Alfred Oke Edye was born on
19th December 1806 in Devonshire.
On
3rd February 1847 Governor Sir Charles Fitzroy
accompanied by the Honorable C.D. Riddell, G. Fitzroy, Lieut. Masters,
Captain Moriarty,
Major Innes
and James Reid,
alighted from the steamer
Tamar
at the Hunter River Company's Wharf at Morpeth.
The Governor's own horses
also arrived with him on the steamer and he and his
party mounted to proceed on their journey without delay. He
was accompanied by about fifty gentlemen from the district
who fell behind forming an escort as he rode to
Maitland.
Perhaps Dr. Edye was
part of this escort. He may have attended Major Innes after
the Major was thrown from his horse when a heavy shower drenched
the party half way to Maitland. He was certainly present
later that day at the levee held at George Yeomans'
Northumberland Hotel. He was presented to the Governor along
with other gentlemen such as Messrs. Turner, Rogerson,
McDouall, Parker, Dunlop, Hungerford, Doyle, Close,
McClelland, Biddulph, ,
Sloane, Gill, Dangar, Kingsmill,
Geddes, Parnell, Capper and Walthall.
Alfred Edye had taken
part in meetings months before to make arrangements for the
reception of the Governor so he was probably present also at
the dinner that followed later that evening where speeches
were made and the toasts raised with loud cheers.
Dr. Edye resided in High St. West Maitland. In 1854 the
premises were offered for sale - There was a commodious brick house containing
seven apartments - a large shop 28ft 6 inches by 14 ft 10 inches; 1 hall
room; 1 dressing room; 4 bedrooms as well as a brick built store room 30 feet in
length by 14 feet width and a slab kitchen of two apartments with brick floor.
The premises adjoined the
Waterloo Inn.