Untangling the Carbis evidence between 1816 & 1828

Article 3 - Convict Ancestors & Relations

William Carbis Senior/The Older

Once the ship Ocean was moored in Port Jackson NSW a local official came on board the ship to conduct a muster.[i] The official welcomed and simultaneously cautioned them as to what was expected of them, and arrangements were made for their disembarkation.  The convicts that arrived on the Ocean were sent to one of three places for distribution, Parramatta, Windsor or Liverpool.[ii] William Carbis Snr., William Carbis Jnr. and Francis Bassett travelled to Mr Cox Esq J.P in Windsor by cart with 63 other Ocean convicts.[iii]  Only 3 of those sent to Windsor were pre-assigned to settlers, the others would stay at Mr. Richard Fitzgerald’s House. The house had been rented by the government to accommodate the Convicts sent to Windsor until further arrangements were completed for their placement with a settler.[iv]

I had always assumed that convicts sentenced to life lead lives of incarceration and servitude. However, this was not the case.  All sorts of arrangements were entered into that are not revealed in the annual convict musters.  Below is a summary of what has been found (to date) in the musters for William Carbis Sen., William Carbis Jnr. and Francis Bassett.

Summary of Convict Musters between1816-1828 constructed from available records.

William Carbis Sen.

After arriving in Windsor a muster was taken a year later, and William Carbis Snr was listed as a settlerman but both William Carbis Jnr and Francis Bassett are both listed as government Servants.[v] There appears to be a change in William Carbis Snr status between 1817 and 1820 as he becomes a government servant.[vi] Why there has been a change in his status is not clear.  Reasons could include the following possibilities, a clerical error, or he may have not coped as a settlerman in a foreign land and been re-classified as a government servant or may have been considered to have lied about his trade (husbandman on marriage certificate vs seaman on arrest/convict records). By the 1819 convict muster, it stated that he was sent to Mr. J. Campbell, along with 7 others serving life-sentence’s who had also arrived on the Ocean in 1816.[vii] By the 1822 muster he was listed as a farmer.[viii] In order for this to occur he must have received his Ticket of Leave.[ix]  The 1822 muster tells us that his son William Carbis Jun. is assigned to him as a government servant. In 1828 Francis Bassett, who received his ticket of leave in 1822,  joins William Snr. on his farm as a labourer.[x]

In the muster documents, it appears that William Snr. and William Jun. were both assigned to J. Campbell. However, there is some evidence to contradict this. In a letter written by William Carbis Jun. in an application for his ticket of leave it appears he worked for either Win Bawn and/or C M Doyle (who both signed the supporting statement) from 1816 to 1822.[xi]

SRNSW, Colonial Secretary Correspondence Letters Received 1826-1934 Petitions, 4/2247, 34/205 excerpt concerning William Carbis petition for a Conditional Pardon

It is confusing to untangle the detail as many private arrangements could also be made. A man could spend part of the day 'working in servitude' and the other part of the day working for himself as explained in the quote below.

“When male or female convicts arrived in Sydney or Hobart in the first fifty years, they were usually assigned to work either for the government or for a private individual. In the early years the government provided a food allowance for those who were privately assigned, while their masters obtained the benefit of their work. Until tighter regulations were introduced, both privately and publicly assigned convicts were allowed to work for themselves in the afternoons, earning an income. In effect, part of the day was their own. Some lived in accommodation supplied by their masters, while many others lived in their own housing.”[xii]

In conclusion

At the age of 55, William Carbis Senior found himself in a new country working as a government labourer in Windsor NSW as the servant of Mr J.T.Campbell.[xiv]   We know that between 1816 – 1828 William Carbis Senior was a government servant, although he may have been a settlerman for a short time after arrival in 1816. He may have worked both as a government servant to someone, (yet to be identified), part of the day, and for himself as some sort of farmer in the afternoon. By 1821 he is a farmer possibly after receiving his Ticket of Leave in the same year, it appears that his son who has been working as a government servant for either Win Bawn and/or C M Doyle came to work for him. 

However, by the end of the Muster of 1822, he had received his Ticket of leave and become a farmer.[xv]  It also appears that Francis Bassett may also have worked for him in 1822 after receiving his Ticket of leave for a short time before going to Richmond.[xvi] 

In 1828 census William Carbis Senior was 67 years old and had seven convicts working for him on his farm in Lower Portland Headland in the Hawkesbury area, including his son and his son-in-law.[xvi] His son had joined “his aged father” according to the Muster in 1827.[xvii] All three men can be found together on William Carbis’ farm.

Theme - Convict Ancestors & Relations - May 2017

Article 1 - The Crime, the Arrest, the Sentencing

Article 2 - The Family That William Carbis Left Behind

Wiki Tree Link for William Carbis

Sources

[i] White, Charles. 1889. Early Australian history: Convict life in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, parts I & II, the story of the ten governors and the story of the convicts. Bathurst: C. & G.S. White "Free Press Office. (2016. Gutenberg.Net.Au. Accessed June 11 2016. http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks12/1204081h.html#CHAPTER_VIII_AFTER_LANDING)

[ii] Ancestry.com, New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Citing - Series: NRS 937; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels 6004-6016 Includes mention of Wm Carbis Snr & Jnr & Francis Bassett  (images 509 to  511 of 7619)

[iii] 1816 'GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL ORDERS.', The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), 11 May, p. 2. , viewed 13 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2176651; Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Original data: New South Wales Government. Main series of letters received, 1788-1825. Series 897, Reels 6041-6064, 6071-6072. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. New South Wales Government. Special Bundles, 1794-1825. Series 898, Reels 6020-6040, 6070; Fiche 3260-3312. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia.New South Wales Government. Memorials to the Governor, 1810-25. Series 899, Fiche 3001-3162. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia.© the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales and is used under licence with the permission of the State Records Authority. The State of New South Wales gives no warranty regarding the data's accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability for any particular purpose. View Full Source Citation.

[iv] 1817 'GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL ORDERS.', The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), 8 February, p. 2. , viewed 10 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2177063  

[v] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 1-4, 6-18, 28-30); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Year 1816 entries for William Carbis & William Carbis (image 104 & 105 of 525)

[vi] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.Original data: Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 1-4, 6-18, 28-30); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Entries 1817 for William Carbis & William Carbis Jnr Image 113 & 114; Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 1-4, 6-18, 28-30); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England.  Entries 1819 for Wm Carbis Wm & Wm Carbis Junr (image 164 & 165 of 898); Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 1-4, 6-18, 28-30); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Entries for 1820 Wm Carbis Wm & Wm Carbis Junr (image 177 & 178 of  549); Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.Original data: Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 1-4, 6-18, 28-30); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. .Entries 1821 for William Carbis & William Carbis Jnr (image 171 of 478)

[vii] Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
Original data: Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 1-4, 6-18, 28-30); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England.  Entries for Wm Carbis Wm & Wm Carbis Junr (image 164 & 165 of 898)

[viii] Ancestry.com. New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 5, 19-20, 32-51); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Entry for 1822 William Corbis Junior (line 30) (Image 141 of 685); Ancestry.com. New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007, Class: HO 10; Piece: 19, Year 1825, Entry for William Carbis (image 229 of 697)

[ix] Note according to the NRNSW website there is Ticket of Leave No. 2003 for William Carbis Snr Refer to index that cites SRNSW, NRS 12188, Bound manuscript indents 1788-1835, Fische 634 [4/4005] Entry for William Carbis page 2;  However a “copy of [4/4003-19]  ...items not available electronically (source " Series Detail ". 2016.Investigator.Records.Nsw.Gov.Au. Accessed June 10 2016.” (http://investigator.records.nsw.gov.au/Entity.aspx?Path=\Series\12188.))

[x] Ancestry.com. 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (TNA Copy) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 21-28); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England..  Entry  in HO 10/28 # 511 for Francis Bassett (Image 23 of 663) – [note HO 10/28 is the general muster]; Ancestry.com. 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (TNA Copy) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 21-28); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England.. Entry in HO 10/21# 573 Francis Bassett,(image 121 of 382)  note HO 10/21 is the 1828 Census]; Ancestry.com. 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (TNA Copy) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 21-28); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England; Johnson, Keith A., and Malcolm R. Sainty. 2001. 1828 census of New South Wales. Sydney Library of Australian History, CD ROM edition.  Entries for William Carbiss Jnr #C0340, .& Francis Bassett # B0573

[xi] SRNSW, Colonial Secretary Correspondence Letters Received 1826-1934 Petitions, 4/2247, 34/205

[xii] Bruce Kercher, The Unruly Child: A History of Law in Australia (Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 1995), pp. 22-42

[xiii] Ancestry.com. New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 5, 19-20, 32-51); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Enrty  1825 for Francis Bassett (image 49 of 697)

[xiv] Ancestry. Entries 1817 for William Carbis & William Carbis Jnr, New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834, Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England. [Image 113 & 114]; Ancestry,  Entries 1819 for Wm Carbis Wm & Wm Carbis Junr New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834, Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO10, Pieces 1-4, 6-18, 28-30); The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England. [image 164 & 165 of 898]; Ancestry, Entries for 1821 William Carbis & William Carbis Jnr, New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834, Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England. [image 171 of 478]

[xv] Ancestry, Entry for 1822 William Corbis Junior (line 30), New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849, Home Office: Settlers and Convicts, New South Wales and Tasmania, HO10, Pieces 5, 19-20, 32-51, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England. [Image 141 of 685]

[xvi] Johnson, Keith A., and Malcolm R. Sainty. 2001. Entry for William Carbiss Jnr #C0340 1828 census of New South Wales. Sydney Library of Australian History, CD ROM edition. SRNSW, Copies of letters sent within the Colony [Colonial Secretary] 1814-1827, NRS 962: Convicts, 4/3666, Reel 1042 , p.338

[xvii] Ancestry, Entry 4/4508, year 1827, No. 326, Permission to marry entry for Francis Bassett & Eliza Jones ; & Entry item# 4/4511, 1827, No. 328, Permission to marry entry for Francis Bassett & Eliza Jones, New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Convicts' Applications to Marry, 1826-1851 Registers of convicts' applications to marry. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia: State Records Authority of New South Wales. Series 12212, SRNSW, NRS 845 Depositions and other papers, Sydney and Country, 4/8480 , Windsor, Nov 1824-Aug 1836, 4/8480, No 16 Page 319, Reel 2754 [Image 3 & 11 of 16]