The Beginning – Amos family history

Our story starts around 1750 and recounts family history prior to immigration.

Somewhere in Scotland, probably not far from the Parish of Melrose, Roxburghshire, James Amos was born. Subsequently his sons Adam born in 1774 and John at Heriot in 1777 both undertook an epic journey emigrating to Van Diemen’s Land/Tasmania.

The exact date and place of James birth has proven too difficult to establish with any certainty.

In 1756 the family of James moved into the Gattonside area just across the Tweed River and about a mile away from Melrose Township. James' father leased a small farm in the area from James Boston, probably in 1759. There was a small village housing local weavers, and Gattonside was also celebrated for the abundance of fruit from its orchards.

James must have wanted to improve his position and the lot of his growing family, and applied to be free of his lease on the Gattonside land by Whitsunday 1776 so he could lease a farm at Heriot Mill. However there were still two years to run on the Gattonside lease and the owner would not release him from the contract. Mr. John Mercer, a solicitor of Melrose, drew up an agreement whereby James was allowed to move to Heriot, but also had to work out the lease on the Gattonside farm. He became a tenant of the Borthwick family at Heriot Mill Farm on May 15th 1776.

This farm was probably no more than 60 or 70 acres; James must have considered it to be a better farming proposition than the land at Gattonside.

Before the family left Gattonside for Heriot, James and Helen were provided with a testimonial from their local Church. It read: “That the bearer James Amos and his Wife Nelly Hoy lived civilly and Christianly in the Parish of Melrose, himself for twenty years and his wife from her infancy until Whitsunday last, and removed free of Public Scandal known to us, and they both being communicants with us, may be received into any Christian congregation and is dated at Melrose the seventh day of June Seventeen hundred and seventy six by: F. Maclagan, Minister “

With this valuable document safely in their keeping, the family packed their belongings some time during June 1776 and moved to the new farm at Heriot Mill, a journey of about 25km/16mls. Heriot Mill was on the Heriot Water in Heriot Parish, Edinburghshire, to the North of Melrose. The nearby village of Heriot still exists and was reputed to have stone circles at Heriot Town Hill-head and at Borthwick Hall Hill-head, so it must have been the site of a very early pre-Christian settlement.

The first Statistical Account of Scotland (1795) records that as well as farmers and their servants in the Parish; there was one miller, presumably at Heriot Mill. There were only seven land proprietors in the parish, none of which were actually resident. Apart from the river valley of the Gala Water near Galashiels, Heriot Parish was chiefly hills, with a total area of 12,000 acres, much of it heather moor. Only one acre in ten was arable land. Heriot valley was very fertile but the Heriot Water was liable to sudden flooding which caused much damage to property.

It’s a matter of history that permanent surnames began to be used in Scotland around the 12th century, but were initially mainly the preserve of the upper echelons of Scottish society. However, it gradually became necessary to distinguish ordinary people one from the other by more than just the given name and the use of surnames spread. The influences on Scottish surnames are many and varied and often more than one has resulted in the surname that we know today. It is therefore very difficult to attribute sources for surnames with complete certainty.

In all probability Amos ancestors would only have been known as Amos from around the middle of the 16th century. The name taken may have been that of the prophet Amos having been a herdsman and suggesting sympathy with the land.

Little more is known about the family until James decided to take a bride. In the parish register it was recorded: Booked for ditto (in order to marry) Aug 17 James Amos m. Helen Hoy both in this parish.

Thus James and Helen, known as Nelly, were married at Melrose on August 17th 1771. James Sanderson stood surety for the couple, guaranteeing payment for the reading of the Banns (proclamation) prior to the intended marriage. Around this time James appears to have taken over the lease at Gattonside from his father, or at least to be running the farm.

Nelly gave birth to the couple’s first child in 1772, Alison being christened on June 14th. On March 4th 1774, the couple’s first son arrived and nine days later he was christened Adam, a fitting name for a baby who would one day be a pioneer and the first of his name to establish a life in a new land. The third child was christened Helen on April 7th 1776 at Gattonside.

On February 14th 1777 James & Nelly welcomed the latest addition to their family when their second son, John, was born. The Old Parish Register 688 Heriot, records the event: “1777 Amos, Mr. James, Tenant Heriot Mill and Helen Hoy his spouse had a son born 14 Feb 1777 called John. ”

John was later to join his older brother Adam in establishing the Amos name in Australia.

James & Nelly again became proud parents when on May 7th 1780 another son, James, was born at Heriot Mill.

With the settling up of the debt due on the Gattonside land, James was able in 1778 to pay a full half-year's rent for Heriot Mill. Money may then have become tight; as it was not until May the following year that rent due up to November 1778 was paid.

On March 24th 1782 we find another family entry in the Old Parish Register 688 Heriot: "Helen lawful daughter to James Amos, tenant in Heriot Mill and Nelly Hoy baptised in the church "

On June 26th 1784 James & Helen returned to Heriot Church for the baptism of their latest daughter, Janet. Unfortunately their joy was short-lived, as Janet died when only 8 months of age. The Minutes of Kirk Session, Old Parish Register 688, Heriot Vol.1 record the event simply, with "14 Feb 1785 Janet Amos, a child, buried”

Tragedy was compounded for the growing family when less than a month later their mother also passed away. Once again we find a simple entry in the Minutes of Kirk Session: "14 Mar 1785 Best Mortcloth for Helen Hoys' burial ” Whether Helen and Janet had contracted the same illness, or whether there was some other reason for the closeness of their deaths, is unknown.

When Adam was just 17 years old his father James also passed away, presumably leaving him in charge of the young family who, on August 10th 1791, buried their father at Heriot. The Register entry shows: “7 Aug 1791 To the Best Mortcloth for James Amos & John Johnson” What would become of the family of such a young age, we can only presume that in the society of the time, people rallied round to assist and that the youngsters themselves took on the responsibilities of farm and household.

When he was 25, Adam first appears with a statement of expenditure. Just after his 30th birthday, he finally went to the altar, the parish register entry reads: "15 Apr 1804 Paid Adam Amos & Mary Tait’s Proclamation. ” Adam married Mary Tait at Heriot as soon as the proclamation monies were paid. It is believed that Mary was born in 1786 at Lauder in Scotland, not far from Heriot.

Mary gave birth to the newlyweds first child on October 1804. The couple had him baptised James at Heriot on November 30th. Just over a year later they welcomed the arrival of their second son, John, born January 4th 1806 and baptised at Heriot on the 24th of February.

In 1806 Adam rented the outfield of Corn Land at Heriot Mill for one year, and in 1807 he rented the Dam Haugh of Borthwick Hall. It seems that increasing areas of land were being rented in order to make the farm of sufficient size to be profitable. But by 1807 most farmers were finding it hard to make a living due to the normal hardships of weather etc. apart from the high costs of renting land. The area around Heriot presented many further difficulties due to its hilly nature and Adam, despite being a capable farmer, was finding it hard to get ahead.

In March of that year, in an effort to improve his position, he wrote to James Hoy, a relative of his mother and a tenant of land near Gordon Castle, seeking to lease one of the Duke of Gordon's farms. Unfortunately for Adam no land was available at the time of his enquiry.

On July 13th 1807, Mary gave birth to the couple‘s third son, Adam. He was baptised on July 28th in the church at Heriot. Then on March 12th 1809, they welcomed their first daughter, baptised Margaret on May 5th at Heriot. Helen arrived on Dec 23rd 1811 and was baptised on 14th Jan 1812.

By this time brother John had married Ann or Hannah Berridge, born 1783 in Walton on Trent, Derbyshire, England. In 1807 John & Hannah welcomed the arrival of their first child, James, and in 1813 their second child, Ellen, was born.

On January 25th 1809 Adam had become an Ensign in 2nd Midlothian Regiment of the Local Militia, Dalkeith - in the commission paper he is referred to as “Gent'n” - serving until 1814. A meeting to which he had been invited with Colonel Hepburne the Commanding Officer of the Local Militia for the area, was postponed five days in advance: "Colonel Hepburne regrets extremely that a severe Indisposition obliges him to postpone having the pleasure of Mr. Amos’s company on Wednesday” Clarkington  July 30th, 1810.

On November 22nd 1810, S. Smeiton of Powerscourt (Ireland) wrote to Adam to inform him of the death of his brother James after a tragic accident.

Adam was granted Freedom of the City at Musselburgh, Scotland on May 13th 1811, and in 1814 received his discharge from the local militia. The lease on Heriot Mill farm, originally taken out by his father in 1776 and then renewed in 1795, had almost expired. He was also renting the Park above Heriot Church and the Kirklee Park. He had to decide whether to renew the lease or to move elsewhere.

On March 26th 1814, Mary gave birth to another girl, the last of their children to be born in Scotland, baptised Mary on April 20th. Adam and Mary's family now comprised 3 boys and 3 girls and were becoming more and more difficult to support.

During the period 1815 to 1819, the people of England and Scotland were suffering from a depression which followed the wars in Europe that had culminated in the Battle of Waterloo. It is more than likely that this depression was a governing factor in inducing Adam & John Amos and many others to consider leaving the country. Adam although a competent farmer, found that no matter how hard he worked he could only just keep himself and his family clear of debt.

With all this on his mind, he made enquiries as to what other farms were available. He had already heard of a 300-acre (120 ha) farm in Wales, which was in need of either a partner or a tenant farmer. A letter to a friend, A. Pringle, asking his advice and requesting him to inspect the farm evoked a positive response, even though the property in question was 200mls from where Mr. Pringle lived at the time.

The Journey to Wales

The ensuing report must have also been positive because Adam decided to relinquish the lease of Heriot Farm and, with his family and possessions, moved to Wales. In preparation for the move he held a Stock & Plant Sale at Heriot Mill, raising £375 through the sale of 12 cows, 1 bull and 2 horses as well as other sundry items. John and Hannah and their two children joined them in the move.

Prior to leaving Scotland for Wales Adam approached the Session Clerk for a list of the birth records of his children. He also applied for and was given a church clearance from the Heriot minister on behalf of the Presbytery of Scotland stating: “Adam Amos, gentleman of Heriot, is a Presbyterian, a communicant, and a man that will benefit all good Presbyterians to know”

The journey took three weeks and was undertaken with the farm carts. A supply of whisky and biscuits was taken, but the iron pot intended to be used on the journey for porridge making proved to be unnecessary as the road traversed was apparently plentifully supplied with hotels for the convenience of travellers.

Rhyndaston was situated in Pembrokeshire in the extreme South West of Wales, approximately 4mls/6.5km from the market town of Haverfordwest and about 8mls/13km from Milton Haven. Originally comprising eight farms when bought by George Meredith five years previously, by 1814 it had been reduced to three through sale or amalgamation.

On May 21st 1816, Mary Ann, the latest daughter of John & Hannah, was christened at Haycastle, Pembrokeshire, the first of the line to be born in Wales. John's occupation was then given as “carpenter” and he was also often referred to as “millwright” It appears that Adam was renting the farm from Meredith whilst John and his family were living on the property but not renting land for farming.

Adam & Mary’s family grew to seven with the birth of Janet on June 26th 1818. Martha, another daughter to John & Hannah, was christened at Haycastle, Pembrokeshire, Wales on October 27th 1819 and early in 1820 another son Robert arrived.

In 1818 George Meredith was forced to sell land and his property was divided into two farms. One was leased to the mother of Meredith’s eventual second wife Mary and subsequently sub-leased to Adam, the other managed by a bailiff. Unhappy with his straightened circumstances Meredith decided, “enough was enough” and emigrate taking if possible his knowledgeable and capable Scottish tenant farmers with him.

Meredith had considered the Cape of Good Hope but decided in favour of Norfolk Island which was unoccupied and belonged to England, wanting to either lease it or obtain it by free grant with the intention of colonising it with ‘some very superior Scottish families’. But the Imperial Government had already decided to use Norfolk Island as a penal settlement, so Meredith opted for Van Diemen’s Land instead.

The brothers succumbed to the continual hints as to their uncertain future and decided to emigrate also, a decision bolstered by the glowing reports of Thomas Archer, brother of Adam’s friend Joseph and Commissioner of Stores for Van Diemen’s Land Company and who knew Tasmania well. Adam had in fact considered North America before deciding on Van Diemen’s Land. America was a much shorter distance, however on the other hand was a foreign country, independence having been declared in the year 1776. French settlers peopled Canada at the time, particularly on the Eastern side, as such Van Diemen’s Land was finally selected as the future Amos family home.

The families left Wales in August 1820 and sailed to London. Under Secretary for War and the Colonies Henry Goulburn (1784-1856) wrote a letter of recommendation, dated October 13th 1820, for Adam to present on arrival.

Finally, on November 9th 1820 the “Emerald”, chartered by George Meredith and Joseph Archer, the first privately chartered ship to sail directly to Van Diemen’s Land, sailed from Gravesend. In an effort to save their hard-earned funds for use in obtaining Land Grants on arrival, the Amos’s sailed as steerage passengers. Cargo included household effects, implements, tools, seeds (the spare corners being filled with grain) stock belonging to the settlers, and even parts for a small mill. Among the stock were 6 pure Merino rams and 10 pure Merino ewes procured by George Meredith from Saxony, Adam and John having two sheep each.

The “Emerald” called at Teneriffe and the Cape of Good Hope, leaving there on January 26th 1821. After a journey totaling a little over 5 months, Adam, John and their respective families arrived off Hobart on a date variously reported as being the 13th, 15th or 16th March. General agreement exists as to the more significant date. Owing to a prison ship the “Medway” having arrived the same day, the passengers on the “Emerald” were held on board to avoid confusion with the disembarking convicts; hence the brave settlers were finally allowed to set foot on the new land on March 17th, 1821.

“HE BRINGETH THEM UNTO THEIR DESIRED HAVEN”

Inscription from Centenary Tablet, Gala Kirk 1921