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Click on a name on the map below or scroll down the page to find settlers on this page Hunter River - Glendon - Darlington - Singleton - Patrick Plains    Hunter Valley Settlers on this Map Archibald Bell junior (Corinda)     James Black     William Brooks    James Busby    John Cobb (Minimbah / Rusholine)      Henry Dangar      John Earl      John Gaggin      William Harper (Oswald)      William Dalrymple Kelman (Kirkton)      John Larnach (Rosemount, Castle Forbes)  David Maziere     James Mitchell      Robert and Helenus Scott (Glendon)   Alexander Shand     Benjamn Singleton     Alexander Brodie Spark   Thomas Steele   Joseph Underwood     George Wyndham ( Dalwood)   George Boyle White (Greenwood Estate)   Henry Dangar Henry Dangar arrived in New South Wales on the ship 'Jessie' in 1821 and was appointed assistant government surveyor under John Oxley. He remained in this position until 1827, surveying among other places, the township of Newcastle. He received two grants of land for his services as a surveyor - 300 acres named 'Neotsfield' and 700 acres known as 'Baroona'. He returned to England in 1828 leaving his estates in the hands of his brother William, and when he returned to Australia his new wife Grace Sibly accompanied him 29.   Land at Kingdon Ponds was granted after his return and in Port Stephens he completed survey work for the Australian Agricultural Company until 1833. In 1848 Henry Dangar together with his brothers Richard and William began a meat canning factory at Honeysuckle Point, Newcastle. The Maitland Mercury recorded the following : 'There can be no doubt that a most important trade, that of preparing fresh meat for exportation is gradually springing up. A very large establishment belonging to Mr. Henry Dangar has just been completed at Newcastle and commenced operations yesterday. With some of the Finest and cheapest meat in the world, there can be no reason why this trade should not increase until preserved meats are looked upon as one of the staple exports of the colony'  14 The Newcastle Meat Preserving Company had been established after the Depression and drought of the forties caused a decline in cattle and sheep prices. Although the business won awards at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and exported their product to India and California, the company had ceased to operate by 1855.22 From 1846 to 1851 Henry was a Member of the Legislative Assembly. In 1847 he entertained the Governor Sir Charles Fitzroy at Neotsfield, providing refreshments before the party moved on to Singleton however later that night at a dinner for the elite of the township he was rebuked by the Governor when he attempted to introduce politics into the conversation.' 14 The Maitland Mercury wrote of him in 1848 when he was a candidate for the Northumberland county: 'Dangar has shown that he is one of those who are prepared to uphold the pecuniary interests of the woolgrower and the employer of labour at any sacrifice; he is for the resumption of transportation in any shape - either the old or the new, and has no objection to the importation of cannibals or coolies, providing that a profit can be extracted out of their labour. He has however always expressed an anxiety for free British labour; and is one of those who only side with Dr. Bland when the Dr.'s crotchet can be made available for procuring an additional supply of labour. As a squatter he is one of the ultras, though we must do Mr. Dangar the justice to say that we believe he is desirous of seeing a reduction in the price of land . The electors of Northumberland may take it for granted, that on all questions in which the immediate interests of the squatters or of the employers of labour are at issue with those often general community Mr. Dangar will be found amongst the advocates of class interests. Apart from these interest Mr. Dangar has made a good useful member of Council. Unlike many of the country members he has been regular in his attendance and he has made a point more especially of being there when the estimates were under discussion, and has bee n a steady and independent advocate for economy and equally in the expenditure of the public money. His views on most practical questions are marked by good strong sense; and in matters affecting different religious communities he has shown a steady desire to carry out the spirit of Sir Richard Bourke Act. In the promotion of the district and local interest Mr. Dangar has bee zealous and active  14 Dangar extended his land holdings and by the 1850's his stations included: Gostwyck 48,000 acres Paradise Creek 32,000 acres Bald Hills 19,200 acres Moonbi 25,000 acres Bulleroi 64,000 acres Karee 64,000 acres Myall Creek 48,000 acres. Henry Dangar died on 2nd March, 1861.   .   William Dalrymple Kelman 'Kirkton' In 1844 Governor Gipps on his long awaited trip to the Hunter, breakfasted at Mr. Dawson's residence at Black Creek and then proceeded to 'Kirkton' to inspect the vineyards before passing through Glendon, Neotsfield and Rosemount and reaching the township of Singleton. He was later to tell the assembled dignitaries of the town - no doubt William Kelman among them -  that he 'would never wish to pass over more pleasant roads than those he had been on that day'. Funding to repair the road used by the public therefore would not be forthcoming. This may not have pleased many in the town as the roads he had used were inaccessible for public conveyance and were vastly different to the public roads used by most. The vineyards Governor Gipps inspected were those established on Kirkton by amateur vigneron James Busby, son of John Busby who had originally been granted the land. The Busbys had arrived on the Triton in 1824 along with William Kelman who was later to marry John's daughter Katherine. Later, James Busby travelled to Europe and returned with vine cuttings which were planted at the Botanical Gardens, Sydney and at Kirkton. The vineyards at Kirkton were managed by William Kelman.    Although an advertisement appeared in the Mercury in 1848 stating that all household furniture, 200 sheep, horse stock etc on 2000 acres of land granted to John Busby would be auctioned unless quit rent paid, the land remained in the family as William Kelman inherited Kirkton on the death of John Busby in 1857.  Among the convicts assigned to William Kelman at Kirkton were: James Smith, William Falconer, Charles Gaggin, John Gannon, John Reardon, and William Simpson. Ticket of Leave holder Joseph Thompson was employed as a cooper. By 1845 Kelman was advertising to sell vine cuttings 'of the best varieties for wine' at the following prices:    White Hermitage 5/- per 100; Red Hermitage 5/- per 100; Champagne 5/- per 100; Red Burgundy - Pineau Noir 30/- per 1000; White Burgundy 30/- per 1000; Verdilha, Madeira grape 30/- per 1000; Xeres, Sherry grape 30/- per 1000; Legrat 30/- per 1000; Muscats 30/- per 1000. He stated that the Hermitage Vines after 10 years experience, have proved to be hardy and good bearers never having been blighted; the produce being of a strong body and excellent flavour In 1847 a meeting was held in the Northumberland Hotel, Maitland to take measures to form 'an association of vine growers, for the purpose of communication and mutual advantage'.   The Association was established and a code of laws framed by the ten gentlemen attending the meeting who thought that vine growers of the district would benefit from being able to meet to test each others produce and acquire or communicate desirable information regarding the culture of the vine and manufacture of the wine. William Kelman played an active role in the meeting proposing several resolutions. Others present at the meeting included James King, A. Windeyer, A. Lang, E. Hickey, w. Dun, J. Phillips Mr. Carmichael, and Mr. Burnett. Resolutions passed included: 1. That the Association would by known as 'The Hunter River Vineyard Association' 2.Meetings would be at least half yearly and half at Maitland. 5 members to constitute a quorum 3. At the first half yearly general meeting the committee would be elected 4. Must be a cultivator of the vine to be a member 5. Candidates for admission were to be proposed by  another member 6. That each member would pay 10/- to defray expenses 7. That members were to communicate in writing with information or suggestions 8. That each member would furnish annually at least 8 bottles of wine from his vineyard, the wine to by sealed, labelled and packed and locked in a box and accompanied with a statement specifying soil, aspect, mode of culture, age of vines type of grape, age etc 9.  President to be elected at the general election and every half yearly general elected one half on the wine contributed would be examined 10. That at every half yearly general meeting the members would lunch together and assess the remaining wine 11. That each member could introduce a friend to the lunch   George Boyle White   'Greenwood Estate'   1802 - George Boyle White born 24 August 1802 in Ireland. 1827 - Employed as Assistant Surveyor in New South Wales 1830 - Surveyed Maitland 1830 - Married Maria, the daughter of James Mudie of Castle Forbes 1831 - Accompanied Sir Thomas Mitchell and Heneage Finch on their expedition to the Barwon River 1832 - Surveyed land of the Australian Agricultural Company 1833 - Surveyed Muswellbrook 1834 - Infant daughter died 4 August 1834 at Lochinvar 1835 - Surveyed Raymond Terrace 1838 - Promoted to Surveyor. Hunter River District 1844 - Surveyed Hunter River preparatory to dredging 1844 - Selling by auction 3500 sheep, 1000 cattle, horses, carts, drays, oxen 1844 - 'Greenwood Estate'. To be sold by order of trustees. In June 1844 the Estates of George Boyle White were advertised for auction, 14 lots in all. It was stated that everybody that had ever visited Hunter's River must have heard of Mrs. White's beautiful Greenwood Estate. It consisted of 380 acres  and adjoined the Town of Singleton; the most part of it was cleared and fenced and returning yearly rent of 15/- per acre. There was a cottage, office, outbuildings, Vinery, 7 acre garden and an orchard where every variety of fruit was grown in perfection and plenty. Also for auction was a Church section adjoining Greenwood consisting of 585 acres, a cottage and land at East Maitland, 1280 acres on Miranne Estate, 1000 acres on Miranne estate and an 86 acres farm at Lochinvar. Eight hundred head of cattle were running at the Severn under the superintendent of Mr. Hethrington and 300 head of cattle at Meranne Creek together with 50 head of cattle at Greewood. There were 2500 fine woolled sheep, horse stock, household furniture and 250 bushells of wheat also offered for auction. 1848 - Youngest daughter Maria Larnoch White died 3 years 8 months of age at Greenwood , Singleton 1853 - Retired 1876 - Died 25 May 1876       Benjamin Singleton Benjamin Singleton, son of convict William, arrived free on the convict transport Pitt in 1792. His Mother and brother Joseph were also on board. Brother James arrived in the colony later. Benjamin received a grant of land in 1821 after he made explorations into the Hunter Valley. His wife and five children accompanied him over the rugged Bulga track in 1823 to his property which later formed part of the town of Singleton.   James Black   James Black was granted 2560 acres of land at Falbrook near Mt. Dyrring  by Governor Darling on 21 February 1828. Two convicts assigned to him in 1832 at Falbrook were John Garvy and Daniel McCarthy who arrived on the City of Edinburgh. In 1836 this land was re - advertised in favour of Thomas Steele. Convicts assigned to Thomas Steele in 1836 were William McPhillips who arrived on the Royal Sovereign in 1834, William Beresford who arrived on the Susan in 1834, and Edward Bourke who arrived on the Florentia in 1830 Thomas Steel had passed away by 1841.     James Busby More about James Busby James Busby was granted 2000 acres of land in 1828. This land was situated on Carrowbrook nearby land granted to James Black. In England in 1831 James Busby gave evidence to the Select Committee investigating Secondary Punishment of prisoners.     Robert  & Helenus  Scott  'Glendon' Robert Scott (born c. 1799) and his younger brother Helenus, who was born in 1802 in Bombay, India, arrived on 4th February 1822 on board the Britomart. Their father, Dr. Helenus Scott who had been head of the Bombay Medical Staff of the East India Company was accompanying them however he died on the voyage out in November 1821 and was buried at the Cape of Good Hope. Also on board the Britomart was John Galt Smith who was to settle on the Hunter River as well. Their brother Alexander Walker Scott would later to follow them to Australia. Robert and Helenus soon received land grants of approximately 2000 acres each. They combined their land and named the estate 'Glendon'. This land had one  advantage over many other Hunter River estates,  in that it was not liable to damage from floods, being too high for the water to reach 9  Here, with the use of their convict labour, they built a house of stone with cellars and a basement kitchen. Six large rooms were connected with a covered verandah. Also on the estate was a small cottage built by Robert which sometimes accommodated Capt Charles Forbes, the Police magistrate for Patrick Plains. In March 1831 the estate was visited by Sir Edward Parry on his journey to the Liverpool Plains. He described Glendon as a 'good, but not a pretty farm. Everything seemed well conducted according to Parry, but there was nothing very striking about the farm as he had expected.9   Robert and Helenus bred blood horses at Glendon, possibly later using connections in Bombay to export their stock. By 1832 they had 300 horses although the stud was sold in the 1840's. Their mother  Augusta Maria, daughter of Colonel C. Frederick accompanied their sister (also Augusta Maria) to Australia in 1832. Their mother lived on the estate with them, 28 perhaps helping to entertain the many guests that her son Robert, invited to 'Glendon'. Robert entered the social life of the colony with enthusiasm soon after his arrival. At Glendon he was host to artists, explorers, clergy and scientists. Robert was granted 560 acres in 1828 and in 1836 1000 acres (that had been granted to John McIntyre in 1825 by Governor Brisbane), was re advertised in favour of Robert.  Glendon was across the Hunter from William Bell's property and when the river was not in flood it was possible to cross here. A visitor to the area in 1834 noted extraordinary rock formations two miles upstream from Glendon which stood in regular rows in the bed of the river, perfectly round in shape and 10-12 feet in diameter.28 Robert seems to have been fearless in his pursuit of bushrangers. In 1825 he led a pursuit party to capture Jacob's mob who had been robbing  settlers throughout the district. In 1833, he joined John Larnach and Mounted Police in the pursuit of absconders from James Mudie's Castle Forbes.  They followed the runaways into a deep ravine near Lamb's Valley and when one of the men, James Henderson, refused to lay down his gun, Robert fired at him and Henderson fell, fatally wounded. 8 Convicts assigned to the brothers in 1823, soon after their arrival were John Beaumont, John Fitzgerald and Michael Gallagher. In 1832 Joseph Stevens, John Joy, William Toll, John Dalkin, James McGuire,  William Pearson, John Rayhorne, Thomas McKenna, Thomas Phillips, James Kerrigan, William Glover and George Wily were all assigned convicts at Glendon. In 1834 a more controversial prisoner was assigned to Robert. James Brine, one of the Tolpuddle Martyrs had the misfortune to be sent to Glendon. He was told by Robert when he arrived  ' You are one of the Dorchester machine-breakers, but you are caught at last' Brine was given the task of digging postholes although his feet were cut and sore. And although he became ill after spending days in a creek washing sheep and badly needed a blanket, Robert refused to give him any blankets, shoes or clothing until the six months regulation period was up. He told Brine ' I will give you nothing until you are due for it . What would your masters in England have had to cover them if you had not been sent here? I understand it was your intention to have murdered, burnt and destroyed every thing before you, and you are sent over here to be severely punished, and no mercy shall be shown you. If you ask me for any thing before the six months is expired, I will flog you as often as I like - don't you know that not even the hair on your head is your own?'25  Robert and Helenus were both Magistrates. Robert was appointed Magistrate in 1833 however after his defence of the Myall Creek murderers in 1838 he was removed from this position. He had retired from public life by April of 1843 due to ill health and he died on the 30th July 1844 aged 44 years.19 In 1846 Helenus Scott engaged coolies from India to work as shepherds at Glendon. They refused to work when summer clothing was denied them and were taken to Court by Scott. The Magistrate found there was no stipulation in their agreement to receive a suit of summer clothing and handed out the above sentence. They received their punishment very 'cavalierly' saying "Gaol - very goot - no work gaol"!! Due to the early death of Robert, involvement with the Bank of Australia, and the depression of the 1840's, Helenus experienced financial difficulties and by 1848 was declared insolvent. Glendon was sold. An auction was held on Tuesday and Wednesday 22nd and 23rd August 1848 to dispose of belongings at the estate. No doubt a large crowd turned out to the well known 'Glendon' to witness the proceedings. Among items auctioned were 600 head of cattle, 4 teams of working bullocks, 20 milking cows, horses, 30 pigs, 12 tons of hay, a portable thrashing machine, a flour mill, farming implements, timber, bricks and shingles, carriage and gig harness, saddles, a carriage fitted with lamps and bars for four horses, wagon, drays, carts, carpenters', blacksmiths' shoemakers' and curriers' tools, iron hurdles, wool press, steam boiler, five vats for boiling down, casks for tallow, a copper still, large winch, 1000 volumes of books, 50 casks of colonial wine including hock, burgundy and sauturns. Furniture was also later auctioned. Included in the auction was a handsome mahogany spring sofa with horse hair covering; Mahogany chairs in hair and cane seating; handsome London made sideboard with barrel fronts; two bidets; one handsome mahogany bureau and one cedar bureau; a mahogany ladies dressing table with large looking glass; ladies work box of Ceylon wood; Dutch spirit case with bottles and glasses; two writing desks; two iron double bedsteads; hair and wool mattresses; dining, dressing and other tables; wash stands; wood bottom chairs, solar lamps, looking glasses, decanters, tumblers, earthenware etc. 'Glendon' was advertised to let in 1849. It was described as containing about 23,000 acres with an excellent mansion with extensive Stores, stabling and wool shed (and press), numerous out buildings and offices. There was a large garden, vinery and orchard stocked with the most valuable and choice vines, fruit trees and shrubs. A boiling down establishment with steam apparatus was complete. The Estate was said to be well watered by the River Hunter, Glendon Brook and other tributaries. Helenus settled at Newcastle with his wife Sarah Ann (Rusden) He died on 24th August 1879 in Newcastle and was buried at Glendon.   James Mitchell In 1821, shortly after joining the 48th Regiment in England,  James Mitchell was sent to New South Wales as assistant surgeon to the 48th. In 1822 he travelled to Newcastle on the Elizabeth Henrietta where he possibly met with  Helenus and Robert Scott, his future brothers in law.  Mitchell was granted 2000 acres of land which he selected at Glendon Brook near Singleton. His property adjoined that of Helenus and Robert Scott. He did not settle on this land but continued in the capacity of Colonial Surgeon. He further invested in industry around the Newcastle area - and land throughout the Hunter district. Augusta Maria Scott, sister of Robert and Helenus, accompanied her mother to Australia in 1832 and in 1833 she married James Mitchell. Their son, David Scott Mitchell, founder of the Mitchell library, was born in 1836 and Mitchell left his position as surgeon and resigned from the 48th Regiment to live in Sydney.  James Mitchell died on 1st February 1869   William Brooks  In December 1830, William Brooks gained permission to depasture his stock on land adjoining his own 1000 acres at Marwood. His land adjoined Alexander Shand's on the east.       Alexander Shand    Alexander Shand first travelled to Newcastle in 1822 on board the Minerva, perhaps to select this land. He returned in 1823 on the Marina with convicts assigned to him and received supplies and 2000 bricks from the Government. Convict James Tallent, a plasterer who arrived on the Tottenham had been assigned to Shand however the assignment was disputed and Tallent was removed from Shand's farm in 1824 by bush constable Joseph Sedgley. By February 1824 Shand was applying to be supplied with cows from the Government herd and to be assigned more servants. He received a Newcastle town allotment in 1824.     Shaw Stewart       John Gaggin    John Gaggin arrived from Ireland in January 1819 on board the Globe. He was employed as a storekeeper in the Commissariat Department at Windsor.  In 1822 a daughter, Ann was born to John Gaggin and Lucy Freeman and in that same year he married Mary Louise Brabyn, daughter of Captain John Brabyn. John and Mary Louise Gaggin had nine children over the next eighteen years. In 1832 Gaggin lost the Hunter River property and in 1838 Charles Throsby was leasing by auction 'the land known as John Gaggin's farm' 14 Gaggin remained in the area and may have lived at Sydenham at Falbrook as in February of 1847 he was introduced to Governor Sir Charles Fitzroy on his visit to Singleton and later that year his wife Mary posted a notice in the Maitland Mercury  that there was to be no unauthorised disposal of wool clip from sheep running at Sydneham' 14     Joseph Underwood The wealth of coal and cedar to be found on the banks of the Hunter River led to the development of a regular coastal trade. About forty vessels made Newcastle voyages between 1803 and 1821 although not all regularly. Simeon Lord was the first to gather coal from this region for export in 1801. Other early traders  were James Underwood, Henry Kable and Isaac Nicholl. In 1810 those trading with goods from the Hunter included Solomon Wiseman, Mary Reiby, Garnham Blaxcell and James' brother, Joseph Underwood.10 Joseph Underwood was born in 1779 and arrived in New South Wales on the 'Sydney Cove' in June 1807. 27 On board the Sydney Cove also were 109 female convicts and four boys who were escorted by soldiers of the N.S.W. Corp. Joseph was accompanied by his wife Charlotte and their two sons and his mother. Their daughter Elizabeth was born on the voyage out however died a few months after reaching Sydney. The Sydney Cove was owned by Joseph's brother James Underwood in partnership with other Sydney traders Henry Kable and Simeon Lord. Joseph Underwood owned several vessels. One, the 'Campbell Macquarie' was captained by Richard Siddons who was also to later settle in the Hunter Valley. Another, the 'Elizabeth & Mary' which Joseph purchased from Thomas Abbott and Samuel Thorley in 1814, was used for many years to carry cedar and coal from the Hunter River. Others such as the 'Brothers' he owned in partnership with William and James Jenkins. Underwood often accompanied the vessels on their voyages and sailed to Calcutta several times as well as England. In 1810 his voyage to Calcutta was in the 'Marian', a ship registered in the name of a Calcutta firm. He disposed of his interest in this ship and returned with the' Campbell Macquarie'. Underwood abandoned his sea faring life in 1820 and took up his 1500 acre grant in 1822.10  In 1826 he purchased, for £670 the property 'Melville',  3 miles from Wallis Plains.19 Joseph Underwood died in 1833.   George Wyndham   Dalwood This land was granted to David Maziere who arrived in Australia on board the Skelton in 1822. He named the 2000 acres Annandale and was assigned six convicts in 1825. Two of those convicts probably being James Featherstone and Thomas Hayes who may have helped to clear paddocks and cultivate the 60 acres as well as build stock yards that were completed by 1828.  Maziere also owned a house and land in  Newcastle.  David Maziere may not have spent very much time on his Annandale property. He purchased Major Oven's residence in Sydney in 1825 and was also called for jury duty in Sydney in this year for at least two cases. The farm was robbed by 'Jacob's mob' in 1826 and by 1827 Maziere was in financial difficulties and was declared insolvent by 1828. He also owned other land in the area - 560 acres near Dr. George Brooks' land between Maitland and Newcastle. The Sydney Gazette in January 1828 recorded the following:  - 'Sales by Auction: Annandale Estate - By order of the Trustees appointed by the Supreme Court of New South Wales in the Matter of David Maziere, declared an insolvent. All that Valuable Freehold property, called Annandale on the Main Branch of Hunter's River; consisting of two thousand and eighty acres and well known as Mr. Maziere's farm being bounded by the river for six miles on the east side and also by the river on the north and South and forming one of the most complete properties in the County of Cumberland. Independent of the natural advantages of this fine estate, and its central situation (being equidistant from Wallis' Plains, from Patterson's Plains and from St. Patrick's Plains) Mr. Maziere has expended upon it within these two years a sum very little short of 1,000 in the most judicious and substantial Improvements in capacious stock yards, excellent paddocks, clearing one hundred acres and throwing sixty acres into cultivation, for the support of the Establishment, which may now not only be carried on free of expense but afford one of the most genteel and independent incomes in the Colony To those Gentlemen or families arriving in the colony or to officers retiring from the Army there never was yet offered any thing so eligible or worthy of notice in that part of the settlement; and in the midst of the beautiful estates of Luskintyre and Windermere, the scenery exceed any thing even in England and the soil whether for agriculture or grazing, is not surpassed in the richest Districts of Hunter's River. The Purchase money will be made as easy as possible, under the unfortunate circumstances under which the estate is brought to the hammer. ' David Maziere continued his business as a merchant in Sydney and the estate was sold to the well connected George Wyndham who had arrived with his wife Margaret (Jay) shortly before. They re named the estate Dalwood. George was born in Wiltshire, England and educated at Cambridge. He met Margaret  in Italy and married her in Brussels in 1827. They had led cultivated lives in England  however took to their new life with enthusiasm. In 1834 a visitor to their estate found George at the front of their still unfinished stone house cleaning and loading guns in readiness should they be attacked by bushrangers who were thought to be in the vicinity. Margaret was described as one of the most beautiful and distinguished personages that the visitor had ever seen.  On seeing her 'one might well think oneself in one of the most elegant parts of London, and her simple, elegant toilet was in keeping. And where do we find her? In the midst of the wilderness, in an unfinished, unadorned house in constant daily fear of robbers and murderers and surrounded by criminals.' 15 Unlike some of his nearby neighbours, George Wyndam's convicts were treated humanely and on the occasion above he apparently had little to fear from the bushrangers who were absconding convicts.  Two of the convicts assigned to the Wyndhams were John Casey who had arrived on the John Barry in 1821 and James Allen. George Wyndham went on to establish his famous vineyard and together he and Margaret had 13 children. George Wyndham died in 1870.     Alexander Brodie Spark Alexander Brodie Spark was born on 9th August 1792 in Elgin, Scotland. He arrived in Sydney on board the 'Princess Charlotte' in April 1823. 27  He brought with him letters of recommendation and was granted 2000 acres of land. Six convicts were assigned to him as well as an allotment of land in Newcastle. Later he was to increase his holdings in the Hunter region to over 6,000 acres. He also owned a farm at Cooks River. A store in George Street, Sydney was taken over by Sparke and by 1825 he was chartering ships for the coastal trade. He was also an agent for country settlers and later became the Managing Director of the Bank of Australia.27 Sparke's favourite residence was his farm at Cooks River however in 1829 he was at the Hunter Valley property when it was robbed by bushrangers Richard Brown, Patrick Corcoran, Richard Turnstyle and Andrew Cullen. In an attempt to keep the bushrangers at bay, he fired through the door at them. Sparke was a Magistrate and became friends with James Mudie.  Mudie was known to visit him on his farm at Cooks river. Later, possibly after Mudies returned to England, Sparke became a private distributor of Mudie's slanderous 'Felonry of New South Wales'.27 In 1834 he commissioned John Verge to design 'Tempe House' and in 1835 Sparke was to be found at Government House in Sydney attending a levee to celebrate the King's birthday.19 In April 1840, he married Frances Maria (nee Biddulph), the widow of Henry Wyatt Radford of Ravensfield Station at the Hunter River. Ravensfield consisted of 2000 acres. Until 1847 it was occupied by William Geddes however Spark advertised it to let in May of that year. On the property were a cottage and houses, a malt kiln and 'every convenience for a dairy farm' all surrounded by strong fences.33 By the 1840's Sparke was in financial difficulties and was declared insolvent in 1844. He died at Tempe on 21 October 1856.     Archibald Bell  Junior 'Corinda' Archibald Bell was born in 1804, one of the ten children born to Maria (Kitching) and Archibald Bell. He arrived in Australia with his family on board the 'Young William' when he was three years old. His father Archibald had served with the N.S.W. Corp, and as a military commander at the Hawkesbury  and  Magistrate at Windsor. In 1823 Archibald junior discovered a new route across the Blue Mountains from Richmond to Cox's River. This became known as the Bell's Line of Road.  He was granted 1000 acres and selected land near Singleton naming it 'Corinda'. In 1828 he was a tenant and employed as an overseer at St. Hiliers, Colonel Henry Dumaresq's property near Scone. Convicts were assigned to him at St. Hiliers as well as at Corinda where he built a two story stone house, probably with the use of convict labour. One sister, Mary Ann Fennell married Francis Little of Invermein in 1831. In 1833, the same year another sister, Sophie married Henry P. Dutton, Archibald married Francis Ann North, daughter of a Windsor Magistrate. Bell and Dutton would later be active in Singleton community life attending meetings such as the Patrick Plains Turf Club and serve as Trustees for the Singleton Church. Bell was nominated for district council and was a Steward at the Patrick Plains Races. In 1847 along with other prominent settlers, he was introduced to the Governor Sir Charles Fitzroy on his visit to the district. As the depression of the 1840's continued, Henry Dutton suffered financially and was involved with  insolvency proceedings, however Bell managed to survive. Like many other Hunter River settlers he established a boiling down facility for the manufacture of tallow on his property 'Corinda' Bell was renown for his coach and hackney horses which he bred at 'Corinda'. He owned other properties in the Valley and later moved to Milgerra and then to 'Pickering' near Merton, the former property of Captain John Pike. Archibald Bell was a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1868 to 1872 and from 1879 to until his death on the 9th August 1883. He died at Pickering.     John Larnach  and James Mudie 'Rosemount', 'Castle Forbes' John Larnach was born to William and Margaret Larnach in county Caithness, Scotland in 1805. He arrived in Sydney as a free settler in 1823 and was soon employed as an Overseer at Dr. George Bowman's property Ravensworth near Singleton. By 1825 Larnach had established his own property 'Rosemount' at Patrick Plains. (24 miles from Maitland and 6 miles from Singleton) He married Emily the eldest daughter of the controversial James Mudie in August of 1827 and in April of the following year their first daughter Maria was born, named perhaps for Emily's sister Maria. Emily and Maria had arrived in Australia with their father and foster sister Ann Scargill. In 1823 James Mudie and 'the three misses Mudie' had travelled to Newcastle on the Mermaid 13 where they may have all ventured up the Hunter on one of the small ketches to select land. More likely the three girls (Emily was eighteen) remained at Newcastle perhaps staying at the Inn of fellow Scottish settlers James and Nancy McClymont SG 26 Nov 1831 Click to enlarge Following the birth of Maria to John and Emily in 1828,  Margaret was born in 1831, William James Mudie  in January 1833, Emily in 1834, John in December 1836 (at Rosemount), George in 1839 and Mary in 1842 The year 1833 was to bring great sadness, terror and eventual infamy to the Larnach household.   They were residing at 'Castle Forbes', the home of Emily's father James. The year started off well and no doubt with joy for the family when their son William James Mudie was born in January of that year. (William was also destined for a controversial life in New Zealand). 26 In September 1833, when William was eight months old and his sister Margaret two, their five year old sister Maria passed away.14  And then in November, with the family still in mourning for the little girl a terrifying ordeal was experienced when convict servants who had absconded, mounted an attack on the house. 'Castle Forbes' had become a place of horror for the convicts who were assigned there. Floggings had become an almost daily occurrence under Larnach's supervision, rations were poor and conditions unbearable. Driven to desperation, the convicts broke free and the next day returned to 'Castle Forbes'. They  captured Emily, who was attempting to escape through a window with a maid, and took her to the kitchen where they threatened to 'blow her brains out'. She heard them threaten that 'they would bring her husbands head and stick it on the chimney' and 'that they wished her father were home so they could settle him' before they finally left  3/4 of an hour later 8 The runaways then headed down to the sheep wash where John Larnach was supervising the assigned men. Here the absconders ambushed Larnach. He headed into the river and one of men took aim and shot at him while a second, Poole, called out 'I'll take care you shall never punish another man'  and  'I'll make you remember flogging'. 8 Larnach managed to escape to the shelter of reeds on the other side of the river and then to freedom and later joined the pursuit in the company of nearby settler Robert Scott and Mounted Police. They captured the escapees and before the end of that year the absconders had all been hanged, two of them, Hitchcock and Poole were returned to Castle Forbes where convicts and workers were assembled on Windmill Hill where the gallows had been erected. They were hanged on 21 December 1833 and there followed in the months and years ahead great controversy regarding the cruel treatment of convicts at 'Castle Forbes'. John Larnach and his family remained in the Hunter Valley. Emily's sister Maria had married George Boyle White  in 1830, so the two sisters lived close by. In 1838 Larnach was offering for lease for 10 years, a portion of Castle Forbes containing 34 farms, to immigrants and men of good character. The first 3 years to be rent free. In 1840 Larnach had a brush with bushrangers known as the Jewboy Gang. Following is an excerpt from 'An Organised Banditti' by Colin Roope and Patrick Gregson: 'While the “Blacksmith” gang were bailing up Underbank, sixteen miles (25.2 km) above Dungog, Marshall, Davis, Shea and Chitty were on the road between Maitland and Singleton, not far from the present-day town of Branxton. At eight in the morning they came across two settlers named Larnachand Barker travelling towards Maitland. John Larnach was riding a horse and Mr. Barker was in a gig. Two of the bushrangers approached each man, and ordered them to stand. Larnach was struck by one of the gang with the butt of a gun, and he returned the compliment with his whip.31   Larnach then spurred his horse and rode off at a furious pace in the direction of Maitland with two of the bushrangers following in hot pursuit. The bushrangers kept up with him for two miles (3.2 km) of hard galloping. One made several attempts to shoot Larnach, but rain the previous night had wet his gunpowder and he could not get his carbine to fire. The bushranger used his gun as a club and tried to knock Larnach off his horse. The blow missed his head but caught him in the ribs. He then dropped his carbine and fired a pistol, but missed. During this time, the second bushranger was trying to take aim with his carbine, but could not get a clear shot. Larnach turned off the road amongst some trees, obliging the bushrangers, who were still following closely, to concentrate more on keeping in the saddle than firing their guns. The bushrangers gave up the chase when they came within sight of Mrs. Harper’s station. '32 Meanwhile, the other two bushrangers stayed with Mr. Barker, who was not robbed and said he was treated very civilly. Larnach was reported to be very bruised and was confined to bed after this incident 30 Larnach took part in public life in the district and was steward at a dinner for Richard Windeyer  and  served on jury duty in 1847.  In 1844 John and Emily's sons William and John received prizes at their school in Singleton and in this year also Larnach was nominated for district Council. In 1848 the house at Rosemount was very nearly destroyed when a fire broke out in the upstairs dressing room. The windows were all broken, linen destroyed and the ceiling of the room fell in before the fire was brought under control. Emily may have been  in Launceston at this time.14 Later, in July 1848 after a Court case Larnach was forced to sell at auction at Rosemount - stack of hay, 4 bullock drays and 2 horse carts. Late in 1848 Rosemount Estate was advertised to be let 'for such term as may be agreed upon'. The Estate comprised 1200 acres of agricultural and grazing land and was enclosed by a substantial three rail fence and subdivided into convenient paddocks, well suited for grazing and for agriculture in favourable seasons. The property was described as having a substantial mansion with out offices, suitable for a genteel family; an orchard and garden - grounds attached. The windmill on the property was not in working order and the huts said to be suitable for accommodation of farm labourers were at a convenient distance from the mansion. John Larnach died in 1869. The Felonry of New South Wales - James Mudie         John Cobb  'Minimbah' /  'Rusholine' John Cobb was recommended as a free settler and arrived in 1823 on board the Francis with his wife, Maria. Also on the Francis was Hunter Valley settler John Eales. After supplying a statement to the authorities regarding the number of convicts he could support off the Stores, Cobb was granted 2000 acres and six convict servants. A town allotment in Newcastle was reserved for him in 1824. His properties at Patrick Plains were 'Minimbah' and 'Rusholine' although he may have resided at his brother George's estate 'Anambah' John and Maria's daughter Mary was born in 1827 followed by George in 1829, Adelaide in 1831, Alfred in 1833, John in 1835 and Joseph in  January 1837 at Anambah. In 1838 Cobb was advertising to let a house for use as an Inn at Minimba, Patrick Plains as Benjamin Levien had broken an agreement. Two years later in 1840, John Cobb died aged 37 at 'Anambah' and was buried in Maitland. His wife Maria was left to run the property as well as bring up her young family. In 1846 she was issuing a notice in the Maitland Mercury cautioning the public not to remove trees from her property 'Anambah'. Nine months later while walking alone in her garden one afternoon and although in perfect health, Maria was seen to fall down. Her daughter ran to see what had happened and was shocked to find her mother unconscious. An express was instantly sent into Maitland for Dr. Sloan who galloped out to the property, however she was found to have already died. The cause of death given as apoplexy. She was 41 years old.         J. McDougall     John Earl   John Earl arrived with his wife and five children on the Thalia in 1823.  The Thalia departed England in October 1822 and arrived in Hobart on 27 April 1823. Among those on board the Thalia were the families of - Pike, Geiss and  Lawes and eight other passengers including a Mr. Boucher. After bringing with him recommendations as a free settler, Earl was granted 1500 acres, and in 1823 he travelled to Newcastle on the Fame possibly to select his land. His selection was situated in the parish of Whittingham near Singleton and he named it 'Glenridding'. Some of his assigned servants in 1823 who probably accompanied him to Glenridding  were Joseph Charles who arrived on the Mangles in 1820, John Foley on the Canada and  Mathew Fox on the Daphne. However Mathew Fox was soon reassigned to Alexander McLeod, Joseph Charles to John Tucker and John Foley to William Evans. Soon after Earl's arrival he was in dispute with constable Benjamin Singleton who he replaced as Constable for the district.  Later he was accused of being unfit for the position of chief constable by Messrs Close and Scott and was dismissed from the position himself in 1825 In 1832 William Strainton was an assigned servant as were George Boxhall and Thomas Canavan. Twenty four year old John Watson who arrived on the Recovery was employed by Earl as a labourer. In 1840 Earl sold his estate and returned to England. His wife Anne remained in Australia.     William Harper 'Oswald'   In 1849 William Harper (junior) decided to leave the district and the estate of 'Oswald' was advertised to be let. Included in the estate was 1000 acres of land and a house situated 8 or 9 miles from Maitland. The main road to and from the upper districts (from Maitland to Singleton) ran through the estate and the house was situated within a few hundred yards of the Main road. The house was substantial. Built of stone it contained eleven 'commodious and well finished rooms' on the ground floor. There were another six room upstairs and a kitchen and Stores were attached to the house and also made of stone with flagged floors. The garden at Oswald extended for eight acres and was well stocked with fruit trees and vines with other cultivation on the banks of the river. A grass paddock of 400 acres fronting the river and 600 acres of bush run adjoined an extensive tract of government land and a large quantity of stock could be depastured in the open well grassed country.34 'Oswald' was a 2000 acre estate belonging to assistant surveyor William Harper in 1828. Twenty nine year old Harper had arrived in Hobart on 5th May 1821 with his wife Catherine and two children on the 'Westmoreland'.13 On board the 'Westmoreland' also were saddler Samuel Marsden settler John West, runaway John Bisbee and Hunter valley settler John Thomas Maughan. Harper had brought with him from Scotland recommendations, and when he outlined his experience and training as a surveyor, was given government employment in this field. Deprived of his sight while in government service,  Harper retreated to his estate with Catherine and their young family. Their son William was born in 1821, George in 1823 and Mary in 1826 and Francis in 1829.17 Assigned convicts at the estate in 1828 included Charles Williams who arrived on the Prince Regent, Lucy Sweeney on the 'Elizabeth' David Gardener per 'Marquis of Hastings', Michael Healy and Patrick Halfpenny on the 'Boyne' and Thomas Coyle on the 'John Barry'.5 In 1836 William Harper died leaving Catherine to bring up the young family on her own.35 Soon after an attachment of the 80th Regiment were stationed nearby at Harper's Hill. William junior was fifteen when his father died and although he probably assisted his mother in running the estate, over the next fifteen years the estate dwindled by half. At first, part of the estate was divided into small farms to be run by tenants. William junior sometimes became embroiled in disputes with the tenants such as John Locke and William Cole over straying cattle and land leases 36 By 1848 portions of the estate were for sale. William junior was seriously injured when gored by a cow in 1847 and was under the care of Dr. McCartney for several days. 37 However he made a complete recovery and was able to marry Emma Grace Marshall three months later in June 38 In 1849 a servant of William Harper had a narrow escape after a confrontation with bushrangers James Davidson and William Smith. The district was in uproar when,  one Sunday afternoon in June, the mail coach from Singleton to Maitland was stopped and robbed by the two armed men. 'A Short time before sundown the mail had reached Mr. Harper’s gate, about two miles from Lochinvar, when two men sprang from behind a large fallen tree, and ordered the driver to stop, each at the same time presenting a double barreled carbine, cocked. The driver pulled up, and the larger of the two men ordered him to throw out the mailbags. This order was also obeyed, the carbines of the bushrangers being within a few feet of the driver and Mr. Loxton, a passenger, and one pointed at each. The bushrangers now ordered the driver to move on a stop or two, the smaller man accompanying him as a guard, with his piece presented. The other bushranger then cut open the mailbags and selected there from a great quantity of letters, many apparently registered, which he opened, and took the contents from. Having finished a cool inspection of the bags, and ransacked all the letters that he desired, he gathered the letters into a heap lit a match, and set fire to them. The empty mailbags were thrown back into the coach. The passengers Mr. Loxton and Mrs. Kerrigan were also forced by the bushrangers to give up what silver they had about them, fortunately in each case only a few shillings, The shorter bushranger while standing guard, with his gun presented and cocked, appeared quite nervous, his hand trembling so much that Mr. Loxton feared he would draw the trigger unintentionally. During the time the coach was being thus plundered, a horseman came up, and was stopped by the bushrangers; and shortly after  Mr. Doolan, an elderly man came up on foot, and was ordered by the bushrangers to hold the first man’s horse. A servant of Mr. Harper’s, named John Porter was at that time coming from Harper's  ground on to the road, and was crossing it, when the taller bushranger presented his piece at him and told him to hold the bridle of his horse or he would blow his brains out. Porter complied, and afterwards, when the letter ransacking was finished, he was relieved by the shorter bushranger, and employed to hand back the empty mail bags; Porter was then ordered by the bushrangers as the coach drove off, to come back, but he ran for it, and getting under the fence, made for home at full speed; a gun was fired at him and Porter heard the ball whiz by him, but did not relax his speed; the shorter bushranger shortly after overtook him, but Porter knocked him down with a stick he had picked up, and got safely home to Oswald.'39   Sources 1. Australian Medical Pioneers Index 2. Backhouse, James., A Narrative of a visit to the Australian Colonies in 1843 3. Bateson, Charles, The Convict Ships 1787 - 1868, Library of Australian History, 1983 4. Boyle, H.F., Lieutenant Commander Frederick Bedwell R.N, Paterson Historical Society 5. Census of New South Wales. 1828 6. Clouten, Keith H., Reid's Mistake; the story of Lake Macquarie from its discovery until 1890. Boolaroo NSW; Lake Macquarie Shire Council, 1967 7. Convict Indents 8. Decisions of the Superior Courts of New South Wales 1788 - 1899 9. Early Days of Port Stephens - Extracts from Sir Edward Parry's Diary. Dungog Chronicle 10. Hainsworth, D.R. The Sydney Traders, Simeon Lord and his Contemporaries, Cassell Australian, Melbourne, 1872. 11. Hunter, Cynthia., The Settlers of Paterson's Plains, Paterson Historical Society, 1997 12. Hunter Valley Gazette 14. Maitland Mercury 15. Mitchell, C., Hunter's River, Estate of Cecily Joan Mitchell, 1984 16. Newcastle Coal Report: History of Newcastle Mines under Crown and Australian Agricultural Company 17. New South Wales Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages 18. Proceedings of the Old Bailey 19. Sydney Gazette 20. Sydney Morning Herald 21. The narrative of a voyage of discovery performed in his majesty's vessel the Lady Nelson of sixty tons burthen, with sliding keels; in the years 1800, 1801, and 1802, to New South Wales 22. Turner, J.W., Manufacturing in Newcastle, 1801 - 1900. Newcastle History Monographs No 8., Newcastle Public Library 1980 23. Uebel , L., The Port Jackson Convicts Anthology, 2001 24. 1832 Directory 25. Hughes, R, The Fatal Shore, Alfred A Knopf, Inc. 1986 26.Sinclair, F. R. J. 'Larnach, William James Mudie 1833 - 1898'.  Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 16 December 2003 URL: http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/ 27. Australian Dictionary of Biography 28. Clark, Dymphna  (trans. and ed.), Baron Charles von Hugel, New Holland Journal November 1833-October 1834, Miegunyah Press, 1994 29. Dangar, Elisabeth Mary, William Dangar of Turanville, Scone & Upper Hunter HIstorical Society 1968 30.Sydney Herald, 4/12/1840 31Australian, 5/12/1840 32. Roope, C., Gregson, P., An Organised Banditti, 2002., 33. Maitland Mercury 8 May 1847 34. Maitland Mercury 12 September 1849 35 Sydney Gazette 4 June1836 (36)Maitland Mercury 1846 14 October (37)Maitland Mercury 17 March1847 (38)Maitland Mercury 12 June1847 (39)Maitland Mercury 20 June 1849   This page was last updated on 31/01/2010