John Hubbard (convict)
Encyclopedia
John Murgatroyd Hubbard was a convict transported
to Western Australia
, and later became one of the colony
's ex-convict school teachers
.
Born in 1839, Hubbard was working as a clerk in 1863 when he was convicted of forgery
and sentenced to twenty years' penal servitude. He was transported to Western Australia on board the Racehorse, arriving in August 1865. After receiving his ticket of leave, he worked for Daniel Connor
for a while, then briefly taught at Wicklow school. In 1873 he was appointed school master at Newcastle (now Toodyay
). During this time he also employed other ticket-of-leave convicts to dig out sandalwood
stumps from land that had been previously cut over.
In March 1875, Hubbard married Amelia Cockburn, the daughter of an early settlers. That he married outside the "bond" class was highly unusual for the time. He then resigned his teaching post and moved to Guildford
where he worked as an accountant. From 1879 until 1884 he was secretary at the Boys' Orphanage, and for a short time he also taught there. In 1888 he was appointed clerk to the Guildford Municipal Council.
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...
, and later became one of the colony
Penal colony
A penal colony is a settlement used to exile prisoners and separate them from the general populace by placing them in a remote location, often an island or distant colonial territory...
's 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...
.
Born in 1839, Hubbard was working as a clerk in 1863 when he was convicted of forgery
Forgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...
and sentenced to twenty years' penal servitude. He was transported to Western Australia on board the Racehorse, arriving in August 1865. After receiving his ticket of leave, he worked for 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...
for a while, then briefly taught at Wicklow school. In 1873 he was appointed school master at Newcastle (now Toodyay
Toodyay, Western Australia
Toodyay is a town located in the Wheatbelt region in the Avon Valley, 85 km north-east of Perth, Western Australia. Toodyay is connected to Perth via both rail and road.-History:...
). During this time he also employed other ticket-of-leave convicts to dig out sandalwood
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is the name of a class of fragrant woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and unlike many other aromatic woods they retain their fragrance for decades. As well as using the harvested and cut wood in-situ, essential oils are also extracted...
stumps from land that had been previously cut over.
In March 1875, Hubbard married Amelia Cockburn, the daughter of an early settlers. That he married outside the "bond" class was highly unusual for the time. He then resigned his teaching post and moved to Guildford
Guildford, Western Australia
Guildford is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 13 km northeast of the city. Its Local Government Area is the City of Swan.-History:Guildford was established in 1829 on the Swan River, being sited near a permanent fresh water supply...
where he worked as an accountant. From 1879 until 1884 he was secretary at the Boys' Orphanage, and for a short time he also taught there. In 1888 he was appointed clerk to the Guildford Municipal Council.