The purpose of me setting up a website, with the incredible and generous support of Michael Thompson, is to preserve some of the research I have undertaken over many years about Tasmania’s history. As I am now in my twilight years, I believe it important my research is not lost and no better way to preserve it is through electronic media such as the Internet. Now the website is launched, I will gradually be adding other research.
Obviously, my favourite pastime is researching Tasmanian history. I undertook some post graduate studies at the University of Tasmania in early Tasmanian history in 1996 which great assisted me. My main lecturer was Professor Michael Roe who remains a good friend. We have lengthy discussions about matters relating to Tasmanian history.
I belong to both the Tasmanian Historical Research Association (THRA) and the Tasmanian Family History Society (TFHS). I have contributed to both their journals and made a presentation to the former about the Pollard Opera Company that commenced in Tasmania at the turn of the 19th century before they travelled widely overseas. In 2020 I completed a Diploma of Family History at the University of Tasmania.
I have worked as a volunteer with the Tasmanian Clinical Genetics Service at the Royal Hobart Hospital researching linkages to families who have the same clinical gene mutation. Generally, these families with the same mutation are not aware of how they are connected and it is my job to find out how. An example of two of the cases I researched is
- A sponsored agricultural labourer to Tasmania who was illiterate. The person who recorded his arrival spelt his name quite differently to how it was actually spelt. He later was known by that name rather than his birth name. People were found in Victoria with the same mutation and it was revealed by my research they were from the same family. I could only imagine the family arriving in Australia and not being able to contact their son who emigrated earlier with a different name to their own.
- An ex-convict, who after receiving his pardon, changed his name to his mother’s maiden name – probably trying to get rid of the ‘convict stain’ most ex-convict’s tried to hide.
I have undertaken at least 400 family histories. I am currently working on the passengers arriving in Tasmania on the Trade Wind in 1858. Part of my research includes what happened to these passengers such as did they remain in Tasmania or relocate elsewhere. In a couple of instances, the sponsored immigrants returned to England. I was to find at least one of these families returned to their homeland because of a terminal illness being diagnosed soon after arrival and not because they were unhappy about their adopted land. My research on the Trade Wind will be placed on the website.
I produced an 85-page booklet entitled ‘The Break O’Day Murders’ about horrific murders in Cullenswood, Tasmania. The murders occurred at the end of transportation with many ex-convicts living in the district. The murderer was executed in May 1861 by Solomon Blay who after pinioning him and moving him to the scaffold pulled the rope which was to terminate his earthly existence. A few second after he fell the murderer was still but then commenced several spasmodic struggles, kicking with his feet and striking out with his hands, during which the cord binding his arms became loosened. The executioner lifted him by the rope and let him fall suddenly, swinging him to and fro repeatedly. The murderer lifted one of his hands towards his neck. The executioner kicked it with his foot, and it fell momentarily. His struggles continued to be frightful. It was believed Blay did not pinion the hands sufficiently as it provided better entertainment for the watching crowd. This publication has been very popular, and I have received over 100 orders. Some of this story will be placed on the website.
My passion has been finding more about the Pollard Opera Company. I had hoped to write a book about the Company but believe the web site might be a more practical way of sharing this valuable information. Another area I keenly follow is updates about my direct ancestor, James Whitelock Brown, who lost his life on the Erebus with Sir John Franklin while searching for a North-West passage.
Up until the present time I have kept a blog about Tasmanian family history research. This blog will be replaced by the website. The blog has reached many people researching Tasmanian family history. For example, I was contacted by a school in England who found my blog, asking for my assistance. During renovations at the school a letter was found under the floorboards from a person who had lived in the area during World War 1 and witnessed ship’s sinking in the area. The letter was a very interesting insight into the war. The school was able to establish the letter writer had emigrated to Tasmania and they were seeking family members to return the letter to. I found the letter writer at the Cornelian Bay Cemetery and as there was a headstone, I was able to find the name of a son. The son did not live in Tasmania and through my research a grandson was located living in Victoria. The BBC became interested in the story and interviewed me about my research. A copy of the letter found will be placed on the website.
I hope you enjoy my research, and I can be contacted by email at