28 DAY CHALLENGE DAY 21 - Thomas 8 December 1794

Well, thank heavens I didn’t drop this babe in the dust. But after the last couple of weeks, I think it could do me a favour and come sometime soon.

The Rowley family of Thomas, Elizabeth and Isabella set up house shortly after he showed her the newly built house.

While Thomas took himself off to the barracks, Elizabeth’s days were filled with packing and transporting their possessions to the new house. Thankfully the convict servants were able to assist her. Their male servant was quickly put to work establishing the garden, while Elizabeth and the maid set about making the stark building a home, with the limited supply of goods that they had. Isabella was constantly under foot and wanting her mother, just like any normal two year old whose mother was heavily pregnant.

On a sunny day at the beginning of December, while sitting under a tree at Kingston, Elizabeth felt the first of her pains while playing with Issy. Calling for the help she was quickly escorted inside to her bed.

While the female servant fussed around and got her as comfortable as possible, Elizabeth thoughts drifted to the birth of Issy. We did it together, no-one else was around. I guess this birth will be very different. Thomas doesn’t even know that it has begun. I wish he was here, I wish it was just the two of us again! 

Elizabeth laboured throughout the afternoon and evening. Thomas was no where to be found. The servants had sent to the barracks to let him know. Later that night just before midnight, Thomas Rowley Jnr was born.⁠[1]

In the early hours of the next morning Thomas Snr made his appearance, much the worse for ware, after a rum shift with the other officers.

“God resh youse merries, Gentlemen.
Let nothin’ youse dishmay,…"

"Thomas, Thomas, stop your infernal wailing please. Ssh, come here and meet your namesake,” hushed Elizabeth crossly.

Blearily blinking as he realised that she sounded cross, Thomas took a gulp of the night air before entering the door.

“Nows Betsey, what ever has you sounding so cross?” 

Blinking again as he reached their bedroom door, realisation hit him with a jolt as he took in the scene in front of him.

“Did I hear you say, namesake? Do we have a son?” smiling with his quirky grin, Elizabeth gave up her pretence of being angry.

“Yes, we have a bonny boy child, just a little early for Christmas though!” Handing the swaddled bundle to him as he reached the bed, I hope he doesn’t drop him, she thought wearily.
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1 Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.