Charles Ellen, The Bigamist Builder

Having a convict in the family isn’t the skeleton in the closet it used to be, it is a badge of honour nowadays.  I wonder what an ancestor, who migrated under the bounty scheme to Van Diemen’s Land, spent time as a convict and was a bigamist, would earn me.  This describes my great, great grandfather, Charles Ellen.  Charles was born in Bruton, Somerset on the 12 April 1810 to George and Alice Ellen, nee Moss.[1] The lack of records for them would indicate they were a run of the mill working class family who didn’t attract attention to themselves by means of crime or notoriety.  However, Charles was to prove himself different from his family.  He was a vocal and somewhat colourful character who made himself well and truly heard in the township of Oatlands.  He was a builder, although no apprenticeship papers can be found but this occupation is listed in his immigration papers and he was a successful builder in Van Diemen’s Land, passing the trade down to his son and heirs, my grandfather and uncle also being builders.[2]

Although Charles did not come to Van Diemen’s Land as a convict he did have a prior conviction.  In the 1833 Easter sessions at Illchester Charles was sentenced to seven weeks imprisonment at Shepton Mallet for stealing some brass wire from Thomas Higgins a farm labourer.[3]  He served his sentence and was out just in time to marry Elizabeth White on 23 June 1833 at Penselwood, Somerset.[4] Charles and Elizabeth were together for almost eight years and had four daughters; Sarah, Mary Jane, Ann and Emma.[5][6][7][8]

Despite already being employed as a builder, Charles decided to apply through the Bounty Immigration Scheme for a position in Van Diemen’s Land, on the belief that conditions were better than those in England.   

In a transcript of an interview in Hobart in November 1841 by the Immigration Council, Charles mentions his wife and children and also his disappointment at conditions and wages in Van Diemen's Land.  He was appointed for a three year term but states he should have come as a free settler and bought his family.  He advises against people coming out under 'engagement' and didn’t feel he would be able to bring his family out as he would not be able to support them. However, evidence shows that wages in Van Diemen’s Land at this time were increasing as convict labour had begun to drastically decline post 1839, so his timing was advantageous.  [9]Thus, Elizabeth and the girls were left in England, with Elizabeth dying in 1886.[10][11]   Whether Charles continued to support them will remain a mystery and census records found so far show Elizabeth as not remarrying.[12]

Charles arrived in Van Diemen’s Land on 27 Aug 1841 aboard The Arabian, and was contracted for three years to Thomas Ritchie who inherited the property, Scone at Perth from his brother Captain John Ritchie.[13][14]

Figure 1. Unknown, Perth Flour Mill, Norfolk Plains Historical Society.

Charles did not see out his three year contract at Scone. He ended up in the Launceston courts in Dec 1841for theft of alcohol and cigars from Thomas Johnson in Perth, along with a convict and another man who had earned his conditional pardon six years earlier.[15]  He was subsequently sentenced to two years hard labour at New Town Bay.  The interesting point on his prison record is that he clearly states he is married and also says he has a mother in England.[16]

By early 1848 Charles shows up living in Oatlands and in June he marries widow, Elizabeth McDonald.[17]  On the census earlier that year he states he is single, perhaps because he knew he would not see his wife in England again and he wished to remarry.[18]  He and Elizabeth married in the home of Mrs Long and again he states he is a bachelor.[19] 

Charles was a vocal resident of Oatlands and his opinions can be found in the newspapers of the day, often making comment on council proceedings via letters to the editor.    A search of newspapers show Charles as an active member of the Oatlands community; donating to fundraisers, attending community meetings, serving on jury and giving evidence at coronial enquiries.[20]  Interestingly Charles was involved with the International Order of Good Templars; a type of temperance society for men modeled on the Freemasons and he must have held a rank of some description as he is named in advertisements for the society in the newspaper.[21][22]

Charles was a busy builder and many buildings in the area were built by him.  The current Jenny Wren Cottage, which he lived in with his family and the St James Church in Jericho are two known buildings still standing.[23]

                Figure 2. Kelli Schultz, St James Church Jericho, 2011, digital image personal collection.

            Like many others Charles also tried his luck in the gold fields and traveled to Bendigo in 1852 on the Helena.[24]  A letter written by him to Elizabeth is dated September 1852 showing him still there but not doing well, he says “I am sorry I am not in a position to send you any money for our luck is very bad…”, he goes on to tell Elizabeth to get five pounds from Mr Lowe.  He must have returned by early 1853 as his next child was born in September of that year.[25]

Charles and Elizabeth spent most of their life renting at what is now 101 High Street, Oatlands and according to assessment rolls for the area by 1883 they had bought the property.[26]

            Charles did not escape tragedy and sadly lost his youngest son, William Percy at the age of 14.  William and a friend were playing football near Lake Dulverton and went in to the water to retrieve the ball, neither boy could swim and both were drowned   when the boat they were in turned over.[27] 

Charles’s died in 1892 of old age and a weakened heart, survived by Elizabeth and six of his children.[28]  He was a man with many secrets and whether Elizabeth shared them is not known, nor whether he gave thought to his daughters in England or even communicated with them. His descendents are spread throughout Australia and his blood runs through the veins of many of the residents of Oatlands today.

Figure 3. Kelli Schultz, Memorial Card for Charles Ellen, 2011, digital image personal collection.

[1] Birth of Charles Ellen, born 12 April 1810, Somerset Heritage Service; Taunton, Somerset, England; Somerset Parish Records, 1538-1913; Reference Number: D\P\brut/2/1/4.

[2] Charles Ellen, Conduct Record, Male conduct registers 1812-1840, Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office, Hobart, CON31/1/12,146.

[3] Ancestry, England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892, HO 27; Piece:46; Page: 148, Accessed 26 August 2017.

[4] Findmypast, Marriage Record for Charles Ellen, ‘Somerset Marriage Index, 1813-1837’, Accessed 26 August 2017.

[5] Baptism of Sarah Ellen, baptised 28 August 1833, Somerset Heritage Service; Taunton, Somerset, England; Somerset Parish Records 1538-1913; Reference Number: D\P\brut/2/1/5.

[6] Findmypast, Birth Record for Mary Jane Ellen, ‘England & Wales Births 1837-2006, Accessed 28 August 2017.

[7] Ancestry, Birth date of Ann Ellen, born 1839, HO107/963/12, Shepton Mallet, Somerset Enumeration District 6/47, 15, Accessed 27 August 2017.

[8] Findmypast, Birth of Emma Ellen, born 1840, England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915, Vol.11, 161. Accessed 27 August 2017.

[9]  H.Maxwell-Stewart, ‘The End of Transportation: graph depicting Number of Male Convicts in Assignment and Mechanics Wages’, HAA105, University of Tasmania: 2017, 3 September 2017.

[10] Van Diemen's Land. Legislative Council (1841). Report of the committee of the whole Council upon immigration: presented 8th November, 1841, with minutes of evidence &c. &c. James Barnard, Govt. Printer, Van Diemen's Land.

[11] Death record for Elizabeth Ellen, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-, V5c P349.

[12] Findmypast, Census Record for Elizabeth Ellen, 1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census, HO107/1933/560, 14, Accessed 26 August 2017.

[13] Anon., ‘Launceston’, Launceston Advertiser, 2 December 1841, p.3.

[14] Van Diemen's Land. Legislative Council (1841). Report of the committee of the whole Council upon immigration: presented 8th November, 1841, with minutes of evidence &c. &c.

[15] Anon., ‘Quarter Sessions’, Launceston Courier, 3 Jan 1842, p.3.

[16] Charles Ellen, Conduct Record.

[17] Marriage Certificate of Charles Ellen and Elizabeth McDonald, married 3 June 1848, Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office, RGD37/1/7, 32.

[18] Charles Ellen, Census Record, 1848, Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office, CEN1/1/94, 125.

[19] Marriage Certificate of Charles Ellen and Elizabeth McDonald, married 3 June 1848.

[20] The Hobart Town Daily Mercury, 21 June 1858, p.3; Launceston Examiner, 7 October 1858, p.2.; The Mercury, 30 June 1860, p.3.; The Mercury, 25 August 1864, p.2.

[21] ‘A Tea Meeting’, The Mercury, 20 December 1875, p.3.

[22] IOGT International, ‘The History’, http://iogt.org/about-iogt/the-iogt-way/who-we-are/the-history/, Accessed 27 August 2017.

[23] Southern Midlands Council, ‘Museum and Cultural Centres’, https://www.southernmidlands.tas.gov.au/museums/, Accessed 28 August 2017.

[24] Charles Ellen, Passenger List ‘Helena’7 June 1852, Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office, POL 220/1/2.

[25] Charles Ellen to Elizabeth Ellen, letter, 20 September 1852, Ellen Family Letters, Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office, NS449.

[26] Oatlands Rural Municipality, Assessment Roll for year 1883’, The Hobart Gazette, 13 February 1883, p.342.

[27] Charles Ellen, ‘The Oatlands Lagoon Fatal Accident’, The Mercury, 18 August 1880, p.3.

[28] Death Certificate of Charles Ellen, died 5 June 1892, Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office, RGD35/1/61, 520.