Sailing to Asia: The Bold Plan of Isaac Payten
Storyteller Tuesday Challenge: ROWDY RENEGADE
Genealogy Matters Storyteller Tuesday Challenge: ROWDY RENEGADE - Tell the story of one of your ancestors who broke the rules, the law, the tradition or the mold and did something shady, outlandish, surprising or different than the rest of the family.
My 4xGreat-Grandfather, Isaac Payten, was a convict in New South Wales. By 1807, Isaac had completed his sentence. He had a ‘brilliant’ idea. He and a few friends would steal a boat and sail to Asia!
They chose an 8-ton vessel, Argument, that was co-owned by Benjamin Pate and Hugh McDonald. Benjamin Pate grew suspicious when he saw a Frenchman he knew sailing the boat and informed the authorities who arrested those involved.
Isaac Peyton, Hugh McDonald, William Welch, and Susannah Harris[son] were indicted for seducing from their duty the several prisoners hereafter mentioned, by contriving their escape from this colony in a vessel named the Argument whereof Hugh McDonald was a part owner; and Dennis Maloy, John Wetherington, George Boyden, Jas. Darbyshire, and James Hargraves were likewise indicted for attempting their escape from this their lawful place of confinement, by consenting to the plan of the above, and assisting to carry them into execution.1
Three people gave evidence for the prosecution, that is, Brian Overhand, Francois Francisco, a Frenchman, and John Simmons, a Dutchman. They were not charged.
A search was conducted and a considerable quantity of provisions were found,
which the two foreigners declared to have been purposely deposited there for their use on the voyage to some of the Asiatic settlements. The whole of this as well as a quantity of wearing apparel and other property, was claimed by Peyton; who urged that his motive for removing it thither was a wish he had entertained of taking up his residence in that part of the country, where secluded from the eye of inquiry, he had designed to open a small distillery; - but a mariner's compass, quadrant, and Epitome, rather militated against the candour or the acknowledgement.2
Susannah Harris[son] was found not guilty. All the others were found guilty and sentenced. McDonald, Payten, and Welch were to “pay a fine of 50£ to the King, to be imprisoned 12 months; and to remain in gaol until the fine be paid :—The others to receive 300 lashes each.”3
‘Court of Criminal Jurisdiction’, The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW: 1803-1842), 28 June 1807, p. 2.
‘Sydney’, The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW: 2803-1842), 7 June 1807, p. 4.
‘Court of Criminal Jurisdiction’, Sydney Gazette.