Quested Family Life in VDL

The saga of the Quested family in VDL.

James Quested, aged 36, arrived in VDL as a transported convict on board the transport ship Governor Ready in July 1827, after having been tried, convicted and sentenced for "aiding and abetting smugglers." 1
Also onboard the Governor Ready, were thirteen other convicted members of the Aldington Gang - George Ransley (leader); Samuel Bailey; John Bailey (uncle and nephew); Thomas Gilham; Richard Higgins; James Hogben; Charles Giles; Richard and William Wire (brothers); Paul Pierce; Thomas Denard and James Smeed.

James was initially assigned to Dr. Francis Desailly 2
of Jericho who was in partnership with Captain Harrison in agricultural activities on a property of 800 acres. With James having a background and experience in farming activities, it would have suited him well; even to the point of possibly having a role as a trusted servant or even as an "overseer".

Both the UK and VDL governments of the day, wanted to encourage the growth of a family based society and to this end, encouraged well-behaved convicts and emancipists to apply to have their families sent out on government ships for reunification. Only a little over one year after his arrival, James wrote a memorial with his request -

The Respectful Memorial of James Quested
Sheweth your Memorialist was tried for Smuggling, at Maidstone in Kent, in January 1827,
And received Sentence of Transportation to this Colony where he arrived in August following, in the ship Governor Ready.
The Memorialist has a wife and five children residing in Wooten, near Canterbury and he humbly Entreats that your Excellency will be pleased to Cause them to have a passage in some Early Government Vessel, leaving England for this Colony,
and your Excellency’s Memorialist, as in duty bound, will ever Pray,
James Quested,
Jericho, August 12th 1828 3

Despite that Dr. Desailly did not appear to support James' memorial for a family reunion, his application to Governor Sir George Arthur was successful, although it would be just over two years before he would see wife Jane and his children again. Jane and her five children (with their reported ages), James jnr (9); Isabella (8); Theophilus (6); Jane (5) and Sarah (3); boarded the transport ship Mellish and departed Spithead on 6 June; arriving in Hobart on 23 September 1830. 4
Also onboard the Mellish was the family of smuggler James Hogben.

SHIP NEWS.
Sept. 23. Arrived the ship Mellish, 424 tons, Captain Cowley, from London 6th June, with 115 female prisoners, 14 free women, and 45 children ; three women died during the passage. 5

Fourteen wives, of prisoners in the colony, have arrived by the Mellish, with 45 children. 6

By 1832, James had an early ticket-of-leave, and being a "lifer," he normally would have been eligible for one with good behaviour after serving 10-12 years of his sentence (1837+) and was now assigned to his wife, Jane. 7

It was during this time at Jericho, possibly on behalf of his employer Desailly, that James, still holding a ticket-of-leave, 8
appears to have been the "prosecutor," of another convict also assigned to Dr. Desailly. Henry Wilson (or Wilkinson), a married farm labourer and weaver from Paisley in Scotland; aged 25 and transported for fourteen years for stealing wearing apparel (clothes); 9
was tried in the Richmond Lower Court on 22 January 1833 for absconding.

Absconding on Friday last, the 18th inst., and remaining absent until apprehended on Saturday at Kangaroo Point by Constable Poultney, who found a forged pass in his possession and also six shillings in silver.
Sentence - To receive fifty lashes.
The 6/- to be handed over for the present to the Superintendent of Prisoners. 10

At some point after leaving the service of Dr. Desailly, James moved his family, firstly, to Muddy Plains near Cambridge; and later, to Oak Tree at Cherry Tree Opening (modern day Pawleena) near Sorell.

One day while James was working in the Sorell area, he came across some wandering stock ...

IMPOUNDED.
AT the public pound at Sorell, on the 29th May by James Quested,

  • 1 Black bullock, brown ears, white belly and tail, right ear split, ST on the near rump.
  • 1 Dark brown bullock, right ear split tip off the tail, white star in the forehead, ST on the near hip.
  • 1 Brindle bullock, S T on tbe near rump, one small spot oa the forehead, both ears split, one down horn.
  • 1 Light grey bullock, no brand visible, one notch on the back of the right car and a split, horns turned up.

Damages claimed one shilling per head. If these animals are not claimed and redeemed within the time allowed by law, they wiil be sold by me on Wednesday the 2nd day of July, according to the provisions of the Impounding Act.
A. LAING. Pound keeper. June, 1834. 11

Alexander Laing was a Scotsman, soldier, convict, colonist, and Police Constable in the Sorell district, but also a musician (fiddler) and composer. Alexander appears to have been born in Forfarshire, Scotland in 1792 to John and Ann. His siblings were probably Elizabeth, Ann, Jannet, Isabel and Mary. He joined the army in 1810, was charged with stealing and transported to Van Diemen's Land. He claims to have served seven years as a soldier in the 22nd Gordon Highlanders and been present at the Battle of Salamanca in Spain in 1812. He was sentenced to seven years and transported at the age of twenty-three on the 'Marquis of Wellington' to NSW and the 'Emu' to VDL which arrived in the colony 29 September 1813. On the 19 March 1816 at St David's Church, Hobart he married Esther Robertson (or Hester Roberts) aged twenty-two, a convict tried in Warwick in 1814 arriving on the 'Northampton' in 1815 and the 'Emu' in 1816. She died on 1 Jan 1841 and was buried at St John's Catholic cemetery at Richmond after having children John, Alexander, James, Susan Sorell, Ellen, Georgiana Jane, William Henry Gordon, Emily Mary and Arthur between the years 1816 and 1836. Laing became the Chief Constable of Police in the Sorell (Pittwater) district betwen 1819 - 1838 and lived at 'Greenhills' Forcett. He died on the 2 Sept 1868 aged 77 years and was buried on the 5 Sept at St George's, Sorell. 12

James found himself once more in the Supreme Court, but this time, the law was "on his side" after he was assaulted and robbed ...

SUPREME COURT-CRIMINAL SIDE.
Before His Honor Mr. Justice Montagu and a Military Jury. Thursday, October 8, 1835.

William Tuck, was arraigned on a charge of assaulting and robbing James Quested.

The prosecutor deposed, that he lived about three miles from Sorell. On Saturday, the 4th of August, .... read the full newspaper report of the trial ...

James received a conditional pardon, # 1965 on 9 March 1839. 13

Memoranda of pardon have been issued for the following persons, until the pleasure of Her Majesty shall be known, viz. : Conditional Pardon - James Quested, Governor Ready 14

James was successful in obtaining a carrier's licence ...

Police Office, Hobart, 2nd December.
THE following persons have been duly licensed as Hawkers and Carriers, from the dates set after their names, in accordance with the provisions of the Hawkers and Carriers' Act:—
Carriers — James Quested, Richmond, 19th ditto [November];
Josiah Spode, Chief Police Magistrate. 15

James' convict conduct record states the he was tried in the Hobart Supreme Court on 17 July 1840 and acquitted, although no details can be found. It may have been a "first" trial for the same offence that he was "retried" (?) for again on 1 September 1840 when James was once again before the "beak" ... with the trial details reported in a local Hobart "rag" ... James was also acquitted of the charge at this "second" (?) trial.

SUPREME COURT - CRIMINAL SIDE. TUESDAY, SEPT. 1.
Before His Honor the Chief Justice, and a Military Jury.
James Quesby was indicted for feloniously stealing a heifer,on the 15th May last, value £10, the property of Mr. B. Reardon, of Green Hills, near Pittwater.
In summing up, the judge observed to the jury that it did not appear to him that the identity of the prisoner had been proved. Verdict - Not Guilty.
The prisoner was remanded upon another charge. The Court was then adjourned. 16

James' carrier licence expired ...

POLICE OFFICE.
Hobart, 30th November, 1840.
The Licenses issued to the under-mentioned individuals as Hawkers and Carriers have expired from the dates set after their names :— Carriers. — James Quested, residing at Richmond, 19th ditto [November]
Josiah Spode, Chief Police Magistrate. 17

James' daughter Isabella was the first of the Quested children to "fly the coop" when she married Jacob Ernest Alomes, at Hobart on 25 May 1841. 18
Jacob and "Lizzie" woud have a large family of twelve children.

James may have been having trouble with stock thieves on his farm ?.

Stolen or Strayed.
FROM Brushy Plains, near Richmond, about two months ago, a light chestnut Filly, two years old, tail and main inclined to iron grey, white star in forehead, white fetlock off hind foot, about thirteen hands high. If strayed, a reward of £2 will be paid to any person giving information where she may be found ; and if stolen, £10 on conviction of the offender or offenders by JAMES QUESTEAD. 19

The eldest son, James Kade, was next to marry on 17 October 1842, to a "wild Irish" convict named Ann MacNamara, (alias Ann Mack) also in Hobart. 20
James and Ann would have seven childre; sadly, only one son and one daughter would go on to raise families of their own.

After unsuccessfully applying to the government to purchase 320 acres of crown land near Richmond on 7 July 1837; 21
James successfully reapplied for 200 acres at Brushy Plains (modern day Runnymede) in the County of Pembroke, Parish of Buckland on 9 January 1843, for the sum of £1. 13s. 4d. Quit Rent per annum; due and payable on 31 December 1847. James named his new property - "Questlands". 22

Quested Land Quested Land

The early years of the VDL colony were lawless at times and the Brushy Plains area was no exception, with James and his family receiving a visit from some bushrangers. Daughter Jane was to recall and regale these events later in her life.

THE BUSHRANGER JONES, &c
By a private letter from Prosser's Plains, of the accuracy of which we have not the slightest doubt, Mr. Jones and his two companions well armed, visited the house of a man named Questead, on Sunday week, where they very opportunely found a hawker's dray loaded with goods for the inhabitants of the district ; from this they took about £25 worth of property, and from the hawker himself £10 in bank notes. Jones denied the late robbery of the mail-cart, spoke of subjects generally and freely, and enjoyed himself very comfortably for the space of three hours. There are circumstances connected with this robbery and the visitation of Questead's house, of rather a curious character, of which, as we learn, the police of the district seem to be aware ; we trust they will be searchingly inquired into. Jones's companions are known to be late runaways from that neighbourhood. At present we say no more on this subject. 23

Youngest daughter Sarah was the next to "walk the aisle" when she married ex-convict George Taylor on 22 May 1844, again in Hobart. 24
George and Sarah would also have a large family of twelve children. Sarah's new husband, George Taylor, is the hawker and "rather curious character" referred to in the newspaper report of the visit of the bushrangers to the Quested residence.

In late 1844, James and his son Theophilus were called to give evidence as witnesses in another Supreme Court trial.

This was an action in trover, brought to recover the value of 1000 sheep and some lambs, which had been delivered to Mr. C. O. Parsons, insolvent, ...

The Attorney-General then called the following witnesses:—
Theophilus Quested. — Was a farmer, and knew the estate of Runnymede, formerly, Mr. Parsons's; witness's farm adjoins it ; never heard that any of the sheep on Mr. Parsons' farm belonged to anyone else till after the insolvency. Mr. James Quested and Mr. Cruttenden, whose farms were also in the vicinity, gave similar testimony ... read the full newspaper report of the trial ... 25

Eldest daughter, Jane was the last to "tie the knot" to ex-convict John Rowlands snr, on 2 January 1847, this time at Richmond. 26
Janet Ransley may have been a relative of the Aldington gang leader, George Ransley. John and Jane successfully raised seven of their ten children to adulthood, marriage and families of their own.

By the late 1840's, there began a movement across the island of VDL, to end the transportation of convicts to the colony. As this movement gained momentum, Lieut-Governor Sir William Denison put forward a series of questions on this issue, in order to stimulate debate. In early May of 1847, a group of leading citizens petitioned the Sheriff to call a public meeting 27
for the citizens to hear speakers discuss and debate this important issue. A similar group, opposed to the cessation, had also held a similar meeting a week before, and the resolutions passed were reported in the same issue. The local Hobart newspaper, The Colonial Times, reported that the meeting called and held at the Theatre on the 6th, where there were "... assembled a large concourse of many of our most esteemed and opulent citizens: magistrates, bankers, merchants, municipal commissioners, intelligent and wealthy emancipists, with a motley multitude of all classes ..." and "... the proceedings were highly disgraceful ..." and that they "... ever witnessed so marked an opposition to all free and fair discussion : in fact, there was no discussion at all, ..." 28
James and his two sons, James jnr and Theophilus attended the meeting and later signed a petition of protest against the proceedings of the public meeting, on the grounds that they "... were opposed to the adoption of the first Resolution ..." and that "... no hearing whatever was given." 29

By July 1852, James and Jane had left their Questlands farm at Runnymede (Brushy Plains) and moved to a residence at #7 Mellville Street, Hobart; having purchased the property from Annie Miles for £250. 30
It was at this time, that James, now aged 61, became a messenger for the Government Printing Office on an annual salary of £80 per annum. By 1856, James also owned several apartments / houses in Macquarie street, one of which was occupied by his son, Theophilus. 31

Quested Land Quested Land

James gave evidence as a witness in another Supreme Court case regarding his knowledge of roads and property boundaries in the Cherry Tree Opening area where he had been a resident seventeen years earlier. 32

James received compensation for the loss of his position as a government messenger -

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1864.- Minute No. 30.- The Governor-in-Council approves of the following pension and compensation for loss of office to the under-mentioned persons:- James Quested, late messenger of Government Printing Office, compensation, £64. 8s. 10d.; 33

James snr died on 29 October 1877 34
of age and infirmity at the respectful age of 86, and was buried at Cornelian Bay Cemetery on 2 Novenber. 35

QUESTED.—On October 29, at No. 7, Melville-street, James Quested, sen., aged 86 years. Melbourne and Sydney papers please copy. 36

Jane Quested nee Seath survived her husband by another four years and passed to eternal rest, also of age and infirmity aged 90, on 4 July 37
and was laid to rest beside her husband James, on 8 July 1881. 38

Quested Headstone

QUESTED.— On July 4, at No. 7, Melville-street, Jane, relict of the late James Quested, aged 90. 39

SACRED
to
the Memory of
JAMES QUESTED
Died Oct 29 1877
Aged 86 Years
ALSO
JANE Wife of the above
Died July 4 1881
Aged 90 Years
To our dear Parents
Calm on the bosom of thy God
Fair spirits rest thee now
Even whilst with us thy footsteps trod
His seal was on thy brou

James' son Theophilus remained single; became a teacher and eventually moved to Sydney, NSW, where he passed away of senility in an asylum at Liverpool at the age of 74 on 16 April 40
and buried in the Anglican Cemetery on 17 April 1896. (The Paupers Section has no graves, markings or headstones and the land has been reclaimed for future burials.)

Locations
Forcett
Hobart
Jericho
Melbourne
Richmond
Sorell
Sydney
Ships
Emu
Marquis of Wellington
Mellish (1)
Northampton