Tasmania
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia
Bates
Walter Tennyson Bates (1853-1905) was born in Hull, Yorkshire and went to Australia in 1882. He spent about 3 years in Melbourne and was leading cornet player in the Royal and Princess theatres. He went to Tasmania to lead the Rechabite Band, and was afterwards conductor of the Garrison Band for many years. Prior to emigrating he was the conductor of the Winter Gardens Band in Southport. Walter married Elizabeth Jones and she was left a widow with 6 children. They emigrated from Tasmania to Vancouver, BC, Canada in 1907. By 1910 they were living in Oakland, California. She died in 1920 and her ashes were sent by regular mail to Hobart, Tasmania, where they were buried.
Binns
William 'Yorkie' BINNS, a weaver from Ollerton, Yorkshire arrived in Van Diemen's Land in 1844 with 294 other convicts. He was found guilty in York Assizes of stealing items from a church and sentenced to transportation for 14 years. He left behind a wife and 2 children. He was aged 28 (1816) and illiterate. After several years of hard labour he received a conditional pardon in 1853 and began to save for his future. In 1856 he bought a 100 acre farm in a vertile valley that became known as Binns Valley and a nearby creek as, Yorkys Creek. He married a daughter of German immigrants and they had 14 children. The beginning of the Binn dynasty in Tasmania. Read More »
Briggs
The BRIGGS brothers were born in Austerfield, Yorkshire, sons of Thomas and Ann. They were all transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1831. Christopher (Kester) BRIGGS (1801-1885) was a farmer but was charged with stealing wheat from another farmer in Bradfield market. He was convicted at Doncaster in 1831 and sentenced to 7 years transportation. His older brother, Charles (1797-1854) and younger brother, James (1808-1835) were charged with attacking a witness to the robbery and they sailed with Christopher in 1831. James only lived 4 years but Charles began to farm and Christopher joined him.
Gatenby
Andrew Gatenby (1771-1848) born in Egton near Whitby, Yorkshire. Son of Andrew and Mary Gatenby (Oxley). A farmer, he married Hannah Maw in Egton. It was decided to emigrate to Van Diemen's Land and the family sailed on the Berwick, arriving at Hobart in 1823. he brought letters of testimonials, 1214 pounds, 4 sons and 3 daughters. He was granted 1500 acres. By 1825 Gatenby had erected a flour mill built on a canal that he and his sons had dug to bring water in from the Isis River. People were impressed by the skill, vision and energy of the Gatenby's. Andrew was awarded 1000 more acres to add to his already growing estates. He became chief district constable and poundkeeper in 1826 and later postal agent. When he died in 1848, his sons owned 7 estates.
Morrisby
James Morrisby was born in Cawood, Yorkshire. He was convicted of stealing an iron bar with 10d and was sentenced to 7 years in Van Diemen's Land. He sailed on the Scarborough, one of the 11 ships in the First Fleet. They arrived at Botany Bay in January, 1788. In March, 1788 James was sent to Norfolk Island. By 1791 he owned 12 acres which increased over the years. He moved back to Hobart in 1807 and began farming at Clarence Plains. In 1816 he married Eleanor Murphy, an Irish convict. She died in 1821 - leaving no children.
Rice
William Rice (1780-1853) was born in Rotherham, son of George and Grace Rice( Nee Lawton) who were married in 1767 at High Hoyland, Yorkshire. They had 4 other children born in Rotherham:
- Joseph (1769)
- Sarah (1771)
- Ann (1775)
- Elizabeth (1778)
William married in Manchester in 1812. He moved to Barnsley then to Dodworth and was arrested in 1820 for High Treason and transported to Hobart with the other 'rebels' in 1821. His wife Rebecca and 3 sons: George, Edwin & Thomas joined him later.
Another son was born in Hobart in 1824. William became a Constable. Rebecca died in 1852 and William died in 1853. The children stayed on in Australia.
