- Placename
- Portsmouth, England
- Type
- Other
Details
Latitude50.801389 Longitude-1.109861 Start Date1834-02-10 End Date1834-02-10
Description
Extended Data
- Location notes
- Selected location near the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, though have not pinpointed the exact dock that the James Pattison departed from.
- Date notes
- We do not have a record of the ship departure date, however in a letter dated 5 May 1834 Bussell refers to 'those dear hearts who have thought and prayed for us in all their positions for the last 84 days and nights', suggesting that she departed England on 10 February. [5]
- Biographical information
- Frances Louisa Bussell (née Yates) was born in England in 1782. She married Reverend William Marchant Bussell and had nine children: John Garrett, Charles, Joseph Vernon, Alfred Pickmore, Lenox, Frances Louisa (Fanny), Elizabeth (Bessie) Capel and Mary. Reverend William Marchant Bussell died in 1820. The following decade Frances Louisa and seven of her children left England and became prominent colonists in the southwest of WA. [13]
Bussell left for WA in early 1834 with her eldest daughter Mary. [6] In a letter written to her sisters while anchored at Table Bay, Cape Town, on 5 May, she refers to 'those dear hearts who have thought and prayed for us in all their positions for the last 84 days and nights', suggesting that she departed England on 10 February. She said of the journey: 'We are in health and spirits and have heard favourable accounts of our dear Augustine. The voyage has been tedious for the impatient but remarkably propitious. Not one passenger would we wish away we have had no storms and very few annoyances or “fikes” as some of our scotch friends term.' [5]
- Links to slavery the slave trade
- Attitudes around race
- Attitudes around labour
- Images
- Images notes
- References
- [1] https://slwa.wa.gov.au/pdf/mn/bussell/Bussell_Frances_Louisa__Senior_.pdf
[2] State Library of WA, ACC 3893A/23
[3] State Library of WA, ACC 3893A/24
[4] State Library of WA, ACC 337A/317
[5] State Library of WA, ACC 3893A/21
[6] https://slwa.wa.gov.au/pdf/mn/bussell/Bussell_Mary_Yates.pdf
[7] The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians, 'Frances Louisa BUSSELL'
[8] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/641393?searchTerm=%22james%20pattison%22
[9] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/641354?searchTerm=%22james%20pattison%22
[10] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/641315?searchTerm=%22james%20pattison%22%20bussell`
[11] State Library of WA, ACC 337A/310
[12] http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/fad84854-fc8e-4f95-8e72-dc2a0e7e770d
[13] Cattle Chosen, London: Oxford University Press, 1926
[14] http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/PrintSingleRecord/eea003bd-81eb-4f71-b38f-fd030d9d9532
[15] https://www.amrshire.wa.gov.au/library/file/6%20Region/WalkingTrails/augbsnHeritageTrail.pdf
[16] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-17/wonnerup-minninup-massacre-the-ghosts-are-not-silent/100458938
[17] Warren Bert Kimberly, History of West Australia, 1897
Sources
TLCMap IDt799f
Created At2022-01-14 17:23:13 Updated At2023-12-11 17:48:16
- Placename
- Kincinnup (Albany)
- Type
- Other
Details
Latitude-35.048278 Longitude117.968028 Start Date1834-06-19 End Date1834-06-19
Description
Extended Data
- Location notes
- Date notes
- Biographical information
- Bussell and her daughter Mary arrived at King George Sound in Kincinnup (Albany) aboard the James Pattison on 19 June 1834. [7] They soon sailed on to Walyalup (Fremantle). Sons John Garrett, Charles, Joseph Vernon, Alfred Pickmore had arrived in 1830, and Lenox, Fanny and Bessie in 1833.
- Links to slavery the slave trade
- Attitudes around race
- Attitudes around labour
- Images
- Images notes
- References
Sources
TLCMap IDt79a0
Created At2022-01-14 17:23:13 Updated At2023-12-11 17:48:16
- Placename
- Walyalup (Fremantle)
- Type
- Other
Details
Latitude-32.056861 Longitude115.741389 Start Date1834-08-19 End Date1834-08-19
Description
Extended Data
- Location notes
- Date notes
- Biographical information
- After delays due to bad weather, the James Pattison arrived at Walyalup (Fremantle) on Tuesday 19 August 1834. [8,9, 10] In a letter to Elizabeth Capel Carter dated 27 August, Bussell writes: 'Perplexed and worried as I am in landing and collecting my property and the ships on the point of [sinking/sailing?] I snatch a moment to say we arrived safe and well. We are now at Fremantle with the McDermots and were to have been conveyed to Perth to day to stay with Lady Stirling till the arrival of the Colonial Schooner which is to embark us for Augusta.' [11]
- Links to slavery the slave trade
- In her letter to Elizabeth Capel Carter on 27 August 1834, Bussell writes: 'We left Atwood at the King Georges Sound, he said he could not consent to be a slave but he has adopted a more severe slavery than he would have found with us, he is adopted into the family of a Mr Sherat a merchant & farmer, of course I could not refuse the subscribers the £20 as it had been expended on his account but if his friends think it right they must accept it by instalments from the little fund I left under your direction, it will take 4 years to do it in. I said I should [wait?] on his fulfilling his engagement to which he replied [? page torn] that I could not that he was not indentured by his lawful guardian. I was sorry to leave him but it was unavoidable, I must furnish other particulars at some more leisure (sic) time.' [11]
- Attitudes around race
- Attitudes around labour
- Images
- Newspaper notice advising of delays to James Pattison: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/641393?searchTerm=%22james%20pattison%22
Newspaper notice advising of James Pattison arrivals: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/641354?searchTerm=%22james%20pattison%22
Newspaper notice advising of Bussell's arrival: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/641315?searchTerm=%22james%20pattison%22%20bussell
- Images notes
- References
Sources
TLCMap IDt79a1
Created At2022-01-14 17:23:13 Updated At2023-12-11 17:48:16
- Placename
- Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River)
- Type
- Other
Details
Latitude-31.959769 Longitude115.86106 Start Date1834-09-18 End Date1834-09-18
Description
Extended Data
- Location notes
- We do not know where exactly Bussell was around Derbarl Yerrigan so have estimated this location.
- Date notes
- Note at State Library of WA: Letter dated 1835 but 'Possibly should be 1834 as this is a copy of Frances Louisa’s letter to Capel Carter and it has been sent to various friends – all the English postmarks being before September 1835.' [1]
- Biographical information
- In a letter dated 18 September 1834 or 1835 (see 'Date notes'), Bussell speaks of her first impressions of the Swan River colony.
- Links to slavery the slave trade
- Attitudes around race
- Attitudes around labour
- Images
- Images notes
- References
Sources
TLCMap IDt79a2
Created At2022-01-14 17:23:13 Updated At2023-12-11 17:48:16
- Placename
- Augusta
- Type
- Other
Details
Latitude-34.326222 Longitude115.166612 Start Date1834-10-19 End Date1834-10-19
Description
Extended Data
- Location notes
- This located has been identified by the Heritage Council of Western Australia as the Bussell home site [14]
- Date notes
- We do not know the exact date that Bussell first reached Augusta, but one of her letters sent from here is dated 19 October 1834.
- Biographical information
- Bussell likely arrived in Augusta in early October 1834. In a letter written to her sister Emily on 19 October 1834, she writes that 'a day and two nights brought us to Augusta beautiful Augusta all well we were met by the darlings on the beach looking so sweet so happy so contented … in spite of the most rude and rustic menage we have passed our days in peace and tranquility … ' [2]
John Garratt Bussell and his brothers meanwhile had been clearing land and building a homestead in the Vasse region, on Wadandi Noongar land. Frances Louisa and her daughters awaited joining them there. In the same letter she writes: 'The next time the Ellen comes she will transport us all to the Vasse with the exception of Charles and one of the Girls.' [2]
- Links to slavery the slave trade
- Attitudes around race
- Attitudes around labour
- Images
- Images notes
- References
Sources
TLCMap IDt79a3
Created At2022-01-14 17:23:13 Updated At2023-12-11 17:48:16
- Placename
- Cattle Chosen
- Type
- Other
Details
Latitude-33.668694 Longitude115.359194 Start Date1836-01-31 End Date1836-01-31
Description
Extended Data
- Location notes
- Date notes
- We do not know the exact date that Bussell reached Cattle Chosen, however she writes in a letter on 22 January 1836 that she is about to depart from Augusta, so we have given the estimate of 31 January. [4]
- Biographical information
- In early 1836 Bussell and her family moved from Augusta to a homestead built by John Garratt Bussell and his brothers. The Bussells named the property 'Cattle Chosen'. [11] In a letter dated 22 January 1836 to Elizabeth Capel Carter, Bussell writes: 'it is the last you will receive from Augusta, the Sally Ann is now at anchor waiting to transport us to Cattle Chosen where you may believe I have been long anxious to [set?] up my abode tho parting with Charles will be much felt but we do not expect that it can be for long as when John was at the Swan it was decided that the Vasse should soon become head quarters, I shall feel some regret at leaving Augusta for [truly?] it is really a sweet place and I still take great pleasure not unaccompanied by pain in inspecting the arduous labors of the inexperienced hands of our first young immigrants I am however fully satisfied it was a wise measure to abandon it and eventually with heavens blessing they will see a flourishing place rise up rounded by this magnanimous effort made by them to strike out anew ...' [4]
This land belonged to the Wadandi Noongar people. Tensions built between the Wadandi Noongar and British colonists. Some Noongar men and women were employed by colonist George Layman. When Noongar man Gayware approached Layman to ask for his wife - who had been working for Layman - to return, they got into a dispute and Layman grabbed Gayware by the beard, a major violation in Noongar culture. Gayware speared Layman who died. Two days later, John Bussell and Magistrate John Molloy led a party of colonists and soldiers who purused and killed at least a dozen Noongar men, women, children and elders around Wonnerup, Busselton and Minninup. [16] Historian Warren Bert Kimberly described the massacre at Lake Minninup as 'one of the most bloodthirsty deeds ever committed by Englishmen'. [17 p 116]
Bussell remained at Cattle Chosen until her death in 1845. [13? Check this]
- Links to slavery the slave trade
- Attitudes around race
- The Bussell family, in particular Frances Louisa's sons, were involved in violence toward the Wadandi Noongar people. John Bussell co-led the Wonnerup 'Minninup' massacre (see 'Biographical information')
In Cattle Chosen: 'One suspects an antipathy between Miss Hayward and Mrs. Bussell. [Sophie Hayward was John Garrett's childhood sweetheart. Hayward was an orphan and her father was a Western Indian planter] The former demurred more than once at the prospect, as she deemed it, of not being mistress in her own house. Mrs Bussell once speaks of her as "the fickle Indian", and seems to show relief at a phase of estrangement.' [13, pp 125-126]
- Attitudes around labour
- Images
- Images notes
- References
Sources
TLCMap IDt79a4
Created At2022-01-14 17:23:13 Updated At2023-12-11 17:48:16
