Convict Assignment: John Holman and J. Leake (1838)

The Assignment System at work: 19 June 1838 printed Memorandum (sent as an Opso letter with Crowned Free postmark) from the Principal Superintendent's Office completed in mss regarding the convict John Holman, a bricklayer who had been transported to Van Diemen's Land for 7 years, arriving aboard the 'Eden' in December 1836. The memorandum advises that he was being made available for 3 months to Mr J. Leake at Campbelltown. As 'mechanics' were is short supply, bricklayers and other experienced tradesmen were limited to such short assignments. John Leake was nominated to the Legislative Council in 1846, then lost his seat but recovered it in 1848, being a government nominee on the Council until 1856. He became a personal friend of Governor William Denison, and one of his chief supporters for the continuance of convict transportation. He successfully employed convicts with encouragement and kindliness, advocating the rehabilitation of the prisoners.