‘What does that mean, James, a Ticket of Leave?’ Sarah Blay questioned her husband when she read the letter he had received from Lieutenant Governor Sorell.
‘It means, Sarah, that I can travel over Van Diemen’s Land, that I can work, apart from on this farm. I can even start making shoes again. It means, that as long as I behave, I will no longer be a convict. The Ticket holds until I get a pardon, or until my sentence expires. I’m working towards a pardon,’ he said pulling her close to him and wrapping his arms around her shoulders. ‘Do you have any regrets following me to this place, Sarah?’
‘Tedder and I discussed this on his wedding day. No, I have no regrets, James. Do you?’
‘In the beginning, I had many: when I was thrown into Newgate Gaol, the terrible time on the prison hulk, th
