 John Batman was engaged to track and capture the (Tasmanian) Aboriginal at large that were harassing colonial settlers in the South-Esk and Ben Lomond region.He was initially permitted by Lieut-Governor George Arthur to select a party of nine men including two ‘Sydney Aborigines’ and three ticket-of –leave men commissioned to serve three years in the bush, or in the field police, before receiving conditional pardons.The six others might receive tickets of leave after 12 months service as dictated by Batman's appointment as a leader of a Roving Party under Thomas Anstey, Police Magistrate at Oatlands.