19th Century News
Newspaper articles and advertisements that offer insights into life in Bothwell during the 1800s.
Sources Used: TROVE. Images. National Library of Australia. https://trove.nla.gov.au; FamilySearch: Australia, Tasmania, Government Gazette, 1833-1925. Images. https://www.familysearch.org.
BOTHWELL RACES - 1 March 1850
The races took place on Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th February, and were well attended and the running excellent. Alexander Reid Jnr and Walter Synnot, Esquires, were the stewards. The racing on the first day commenced with the Maiden Place, for which three horses were entered - Mr Andrews' Flying Dutchman, Mr Anstey's Abdallah and Mr Alexander Reid's Wide-awake. They all came to the post, but the latter would not start, and the Dutchman won easily… The next was for the Town Plate, for horses of all ages, which was won by Mr Blackwell's Modesty, beating Mr Gee's Lucifer and Mr Reid's Wide-awake… Then came the Pony Race, which was won by Mr Andrews' Bother'em. The second day’s sport began with the race for the Publican's Purse; four horses were entered, but only two started - Mr Blackwell's Modesty and Mr Andrews' Flying Dutchman. The Dutchman most modestly allowed her ladyship to take the prize… The Ladies' Purse came next, for which Mr Gee's Lucifer and Mr Reid's Harkaway contended, terminating in favour of the former, after a good race… To conclude the sports of the meeting, a Hack Race was run, Mr White's Bashful having the bashfulness to win it. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8766719
AUCTION - 16 November 1850
PURSUANT to the proviso for that purpose contained in a certain indenture bearing date the 10th day of May in the year 1849 and made or expressed to be made between Thomas Harris the elder, Thomas Harris the younger and William Harris therein described as of Bothwell in Van Diemen's Land shopkeepers of the first part, John Michael Loughnan of Hobart Town in Van Diemen's Land aforesaid merchant, Thomas Macdowell of Hobart Town aforesaid Esquire and John Roberts of Hobart Town aforesaid solicitor of the second part, and Henry Hopkins of Hobart Town aforesaid Esquire, William Rout of Hobart Town aforesaid ironmonger and Alexander McNaughten of Hobart Town aforesaid merchant of the third part. Notice is hereby given that default having been made in payment of the interest due to the said Henry Hopkins, William Rout and Alexander McNaughten under the said indenture the messuage land and hereditaments thereby mortgaged will be SOLD by PUBLIC AUCTION on MONDAY the 23rd day of December next by MR THOMAS YARDLEY LOWES, Auctioneer at his Mint, Collins-street, Hobart Town at 1 o'clock - And the land thus to be sold is described in the said indenture as follows:
ALL that ALLOTMENT or PIECE of LAND situate and being in the township of Bothwell in Van Diemen's Land aforesaid containing two roods and fourteen perches or thereabouts and bounded as follows (that is to say) on the west by one hundred and thirty-four links or thereabouts along Dalrymple-street, north by four hundred and fifty-seven links or thereabouts along Alexander-street, east by part of an allotment occupied by or belonging to Thomas Hopkins, extending southerly and south by four hundred and fifty links or thereabouts along an allotment originally of Cornelius Randall extending westerly to Dalrymple-street aforesaid, together with the messuage or tenement thereon erected and built. Dated this 14th day of November 1850. ALLPORT & ROBERTS, Attorneys for the Mortgagees.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2961812
AUCTION - 14 December 1850
VALUABLE SHOP, DWELLING-HOUSE AND COTTAGES, BOTHWELL. Mr T. Y. Lowes Will Sell by Public Auction, on Monday, the 23rd December, at 1 o'clock, at the Exchange Mart, Collins-street, That Valuable Allotment, composing 2 roods and 14 perches, situate in the very centre of Bothwell, being at the angle of Alexander and Dalrymple-streets; together with the large two-storey Brick House and spacious Shop, lately in the occupation of Mr Wm Harris: and also the Two Cottages adjoining, fronting on Alexander-street. Title derived under a New Grant. A considerable portion of the purchase-money may remain at 7 per cent. For further particulars apply to Messrs Allport & Roberts, Stone Buildings, or to the Auctioneer. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2961678
TO THE EDITOR OF THE GUARDIAN - 3 July 1852
Sir - Being one of the earliest subscribers to your journal, I take the liberty of calling your attention to the fact, that the residents of the Bothwell district are sadly in want of labour, in consequence of the great number of men that have left for the Victoria diggings.
I see by your paper that very little was attempted to be made by the Leaguers in the Council respecting the petition presented by Messrs Allison, Gunn, and Sinclair, signed by 142 farmers, praying for a continuance of convict labor in the absence of any other. I would beg to add, that a large number of farmers and employers of labour in this district knew nothing of such a memorial as the one above alluded to, otherwise it might and would have been signed in the Bothwell district alone by more applicants for labor than there are altogether in the petition; for there is no doubt - there can be no doubt - that it is to prison labor alone we must look for a long time, as it would be sheer nonsense to expend money in bringing free emigrants here, as they would not remain in this island an hour longer than they could get away to Melbourne. JOHN MCWAIDE, Tanner, &c., Bothwell. 30th June, 1852. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/173062188
EDUCATIONAL - 3 February 1853
NOTICE OF REMOVAL. MR W. S. SMITH, in returning thanks for the liberal patronage extended to him during the past ten years, respectfully notifies his intended removal from Cambridge House Academy, Brisbane-street, Hobarton, to those more extensive and suitable premises known as Wentworth, Bothwell, lately in the occupation of Mr Thomas Wilkinson. Wentworth is delightfully situated on the banks of the river Clyde, in the healthy township of Bothwell, centrical to the populous districts of New Norfolk, Hamilton, Brighton, and Oatlands, and the premises, with extensive play grounds, lawn and garden, are, in every respect, admirably adapted for a Scholastic Establishment. A conveyance leaves Mr Blackwell's, Green Ponds, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 10 o'clock a.m., on arrival of the Hobart Town coaches, and returns on the intermediate days in time for the afternoon coaches, thus reducing the journey to a certainty, and affording every facility to parents desirous of forwarding their children to, or visiting them at Wentworth. Information as to Terms, &c., will be forwarded on application. Mr Smith confidently trusts that, with his increased facilities, he may afford even more satisfaction than heretofore to his numerous friends, as his unceasing aim will be to ensure the intellectual progress and real welfare of his pupils, and to merit a continuance of that generous appreciation of his scholastic labours, which has been so generally awarded to him. References to the parents of former pupils throughout the island, many of whom are now satisfactorily filling situations in the public offices, and engaged in professional and mercantile pursuits, can be given; and testimonials of a high order from the heads of Downing College, Cambridge, and other learned institutions in England, can be seen on application. Mr Smith will be prepared for the reception of pupils at Wentworth on Monday, the 24th January, 1853. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8772901
GRAND SKITTLE MATCH - 16 April 1853
The Return Match, for £100 aside, between Messrs Reggett and Fisher, came off on Tuesday last, at Mr Bowden's, the Castle Inn, Bothwell. There were a good many persons present, including about half-a-dozen sporting gentlemen from Hobart Town, besides numerous residents in the Bothwell and Hamilton Districts. The ground was not a very good one, being short distanced and close-framed, this of course being against the player of Bucks, who, it will be recollected, was the winner of the first match at the Phoenix Hotel. There was very little betting, but that was in favour of the "Buck." Reggett started the game, but it was won by Fisher in good style, the score being 10 to 7. The Commissariat duties had been ably discharged by the proprietor of the Castle, and a first-rate spread was laid upon the table; but the Hobart Town visitors and the successful player were constrained against their will to leave without partaking of the delicacies provided. Another challenge was made, to be closed within a month if accepted, by which the players will contend against each other for £200 aside. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2246827
SALE OF HORSES - 13 May 1853
A few days ago Mr Andrews, a Bothwell carrier, sold two cart horses for the unprecedented large sum of £420. The purchaser, was John Brown, Esq., of Woodlands, Cross Marsh, a retired Victorian squatter, whose knowledge of the value of stock is only equalled by his great practical experience. This sale may be taken as conclusive evidence of the great demand for and scarcity of horse stock in Van Diemen's Land. Such prices as these will, I am afraid, have the effect of preventing our Victorian neighbours from visiting us with the view of purchasing dray and plough horses. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2243459
ESCAPE OF JOHN MITCHEL - 10 June 1853
THE STATE PRISONER. Information has reached the town of the escape of Mr John Mitchel, the Irish State Prisoner, who was residing upon ticket-of-leave parole at Bothwell. The particulars of the case, as far as we are aware of, are as follows:- Mr Mitchel waited a day or two ago upon Mr Davies, the Assistant Police Magistrate of Bothwell, with a letter which contained the resignation of his parole of honour, and he offered to place himself in the custody of the police. While Mr Davies was perusing the letter, Mr Mitchel abruptly left the office, and proceeding outside, where two fleet horses were in waiting, rode off at full
speed, accompanied by a gentleman supposed by the police to be Mr W. L. Smyth, the correspondent of the New York Tribune. He has not been heard of since. Mr Martin, another of the State prisoners residing in the same district, has since reported himself to be at his authorised place of residence. This is the fourth of the Irish State prisoners who have escaped from the island.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2243651
JOHN MITCHEL'S ESCAPE - 1 July 1853
The following letter, which narrates the particulars of the escape of John Mitchel, the Irish State Prisoner, from the Bothwell district, is published according to the wish of the individual whom it most concerns. It will be seen that the information formerly given in the Courier was generally correct.
June 9th, 1853. My dear ______, I entrust to you a short narrative of a transaction which occurred this afternoon in Bothwell. Some of the Hobart Town newspapers, or the Launceston Examiner, will perhaps do me the courtesy to publish it. Finding that warrants had been actually issued some weeks ago against me as an absconder, under which warrants a gentleman was hunted like a wild beast, and even taken prisoner by mistake, as John Mitchel an absconder - while I was all the time quietly living at my cottage, and under parole of honour not to abscond, - I felt outraged by this insult. I had not reclaimed my parole, had intimated no intention of reclaiming it, and perceiving how little value the convict authorities placed upon that security, and how little respect they paid it (though it has been my only fetter for three years), I resolved to withdraw it in due form, and let them try how they could hold me without it. I therefore addressed the following note to the Lieutenant-Governor:
Bothwell, 8th June, 1853.
"Sir, I hereby resign the 'comparative liberty' which is called ticket-of-leave, and revoke my parole of honour. In pursuance of this determination, I shall forthwith present myself before the Police Magistrate of Bothwell, at his Police Office, show him this letter, and offer myself to be taken into custody.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, John Mitchel."
This day (Thursday), being post-day from Bothwell, I rode into the village, accompanied by my friend _____, went to the Police Office (where, as usual, a constable was on guard outside the door), walked into the Magistrate's room, where I found the Police Magistrate and Police Clerk; and, addressing the former, said, "Sir, I have written to the Lieutenant-Governor, and have thought it right to show you a copy of my note," placing it in his hands. He said, "Am I to read it?" - "If you please," I replied, "it was for that purpose I gave it to you." He then looked at the letter for a moment. "The purport of that note," I said, "Is very plain - you see, it is to revoke my parole." He looked at me as if for further explanation, so I repeated what I had said. "You observe my parole is now at an end, and I am here that you may take me into custody." Then, feeling that my business there was done, and that he had the opportunity which I was bound to allow him, I turned, and, after wishing the Magistrate good morning, put on my hat and left the room. The moment I was out of the office door, and while I was still in the passage, he and the clerk made a loud outcry, calling on the Chief Constable (whose office is at the other side of the passage) to secure me. The constable who officiates as clerk to the District Constable immediately rushed out, calling on me to stop. The other constable on guard at the door had fortunately occupied himself in holding two horses, so that my friend and myself passed him without the necessity of using any violence, and we were instantly in our saddles. I did not see the District Constable at all. This is precisely and accurately what passed. Once mounted, we stayed no further parley, but rode off; and it is outside the purpose of my present writing to tell you any more.
Yours very much, John Mitchel. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2242903
BOTHWELL CONFLAGRATIONS - 18 February 1854
A great number of bush fires has been burning, with insatiate rage, in the district of Bothwell. The injury done to fencing is considerable. R. Barr, Esq., Fordell, has sustained serious loss; his house and out-buildings were in the greatest peril. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/172861144
BOTHWELL - 22 February 1854
A fearfully destructive fire broke out, on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 15th inst., in a stackyard belonging to Mr William Lewis, Abyssinia, in this district, by which the entire produce of the year was totally destroyed, including upwards of a thousand bushels of oats, twelve tons of hay, besides a barn, a winnowing machine, carts &c., the value of which may be roughly estimated at from £1000 to £1200. The work of destruction was incredibly rapid - a few seconds having sufficed to render all efforts to extinguish or check the raging element unavailing, from the highly ignitable state in which the materials were, caused by the long continued drought, and an atmosphere heated by surrounding bush fires. By this calamity a poor, honest, hard-working man has lost his all, and is plunged into the deepest distress. It is pleasant to record that a general sympathy has been excited throughout the district, and that a subscription has been set on foot, from which it is hoped Mr Lewis will be enabled to resume his occupation. None of the property was insured - the oats and hay having been garnered within the past few days. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/264633550
BOTHWELL - 28 March 1854
THE RECENT FLOODS. Extract Letter from the Shannon. All my attempts to reach the Post-office have been in vain for the last ten days. Indeed, I am not sure that the servant will get there today, and every bridge has been carried away by the floods, which were most alarming here. We have resided on the Shannon thirty years, and can safely say we never saw anything as grand and awful as the waters were. Our river is at most a large one, but it could not break its bounds fast enough; it rose in the middle in high mountains, carrying timber of immense weight. On Friday night last, about five minutes past 11 o'clock at night, we experienced a strange shock, attended by a noise resembling a smothered fire just burst out, which noise lasted about half a minute. My young family had just retired, and one was sitting down, but on rising she was thrown some steps backwards; another in bed felt herself about to be thrown out by the shock, and caught the bed post to save herself; others describing themselves as feeling a sea-sickness. I mention this to you, wishing to know if anything of the sort has been felt in Hobart Town. From our Correspondent. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2241944
AWFUL SUDDEN ACCIDENT - 26 December 1854
An awfully sudden accident occurred at Bothwell on Thursday night last, the 21st inst., which by one fatal step, it may be said, hurled into eternity our chief district constable, Mr Edward Rainsford. The circumstances are these - It appears that on the afternoon of the same day a drunken affray took place on the township amongst three or four fishermen, which resulted in their being lodged in the watch house. About ten o'clock that night the wife of one of the prisoners requested Mr Rainsford to liberate him on bail, and that Mr Rainsford, in consequence, proceeded to the watch-house; that after seeing the man referred to, he turned into the watch-house keeper's quarters, where he remained until about 11 o'clock, when he left, the watch-house keeper holding a light, to enable him to clear the immediate precincts, which are anything but safe to grope about in a dark night. That Mr Rainsford then called out "all right," and the watch-house keeper went in and shut the door. Almost immediately after this, Mr Rainsford must have literally walked over a perpendicular solid mass of rock, which skirts the pathway, to a depth of about 25 feet, falling into a small hollow, on a sloping bank of earth beneath. Here he was found the next morning between three and four o'clock by a man named Charles Thorpe, a shoemaker, who was proceeding by the spot to follow his accustomed sport of rabbit-shooting, lying insensible on his back, one arm underneath it, and his head downwards. Assistance was immediately obtained, and he was conveyed to the house of Mr Hinchy, situate on the banks of the river, and only about ten yards from the place. Very shortly afterwards Dr Teush, accompanied by the police clerk, Mr Robinson, was with him. He was found to be labouring under the usual symptoms of severe concussion of the brain. There were no external marks of violence except a small flesh wound on the left cheek, and a few very slight scratches on the fore part of the head. The greatest attention was paid by Dr Teush and those about him, but as no improvement in Mr Rainsford's condition had taken place by 4 or 6 o'clock in the afternoon of Friday, with Dr Teush's concurrence Dr Doughty was sent for. On his arrival certain additional remedies were suggested, but unfortunately without avail, for there the patient lay as it were in the sleep of death until half-past eight on Sunday morning, when he finally ceased to exist, leaving behind him, to the mercy of the world, three almost helpless orphan children. It is now to be hoped that the local authorities will take immediate steps to impress upon the Government the absolute necessity there is - either to remove the watch-house to the settled side of the township, or otherwise have the road to it made secure by a fence or wall, for it is terrific to contemplate that men engaged in that performance of public duty, namely securing the peace and good order of the community, should be liable to the continual risk of their lives even in the day time, a powerful and desperate man in being taken to the watch-house, has it in his power to hurl even two or three who may be escorting him at once into eternity. Mr Rainsford has been in the department since 1840. Death had recently been busy in the deceased officer's family. About twelve months ago he lost his wife, after a lingering illness of three years. About six months ago, a fine boy of his, about twelve years old, was drowned. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2241460
FLOODS AT BOTHWELL - 29 March 1854
Never within the memory of the oldest inhabitant has a flood, so sudden in its rise, and devastating in its effects, been witnessed, as that occasioned by the rising of the Clyde, during the past three days, by which every bridge that spanned its usually placid stream has been swept away or rendered impassable, and a vast amount of injury due to fencing and the irrigated lands along its banks. A gentle shower on Saturday evening was the prelude to a rain storm, augmenting in fury, and continuing with little intermission, until Wednesday at noon; during which "Heaven's windows were literally open" while a furious gale from the N.W. blowing from the source to the embouchure of the river, lent speed to its foaming waters, which rushed with the impetuosity of a maelstrom, bearing, with unresistless fury, alike logs of enormous weight and the produce of orchards, gardens, etc., wool, and, it is said, the carcasses of sheep and oxen. Some idea may be formed of the extent of the inundation, when it is stated that the Clyde, the channel of which, as it passes through Bothwell, varies from twelve to twenty feet, became the width of the Derwent at Bridgewater, extending on one side from the grounds of Wentworth, within a few yards of the garden to the residence of Dr Teush on the other; whose tasteful and productive garden was sadly ravaged by the destructive flood. This broad expanse, favouring the illusion of a vast navigable river, intersecting the township, was studded with a flotilla of every tonnage, from posts and rails innumerable, to leviathan logs and huge masses of timber, which, aided by the elevation of the waters, and the course of the wind, sped onwards, breaking down every obstruction to the Falls, about two miles distant, adown which they were hurled, with the crash of thunder, to do their work of destruction in the "Lower Clyde." For some miles from its source (Lake Crescent) the banks of the Clyde are precipitous and rocky, affording abundant outlet for the whole waters of the Lake: to these succeed lowlands, chiefly irrigated pastures, extending along the line of river, until it empties itself into the Derwent, the rains and embankments connected with which have sustained great injury. At Cluny a bank head, that has defied the hands of many years weighing in the aggregate a hundred tons, and consisting of logs of gigantic size, was early carried away, and doubtless contributed to the indiscriminate destruction that soon followed - fences and bridges giving instant way to the massive aggressors. Many houses were completely inundated, including those of Messrs Rainsford, Reigate, Horne, late Whiteway's Brewery, where a large quantity of hay was entirely spoiled. The Rev. John Robertson, the Manse, Mr McDowall, Logan, which last, surrounded by water, looked like a floating ark than the "Sunny Dwelling" it is wont to be. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/264634932