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Auction 17005 5 Jul 2017
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Convict Love Token, produced on George III (1760-1820) Cartwheel Twopence, 1797, obverse smoothed and with stippled inscription in fourteen lines: m.c. / if on thy / face for my na / me shame and r / eproaches be i'll / hail reproach an / d welcome shame / if thou remember / me. a keepsake / from thomas / hammond/ transported / for life april/ 8 1841, rev. Britannia seated, extremely fine, a historically interesting token, with copies of court documents and an additional Cartwheel Twopence of 1797 for comparison
Thomas Hammond was born in Bewdley, Worcestershire in 1814, and worked as a carpet weaver at Kidderminster. Described as having dark brown hair, a long face, and a fresh complexion, in April 1841 at the age of 27 he was convicted at Northampton Quarter Sessions of burgalry and stealing £1.10, coal, spoons and bacon. Sentenced to deportation, he departed England on the 30th August 1841, possibly aboard H.M.S. Tortoise. Hammond is listed as being single, but clearly he was leaving a loved one behind. The recipient of this love token is referred to simply as 'M.C.', and although her identity might never come to light, Hammond clearly took pains to keep the memory of their relationship alive. As well as giving her this Twopenny love token, he had a tattoo on his right arm, a man and a woman with heart and arrows and the word 'farewell', as well as rings on the little fingers of both hands. . Hammond arrived in Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) on 19th February 1842. He was sent to the newly established Probation Station at Flinders Bay at the mouth of Flinders Creek. The Station did not flourish and after a few years it was closed and the men were moved to Port Arthur. After eight years of labour (the usual work was cutting timber and land clearance), Hammond was granted his Ticket of Leave on the 28th May 1850. This was revoked on the 1st October that same year, but restored on the 23rd September 1851. He was given a Conditional Pardon on the 14th June 1853, allowing him free travel anywhere in the colonies except England, where his original offence had been committed.
Estimate: £2,000.00 - £3,000.00
Thomas Hammond was born in Bewdley, Worcestershire in 1814, and worked as a carpet weaver at Kidderminster. Described as having dark brown hair, a long face, and a fresh complexion, in April 1841 at the age of 27 he was convicted at Northampton Quarter Sessions of burgalry and stealing £1.10, coal, spoons and bacon. Sentenced to deportation, he departed England on the 30th August 1841, possibly aboard H.M.S. Tortoise. Hammond is listed as being single, but clearly he was leaving a loved one behind. The recipient of this love token is referred to simply as 'M.C.', and although her identity might never come to light, Hammond clearly took pains to keep the memory of their relationship alive. As well as giving her this Twopenny love token, he had a tattoo on his right arm, a man and a woman with heart and arrows and the word 'farewell', as well as rings on the little fingers of both hands. . Hammond arrived in Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) on 19th February 1842. He was sent to the newly established Probation Station at Flinders Bay at the mouth of Flinders Creek. The Station did not flourish and after a few years it was closed and the men were moved to Port Arthur. After eight years of labour (the usual work was cutting timber and land clearance), Hammond was granted his Ticket of Leave on the 28th May 1850. This was revoked on the 1st October that same year, but restored on the 23rd September 1851. He was given a Conditional Pardon on the 14th June 1853, allowing him free travel anywhere in the colonies except England, where his original offence had been committed.
Estimate: £2,000.00 - £3,000.00