Joseph Childs

Major Joseph Childs (1787–1870) was a British Royal Marines officer and penal administrator; he was commandant of the second convict settlement at Norfolk Island, from 7 February 1844 to August 1846.

[6] In 1843 the Colonial Secretary in England, Lord Stanley, decided to replace Alexander Maconochie as Commandant of the penal settlement on Norfolk Island.

While Major Childs was in Sydney a newspaper editorial summarised what was expected of him under his new command: "That officer is called upon to enforce scrupulous order and minute discipline, to put down all overt outrages upon morals, and yet to temper military rigour with that amount of mercy which it may be possible to exercise".

[8] The administrative responsibility for the penal settlement on Norfolk Island was then in the process of being transferred from New South Wales to the government of Van Diemen’s Land.

[11] A comment in the Colonial Times newspaper of Hobart Town reveals the widespread belief that the administration of Joseph Childs would bring about a distinct change in the treatment of the convicts on Norfolk Island.

On the news of the departure of a group of convicts to the island in late April 1844, the newspaper observed: "The colony has been relieved of a considerable number of the most incorrigible of the prisoners… where we learn the 'worst than death system' has re-commenced in all its glory".

[12] The convicts held on Norfolk Island at this time were made up of doubly-convicted colonial prisoners and those who had been sentenced to transportation for 15 years or life in the United Kingdom.

Major Childs tried to placate them with promises of additional rations of peas and flour, though the loss of their garden beds remained a source of resentment for the prisoners.

[18][13] Within ten days of the insurrection the brig Governor Phillip arrived at Norfolk Island from Van Diemen’s Land, having departed before news of the mutinous outbreak reached the colony.

Amongst the official despatches was one informing Major Childs that his replacement, John Price, formerly Police Magistrate at Hobart Town, was to shortly arrive at the island.

The Lady Franklin sailed from Hobart Town with John Price and his family on board, departing before the Governor Phillip arrived back with the news from Norfolk Island.

[19] Major Childs departed from Norfolk Island on 19 August 1846 aboard the Government schooner Marys, arriving in Sydney twelve days later.