George
Monday, aged 24, was tried at Devonshire, 22nd March 1802. He was sentenced
to death for stealing spirituous liquor, the property of Edward Beer of Plymouth.
The sentence was commuted to transportation for life. He was gaoled initially
at Exeter and transferred to the hulks at Langston before embarkation aboard
the "Calcutta" at Spit Head.
Lieutenant
Colonel David Collins, who had been chosen to become the Lieutenant Governor
of a new settlement at Port Phillip had sailed with the First Fleet
to establish the penal colony at Port Jackson.
David
Collins remained at Port Phillip for only four months before deciding that
the site was unsuitable for a new settlement. The "Ocean" and the
"Lady Nelson" were dispatched from Port Jackson to assist Collins
in relocating to Van Diemens Land. Over 300 prisoners, 100 free settlers,
marines, women and children were transported aboard these ships to the Derwent
River, arriving 15th February 1804.
After
inspecting the camp set up by Lieutenant John Bowen at Risdon Cove Collins
decided that the site was unsuitable. He found a more suitable location: "a
fine cove on the west of the river, about five miles from Risdon Cove."
Collins named his chosen site Sullivan's Cove, later to be known as Hobart
Town.
The
first task was the clearing of the heavily timbered land, tents were pitched
until huts could be built by the convicts. The settlers were taken to Stainforth's
Bay (now Newtown) where they were eventually to have their grants of land.
The
convicts were divided into gangs and put to work. Their day began at 5 a.m.
and finished at 6 p.m., with an hour for breakfast and half an hour for tea.
Saturday afternoons and Sundays were free. Labour, especially skilled labour,
in the new colony was always in demand and although the "Calcutta"
convicts were more suited to the task than those of the First Fleet their
working capabilities left a lot to be desired.
Once
the huts and gardens were set out the convicts were permitted to work for
wages in their own time, earning 2/6 to 3/4 for a ten hour day or (whilst
provisions lasted) up to 2lb of pork or beef and 1½ to 2lb of flour.
On
2nd January 1805 the Reverend Knopwood reported in his diary:
"
This morn. two men Forshaw (sic) and Munden (sic) began to put up my cottage
at my garden..."
George
Monday was mentioned again by Knopwood 9th May 1805:
"
At 11 His Honour, the lt. Gov., Revd. R. Kn'd and Wm Sladden Esq., sat to
examine Samuel Gunn, alias Camel; Chris, Forsha, alias Watkins; John Williams,
alias Johnson; Munden (sic); Hayward; Horne; Prestige; and Avery, prisoners
that were going to take the new whale boat and make their escape in it to
New Zealand. Although the information was so true that we received, yet could
get nothing from them to convict them."
In
1809 George Monday was injured by an aborigine to whom he had just given food.
The aborigine, who had shown no sign of enmity, had a spear concealed behind
him, held by his toes. As George Monday turned from him he caught up his spear
and threw it.
George
Monday married Ann Reading (born Norfolk Island circa 1796, daughter of Andrew
Redding and Ann Galland) in St. David's Church, Hobart 1st May 1811, Ann died
the following January. On 25th October 1813 George Monday, widower, married
Sarah Free ( born on Norfolk Island in 1897, daughter of Samuel Free and Eizabeth
Smith).
A
conditional pardon was granted to George Monday in 1813.
The
Buckingham landholders' muster of 1819 shows George to be in possession of
a fifty acre grant from Governor Macquarie, all of which was under pasture.
His stock consisted of 2 rams and 28 ewes. He was married and had three children.
In 1821 George was the occupant of a house in Argyle Street that was burgled.
A
petition to Governor Franklin for land, made on the behalf of George Monday
dated 21st November 1838 states:
"
........ That Petitioner was appointed overseer of the carpenters in Government
Employ which situation he held for many years to the great satisfaction of
the Government Officers.
That
Your Petitioner has a Wife and 10 children and is now residing at Clarence
Plains, that Petitioner with one submission must earnestly entreat Your Excellency's
goodness and mercy, to take into consideration his long residence in the Colony,
and his meritorious services rendered to the government with his sober honest
and steady deportment for upward of thirty years."
The
1842 census describes George as being in the class of Land Proprietors, Merchants,
Bankers and Professional Persons, living with his family (all Wesleyan-Methodist)
in a completed wooden house.
George
Mundy's death was registered at Sorell, 28th May 1867, according to the Mercury
he:
"had
10 children
and 40 grandchildren, had been resident at Bream Creek for about 30 years
and was hale and hearty almost to the last hour of his existence."
(
It is recorded that George was 101 when he died , however if his age at sentencing
in England is correct George died at 89 or 90 years of age.)
Sarah
Mundy died at Clarence Plains 12th November 1871 aged 74.