley Uebel" <>
Subject: RE: Engineer's Department
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:05:35 +1000
In-Reply-To: <00aa01c47f2f$3c565da0$86a1dccb@bjt>


Hi Glynis

The Grass Cutter were classed as Miscellaneous in the report I have.:(

Miscellaneous labourers employed in engineer department

There are many other occupations exercised by the prisoners belonging to the
Engineer's Establishment in Sydney, which it would be only a waste of time to
describe, particularly such as the labourers employed in digging foundations or
clearing away rubbish; labourers employed in the Commissariat Store Gang for the
removal and carriage of grain, provisions, and stores of all descriptions; grass
cutters with the Boats, and Boats' crews that are employed in their conveyance
for this service; Gardeners employed labouring and working in the Government
Garden and Domain, besides many other such occupations and employments, the
nature of their tasks and result of their exertions may be gained from the
detail of the foregoing Trades and Employments.

and the rations

Rations
Each Prisoner is allowed weekly 7lbs. of Beef or 4 lbs. of pork, 7lbs. of flour
or wheaten meal, 3 lbs. of maize meal and ½ lb. of Sugar.


Lesley Uebel
mailto:

CLAIM A CONVICT
http://users.bigpond.net.au/convicts/index.html
******************************************


-----Original Message-----
From: Glynis Turner [mailto:]
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 9:05 AM
To: Lesley Uebel;
Subject: Re: Engineer's Department


Hi Lesley

Would the Grass Boats have been part of the Engineers Department?

Robert PURCELL ("Hadlow", 1820) is listed as employed on the Grass Boats (1
1/2 Rations) Sept 8, 1821 in a list of all persons victualled from H.M.
Magazines.

The harvesting of Rushes etc for house thatching and livestock feed must
have been considered hard labour for them to be given extra rations.
Certainly August on Sydney harbour would have been cold and choppy.

I wonder if he ever was in Rushcutters Bay - were they stationed there or
was it a favoured place to do their cutting?


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