Waddle Alexander

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Convict No	79249
Ship Name	“Indefatigable”
Departure Date	4.06.1812
Conduct Record	31/45 Page 6
Description List	Con 23/3
Other Records	Con 13/1 Page 17

Alexander Waddle had been sentenced by court martial at Fort George , Upper Canada on the 28th August 1810 to transportation for life. On 13th December 1824 he wrote a memorial to the Lieutenant-Governor Arthur, describing himself as free but admitting that he came on the "Indefatigable" in 1812. He had been granted two town allotments in Launceston, and had built premises worth more than 1200 pounds ($2400). He had been a licensed innkeeper for 3 years, and held 300 acres (122ha) of land by purchase. This may have been at or near Longford, for he said that he intended to build a water mill "for the accommodation of the Norfolk Plains Settlers", Norfolk Plains is now Longford. Asserting that since his arrival he had "maintained a character unimpeachable for integrity and honesty of principal and conduct", he asked for a grant of land. Arthur authorized the grant of 200acres (81ha), which was taken up near Launceston (CSO1/92/2168.

On the 10th May 1827 this same Alexander Waddle wrote another petition to the Lieut-Governor. This time he admitted that he had arrived on the "Indefatigable” as a convict . He said he had received a ticket-of-leave on arrival and had held it for seven years. On the 31 January 1820 he had received a conditional pardon, the condition being that he remained a district constable in the vicinity of Hobart Town for five years. He said he now possessed 250 head of cattle, 4 horses, three houses in Launceston and 700 acres (283ha) in the vicinity of Launceston, 200 of which had been granted. He was now a licensed publican. He now asked for a free pardon. A.W.H. Humphrey, a magistrate, attached a certificate of conduct. In this he stated that Waddle had deserted his wife some years before, that he was a licensed publican living with Catherine O'Brien by whom he had had several children, Mrs Waddle was now living with her family at Beresfords Creek about six miles (10km) from Hobart on the New Norfolk road. The petition was recommended by two well known men Edward Abbot and T.A. Lascelles. The letter stated that Waddle had been under his charge on the "Indefatigable" in 1812, but that he could not vouch for his conduct since Waddle had been living in Launceston. The next document in this file (CSO1/118/2968 is a deposition by Joseph Beresford to, whose sister Sarah, Waddle was married. He stated that she had married him about 8 years previously, had two children by her and had lived on a farm of 520 acres (210ha) which her father had settled upon her. He testified to Waddle's ill-treatment of his wife, and his association with Catherine O'Brien, the daughter of a neighbour. He went to the North about 4 1/2 years before taking with him Catherine O'Brien and one of the children (one of his wifes).

He (Beresford) had heard that Waddle kept an Inn and still lived with O'Brien, by whom he had five children, four of whom had not lived. He concluded " My father was a Marine and came out to New South Wales with Colonel Davey who used occasionally call at his house. I have heard Waddle say he would never have married my sister had he not expected to have got his emancipation by it thro' the interest my father had with Colonel Davey."

Arthur's first reaction to this and the petition was that very erroneous information must have been given to him on the previous occasion, otherwise he would never have authorized land to Waddle. He presumed that no grant had been made, and hoped it was not too late to have the land made available to his wife and children. "In the next place he is a most improper person to be allowed to keep a public house. After these observations it is scarcely necessary to add that he will get no free pardon from me." It appeared from the reference to the survey department that a grant deed for the 200 acres had not been issued, so that it could still be made available to Waddle's wife and family. Arthur therefore ordered that the Crown Solicitor should be asked the best way in which this might be done.

However, before the Crown Solicitor's opinion was received, the police magistrate in Launceston had enquiries made about Waddle and had discovered that in 1882 Waddle, then in Launceston had sent for his wife because of his "housekeeper's" ill treatment of his little boy. She had refused to go, Waddle explained that, after having lived unhappily with Sarah for some time they had agreed to separate, and had articles of separation drawn up by a lawyer in 1823. He had taken the eldest of their two children, the boy, to Launceston, and settled property on his wife. The little girl remained under Sarah's care and was sent to school at his expense. He had sent for the little girl when he heard that she was being miss-treated by Sarah, but she had refused to part with her. Since then he had heard that his wife was living with a man named Bannister, and this was confirmed by Magistrate Lascelles. Therefore, when the crown solicitor reported on 9th October 1827, that the land could either be granted direct to Sarah or to a third party as her trustee. Arthur wrote "I have since obtained positive information that the wife of Waddle is herself living in adultery - it is not therefore necessary that I should take any further interest in her behalf, and the grant may be issued according to the original intention"

Encouraged by this Waddle in 1829 made application for an additional grant. He stated he had lived on his grant near Launceston since 1825, and had kept an Inn about 1 1/2 miles (2 1/2 Km) from there. The Land Board recommended that he should be given an additional 300 acres (122 ha), and Arthur agreed to approve provided that the additional land adjoined his present holding so that he could superintend both personally. But circumstances made it necessary to locate the additional land elsewhere, and Arthur approved (CSO1/190/4509).

He died in Launceston from influenza and was buried 9^th December 1852 at the Cypress Street Cemetery in Launceston. Unfortunately, this cemetery has closed and most headstones were used as road rubble.