Many unjust and wicked things are sanctioned by custom, and in 1811 Governor Macquarie struck a death-blow to the revolting custom of wife-selling. In September, 1811, he added to the population of Newcastle a woman named Ratkins, who had on the 28th August, 1811, been led by her husband, Ralph Ratkins, into the public street of Windsor with a rope round her neck, and publicly exposed for sale, when Thomas Quire actually purchased and paid for her the sum of sixteen pounds in money and some yards of cloth. The woman acknowledged to the assembled multitude that she was agreeable to the bargain, and on payment of the purchase money on the spot, went off with the purchaser, after telling the crowd she had no doubt her new possessor would make her a better husband than the one who had sold her. As the infamous transaction outraged all laws, human and divine, the bench of magistrates, consisting of Mr. W. Cox, Dr. Mileham and Rev. Mr. Cartwright, investigated the affair, and the culprits confessed their guilt. The Bench sentenced Ratkins to receive 50 lashes, and to be worked in the Sydney Gaol gang for three months. Mrs. Ratkins was transported to Newcastle for an indefinite period. (Windsor and Richmond Gazette - 6th January, 1928.)
Note: This article is based on the following report from the Sydney Gazette. As can be seen, the name "Ratkins" should be "Malkins". The reason for the inclusion of both articles is to contrast the different styles of writing, given that the two were written over a century apart.
By a letter from Windsor, dated the 10th Instant, we have been favoured with an account of a most disgraceful transaction which has lately taken place there, and we feel it a duty owing to Society to give it public notoriety, as well for the purpose of exposing the parties themselves to the contempt and disgrace which they have so highly incurred, as also to put the ignorant and abandoned on their guard against the commission of a crime which every sense of manhood should revolt from with detestation.
"A person (for a man I cannot call him) of the name of Ralph Malkins, led his lawful wife into our streets on the 28th ultimo, with a rope round her neck, and publicly exposed her for sale; and, shameful to be told, another fellow, equally contemptible, called Thomas Quire, actually purchased and paid for her on the spot, sixteen pounds in money, and some yards of cloth. I am sorry to add, that the woman herself was so devoid of those feelings which are most valuable in her sex, agreed to the base traffic, and went off with the purchaser, significantly hinting, that she had no doubt her new possessor would make her a better than the wretch she had parted from. This business was conducted in so public a manner, and so outraged all laws human and divine, that a Bench of Magistrates, consisting of Mr. Cox, the Rev. Mr. Cartwright, and Mr. Mileham, had it publicly investigated on Saturday last, and all the odious circumstances having been clearly proved, and even admitted by the wretches themselves, the Bench sentenced this no-man to receive 50 lashes, and to put hard labour in irons in the gaol gang at Sydney for the space of three calendar months; and the woman to be transported to the Coal River for an indefinite time.
"The public indignation at so gross a violation of decency was most unequivocally expressed, by the acclamations with which the sentence was received by the numerous concourse of people who assembled to know the event of so extraordinary and unprecedented a business - Their feelings were worthy of Men, and judging from them, I trust with confidence that the recurrence of such a crime will not take place here at least for the present generation. The laudable promptitude with which our Magistrates took up their business, and the quantum of punishment (still less than they deserve) which they pronounced, will, I have no doubt, produce the most salutary effect throughout the Colony, and check the progress of a crime, which if persevered in, would degrade the Inhabitants, and entail perpetual disgrace on their children and families."
(Sydney Gazette - 14th September, 1811 - supplement).
Residents had their curiosity aroused the other morning by seeing nailed on to a fence in town a brown paper placard. It turned out to be an announcement to the effect that a race-meeting for rats would be held on the following Saturday, the programme including hurdle and flat-racing. Pitt Town is going ahead.
(Windsor and Richmond Gazette - 16th June, 1894.)
Just 120 years ago this month the inhabitants of Windsor witnessed the amusing spectacle of a cow race down George-street. The cows were ridden by their owners.
(Windsor and Richmond Gazette - 25th November, 1932.)
A local resident has been indulging during the past week in the healthy and pleasant occupation of shooting cats. They disturb his slumber at night, and wake him up just at the time he is pleasantly dreaming that some day he will be Mayor of Windsor.
(Windsor & Richmond Gazette 22nd February, 1890)
[ Back to Hawkesbury Historical Society's Home Page ]