Thursday, August 6, 2009

The life of James Cartledge (1810 - 1877)

James Cartledge was born in Staffordshire (The Potteries District), 13 Feb 1810, his Brother John was born 13 Jun 1813 in Staffs. The family later moved to Manchester, sometime in the 1820s. Northern England at that time was a cauldron of social change, the nursery of socialism on the one hand, and the benevolent friendly co-operatives on the other.

In 1837 James married Margret shearer – Marriage document James & Margaret 10 Sept. Manchester Cathederal. James Res. 4 Ashton St. Manchester (Schoolmaster/widower) (Father William, gardener.) Margaret Res. 36 Lomax St. Man. (Father, William Shearer, bricklayer. Mother, Margaret.) Witnesses John & Sarah Dumbill (Margaret & Sarah illiterate(?), signed with X) [Margaret was born in Ulster Ireland, 22 Nov 1809.]

Two of the children born in Manchester, James and William George, died in infancy. The surviving sons were; John born March 27 1841 and George August 6 1843.

In the prevailing social conditions, James, a schoolmaster, became an active member of the Chartist Movement, under Feargus O'Connor. Margaret’s father, a bricklayer, and brother were also active Chartists. Though committed to social and political change, by 1843, James was at odds with the often radical and violent leadership of the movement. Following a series of violent riots across the North, many Chartists were arrested and tried for various offences.

James was prevailed on to give evidence against a number of Chartists, including O'Connor. We can only speculate on why he would turn on the movement, but given is later activities I suspect James would now be classed as a social democrat and many of the ‘radical’ ideas he supported are nothing less than basic expectations now.

It seems part of the deal for James’ testimony was relocation, and a government post in Van Diemen's Land. James and his wife Margaret, children John and George and his brother John arrived in Hobart Town in 1844 on the transportation ship ‘The London’. James was employed as secretary to the ship’s commandant. It is said that John was simply on an adventure, and intended to return to England. As the records show, he established himself comfortably in the colony.

Although active in politics in England, James never spoke publicly on political issues after leaving Manchester. In 1843 James appointed Superintendent of the Launceston Treadmill. It was an ironic twist, as some of the convicts in his charge were Chartists.

He is credited, in family oral history, with stopping the lash as a punishment while Superintendent of the Launceston. However, apart from the records showing the lashings stopped during his tenure, there is no proof of his direct involvement. The family story has it that as Magistrate James was sickened at having to sentence the awful punishment.

The legend has it that during one court session James had said something to the effect that he wished the [whipping] triangle would disappear. At least, according to the records, while the lash endured elsewhere in the colony none were recorded in Launceston. It is also said that when the treadmill was finally demolished the dreaded implement of punishment was found in the rafters of the old building.

New Life in the colonies

Needless to say, James found government work odious, and doubtless John saw an opportunity for them both as millers. They acquired a lease on the Supply River Mill, further down the Tamar River. However while John operated the mill James stayed in Launceston to operate another venture, the Union Water Supply.

The Supply River story is covered here. The Union Water Supply enterprise was based at another mill (see right), at the head of the Tamar and confluence with the South Esk River. This mill was powered by water fed by wooden flume, down the gorge from the cataracts. The Tamar at this point was brackish and something of a cesspool, but busy shipping needed fresh water.

The Union Water Supply collected the water used to drive the mill, supplying it to ships plying this river port. This connection with shipping could we answer another conundrum, it has always been a curious point that there had not been any previous history of ships in the family – until James.

Of course they needed and acquired a ship for the Supply River mill. The Tamar Maid was essential to deliver wheat to the mill and flour to the market, essentially contracts with the colonies government. But James went further and had another ship, the Cousins, built at the mill site. Then he went on to become a ‘ships master’.

It is unfair of course to employ the Cromwellian phrase here - right but repulsive, wrong but romantic. However it is clear in their business ventures that James chose a more romantic path while brother John built a close relationship with the growing business class of the colony. John forged ahead with is Supply Mill apprentice Tommy Monds, while James remained close to the dreamer, ‘Philosopher Smith’.

When James followed John to the gold rush (1854), though staying in Melbourne to establish a building supplies business he soon recruited Smith (left) to provide quality timber from the Forth/Mersey area of Tasmania. The tall, straight eucalypts of this region produced a bounty of smooth straight split palings for building needs.

But whatever happened, in 1856 James moved back to Tasmania – to Torquay now known s East Devonport – and the source of his timber business. He had a small store there and also returned to teaching, but he was still shipping out palings.

In 1861 James sold he Cousins to budding shipping magnate, William Holyman, however 1866 his world fell apart when oldest son John died when the Tamar Maid capsized at the rip, the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. That was the end of James’ seafaring, though the tradition lived on in the family.

But ven on the other side of the world it seems James could not altogether escape his Chartist past. It has been a matter of some speculation as to why others write of James' time on the North West Coast, as he was a prominent citizen, James Fenton should totally ignore him.

The discovery that a close friend of James Fenton's, Zephaniah Williams, was an exiled Chartist suggests that James might have been suffering for his past. Although Williams had been transported in 1840, he still appeared to have some knowledge of events in the movement. To him, James would have been a traitor, and the fact that he gave evidence against one James Fenton (certainly not a close relative of Fenton) would be enough to cause bad blood.

James and John were total abstainers throughout their lives. Williams on the other hand had been a publican both in Wales and in Devonport. In the small community of the time it is easy to surmise the two groups being hostile to each other.

Even after his return to Launceston and to his death in 1877 James remained committed to his Primitive Methodist background and remained active in organisations like the Rechabites and other abstinence groups. More than that he remained true to his belief in social reform.

Chartist historians still claim James Cartledge was a traitor, and they might well be right. From his actions James was less interested in the politics of the situation and far more concerned about the reality. He was an ‘ordinary’ businessman, but his involvement is establishing banking, housing and other essentials, within the reach of the common man, was relentless. Perhaps the subject of another post.

9 comments:

  1. There are two or three typical most distant point regular Apex Vitality Miracle Bust in this thing. There are no subordinate furniture of the utilization of this thing. Reality are a part of the purpose of constrainment and its prizes enlightened

    Bolstered jar is a gather and is a great measure of a huge part of the time normal in the mid-section elevating things. This antique is aswell perceived a dispensing of the ladies' who are mid-section managing. This aswell gathers milk supply. There are chemicals adjusted in this relic go about as a hormonal acclimation Miracle Bust specialists and t builds mid-section size. The ladies' who are difficulty from gastrointestinal issues are not supported with this thing.



    http://www.supplementsoffer.com/miracle-bust/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rather than other male change products, Maxatinfocuses on the premise trigger of sexual brokenness in guys. To guarantee that male to accomplish and safeguard in erection, blood dissemination towards the penis ought to be adequate. Maxatin's mix of parts capacities to help blood course towards the penis, this empowering male to accomplish and save an erection.



    http://www.fitnessbites.org/maxatin-br/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Further to five Grammy Blackcore Edge Max awards James Taylor has earned forty gold, platinum, and multi platinum awards over his 32 12 months profession. His lyrics are introspective and coronary heart felt and combine with clean harmonies and melodic stylings.For more ==== >>>>>> http://www.healthsupreviews.com/blackcore-edge-max-review/

    ReplyDelete
  4. Whilst throwback Grow XL jerseys have been noted, you can or might not have found out how an awful lot those have inspired sports memorabilia, however in 1980, whilst the NBA, MLB, and NFL commenced selling both new and those used in video games, the collectors desired even greater.For more ==== >>>>>> http://www.healthsupreviews.com/grow-xl/

    ReplyDelete
  5. terrible secretion of testosterone Fierce Male Enhancement in frame is one of the major reasons for bad erection and terrible shape of male genitals. The onset of ED in men can be connected to the triggering.For more ==== >>>>>> http://www.healthsupreviews.com/fierce-male-enhancement/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Though what sort of sporting Penetrex Male Enhancement events might be appropriate? sports that involve the chest area muscle tissues are extremely fantastic. A brilliant exercising to attempt can be the.For more ==== >>>>>> http://boostupmuscles.com/penetrex-male-enhancement/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Modest adaptable hollow in Brick Muscle it that lets in a bit of your respective fitness to leak out. The measurement of your hollow varies together with all the "weight" of fitness this is surely pushing.For more ==== >>>>>> http://www.strongtesterone.com/brick-muscle/

    ReplyDelete
  8. full spectrum cbd is composed of 3 main ingredients. They're. Vegetable cellulose helps in easy digestion - Magnesium Stearate Helps in making a smooth, easy-to swallow capsule - The product is made in a FDA, and United States Department of Agriculture registered lab, maintaining GMP standards. The product has also been tested to ensure there's no THC. About full spectrum cbd - full spectrum cbd is a small Colorado based company that carries out in depth studies on the uses of cannabis. This company was founded by 3 men who've always been enthusiastic about bring all natural health supplements to the masses. Through this act, they hope to improve the quality of life for many suffering people in this present day and age.

    full spectrum cbd

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ashley Madison is one of the most non-traditional dating websites you will find on the internet. It has somewhat of an infamous reputation for helping people cheat on their partners. It has come under a lot of criticism from women and men alike, but it is still up and running. In fact, it is extremely popular with hundreds of thousands of active users. Discretion is obviously top priority for this dating site, but there is more to it than meets the eye. This is perhaps the most fascinating date site every conceived, and certainly the most controversial.

    Ashley Madison Review

    ReplyDelete