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The Hodgetts Of Tasmania |
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Tasmania
When the two families, the Hodgetts and the Lucases arrived in Port Dalrymple, they found a colony extremely low on resources and morale but they could see room for development and improvement. Thomas and Harriet remained for the time being in Pitt Town where their daughter Mary Maria had married a Thomas Graham. Nathaniel Lucas Senior and the rest of his family had remained in Sydney where he had made a prosperous living as a builder. He had been appointed Superintendant of Government Carpenters and had been involved in the building of many famous constructions such as the Rum Hospital, the parsonage at Liverpool, and in April 1818, work on St Luke's Church had begun. At this time, Francis Greenway, the designer of St Luke's and Nathaniel Snr had been at odds with each other over work agreements and arguments followed. It appears that this was a desperately unhappy time for Nathaniel, so much so that in early May the body of Nathaniel Lucas Snr was found on the beach near Moore Bridge in Liverpool. His sons had been worried about him, went in search of him and tragically were to be the ones to find their father. As well as being a tremendous shock for the members of the Lucas family, Thomas and Harriet Hodgetts were deeply shocked by the news of Nathaniel Lucas Snr. They also decided to resettle in Van Dieman's Land and sailed for their new life on February 27th 1819, leaving their daughter Mary Maria who was married to Thomas Graham, in Windsor New South Wales. Although Mary Maria and Thomas Graham were to remain in Sydney and eventually have a family of 14 children, they were never to see their parents, Thomas and Harriet again. It seemed though that it was a good move for Thomas and Harriet to re-settle in Van Dieman's Land. their son John had prospered tremendously and had acquired land and in the tradition of his father Thomas, he had set up a blacksmith shop in Launceston and he and his wife Olivia had produced grandchildren for Thomas and Harriet. John had also become quite and important citizen in Launceston, providing supplies to the new settlement and increasing his land holdings now amounting to around 60 acres. He made good use of this land and became an accomplished farmer, giving up his blacksmith shop. Thomas and Harriet also were granted land on May 15th 1820 which they also farmed. These were prosperous and good years for the Hodgetts and their close friends the Lucases. Launceston was developing rapidly into a thriving town and it was in no doubt that the two families played a major part in its development. During these years the Hodgetts and Lucas families produced many offspring and the family grew large. However a sad and upsetting event was to take place in 1823 when the patriarch of the Hodgetts family, Thomas, died suddenly on October 27th in Longford. Thomas was only 62 years old and had only begun to see his family thrive and prosper. He had been saddled with a hard life beginning with his torturous journey on the Second Fleet, and he had helped pioneer the development of the city of Sydney Town, Norfolk Island and now Van Dieman's Land. Harriet lived surrounded by her loving family until she died on June 30th 1850 at the grand old age of 85. In St David's Gardens in Hobart Tasmania there is a monument to the evacuees of Norfolk Island in 1806. It is a multi - sided monument and Thomas and Harriet Hodgetts and their children are proudly listed on one side. On the same monument, Olivia Lucas and her family are also mentioned. It is a fitting and moving documentation to the pioneering spirit of these families.
In the grounds of the Longford church, tucked away in a quiet corner, there lies a tombstone for Thomas and Harriet Hodgetts. Their position of their graves are long since lost, however, this reminder is a touching and respectful tribute to two great pioneers of this nation.
Take a look at the family tree of the descendants of Thomas and Harriet. Current generations have been excluded to protect their privacy. © COPYRIGHT 2004 Edge Web Design |
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