No grant deeds for land in Van Diemens Land were issued in the year 1807, but a promise was made which caused the issue of many deeds at a later date. I refer to the evacuation of Norfolk Island. Here is a copy of the promise referred to, and is contained in the copy of General Orders issued by Captain John Piper, Commandant of Norfolk Island:
Whereas Mr. Windsor, Secretary for State for the Colonies, in his despatch to his Excellency, Governor Bligh, dated the 30th of December, 180S, has signified that he has in command to desire that the Governor will take measures to withdraw the settlers and all the inhabitants of Norfolk Island, together with their live and dead stock, the civil and military establishment, and the stock belonging to the Government, observing the following regulations:—
The settlers and inhabitants are to be divided into three classes, the first to consist of discharged seamen, marines, or other servants belonging to Government, who have proved themselves industrious and deserving of favour, the second to consist of persons who have formerly being convicts and have conducted themselves with propriety or have large families or from other causes have claims to particular attention. The third class to comprehend the remainder of the inhabitants who are in possession of lands or houses, but have no particular pretentions to the favour of Government. To all persons in each of these classes, grants of land are to be made free of expense on their arrival at either of the new settlements of Port Dalrymple or Hobart Town, according to their option in the proposition of two acres for every acre of cleared ground and one tor every acre of waste land of which they shall have been possessed of at Norfolk Island; convenient buildings are to be built on each allotment at the public expense of equal value with those they may leave behind them; the settlers and their respective families of the first class are to be victualled and clothed for two years at the public expense: they are to be allowed the labour of four convicts for nine months, and two for fifteen months, the convicts to be victualled and clothed at expense of Government. Those of the second class are to be victualled and clothed as also of their families composing it for two years, and to be allowed the labour of two convicts for the same period. The settlers of the third class are to be victualled and clothed twelve months at the public expense, and to be allowed the labour of two convicts for the same period, and to be assisted in other respects as new settlers. All these implements of husbandry, as well as with sundry other instruments or tools equivalent to such as they shall have been possessed of and may not have in their power to remove. In this event, however, of its being found absolutely necessary that any of the persons comprised in the above classes should leave behind them any of their live stock they are to be taken by Government at a fair valuation and paid for in articles of clothing or such other necessaries as the public stores may furnish, and as may be best wanted for the situation and wants of the individual. After the above necessary communication, the Commandant considers it his duty strongly to recommend io the different classes of people under the Government to come cheerfully forward with ready compliance to meet the intentions of the Government which is directed solely for their good, and will tend to the ultimate advantage of every inhabitant of this settlement, and he apprises them of bis Excellency the Governor-in-Chief's determination to conform to his Majesty's instructions in the final evacuation of this whilst at the same time he assures the inhabitants of his Excellency, Governor Bligh's particular care and watchfulness over everything that, may appertain to their future interest and comfort.
The total number of persons brought to the Derwent from Norfolk Island from 29th November, 1807, to 1st October, 1808, was 554. Of these many were children. It is estimated that a total of 350 separate free grants of land were given to the Norfolk Islanders. Some of the grants have now become very valuable. The present Sandy Bay Rifle Range was, I believe, a Norfolk Island grant (re-purchased by the State for its present purpose in 1881), and so were the lands adjoining it.
That reliable historian, the late J. B. Walker, concluded his paper on the evacuation of Norfolk Island in the year 1895 with the following.-—
The settlers from Norfolk Island were given lands at New Norfolk, Sandy Bay, Sorell, and Clarence Plains, in the South, and at Norfolk Plains on the Northern side of the island. The grants were at first small, seldom exceeding 40 acres. A certain proportion of the Norfolk Islanders especially the marines and sailors who came out with Governor Phillip in 1788, and went to the island with King, and some of the crew of the Sirius, who had prospered in Norfolk Island, prospered also in Van Diemens Land, and their families have continued to hold respectable and honourable positions in this colony. But as a rule, the Norfolk Island settlers did not add much to the welfare and progress of the settlenient at the Derwent. The great majority, idle and improvident in their old home, did not improve by removal. They were content to draw their rations from the stores so long as that privilege was allowed them, and then bartered away their grants for a trifle to sink out of sight in poverty and wretchedness. 1
A previous version of this