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.

28 DAY CHALLENGE DAY 20 - Crook Salted Pork Again? - (Autumn 1794 - Summer 1794)

Of course it isn’t the salted pork again! You would think that I would know how to tell him this time. He is good to me, stop wishing for what you can never have, Betsey. You know he can never make you a Mrs!

“Betsey, where are you? Issy has just woken and she is fit to eat the porridge raw if we…”

“Aargh.” The guttural sounds of retching gave her away once again.

Turning the corner with Isabella in his arms he raised an eyebrow with a quirky grin.

“So does this mean what I think it means?” 

“If you mean are we having another babe, yes I am afraid so Thomas.”

“I’m not afraid of another wee babe, if it is anything like this sweet one. When do you think we might expect it?”

“Well by my reckoning I would say it might be here in time for Christmas.” 

“A Christmas present hey. So we have double to celebrate then. I am pleased to be able to tell you that yesterday I was granted another leasehold of 70 acres. We should have enough room for him.”

“And what makes you think it will be a him?” 

“I have no idea, but I reckon that there is a 50/50 chance.”

“Let’s get inside and get you two some porridge, I think I have stopped this infernal retching now.”

During the next couple of months Thomas attacked the building of the new house with renewed energy. When he wasn’t at the barracks he was at his property. He wanted them in it before the new babe arrived. She deserves a home of her own and besides I can’t see us fitting in this little place for much longer now that there is a new babe coming! 

With the approach of summer, the days were getting much hotter, with little promise of rain.

Elizabeth was lethargic with little to do. Thomas keeps telling me that there isn’t any point in sewing vegetables as we will soon be in the new place. I wish he would let me go and plant there. If we don’t have things in the ground soon, we won’t have anything to harvest. 

“Where are we going, Thomas, I don’t like leaving Issy for long. And besides that, I am tired, it is so hot. Can’t we just go back to the hut?” 

“No, Beysey, I want to show you something. It is only a little way now, you can rest when we get there.” 

That is if I don’t drop this babe here in the dust and heat! What could be so important that he insisted that we go for a walk, this far away? 

She soon noticed that the shrub was thinning out and they were approaching a clearing with a couple of buildings on the rise above where they were walking. 

Catching her breath she turned to Thomas with a questioning look. 

“Yes Elizabeth, welcome to our new home, I think I will call it Kingston.⁠[1] What say you?” 

As she stood there with  tears glistening in her eyes, her only thought was maybe me luck has changed.

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1 Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Land Grants and Leases, 1792-1867 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

28 DAY CHALLENGE DAY 19 - ABSOLUTE PARDON 1794

Dear Lors, me insides are churning fit to make butter. What if I don’t get it? But Thomas seems so certain, should I not worry? But what will he do if I don’t get it?

Elizabeth gave Isabella the last of her porridge. Thomas would be back within the hour to take her to the barracks. Today she would either be granted her Pardon or not.

“Elizabeth, are you ready?” he asked hurrying through the door.

“Yes Sir, we are ready to go. I just need to wash Issy’s face.”

Walking down the road in the autumn sunlight, Elizabeth made a list in her mind of all that she had to remember… 

Don’t walk with Thomas, for goodness sake don’t call him by name. Remember he is Sir! Don’t look insolent, don’t speak unless spoken to. Be grateful, be meek. Don’t let Thomas take Issy, you have to hold her, remind him that it is woman’s work. He is so used to holding her he might just forget.

“Elizabeth, what are you doing? You look like you are going to the guillotine. Stop worrying, you will get it, there will not be any problems.”

“I can’t help it Sir. I know you think all will be well but I haven’t had luck on me side before. I can’t help but think the worse. Please don’t leave me if I don’t get it. Issy and I need you Sir.”

“Elizabeth your worrying is all for naught. It won’t make any difference to me whether you are pardoned now or if you serve your full seven years. You belong with me and I am not about to leave you and Issy now. We have a future to plan and whether you are a free woman or not makes no difference.”

Walking into the barracks following Thomas, she was surprised to find that there wasn’t anyone else around. Where is everyone?

Hearing her name she turned and approached the front of the room. Major Grose was sitting in a chair behind a large table. The soldier beside him started to read.

“Elizabeth Selwyn, sentenced to 7 years transportation. Arrived 14 February, 1792, assigned as housekeeper to Lieutenant Thomas Rowley. Partitioned for an Absolute Pardon on the recommendation of Lieutenant Thomas Rowley of the NSW Corps, this day 8 May 1794. Approved Major Francis Grose.”⁠[1]

Is that all? No questions, nothing! Turning around she found Thomas grinning from ear to ear. Had it all been decided before they got there? I have me suspicions, she thought.

Retuning to their hut, Thomas was full of ideas for the future. All except a future as Mr and Mrs, she thought wistfully.

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1 Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Convict Registers of Conditional and Absolute Pardons, 1788-1870 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.

28 DAY CHALLENGE DAY 18 - Land Grants 1793

True to his word Thomas was soon showing Elizabeth his second grant of 100 acres of land within three weeks.

“Look Betsey, we will soon be acknowledged as fine landowners, I think I will run sheep. There is money to be made in wool and I am going to make it.”

No matter what happens, I am never going to be acknowledge as your wife though. Mother of your children, maybe, but wife, no, never! But I can be content with that. Me life could have been so much harder, I am lucky with me lot.

“I have decided to apply for a pardon for you. I know Major Grose well and I don’t think it will be hard to get an Absolute Pardon for you, with my influence and recommendation . As mother of my child, I can’t see any problem. What say you, will you stay with me if you get your freedom?”

In just over a year of arriving in the colony, Elizabeth was now faced with the possibility of a pardon. She found it hard to fathom how her seven years could be reduced so quickly.

“Of course Thomas, you are the father of me precious babe, besides, where else would I go?”

With the appointment of Major Francis Grose as Administrator to the colony after the departure of Governor Arthur Phillip in December 1792, the NSW Corps were given more and more power. The trading of rum for services proved to be a lucrative prospect for many of the soldiers.⁠[1]

I am not sure why we are getting so many provisions and rations these days. But I am not going to question it. I will do or take whatever is set before me in order to feed me love ones and keep a roof over me head. Why shouldn’t I get some easy livin’ for a change. Baby Isabella is starting to crawl and is forever covered in dirt from the floors. Wouldn’t it be grand to not have to constantly clean her up after a play on the floor. What wouldn’t I give to have a house of me own?  

“Betsey, you are miles away, pour me another rum and come sit with me awhile. I want to tell you about the house. I have been told that I am entitled to two convicts as servants for a period of two years. It will give you some help in the house when it is ready as well as an outside worker. What say you to that?"

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1 Hitorial Records of New South Wales Vol.II - Grose and Patterson 1793-1798, Edited by F.M.Bladen , Barrister at Law, Sydney: Charles Potter, Government Printer 1893

28 DAY CHALLENGE DAY 17 - ORDINARY DAYS (Summer 1792 - Autumn 1793)

I never knew I could love someone so much. She is so tiny, so perfect, Elizabeth sighed with exhaustion gazing at her new born babe. 

Thomas had stepped up and taken control of things during the birth. I can't believe he did as I told him. Everything. He did everything I told him quickly and efficiently thank heavens, just like the soldier he is!  

Elizabeth was soon back on her feet and relished the role of motherhood. Baby Isabella gives a purpose to me days. I need to keep me little family together and keep Thomas interested and wanting to keep us around. 

The New Year came and went, along with the continuing dry weather. Thomas still persists in his talk of farming being the future for getting ahead. But is it all just a big dream? 

With the changing of the seasons, Elizabeth found herself with more energy. She revelled in the autumn days, spending much time in the outdoors with Isabella, tending the garden to give them extra food, but it was a major job with the heat and drought.

“Elizabeth, Elizabeth, where are you?” bellowed Thomas coming around the side of the hut. Stopping at Isabella’s basket, he was just about to scoop his daughter up in his arms, when he noticed Elizabeth giving him a stern look. She had spent most of the afternoon walking and rocking her fussy babe to sleep. The last thing she needed at the moment was for him to wake her!

“Sssh, Thomas, I have only just got her to sleep. Whatever has you so excited”? 

Linking her arm in his, she guided him to their chairs set up under the trees. From here they would get the last of the autumn evening breeze, before the sun settled.

“Betsey, I have a surprise, the best of news, you are never going to guess.”

“Well if I am not going to be able to guess, I expect you had best tell me,” she replied with a smile.

“I have been granted today a leasehold on 2 acres of land for 14 years. I have to pay 2 shillings and 6 pence a year for it.⁠[1] It is my start to becoming a landowner, yes this is only the first. I will build you a fine house and I promise you this is only the start.”

Well, a land owner, as well as a fine Lieutenant soldier. As long as he always comes home to me I don’t care how much land he has. He is kind and loving. I never thought I would have this much and a babe into the bargain. 

Sitting with him in coolness of the silent evening, her thoughts drifted back to that day, the day he saw me on the Pitt!

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1 State Records Authority of New South Wales; Registers of Land Grants and Leases; Series: NRS 13836; Item: 7/445; Reel: 2560

28 DAY CHALLENGE DAY 16 - ISABELLA (Novembr 1792)

Elizabeth groaned in her sleep as a wave of pain engulfed her.

What was that? She moaned, now fully awake, pulling herself upward looking out the window. Sighing she realised with a pang that Spring was almost done and they would soon be coping with the sticky wet heat of Summer in the new colony.

There it is again, clutching her belly as the pain radiated through her lower body, she tried to move off the bed.

Oh, Lors above, could it be me time? It could be I suppose, but how do I know? When the pain subsided, Elizabeth made her way outside.

Thomas was nowhere to be seen, but that was not uncommon. He tended to leave early these days and had taken to leaving her asleep. She had protested, but he insisted that he could get breakfast at the barracks. As she had also taken to being sick again at the smell of cooking food she had accepted his offer gratefully.

Later that morning Elizabeth was surprised to find that she had not had anymore twinges for some time. I guess I have nothing to worry about for now. It probably was just something that I ate yesterday. Her day continued like any other day, but she found herself tiring quickly with each passing hour.

Supper is ready, now all I need before I seek me bed, is for him to come home, so I can feed him and clear away for the night.

“Elizabeth, I am as hungry as a mongrel cur and I could eat a horse,” Thomas growled as he entered the door.

Quickly moving to the bed to help him take off his boots, she stopped in alarm as a sudden gush of water hit the floor.

Oh my, this is how it started with Mam, she thought as she grabbed the cloth off the table to mop up the puddle.

He looks like a stunned fish, I guess he has never seen a babe being born before. Well I hope he can help me or get someone who can.

“Thomas, I don’t think I have time or the strength to help with your boots,” she groaned as an overwhelming wave of pain surged through her belly. Grabbing the back of the chair she doubled over gasping for breath.

In one stride, Thomas was at her side and lifted her over to their bed. “What should I do?”

“Well, here's the rub, I haven’t done this before, so I don’t really knoooooow,” she screamed as another pain surged through her body.

“I’ll go into town and get help, shall I?”

“No, don’t leave me, I can’t do this on me own, it hurts, oh Lors’ it hurts,” she gasped again, clutching his arm in panic. 

"I have helped me Mam when it was her time, so I hope I can remember what needs doing."

“I think it’s coming, oh God I hope so, because I think me insides are ripping apart.”


Shortly after in the inky darkness of the 19th November 1792, Isabella Rowley made her way into the world.[⁠1]

Thankfully for both of them, Isabella made it into the colony without too much fuss. They would have coped as best they could.

What the new parents were feeling at the time is pure conjecture. No doubt Thomas was at a loss of what to do or say. If he was indeed at the birth of his first born, it would have been an eye opening experience for him. 

Elizabeth I feel would have taken each experience in her stride. As she was to prove through the years to come, was her way.
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1 Ancestry.com. Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Compiled from publicly available sources. Retrieved April 15 2015.

#52 ANCESTORS WEEK 7 - VALENTINE

VALENTINE

Two hundred and twenty six years ago on 14 February 1792 a Valentine’s Day story of a unique kind was ignited.

I like to imagine that it went something like this….

Shading her eyes at the brilliant sunshine Elizabeth wondered how she would ever get use to this incessant heat. Her clothes stuck to her as sweat trickled down her back.

Remembering her time on the Pitt, she was thankful that Lieutenant Rowley had taken her under his protection and away from the rest of the convicts. Her duties had been simple and keeping the Lieutenant company, as he liked to call it wasn’t a hardship to be endured.

After six and a half months that time was now at an end. We will be docking shortly and I will be going with the rest of the convicts to wherever they are taking us. Oh, I wish I could stay on this stinking ship with Thomas.

Back in her irons, she was herded up to the top deck with the surviving convicts. Shuffling slowly as the irons now chafed her, she made her way to the marshalling area. At least the last 6 months with Thomas has kept me out of these dam irons.  

Thomas hadn’t even said goodbye this morning. I guess for him it is just another day. But today will be the day that I return to the life of a convict. Today I will be locked up again. No more freedom of being Lieutenant Rowley’s servant. No more protection.

The soldier directing 'the who went where' was reading from his book. I better listen now and stop wool gathering. Could she have heard right?

"Elizabeth Selwyn, sentenced for 7 years, assigned as housekeeper to Lieutenant Thomas Rowley."

Snapping her head up in surprise she saw him. Waiting. Watching. He motioned for her to come.

Hurrying as best she could, she was soon at his side getting her irons off. 

So, he hadn’t said goodbye, because she wasn’t going anywhere but with him. Housekeeper, yes sir, I can do this!
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Backstory

Elizabeth Selwyn a convict committed to seven years transportation for stealing clothes, stepped foot on Australian soil, on 14 February 1792.[⁠1]

She had been on board the Pitt for 6 and 1/2 months.[⁠2]  It is unknown what her experiences of that trip were. She didn’t keep a diary, she didn’t get into trouble so no records of misconduct were kept and no log books of the voyage survived.

Lieutenant Thomas Rowley was also on the Pitt for the voyage and was to take up duties with the NSW Corps.⁠[3]

Thomas died in 1806 leaving her joint beneficary in his will along with his five children to her.⁠[4]

Elizabeth died in 1843 after seeing her children go onto being free settlers of some note.⁠[5]

Records over the years show Elizabeth as being a partner to Thomas Rowley who she was assigned to as housekeeper when she arrived.⁠[6] 

Thomas’ will also shows her having five children to him from 1792 to 1803.⁠[7]

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1 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. Retrieved May 20 2016

2 MARION STARR,, Unhappy Exiles Convicts of the Pitt and Kitty 1792, Australia 1016

3 MARION STARR,, Unhappy Exiles Convicts of the Pitt and Kitty 1792, Australia 1016

4 Ancestry.com. London, England, Wills and Probate, 1507-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: London, England, Wills and Probate. London, England: London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library Manuscripts. Images produced by permission of the City of London Corporation Libraries, Archives. Retrieved June 10 2016.

5 Ancestry.com. Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Compiled from publicly available sources. Retrieved June 1 2016.

6 Ancestry.com. 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (Australian Copy) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: New South Wales Government. 1828 Census: Householders’ returns [Population and Statistics, Musters and Census Records, Census, Colonial Secretary] . Series 1273, Reels 2551-2552, 2506-2507. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved June 10 2016.

7 Ancestry.com. London, England, Wills and Probate, 1507-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: London, England, Wills and Probate. London, England: London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library Manuscripts. Images produced by permission of the City of London Corporation Libraries, Archives. Retrieved June 10 2016.