Chapter 9: Raising a family 1837-1855.

Arriving in the fledgling colony in 1837, with a baby on the way, would seem daunting. Mary was now in an even stranger land with new rules and work, lots of work. New arrivals usually came via Kangaroo Island to Port Adelaide. They were offloaded with their possessions into carts and began the trek to the city. Colonel Light was appointed Surveyor-General in 1836 and began surveying the site of Adelaide into 1042 acre allotments, called Town Acres, on either side of River Torrens in January 1837. In 1837, the population was almost 600 Europeans.

Map of Adelaide 1837 North Terrace 1839 Proclamation Day 1836

As with all new arrivals, accommodation was in the tent city. Rations were issued, to immigrants, not to "overlanders". Men with skills were encouraged to work. Those with money began purchasing street blocks as quickly as the streets were named and surveyed. Timber cottages and, more slowly, stone housing, began to fill Colonel Lights' vision. Broad thoroughfares, wide streets, and parks along the river wrap the city in green.

Arriving in 1837, the Hatfields came at the beginning of the city. They lived in Waymouth Street during August 1837, when Mary Ann was born. A second daughter Jane Adelaide was born on May 12, 1840. Jane was baptized on July 23, 1840. Sadly the child died on September 3, 1840. It would seem they moved on to occupy some unsurveyed land in the Tiers. As mentioned before, the Tiers was a lawless place occupied by ex-convicts, absconders, and sailors who had jumped ship. Having spent three months in jail for receiving stolen goods, Joseph was in the company of his peers.

Joseph was in court again as a witness for the defense. On trial was Joseph Stagg accused of murdering a colleague John Gofton. The coroner's report investigated the case of the escaped convict, Gofton. His body lay in a shabby shelter at the mouth of Para River. A gunshot wound to the head. His clothing and money and some food were strewn about the camp. Eyewitnesses identified Stagg as riding in that general area. Inspector Tolmer and the mounted police ruled out suicide, and Stagg was found guilty of murder.

In the trial, Joseph Hatfield attempts to give Stagg an alibi. However, as a former convict, his testimony was judged as unreliable.

Stagg was convicted on circumstantial evidence and maintained his innocence to the end. He was hanged outside the Adelaide Goal on November 18, 1840 - for the murder of John Gofton near Torrens Island. The first public execution was conducted outside Adelaide Gaol, with roughly seven hundred in attendance.

Joseph and Mary were not eligible for financial assistance as emigrants, and they would have lived on their savings. Fortunately, Joseph has an eye for business. He is a hard worker and soon employs a bookkeeper. In only a few years of arrival, Joseph accumulated a substantial income as a timber splitter and haulier. His bookkeeper Robert Parker came before the court in 1840 accused of stealing some cotton thread. He is acquitted for lack of evidence. However, the judge admonished him, referring to Robert being of a good family and the dangers of mixing with unsavoury types.

This was directed at Robert's employer Joseph Hatfield. Moreover, the higher authorities considered Joseph Hatfield a bad associate. The following day Robert is in court again, corroborating Joseph's testimony in the murder of John Gofton. Robert was very vague in his answers, often not remembering. In the court record, it mentioned Robert lived with the Hatfields in a four-bedroom house. In the evening, Rachel slept in the front room and the men (Hatfield and Stagg) slept in another bedroom. In the morning they ate a breakfast of mutton chops, butter, bread, and tea, with Hatfield's wife and bullock driver, John Rogers.

Rachel must have been busy keeping the house and minding her children. By 1840 the family had moved from the city to the Tiers. Here Joseph purchased land. His application for a smaller than normal allocation drew the attention of Governor Grey, Capt Frome the Surveyor-General, and Charles Sturt, the Assistant Commissioner, his worthiness to obtain the land he was squatting on drew criticism particularly from the explorer Charles Sturt.

Letter to Captain Frome from Governor Grey

Captn. Frome

A man of the name of Joseph Hatfield wishes to purchase 30 acres of land in the tiers, on which he has built a house which he is afraid of losing – is it possible under such circumstances to accede to his request.

July 31.G. Grey

Reply from Captain E.C. Frome RE July 30, 1841.

I do not see how this person can be put in possession of the 30 acres he wishes to purchase unless it is put up to public competition and purchased by him. Many similar applications have been made at different times, and I am not aware of their having been complied with. The Asst Commissioner is, however better able to answer this question.

E. C. Frome Capt.

Reply C Sturt Assistant Commissioner, Lands Department

I agree with the Surv. General that there is a difficulty in establishing to the precedent of so small a measurement as 30 acres – Permission has occasionally been given for the measurement of a section to be put up to tender – but never less except in the case of the Green Slips – The applicant is, if I mistake not, a man of indifferent character, and it requires that some precaution is taken to prevent or at all events not to facilitate the settlement of such men in places where they can carry on improper practices.

C. Sturt, AsC. To the Governor July 31.

Nonetheless, Hatfield acquired land. In the mid-1840s, several Almanacks and Directories for South Australia listed the activities of businessmen in the State. The 1844 Allen Directory lists Joseph Hatfield’s holdings as “7 cattle, 3 pigs. Acreage – 6 wheat, 4 potatoes, 1 garden”. In 1848 lot number 5158 was listed in the District of Onkaparinga, in the township of Balhannah, being the property of Joseph Hatfield. The land was 105 acres and somewhere in the area near Lenswood, Woodside and Lobethal. (Lenswood was not a town at that stage.) As bureaucracy of the State increased Joseph obtained licences as a timber sawyer, butcher and paid rates.

Early settlers built rude slab cottages of local materials. Joseph is described as a farmer. The farms were supplying fresh fruit and vegetables to the city of Adelaide and the growing small towns in the area. The nearby township of Balhannah would have been where Rachel Hatfield and her growing family would have gone to sell and buy. A small house garden would supply the growing family's needs. What was not eaten was sold. Having moved from a four-bedroom house in the city, Rachel was now a farmer's wife. The house was photographed in the 1984 survey of Onkaparinga.

Mary Rachel was, by 1848 she was the mother of three living children, Mary Ann (11), Joseph (7), and Rachel (3). She gave birth to Jane Balhannah in 1849. Of their nine children, six grew into adulthood. Her life would seem to be routine, there are no records of her returning to her wild Tasmanian ways. Perhaps she was happy.