TW0 FIREBRANDS Eliza Morrison, 1829? –1855
John Hobbs, b.1824?
In eighteenth century Ireland many ireful cailins turned wilful firebrands, not crimps but boots agitating to emigrate. Braids of flaming red, a freckly-faced Catholic cailin, Eliza Morrison, bold as brass, illiterate, outspoken, with startling pale blue eyes and double chin, her Donegal pall, Mary Nowlan, being likewise roused, contrived to scorch Margaret Cavanagh’s house, an innocent widow with child, utter strangers. The judge decreed this dangerous crime most heinous. In the green beryl isle, arson was commonplace; whereas in flinty England, ‘twas not a hanging offence, but chance to fly, to leg the Earl Grey, a lag ship! ‘A long life to your Honour!’ Eliza quipped, pleased as Punch to find her fate to emigrate. The foal set unsteady foot on foreign soil, slighted by eight dark, dank, dreary months in that colonial transport, yet assigned as ticket-of-leave holder she tinkered as housemaid, publican, then orderly in Hobart Hospital, lodging at the House of Correction. Perchance she bumped John Hobbs in the pub? Mentioned to clergy she was spliced, her husband enticed to America. So risked with John the morning drop for errant behaviour. But disease of the lungs caused her premature decease – For Eliza, What blessed release! To crack the shackles of his muck-worm, luckless life, John Hobbs’ miserable game was a crime premeditated with Tom Webster and Robert Lewer, mates in strife. They met up on a farm at dusk in Richmond parish, stony broke, begging for bridge tolls, muchly famished, desperate to cross the Thames and wreak havoc. Hobbs confessed in court, ‘Aye, we looked to fire a stack.’ They struck. Neath a high, sightly stack they stowed faggots to set ablaze the grazing property of Frederick Piggott. Although Hobbs bore no grudge to the offended farmer, ‘Twas he who lent his baccy pipe to light three lucifers.
Sentenced to fifteen years, Hobbs served time in Gibraltar, then sailed in the St Vincent to Van Diemen’s Land with the prospect of declaring himself anew - a French polisher. Michael Small May 13-27, 2014 In September, 1854 John Hobbs and Eliza Morrison’s application for marriage was approved, but the clergyman’s enquiries revealed that Eliza was already married. John was pardoned in 1856.
May 13-26, 2014