Matthew Rice : Short Biography

Matthew was born about 1816 in Ballynahinch, County Down, Ireland. He died on 28 Feb 1883 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Baptised on 7 May 1828 by Rev W McMullan at the Roman Catholic Parish in Loughinisland, County Down, Ireland. His sponsors were John and Elizabeth Teers. Only his father John was listed. Military records confirmed he was born in the town of Ballynahinch. Church records showed John Rice was also father to John Rice baptised 27.8.1806, William Rice baptised 31.5.1808, James Rice baptised 7.6.1810 and Frances Rice baptised 12.3.1815. All children were baptised by Rev W McMullan. Matthew enlisted in the army on 20.10.1834 in Belfast, Ireland, as a private with the 74th Regiment of Foot. He was 18 years and a labourer. He was 5 feet 9 inches, had light brown hair, and a fresh complexion with grey eyes. Matthew transferred to 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade to be with his elder brother, James Rice, on 1.11.1836. Matthew served 21 years, 9 days including Malta and Ionian Islands 3 years and the Cape of Good Hope 7 months. He served in the Kaffir War of 1846-47 (The War of the Axe) and again at the Cape 2.1.1852-9.11.1853 including the Kaffir War of that period. Matthew was discharged as a Corporal on 27.10.1855 at Aldershot, Hampshire, England with a pension of 1/- per diem for the purpose of serving on permanent staff of 3rd Kings Own Stafford Rifle Regiment of Militia. He was 39 years old. Matthew received medals for the South African campaigns 1846-47 and 1850-1853. On 14.2.1855 Matthew married Sarah Mould in the Parish Church in Portsmouth, Southampton, England. In the 1861 Census the family were living at Stubbs Street, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire, England, two children were also listed John Francis, born 1858 and Mary Anne in 1861. Matthew arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia, on the convict ship 'Clyde' as an Enrolled Pensioner Guard on 29.5.1863. His wife and children were also on board. The Clyde was employed as a convict transport for Western Australia and left Portland, England, on 15.3.1863 bound for the Swan River Colony. The voyage took 75 days and arrived with 150 passengers and 320 convicts. The ship's surgeon's journal notes that "whilst on guard duty on the convict ship 'Clyde' Corporal Matthew Rice was reprimanded for allowing Private Bennett to sleep while on watch. Pte Bennett lost his grog for two days". As part of its emigration policy, the Home Government in England began to send out parties of military pensioners. Retired soldiers were recruited and encouraged to accompany convicts on their voyages to Western Australia. The pensioners were not retained as permanent convict guards after the voyage but were always on hand to help in case of an outbreak among the prisoners. To encourage them to stay, they were offered an allotment of land which they could select and lease for 7 years and then own freehold. They were liable to attend under Arms every Sunday for Church Parade as renumeration for free occupancy and not receive pay when called out for exercise 12 days in a year. Pension was increased to 1/6 per diem on 4.6.1878. During their time in Fremantle another daughter Charlotte was born in 1864 but she died at 10 months of age. Matthew was granted land in York, Western Australia on 4.9.1868. York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia. He employed three ticket of leave people on occasions 1865, 1869 and 1871. A ticket of leave was a document issued to convicts who had served a period of probation and had shown by their good behaviour that they could be allowed certain freedoms. Once granted a ticket of leave, a convict was permitted to seek employment within a specified district. Three children were born in York, William in 1865, Sarah Jane in 1868 and James in 1872, then another two in Perth, Daniel Matthew in 1874 and Thomas Henry in 1875. Matthew died on 28.2.1883 in Perth, Western Australia. His death certificate shows his cause of death as bronchitis. The newspaper 'The Inquirer and Commercial News' dated 7.3.1883 notes "We hear of the death of Corporal Matthew Rice, which took place last week. Deceased arrived in the colony on 1863, on the prison ship Clyde and was a discharged pensioner from the (Prince Albert's Own) Rifle Brigade. He was a hard-working, straight forward, honest old soldier, and was much respected by his comrades. During his military career he had seen a hard and long service, and now pays Nature's debt in the fullness of age". Matthew Rice is buried in East Perth Cemetery in the Roman Catholic section. There is no headstone. Sources: Baptism records, Marriage certificate, Death certificate, The Ship Clyde - http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/convicts/con-wa33.html, JSBattye Library Books- Dictionary of Western Australians W 829-1914 Vol 4, Par 2 L-Z, 1868-1888 The Challenging Years, The Veterans: A History of the Enrolled Pensioner Force in Western Australia, 1850-1880 Ticket of Leave - Employees of Ticket of Leave Men A-W (1850-1890), Surgeon's Journal, Military research by Poole's Family Research in England Submitted by gt gt granddaughter