Octavius Ryland
Encyclopedia
Octavius Ryland was a convict transported
to Western Australia
, who later became one of the colony
's ex-convict school teachers
.
Born in London in 1800 and baptised
on 24 June of that year, Octavius Ryland was the eight son of Richard Ryland and Harriet Croft, daughter of Sir Archer Croft, baronet. Ryland married Mary Ann Muggeridge on 27 September 1826. By 1850, he was widowed with two children, and working either as a corn
or coin
dealer; these are alternative transcriptions of the handwritten records. That year, he was tried at the Old Bailey
for an unknown crime, and on 10 June was sentenced to 15 year's penal servitude
. He spent two years at the Newgate Jail, including nine months of solitary confinement. He was then transported to Western Australia
, arriving at Fremantle
on board the William Jardine
on 1 August 1852. He gained his ticket of leave on 4 October 1854, and received a conditional pardon on 21 January 1860. He then became a schoolteacher, teaching at Upper Swan
in 1864, then Upper (South) Greenough
until 1869. After a short stint in Dongara
, he taught at Serpentine
from 1870 to 1880, and again in 1884. He was also postmaster of the district from 1870 to 1885. Erickson (1983) writes "he had a reputation of being a bitter man, harsh with his pupils". He spent the final years of his life at the Mount Eliza Depot, a home for "old or incapable paupers", dying there on 8 May 1886.
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...
, who 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 London in 1800 and baptised
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
on 24 June of that year, Octavius Ryland was the eight son of Richard Ryland and Harriet Croft, daughter of Sir Archer Croft, baronet. Ryland married Mary Ann Muggeridge on 27 September 1826. By 1850, he was widowed with two children, and working either as a corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
or coin
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
dealer; these are alternative transcriptions of the handwritten records. That year, he was tried 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...
for an unknown crime, and on 10 June was sentenced to 15 year's penal servitude
Penal labour
Penal labour is a form of unfree labour in which prisoners perform work, typically manual labour. The work may be light or hard, depending on the context. Forms of sentence which involve penal labour include penal servitude and imprisonment with hard labour...
. He spent two years at the Newgate Jail, including nine months of solitary confinement. He was then transported 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...
, arriving at Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
on board the William Jardine
William Jardine
William Jardine may refer to:* William Jardine , Scottish surgeon and merchant, one of the founders of Jardine, Matheson & Co.* Sir William Jardine, 7th Baronet , Scottish naturalist...
on 1 August 1852. He gained his ticket of leave on 4 October 1854, and received a conditional pardon on 21 January 1860. He then became a schoolteacher, teaching at Upper Swan
Upper Swan, Western Australia
Upper Swan is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located in the City of Swan local government area.It contains Upper Swan Primary School....
in 1864, then Upper (South) Greenough
Greenough, Western Australia
Greenough is a historical town located 400 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia and 24 kilometres south of Geraldton on the Brand Highway. The historic buildings are controlled by the National Trust of Australia...
until 1869. After a short stint in Dongara
Dongara, Western Australia
Dongara is a town located 351 km north-northwest of Perth on the Brand Highway. The town is located at the mouth of the Irwin River. In recent years the area has been marketed as the 'Rock lobster capital of Australia'....
, he taught at Serpentine
Serpentine, Western Australia
Serpentine is a town located south-southeast of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, and 7 km south of Mundijong. Serpentine is located on the South Western Railway between Perth and Bunbury, and was one of the original stations when the line was opened in 1893...
from 1870 to 1880, and again in 1884. He was also postmaster of the district from 1870 to 1885. Erickson (1983) writes "he had a reputation of being a bitter man, harsh with his pupils". He spent the final years of his life at the Mount Eliza Depot, a home for "old or incapable paupers", dying there on 8 May 1886.