TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON
June 1791 to September 1791
-A second excursion into the country.--The first
grants of land to settlers.--A barter with the natives
established.--The arrival of several vessels from England.--A new
harbour discovered.--The names of the first
settlers.-
The weather continuing dry, two officers (Tench and Dawes,)
who were with Governor Phillip on his last excursion, and two
soldiers, set off in the beginning of June, 1791, to trace the
Hawkesbury, from the place where the former party were turned off
by the creek. They got opposite Richmond-Hill on the 5th day
after their departure, and were assisted in crossing the river by
a native, who lent his canoe to one of the soldiers that could
not swim; but they afterwards found the river so very shallow
near the fall, that the water did not reach above the ancles. It
has already been observed, that when the floods come down from
the mountains, the flat country near the head of the Hawkesbury
is, in many places, under water, and the river, in that part,
rises to a great height.
It now appeared that the Nepean does, as was supposed, empty
itself into the Hawkesbury; and, in Governor Phillip's opinion,
the fall and the sudden contraction of that noble river are very
sufficient reasons for confining its name from where it empties
itself into Broken-Bay up to the fall; and for continuing the
name given to the river (Nepean) which was discovered in going
westward from Prospect-Hill.
The buildings at Rose-Hill being carried on so far as to form
hereafter a regular town between Rose-Hill and the landing-place
in the creek, Governor Phillip named it _Parramatta_; the
name given by the natives to the spot on which the town was
building. Grants of land were now given to those who became
settlers; and those who had been permitted to clear ground in
their leisure hours, and on one day of the week which was allowed
them for that purpose, went on very well.
The grants which had already been made, were, to James Ruse,
thirty acres, which is called in the grant _Experiment
Farm-: to Philip Schaffer, who came from England as a
superintendant, one hundred and forty acres; called in the grant,
the _Vineyard-: to Robert Webb and William Reid, who were
seamen, lately belonging to the Sirius, sixty acres each, and
which were called in the grants, _Webb_ and _Reid's
Farms_.
On the 4th of June, the anniversary of his Majesty's birth-day
was celebrated, and, on this occasion, an addition was made to
the daily ratio of provisions; a pound of pork and a pound of
rice were given to each man, half that quantity to every woman,
and a quarter of a pound of pork, with half a pound of rice to
every child.
Some refreshing showers of rain had lately fallen, but not
sufficient to bring up the wheat that was sown in April and the
beginning of May; however, some came up well where the ground,
lying low, had a little moisture in it.
The Supply's main-mast being got out was found very rotten,
and that vessel wanted repairs which they found difficult to give
her.
A soldier of the New South Wales corps, going from Parramatta
with some of his comrades for the purpose of procuring sweet tea,
left them to go after a pattegorong, and lost himself in the
woods: after roving about for some time, he saw a number of the
natives, who fled on seeing his gun, except one that had
frequently visited the settlement, and was known by the name of
-Botany-Bay Colebe_. This man joined the soldier, and was
followed by one of his companions; the soldier, to gain their
good-will, and in hopes of inducing them to show him the way to
Parramatta, offered them some of his cloaths, which were not
accepted; he made them understand where he wanted to go, but they
were on the point of leaving him till he offered his gun, which
the native, who was known at the settlement, took, and then
conducted him to Sydney; making him understand that Parramatta
was a great way off.
When they drew near to Sydney, Colebe returned the soldier his
gun, and, bidding him tell _Beanah_, (the governor) that he
was _Botany-Bay Colebe_, he left him, without even taking
what the soldier had first offered him as a present.
As the natives frequently caught more fish than was necessary
for their own immediate use, and such of them as had lived
amongst the colonists, were very fond of bread, rice, and
vegetables; some pains had been taken to make them carry the
surplus of what fish they caught near the head of the harbour, to
Parramatta, and exchange it for bread, etc. Several of them
had carried on this traffic lately, and Governor Phillip had
reason to hope that a pretty good fish-market would be
established the ensuing summer. Amongst those who thus bartered
their fish, was a young man that had lived some months with the
governor, but had left him from time to time in order to go a
fishing: his canoe was a new one, and the first he had ever been
master of, so that it may be supposed he set no small value on
it.
Strict orders had been given, that the natives' canoes should
never be touched, and the interest which both the soldiers and
the convict had in inducing them to bring their fish, which they
exchanged for a very small quantity of bread or rice, would, it
might have been supposed, have secured them from insult; but this
barter had not been carried on many days, when the young man just
mentioned, came to Governor Phillip's hut at Parramatta in a
violent rage, said the white men had broke his canoe, and he
would kill them: he had his throwing-stick and several spears,
and his hair, face, arms, and breast were painted red, which is a
sign of great anger: it was with some difficulty that he was made
to promise not to kill a white man; which he at length did, on
the governor's telling him, that he would kill those who
destroyed his canoe. A short time afterwards, the villains were
discovered and punished: they were convicts, and the young native
saw the punishment inflicted, yet it was thought necessary to
tell him that one of the offenders had been hanged, with which he
appeared to be satisfied; but, whilst these men were under
examination, his behaviour showed, that he thought it belonged to
him to punish the injury he had received; and three weeks after
the loss of his canoe, when every one thought he was sufficiently
repaid for his misfortune by several little articles, which
Governor Phillip had given him, by his seeing the aggressor
punished, and by his supposing one of them had been put to death,
he took his revenge; which confirmed the general opinion, that
these people do not readily forgive an injury until they have
punished the aggressor.
A convict, who strayed some distance from the settlement, was
met by two young native men, a woman, and two children, who
passed by him, but immediately afterwards he was wounded in the
back with a spear; several spears were thrown at him, and he
received a second wound in the side; however, he got away; and as
it did not appear that the natives followed him to get his
cloaths, or attempted to take any thing from him, there was no
doubt but the canoe being destroyed was the cause of this attack;
especially as the same evening, when Governor Phillip was
returning from Parramatta to Sydney, he saw some natives
assembled round a fire, and asking them who it was that wounded
the white man, he was immediately answered, _Ballederry_;
(the owner of the canoe which had been destroyed) he was also
told the name of the young man who was with him, and of the women
and children.
Indeed, it is not a little extraordinary, that these people
always tell the names of those who have thrown a spear, or who
have stole any thing, if the question is asked them, though they
know that you intend to punish the offenders; and it cannot be
from a principle of strictly adhering to truth; for, should one
of them be charged with doing any thing wrong, he is sure to deny
it, and to lay the blame on another who is not present; and it is
not only surprising that they should always tell the name of the
offender, but that they do it openly; nay, often in the hearing
of women and children.
The destruction of this canoe was very unfortunate, as it was
likely to prevent the natives carrying up their fish to barter;
and no canoe was seen in the creek for some time afterwards.
Ballederry, the owner of the canoe, was one whom Governor Phillip
had hopes of attaching to himself, and intended bringing him to
England.
Hawks and crows were now frequently seen in great numbers,
though, at times, several months would pass without one of either
species being seen. At Parramatta, after the wheat was sown, the
crows were very troublesome, and though frequently fired at, they
did great damage.
On the 21st of June, they had rain, which continued till the
morning of the 24th, and, at times, was very violent; indeed,
more rain fell in three days than had done in many months past,
so that the low grounds were thoroughly soaked.
On the 9th of July, our colonists had the pleasure of seeing
the signal made for a sail, and the next day, the Mary Ann
transport anchored in the cove, having on board one hundred and
forty-one women, and six children, all very healthy, some few
excepted, who had disorders which were contracted in England, and
only three persons died on the passage.
This vessel had passed through the Downs on the 25th of the
preceding February, and stopped eight days at St. Jago. By this
ship our colonists received some stores, and nine months
provisions for the women who came in her: they had also the
satisfaction of hearing that the Gorgon, whose arrival had been
expected for twelve months back, was safe, and was to sail for
the colony a week after the Mary Ann.
Two pounds of rice were now added to the weekly ratio of
provisions, the stores not admitting a greater addition; for
though an ample supply of provisions might reasonably be expected
by the middle of the ensuing month, yet their situation did not
admit their trusting to the various accidents, which had hitherto
been so very unfavourable to the colony: however, they were now
convinced, that from the plan proposed by government for
furnishing the settlement with provisions until it could support
itself, there was no reason to fear in future those
inconveniences which they had already laboured under.
In the night of the 16th of July, a serjeant, going the
rounds, found the door of the spirit cellar open, and the
centinel in the cellar, drawing off wine: this man, being ordered
for trial, offered himself as an evidence for the crown, and
charged two of his comrades with having frequently robbed the
store, of which there was not the least doubt: however, the only
evidence against these men being that of an accomplice, it was
not sufficient to convict them, and he saved his own life by
being admitted as an evidence for the crown. He was afterwards
tried by a batallion court-martial, (as being a marine, he could
not be tried by a general court-martial) and sentenced to receive
corporal punishment, and to be drummed out of the corps. The men
he had accused were the two who had been charged with robbing the
store at Rose-Hill, by one of those marines who suffered death
for robbing the store at Sydney in 1788, at which time, likewise,
they escaped, the only evidence against them being an accomplice
under sentence of death.
The rice which they received from Batavia was not of the best
kind, and was very full of dirt and wevil when landed; and the
wevil had now increased to such a degree that a very considerable
quantity of rice was destroyed: indeed, what remained had been
thought too bad to issue to the garrison, had the stores admited
of its being given to the hogs. Five pounds of this rice were
estimated as only equal to two pounds of flour, with respect to
the nourishment it afforded, and this estimation was deemed
pretty just.
It being the intention of government, that as the time for
which the convicts were sentenced, expired, they should be
permitted to become settlers; those who chose to accept this
bounty were received as such, and lands were granted them in the
following proportion; viz. Thirty acres to the single men, fifty
acres to those who were married, and ten acres more for every
child. It had been proposed to victual and cloath them from the
public store for twelve months, from the time they became
settlers; but to encourage those who first offered themselves,
Governor Phillip promised to cloath and support them for eighteen
months from the public stores: they were to have the necessary
tools and implements of husbandry, with seeds and grain to sow
the ground the first year; two young sow pigs were also to be
given to each settler, which was all the governor's stock would
afford, and it has already been observed, that they had no live
stock in the settlement belonging to the crown. On these
conditions, twenty-seven convicts were admitted settlers; twelve
of them were fixed at the foot of Prospect-Hill, four miles from
Parramatta, and fifteen, at some ponds, an eligible situation
about two miles to the northward of those settlers who were
placed on the creek leading to Parramatta.
In laying out the different allotments, an intermediate space,
equal to what was granted the settler, was retained between every
two allotments, for the benefit of the crown; and as this set
them at some distance from each other, and there being a wood
between every two settlers, in which the natives might conceal
themselves, if they were inclined to mischief, several musquets
were distributed amongst the settlers, and they took possession
of their allotments on the 18th of July, and began to erect their
huts: however, very few days elapsed before a large body of the
natives appeared in the grounds of one of the new settlers at
Prospect-Hill, who, alarmed at the sight of a number of natives,
(by his account more than a hundred) fired off his musquet and
retreated; this, of course, encouraged them, and they advanced,
and set fire to his hut, which was nearly finished.--On hearing
the report of a musquet, another settler took up his arms, and
running to the spot, fired on the natives, who retired to some
distance.
As soon as this affair was known at Parramatta, a party of
soldiers were detached, who, getting sight of about fifty of the
natives, obliged them to disperse.
This circumstance induced Governor Phillip to deviate from the
royal instructions, which pointed out in what manner the
allotments of land were to be made; and as the only means of
enabling the settlers to defend themselves against similar
accidents, he granted all those intermediate lands which had been
reserved for the use of the crown, to the settlers: by this
means, all the land would be cleared of timber, so that the
natives could find no shelter, and, in all probability, there
would be little danger from them in future: however, a
noncommissioned officer and three privates were detached to each
settlement, with orders to remain there until the lands were
cleared.
In making this arrangement, no additional ground was given to
the settler, but their allotments were brought more into a
square, and the ground not occupied at present, would be granted
to others in future. When these settlers were placed at such a
distance from Parramatta, it was on account of the soil being
good, and that their live stock and gardens might not be so
liable to depredations as they would have been if nearer the
town.
On the 1st of August, the Matilda transport anchored at
Sydney, with cloathing, provisions, and two hundred and five male
convicts. She sailed from England on the 27th of the preceding
March, in company with four others, and parted with them the
first night. Although this ship had made so good a passage, she
buried twenty-four convicts; twenty were sick, and many were in
so emaciated a state, that scarcely any labour could be expected
from them for some months. The Matilda had lost three days in
endeavouring to get into St. Jago; she lay nine days at the Cape
of Good Hope, and was two days at anchor on the Coast of New
South Wales, within an island in the latitude of 42° 15'
south, where the master found very good anchorage and shelter for
five or six vessels. This island, by the master's account, lies
twelve miles from the main.
Off Cape Dromedary, he saw a small island, which bore
south-west by west, seven miles from the cape; within which, he
was of opinion, two or three ships would find good shelter. An
ensign and twenty privates, of the corps raised for the service
of this country, came out in the Matilda, and a serjeant died on
the passage.
Governor Phillip intended to have sent the Matilda to Norfolk
Island, with the stores, provisions, and convicts she had brought
out, as soon as the sick were landed; but she being leaky, her
cargo was put on board the Mary Ann, with one hundred and
thirty-three male, and one female convict; and that vessel sailed
on the 8th of August. A noncommissioned officer, and eleven
privates of the New South Wales corps, were sent for the security
of the ship, and they were to remain on the island.
Ballederry, the young native who absented himself after
wounding a man, in revenge for some of the convicts having
destroyed his canoe, had lately made several enquiries by his
friends, whether Governor Phillip was still angry; and they were
always told in answer to those enquiries, that he was angry, and
that Ballederry should be killed for wounding a white man; yet
this did not deter him from coming into the cove in a canoe, and
the governor being informed of it, ordered a party of soldiers to
go and secure him; but Bannelong, who was present at the time,
seeing the soldiers go towards the point, gave him the alarm, and
he went off.
Governor Phillip was in the garden at the time Bannelong was
talking to the young man who was in his canoe going out of the
cove, and gave him to understand, that Ballederry should be
killed; on which, he immediately called to him, and said, the
governor was still very angry: Ballederry, on hearing this, went
off pretty briskly to the other side of the harbour, but, in
answer to the threats of punishment, spears were mentioned,
though he was then at so great a distance that the governor could
not distinguish whether it was himself or the soldiers which he
threatened: certain it is, that these people set little value on
their lives, and never fail to repay you in kind, whether you
praise or threaten; and whenever a blow is given them, be it
gentle or with force, they always return it in the same
manner.
The Atlantic transport, Lieutenant Bowen, who was one of the
agents to the transports, arrived on the 20th of August. This
ship sailed from Plymouth the 23d of March, in company with the
Salamander and the William and Ann, but she parted with the
former vessel on the 5th of July, and with the latter on the
12th. These vessels had been to Rio de Janeiro, where they
anchored the 28th of May, and sailed from thence on the 12th of
June, 1791.
The Atlantic's passage may be reckoned a very good one,
particularly from Rio de Janeiro to the South Cape, which was
only sixty-nine days. This vessel brought out a serjeant and
seventeen privates, belonging to the New South Wales corps; also
provisions, stores, and two hundred and two male convicts. One
soldier was lost in a gale of wind, and eighteen convicts died on
the passage: few of the convicts were sick when landed, but many
of them were very weak, and in a few days, forty were under
medical treatment.
Lieutenant Bowen had stood into a bay on this coast, which has
been mentioned as promising a good harbour, and of which he gave
the following particulars.--"The latitude where he made his
observation was 35° 12' south, the entrance from a mile to a
mile and a half wide; the southernmost point of which is an
island, almost connected with the main land; the north point is
pretty high, and rises perpendicularly out of the sea. It is the
southern extremity of a peninsula, that at first was taken for a
long low island: the entrance runs in west-north-west for about a
mile, and then turns suddenly round to the northward, forming a
very capacious bason, three or four miles wide, and five or six
miles in length. The soundings, as far as they could be examined,
were very regular, with a bottom of slimy sand; the depth, for a
considerable extent round the middle of the bay, is from thirteen
to fourteen fathoms. The west side, and the head of the bay, is a
white sandy beach; the eastern shore is bold and rocky. There is
a small ledge or shoal in the middle of the entrance, bearing
about south from the second point on the north shore, on which
there was conjectured to be twenty feet water*."
[* It does not appear that there is any shoal in the
entrance, as it has since been examined by the Master of the
Matilda.]
The Salamander arrived on the 21st; she brought out twelve
privates belonging to the New South Wales corps, and one hundred
and fifty-four male convicts, with stores and provisions. Most of
the convicts on board this ship were in a weak emaciated state;
and they complained that they had not proper attention paid to
them, after parting company with the agent. The master of the
Salamander was ordered to proceed to Norfolk-Island, with the
convicts, stores, and provisions he had brought out; but
unfortunately it had not been foreseen that it might be expedient
to send some of these ships to land their cargoes at that place,
and it was therefore necessary to clear this vessel of the
greatest part of the stores, in order that they might be stowed
in such a manner as to permit the landing of the cargo, where,
there being no good anchorage, it must be done with the ship
under sail, and subject to blowing weather, where there was a
necessity of keeping her always in proper trim for working.
On the 23d of August a number of natives visited the
settlement, and six men, with seven or eight and twenty women and
children came to Governor Phillip's house; amongst whom some
bread was dividing, when he was informed that Ballederry was on
the opposite side of the cove, with a number of the natives, and
that he was armed, as were most of his companions.
Whether his coming in, after what had passed, proceeded from
an opinion that Governor Phillip would not punish him, or from
supposing himself safe whilst surrounded by so many of his
countrymen, it was thought necessary to order him to be seized,
as soon as those who were then in the yard eating what had been
given them should be gone; for, as Ballederry could not be taken
without their hearing the dispute, it was probable they would
suppose themselves in danger, and make use of their spears
against those who were treating them with kindness; in which case
some of them must have suffered; indeed, this was the more likely
to happen, as several of these men and women were strangers, who
had now come to Sydney for the first time.
This party were going to dance at Botany-Bay, and, having
finished their meal, and received some fish-hooks, they set off;
immediately after which, a party of soldiers were ordered out to
secure Ballederry; but before they got sight of him, the boy
Nanbarre had heard what was going forward and left the place: on
this, a serjeant with a party were sent after him; they came up
with several natives, who joined them in a friendly manner, and,
whilst they were talking to the serjeant, one of them attempted
to wrest a firelock from a soldier, and immediately afterwards a
spear was thrown, supposed to be by Ballederry. Two musquets were
then fired, by which a native was wounded in the leg; but
unfortunately it was neither the man who attempted to take the
musquet, nor the person who threw the spear.
Soon afterwards, the natives were said to be assembled near
the brick-fields; an officer was therefore ordered out with a
strong party to disperse them, and to make a severe example of
them, if any spears were thrown; but they never saw a native, for
the boy Nanbarre, true to his countrymen, on seeing the soldiers
form on the parade, ran into the woods, and stripping himself,
that he might not be known, joined the natives, and put them on
their guard; after which, he returned, and seeing the governor go
past with some officers, whilst he was hid in a bush, he
afterwards showed himself to an officer's servant, and asked
where the governor and the soldiers were going, and being told,
he laughed, and said they were too late, for the natives were all
gone.
Bannelong came in soon afterwards with his wife, and though he
was told that the soldiers were gone out to punish Ballederry for
wounding a white man, yet this intelligence did not prevent him
from eating a hearty dinner; and when he was going away, he left
a large bundle of spears, fiz-gigs, and various other articles
under Governor Phillip's care.
It might be supposed that the natives, after being fired at,
and one of them being wounded, would not have trusted themselves
again at the settlement for some time: this, however, was not the
case: they very well understood that nothing more was intended
than to punish the person who wounded the white man, and that
they would not have been fired on, had not a spear been thrown at
the party, who, they well knew, were looking for Ballederry; and,
on the 24th, more than twenty of them called at Governor
Phillip's house, in their way from Botany-Bay to the lower part
of the harbour, where most of them resided; and others went to
those with whom they were acquainted, with the same freedom as if
nothing had happened. On enquiry being made after the man who had
been wounded, they said he was gone to his tribe. Several of
these people remained at the settlement all night, and amongst
them were two strangers, who seemed as much at their ease as
those who were old acquaintances.
Bannelong's wife was now very near her time, which gave our
colonists an opportunity of seeing the preparations the women of
New South Wales make on these occasions: she had two nets hanging
from her neck, one of which being new, Governor Phillip was
desirous of obtaining, and it was given him, after she had taken
a large piece of the bark of the tea-tree out of it, nicely
folded up, and which was intended to lay her infant upon; this
seems to be the only preparation, which is made by lying-in women
in that country.
The bark of the tea-tree is thick in proportion to the size of
the tree, and is composed of a great number of layers of very
thin bark, in appearance not unlike the bark of the birch-tree;
but it is so very soft, that nothing this country affords can be
better calculated for the purpose for which it was intended:
Bannelong, however, desired to have a blanket for the child,
which was given him, and the next day, a net made in the English
manner, which appeared more acceptable to his wife than the one
she had parted with. He told Governor Phillip that his wife
intended doing him the honour of being brought to bed in his
house; but the governor at length persuaded him that she would be
better accommodated at the hospital.
The women do not appear to suffer any great inconvenience,
while in this state, and they all seem best pleased with having
boys: Bannelong often said his was to be a son.
A disorder had frequently been seen amongst the natives, which
had the same appearance as the itch, and yielded to the same
remedies; it was now so common, that nearly the whole of them
were infected with it, and several boys were cured at the
hospital by rubbing in of brimstone. Bannelong was a perfect
Lazarus, and though he was easily persuaded to go to the hospital
and rub himself, yet it was not possible to make him stay there
till he was cured.
On the 28th of August, the William and Ann transport anchored
in the cove. This vessel brought out stores and provisions, with
a serjeant and thirteen privates belonging to the New South Wales
corps, and several of their wives and children; also one hundred
and eighty male convicts: seven died on the passage, and
thirty-six were sick when they landed.
The continuance of the dry weather gave our colonists reason
to fear that their crops would suffer more this year than they
did the last: it was now the season for putting the maize into
the ground, which was so extremely dry that there was little
probability of its vegetating, if sown, before some rain fell:
the sun also began to have great power, and several ponds,
adjoining to which Governor Phillip had placed several settlers,
were losing their water very fast.
It has already been observed, that on some particular days,
the winds were heated to such a degree as to be almost
insupportable, which had always been imputed to the country round
the settlement being fired by the natives. Early in the morning
of the 31st of August, the wind was northerly, and heated as
though it came from the mouth of an oven, though no fires could
then be seen; however, as the day advanced, smoke appeared over
the hills, and in the evening, a considerable tract of country
was seen to be on fire; some natives were likewise burning the
ground on the north side of the harbour, opposite the settlement:
this firing of the country, which the natives constantly do when
the weather is dry, renders any observation made by the
thermometer very uncertain. But if the 31st of August was an
unpleasant day, the evening made ample amends, for it began to
rain, and continued raining until the next day at noon.
Although few of the convicts were sick when they were first
landed from the transports, yet many of them were extremely weak
from long confinement, and a few days carried numbers of them to
the hospital. The surgeon's returns, on the first of September,
were two hundred and eighty-five convicts under medical
treatment: several soldiers and seamen were likewise in the
hospital with a fever of a bad sort, which was supposed to be
brought on board by the convicts.
On the 4th of September, the Salamander sailed for
Norfolk-Island, with one hundred and sixty male convicts, some
stores, and provisions: two non-commissioned officers, and eleven
privates of the New South Wales corps went as a guard.
The Mary-Ann transport returned from Norfolk-Island on the
8th, having landed all the stores, provisions, and convicts safe;
but they had lost a boat in going off from the island: the
sailors, however, were all saved.
A number of emu's had been seen lately, and this appears to be
the season in which they breed, as a nest was found near some
fresh water, at the head of the harbour, containing fourteen
eggs. The nest was composed of fern, but it had more the
appearance of a quantity of fern collected for a person to sit
on, than a nest. Soon after taking these eggs, an old emu was
seen near Prospect-Hill with some young ones; several of the
settlers chased them, and the young birds were taken: they did
not appear to be more than a week old, and great pains were taken
to rear them, but they died, after being in Governor Phillip's
possession near five weeks. Thirteen of these old birds were seen
together in the course of this month, but it was a considerable
time since an emu had been shot.
The pattagorong and baggaray frequently supplied our colonists
with fresh meals, and Governor Phillip had three young ones,
which were likely to live: he has not the least doubt but these
animals are formed in the false belly, having frequently seen
them in that situation, when they were so small, that it did not
appear possible for them to be placed there by the female for the
purpose of gaining strength, which is the general opinion, and
for which purpose it is supposed nature has given them the false
belly; indeed, the idea of their being formed in the false belly,
and not in the womb, seems to be confirmed from the following
particulars, communicated to Governor Phillip by a person who had
a male and a female opossum in his possession near two years.
"On the 10th of May, I discovered the young one in the belly
of the female opossum, apparently not larger than the end of my
little finger. I do not exactly recollect when I had examined
before, but I am sure it could not have been long, as I made a
constant practice of searching for what I then found, but always
had much difficulty in introducing my finger, the female
contracting the orifice so extremely close. The belly of the
female had for some days been observed to be increasing in size,
and on the 15th of August, I saw a young one, for the first time,
the mouth, or opening of the false belly, being very much
dilated. In the first week of September, it was compleatly
haired, and it ventured out, getting on the mother's back, but on
the least alarm, it instantly returned to the false belly. On the
18th of September, I observed the young one eating sow-thistle,
and it continued on the mother's back, but at night it got into
the false belly. From the day I first saw the young one until
now, I have generally seen the mother licking it with her tongue,
and it is to be remarked, that she has driven the male away from
her since the 15th of August."
Notice has already been taken of those persons who became
settlers, and of the quantity of land allotted them; however, as
the subjoined table shows every particular respecting them in one
point of view, it may not, perhaps, be unacceptable.
THE FIRST SETTLERS
Names. When became Quantity of Place where.
Settlers. land granted.
Philip Schaffer. Superintendant. One hundred and On the north side
30th March, 1791. forty acres. of the creek leading
to Parramatta.
The following were
all marines or sailors.
Robert Webb. Ditto Sixty acres.
William Reid. Ditto Sixty acres.
Robert Watson. 5th April. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
John Drummond. 5th April. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
James Proctor. 5th April. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Peter Hibbs. 5th April. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Owen Cavenaugh. 5th April. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
James Painter. 5th April. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
William Mitchell.5th April. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
William Hambly. 5th April. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Charles Heritage.5th April. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Samuel King. 5th April. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
William Mitchell. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Thomas Bramwell. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Thomas Bishop. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
John M'Carthey. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Lawrence Richards. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
John Munday. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Thomas Chipp. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
William Strong. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
James M'Manus. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Thomas O'Bryen. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Richard Knight. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Abraham Hand. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
William Dempsey. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Thomas Sculley. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
John Barrisford. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
James Redmond. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
William Tonks. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Thomas Halfpenny. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
William Standley. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
John Gowen. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Thomas Dukes. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
James Williams. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Daniel Standfield. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
John Roberts. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
William Simms. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
John Foley. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Patrick Connell. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
John Redman. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
Thomas Spencer. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
John Scott. Sixty acres. Norfolk Island.
THE CONVICT SETTLERS.
Names. When became Quantity of Place where.
Settlers. land granted.
James Ruse. 30th March, 1791. Thirty acres. Parramatta.
Charles Williams.18th July. Thirty acres. South side of the
creek leading to
Parramatta.
James Stuart. 18th July. Twenty acres. South side of the
creek leading to
Parramatta.
George Lisk. 18th July. Thirty acres. Four miles to
the westward of
Parramatta.
William Kilby. 18th July. Fifty acres. Four miles to
the westward of
Parramatta.
William Butler. 18th July. Fifty acres. Ditto.
John Nicholls. 18th July. Thirty acres. Ditto.
John Ramsay. 18th July. Fifty acres. At the ponds, two
miles to the
north-east of
Parramatta.
Mathew Everingham.18th July. Fifty acres. Ditto.
John Summers. 18th July. Thirty acres. Ditto.
John Richards. 18th July. Thirty acres. Ditto.
William Field. 18th July. Fifty acres. Ditto.
Joseph Bishop. 18th July. Fifty acres. Ditto.
Curtis Brand. 18th July. Thirty acres. Ditto.
John Silverthorn.18th July. Thirty acres. Four miles to the
westward of Parramatta.
Thomas Martin. 18th July. Thirty acres. Ditto.
Samuel Griffiths.18th July. Thirty acres. Ditto.
James Castles. 18th July. Thirty acres. Ditto.
Joseph Morley. 18th July. Fifty acres. Ditto.
William Hubbard. 18th July. Fifty acres. At the ponds, two miles
to the north-east of
Parramatta.
John Anderson. 18th July. Fifty acres. Ditto.
William Elliott. 18th July. Thirty acres. Ditto.
Joseph Marshall. 18th July. Thirty acres. Ditto.
Edward Varndell. 18th July. Thirty acres. Ditto.
Simon Burn. 17th August. Fifty acres. At the northern boundary
farms, two miles from
Parramatta.
John Brown. 17th August. Sixty acres. Ditto.
William Moulds. 17th August. Thirty acres. Ditto.
John Baffen. 17th August. Fifty acres. Ditto.
John Williams. 17th August. Fifty acres. Ditto.
Edward Pugh, 17th August. Seventy acres.Four miles to the
westward of Parramatta.
William Parish. 17th August. Sixty acres. Ditto.
Robert Forrester. Ten acres. Norfolk Island.
James White. Ten acres. Norfolk Island.
William Cross. Ten acres. Norfolk Island.
James Walbourne. Ten acres. Norfolk Island.
Benjamin Fentum. Ten acres. Norfolk Island.
Peter Woodcock. Ten acres. Norfolk Island.
Edward Kimberly. Ten acres. Norfolk Island.
John Welch. Ten acres. Norfolk Island.
William Bell. Ten acres. Norfolk Island.
John Turner. Ten acres. Norfolk Island.
Thomas Kelley. Thirty acres. At the ponds, two miles
to the north-east of
Parramatta.
William Parr. Fifty acres. At the northern boundary
farms, two miles from
Parramatta.
John Herbert. Sixty acres. Four miles to the
westward of
Parramatta.