Source Analysis- Source A: Certificate of Free Pardon

Use the following template and source analysis formula to conduct an inquiry into the Making of a
Nation.
Complete the following template by answering the questions about your chosen sources. Once all relevant
sections of the template are complete, you are required to follow the source analysis formula to write a 150
word analysis which accounts for the perspective of the source and tests the reliability of the source.
This must be brought into class on the 16th March 2021 (Period 3 & 4) in order to complete the in
class component.
Type of Source The Certificate of Free Pardon is a primary source, more specifically, a
certificate.
Date of Source This source has been dated back to the 29th of August 1866.
Where was the Source The place where this source was created is Victoria, Australia, close to
Created? Melbourne.
Name and Background The creator and issuer of the Certificate of Free Pardon is Sir John H.
of Creator of Source Manners-Sutton. John Manners-Sutton was a British politician and colonial
Could the background or administrator (a person who has a role in the creating and running of a
opinion of the person who colony). From 1866 to 1873, a total of seven years, he was the Governor of
created the source have Victoria.
influenced his or her Seeing as this source is a Certificate, the opinion or background of Sir John
work? Is the source a H. Manners-Sutton wouldn’t have influenced most of the certificate all too
translation or a transcript much, as the certificate mainly states facts, including who was being
of an original version? pardoning (Owen Suffolk), what Suffolk had been convicted for, etc.
What do you know about However, the finishing statement, that Owen Suffolk was to be pardoned, on
how the source was the basis that he was never to return to Australia, was deeply affected by Sir
financed or who supported John H. Manners-Sutton’s opinion, as without it, Owen Suffolk wouldn’t
its creation? have been pardoned.
This source is not a transcript and is the original copy. Translating the source
would not be required as the original copy is written in English.
The creation of the source didn’t require support or financing.
Creator's Knowledge of Sir John H. Manners-Sutton would have a detailed knowledge about the
Event Making of a Nation as he was one of the main people involved in the
Did the creator of the process. He was a governor, part of the government.
source witness or take part John Manners-Sutton took part in this event, being the one who allowed
in the event? Or is the Owen Suffolk to be pardoned. The source is a written note, so it isn’t based
source based on what on what others heard and saw, but rather a source from within the event,
others heard and saw? something that was involved and played a very big part in the said event.

Historical Context The historical context of the source is the British colonisation of Australia,
taking place in the 19th century.
Source's Main Points or The Certificate of Free Pardon is for the pardon of Owen Suffolk, a British-
Central Message Australian poet who was convicted of forgery.
Tone The tone in this source is quite neutral, also being authoritative and assertive.
Reason(s) Why the The reason why the Certificate of Free Pardon was created was for Sir John
Source Was Created H. Manners-Sutton to communicate that Owen Suffolk was being given a
Did the author or artist free pardon, on the basis that he was to never return back to Australia.
want to inform or persuade
others? Are there any clues
that lead you to believe
that the author is biased?
Source's Purpose This source was most likely intended for a small audience, and wasn’t for
Was it intended for a large the general public, as it is a certificate of pardon, and went only to a select
or small audience? Was it group of people, including the queen and king.
published or unpublished? This source was published, as it visible now to be generally known.
 Was it meant for This source wasn’t meant for decoration, neither was it a tool. It was a
decoration or as a tool? written statement, specifically speaking, of the pardoning of someone.
Intended/Likely The intended audience for this source, at the time when Sir John H.
Audience Manners-Sutton created it, was the government and the Ministry of Justice,
where it went for further consideration.
However, more recently, the source’s audience has been changed from the
select number of people to a much larger audience, now being visible to
everyone. It underwent this change after it was acquired from an auction at
Peter Arnold Antiquarian Booksellers.
Interpretation of Source Today, this source is used for a number of reasons. These include the source
How is this source being used to better understand the life of Owen Suffolk, which was put into
interpreted today? Does the wider media after Suffolk released his autobiography, Days of Crime and
your knowledge of a past Years of Suffering. Another way that this source was used was to gather
event influence your information about how punishments and pardons were dealt in the 19th
interpretation of this century. The source can be interpreted as a pardon that was granted to Owen
source? How was the Suffolk as a result of behaving well and following orders.
source interpreted at the
time it was created or
published

Source A is a primary source. It is a Certificate of Free Pardon from Sir John H. Manners-Sutton, created on
the 29th of August 1866, in Victoria, Australia. It was created for Sir John H. Manners-Sutton to be able to
give Owen Suffolk a free pardon. It shows/illustrates that Owen Suffolk was free of his 7-year sentence, on
the condition that he was not to remain or return to Australia.

The perspective of Source A is that of Sir John H. Manners-Sutton, the governor of Victoria, Australia.
Source A would be considered reliable because is it an accurate reflection of events, being a hand-written
certificate straight from the associated time period. It can also be verified by another source. This source is
the biography of Owen Suffolk, in which he would speak of this event.

By examining Source A we can see that it is very valuable to a historian studying punishments and pardons
of convicts because this source is very reliable, as stated above, and outlines a way in which a convict can be
pardoned of their sentence.

By Maryam Farhan