Norfolk Island, Cemetery, 1834 Mutiny, Henry Knowles Headstone
www.law.mq.edu.au/research/colonial_case_law/nsw/cases/ca...
In the cemetery are the headstones of nine of the thirteen mutineers executed in September 1834. Due to Judges reluctance to travel to Norfolk Island, lots had been cast among the judges to decide who would sail to Norfolk Island to conduct the trials there, and Justice Burton was chosen. He apparently made excessive claims for expenses on this trip, which he was required to refund, the Crown refused to pay for his life insurance, wine and spirits.
THE MUTINY.
The Norfolk Island mutiny took place on January 15. 1834 but The Alligator, carrying the judge did not arrive until July. Difficulties were put in the way of the Governor by the Judges of the Supreme Court in Sydney. Although the services of Mr. Justice Burton were eventually made available, the Governor was given to understand that the Norfolk Island trip was not to be considered a precedent for holding the Court there. The trials commenced on July 10.
Details of the mutiny, which was suppressed with all the ferocity of the period, were forwarded to the Home authorities by Sir Richard Bourke the following year. He told how thirty convicts, "generally of the worst character," had attacked the gaol guard. About an equal number, "under false pretexts of ill health." had been taken to the hospital behind the gaol, under the usual escort. But, breaking out of the lock-up, where they had been detained for examination, they overpowered and confined the hospital attendants. Having knocked off each other's Irons, and armed themselves "with such implements adapted for offence as the hospital afforded," and being joined by other convicts from the saw pits and other places, they rushed the guard. For a time, the Governor admitted, the guard was nearly overpowered. But the soldiers, with the use of firearms, and assisted by reinforcements from the barracks, quelled the mutiny, killing two and wounding eleven. Seven of the latter died. That the outbreak had been carefully and ably planned was obvious. For, convicts at the agricultural station at Longridge, armed with implements, attempted to Join their confederates. But they only arrived In time to increase the number of fugitives. Depositions laid before the Attorney-General In Sydney resulted in 55 men being tried. Of these 29 were "capitally convicted" (by a military Jury), and 13 were ordered for execution. The remainder had their sentences commuted for various terms of additional servitude on the Island. By order, the executions on September 22 and 23, took place in the presence of the other convicts.
Archbishp Ullathorne was sent from Sydney to hear the confessions, before execution, of those condemned who were of the Catholic faith, an Anglican clergyman having been already been engaged for the same occasion. In his autobiography he describes how the executions took place half one day and half the next. One thousand convicts divided into two bodies were brought on the ground the first day, and the other thousand on the second day. “Thus all passed off in tranquillity.”
I had six of my men put together in one cell and five in another, (This implies that the writer had charge of eleven convicts. He has stated above that seven of those condemned to die had placed themselves in his hands. It is to be supposed that the additional four must have been of the number of those condemned by an earlier Commission), one of which parties was executed each day, and executed in one group, whilst the Protestants were executed in another. The second day was but a repetition of the first. The Protestant convicts were executed after the Catholics. The Anglican clergyman had three to attend to each day. Then came the funerals, the Catholics at a separate time from the Protestants. A selected number of the convicts followed each coffin to the most beautiful cemetery that the eye of man could possibly contemplate.
archive.org/stream/a611465300ullauoft/a611465300ullauoft_...
Norfolk Island, Cemetery, 1834 Mutiny, Henry Knowles Headstone
www.law.mq.edu.au/research/colonial_case_law/nsw/cases/ca...
In the cemetery are the headstones of nine of the thirteen mutineers executed in September 1834. Due to Judges reluctance to travel to Norfolk Island, lots had been cast among the judges to decide who would sail to Norfolk Island to conduct the trials there, and Justice Burton was chosen. He apparently made excessive claims for expenses on this trip, which he was required to refund, the Crown refused to pay for his life insurance, wine and spirits.
THE MUTINY.
The Norfolk Island mutiny took place on January 15. 1834 but The Alligator, carrying the judge did not arrive until July. Difficulties were put in the way of the Governor by the Judges of the Supreme Court in Sydney. Although the services of Mr. Justice Burton were eventually made available, the Governor was given to understand that the Norfolk Island trip was not to be considered a precedent for holding the Court there. The trials commenced on July 10.
Details of the mutiny, which was suppressed with all the ferocity of the period, were forwarded to the Home authorities by Sir Richard Bourke the following year. He told how thirty convicts, "generally of the worst character," had attacked the gaol guard. About an equal number, "under false pretexts of ill health." had been taken to the hospital behind the gaol, under the usual escort. But, breaking out of the lock-up, where they had been detained for examination, they overpowered and confined the hospital attendants. Having knocked off each other's Irons, and armed themselves "with such implements adapted for offence as the hospital afforded," and being joined by other convicts from the saw pits and other places, they rushed the guard. For a time, the Governor admitted, the guard was nearly overpowered. But the soldiers, with the use of firearms, and assisted by reinforcements from the barracks, quelled the mutiny, killing two and wounding eleven. Seven of the latter died. That the outbreak had been carefully and ably planned was obvious. For, convicts at the agricultural station at Longridge, armed with implements, attempted to Join their confederates. But they only arrived In time to increase the number of fugitives. Depositions laid before the Attorney-General In Sydney resulted in 55 men being tried. Of these 29 were "capitally convicted" (by a military Jury), and 13 were ordered for execution. The remainder had their sentences commuted for various terms of additional servitude on the Island. By order, the executions on September 22 and 23, took place in the presence of the other convicts.
Archbishp Ullathorne was sent from Sydney to hear the confessions, before execution, of those condemned who were of the Catholic faith, an Anglican clergyman having been already been engaged for the same occasion. In his autobiography he describes how the executions took place half one day and half the next. One thousand convicts divided into two bodies were brought on the ground the first day, and the other thousand on the second day. “Thus all passed off in tranquillity.”
I had six of my men put together in one cell and five in another, (This implies that the writer had charge of eleven convicts. He has stated above that seven of those condemned to die had placed themselves in his hands. It is to be supposed that the additional four must have been of the number of those condemned by an earlier Commission), one of which parties was executed each day, and executed in one group, whilst the Protestants were executed in another. The second day was but a repetition of the first. The Protestant convicts were executed after the Catholics. The Anglican clergyman had three to attend to each day. Then came the funerals, the Catholics at a separate time from the Protestants. A selected number of the convicts followed each coffin to the most beautiful cemetery that the eye of man could possibly contemplate.
archive.org/stream/a611465300ullauoft/a611465300ullauoft_...