Sentence:  ...notwithstanding an order which was given by Governor Phillip, in which the colony were informed, that the <WSD>public servants</WSD> (convicts) had no property, their clothing, time, and labour, being the property of the Government, and not at their own disposal. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Someone who labours for the public good; a convict assigned to work on public projects. (from 16th c.)