Green Family

Elizabeth Green (nee Cooper) b 1758 and Jonathan Green b 1774 and were married in 1796. 

Johnathan at the age of 22 married Elizabeth Cooper in Wrawby Lincolnshire England on the 17 July 1796 and they had two children who were born in Wrawby, Frances Green (b 1797) and Jonathan Cooper Green (b 1800) who accompanied their mother to New South Wales as free inhabitants, and where Johnathan was transported to for life. 

It was not uncommon for family members to travel to Australia on the convict ships, especially if the husband was being transported, as in the early years of the colony; people were needed to help establish the colony.     

Charged with a previous Indictment and found guilty in the court of Essex for two other accounts being for stealing three sheep with goods and chattels (tangible goods) which belonged to the widow Bridget Canning with two other men a Thomas Beddow and John Horvell, Johnathan Green and the other two men were “on the seventh day of May in the Forty First Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third” were sentenced to be hung by the neck until dead later the three men received a reprieve and were convicted at Essex Assizes for a term of life on 22 July 1801 and transported to New South Wales on the HMS Glatton.

Capt. James Colnett was in charge of 387 male and female prisioners, his crew, and some "free" immigrants. The transport left London on 23rd September 1802 and sailed via Madrid and Rio de Janeiro to arrive in Sydney on 11th March 1803. Also travelling "free" was Jonathan's wife Elizabeth Cooper and 2 children; Frances and Jonathan Cooper Green Jnr. For his wife to be on board with her children was highly unusual as tickets were usually far beyond the means of a convicts wife and family.

A ticket-of-leave was granted to Jonathan on his arrival in Sydney. He was recorded as being “self-employed” living with his wife and his condition was marked as “PTL” i.e. prisoner, ticket-of-leave. He applied for a Pardon in 1809 but such application was cancelled. He again applied by petition to Governor Macquarie on 13th Feb 1810 and requested renewal of Pardon granted by previous Capt William Paterson. Jonathan stated that he had been 3 years in the Sydney Police. Macquarie must have refused his application and Jonathan petitioned again on 4th Jan 1813. 

In the meantime, on 29 Dec 1810, Jonathan was appointed a “Constable of Sydney Police” with recorded references to his being paid from the Police Fund 1811-1819. In 1815 an Assistant Gaoler at Sydney was dismissed for corruption and Jonathan Green was appointed in his place on a salary of thirty pounds sterling per annum. Jonathan was granted a conditional Pardon on 31 Jan 1819. However, on 19th Oct 1820 he was arrested for drunkenness and he was dismissed. 

However, he recovered from his dismissal and was soon assigned convict mechanic and raised a more than successful family including his daughter, Frances Green. 

Jonathan was listed as "provost Marshal's Bailiff" in 1822 and had only 5 of his children listed as dependants (Jonathan junior having died in 1823).

Jonathan Green was a politically active individual. He died on the 28th August 1841 aged 67 years and his wife Elizabeth died on 9th January, 1849, aged 74 (or 69). The address at the time of their deaths was O'Connell Street, Sydney and both are buried at St James Church in Sydney.

Sources:

1.  Jonathan Green UK conviction report - The Ipswich Journal - 27 June 1801.

2.  Jonathan Green appointment as Assistant Gaoler 1815 - Government & General Orders,  

 Government House, Sydney, July 22 1815.

3. Constable of Sydney Police - Jonathan Green https://www.aic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/the-police-of-sydney-1788-1862.pdf

When the British arrived in Sydney in 1788 there was no provision made for ‘policing’ the new settlement. Arthur Phillip’s commission empowered him to:

"appoint constables and other necessary officers and ministers in our said territory and its dependencies for the better administration of justice and putting the law in execution".

However, policing in Britain was less than proficient, so he had no model to base the establishment of a law enforcement agency upon.

Watchmen, called Charlies after King Charles II who introduced them, were the first paid keepers of the peace in London, but they were rather ineffectual and it was a job for old men.

Charlies were often ridiculed by the people of London. The Bow Street Runners were formed in 1748 and they have been credited as Britain’s first professional police force. In 1829, Robert Peel established the Metropolitan Police of London. They became known as Bobbies, a name that has stuck with English Police.

The Royal Marines who accompanied the First Fleet refused to carry out the duties of a police force. Their commander, Major Robert Ross, stated that his men were soldiers, not prison guards, and it was insulting to His Majesty’s Regiments to expect them to act in such a role. They did agree to guard the settlement and patrol at night.

Governor Phillip appointed freeman James Smith as a ‘peace officer’ but he retired after a brief period, he was deemed too old and infirm to be effective. 

By 1789, scarcely a night passed when there was not a theft of some kind. After six marines were executed in March 1789 for stealing provisions when the colony was close to starvation, it became obvious that some form of organised law enforcement was needed. 

In July 1789, convict John Harris went to Collins with a proposal for a night watch to be established from among the convicts to deal with all those found away from their huts at "improper hours". Collins commented that: 

"It was to be wished, that a watch established for the preservation of public and private property had been formed of free people, and that necessity had not compelled us in selecting the first members of our little police, to be appointed from a body of men in whose eyes, it could not be denied, the property of individuals had never been sacred. But there was not any choice convicts who had any property were themselves interested in defeating such practises [as theft]". 

This first night watch consisted of 12 well-behaved convicts and was split into four divisions. The Rocks watch patrolled from the hospital to the observatory, approximately Globe Street to Dawes Point. In November 1789, Collins wrote that the night watch had been very effective, there were fewer crimes and the culprits were usually caught. 

On 1 February 1790, Governor Phillip advised Lord Sydney of "the institution of a night watch to control robberies (particularly of vegetables and poultry) was immediately effective” and that there was “no robbery in three months". The night watch were held in "fear and detestation" by their fellow convicts. Convicted pick-pocket George Barrington arrived in Sydney in 1791 and was almost immediately appointed a police constable guarding the colony’s stores. He later became Chief Constable at Parramatta. 

During 1789, Governor Phillip also formed a row boat guard whose primary duties were to police the harbour and foreshores of Sydney Cove to detect smuggling and prevent the passing of letters between convicts and crews of sailing vessels at anchor. As a fore-runner to the water police, the row boat guard was a policing organisation that would have a long association with The Rocks.  In response to growing public disorder and the difficulty in policing an expanding city, Governor Hunter divided the town of Sydney into four divisions and directed residents to number their houses; each division elected and paid for their own watchmen who were instructed to report drunkenness, gambling and loitering. 

To discourage and locate absconding convicts, they were also empowered to request identification from people outside the division of their residence.  As the colony grew, so did the duties and size of its fledgling police force. The Sydney Foot Police Force was established in 1790, there were 36 Constables serving by 1800. The Sydney Foot Police Force continued as an organised force (later known as Sydney Police) until the amalgamation of all New South Wales colonial police forces in 1862. The Row Boat Guard was at various times, both an independent water police and also part of Sydney Police.   

In 1803, the first death of a police officer in NSW occurred when Constable Joseph Luker was beaten to death with his own cutlass, two of his fellow constables were suspected of the death but it was never proven. 

The one man who did face the hangman’s noose was reprieved after three attempts to hang him failed. In 1810, Governor Macquarie re-organised the police force and changed the division of the town into five districts, each to have a watch house and district constable. 

Six watch houses were built within Sydney’s five metropolitan police districts. The Rocks was divided into two districts separated by Globe Street, the original boundary of the night watch; watch houses were built soon after in Cumberland and Harrington streets.  

The Harrington Street building, in all likelihood, stood directly behind 127 George Street, where a replacement was constructed in 1829 and which stood until 1911.   

The original Cumberland Street watch house is believed to have been at 188 Cumberland Street until it was replaced by another opposite the site of Lilyvale (176 Cumberland Street) in 1829 . 

The second Cumberland Street watch house served as the principal station for Sydney north district from 1847 until it was replaced by the property at 127 George Street in 1882. 

Ex-convicts still dominated the police in the 1820s according to Alexander Harris: “....at this time almost every constable in Sydney and indeed in the colony had been a prisoner of the crown; I believe there were two or three old soldiers in the force, but their principals were not a whit superior, so far as I heard and observed, to those of the convict class."   

The competence of watchmen was often called into question, and reported on in the press. All the appointments and dismissals, and their reasons why were published.   

There were numerous articles on constables around The Rocks being asleep or drunk on duty, and people being locked up for drunkenness losing their valuables. The constables were mostly ex-convicts and it paid to become one—at least in rum, as a constable was issued with two gallons of rum and the chief constable received five gallons.   

As maligned as they were, the police in The Rocks in those early years had a really tough job. They received no training, were enormously disliked, especially by other ex-convicts who saw them as class traitors, and they had to police a neighbourhood that wasn’t known for its law-abiding population, or respect for authority.   

Even so, these constables and their families lived in The Rocks and were an integral part of the community they policed.  

In 1833, the Sydney Police Force was established with 84 men, by 1839 the number of police increased to 128.  In the early 1840s transportation to NSW ceased and Sydney became incorporated as a city. For the Sydney Foot Police, this meant a reduction in numbers and wages as they were being paid by the city and not the colonial government. 

Citation here

The daughter of Jonathan Green - Frances Green, b 1797 and Richard Smith (also known as John Smith) b 1792 were married on the 3rd of March, 1818 at St Phillip’s Church of England, Sydney.  

According to the Colonial Secretaries Index, Richard or John Smith requested permission to marry Frances Green on the 2nd and again on the 4th February, 1818 before permission was granted. As Richard Smith was at that time a convict, he would have needed to apply to the Colonial Secretary to marry. The marriage register has Richard Smith aged 26 years, signed with an X and Frances Green aged 20, a free settler, signed with an X.  

Richard Smith was born about 1792 in Compton Bishop, Somerset, England and he arrived in Australia as a convict on the “Fortune 2”, transported for life in 1813. Richard Smith’s occupation was a groom. His crime was horse theft and he was convicted at the Somerset Assizes. He departed England in November, 1812 and arrived in NSW with 199 other convicts in June, 1813.  

Richard was aged 20 when he was transported to Australia. The following has been found in the indictment file for Richard Smith. In the court report he is named as John Smith. Apparently, he went by the name Richard as well as John. He was tried at the Bridgewater Assizes, Somersetshire on 17th August, 1811.  

Somerset. The jurors for our Lord the King, upon their oath, present that John Smith, late of the Parish of Compton Bishop in the County of Somerset, labourer, otherwise called Richard Smith, on the sixth day of May in the fifty first year of the Reign of our sovereign Lord George, the Third. By the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with force and arms at the Parish aforesaid, one gelding of the price of five pound of the goods and chattels of one Harry Mills. Being found then and there feloniously did steal, take and lead away against the peace of our said Lord the King his Crown and Dignity.   

On arrival in the colony Richard was indentured to John Thomas Campbell, Vice Regal Secretary to Governor Macquarie. 

For eleven years John Thomas Campbell was Macquarie's chief assistant in the administration of the colony, his intimate friend and loyal supporter. As a private citizen, Campbell was a large landholder and a most efficient farmer and breeder of cattle and horses.    

In 1811, Macquarie granted him 1,550 acres [627 ha] at Bringelly, and later he received a grant near Rooty Hill.  He was also a large stock-holder in southern NSW. Richard Smith would have lived in the convict houses at Parliament House at Parramatta when he was indentured to John Thomas Campbell.   

In 1815 Richard Smith was granted a ticket of leave on the recommendation of J T Campbell.  

According to his convict records “he has by rigid economy, saved a little money out of his wages which he has laid out in the purchases of some cattle in order the better to subsist his wife and children. He wants a free or conditional pardon so as to enable him by preserving industry to  support in decency and comfort an ever-increasing family.” At this time, he was in the employ of J T Campbell, Esq., as a servant.   

In August, 1821 Richard petitioned for mitigation of his sentence and in September, 1821 he was on the list of convicts to receive an absolute pardon. Richard Smith was described as being five foot five inches tall with light brown hair and hazel eyes and fair complexion.    

On 10th April, 1823 a notice appeared in the Sydney Gazette. John, alias Richard Smith, free by Pardon, about to leave the Colony per ship “Britomart”, gives this Notice of his Purpose to all Persons concerned.    

The story has it that Richard Smith left Australia on the vessel, “Britomart” to collect Timor horses.   

The vessel was headed for the Isle of France which is now known as Mauritius, and then onto England. The barque “Britomart”, under the command of Captain Daniel Peache, for Timor, where she is to take in horses for the Mauritius. Sydney Gazette 8th May, 1823. Richard Smith never returned to Australia. Captain Peache returned from this voyage as by 1825 he was the captain of another vessel. So, it would appear the Richard Smith may have jumped ship.  

Between 1818 and 1822 Frances and Richard Smith had two sons, and Frances had another son, father unknown in 1829, but some researchers believe this son was fathered by Joseph Sewell, later to live in a “de facto” relationship with Frances.  All the children born to Frances at this stage were born in Sydney.    

By the late 1830s Frances is living in the Bathurst area [possibly at Sewell’s Creek, Rockley] with Joseph Sewell.  There is no marriage recorded for Frances and Joseph but they were living as man and wife and two sons were born to this relationship. The first son was born in 1836, indicating that Frances was in the area by this time. The second son was born in 1840.    

By 1853-1854 Frances has moved back to Sydney as this is where she eventually dies, at her brother’s residence [William Richard Green], in Sydney. From some sources, it appears that Frances moved back to Sydney to care for her late sister, Amelia Carrick’s children. Amelia Carrick [nee Green] died in 1853. 

Sources: Convict Records and the biography of John Thomas Campbell.   

Note - Sixty Timor Ponies that were imported into Australia formed the foundation of the Coffin Bay Pony breed that was developed in South Australia. The Timor Pony is referenced in the poem The Man from Snowy River by Banjo Paterson.     

Frances Sewell (nee Green) died at Parramatta Street, Camperdown, on 13th February, 1854 aged 57 years of dropsy , after a short but severe illness. In her obituary, Frances is named as Frances Sewell, as she may have taken Joseph’s surname. The Sydney Morning Herald, dated 14th February, 1854 reported the death and funeral notice of Frances Smith/Sewell (nee Green).  

On the 13th instance, of dropsy, at her brother’s residence, Parramatta St, Mrs Frances Sewell, after a short but severe illness, at the 56th year of her age. FUNERAL The friends of Mr W. R. Green are respectfully requested to attend the funeral of his late departed sister, Mrs Frances Sewell, which will take place this afternoon, at 3 o'clock.   

The procession will move from her brother’s residence, Parramatta St, at the hour above mentioned.   

Dropsy is an old term for the swelling of soft tissues due to the accumulation of excess water. In years gone by, a person might have been said to have dropsy. Today one would be more descriptive and specify the cause. Thus, the person might have oedema due to congestive heart failure.  

Frances (Sewell) Smith (nee Green) is buried at St Stephen’s Cemetery, Church St, Newtown. The cemetery was first opened for internments in 1849. Frances is internment No. 3165; Section 13; this section was private land; so most likely had a headstone or tomb above the ground. This section was a paddock outside the church grounds, so the headstones have been removed and placed around inside the grounds, around the church wall. Some head stones have been lost. The paddock section is now a park.  The cemetery is now known as Camperdown Cemetery. 

William Richard Smith born in Sydney on 4th December, 1818 and named after Frances’ brother, William Richard Green. William was baptised at St Philip’s, Sydney on 17th January, 1819.  His father was Richard [John] Smith.  

William would have travelled to the Oberon area with his mother and his step brother.  [Frances had a son Charles Henry Green [Smith], born in 1829, the father was not Richard Smith, so therefore he was a step brother to William].

Frances’ second son to Richard Smith had died in infancy. Frances and her two sons, William and Charles, went to live in an area known as Native Dog Creek, near Essington where William Richard Smith went on to have extensive land holdings in the area.  He owned 100 acres on the Native Dog Creek and was a successful farmer.  

William’s mother, Frances may have travelled to Bathurst and then onto the Oberon area with her brother, Spencer Hall Green. Spencer Hall Green was in the Bathurst area from the late 1830s as in 1840 his marriage is registered in Bathurst.  

Spencer Hall Green was to marry Margaret Jane Barsden, the eldest daughter of Josephus Henry Barsden and Mary Ann Blackman.  

William Richard Smith was to later marry Margaret Jane Barsden’s sister, Mary Ann Barsden, the youngest daughter of Josephus Henry Barsden and Mary Ann Blackman. 

William and Mary Ann married on 2nd March, 1840 at Bathurst. 

Mary Ann Barsden was born on 31st July, 1824 in Richmond and was aged 16 when she married William Richard Smith. One witness to the marriage was James Blackman. Mary Ann Barsden’s maternal grandfather was James Blackman Senior. James Blackman Senior had a son, also named James Blackman [Junior].   

James Blackman Senior was to die in 1842, so it is hard to know which James Blackman was a witness at the wedding, but it is safe to assume the witness to the marriage could have been her uncle, James Blackman Junior. The other witness was to the marriage was Margaret Jane Barsden.  

William Richard Smith died on 25th February, 1890, registered at Oberon. Mary Ann Smith [nee Barsden] died on 17th August, 1893 at Native Dog Creek, Oberon. Cause of her death was bronchitis.  

Mary Ann and William Smith are both buried at the Anglican Cemetery at Oberon. At the time of his death in 1890, William was listed as a farmer and grazier at Native Dog Creek, Essington near Oberon.  

William had 100 acres of freehold land; and 2 acres are still thought to be in the same family. He also had 800 sheep and 12 horses.    

William and Mary Ann had twelve children. Many of their children were born at Native Dog Creek. 

In 1867 three of their children died within months of each other from typhoid fever. One son died in 1866 from TB, and three more children died within the first two years of birth.  

Death of WR Smith 1890 - In the Supreme Court of New South Wales. ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION. In the real estate, goods, chattels, credits, and effects of William Richard Smith, late of Native Dog Creek, near Essington, in the Colony of New South "Wales, grazier, deceased, intestate. NOTICE is hereby given that after the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof, application will be made to this Honorable Court, in its Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, that letters of administration of all and singular the real estate, goods, chattels, credits, and effects of the abovenamed William Richard Smith, deceased, who died on or about the 25th day of February, 1890, may be granted to Mary Ann Smith, of Native Dog Creek aforesaid, the widow of the said deceased.—Dated at Sydney, this 15th day of March, a.d. 1890. JOHN McPHILLLAMY, Proctor for the said intended Administratrix, By Iceton & .Faitiifitll, his Agents, 88, Pitt-street, Sydney.

Photo - The double headstone for William Richard Smith and his wife Mary Ann Smith [nee Barsden] at Oberon Anglican Cemetery. 

William Richard Smith is noted in the Bathurst newspapers for his mining at Essington.    

1876 – August - ESSINGTON-NATIVE DOG GREEK. July 29.  Mining at Essington I think is looking up, as several miners have gone into WR Smith's shaft to sink a few fathoms with a good prospect of ore, and there is no doubt it only wants a trial to prove these copper mines are rich. There has been a movement afloat that the E.S.K. Company was about removing the smelting works and sheds to Wisemans Creek; but that now seems abandoned, so possibly that being the case, they are going to give Essington another try. Gold is coming in relatively steady from Native Dog, Stoney Creek and Campbells River. The weather here is very severe. On Thursday, 27th instant, we had a very severe fall of snow, and in some places native Dog and Chain of Ponds, it is lying a foot thick.  Winter now seems set in its earnest; but this, no doubt, will give miners plenty of water on the ridges at Native Dog and so increase the quantity of precious metal in that  locality.   Essington now has a Post Office and the mail runs to and from Rockley once a week; therefore, should these mines go ahead again we can have quick communication with the metropolis otherwise barred to us.    

1892 - The Gold Find At Essington Park. ——♦—— The Messrs J. and A. Stevenson, owners of the ground at Essington Park where, the recent discovery of alluvial gold was made, have definitely decided to throw the ground open to miners as soon as they can perfect arrange- ments, and will give timely notice of the date of opening and the terms upon which miners may enter the ground. We have seen some very nice specimens from the gold won in the pro specting claim, and understand that the last washing up gave a return equal to about half an ounce to the ton load. There appears to be a good body of wash and the gold is of the best quality, and of a course nature, indicating the proximity of reefs. Some of the ordinary pieces weighed two and three pennyweights. The sinking is very shallow, ranging from eight feet. The ground to be thrown open covers an area of about 1200 acres, and if the lead is extensive there will be profitable work for a large number of miners. There is a little water near where the discovery is made, but within half a mile from that spot and on the same estate there is a never-failing supply of good water. We shall give the earliest possible intimation of the opening of the ground, so that the miners of this district who have a desire to 'try their luck' may have an opportunity of securing a claim.

Source - Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, 4 Nov 1892

Essington Gold Fields - In connection with the Essington gold fields, it may not be generally known that two men have to apply for an area of ground on which to work. A deposit of £1 each entitles the applicants to draw on the 22nd ; also, 10s each must be paid as ;a guarantee that holes will be filled. When this is done the amount is refunded. It appears that some trouble has been caused by individual miners remitting the amount of £1 for the right to work, unaware that tho owners will only permit a draw to the two men for each area. Already a large number of miners have made their way to Essington and await the allotting on Tuesday next when they will bo enabled to try their luck in the search for the precious metal.

Source - National Advocate, 19 Nov 1892

Mining. ——♦—— THE ESSINGTON FIELD. To the disappointment of the numerous diggers who went out to Essington Park in hope of striking 'something good,' the field has turned out a 'duffer.' Experienced miners who inspected the ground before it was thrown open declared that it was a most likely-looking spot, and apart altogether from the reported discovery of heavy gold by the prospectors, they considered that the Messrs. Stevenson were justified in throwing the ground open. But after fall trial the field has been pronounced barren, and the fortune hunters who visited have turned their attention to other parts of the district. Mr. Donnelly informs us that the ground is now deserted, and that all hope of gold in payable quantities being found there has been abandoned.

Source - Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, 28 Nov 1892

The Essington Gold Field. ——♦—— A REEF DISCOVERED. At the time that the Essington Park was thrown open as a goldfleld, some unkind things were said and written about the owners of the land — the Stevenson Brothers — because those who went there to seek their fortunes were disappointed. Amongst some who were loudest in their outcry, and who went so far as to hint that the land had been 'salted,' were some who, at one time had partaken of the hospitality of the Stevenson family, and had frequently been glad to seek shelter under their roof. Forgetful of past kindness they took the first opportunity of casting a slur upon the character of men whose characters are above reproach. It is only necessary to repeat what we have said before when dealing with the question of this goldfleld, that it was not through any wish of the owners that the land was thrown open. For 20 years past residents in the neighborhood have considered that gold was to be found in the Park property, and have urged the owners times and again to allow them to mine there. When the nuggets were found by the man a few months ago considerable excitement was caused, and in compliance with the request of the people Mr. Stevenson consented to throw the ground open. It was soon found that as an alluvial field it was not a success, and within a few weeks the place was almost deserted. Some few, not feeling satisfied obtained permission from the owners to remain, and without expense continue prospecting. A man named Mitchell with others has been sinking, and in the creek above the prospectors claim found one or two small nuggets, weighing 2dwts. Other gold has been found, and the party have been since making more than 'grub.' This, then, should go to prove, if any other evidence was needed, that the scandalous charges laid against the Stevenson Brothers by those who should have known better, were unfounded. Others on the ground were satisfied of the existence of a reef in the vicinity, and having obtained permission from Mr. Stevenson, Paton and party sank a shaft on the hill about 300 yards from the prospectors' claim in an easterly direction and at a depth of 10 feet came across a reef about 9 inches in width. They were encouraged by the prospects, and in the rubble which was tested gold was visible. The stone is arsenical pyrites, and they took out about two tons. In order to fully test this, Messrs. Stevenson Bros, placed a team and driver at the disposal of the party, and conveyed the stone to Back Creek, a distance of over twenty miles, and had it crushed at Baker's crushing machine. The return was 1oz 2dwts to the ton. This is considered payable, but the party not feeling satisfied Mr. Stevenson has willingly offered to take another parcel of three tons to Tarana at his own expense for them for transmission to the Mines Department, Sydney. The parties working there speak in the highest terms of the kindness and liberality shown them by Mr. Stevenson. They have been supplied with fuse and powder free of expense, so that the work can be carried on and the ground fully tested.

Source - Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, 28 Jan 1893

1898 - Essington. The water having been pumped out of the old workings in the copper mine at Essington, near Oberon, an inspection has been made by the managing proprietor, Mr. Richardson. Speaking generally, the shew and prospects are stated to be better than expectations. The timbering was found in splendid condition, though the mine has been closed a qnarter of a century. Operations will now be proceeded with.

Source - National Advocate, 4 Oct 1898

1907 - ESSINGTON Messrs. Cash have just sent away from their mine about 100 tons of copper ore, going about 10 per cent. A few men are at present at work, but it is expected that operations will be on a larger scale before long. The Fulbesk Mine is still working with its primitive method of hauling. This mine has a nice little lode of good sulphide at a depth of 300ft, and it has sent away from 10 to 12 tons of ore per month for a long time past, with only some five or six miners below. The Prosper Mine has sent away 35 tons of ore, and has another lot of 15 tons bagged ready to go away. Prospecting is mostly going on here at present. The Integrity Mine is sinking with only two men. Messrs. Murphy and party are down about 125ft, and are on nice sulphide ore. This, mine has a lode formation of 5ft at the bottom of the shaft. Messrs. Foley and Burns are sinking on the Jocelyn lode, which is improving as they sink. They have at present about 10 inches of nice ore. The other mines close to this one are idle at present.

Source - Evening News (Sydney), 29 Oct 1907

Note - Essington near Oberon was first settled by Phillip Parker King, son of Governor King. It seems to me that he named the area Essington as per his connections with the name here - Port Essington was named on 23 April 1818 by Phillip Parker King in HMS Mermaid 'as a tribute of my respect for the memory of my lamented friend, Vice-Admiral Sir William Essington, who was in command of Triumph at the battle of Camperdown in October 1797. (We know the strong connection with the King family and J.H. Barsden.)  

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM RICHARD SMITH AND MARY ANN BARSDEN.  

I. William Henry Smith married Emma Humphries  

II. Mary Ann Smith married Thomas Cash Junior  

III. Joseph Barsden Smith, died young  

IV. Charles Richard Smith, died young  

V. John Thomas Smith married Catherine Murray  

VI. Frances Amelia Smith, died young  

VII. Margaret Jane Smith, died young  

VIII. Agnes Smith, died young  

IX. Victoria Adelaide Smith married William Hocking  

X. Edwin Spencer Smith married Gertrude Cole  

XI. Emma Amelia Smith married George Kropp  

XII. Charles Smith, died young. 

William Henry Smith was born on 27th November, 1840 at Davey’s [Sewell] Creek, located in the Black Springs area. 

William married Emma Humphries, pictured right, on 27th May, 1863. They were married in the Manse of St. Stephen’s Church, Bathurst, according to the rites of the Church of Scotland.  

William’s occupation was a farmer at Native Dog Creek and he was aged 23 years. Emma was aged 21 years.  

William Henry Smith died at “Wattle Grove” Oberon, [1] at age 30 years, on 4th July, 1871 from bronchitis. William is buried in the Church of England Cemetery at Oberon [St Barnabas]. He was aged 30. His occupation was a farmer at Native Dog Creek.  

Emma was the daughter of Henry Humphries and Sarah Dix of Essington. Emma was born at Wiseman’s Creek, [Campbell’s River area], in 1842.  

Henry Humphries was born in 1811 in Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire, England and he died on 20th January, 1892 in “Mayfield”, Oberon, aged 80 years and is buried at Oberon. Henry and Sarah arrived in Australia as assisted immigrants on the “Amelia Thompson”, arriving in Sydney on 27th September, 1839.  Henry was aged 28 and Sarah was 25. Henry was a labourer and Sarah was a house servant.  

Sarah was born in 1813 in Upper Slaughter,[2] Gloucestershire, England and Henry and Sarah married on 11thOctober, 1834, Upper Slaughter, England.  Sarah died on 20th February, 1903, “Wattle Grove”, Oberon, aged 86 years and is buried with her husband at Oberon Cemetery.  

In 1860, Henry Humphries built “Essington Park” homestead on 350 acres of land purchased on 28th October, 1857 and adjoining Essington Park Estate, owned by the King brothers, sons of the third Governor of NSW.

On 26th December, 1891, John Stevenson and his brother Archibald purchased much of the land owned by Henry Humphries, which adjoined “Essington Park”.  It was at this time that the Humphries’ homestead became directly connected with the original Essington Park Estate.  The Humphries family remained living in the homestead for a while.  Henry Humphries died on 20th January, 1892, less than one month after the transfer of the family land and home.

[1] Wattle Grove, Oberon NSW has had a long and successful history of farming dating back to Dolph Humphries and his Poll Hereford Stud. Dolph’s son Martin Humphries was well known and respected for his Poll Dorset stud and fat lambs.

[2] The name Slaughter is taken from an old English word, Slowe, meaning a stream of water.

Frances Smith (nee Green) and Richard Smith were married at Sydney in 1818. 

Their Son, William Richard Smith and his wife Mary Ann Smith (nee Barsden) lived at Oberon. 

Their Son, William Henry Smith, b 1840 at Bathurst and his wife Emma Smith (nee Humphries) b 1843 at Oberon, lived on the family farm at Oberon.

Jane Bailey (nee Armstrong) b 1808 and George Bailey b 1805 were married on 19 May 1829 at The English Church in Ireland and immigrated to Australia on board the ship "Trinidad" in November 1841. They settled at Oberon, New South Wales.

Their Son, George Thomas Bailey, born at Oberon 1852 and a Grand Daughter of Francis Green, Sarah Rose Mary Smith, born at Bathurst 1865, were married at Macquarie, New South Wales in 1886.

The Bailey's lived on the family farm named Melrose Park, Edith (near Oberon, and shown in the picture)

The couple had nine children including Victor Bailey.

Victor Ernest Bailey, born at Oberon in 1898 and Sylvia Mary Bailey (nee Olds), born in Sydney in 1902 were married at Auburn in 1926. 

Their eldest child is Mrs Merle Sharpe, the Mother of Ron Sharpe OAM.

See the Sharpe Family Tree here

London - James Blackman b 1759 married Elizabeth Harley and they sailed to Sydney.   

Sydney - Their daughter Mary Ann Blackman b 1803 married Josephus Henry Barsden        

Bathurst - Their daughter Mary Ann Barsden b 1824 married William Richard Smith        

Essington - Their son William Henry Smith b 1840 married Emma Humphries       

Oberon - Their daughter Sara Rose Mary Smith b 1865 married George Bailey        

Sydney - Their son Victor Ernest Bailey b 1898 married Sylvia Olds       

Sydney - Their daughter Merle Winifred Bailey married Douglas Woodhouse Sharpe.       

Gosford - Their son Ronald Douglas Sharpe b 1950 married Caroline Curby        

Gosford - Their son Michael Douglas Sharpe married Elizabeth French and they have three children and two grandchildren.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.