James Hasleby
Encyclopedia
James Hasleby was a convict transported
to Western Australia
. He was one of only 37 convicts transported to the colony to overcome the social stigma
of convictism to become schoolteachers, and one of only four convicts to be elected a member of a local Education Board.
Little is known of James Hasleby's early life. Born in 1833, he worked as a clerk. At the Old Bailey
in February 1864 he pleaded guilty to three indictments for embezzlement, after a former conviction at Preston in October, 1856 and was sentenced to eight years penal servitude. Hasleby was transported to Western Australia on board the Norwood, arriving in July 1867. He received a ticket of leave in 1868, and taught at the Greenhills School, now Irishtown, near Northam
until receiving a Conditional Pardon in 1870, when he resigned from teaching. He received his Certificate of Freedom
in 1872. In 1873 he advertised himself as a storekeeper and later that year leased the Avon Bridge Hotel. He employed a number of ticket of leave convicts in his businesses. In 1873 he married Eliza Barlow, with whom he would have seven children. Hasleby served as Honorary Secretary of the Northam Farmers' Club, and in 1874 was elected a member of the local Education Board. A prestigious and respected body, only three other convicts achieved membership of a local Education Board: Daniel Connor
, Malachi Meagher and Herman Moll
. He also became involved in a venture that intended to establish a second, co-operative, Northam flour mill, but when his hotel was sold by the owner he was forced to abandon his plans and return to teaching. From 1876 he taught at Dumbarton, 5 km south-east of Toodyay, until 1877 when the school closed. He then took over the Gwalla School at Northampton
until his retirement in 1893. He also served as Secretary of the Northampton Roads Board
, as clerk to the magistrates and clerk of the local court at Northampton and, in the absence of a clergyman, officiated at local funerals.
Hasleby was one of a very small number of convicts in Western Australia to overcome the social stigma of his conviction and obtain a respectable position in society. Although most respectable occupations were closed to ex-convicts, the colony was desperately short of teachers, yet unable to pay a sufficient wage to attract them. Whereas educated people of the "free" class were not attracted to teaching positions, the positions were attractive to educated ex-convicts, for whom the salary was no lower than other vocations open to them, and the job offered a degree of respectability. In total, 39 ex-convicts became school teachers in Western Australia. Erickson (1983) has suggested that the use of ex-convict school teachers
played an important role in the gradual breaking down of the social stigma of convictism.
Penal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. He was one of only 37 convicts transported to the colony to overcome the social stigma
Social stigma
Social stigma is the severe disapproval of or discontent with a person on the grounds of characteristics that distinguish them from other members of a society.Almost all stigma is based on a person differing from social or cultural norms...
of convictism to become schoolteachers, and one of only four convicts to be elected a member of a local Education Board.
Little is known of James Hasleby's early life. Born in 1833, he worked as a clerk. At the Old Bailey
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
in February 1864 he pleaded guilty to three indictments for embezzlement, after a former conviction at Preston in October, 1856 and was sentenced to eight years penal servitude. Hasleby was transported to Western Australia on board the Norwood, arriving in July 1867. He received a ticket of leave in 1868, and taught at the Greenhills School, now Irishtown, near Northam
Northam, Western Australia
Northam is a town in Western Australia, situated at the confluence of the Avon and Mortlock Rivers, about north-east of Perth in the Avon Valley. At the 2006 census, Northam had a population of 6,009. Northam is the largest town in the Avon region...
until receiving a Conditional Pardon in 1870, when he resigned from teaching. He received his Certificate of Freedom
Certificate of freedom
A certificate of freedom was a document given to a convict in one of the Australian penal colony at the end of the convict's sentence. This stated that the convict was now a free person and could seek out employment or leave the colony....
in 1872. In 1873 he advertised himself as a storekeeper and later that year leased the Avon Bridge Hotel. He employed a number of ticket of leave convicts in his businesses. In 1873 he married Eliza Barlow, with whom he would have seven children. Hasleby served as Honorary Secretary of the Northam Farmers' Club, and in 1874 was elected a member of the local Education Board. A prestigious and respected body, only three other convicts achieved membership of a local Education Board: Daniel Connor
Daniel Connor
Daniel Connor was a convict transported to Western Australia, who became one of the wealthiest men in the colony.Daniel Connor was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland in 1831. Nothing is known of his early life, but on 20 June 1850 he was sentenced to seven years transportation for sheep stealing...
, Malachi Meagher and Herman Moll
Herman Moll (convict)
Herman Joseph Moll was a convict transported to Western Australia. He was one of only four such convicts to be elected to the prestigious and respected position of member of a local Education Board.- Biography :...
. He also became involved in a venture that intended to establish a second, co-operative, Northam flour mill, but when his hotel was sold by the owner he was forced to abandon his plans and return to teaching. From 1876 he taught at Dumbarton, 5 km south-east of Toodyay, until 1877 when the school closed. He then took over the Gwalla School at Northampton
Northampton, Western Australia
Northampton is a town north of Geraldton, in the Mid West region of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 813. It is historic, with an outstanding National Trust building. The town lies on the North West Coastal Highway. Formerly named Gwalla after the location's...
until his retirement in 1893. He also served as Secretary of the Northampton Roads Board
Shire of Northampton
The Shire of Northampton is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about north of Geraldton and about north of the state capital, Perth...
, as clerk to the magistrates and clerk of the local court at Northampton and, in the absence of a clergyman, officiated at local funerals.
Hasleby was one of a very small number of convicts in Western Australia to overcome the social stigma of his conviction and obtain a respectable position in society. Although most respectable occupations were closed to ex-convicts, the colony was desperately short of teachers, yet unable to pay a sufficient wage to attract them. Whereas educated people of the "free" class were not attracted to teaching positions, the positions were attractive to educated ex-convicts, for whom the salary was no lower than other vocations open to them, and the job offered a degree of respectability. In total, 39 ex-convicts became school teachers in Western Australia. Erickson (1983) has suggested that the use of ex-convict school teachers
Ex-convict school teachers in Western Australia
Following Western Australia's convict era, 37 ex-convicts were appointed school teachers in the colony. The appointment of such a large number of ex-convicts to what was considered a respectable government position was highly unusual for a penal colony, as the social stigma of conviction usually...
played an important role in the gradual breaking down of the social stigma of convictism.