Documents

Lot 3931    SESSION 14 (4.30PM THURSDAY 1ST AUGUST)    Documents

Estimate $250
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $300

MORTGAGE OF PREMISES IN OATLANDS, Van Diemen's Land, 1837, two large vellum indenture documents joined together and signed under seal, one a mortgage of premises document dated 2 January 1837 from George Dudfield of Oatlands in Van Diemen's Land and Elizabeth his wife for the supply of goods worth nine hundred and sixty four pounds nine shillings from Joseph and Judah Solomon, this also bears a witnessed statement from Elizabeth that she fully understands the purpose of the document, also the large attached document dated 9 June 1842 with Judah Solomon and Joseph Allport of Hobart Town, solicitor, and Joseph Solomon dissolving the partnership between the Solomon brothers, this witnessed by William Douglass, clerk to Messrs Allport and Roberts, solicitors, Hobart Town. A few tone marks and stains on reverse, otherwise very fine.

Joseph and Judah Solomon were Jewish shopkeepers at Inverness in England when in 1819 they were convicted of hiring burglars to repossess unpaid goods. They were sentenced to transportation for life and after first reaching Sydney they arrived at Hobart Town in March 1820. By January 1821 they had opened a general store and both were foundation subscribers to the Bank of Van Diemen's Land. They prospered and opened other stores in different locations. In 1832 they both received conditional pardons. By 1839 Joseph announced that he was withdrawing from the partnership with his brother although the formal resolution did not come until three years later (see above document with dissolution declaration signed 9 June 1842). Judah Solomon was instrumental in the development of the first Jewish synagogue in Tasmania with a gift of portion of his land in Hobart and also making a generous donation. There is a plaque inside the synagogue recognising this donation of land by Judah Solomon, Treasurer of the Synagogue.

On 17 May 1820 George Dudfield was tried at the Old Bailey for having a counterfeit banknote in his possession. He was found not guilty. A few years later he was sentenced for another crime to 14 years at Surrey Special Session of Gaol Delivery and transported, departing on the Medina on 10 April 1825. He arrived at Van Diemen's Land on 14 September 1825.

George Dudfield and Judah Law were victims of a fraud when a watchmaker named Lewis Henry Lazarus attempted to borrow money from Judah Law using a forged bill in the name of George Dudfield of Oatlands. On 15 May 1837 Lazarus was convicted and received a life sentence.

One of the games in the Skulduggery series sold to tourists at the Heritage Highway Visitor Centres and based on true crimes involves the nefarious dealings of publican, gaoler, trickster and black-guard George Dudfield.