Martin Mason
Convict Ship Surgeon
Martin Mason, surgeon, magistrate and commander, arrived in Sydney on 18 July 1798 as surgeon in the Britannia, with female convicts under his care.
In May 1799 Governor John Hunter appointed him acting-surgeon to H.M.S. Buffalo, however Philip Gidley King appointed him assistant colonial surgeon on 1 October 1800 and magistrate for the district of Parramatta and Toongabbie next January.
Coal River
In 1801 a brief attempt at settlement at Coal Harbour had been made by Hugh Meehan, of the Anna Josepha, on a voyage to procure coal and timber. He constructed a saw-pit at Freshwater Bay, within the north head of the harbour, and after obtaining a cargo, he returned to Port Jackson on the 29th of May, 1801, after a stay of nearly a month.In the month of June following, a detachment was taken to the harbour in the Lady Nelson and Francis, and settled at Collier's Point on the south side of the harbour. The site was chosen by Lieutenant-Governor Paterson, after hearing the reports of two miners, named Broadbent and Platt. The detachment consisted of Corporal Wixstead, in command, five privates, and twelve convicts. The method of mining was very crude; three of the convicts were employed getting coal, whilst six were employed in carrying it to the seaside in baskets, the output under these conditions being three tons per diem. Wixtead was soon involved in disputes
Martin Mason was sent to the Coal River to hold an inquiry, in conjunction with Ensign Francis Barrallier. He arrived at the Coal River with Ensign Barralier and Deputy Surveyor Charles Grimes in September 1801. The Governor's aide-de-camp, Mr. Frederick Kirkwald also joined the voyage.
The Court of Inquiry into Corporal Wixstead's conduct was held in October, 1801, and the presiding magistrates were Ensign Barrallier and Dr. Mason. The corporal was found guilty of imprudence, but acquitted of a charge of converting spirits to his own use. He had appropriated a large quantity of spirits, and had distributed the liquor at different times within a few days, giving everyone an equal shire. What spirits remained he kept, agreeable to the wish of the soldiers and prisoners. At first every one of the settlers disavowed any knowledge of the letter to the Governor containing the charges, but the corporal found the culprit and brought him forward to deny its truthfulness.
The prisoners had wanted a new commandant, but never contemplated they would get a worse task-master than the corporal, whom the magistrates considered too quiet a man to govern such a set as he had to deal with. About three months after the commencement of the settlement, Martin Mason was appointed magistrate and superintendent. Before the 14th November, the population had been increased, and included Mason, a corporal, five privates, and sixteen convicts. On the 21st November, Mason reported that he was raising nine tons per diem with the labour of three miners and three carriers working five hours a day. Four mines were then opened, one being 34 yards underground, a second 31 yards, a third 27 yards, arid a fourth 10 yards. All were working on a seam 36 inches thick, containing 14 inches of clay and rubbish, and overlying this was a seam of 18 inches good coal. Mason shortly afterwards misconducted himself, and before the end of the year all were withdrawn, excepting the five privates. Shortly after the settlement was abandoned. [1]
Convicts at Coal River
Select here to find out what it was like for convicts at Coal River under Martin Mason's command.Notes and Links
1). More about Martin Mason2). Martin Mason's correspondence - Court-martial of George Johnston - Proceedings of a General Court-martial Held at Chelsea Hospital
3). Newcastle Morning Herald 14 December 1897
References
H.R.A. Series 1 Volume III, 1801 - 1802, p. 772 Internet Archives↑