New-York daily tribune., 1844-02-20
Americans IN Van Dieman,s Land.

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Nxyy-YoRH, February Eth, lSii.
To the Editors Of Tie Tribune:
The undersigned were engaged with Col. Won
Shoultz IN the affair Of the Windmill, near Pres
colt, IN November, 1888. They were tried by a
militia court-martial at Kingston, Canada SEN
tenced to death but sent to Van Dieman's Land
as conyicts; where after g residence of nearly
four years, they were forgiven and allowed TO re-
turn to their country by Sir John Franklin, the
British Governor.
On our voyage out, we doubled the Cape OF
Good Hope on our voyage home, We doubled
Cape Horn-perforn;ng. in all, Journey Of up
ward of 10000 miles, and sailing once, at least
round the world.
As there are tifty-lour OF Our comrades who
were under Won Shoultz still in captivity, We
think 1t a duty TO them and their relatives to offer
! the pubic an account OF their present c,rcum
stances, 50 far as the same are known 10 Us.
To do this IN the most satisfactory manner, VIC
here name them severally. They arc all III toe
rable health, except Thomas Stockton who is IN
consumption. Severe treatment and other
causes, which it would only excite unhind feel
ings for US TO dwell upon, have made great in
roads upon many constitutions once very strong /;
-crnment to release them, seeing that ii is on the
most friendly terms with ours, and perfect peace
prevailing on this continent, their wives, sisters,
parents and other relatives may expect TO meet
n,;th men broken down, care-wcrn, or IN MANY
# not in most cases, friends who have painfully
endured very heavy and, as some think, most
unmerited bondage.
Their names are, David Allen, Orlin Blodgett
George T. Brown, Robert G. Collins, Luther Dar-
bv. WiIam,Gates, John Morrisset, James Pearce,
Joseph Thomson, John Berry, Chauncey Buggy,
Patrick White, Thomas Baker, John Cronkhite,
John Thomas, Nathan Whiting, Riley Whitney,
Edward A. Wilson, Samuel Washburn, Bemls
Woodbury., John Bradley, James Inglish Joseph
LAHORE, Daniel Liscomb, Hiram Loop, Calvin
and Chauncey Matthews, Andrew Moore, Jehicl
Fl. Martin Hugh Calhoun, Leonard Delano,
Moses A. butcher, Elon Fellowes, Michael Fri.
er. Manuel Garrison, Gideon A. Goodrich, Mel
son and jeremiah Griggs, John Gilman, Daniel
D. Heustis Garret Hicks, David House, Hiram
Sharp, Henry Shew, Orln W. Smith, Joseph ".
Stewart, Foster Martin, Ira Polly, Jacob Paddock,
William and Solomon Reynolds, Asa II. Rich
ardson, and John G. Swansburgh. Also 1.
Stockton, who is in i'll health.
The following Prescott prisoners are dead
Anson Owen, Asa Priest, Lysander Curtis, John
Stuart of Ohio, William Nottage, and Andrew
Lcaper.
The above are nearly all Americans. The
prisoners from Windsor and the Short Hills,
partly Canadian and partly from the United
States, are in tolerablc health, except Robert
Marsh, who is consumptlve. Their names are
Chauncey Sheldon, Elijah c. Woodman, Michael
Murray, John H. Simmons. Alvin b. Sweet
Simeon Goodrich, James NJ. Acheson, Elijah
al
M. Stewart, John Sprague, John B. Tyrrell,
Varnum, James Waggoner, Norman Mallory,
Horace Cooley, John Grant, Lynus W. Miller
(student at law and Joseph Stewart.
Ofthese, L. w Miller and Joseph Stewart are
at Port Arthur, place of additional punishment.
They attempted to recover their freedom and sut-
fer accordingly.
The prisoners were in hopes that when Presi
dent Tyler and Mr.. Webster concluded the late
Treaty with Britain, through Lord Ashburton
and when Canada got a new constitution, their
hard fate would be remembered; but no one Of
these on the island knows Of any steps taken for
general release. Mr.. Everett. our Minister at
London, told us he was dong what he could for
his unhappy countrymen, but thought 1t was very
doubtful whether they would be allowed again to
see their native land. We were five months on
the passage from Van Dieman's Land to London,
and Mr. Everett got US ship to New York
We say it with truth and sincerity that we would
not Of choice pass the rest of our lives on Van
Diemans Land if the whole island were given to
us in freehold gift; and there can be no
fear that our unfortunate friends who remain there
will ever again desire to interfere with Canada,
we would entreat the generous and humane to ex-
ert themselves to procure their release. We have
not to complain of unusual harshness used towards
ourselves, and yet both of US have often wished
to be relieved by Death from the horrld bondage
entaied on those who arc situated as we were
To be obliged to drag out an existence IN such
convict colony, and among such population, Is
in itself punishment severe beyond our power to
describe.
Several parties, in all about 500 men, were
placed last May under proper officers by the Gov
ernor for the purpose Of securing tour CRIMINALS,
quty of murder, Sc; we were in one of these
parties by whom the criminals were secured; and
this and general good conduct procured severaper
sons their liberty, among whom we two were SD
fortunate as TO be included.
Morrisset, Murry, and LAHORE, are, we think,
from Lower Canada.
We can speak more decidedly as to our COM
rades from Prescott Windsor and the Short Hills,
above named, because when we got our freedom,
we visited most Of them, though scattered through
the Interior bf the country, following their seve
raj trades or occupations. One of us, Aaron
Dresser, resides in Alexandra, Jefferson county |
he other, Stephen S. Wright, lives in Den
marx, Lewis county, both in New York State
w. will be happy to reply to any postpaid let
ten from the relatives of our comrades, and TO
give them any further Information in our power.
S s. WRIGHT.
AARON DRESSER