Free Settler or Felon
Rev. Charles Pleydell Neale Wilton
Timeline and Notes 1795 - 1859
Rev. Charles Pleydell Neale Wilton arrived in Australia in 1827.
He died in 1859 and was buried in the Christ Church Burial Ground, Newcastle. When the article below was published in 1931, his grave had long been forgotten but the memory of his dedication and service to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley was remembered in the following extract published in the Gloucester Advocate.......
{Extract}.....The Rev. Charles Pleydell Neale Wilton, M.A., was born in 1792, and completed his education as a scholar of St. John's College at Cambridge University. Here he secured the degree of Master of Arts and also became a Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. He arrived in Sydney in 1827, and on April 14th was gazetted a Chaplain of the Colony. At the same time he was appointed to the position of Master of the Female Orphan Institution at Parramatta, and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Wilton, to the position of matron. The church in his parish was St. Anne's, at what is now Ryde, and here he Officiated until December 29th, 1828. In addition to his duties as Chaplain and Master, the Rev. Wilton, who was a gentleman of considerable literary attainments, found time to edit the 'Australian Quarterly Journal,' a magazine devoted to theology, literature and science.
Early in 1829. the Rev. Mr. Wilton first visited Newcastle, passing through on his way to view 'The Burning Mountain' (Mount Wingen, near Murrurundi) .
In 1831 the reverend gentleman was appointed to Newcastle as Chaplain to the convicts and Incumbent of Christ Church, a position that he occupied for twenty-eight years. Christ Church 'on the hill,' was built by convict labour; it was commenced in 1817 and completed in 1821 and at the same time a parsonage was erected in what is now Church Street. This was occupied first by the Rev. G. A. Middleton, and later by the Rev. C. P. N. Wilton. The original grant of land to the Church of England included the site of the Mental Hospital was sold to the Ordinance Department in 1840, for £800. The old church when completed was easily the finest building in the settlement; it was at first adorned with a high shingled spire, but this was found to rock so much in heavy weather, that it was soon removed and a smaller one took its place.
In the early days portion of the church building was used as a day school, under what was known as the Bell system, and many of the children of the old pioneers received their education here.
Mr. Wilton took an active interest in all local matters. He was the founder and president of the first Newcastle Mechanic's Institute, which was opened on June 2nd,1835, at the corner of Watt and King Streets. He was the president of the old hospital in its early days, and as a member of the committee he was a very energetic worker.
We find his name mentioned as being an honored guest at many social functions held in the old 'Ship Inn,' or. the 'Victoria Inn,' in Watt Street, particularly at the anniversary banquets of the Oddfellows. In those days it was the custom of the Oddfellows' Lodge (Loyal Union No. 3371, I.O.O.F., M.U.) which had been formed in 1843, on their anniversary, to march in procession to Christ Church, where the Rev. Mr. Wilton would deliver a sermon, at the conclusion of which they would reform and march to one of the old hostelries, where a banquet would be held, and attended by the leading citizens of the district, for the Oddfellows were a 'strong and influential body in those days.
Apart from his religious duties, Mr. Wilton had a large farm and orchard on Moscheto Island, where he had a number of acres under cultivation, growing oranges, bananas, grapes, etc. He named the farm 'Koorangang,' and here he spent a part of his time, supervising the work of a number of convicts who had been assigned to him.
When Bishop Tyrrell arrived in 1848, he was installed at Christ Church on January 31st, and the Rev. Mr. Wilton took a prominent part in the ceremony. He also accompanied the new Bishop on many of his long journeys to the different parts of the diocese, which at that time extended from Gosford to the North of Queensland. Mr. Wilton was one of the old school of clergy, following closely in the foot steps of the Rev. Samuel Marsden, a strict disciplinarian, and an ardent believer in the doctrine of the lash (which, in some cases, it is stated, was used as a punishment for non attendance at divine worship) but he was a man who devoted his life and endured the many hardships of the early days, in zealously carrying out the duties of his church. He passed away on June 5th, 1859, aged 65 years, and was buried in the Christ Church cemetery.
Timeline for Rev. Charles Pleydell Neale Wilton.............
October 1795
Charles Pleydell Neale Wilton, born at Stow, Gloucestershire, son of Rev. William Wilton and Charlotte nee Jelf.
December 1796
Baptism of William Henry Wilton, son of Rev. William Wilton and Charlotte nee Jelf
February 1798
Baptism of Charlotte, daughter of Rev. William Wilton and Charlotte nee Jelf
September 1801
Baptism of Sarah, daughter of Rev. William Wilton and Charlotte nee Jelf
May 1803
Baptism of Mary, daughter of Rev. William Wilton and Charlotte nee Jelf
1817
B.A. St. John's College, Cambridge
July 1820
Ordained Deacon by the Bishop of Gloucester
December 1820
Ordained Priest in the Church of England by the Bishop of Gloucester
January 1823
Marriage to Elizabeth Plaistowe
July - December 1823
Curate of Awre, Gloucestershire. Delivered a sermon on psalmody
October 1826
Appointed to the Chaplaincy in NSW and superintendent of Female Orphan School at Parramatta
1827
Master of Arts. St. John's College, Cambridge
April 1827
Rev. and Mrs. Wilton passengers on the Elizabeth to Sydney (Sydney Gazette 9 April 1827)
July 1827
Secretary of District Society for promoting Christian Knowledge
October 1827
Mary Mumford per Harmony assigned to Rev. Wilton at Parramatta
January 1828
Published No 1 of Aust. Quarterly Journal.
December 1828
Resigned from the position of Assistant Chaplain and Master of Female Orphan School.'
February 1829
Touring the Hunter region to examine Burning Mountain (Mt. Wingen) Sydney Gazette 14 March 1829
March 1831
Wife gave birth to a daughter at Parramatta. Elizabeth Fanny Anne Catherine Mary Wilton
June 1831
Baptism of daughter Elizabeth at St. John's, Parramatta
June 1831
Rev. Wilton of Parramatta elected an honorary member of the Ashmolean Society of Oxford
1831
Appointed to the chaplaincy at Newcastle
July 1831
Presented with an address from his late parishioners at the Field of Mars
July 1831
Officiated at the marriage of William Moore and Mary Wilkinson
July 1831
Officiated at the marriage of James Burton of Maitland and Bridget Roe
July 1831
Burial of William Taylor
July 1831
Officiated at the marriage of James Cox of Maitland and Anne Binder
July 1831
Officiated at the marriage of Thomas Thompson of Maitland and Catherine Critchley
July 1831
Officiated at the marriage of John Callaghan of Maitland and Elizabeth O'Hara
July 1831
Officiated at the marriage of James Drew of Maitland and Sarah Stevenson
July 1831
Burial of Edwin Green
August 1831
Tenders called by Church Corporation for repairs to the Parsonage house and building of new offices at Newcastle. See John Armstrong's 1831 Map of Newcastle showing the location of the parsonage.
August 1831
Officiated at the marriage of James McHooghe of Maitland to Mary Reilly
August 1831
Officiated at the marriage of Jane Phillips and John Skottowe Parker of Maitland
August 1831
Burial of Thomas Squires
August 1831
Officiated at the marriage of Frederick Wright Unwin of Maitland to Ann King, youngest daughter of the late John Plaistowe
August 1831
Officiated at the marriage of Esau Cheeseman of Maitland to Emma Bassett
September 1831
Officiated at the marriage of John Jones of Patrick Plains and Mary Ellis
September 1831
Officiated at the marriage of Thomas Coates of Maitland to Margaret Purcell
September 1831
Published in The London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science - A Sketch of the Geology of Six Miles of the south east Line of the Coast of Newcastle in Australia; with a Notice of three Burning Cliffs on that Coast. by Rev. Wilton
September 1831
Officiated at the marriage of William Kilminster of Maitland to Francis Matthews
October 1831
Officiated at the marriage of John B. Squire of Maitland to Maria Parmeter
October 1831
Officiated at the marriage of Isaac Perrot of Patrick Plains to Mary Ross
October 1831
Officiated at the marriage of Gilbert Kelso of Patrick Plains to Ellen Byron
October 1831
Visited Mount Wingen 'Burning Mountain' after visiting Darlington' one of the outstations of his chaplaincy'
November 1831
Officiated at the marriage of James Rusher of Williams River to Margaret Barry
November 1831
Officiated at the marriage of John Smith of Newcastle to Margaret Hartigan
November 1831
Officiated at the marriage of George Parvin of Maitland to Sarah Brown
November 1831
Officiated at the marriage of Alexander Walsh of Maitland to Catherine Duffy
November 1831
Officiated at the marriage of Thomas Light of Patrick Plains to Ann Thew
November 1831
Officiated at the marriage of James Gallagher of Newcastle to Catherine Cummin
November 1831
Officiated at the marriage of David Kennaw to Ann Newman
November 1831
Officiated at the marriage of William Pitman of Patrick Plains to Mary Ann Wood
November 1831
Officiated at the marriage of William Cross of Patrick Plains to Ann Dillon
November 1831
Officiated at the marriage of William Browne of Oswald to Bridget Meaney
November 1831
Officiated at the marriage of John Dent of Oswald to Ann Jackson
December 1831
Officiated at the marriage of John Ratcliffe of Maitland to Ann Smith
December 1831
Officiated at the marriage of William Campbell to Ann Moore
December 1831
Officiated at the marriage of Abraham Dowgill of Patrick Plains to Bridget Comerford
January 1832
Officiated at the marriage of John Moore of Newcastle to Charlotte Smith
January 1832
Officiated at the marriage of Samuel Marshall of Maitland to Catherine Spalding
January 1832
Officiated at the marriage of William Salisbury to Catherine Hoare
January 1832
Officiated at the marriage of William Burnham of Maitland to Mary Harvey
January 1832
Officiated at the marriage of Daniel Henry of Patrick Plains to Mary Ann Priestly
January 1832
Officiated at the marriage of Samuel Ellis of Patrick Plains to Mary Sears
February 1832
Officiated at the marriage of Thomas Smith of Newcastle to Ellen Madden
1832
Rev. Wilton sent specimens of coniferous wood from Australian coal beds to Professor Jameson. - The Quarterly journal of the Geological Soc. of London
March 1832
Officiated at the marriage of George Furber of Newcastle and Mary Anne Muir
October 1832
Officiated at the marriage of James Glennie of Patrick Plains and Miss White of Merton
November 1832
Officiated at the marriage of Thomas Dangar of Patrick Plains to Charlotte Selena Gibbons
November 1832
John C. Buckley per Countess of Harcourt assigned servant in 1832
July - December 1832
A Sketch of the Geology of Six Miles of the South-east Line of the Coast of Newcastle in Australia; with a Notice of three Burning Cliffs on that Coast. By the Rev. Charles Pleydell Neall Wilton, M.A. of St. John's College Cambridge, Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, and Chaplain of Newcastle. The London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science
April 1833
Patrick Makesey per Roslin Castle assigned servant.
1833
Presented an address to the Governor on his visit to Newcastle
April 1833
Attended the laying of the first stone at St. John's Church at Stroud
April 1833
Rev. Wilton's sermon at the school house at Maitland attended by Governor Gipps - Sydney Monitor 27 April 1833
November 1833
Thomas Garland per York assigned servant
December 1833
Instructed by the Archdeacon to visit the A.A. company settlement at Port Stephens to baptize some of the children
January 1834
Sardonic review of the New South Wales Calendar and General Postal Directory in Mechanics' Magazine and Journal of Science, Arts, and Manufactures . The unfavourable judgment wasn't just confined to the contents of the Directory but to the forward contributed by Rev. Wilton as well.
January 1834
Application for town allotments Nos. 85 and 86, near Church street, Newcastle
January 1834
Application for town allotment 24 perches, allotment No. 85, bounded on the south by Church street; on the east by allotment 84; on the south by allotments 82 and 83 and on the west by allotment 86. Town of Newcastle. 5 pound per acre
February 1834
Published 'Twelve Plain Discourses addresses to the Prisoners of the Crown in NSW and dedicated to Archdeacon William Grant Broughton.
May 1834
Baptism of son Pleydell Augustus Wilton
June 1834
Burial of Patrick Kelly (Parmelia 1834), assigned servant of Rev. Wilton
January 1835
Sarah Coyle per Buffalo assigned servant
March 1835
Eliza Giltrap per Caroline assigned servant
March 1835
Mary Ann Evans per Buffalo assigned servant
April 1835
Mary Blackford per George Hibbert, assigned servant
July 1835
Wife Elizabeth gave birth to a son at the Parsonage - de Courcy Frederick Pleydell Wilton
July 1835
Baptism of son de Courcy Frederick Pleydell Wilton
December 1835
Rev. Wilton's assigned servant Sarah Sharrod per George Hibbert was robbed of 4s while in church
February 1836
President of the lately formed Newcastle Mechanics Institute
February 1836
Complained that his assigned servant Ann Fox's (Caroline 1833) behaviour was excessively bad
February 1836
Francis Walker per Lady Nugent assigned to Rev. Wilton
February 1836
Patrick McCartney per Roslin Castle assigned servant
July 1836
Committee member for petitioning the Governor regarding General Education
December 1836
Wife gave birth to a daughter - Augusta Maria. Christened on the same day
December 1836
Elizabeth, wife of Rev. Wilton died at the Parsonage Newcastle aged 39
1837
Nicholas Campbell per Ferguson assigned servant
1837
Ann Fox assigned servant
1837
Isaac Powell per York assigned servant
January 1837
Assigned servants N. Campbell and W. Grayson charged with allowing their master's belongings to be taken away
August 1837
Volunteered his services as Secretary of the Newcastle Bible Association
August 1837
.Mary Moiles and William Johnston both assigned to Rev. Wilton charged with drunk and disorderly behaviour.
October 1837
George Brooks and family lived at the Parsonage with Rev. Wilton when Brooks' house burned down
December 1837
Ann Andrews per Pyramus assigned servant
January 1838
.Assigned servant Mary Boltwood charged with disobedience of orders and insolence towards Rev. Wilton
January 1838
Michael Dowd per Royal Sovereign temporarily assigned
February 1838
Charged Francis Walker with laziness and disobedience after Walker failed to rise early enough to heat water for Wilton's child to bathe in
September 1838
Charged Catherine Desmond with obtaining goods under false pretences after she purchased muslin from Harriet Perry with the understanding that it would be paid for by Rev. Wilton
November 1838
Charged with a breach of the Dog Act by Constable Rouse. Pleaded ignorance of the Act. Fined 10/-
May 1839
Present at a breakfast tea given by Mrs. Furlong on the occasion of Lady Jane Franklin's visit to Newcastle. Described by Lady Franklin as 'a plain, queer looking little man who possesses a collection of the natural curiosities of the place'. This Errant Lady p.130
June 1839
Travelling to Sydney on the steamer. Joined Lady Franklin and Rev. Stack of West Maitland for lunch on the steamer before leaving Newcastle
October 1839
Marriage to Charlotte Albinia Sullivan, daughter of Benjamin Sullivan.
December 1840
To continue to receive into his House, a limited number of Pupils (Parsonage Newcastle)
April 1841
Birth of Olioll Ollum Pleydell Sullivan Wilton, child of Charles Pleydell Neale and Charlotte Albinia Wilton
June 1841
Baptism of son Olioll Ollum at Christ Church, Newcastle
June 1841
1280 acres promised to Rev. Wilton granted to G.T. Palmer Co. Northumberland
May 1842
The detachment of the military at present stationed at Newcastle, we regret to remark seem to have forgotten for a time the honourable character of their profession, by giving loose to a life of dissipation. One of the men became so reckless in his conduct as to insult the Rev. Wilton on Sunday afternoon last while he was passing the barracks on his way to the stockade where he was going to perform divine service to the men in irons. - Hunter River Gazette 14 May 1842
June 1842
Soldier who assaulted Rev. Wilton sentenced to transportation for 14 years
December 1842
Wife Charlotte gave birth to a daughter on 12th December at the Parsonage - Albinia Margaret Mackenzie Wilton
February 1843
Receiving pupils from January 1843. Parsonage Newcastle
March 1843
Baptism of daughter Albinia Wilton at Christ Church, Newcastle
October 1843
Attended the execution of aborigines Harry and Melville at Maitland
December 1843
Co-signed a letter to Maitland Mercury stating regret of a slur that had been made on the Soldiers of the 99th Regiment
April 1844
Present at a meeting in Newcastle to discuss subject of making Newcastle a free port
September 1845
Present at a meeting at the Court House to propose that a Benevolent Asylum is necessary for Newcastle
December 1845
Present when St. Mary's Church was consecrated by the Bishop of Australia. Allyn River
January 1846
Signed letter written to farewell Major Edward Last who was leaving for New Zealand to fight in the Maori wars
January 1846
Present at a meeting at the Court House to discuss capability of Newcastle Port
March 1846
Marriage of William, youngest son of the late Brigadier General David McDonell of the Mexican service to Mary Carne, 2nd daughter of J.G. Bidwell of Exeter on 17th March. Officiated Rev. C.P.N. Wilton
December 1846
Delivered lecture on the subject of Geology
January 1847
Present at public meeting to discuss arrangements for the reception of the Governor Sir Charles Fitzroy
February 1847
Accompanied the Governor on horseback on his tour of Nobby's Island, the Stockade and the Gaol. Member of Oddfellows. Gave address to Gov. Sir Charles Fitzroy on his visit to Newcastle
March 1847
Rev. Wilton and his family nursed servant Eliza Milner after she had been badly burned
June 1847
To deliver opening lecture for the season at the Newcastle Mechanics Institute
August 1847
Addressed the Lodge of Odd Fellows meeting
3 December 1847
Officiated at marriage Mortimer William Lewis, son of the Colonial Architect to Ellen Stacy daughter of Dr. John Stacy at Christ Church
February 1848
Present at the Installation of William Tyrell the Bishop of Newcastle
February 1849
Officiated at marriage of Caroline Kemp and Edward Parnell on 30th January
February 1849
Chancellor at the consecration of St. John the Evangelist Church
May 1849
Presented Mrs. Crummer with a portrait of her husband James Henry Crummer as a gesture of thanks for his work as a Magistrate
May 1849
Appointed to the Local School Board. Denominational School
September 1849
The following letter written to the Bench of Magistrates on 14th September 1849 by the Rev. C.P.N. Wilton at that time vice president of the hospital, indicates that the magistrates wished to make the hospital a benevolent home. This was objected to by the committee. The letter written in a hand which might in truth be called a scrawl, is as follows: Gentlemen, In reply to your letter, received from the police yesterday, relative to the admission of an aboriginal black into the Newcastle District Hospital for support, I have the honour to inform you that your letter has this morning been laid before the committee of that institution; and I am directed to acquaint you that no individual can be admitted into the hospital unless he or she as the case may be, require either medical or surgical treatment, I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient, C.Pleydell N. Wilton - Newcastle Morning Herald 25 January 1911
October 1849
To attend dinner at Farquharson's Hotel in honour of J.H. Crummer prior to his departure from the district. Chairman at the dinner.
October 1849
Attended dinner at the Ship Inn in honour of Major Crummer
October 1850
Marriage of Albert Maxell Hutchinson, son of the late Major Hutchinson, to Clarissa Anne 4th daughter of Simon Kemp of Newcastle on 1st October at Christchurch Cathedral. Officiated Rev. C.P.N. Wilton
December 1850
Marriage of George Henry Thomas to Miss Isabella Elliott 3rd daughter of John Elliott of East Maitland on 24th December. Officiated Rev. C.P.N. Wilton
January 1851
On the board of Church of England School
May 1851
Marriage of Samuel Raymond, barrister at law, to Catherine Sophia, eldest daughter of John Edward Newell Bull, late Capt. Of 99th Regt., on 23 April. Minister Rev. C.P.N. Wilton
May 1851
Attended consecration of Holy Trinity Church at Carrington and the consecration of St. John the Baptists Church Stroud
June 1851
Anonymous correspondence to the Maitland Mercury regarding location of gold at Dumnell and Murrilla in the Liverpool Range
June 1851
Appointed commissary by Lord Bishop of Newcastle
November 1851
Marriage of George Mitchell to Miss Matilda Tighe on 8th November. Minister Rev. Wilton
January 1852
Marriage of Henry Chaff to Miss Georgiana Langham on 1st January 1852. Minister Rev. Wilton
January 1852
Marriage of Henry Mayo of Newcastle to Frances Price of London on 31st December. Minister Rev. C.P.N. Wilton
March 1852
Witness in the trial of Darby v. Reid
September 1852
Present at meeting to discuss testimonial to be presented to Captain John Edward Newell Bull on his departure from Newcastle for Victoria
October 1852
Present at Meeting held at Morpeth to consider the expediency of adopting a petition to the Queen praying her Majesty to send out a commission to inquire into the state of the Church of England with a view to framing and granting of a constitution
December 1852
Made collection on behalf of the Jubilee Fund of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
February 1853
Present at a meetings of the subscribers of Newcastle Hospital
April 1853
Marriage of Archibald Hamilton Jacob Esq., son of the late Captain Vickers Jacob, Honorable E.I.C. Service, to Mary, younger daughter of Colonel Snodgrass C.B. on 31st March 1853. Minister Rev. Wilton
May 1853
Marriage of Captain Edward Bond of Sydney to Mary Ann, daughter of the late John Nixon Brunker of Newcastle on 21st May. Minister Rev. C.P.N. Wilton
July 1853
Present at public meeting held at the Court House for the purpose of deciding the best means of repairing the roads and streets of Newcastle which were in a very bad state
January 1854
Presented with an address and a purse of sovereigns by parishioners of Christ Church
March 1855
Marriage of Henry Rouse of Newcastle to Stephena Mary, eldest daughter of James Hannell of same place on 7th March. Minister Rev. C.P.N. Wilton
December 1855
Marriage of John Henderson and Miss Susannah Mary Dyer both of Newcastle and eldest daughter of William Calvin Dyer of Morpeth on 26 November. Minister Rev. C.P.N. Wilton
December 1856
Marriage of Ewen McPherson of H.M. Customs, son of Lieut-Col McPherson, late of HM 99th regt., to Lilla, second daughter of John Edward Stacy warden of the District of Newcastle on 23 December. Minister Rev. Canon Wilton
July 1857
Marriage of William A. Sparke and Elizabeth, second daughter of the late Robert Tighe on 23 June. Minister Rev. Wilton
July 1857
Addressed the congregation at the laying of the Foundation Stone of the new church St. John's in Lake Macquarie Road. Stated that on 3rd July he had been 26 years incumbent of the Parish of Christ Church, Newcastle
January 1858
Youngest son of Rev. C. Pleydell N. Wilton, canon of Newcastle, senior chaplain and incumbent of Christ Church. Died aged 17 on 24th January from a violent blow from a cricket ball on the nasal and frontal bones, causing effusion of blood on the brain and terminating in lockjaw
February 1858
Marriage of William, eldest son of Francis Little of Invermein to Sarah Cross, youngest daughter of John Bingle of Newcastle on 3rd February. Minister Rev. Wilton
April 1858
Marriage of David Ludlow, superintendent of the railway works at Newcastle, second son of Stephen Ludlow, builder of Oxford, England to Jane, only daughter of Thomas Buxton, of Hunter Street Newcastle on 5th April. Minister Rev. Canon Wilton M.A.,
December 1858
Attended Conference of the clergy and lay representatives of the Church of England in the diocese of Newcastle. St. James Church Morpeth
June 1859
Of the five clergymen who formerly Officiated to the worshippers at Christ Church and have since passed away, only one, the Rev. C.P.N. Wilton, was interred in the churchyard. The stone, which bears tribute to his memory is a very simple one, and may be found in the south western corner near the monument erected to the late Commander Biddulph, R.N. Upon this stone there is a marble table upon which is written - Sacred to the memory of Pleydell A. Wilton, born and died May 19 1834. Also Rev. C.P.N. Wilton M.A., for many years incumbent of this parish who died June 5 1859 aged 63