Archibald Cameron

81

Gail Robyn Newman on 6th April 2025

I have just read an autobiography written in 1867 by an anonymous convict who refers to himself as "T". I was really curious and there was enough information in his biography for me to discover who he was. Archibald Cameron arrived in Tasmania on the Elphinstone on the 20th January 1836. He was 14 years old, when he was convicted of robbery and transported for 7 years. His sentence was to be served at Point Puer, a prison for juvenile offenders. He made quite a few attempts to regain his liberty and for this he received 11 floggings, a total of 528 lashes, and 74 days of solitary confinement on bread and water. Once he was released he went to Hobart, but was unable to find work, and "through misadventure with another ex-Point Puer inmate", was arrested, tried and sentenced to serve 7 years at Port Arthur. After a few months at Port Arthur he escaped along with three others. They attempted to swim across the Tasman Peninsula's Eaglehawk Neck. One man drowned when he was seized with cramps. another taken by sharks, his last companion became too weak to go on and drowned. Archibald made it to shore where he passed out, and was discovered the next morning and arrested. For this he was sentenced to 18 months in chains at Norfolk Island, here he endured 544 days of solitary confinement and received a total of 1874 lashes. He was receiving severe punishment for seemingly minor offences. He decided he was going to murder an overseer with an axe, he had been issued with this as he was timber cutting. He failed and received 12 months heavily ironed in solitary confinement. After 5 years he was returned to Port Arthur and became a passholder hired out as a farm labourer. After 7 months where he says he was near starvation, he stole potatoes and was given the job of toilet cleaner, when he failed to clean them one Sunday he received three months on the treadmill. He was assigned to other duties after this, and absconded, and was a bushranger until he was recaptured, for this he was sentenced to life at Port Arthur After 8 years he was given probation and absconded to Sydney. Here he returned to a life of crime and spent 18 months at Darlinghurst Gaol. It was during this time that he composed his memoirs, and claimed "I am not a bad man at heart, but troubles have destroyed my temper and my better feelings" Archibalds' recollection of the number of lashes he had received over the years, and the number of days in solitary may not be 100% accurate, but he obviously suffered for his crimes. from the BDA, just a few of his records - Archibald Cameron, Arrived per ship Elphinstone, Date of event 24 May 1836. Original Remarks: 8/9/1835 Glasgow Court of Justiciary 14y - to Port Arthur; Went from - to: ENG - VDL Archibald Cameron, Arrived per ship Elphinstone, 1836, Dec 1849. Original Remarks: Glasgow 1835 14y; Went from - to: NI Archibald Cameron, Arrived per ship Lady Franklin, Date of event 31 Jan 1850. Original Remarks: 8/9/1835 Glasgow Court of Justiciary 14y - to Port Arthur; Went from - to: NI - VDL