The Title "From Whence t hey came" will have many bits and pieces about the 'Bounty scheme', about the hopes and aspirations of the free settlers and about their impressions of this Great South Land across the sea.
Here is the unedited, opening remarks. Some months away yet though. So make sure you read the sequel to The Life and Loves of Tiger Williams, now available on Amazon Books.
“But
Charles, it is such a long way, six months on the ship...Leaving
England, our family, our friends....Oh Charles, I will go, of course,
I am you wife, but please keep me safe.”
Mary,
Elizabeth Baker nee Newington, was the typical genteel female of
Rural Dorset. Born to a well to do family of landholders and
Physicians, she had a good life, was happy in the social life, as it
was in Dorset in the early 1800s, but as she thought of these things
she also had the thought..'.and now this. '
Charles
Bevan Baker was a wanderer, a merchant of adventure, and at the age
of sixteen years, already an adult and partner in the family Company, he intended to become very wealthy, and a man of
the world.
The
green pastures of Dorset, in the district of Marnhull, held two lines
of this Baker clan, there were the rich landholders, and there were
the workers and tenant farmers that worked small plots for the
Squires
Although
the clan bore the same name, the divide between the classes was wide
and very evident. The Mister Bakers would have no hesitation in
withdrawing assistance and employment from the common Bakers, the
workers, the poor ones that often, in hard times, relied on handouts
from the community or local Parish Church.
Charles
left the large house, with its thatched roof, low doorway, tidy
garden and went to his horse that was held, patiently, by the groom.
Another servant came with a shotgun and a packet of cartridges that
Charles places into loops on this hunting jacket.
“Tell
the cook I will only bring her two partridge today...we have no
guests coming for a free feed tonight.”
The
servants tittered at this, obediently, and went about their duties.
As
he rode out to meet neighbours and friends, who had already arranged
the 'beaters' for the partridge hunt, he thought of the 'game' that
may present itself to his accurate marksmanship.
'Hopping
marsupials, ten feet tall, wombats built like grizzly bears, other
bears that lived in trees and, and, according to Jim Williams, dropped down from the trees to attack the unwary. There were birds of all size and colour..It will be
a bright new wonderful world,'
Ahh this will be another of your lovely books I `ll be ordering .. great reading thanks for sharing..
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