HOBART 1806

…”1806, when both ends of the colony were facing famine and starvation, because the first crops had almost failed, and a ship which was bringing relief had been wrecked o.n one of the islands. Nearly all the cattle and sheep at this time belonged to the Government, who also controlled and doled out such flour and wheat as remained in the storehouse. It was a time of great distress and numbers of prisoners were allowed to go hunting in the bush for kangaroo and other game, with the idea of getting as much meat into the little settlements at each end of the island, as possible. “ Tasmanian Bushrangers by K.R. von Stieglitz 1951p 5  http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/82234

Rev. Robert Knopwood’s Diary, 4th October 1806 …“at 6 this morn I went out afishing caught very few for Breakfast the distress of the town very great for want of Provisions scarce any Provision for the Marines and Prisoners, At 11 lent my new Boat to some Marines to get some fish having nothing else to eat Potatoes 2s a lb and Flower sold by Mr Bate the D.J. Advocate at 6s per lb. Mr. Collins this morn went upon Mount Direction to look for a ship.”  https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.29826/2015.29826.Papers-And-Proceedings-Of-The-Royal-Society-Of-Tasmania-Vol-80-82-1946-48_djvu.txt

13th October 1806 …”at 5 went out afishing at 11 engaged upon business I Xnd Mrs Sargents child and took lunch at Mr. Bowdens. Waited upon the Govnr the day very fine, It is truly lamentable to see the distress that the people are in not a Man able to do any work, what few there are employd in unloading the King George the Lt Govnr is obliged to give them Pork and beef 4 lbs a man, all our Poultry are dying having nothing to give them the pOOl' Piggs &c &c are all dying and at this Season we should have young ducks and Chickings My poor pigeons are all most dead for want of Provisions only 4 remaining out of 16”. https://eprints.utas.edu.au/13550/1/1946-knopwood-diaries%5b1%5d.pdf

The records show that the Peters’ 3rd daughter, Charlotte, was born during this very harsh time. She was baptised on 17th November 1806.

 In Oct 1806 the 40 acre Peters farm was recorded as having three acres of wheat and half an acre of potatoes under cultivation, but they had no livestock. The farm is listed under E. Peters however Elizabeth at that time was only 5 yrs old. The land had been granted to her mother.

 http://arrow.latrobe.edu.au/store/3/4/6/1/1/public/B13858427S3V1pages211-460.pdf

HOBART 1807 

 …”The best southern kangaroo hunting grounds were in Mumirimina territory [of the Oyster Bay tribe], from the hills north of Risdon Cove through the Jordan River Valley, the Brighton plain and Bagdad valley and into the southern midlands. With severe food shortages in the early colony, Europeans hunted kangaroo and emu in increasing competition with Aborigines. …“The drought of 1806-07 pushed hunting into the Bagdad Valley with convicts being provided with guns and dogs in search of game.” - Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre Inc. http://tacinc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/MANGALOREPONT_ABORIGINAL_VALUES.pdf

In 1807 the Peters farm is mentioned twice in the diary of the Rev. Robert Knopwood, the Chaplain to Lieutenant-Governor Collins.   Rev. Knopwood records a man named ’Wright’ being sent to Sydney for trial for “setting fire to Mrs Peters House”.  Knopwood made his first visit to the Peters farm on 22nd April 1807.