Thomas Berwick
Encyclopedia
Thomas Berwick was a convict transported
to Western Australia
. He was one of only 37 such convicts from the 9721 convicts transported to the colony to overcome the social stigma
of convictism to become schoolteachers.
Born in 1825, Thomas Berwick worked as a master mariner
until he was found guilty of scuttling his ship and sentenced to twenty years transportation. At the time of his sentence he was married with seven children. He arrived in Western Australia on board the Hougoumont
in January 1868. After receiving his ticket of leave, by 1878 he was working as an unofficial school teacher at Jarrahdale
, with his salary being paid by the local road board. The following year he was officially appointed government schoolmaster. He shares with William Chopin
the distinction of being the last ex-convicts to be appointed school teachers.
In 1882 Berwick bought a block of land, upon which he built a large house in the hope that his family would join him in the colony. When this did not eventuate, he rented the property to an innkeeper. He continued to teach until his death in 1891.
Berwick was one of a very small number of convicts in Western Australia to overcome the social stigma of his conviction and obtain a respectable position in society. Although most respectable occupations were closed to ex-convicts, the colony was desperately short of teachers, yet unable to pay a sufficient wage to attract them. Whereas educated people of the "free" class were not attracted to teaching positions, the positions were attractive to educated ex-convicts, for whom the salary was no lower than other vocations open to them, and the job offered a degree of respectability. In total, 39 ex-convicts became school teachers in Western Australia. Erickson (1983) has suggested that the use of ex-convict school teachers
played an important role in the gradual breaking down of the social stigma of convictism.
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...
. He was one of only 37 such convicts from the 9721 convicts transported to the colony to overcome the social stigma
Social stigma
Social stigma is the severe disapproval of or discontent with a person on the grounds of characteristics that distinguish them from other members of a society.Almost all stigma is based on a person differing from social or cultural norms...
of convictism to become schoolteachers.
Born in 1825, Thomas Berwick worked as a master mariner
Master mariner
A Master Mariner or MM is the professional qualification required for someone to serve as the person in charge or person in command of a commercial vessel. In England, the term Master Mariner has been in use at least since the 13th century, reflecting the fact that in guild or livery company terms,...
until he was found guilty of scuttling his ship and sentenced to twenty years transportation. At the time of his sentence he was married with seven children. He arrived in Western Australia on board the Hougoumont
Hougoumont (ship)
Hougoumont was the last convict ship to transport convicts to Australia.A three-masted full rigged ship of the type commonly known as a Blackwall Frigate of 875 tons gross on dimensions of 165.5 feet long, 34 ft beam and 23 ft depth of hold, Hougoumont was constructed at Moulmein, Burma...
in January 1868. After receiving his ticket of leave, by 1878 he was working as an unofficial school teacher at Jarrahdale
Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Jarrahdale is a small historic town located 50 km south-east of Perth, Western Australia in the Darling Range. Jarrahdale is a descriptive name, derived from its situation in some of Western Australia's best Jarrah forest...
, with his salary being paid by the local road board. The following year he was officially appointed government schoolmaster. He shares with William Chopin
William Chopin
William Chopin was a convict transported to Western Australia. After gaining his Ticket_of_leave#Australian_convicts he worked as a chemist and later as an illicit abortionist....
the distinction of being the last ex-convicts to be appointed school teachers.
In 1882 Berwick bought a block of land, upon which he built a large house in the hope that his family would join him in the colony. When this did not eventuate, he rented the property to an innkeeper. He continued to teach until his death in 1891.
Berwick was one of a very small number of convicts in Western Australia to overcome the social stigma of his conviction and obtain a respectable position in society. Although most respectable occupations were closed to ex-convicts, the colony was desperately short of teachers, yet unable to pay a sufficient wage to attract them. Whereas educated people of the "free" class were not attracted to teaching positions, the positions were attractive to educated ex-convicts, for whom the salary was no lower than other vocations open to them, and the job offered a degree of respectability. In total, 39 ex-convicts became school teachers in Western Australia. Erickson (1983) has suggested that the use of ex-convict school teachers
Ex-convict school teachers in Western Australia
Following Western Australia's convict era, 37 ex-convicts were appointed school teachers in the colony. The appointment of such a large number of ex-convicts to what was considered a respectable government position was highly unusual for a penal colony, as the social stigma of conviction usually...
played an important role in the gradual breaking down of the social stigma of convictism.