AGY-5191 | Board for the Assignment of Servants

Full description

The Board for the Assignment of Servants was formed from 1 January 1831. The members of the Board were Campbell Drummond Riddell, the Colonial Treasurer, William Dumaresq, member of the Land Board, and Frederick A. Hely, Principal Superintendent of Convicts. They were given an annual salary each of £100. The Clerk to the Board was George Milner Slade who was appointed from 1 January 1831 with salary of £300. (1) The principal function of the Board was to regulate the assignment of convict servants.

Dumaresq ceased to be on the Board in 1832 which was reduced to the remaining two members. (2) A messenger was also appointed in 1833. From 15 July 1833 Edward Deas Thomson filled the vacant position and from that date, in conformity with instructions from the Secretary of State, the duties of the Board were conducted without salary. (3) From 20 October 1835 Donald G. MacArthur was appointed as an extra clerk. (4)

In 1835 the Colonial Secretary, Alexander McLeay, reported that he attended the landing of the Female Emigrants. In this he was assisted by the Archdeacon, by Mr. Riddell, the Colonial Treasurer, and Mr McPherson, the Collector of Internal Revenue. He stated that Mr. Riddell had the principal charge of this business. Riddell stated that he had been appointed to this duty by the Governor as a member of the Assignment Board. (5)

The Board was discontinued by order of the Secretary of State. It was succeeded by the Commissioner for the Assignment of Convict Servants. That office was held by the former Clerk to the Board, George Milner Slade. (6)

Endnotes
1. Colonial Secretary; NRS 1286, Returns of the Colony (Blue Books), 1831 [4/262A p.82] SR Fiche 453.
2. Ibid., 1832 [4/263 p.84] SR Fiche 455.
3. Ibid., 1833 [4/264 p.86] SR Fiche 458, 1834 [4/265 p.86b] SR Fiche 462; NSW Government Gazette No.72, 17 July 1833, p.263.
4. NRS 1286, 1835 [4/266A p.84] SR Fiche 465.
5. Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on Immigration, 16 June 1835, Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Council from 1832 to 1837, 1847, pp.285-286.
6. NRS 1286, 1836 [4/268 p.86] SR Fiche 468; NSW Government Gazette No.226, 15 June 1836, Vol. 1, p.453.