Dorking to Van Diemen's Land

ISAAC BOXSHALL

Isaac was a younger brother of William and James, he was the first of the three brothers to come to Australia, although not of his own choice. He was the sixth child born to William and Elizabeth Boxshall, the year was 1810, the same year that Chopin was born. Isaac grew up in Dorking with his brothers and sisters, little knowing what fate had in store for him. In 1828 at the age of eighteen he was a witness at his brother James marriage to Jane Razell. Five years later on the 19th of December 1932, he was to stand trial before a jury, in the Surrey Quarter Sessions, accused of theft. Isaac was found guilty, the charge read in part, that he "feloniously did steal take and carry away in the dwelling house of William Combes there vituale (victualler) then the (sic) there being found two bank notes for payment and value of ten pounds each. The said notes at the time of committing the felony aforesaid being the property of Joseph Blake Ogle, clerk, and the said sums of money payable and secured by andupon the said notes being due and unsatisfied to the said Joseph Blake Ogle, the proprietor thereof, against the Form of the Statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace of our Said Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity." Isaac was sentenced "to be transported beyond the seas for the term of his natural life".

Isaac's family and friends would have been devastated, this young man of twenty three to be banished from his homeland forever. Times were very bad in England and severe punishments were given for even minor offences, whatever drove Isaac to commit a crime we will never know, but we do know he never offended again and made the most of his life he was condemned to lead.

The "Isabella" was a London built brig, owned by Duncan Dunbar, it was consigned to carry three hundred convicts to Hobart, Isaac being one of them. They arrived in Van Diemens Land on the 13th of November 1833 and were able to report no fatalities during the long voyage. The surgeon reported that Isaac was "orderly" but the Convict Record stated that his "character and conexions (were) bad", he was also said to be single.

The journey to Van Diemens Land would have been a severe mental and physical test for the convicts, they were housed below deck for the duration of the voyage, which would have taken four months or more, short exercise periods on deck, weather permitting, would have been the only break in the monotony. Most of the convicts had already spent many months locked up in primative conditions, in English prisons. The fact that there were no deaths on this voyage, suggests that the convicts weren't treated as badly as those transported in earlier years, never the less it would have been quite an ordeal.

It seems likely that Isaac was sent to Longford fairly soon after their arrival, as it was recorded in the 1833 Muster of Convicts, that he was assigned to Thomas Archer, Esq, of "Woolmers" in Longford. Longford was previously known as Norfolk Plains and is situated on the South Esk River near Launceston, it was settled about 1807, mostly by free settlers and emancipated convicts, relocated by the government from Norfolk Island, after it had failed as a settlement. Thomas Archer had settled in the Longford district, he was the first of four brothers who had come to New Holland, Thomas had been employed by the governor. In 1821 he retired to a house he had built at Norfolk Plains, he had named his property "Woolmers". Additions were made to Thomas's house in 1834, it seems probable that Isaac would have worked on the project. The buildings at "Woolmers" included a coachmans house, which Isaac most likely habitated eventually, by 1841 he was recorded as "Woolmers" coachman.

During 1834, when "Woolmers" was being altered, the last group of Tasmanian Aboringinees were sent to Flinders Island. They pined away, forced to live a European lif style. Truganinni, the last of her race died in 1876.

Today "Woolmers" is one of Tasmania's least altered historic homes.

On the 4th of September 1834, the ship "Edward", arrived in Van Diemen's Land, on board was a young convict woman, who was to become Isaac's wife.

Ann Ball had been committed for trial by the Rt.Hon. Henry Hobhouse on the 2nd of October 1833. Ann had been employed by a widow, Ann Jones, of Bruton, and was required to sleep in the same room as her mistress. Mrs Jones had placed 36 gold sovereigns in a hand painted deal box, which was kept in her bedroom. The box was set on fire and Anns bedclothes had been piled on top. Nineteen sovereigns were found amongst the ashes on the floor and under the grate, twelve more were recovered amongst ashes in a box, when Ann led Constable George Longman to the well house.

Ann was tried in the Epiphany Quarter Sessions in Wells on the 30th of December 1833, before the magistrates H. Dickinson and J. Phelps. She was convicted and sentenced for transportation for fourteen years.

On the 5th of January, 1834, Ann was sent to the Ilchester Gaol, where she was to spend three months. Conditons in the gaols throughout England were appalling, how this young girl coped with it all is hard to imagine. The Gaol Description Book and Felons Register recorded that Ann was aged 22, born at Cloverd (Cloford) near Frome. She was 5ft tall, of slight figure, fair complexion, long visage, dark hair and eyes, had several moles on her left arm, could read and write, was unmarried and was a servant living in Bruton. According to this information Ann would have been born about 1812, it seems likely that she was the daughter of John Ball, a yoeman and Mary, nee Parfait, of Cloford. They were married there on the 10th of September, 1807.

On the 15th of April 1834, Ann was transferred to the ship "Edward", Anchored off Woolwich, some five months later, the "Edward", arrived in Van Diemens Land. Ann's convict record spoke well of her behaviour, the Surgeon reported her as very good and the gaol report stated that she was good. In the 1835 Muster of Convicts, Ann was assigned to Thomas Archer of "Woolmers", in Longford, most likely to be a domestic servant. Convicts were assigned for the length of their sentences, and had to be fed, sheltered and clothed in return for their labour.

Ann and Isaac were married on the 23rd of February 1838 at Christ Church, Longford, later that year their son William was born. Two years later, five months after the birth of their second child, Ann was given a Ticket of Leave. For Ann the 20th of September, 1840, would have been a very important occasion, but not as important as the 15th of December, 1842, when she was granted a Conditional Pardon. Ann had served eight years of her original fourteen years sentence.

During the following seventeen years of their marriage, Ann gave birth to eight children, four boys and four girls, The youngest two girls died at an early age, the older of the two little girls had been named Susan Christina and was only fourteen months old when she died. The youngest child had also been named Susan Christina, after her sister, but appears to have been called Elsie, she died when she was five years old. Through these years Isaac is recorded on baptism and burial documents of their children, as work at various occupations at "Woolmers". In 1841 he was "Woolmers" coachman, two years later as a farmer at Norfolk Plains, then in 1848 he was the coachman at "Wolmers" again, in 1855 he was a domestic servant and in 1860 he was a sexton.

It would appear that Isaac had fond memories of his brothers, unless it was just a coincidence that his four sons bore the same names as his four brothers. It seems likely that Ann and Isaac eventually had a house in Longford, in the 1857 Jurors Book, Isaac is listed as a householder in Longford with a rental value assessed at thirty pounds.

The last recorded occupation of Isaac, at the death of his youngest child, states that he was a Sexton and was living in Perth. Perth is situated about five miles from Longford, it is interesting to note, Isaac never lost contact with the Church. All of their children were baptised and the year before his death he was in charge of the Church buildings and grounds in Perth, most likely the Church of England, this alone speaks for his character.

Isaac died in May 1861, he was fifty one years old, and was buried in the Christ Church graveyard at Longford, with his two little daughters. Whether Isaac had contact with his brothers, William and James, who had emigrated with their families to Australia in 1842, we will probably never know, but we do know that the later generations did. James great grandaughter, Phillis married Isaac's great grandson, John Tasman Frost.

At the time of Isaac's death their children were aged between twenty three and thirteen, so Ann would have had a fair bit of support from her family. The previous year their five year old daughter had died and a month after his death their daughter Mary married William Taylor, at their home in Longford. According to various documents, Ann lived in Longford for the rest of her life, she died there in March 1898, aged about eighty five. Ann was laid to rest in the Christ Church graveyard on the 23rd of March 1898.





The History of Isaac and Ann was researched by Lenore Frost a descendant of Isaacs daughter Mary and William Taylor. Lenore has kindly given me permission to add this information to my web page. Thanks Lenore.:)

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