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There is currently one researcher who has claimed Richard Edwards
Biographies
Richard Edwards was indicted for grand larceny at the Old Bailey on the 6th October 1826, (alias used by Abraham Chas Flower) with 2 other men for stealing a graining comb, value 1s 10d. all were found guilty and sentenced to 7 years transportation. He also lied about his age.[1] He arrived in Van Diemens Land on the Royal George(2) on 18th October 1830 and was sent to Macquarie Harbour because his Hulk report stated his behaviour had been "contemptuous and mutinous", it also stated he had a wife Susannah Matilda and son Abraham in Westminster.[2] It was while he was at Macquarie Harbour that he came into contact with Backhouse and Walker, the founders of Quakerism in Australia. They were gifted diarist and because of this we have the following information - Flower was admitted to membership in the newly formed Hobart Meeting in October 1833. In June 1834 he received his freedom and also became an accredited Minister, in recognition of what was felt to be his gift for speaking acceptably in Meeting for Worship. Some years later, in one of his reports published serially in 'The Irish Friend', Backhouse expressed the exhilaration which Flower's transformation had aroused in the hearts of Friends & particularly by his recognition by the Meeting as a Minister. "That one of the despised and persecuted little band at Macquarie Harbour should become an accredited Minister of a body of christians". On 23rd October, 1843 Walker quoted in his journal what he
called "a pleasing proof of the sincerity of Flower's repentance" He had received news of of a legacy of three hundred pounds left to him by his father. In spite of his own very slender means to supports his wife & family in Van Diemens Land, he asked Walker to arrange through the English Friend, Peter Bedford, to restore sums of money amounting to half the legacy to two individuals "as a restitution for monies wrongfully obtained of them during the period of his folly and wicked career".
In 1833 Richard Edwards applied to bring his wife Susannah & son Abraham to Van Diemens Land, they arrived on the convict ship Edward on the 4th September 1834.
In 1843 Flower departed from the path of strict adherence to the truth when he recorded himself in the Census as having 'arrived Free'.
Desire to distance himself from a distasteful memory was perhaps understandably strong. In 1847 Launceston Meeting Disowned him for 'connecting with Rechabites'.
Flower left Launceston on the Swan on 1 March 1849 for Victoria.
Two Quaker Ministers, Joseph Neaves and Walter Robson discovered him in 1868, living alone about 7 miles from Castlemaine. Walter Robson gave the following picture of the man.
"His wife being deceased and his family married and settled elsewhere, he lived alone,his occupation, gold digger, which brings him
in an income of about 5 shillings a week. He is in a most happy and thoughtful state, telling us his wants were well supplied,
his little two roomed hut, of his own building, enabling him to live rent-free. He keeps some goats which supply him with milk. We had a very precious time with him, a brook by the way. A few months ago he was put to jail for a little debt which he had offered payment of, but
his creditor, an unprincipled man, who has since been sold off and ruined himself, refused to accept the money when offered and, from spite we suppose, put the poor old man to jail. Even here he was happy and it was very instructive to us both to see how humble and tender and sensible of his many shortcomings he was, yet so full of the love of Jesus and gratitude to him.
Neave reported "there was nothing of unkind feelings towards those who had been instrumental in his separation from Friends".[3]
The Flower family were wholesale jewelers with a shop at 8 Chichester Rents, London, UK
Abraham Charles Flower died in Echuca hospital, December 1895. He is buried at Moama cemetery N.S.W. [4]
Submitted by Researcher (5126) on 22 October 2015
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Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
sources
1] http://www.oldbaileyonline.org.
2] A Question of Survival - William Oates. pages 138-145
3] Tasmanian Archives
4] Victoria BDM
Submitted by Researcher (5126) on 28 October 2015
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Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/7, p.399
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