The book 'Free Too' has been anchored in the history of 1815 Tasmania . Some of the details that follow are made available to enrich your learning experience that the book has explored. The book is a blend of fact and fiction, often called 'faction'. Also see 'Real People in History' for an historical outline for many of the people in the book.
Martial Law was declared by Lieutenant Governor Davey on the 25th April 1815. Its object being to try and control the convicts who had taken to the bush and were raiding the flocks, herds, crops and homesteads of the settlers in Van Diemen's Land. Governor Maquarie wrote, "I consider, the coduct of Lieutenant-Governor Davey on this occassion not only illegal, but also highly disrespectful to my authority as Governor-in- Chief, subversive of all subordination and discipline, and dangerous in the extreme in its example and cosequences." Yet Maquarrie allowed the martial law to remain in place for three months to help bring the "banditti" situation under control.
Martial Law is the law administered by military forces that is invoked by a government in an emergency when the civilian law enforcement agencies are unable to maintain public order and safety. It also allows for shortened trial times. In the case of Van Diemen's Land the declaration of martial law was illegal.
The Historical Records of Australia
Rev Robert Knopwood's Diary
Research from Peter Cox
Degree Paper from Diane Phillips
HM Brig Emu. February 12th 1815 arrived in Sydney from England. The Emu was an English naval brig with 10 guns. The Emu sailed between Sydney and Hobart for 14 months when it sailed for Europe, encountering a severe hurricane, losing its topmast and running onto a reef.
A brig is a two masted vessel with both masts being square rigged. A brig possesed some unique sailing qualities and with a squilled master could manouver with ease and elegence; a brig could turn around almost on the spot! If you would like experience the joy of a square rig similar
to the Emu, then when you in Hobart, have a wonderful time on the Lady Nelson.
It is also interesting to note the English chose an Australian bird for the name of the brig. At the same time
another brig was named the 'Kangaroo'.
