Francis Beattie who arrived on the Indian  in 1810 ran the Crooked Billet Inn. Beattie had been recommended for a land grant by Henry Gillman, Commandant at Newcastle in 1824 and in 1828 was appointed bailiff. Jeremiah Lynch was an assigned servant in 1833. (18)

In 1834 Francis Beattie moved from the 'Crooked Billet' to the Australian Inn that had previously kept by Mr. Pausey (19). When Francis Beattie died in 1836 some of his belongings were advertised to be sold from John Smith's Stores in Newcastle: 10 cows, heifers, steers, 1 mare 1 pony, gig, cart, saddle, household furniture, clothes, sofas, bedstead (20)

The Crooked Billet was situated in Morgan Street, Market Square near the site of the future Strand Theatre (now demolished) Later the Crooked Billet became known as the Miners' Arms and then Northumberland House. The building was used as a Customs House before reverting to its original role, that of an Inn in the 1860's, under the sign of the Shipwrights' Arms. Later it became known as the London Tavern. The Building was still standing in 1947

(18 )SG 7 February 1833

(19) SG  23 October 1834