Rachel Dew (c1798-1874)

Little is known of Rachel Dew's life in Wiltshire. A record of baptism has not been found for her. Her approximate year of birth has been extrapolated from other records concerning her life.

Her parents appear to have been William and Hepzibah Dew (nee Morris), although Hepzibah's status as mother is only a possibility at this stage.

Marriage
An exact record of Rachel's marriage has also yet to be located, but it is believed to have occurred in Wiltshire in approximately 1823. Rachel's husband was called Thomas Hill, son of Benjamin and Hannah Hill nee Paviour (from information provided by Grantley Hutchens).

1841 census
Rachel and family are located in the 1841 census for Wiltshire, at Stormore, Westbury (which is near Dilton Marsh). Husband Thomas is recorded as a farmer, he and Rachel are listed as 40 years old, and their children Emma, Benjamin, James, Virtue, Lewis and Sidney are living with them.

In 1848, the family decided to emigrate to South Australia. Five children travelled with Thomas and Rachel, while the remaining children (most who were already married) made separate voyages to the colony on different voyages around the same period.

Journey on the Ramilies
The ship Ramillies was a 3 mastered barque weighing 635/740 tons, built in Sunderland by James Laing in 1845. It’s owners were Duncan and Dunbar, registered at the Port of London.

The Ramillies left London on the 11th December 1848 under Master McLean ,with a cargo of the following:- 1000 soft planks, 740 bags, 206 cases, 139 bundles or iron, 100 kegs, 43 bales, 37 hhds, 21 casks, 9 trunks, 5 trusses, 4 quarter casks, 3 pipes (large casks), 2 butts (large casks), 1 carriage, 1 piano. Passengers included 14 cabin and intermediate passengers and 227 free emigrants. Of the free emigrants, 24 were female orphans from Irish workhouses (part of Earl Grey’s Pauper Immigration scheme, which also included the ship Elgin). Thomas and family were recorded in the passenger list as Thomas Hill, wife and 5 children.

There were 2 births and 9 deaths on board ship during the journey, which arrived in Adelaide on 25/3/1849. The arrival of the ship was noted the Register newspaper on March 28th 1849. Very soon after the arrival, reports began to appear about the flogging of some female passengers during the journey. It is believed they were first reported in the Adelaide Times on 30/4/1849, with the following:-

“This revolting and brutal punishment was inflicted on four grown-up women on board the emigrant ship Ramilies, during the voyage, under the immediate directions and inspection of the captain and surgeon. This is not denied by these parties themselves, which renders lengthened remarks on the subject unnecessary, as the very fact of such a circumstance having occurred is sufficient in itself to call forth universal reprohibation, however aggravating the conduct of the sufferers might have been. It may well be asked, what has our emigration agent been about since the arrival of the Ramilies, that we have not heard of even an intimation on this extraordinary affair being made to the government for that prompts investigation which it so urgently demands?”

The South Australian newspaper made further remarks:-

“As to the general treatment of the passengers we receive various accounts; but this is not the object of our present notice. All are agreed in the fact that four female emigrants were flogged during the passage. Their names are Catherine Morgan, Phoebe Spooner, Jane Downey, and Margaret Mack. Of their conduct we hear conflicting accounts, but this is of no material consequence. The fact is certain, that fully grown girls – seventeen or eighteen years old – were flogged by the surgeon with his own hand, a rope’s end being the instrument of torture used. Besides the surgeon and captain, we cannot learn that any persons were present but two men, who acted as constables or surgeon’s assistants. The particulars of what passed in the “Chamber of the Question” we cannot give; but we have spoken with several, both male and female – one a married and apparently respectable woman, - who examined the girl’s backs, and found them scored with wails of red and blue as large as the finger, and one was bleeding. The mind can hardly dwell on the revolting idea of men holding a half naked girl and flogging her till the blood starts from her skin. We read of such horrors in Russian dungeons, but scarcely give them credit.”

What Rachel and the family heard, saw or knew of the flogging incident is unknown. It went on to be reported in the Hobart Courier on 19 May 1849, and the Perth Gazetter and Independent Journal of Politics and News on 27 July 1849. It was eventually used as a case in example by the Earl of Mountcashell in his motion on Emigrant Ships: Reported Breaches of the Passengers Act to the House of Lords on March 15, 1850, and was citied by others as an example of why flogging should be banned in the army and navy. Flogging of female convicts to Australia had been abolished in 1817.

South Australia
Rachel and family settled in the Marden and Payneham district of Adelaide.

When son Benjamin married in September 1849, Thomas’s occupation was recorded as labourer. He would later become employed as a gardener.

Death
Rachel died at their home in Marden on 27th August 1874, aged 78. Thomas followed her on the 11th June 1876, aged 80, also at their home in Marden. Both are buried in Payneham Cemetery.

Children

 * colspan="3" bgcolor="#FFfce0" style="color: #000000;" |Children of Thomas & Rachel Hill
 * colspan="3" bgcolor="#FFfce0" style="color: #000000;" |Children of Thomas & Rachel Hill