Joseph Horrocks
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lucas Horrocks was a convict transported
to Western Australia
in 1852, who established the town of Northampton
.
Joseph Horrocks was born in Cornwall
in 1805. Little is known of his early life, except that he was well-educated, that at some point he worked as a sick bay attendant in the Royal Navy
, and that he later owned a merchandising business.
Horrocks was convicted of forgery
and sentenced to fourteen years transportation. He arrived in Western Australia on board the Marion in January 1852. He earned his ticket of leave in June 1853, and chose to work out of the Port Gregory
convict depot. He became the depot's unofficial medical superintendent, as no qualified person was available to fill the position, and Horrocks had experience as a sick bay attendant. Horrocks earned his conditional pardon in April 1856, and set up as a storekeeper and postmaster, while continuing to provide for the community's medical needs, free of charge.
In 1859, Horrocks took up a 100 acres (404,686 m²) of land, and, with the help of George Shenton Sr
, began to develop a copper mine which he named "Gwalla". Between 1862 and 1856, he employed sixty ticket-of-leave men on the mine. He had a road surveyed, along which he built stone cottages which he leased to the married miners at low rent. He encouraged agriculture, experimenting with various crops. In 1861 he began construction of the colony's first interdenominational church, which was opened in October 1864. In November 1863 he applied to the Government
for an acre of land for a schoolhouse and garden. The school was completed in 1966. Horrocks died in October 1866. The town of "Gwalla" became Northampton
.
Penal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in 1852, who established the town of Northampton
Northampton, Western Australia
Northampton is a town north of Geraldton, in the Mid West region of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 813. It is historic, with an outstanding National Trust building. The town lies on the North West Coastal Highway. Formerly named Gwalla after the location's...
.
Joseph Horrocks was born in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
in 1805. Little is known of his early life, except that he was well-educated, that at some point he worked as a sick bay attendant in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, and that he later owned a merchandising business.
Horrocks was convicted of forgery
Forgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...
and sentenced to fourteen years transportation. He arrived in Western Australia on board the Marion in January 1852. He earned his ticket of leave in June 1853, and chose to work out of the Port Gregory
Port Gregory, Western Australia
Gregory is a small town and fishing port in the Mid West region of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, Gregory had a population of 46.Port Gregory, located close to the mouth of the Hutt River, was established in 1849 and named after brothers Augustus and Frank Gregory, two of Western...
convict depot. He became the depot's unofficial medical superintendent, as no qualified person was available to fill the position, and Horrocks had experience as a sick bay attendant. Horrocks earned his conditional pardon in April 1856, and set up as a storekeeper and postmaster, while continuing to provide for the community's medical needs, free of charge.
In 1859, Horrocks took up a 100 acres (404,686 m²) of land, and, with the help of George Shenton Sr
George Shenton Sr
George Shenton was a pharmacist, merchant, banker and philanthropist in colonial Perth, Western Australia.George Shenton was born in Winchester in England on 2 January 1811, the second of four sons of a wealthy silk manufacturer. At the age of fifteen, he was apprenticed to a pharmacist named...
, began to develop a copper mine which he named "Gwalla". Between 1862 and 1856, he employed sixty ticket-of-leave men on the mine. He had a road surveyed, along which he built stone cottages which he leased to the married miners at low rent. He encouraged agriculture, experimenting with various crops. In 1861 he began construction of the colony's first interdenominational church, which was opened in October 1864. In November 1863 he applied to the Government
Government of Western Australia
The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...
for an acre of land for a schoolhouse and garden. The school was completed in 1966. Horrocks died in October 1866. The town of "Gwalla" became Northampton
Northampton, Western Australia
Northampton is a town north of Geraldton, in the Mid West region of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 813. It is historic, with an outstanding National Trust building. The town lies on the North West Coastal Highway. Formerly named Gwalla after the location's...
.