Women, The Bloody Assize and Barbados Convicts

I was recently asked if any women who were involved in the Monmouth Rebellion were transported, I knew of only one, that being a servant called Susannah Toleman (or Doleman). Susannah was transported along with 99 other rebel prisoners aboard the Betty of London which sailed from Weymouth to Barbados in 1685. Amazingly she survived the journey as there is no account of her being thrown overboard which was common practice and which would have had to be documented for the King's council. (see The Turtle Run)

Susannah wasn't the only woman to have suffered during the Bloody Assize led by Judge George Jefferys. One poor woman, Alice Lyle, a woman in her eighties was condemned to be burnt at the stake, however Jefferys showed leniency and allowed her to be beheaded which was more befitting to her rank. There was also the 'Taunton Maids' who suffered for handing the Duke of Monmouth a banner.

The Monmouth Rebellion has a certain fascination about it, it is a part of the West Countries gruesome history. From the 26^th August 1685 to 23^rd September more than 1,400 rebel prisoners were 'dealt with'. Many were executed, there are no exact figures but some suggest tens of hundreds. Reports also say that between 800-850 men were transported, however if we read further, we will see that “thousands” are mentioned.

Most of the West Country rebel prisoners ended up in Barbados (if they were lucky enough to survive the journey), to be sold into slavery to work on the sugar plantations there. The prisoners believed their term to be four years but in fact it was ten. Every prisoner had to be accounted for, an 'Act of Governing and retaining within this island' [Barbados] was passed in 1865 which made it law to document the movements of each individual rebel convict, applying heavy fines or imprisonment for those in authority who didn't follow this law to the letter.

Abstract from '1685 An act for governing and retaining within this island [Barbados], all such rebells convict as by his most Sacred Majesties Order or Permitt have been, or shall bee Transported from his European Dominion to this place'-

“...Majestie in his Princely and unparrelleld Grace and clemency hath been pleased to extend his mercy in sparing the lives of Severall Thousands of them by commuting the Execution of theire sentence into a temporary service in his American Collonys, And for.....”

The above extract states that King James showed clemency towards the rebel convicts by having them transported to his colonies. You can read into that whatever you like but it is worth baring in mind that sugar plantations were big business in the 1600s so profit and monetary gain spring to mind.

The Bloody Assize at Taunton began on September 17^th 1685 and took just two days to convict about 500 prisoners. Many were sentenced to death until it was realised that each rebel convict could fetch £12 if sold into slavery and therefore be a considerable profit to the Crown.

I followed a rather short trail of one of the convict rebels who was tried at Taunton. Thomas Austin was 27, a mercer who was transported on December 9^th 1685 on the Jamaica Merchant to Barbados. He was sold on March 12^th 1686 to Charles Thomas and Thomas Sadler.

Thomas Austin survived his term and married Sarah Copp on 24^th January 1694 in St. Michael parish church, Barbados. It is suggested that Austin's living in Barbados today may be descendants of Thomas and Sarah although this is not known for sure.  Many convicts who survived their term became wealthy land-owners themselves and ironically also slave owners.

Thomas Austin and Sarah Copp Marriage 1694

What struck me whilst looking through the Barbados parish records was the persistent occurrence of English names in the registers, especially those of the brides. Where did all these 'English' women come from if women weren't usually transported? Barbados was colonised by the English in the early 1600s but it was surprising to see so many English names.

Barbados Records – Marriages – 1643-1880 Vol. 1 St. Michael Parish

It is possible that the early European inhabitants of Barbados were descended from the even earlier convicts or even Irish slaves, mostly women and children, who were transported to the Americas to work on the plantations. 

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