Edward Westlake was selected as one of a founding party of 23 persons to settle Norfolk Island from Port Jackson sailing on the "Supply", 15 Feb 1788, under the command of Lieut. Philip Gidley King.
King had promised that they could return to England after their sentences were complete.
King had promised that they could return to England after their sentences were complete.
(There is a new museum on Norfolk Island with information about the First Fleet Convicts, Edward's name is listed on the honour board).
Those people going were:
Jamieson, Surgeon s Mate of the "Sirius"; Mr James Cunningham, Master s Mate of the "Sirius"; Mr T. Altree, Assistant Surgeon; two seamen- Roger Morely & William Westbrook; two Marines from the "Sirius"-Kerridge & Batchelor; Six female convicts-Elizabeths Lee, Hipsley & Colley, Olive Gascoin, Ann Inett and Susan Gough; six male convicts-Charles Mc Lellan, Richard Widdicombe, Edward Garth, Edward Westlake, John Mortimore, Noah Mortimore, Nathaniel Lucas and two other names not known.
Jamieson, Surgeon s Mate of the "Sirius"; Mr James Cunningham, Master s Mate of the "Sirius"; Mr T. Altree, Assistant Surgeon; two seamen- Roger Morely & William Westbrook; two Marines from the "Sirius"-Kerridge & Batchelor; Six female convicts-Elizabeths Lee, Hipsley & Colley, Olive Gascoin, Ann Inett and Susan Gough; six male convicts-Charles Mc Lellan, Richard Widdicombe, Edward Garth, Edward Westlake, John Mortimore, Noah Mortimore, Nathaniel Lucas and two other names not known.
King discovered Lord Howe Island en route and arrived off Norfolk Island on the 28th of February and landed on the island on 6 Mar 1788.
Edward Westlake petitioned Governor Phillip on 28 Sep to allow his family to be sent out to join him. The request was granted but his family did not go to NSW.
Further landings of convicts were made so that by Feb of 1790 there were 149 inhabitants.
In Jul 1791 he was subsisting three persons on a one acre size Sydney town lot with 58 rods
In Jul 1791 he was subsisting three persons on a one acre size Sydney town lot with 58 rods
cleared. (Sydney town was Kingston)
In Sept 1791 Lt-Gov. King had deemed it necessary to nominate a nightwatch of 21 persons, to patrol several assigned areas. Edward Westlake was one of 5 trusted men to patrol the Arthur s Vale area, under Captain Hussey, defined "from Capt Paterson s garden to the Governor s garden."
The journal written by Phillip Gidley King is well worth reading as it details the events of the day.
One of the benefits for the convict men was that they could chose to marry on the island, mainly because he did not want to encourage any homosexuality and he also told them that they would be sent back to England if they chose it. That certainly did not happen.
A visit to Norfolk Island is a must just to walk in an ancestors footsteps, reflect on the conditions that Edward and Elizabeth and their children all faced.
Life on the Island was very difficult. They had to cope with the weather, the guards, the winds, the conditions, and at one stage there was a plot to hijack a boat and row away. They had no idea that they were virtually trapped on the island. Noah Mortimer was punished with 60 lashes for refusing to work!
The journal written by Phillip Gidley King is well worth reading as it details the events of the day.
One of the benefits for the convict men was that they could chose to marry on the island, mainly because he did not want to encourage any homosexuality and he also told them that they would be sent back to England if they chose it. That certainly did not happen.
Edward Westlake married Elizabeth Wood, nee Adams, herself a convict.
Colleen McCullough wrote a book about her husband's family, called Morgan's Run. It tells the story of Richard Morgan and others, about their life and times in the First Settlement it is well worth reading.
Colleen McCullough wrote a book about her husband's family, called Morgan's Run. It tells the story of Richard Morgan and others, about their life and times in the First Settlement it is well worth reading.
A visit to Norfolk Island is a must just to walk in an ancestors footsteps, reflect on the conditions that Edward and Elizabeth and their children all faced.
Imagine trying to walk from their land to Kingston, to have their details recorded, when they were off stores or to attend the Sunday church services.
The land is so hilly, and today there are roads and bridges to cater for the cars, and the cattle have made their own tracks on the hillside.
The land is so hilly, and today there are roads and bridges to cater for the cars, and the cattle have made their own tracks on the hillside.
He married Elizabeth Wood (Adams) on 5th November 1791 when the Rev Richard Johnson arrived and married around 100 people.
On 15 Jan 1793 Westlake was granted 24 acres, (Lot 3) which is about 800 metres
east of the wharf at Cascade Bay, and had 2 sows, a cock and six hens, going off stores at once for grain and by May for meat. That meant they were totally reliant on what they grew.
By Oct 1793 he had cultivated four of his 24 acres, all ploughable, and in June he was living with Elizabeth Wood and three children (Elizabeth had been sent to Norfolk Island after arriving with the Second Fleet).
In 1794 Edward Westlake was described as a farmer and the occupations of the Norfolk Islanders in Feb 1805 show the three men as settlers and landowners, and off the stores, as their sentences had expired.
By Mar 1805 he had seven children, all born in the colony plus the daughter that Elizabeth Wood brought with her on the "Neptune". He was a second class settler with 20 acres cultivated and 62 waste, he also owned 36 swine.
In 1806 he was credited 22 pounds ten shillings for the sale of 15 full grown sheep.
In Aug 1807 he is recorded as holding 82 acres, 15 in grain and 67 pasture, with 21 sheep, 36 hogs and 100 bushells of maize in hand.
In Aug 1807 he is recorded as holding 82 acres, 15 in grain and 67 pasture, with 21 sheep, 36 hogs and 100 bushells of maize in hand.
When it was decided to disband the settlement five vessels were used over a period of six years to transport the inhabitants of Norfolk Island to Van Diemen s Land..
William Maum in a letter he wrote to a friend about the trip on the "Porpoise":-
"We arrived here in safety after a most favourable passage of 19 days (ship records say it took 23 days). We encountered no storms and the sea was so smooth that an open boat might safely come the same voyage, which was a happy circumstance considering the great number packed and stored on board, whose situation would be deplorable had we encountered bad weather.....On our arrival here the settlers and others were billeted on the inhabitants of this town, which is far larger than you could suppose. The houses in general are lath and plaster, and immoderately dear, as a house equal in size to your workshop, of such bad materials, would bring you 50 pounds."
"We arrived here in safety after a most favourable passage of 19 days (ship records say it took 23 days). We encountered no storms and the sea was so smooth that an open boat might safely come the same voyage, which was a happy circumstance considering the great number packed and stored on board, whose situation would be deplorable had we encountered bad weather.....On our arrival here the settlers and others were billeted on the inhabitants of this town, which is far larger than you could suppose. The houses in general are lath and plaster, and immoderately dear, as a house equal in size to your workshop, of such bad materials, would bring you 50 pounds."
The "City of Edinburgh" was chartered to move the Norfolk Islanders. She sailed from there on 9 Sep 1808 and arrived at Hobart Town 2 Oct 1808.
Among those on board was Edward Westlake, his wife and six children. He had left behind buildings valued at 22 pounds plus 82 acres and was to receive 105 acres at Roache s Beach, Rokeby (Bellerive or Clarence Plains). The population of Hobart Town in 1808 was 799 persons
Note. In some records his name was spelt Westlick, the phonetic spelling.
Colonial Secretary s Index held at NSW Archives lists :-
"1796, Dec 30 - on list of all grants and leases of land registered in the CSO
In an index to land grants in VDL (1813) -Fiche 3262; 4/438. p.94.
1819-1822 On list of persons owing quit rents in VDL, for land at Clarence Plains
25 May 1821- Indebted to the Government at Hobart (Reel 6054; 4/1757 p 64c.)
In 1815 he signed a petition for a Court of Criminal Judicature.
"Hobart Town Gazette" Sat 29 March 1817 : "A List of Settlers who have tendered Wheat for Supply of His Majeftey s Stores, with the Quantity that will be received from each-- Edw. Weftlake 39 bufhels"
"H.T. Gazette" Sat 14 Feb 1818 under Public Notice: "The under-mentioned Grants of Land are now lying at the Acting Deputy Affiftant Commiffary General s Office for Delivery on the Fees being paid which are due thereon- Edward Weftlake, 105 acres, 2/2/7d"
The 1818 Muster taken from 7 Sep till 2 Oct, 1818 listed every person in Hobart Town includes Edward Westlake as off the stores.
"H.T.Gazette" 28 Mar 1823 advertised a 60 acre grant for Edward Westlake that would be relinquished if not taken up.
Colonial Secretary s Index held at NSW Archives lists :-
"1796, Dec 30 - on list of all grants and leases of land registered in the CSO
In an index to land grants in VDL (1813) -Fiche 3262; 4/438. p.94.
1819-1822 On list of persons owing quit rents in VDL, for land at Clarence Plains
25 May 1821- Indebted to the Government at Hobart (Reel 6054; 4/1757 p 64c.)
In 1815 he signed a petition for a Court of Criminal Judicature.
"Hobart Town Gazette" Sat 29 March 1817 : "A List of Settlers who have tendered Wheat for Supply of His Majeftey s Stores, with the Quantity that will be received from each-- Edw. Weftlake 39 bufhels"
"H.T. Gazette" Sat 14 Feb 1818 under Public Notice: "The under-mentioned Grants of Land are now lying at the Acting Deputy Affiftant Commiffary General s Office for Delivery on the Fees being paid which are due thereon- Edward Weftlake, 105 acres, 2/2/7d"
The 1818 Muster taken from 7 Sep till 2 Oct, 1818 listed every person in Hobart Town includes Edward Westlake as off the stores.
"H.T.Gazette" 28 Mar 1823 advertised a 60 acre grant for Edward Westlake that would be relinquished if not taken up.
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