Emigration to Australia
This letter from Henry Badcock, 3 Apple Street, Sydney, New South Wales to Samuel Swaffield of Ampthill dated 30 May 1849 [ref.SFM2/10] includes details of his voyage and his first impressions of the country:
"…Oh how I wish all I loved were here. It is the finest country in the world. It is winter and there is plenty of everything evergreens in abundance & fruit of all sorts. Our passage was a very pleasant one and very quick but marked with little or no variety. We had 7 deaths and 9 births during the time. I assure you death has a great effect on all at sea: all feel a gloom come over them. As to the births, the ladies seemed to care but little: about upon deck in the day, confined in the night and again up in two or three days well and hearty. This little thoughtless fellow nearly lost his life twice, the first time falling from the rigging, and again by going in a boat to pick up some birds I had shot that…was so leaky that it filled and went down in returning to the ship thank God I could swim. We also had a mutiny on board but that was quelled without bloodshed. The sight of loaded guns looked anything but inviting. All the cabin passengers had two guns each. There were five of us besides and some of the emigrants seemed inclined to join them…We could not have come out in a better time: labour is now low, but do not say this at home as we still want more. The rate of wages for common shepherds is £20 a year with rations: it was £40. Everyone is saying invest your money now, but I mean to wait for more time yet…remember me kindly to R Furze and all who care to the little Capt."
A few years later he was not so exuberant:
[ref.SFM2/12]
Letter from Henry Badcock, 3 Apple Street, Sydney, New South Wales to Samuel Swaffield. Ampthill postmark 23 Sep 1851
"…this has been a most fearful season & I, like many more, have been obliged to move about from place to place with the sheep: but unlike many have at least managed to keep all alive. My engagement with Mr Hamilton is now over I shall very shortly be a Squatter to all intents and purposes, for I leave this tomorrow to make a final arrangement for the purchase of 24,000 sheep with their Station. I have my choice either to be partner with the present proprietor or take the whole in my own hands…the annual net income will be at least £1,200 or £1,300 …I have unaided & unadvised in spite of bad season cleared £1,000 for Mr Hamilton…My Brother John is gone to Melbourne in Fort Phillip to manage a branch of the Bank of New South Wales just established there, at a Salary for the first year of £250…I need not tell you £250 here is much better than £500 in London…I feel it is rather a serious thing to incur so large a debt as £4,000 but one the other hand I am certain if wool will only fetch 1/- pr lb & not it is worth 1s/4d in fact…I shall be able to clear it all off in four years when I shall have the Station and with the increase 30,000 sheep. There is now talk of gold being found in this country which causes a deal of excitement, but I hope & trust it will turn out false as it would no doubt ruin this country, for who would follow a flock of sheep for £20 a year when they may pick up £2 or £3 a day…"
Why is this document at Bedfordshire & Luton Archives?
Henry was writing to Samuel Swaffield who lived in Ampthill. This document is part of the Swaffield of Ampthill family collection ref.SFM.