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From: Irene Schaffer <>
Subject: Re: [AUS-Tas] First Tasmanian Census
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 06:16:37 -0800
References: <01a101c18180$a4257600$a05da4cb@nsw.optushome.com.au>


Dear Liz, John and list,

Re the list that you quoted from the book "David Collins - A Colonial
Life", this was recorded by Collins as a victualled list.(they later
became musters and then census in 1841) It was taken on the 31 December
1804 at Hobart Town on the Derwent. The stock was under Returns of
Government. (Land Musters pp14-16)

The victualled list contained all who were receiving stores from the
Government stores are listed in my "Land Musters and Stock Lists in VDL
1803-1822." pp 4-14, for the twelve months prior to 31 December 1804.
They cover - civil officials, military, convicts, women and children
etc. who had come with Collins on the "Calcutta" and the "Ocean" from
England, to Port Phillip, and then on to the Derwent River VDL, and
those who stayed from Risdon Cove, and others that had arrived in VDL
during that time.

It is planned that this list will be used for a monument for these first
settlers who arrived in 1803-4, for the Bicentenary in 2003-4.

Regards

Irene

Elizabeth Penprase wrote:
>
> I quote from "David Collins - A Colonial Life" by John Currey
> This quotation concerns the middle part of 1804.
> Chapter 14 - pages 222 & 223 "Silence and Neglect"
>
> "As far as Collins was concerned the settlers at Risdon were a potential
> contaminant of his own community. King agreed to his request that Bowen's
> party should be recalled to Sydney, but their departure proved to be
> protracted, and while Collins waited for them to pack up and go he did his
> best to quarantine them from his own people. Although he officially assumed
> command of the Risdon camp on 8 May, he left Bowen in charge until the
> latter finally departed for Sydney with most of his original contingent on
> 9th August.
>
> Six weeks earlier, on 25 June, the "Ocean" had returned from Port Phillip
> with William Sladden and the remainder of the Sullivan Bay camp. The ship
> experienced a bad crossing during which most of the colony's livestock
> (eighteen sheep, seventeen hogs, ten ducks, one male goat and six fowls)
> perished. But the late arrivals were soon settled in, and after they had
> been absorbed a census of the inhabitants revealed a population of 433: 18
> civil officials; 48 marines, 281 convicts; 13 settlers and 73 wives and
> children.
>
> In Hobart Town there were employed '2 Clerks, 7 Overseers, 4 Taking care of
> Governm't huts, 5 Public Stores and Cooper at do., 21 Boats Crews, 7
> Government Gardens, 38 Town Gang, 7 Night Watch, 6 Attending Hospital, 3
> Bell-ringer and Barbers, 6 Taylors and Shoemakers, 1 Printer, 4 Thatcher and
> Toolhelver, 4 Cook, Baker and Drummers to the R.M. Detachment, 1 Jail gang,
> 1 Tanner and Glue Maker. Collins himself was the owner of one wether, three
> boars, three sows, fourteen pigs, five geese, fifteen ducks eight fowls and
> nine turkeys.
>
> By July 1804 the settlement was showing sufficient progress for him
> (Collins) to send an account of his proceedings to Joseph Banks."
>
> Sounds like a census to me. Bowen of course went down to Risdon Cove in the
> latter part of 1803 with a party of 48 - I have yet to discover who all
> those people were, although I have uncovered some.
> Regards,
> Liz Penprase
>
> ==== AUS-Tasmania Mailing List ====
> Tasmanian Sites of Interest
> "Lady Nelson"
> http://www.tased.edu.au/tasonline/ladynel/history.htm

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