Chapter 7.1

Convict Labour 

Convicts at Hyde Park Barracks 

This history would not be complete without recognising the part played by the many convicts who helped develop the wealth of the Mosman twins by building the Whaling Station and clearing and working their Williams River properties. This chapter gives an overview of how the penal system impacted on their lives and the following chapter gives a more specific focus on the convicts who worked for them.

While NSW had developed greatly in the 30 years since the First Fleet arrived, when Archibald and George Mosman arrived in 1828 it was still basically a penal colony. Although transportation was to cease from 1840, in 1833 convict arrivals peaked at around 7,000 and most were “assigned” to work for free settlers like the Mosman twins. By the time transportation ended over 150,000 convicts had arrived in Australia.

Punishment was the main aim of the penal system. Severe punishments such as floggings were normal. Extreme punishments such as working on a chain gang were imposed for those who absconded (if they were recaptured). Those who were not recapture had nowhere to go and lived in the bush with the natives or became bushrangers.

The only form of rehabilitation was Ticket of Leave at the end of a prisoner’s sentence and that was frequently deferred or could be revoked for bad behaviour. Even when their sentences were completed there was no support for repatriation and (to the benefit of future Australians) most chose or had no choice other than to stay in the country.

Convicts at work 

Convict accommodation was limited in Sydney and Hyde Park Barracks was at nearly double capacity. The assignment system aimed to equip free settlers with cheap convict labour to develop the Colony, and to disperse convicts away from towns (and other convicts). It was also easier keep an eye on each worker’s whereabouts and treatment. Government costs were reduced by lowering the number of convicts they fed, clothed and housed.

Depending on their employer, convicts who were assigned to settlers could be treated kindly and fairly or even worse than if they had remained under government control. Assignment was not popular because many locations were isolated and frequently close to potentially hostile natives. They were also not able to earn their “Saturday” money permitted in Sydney.

Tree clearing in the Bush

Both of the twins were assigned many convicts, Archibald for construction of the Whaling Station and both of them for their several farms in the Williams River district. In 1839 at the peak of land clearing and farm development George had 29 convicts and 6 hired servants working on his properties.

There is no clear evidence of how each of them treated their convicts, but no direct record of abuse. They would certainly have employed overseers to look after their convicts. Several convicts who absconded were hunted and returned for punishment. This was normal conduct for the time.

There is little record of direct contact with their convicts except where Archibald helped one of them to complete and supported an application for free transport to Australia for his wife and children.

With the help of Wendy Corbett Kelly, herself a descendant of John Corbett, a convict who worked for both Archibald and George Mosman (his story is told in the next chapter), we have the names, and histories of over 50 of the convicts assigned to Archibald and George Mosman. The next chapter documents these convicts, with stories about the lives of a few of them.

Next Chapter 7.2 Convict Stories