By January 1849 Tinson had decided to leave Maitland for Singleton and he offered for sale by auction his household furniture and articles from the brewery.

John Kerrigan had previously held the license for the Crown & Anchor at New Freugh near Singleton.  The first few months at the Buck's Head were not easy. In May Kerrigan appeared before the Bench after his wife supplied an aboriginal native with a shilling's worth of rum. Two constables passing by noticed the transaction and laid information. John Kerrigan admitted the charge but pleaded in extenuation that he was not present at the time himself or it should not have occurred. The Bench told him that he was answerable under licensing Act for he acts of his wife and that he must be aware of the penalty attending the giving or selling liquor to aboriginals. He was fined £5 pounds and costs. Also in May Mrs. Kerrigan had charged a young woman Sarah Johnson with stealing clothing. The case was later dismissed when the Bench found that Mrs. Kerrigan had purchased blankets from the woman. Soon after a lodger at the Inn was robbed of £4 and then a patron Mr. Trinder was robbed in July. In December the family had a narrow escape when one of the children, while going to bed moved the candle causing some clothing to catch fire, the flames rapidly extended to the bed curtains and clothing. One of the children gave an alarm and the neighbours put out the fire, although not before the bed and all the clothing were destroyed. Mr. Kerrigan was absent at the time and had it not been for the prompt assistance of the neighbours the consequences may have been more serious.