Diary of Settler George Wyndham
Extracts and Transcription of the first three years
1830
1831
1832
George Wyndham kept a diary between the years 1830 - 1840.
He was already at Dalwood when the diary began in February 1830. In the first two years there are many entries about the weather conditions - rain, floods, thunderstorms and searing heat. There are details of his excursions such as on the 4th May 1830 when he and John Allman travelled to Newcastle where they visited the Valley of the Palms. He returned to Dalwood on 6th May and dined with Captain Aubin that same night. On 12th September he accompanied William Ogilvie from Merton to Holdsworthy Downs and then to the Burning Mountain. They returned via Segenhoe, St. Heliers and Merton and he was home by the 18th September 1830. In March 1831 he visited
Port Stephens where he called on Captain Parry and William Cromarty and in December 1831 he accompanied Rev. Wilton to the top of Tangorin.
There was a steady stream of visitors as well - On 12th February 1830 Captain Dumaresq called on his way to St. Heliers; on 20th February Felton Matthew stayed with them for two days; George Townsend was a frequent visitor and John Allman and William Ogilvie also. Judge James Dowling and Helenus Scott as well as James Reid, Rev. Wilkinson, William Harper and James Bettington are also mentioned. James Holman known as 'The Blind Traveller' visited Dalwood in June 1831.
Below is a transcription of the first two years of George Wyndham's diary. Read the full diary online at the State Library of New South Wales
February 1830
Page 2.
As the new ground when planted was so hard and lumpy thought that it was impossible to pulverize it.
The last month has been hot, even the nights are close till midnight. It has threatened rain some time and we have ...very light showers.
31. Sunday. Lennan took letter to Mr. Macleay de famina attenda et de Baiir obtenendis
1st February Monday - A heavy 1/2 hours rain at 4pm and showery.
2nd February - raining lightly all the forenoon. P.M. faster and steadier. Mustered the cattle. Laying the Blue room floor. Rain steady thro the night.
3rd February - drizzly rain till 11 am. Been a fine soaking rain not too late for my maize but it was too late.
4th February. At Court Luskintyre. Mr. (John) Pender there (John Pender was a builder in Maitland in 1830s and 1840s)
5th February. Sent 14 cattle to Patrick Plains Pound
7th February Sunday. Called on Mr. Harper. Edificatures
11th February Sent Old Mary to the Factory for robbery
12th February Started ? Mr. Wood. Captain Dumaresq called on his way to St. Heliers
13th February Saturday. Terrifically hot wind 103°
14th February ditto 104
Page 3
15 February 1830 - The hottest sun I ever felt. My minimum registering thermometer burst which required to fill it a heat. Mr. Harper tells me his thermometer was observed at 142.
15th February. Quarter Sessions. At daylight to Captain Allman. Full of the idea of a mariner villa.
17th February. Returned to breakfast. Thunderstorms here last night. Cooled us much.. More rain in the p.m.
18th February. Running cracks over with tar and sand.... trees. Laying dining room floor.
20th February - Felton Matthew came
21st February He stayed with us
22 February He left us going to the reserve of Hay
23 February Very close at evening a heavy thunder storm. Finished ploughing the stubble. The grey horse and a mule are harrowing 7 or 8 done. The grass has not failed us this summer. John Prentice came as overseer.
24th February. Wet Day. Came up her to the new house and thought it ? to fetch up the beds and sleep on the then to go back home. So home changed its name. On 23 and 24 perhaps rained 16 hours light and heavy
25th February - Bringing up things. To Luskintyre. Have two rooms ready, but all are roofed but the rain has moistened the ceilings in some places.
26th February - Brought up more things. More rain 2 heavy showers. Say 1 hours smart rain at night drizzly. Mr. Townshend with us. Came on steady after 10. The whole night.
27th February 7 am Steady and fast till sunset.
28th February Sunday. Overcast with frequent showers. River is just wadeable. The holes in Stoney Creek are empty. 9 inches water in cellar.
MARCH 1830
March 1st. 1830. A very heavy 40 shower. The Sydney papers speak of the 14 and 15 February as days of fire. Girdling trees on the point south likewise on the same flat.
2nd March Baled 2 feet of water out of the cellar
4 and 5 a little burning off to furnish ashes
6th March Clearing out the stockyard.
Page 4.
8th March, Monday - Received a letter from Ella up to Oct 8. Weather pleasant and cloudy.
10th March Went to Mr. Townshend. W. Scott took my letter No. VII for Dr. Cunningham to take home.
11th March - Returned grey mare lame from a ?
12th March - Fetched the.....? Mr. Matthew came
14th March
16th March - Thunder storm with tremendous rain
19th March - To Mr. Reid's his relations lately arrived. Trenching the garden and quarrying the capital of the columns.
22th March - Dray from Mr. Cory's with cedar
23 March - Dray from Maitland with blankets etc.
24th March - bottling ? 10 dozen bought it up. Mr. Townshend here.
25th March - Sent Anne away, being pregnant. Still digging garden two..? Potatoes came up very irregularly.
APRIL 1830
Page 5.
The sown maize has failed again this year. Some carelessly and hastily sown in drill a little before Xmas promises well, must always in future put in more stubble maize. Proved a good crop.
April 1st 1830 - Helenus Scott here.
2nd April 1830 Pulling early maize
3 April - pretty heavy rain and steady for 2 hours
4 April - 2 very heavy showers at night
5th April - Esthle left us on chestnut mare
6th April - Rain all day at times heavy
7th April - Carrying away maize . very west
8th April Do. Find there is more than I farmed. Hope to have near 600 bushels from the flank, about 30 acres. The stubble maize sown just before Xmas promises well and turned over the Back crop. I have got maize took no pains with it.
9th April. Good Friday. Alward's birth day Two years old. He is 2 feet 11 inches high. by repeated measurements and weighs about 27 lbs. Could not weigh him accurately. John Allman called . Light wetting rain all night.
10th April and all day and occasionally at night.
11th April breaking away. began again at night
Page 6. (4)
April 1830
12th April - Rained all day, tho very light in the forenoon. Steady and ? pm. The Stony Creek is running through out its whole length and had today filled the long pool at the quarry. I have never seen the ground soaked before. Every appearance of more.
13th April Rained fast and steady the whole night till 8 am and then ceased. Heavy showers
14th April Sunshine. One smart shower. Got in the last of the maize that was picked had been lying on the ground during the whole rain but is uninjured save where uncovered by the bush.
15th April - Quarter Sessions or rather assizes. To Maitland keeping this side the river being a case of swimming. Heard the Success was aground at ? River and Port Macquarie open.
16th April Returned. Weather looks unsettled. Occasional light shower. Weeding and ? potatoes.
Page 7
April 1830
17th April Very light showers. Rained somewhat through the night and till one pm the whole
18th Sunday all day and all night and till one
19th April Afternoon showers
20th April Gathering cornstalks into heaps
21st April 1830. Thunder showers weather getting find
24th April. Pulling maize. The weather cleared from Monday and is now cold and clear. Wind brisk from W.N.W.
25th April. Dispatched a letter to John and Ella. No. VIII. to Sydney for Dr. Cunningham. Connell turned in to Government on Thursday last. (possibly James Connelly per Ferguson) hear there has been a tremendous flood on the Hawkesbury. Our river is now 5 feet deep at the crossing place and it has fallen 5 feet. Judge Dowling and Sheriff called. I was out
27th April. Finished carrying early maize. Jane Brett arrived with a black eye.
28 April Wednesday Began ploughing for wheat the maize land. 2 ploughs.
29th 3 ploughs. Carrying off corn stalks.
MAY 1830
Page 8. (5)
3 May - Monday to Captain Allman's and slept there
4th May - To Newcastle with John Allman
5th May Wednesday - Valley of palms. Burning bark
6th May Returned home. dined with Captain Aubin
7th May The blacks brought in a plant of nails
8th May - Plant peach stones 500 , two ?, 3 sorts cauliflower, Peas 2 sorts all in drills and rollen in a la Cobbett. Three ploughs going all this week and finished the maized ground this day.
9th May Sunday - To Mr. Lamb's. Gave me garden seeds. Sown May 12 etc
10th May, Monday - Sharp frost. Potatoes very much cut.
13th May Court of Requests at Maitland
14th To Newcastle with Messrs Wilkinson and Townshend
15th May - A fellow who undertook to show me three good sections did not shew 3 good acres. .....? Mr. Bettington arrived. Potatoes at Mr. Sparkes on the river.....
Page 9 (6)
15th May cont. ....bank are not frost bitten and the Balsams at Newcastle are ?, mine are smashed. Thick fogs prevail in mornings, days exceeding pleasant
16th May Sunday - Wrote to Captain Dumaresq, Mr. Bettington
17th May - Monday Sent Frank to Captain Allman's with Mr. Palmer's diamond.
19th May, Wednesday - Sowed first wheat. Threatens rain. last week sowed parsnip, carrot, beet, Brussels sprouts, rhubarb, red cabbage and cauliflower in drills. Today some peas soaked, gathered the hemp.
20th May - Sowing wheat, 3 ploughs going constantly and now a ? but the land is in a dreadful state quite ashamed of it. Another year plough all trio the ? the weeds were so strong (chiefly the self sown wheat that I turned the cattle into ate it down when the ground got firm but they beat it very hard and it is all in hard lumps in consequence.
22nd May Saturday. About 8 acres sown. Weather mild and fine.
Page 10 May 1830
May 23. Letter from Mary Anne written December 18
24th May Monday - Mr. and Mrs. Ogilvie came
25th Wednesday - Left us. Sent Irvin to the Hospital at Sydney with £1. (Probably Thomas Irvine per Boyne) Two harrows on today. Settled dry and pleasant weather at night, lightning flashing new WSW. Thunderstorm with rain at midnight
27th May - Quarrying first column (shaft) at Creek
29th May - Katherine sent to the 3rd class factory.
30th May - Wrote to Mr. Wilkinson and Captain Dumaresq. A little rain in evening
31st May - 2 hours rain 8pm
JUNE 1830
June 1st 1830 - Sent drays to Maitland. At night rain
2nd June - Heavy frequent showers. Ground very wet. Drays returned with looking glasses and machinery
3rd June - Fine again. Repaired fence. Began splitting for a new fence. Irwin returned.
4th June - Went to ship, got the mill.
5th June - returned. Cold blowing and showers
6th June - Wrote to Mr. Bettington
Page 11 June 1830
7th June Monday - Turned Davis into Government (probably Obadiah Davis per Marquis of Hastings)
8th June - Fine weather and cold. glad to wear drawers with duck trousers which I had left off for a month making play with the wheat. Rode to Glendon
9th June Wednesday - To Scott's station and home
10th June - Mr. Townshend came
11th June - Planted cauliflower from Mr. Lamb and cabbages from Luskintyre and carrots
12th June Lettuces
15th June Building an ? to the East 16th June Wednesday - Carrying stubble maize, fine
17th June - do do and finished wheat sowing by ?.....Some heavy rain at night. found a wild duck's nest on Tuesday, two or three quails nest a month ago.
22nd June - digging out kitchen foundation
23rd June - Gathering potatoes. Picked out 48 ?
24th June - Mr. Wilkinson on his road to Newcastle
Page 12 June 1830
25th June Mr. Townshend - We tried to set the leg of chestnut mare's foal in vain.
28th June - Saved Castor oil seeds
29th June - To Maitland by way of Mr. Middleton's and Swan's
30th June to the top of Sugar Loaf with Francis Allman. Captain Aubin planted a lemon on the top and an orange pip.
JULY 1830
1st July - Returned home. Dent built the oven
2nd July - Digging holes in front for trees
3rd July Mr. Mailers took my letter home No. IX and to Mr. Bettington began putting up the fence from the paddock to the river. This week have been splitting and hauling and making a bridge for hauling stone
6th July - Beautiful day
7th July - Raw, cold, Splitting, hauling
12th July - Kitty Spalding came
Page 13 - July 1830
15th July - I marked the spokes of a dray which finished the fence of new paddock
16th July - To Mr. Townshend
18th July - Returned on foot, the mare lame. Found the river up, swam it. Very cold.
19th July - Prentice away getting married
20th July - Gardening. Weeta began to walk
21st July - A wet morning. Put the dray wheel together
23rd July - Mr. Townshend and Webber start for Sydney
24th July - Despatch O'Neil ? Still gardening. Killed 2 pigs last night. Put up 4 others. Mr. Ogilvie's dray with turkeys. Weeta burnt herself with an iron.
25th July - A driving rain all forenoon.
26th July - At the garden.
27th July - Began digging holes for fruit trees
28th July - Rain again all day. Steady tho light 30th July - Mr. Wilkinson and Helenus Scott came. Splitting lintels and slabs for roof of kitchen.
31st July - Saturday - Vine cuttings from Mr. Busby.
AUGUST 1830
Page 14
2nd August Monday - very cold day. wore a plaid all day. cold drying wind ever since the rain which continued till Thursday
5th August - received letter from Ella up to March
6th August - Getting up peach and fig trees etc
7th August - Putting them in in front of the house. Louisa Heskins arrived. Boston and Jenkins broke down first apple tree log (sawyers)
We now hear the cuckoo
11th August 1830 - Mr. Townshend from Sydney
13th August Rain all morning and forenoon
14th August - Loquat seeds. Sydney Lemon and orange seeds. The weather is now pleasant. I have begun to clear the river bank for ?vines, on this side the fence received a letter from Charlotte. dated February 9th.
16th August Monday. Sowed lemon seeds. Planted raspberries
17th August - Peach, Quince, fig, Pomegranate cuttings. Peach kernels. Cabbages all running to seed.
Page 15 (9) August 1830
18th August Cabbage seed. Beard to Mr. Townshend.
20th August - Rain set in at noon lasted with little interruption till sunset on the 21st
22nd August - Frequent showers. The holes I dug for the ?.....Trees in front are full of water
23rd August - 2 or 3 smart showers
24th August - Began ploughing the river bank for vines.
SEPTEMBER 1830
1st - Planting vines
2nd September - planting potatoes. Peach stones sown on 8th May came up. All the vines I pruned bleed profusely. Not so those I am moving
3rd Sowed Turnip 4th September - Broke down the big log in new pit. Sowed Asparagus and Radish. Peach trees now in full blossom
Page 16
September 1830
12th September Sunday - With Mr. Ogilvie to Mr. Glennie's. Cold wind
13th September - to Merton
15th September - to Holdsworthy Downs
16th September Burning Mountain and back
17th September - By Segenhoe and St. Heliers to Merton
18th September - home
24th September to Maitland
27the September to Maitland
29th September - Smart shower or 2 . Dray upset on the wharf with load of flour. little damage
30th September - Rain almost all day. Mr. Townies.
OCTOBER 1830
October 1st 1830 - Tremendous showers. A great furrow cut through the garden
October 2nd 1830 - Clearing up with light showers, got fine. The lagoon has risen 2 feet and covered my slabbed cart road and there is a little water in the small lagoon in front of the house. The first I ever saw there. The cold west winds of September 12 blighted the peach trees.
October 2nd cont. The wheat is not at all laid by the rain not yet in ?
October 4th - making pig styes
5th October - sowing seeds
10th October - Kitty left us
11th October - Anne le refugia de son mari
12th October - Hear the bird again ( a hornbill) that cried so much last summer
13th October Wednesday - Sowed seeds. trenching a piece of garden for tobacco. Making pig's troughs and styes. threshing and preparing puzzolana. Dent ill from Rheumatism. (John Denton per Vittoria) The wheat is a little lodged, a good deal is in ear. The joists are on the kitchen roof. Breaking up for orchard and for home pasture field about a week
15th October - Attended court at Maitland respecting Cannon and his male of slops. (probably James Cannon per Ferguson)
16th October - Returned. Walked thro wheat at Luskintyre never saw finer. Mr. Ogilvie at Maitland from Newcastle going to Barraba.
Strawberries now ripe.
Page 18. October 1830
20th October - Exceeding hot. Planted first maize. Louisa fell down in an epileptic fit.
21st October - Hot. Bathes twice
22nd October Hot still. Wind shifted to the East. At night enjoy a fine night
23rd October - cloudy and cold. Planted millet, cucumber called on the Harpurs and at Luskintyre the former have 50 acres of wheat, Bengal seed sowed in May, destroyed by the rust which I hear if general. Trenching the garden. Disturbances in Argyle and Bathurst.
24th October - Rain all day. Very steady
26th October - Kitty Spalding returned unmarried.
28th October - 4am Heavy thunder storm and rain till 8. A great deal fell can trench no longer. Mr. Scott here. Crake died.
30th October - Went with Captain Wright to Glennies
31st October - To Captain Allman's. Heavy thunder and great rain. Dined there. Then to the Ogilvies where thunder and rain again
1st November - Stayed there.
NOVEMBER 1830
Page 19 (11)
2nd November - Started at 8 . Rain began at the junction of the Wollombi and continued to Black Creek. Got home at dusk. Very heavy rain. Cape barley ripe. Roses and pinks blowing sweetly.
4th November - Began cutting Cape barley
5th November - Fitting lead to the bath. A thunder storm with heavy rain, a great deal fell in the night.
6th November - Sunshine and hot. A millstream runs from the lagoon to the river. I never saw water in the channel before. We are now eating the savoy cabbage sown May 12. which have hearts well and not run to seed. (John) Prentice left me.
7th 8th 9th 10th. - Generally fine. Some showers.
11th November Rain all day
12th November - To Mr. Close's Court of Request. Rainy
13th November Returned. Rain all day. Heavy. a strong stream running over the bridge
14th November - still raining lightly.
Page 20 -
November 1830
My wheat is almost entirely destroyed by the rust. Scarcely any of it worth reaping. A little near Dents cottage is pretty good. But that is touched and smutty besides.
19th and 20th November - Misty
21st 22nd 23rd - Rain almost constant steady but not very heavy. Lagoon quite a sea.
For the month of January 1830 see the last page in this book
DECEMBER 1830
Page 21. (12)
Good harvest weather, not hot. Indeed so cold that some evenings we could have enjoyed a fire. It frequently threatened rain but very little fell. Of 70 acres that I had under wheat, I have reaped about 10. The rest being worthless. At Bowens the wheat is good and even on my old farm.
9th December - Finished thatching. Swam the river and went to Luskintyre. The day hot, first heard the cicada
10th 11th December - Hilling potatoes. Threshing and winnowing the barley on the flat
12th December - Very hot, but pleasant breeze from NW. Cicadas noisy, water melons just in flower
13th December - Very hot. Breeze NW pleasant. Thermometer 98
14th December Wind shifted to East at Midnight became cool. cloudy day. Sowed Cabbage Beetroot turnip, carrot parsnip, spinach, onion. Stubble wont burn.
Page 22
December 1830
15th December Wednesday - Planted potatoes in the vineyard
16th December - planted maize. Ward's sale. most beautiful weather. Bought 50 bushels wheat of Bowen for £7. I am to thresh it.
17th December - Planted maize and some to transplant to Mr. Harpers seeing after tobacco plants
18th December - The spotted gum trees have just shed their bark. They look very smart on the Western Hill in the morning. Thunder but without rain.
19th December - Called on the Reids
21st December Tobacco plants
22nd December - Hot wind in verandah 104. At night thunder and a little rain.
23rd December - See one melon as big as a pear, only one other formed. Planting maize
24th December - To Maitland paid old Marshall £4 1 5d and post office. Revolution in France. Dray brought up my rifle and Portmanteau from Ameri
25th December - Xmas day. Very hot. W. Scott came
Page 23
December 1830
26th December - Very hot
27th December, Monday - Set out to see Ash Island. To Mr. Close's. W. Scott took letter for Alick
28th December - Slept at Sparke's. Very pleasant ?
29th December - Went to the lower island and returned home. The men have been cutting down the stubble to make it burn.
30th December - At Luskintyre. Holding court
31st December - Dug up the kidney potatoes. Beautiful they are too. Weather delightful. Sowed cauliflower and radish. Macdonald and Ricanotti (?) have lately come to put up a stockyard
Page 24
31st December cont.
Have this year raised about 300 peach trees. 390 lemon, 2 loquats, 1 olive from seed. From cuttings 80 fits, 40 quince pomegranate 2 lemon, 2 English mulberry. Very few of my vines took, put out above 600. They were dead before I got them.
I got 8 pears from Sydney, 5 peaches.....?
January 1831
Page 24 (14)-
1st January Saturday - Opened a few trees. The other side of the flat
3rd January - Putting first coat on kitchen roof, cutting a drain at foot of this hill. Grass tho green will burn a little. Delightful weather, very hot but fine breeze from East daily.
4th January - Exceeding hot. Light breeze at East
5th January - Very hot indeed. PM. Thunder rain. Killing maize last three days
6th January - To Luskintyre. Cloudy and cool. Put out tobacco plants and cabbage
7th January - Cloudy and cool. Put out some 3 weeks ago tobacco plants finely rooted. Replacing tye beans in barn.
8th January - To Luskintyre who is going to Sydney
9th January Sunday - Exceeding hot. No wind. Musquitoes
10th January - At night exceeding hot mosquitoes tormenting
11th January - Cool cloudy and occasional light drizzle. Found potatoes heating and spoiling in the pye. Not ripe O'Neil says.
Page 25 -
January 1831
12th January - Planting kidney potatoes. cloudy. Set up the barn the tye beams having parted being pinned only.
13th January - cloudy and occasionally a drizzle. Put out 400 tobacco plants that I found self sown among the stubble. A nice shower last night. Stubble maize grows apace.
14th January - A hot wind. Killing stubble.
15th January 1831 - A hot wind, hilling on. Burned off grass at night. Thunder and rain heavy. O'Brien came.
16th January 1831 - Light showers. cloudy. O'Brien came last night.
17th January - clearing up. Splitting shingles to cover verandah. Mr. Townshend and Mr. Campbell brought the news of the Governor's being at Maitland (Governor Darling).
18th January - Put out 100 cabbage plants
19th January - Rainy morning and forenoon.
20th January - To Maitland. Called on the governor, the Allman's and home.
Page 26 (15)
January 1831
21st January - His Excellency and Capt. Dumaresq took lunch . Put them on their road to Glendon. As far as Black Creek. Mr. Wilkinson with us
22nd January - His reverence left us for Upper District. Mr. Glennie came tuned the piano. Opening the trees beyond the garden to the SE. Hot moist weather
23rd January - Stubble maize very promising
24th January - Cloudy and drizzly showers. Budded 40 peach trees. Clearing maize with plough and hoes and breaking up for wheat the back of the house
25th January - Cloudy with drizzly showers and rather cool. Budded 66 peach treas. Dray with claret, pitsaw and files
26th January - Put stakes to espalier vines in Garden and budded trees.
27th January - Budded trees at Luskintyre
28th January put out tobacco plants a slightly hot wind. thunder and heavy rain at evening. Watermelons now fairly in.
Page 27 -
January 1831
30 January - Called on Mr. Lamb and Mr. Wilkinson
31 January. Christened Alward and Outta. Weeta. Hoeing maize. Looks extremely well indeed te weather could not be better
FEBRUARY 1831
1st February 1831 - Hoeing maize. Trying to make an ?
2nd February - Sowed cabbage and cauliflower.
3rd February - Called on the Harpers . A report of limestone. Saw Kennel and common coal in Anvil Creek. Digging potatoes
4th February - Making a ?tube iron
5th February - Digging praters. Set a by for soap
6th February - Smart thunder storm. Great lightning to the south ards with heavy thunder at night
7th February - To Mr. Coulson found Porteus (John Portus) putting up Mr. Pringles mill there. Cool and cloudy
9th February - On Mr. Winder
11th February - A little rain. Sowed Carrot. Beet
12th February - Boiling soap. The whole week digging potatoes. The garden, tobacco etc. Stockyard finished. Kitchens roofed. Cool cloudy weather sometimes cold.
Page 28 (16)
February 1831
14th February - Boiled soap again. Hoeing potatoes
15th February - Rainy morning. At night again heavy
16th February. Splitting shingles
17th February - to Glendon. Slept there. A fresh came down and stopped my horse. Rode one of Mr. Bells on
18th February - Home. Misty rain at midnight very heavy
19th February - Making a duck shed. Looking out ground plates for milking shed. Sunshine out at 4 o'clock. Starlight night quite pleasing so much dull weather and rain. I have not looked half the rain lately. Mr. Townshend here.
21st February. Beautiful weather. cleaning maize
24th February - Trying to mow the weeds the other side of the creek to allow the plough to move.
25th 26th - Exceeding hot. Distant lightening. Brown brought 29lbs tobacco. Getting ashes for leg. Trying dead apple tree and gum bark.
MARCH 1831
Page 29
1st March - Went to a sale at Mr. Gaggins with Messrs Ogilvie and Kaswell who slept here.
2nd March - A letter from Ella. dated September 6. Began sowing swedes, turnips and a row of Glendon cabbage. Picked out 50 cauliflower.
3rd March - Set off for Port Stephens. Crossed at Swan's. Mr. Warren, Mr. Mossman slept there.
4th March - Reach Port Stephens . Smart showers.
5th March - Examined the Butchers point
6th March - Sawyers Point
7th March - Called at Captain Parry
8th March - Nelsons Bay. Fingals Bay. Cromarty on Soldiers Point
9th March - Returned by Graham's. Barney's ....Captain Allman's. Found Porteous (John Portus) had put the machinery somewhat together.
12th Mustered the cattle . Beautiful weather . thought I could distinguish an autumnal feel. Last night very cold.
Page 31 (17)
March 1831
12th to 19th March - to Porteus (John Portus) about mill strap. covered the verandah with bark. Splitting posts for pig fence. Fine weather. Planted cauliflower, cabbage. Sowed radish etc.
17th March - Brown committed
18th March Rode the grey mare first time since her illness. Showers flying about.
19th March - Before sunrise a tidy rain.
22nd March - Sun very scorching at sundown. Rain and thunder. Splitting stuff to enclose the pigs in lagoon. Thinning turnips. Cleaning strawberries. Laying flagging before kitchen. Curran mending plough
Page 32
March 1831
24th March - Sale at Luskintyre. Estate knocked down at 1100. Steers 3yrs 30s Cows 18s. Calves weaned 6 and 4.
25th March - Sale Mr. Ogilvie and son with us.
26th March - Branding Mr. (William) Caswell's purchase the whole week very hot.
28th March - Porteus putting the mill work at the barn. Branding Ogilvie's cattle.
29th March - Branding mine and Mr. Bettington. Hot winds last two days.
30th March - Putting up the horse course
APRIL 1831
1st and 2nd. Sent a letter to Mr. Bettington. Wilkinson and Charlotte by Mr. Macleod.
2nd April - Elizabeth Hughes came. Hot dry weather. For a long time even in the stubble maize where the earth has been repeatedly ploughed there are large cracks. My turnips look well.
3rd April Sunday - Hot wind. Looks thundery
4th April - light rain all day
5th April (George) boy born 4 am. Rain all night.
6th April
7th April - Porteus returned budded 5 peach trees. Weeded tobacco.
8th April- Working at the mill. Ploughing for orchard cutting up roots there. Two young Ogilvies. Weather very showery for some days.
9th April Alwards' birthday. Height 3ft 3in . Ground one peck of wheat with the mill in about 12' with 7 men.
Weather continues showery. Hear the Whigs are in and receive letter to December 3rd mentioning riots in Wiltshire. We put the horses into the Mill. Bothered with the strap slipping.
Page 33
20th April 1831 - Court of Requests. Slept at Captain Allmans
21st April 1831 - Rainy morning came home. rain afternoon
22nd 23rd April - rain
27th April - Thunderstorm
29th April - Ellen Ogilvie staying here. Men are mowing down weeds to enable the plough to move. Too wet to plough.
30th April. Rain all night
The stream that ran down stony Creek was quite tremendous River is now rising fast.
MAY 1831
Page 34 (19)
1st May Sunday - Tempestuous night. Rain furious. Lagoon a sea
3rd May - a lake from the foot of the hill in front to just under Dents cottage. But the right land bank of the creek was uncovered.
9th May. Fetched a load of coal
10th Cold gal from NW
11th May - Cold fine day
Page 35 May 1831
15th May 1831 - A light frost
16th May - To Luskintyre with letters. Too late. Began ploughing for the seed. Irwin to Maitland
17th May - Set the threshing machine to work
18th May - 2 pit saws going this week for a barn loft. 3 ploughs
20th Left letters with Mrs. Harper. Wheat from Bowen. Dr. Thompson from Ratagan. (possibly David Thompson) Showery. Saturday showery etc
24th May - Thick weather. Got barn ready for maize.
25th May - Carried early maize. plough again
28th May - Went to Wisemans
29th May - to Parramatta
30th May - to Sydney
31st May Brown acquitted.
JUNE 1831
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June 1st - Shepherds nursery
3rd June - wrote home
4th June - To Parramatta. After sunset
5th June - Mr. Blaxland vineyard . Major Lockyer.
8th June - Reached young Wiseman's
9th June Found first bridge gone. Swam the mare walked over a tree. Got home. Beautiful day.
10th June Neale to Hospital with a letter. Mr. Bettington
12th June - Mr. Holman blind traveller here
13 June - cutting joists for wash house roof
18th June Crossed the river with Ratagan to Mr. Reid
19th June Mr. Reid called
20 June - On the Harper's . Old Lady arrived from Sydney while I was there.
JULY 1831
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1st July Mr. Ogilvie and Wilkinson stayed
2nd July - Mr. O departed with Ellen.
5th July - Ann Jackson (Dent) arrived on 12th.
20th July - Mr. Matcham left us going up the river.
25th July Mr. Matcham here
30th July 1831 - Mr. Matthew came.
AUGUST 1831
2nd August 1831 - Messrs Matthew and Matcham towards Brisbane Water
8 August 1831 - Got Rafferty to help me gardening (probably James Rafferty per Hercules)
OCTOBER 1831
10th October. Sent old Lennan to Sydney for his wife. Mr. Onslow with us.
15th October - flying foxes apparently migrating pass hundreds all night long.
25th October - Bridget Brown did first weeks washing. (Possibly Bridget Brown nee Meaney arrived per Forth)
NOVEMBER 1831
November 3rd 1831
Valentine Ayres began burning in front. O'Brien quarryman left me.
4th November - Alward's and Weetas arm rising after vaccination.
7th November - To Maitland. Allmans gone to Upper districts.
11th November - Scene with Bridget
20 to 27th November - Dent and Brown married.
30th November - Dr. Mitchell and Scott called.
DECEMBER 1831
5th December 1831 - Dent knocked down by a cow yesterday. Fitzpatrick began
6th December 1831 - Bush is on fire on all sides. Little boy unwell. Mosquitoes troublesome
16th December 1831. Mr. Wilton came. 17th went with him to the top of Tangorin currajong tree elegant 25 feet high.
18th December - Returned. Women turned out.
19th December - to Wallis Plains. Ellen to Cells. Dined with Capt. Anley. Returned by morning light
21st December - Called on Mr. Winder.
24th December - Brown summonsed to Newcastle
25th December - Xmas day very hot but no wind.
27th December 1831 - Wilkinson came stayed with us till 31st when he left us for Scotts.
31st December. Brown went off by warrant this day to Newcastle charged with obtaining goods on false premises.
1832
1st January Sunday -7th January - Wilkinson came
10th January. M. Gough came runaway from iron gang. (probably Michael McGough per Eliza)
12th January - Cutting sleepers and wall plates for a stable
16th January - To Maitland. Scott returned home with me.
21st January 1832 - Little boy begins to push himself about on his bott. He cannot creep.
23rd January - Marked out site of a slabbed tobacco shed. 80 yds of the house
28th January - Got a fall from grey horse at Ratagan.
29th January - Alward swallowed a pistol bullet.
30th January building shed. Cutting wattles for hops .and tobacco.
FEBRUARY 1832
1st February - bullet appeared
6th February - paid MacInnah (cooper) to this date
21st February - To Quarter Sessions
22nd February - Brick kiln 2900 fired.
27th February Walls of wooden shed up
MARCH 1832
2 March - Harris and Valentine began to split shingles.
15th March - Called on Mr. Pinkerton
16th March - O'Neil caught stealing flour
17th March - Cannon joins Marron
25th March - Kearney took the river to have his folly out. (John Kearney per Ferguson)
APRIL 1832
9th April Found Kearny
10th April - Buried Kearny
12th April. Pat came. Harris finished shingling
MAY 1832
12 May - Sent Ellen away.
19th May - Charlotte Fethers came. (Charlotte Tither per Princess Royal)
23rd May - To Maitland and Captain Allman's
24th May - On board the William IV steamer. Captain Parry joined us to Newcastle
25th May - in Sydney
26th to Parramatta.
JULY 1832
2nd July - Captain Pike called on his way home
10th July Mr. A. Glennie stayed.
14th Made a sundial
18th July - Boy born (died January 1833) at am.
21st July - Margaret surprisingly well.
23rd July - Frances Bagley and Anne Lias (Frances Bagley arrived per Burrell in 1832)
AUGUST 1832
21st Robertson goes to meet his wife
28th August - Major Innes here.
SEPTEMBER 1832
3rd September - Sent Charlton to Ratagan
10th September - Hogan came yesterday
11th September - Justice at Mr. Harper's , on to Newcastle at 9pm
12th September - Limeburner's Bay in grass cutters boat
13th September - Sailed 6am head wind and sea. Reached Sydney 9pm
14th September - Saw the Governor and a little business
15th September shopping. Steamer delayed till Monday
17th September Sailed 7pm fair wind, got inside Nobbys at 4am on the grey horse at 6.30 and got home in 6 hours. from Sydney in 17.
OCTOBER 1832
October 18th - Charlotte - 1 month servant leaves us. Begin milking shed.
24th October - Women bolted a little before daylight.
NOVEMBER 1832
5th November - Started 1st dray for Gammon Plains.
7th November Wilkinson moves Westwards
8th November. Followed him to Glennies. Fresh horse to Captain Pike's very hot
9th November - Ratagan joins us at breakfast. Overtook dray at Halls station to Gammon Plains that night. Slept at Mr. Duttons farm
10th November - Perambulated Mangarinda
13th November Came home from Mr. Pike's without stopping
14th November - Putting on roof of great stone store
26th November - Very hot. Helped old Lennan.
DECEMBER 1832
6th December - Hot and pleasant. Dray to St. Michael's. Flanaghan from Manganinda with information that they are all adrift. He woos and wins Mary i.e. Anne Lias.
21st December - Captain Anley and Hungerford called.
25th December - Xmas day. Dent's hut in uproar. Cool beautiful day
JANUARY 1833
11th January - Found the baby had the dysentery.
12th January - The Doctor here in the morning
13th January - Little sufferer died at 8 am. Buried him at 12 .
27th January - Margaret and two eldest children looking at cattle coming in from the top of the great stone store
FEBRUARY 1833
2nd February - Bill Neill cut his head with his axe
3rd February Sent away Anne Lias, pregnant
21st February - The blacks are saucy in Mr. Harper's brush
22nd February - Well 10 feet deep. Set up windlass
24th February - Mary West came
MARCH 1833
2nd March - Fine day. Split slabs for study roof. To Molly Morgans. Poor fellow with tongue out. Well 20 feet deep.
13th March - Malowney with Fanny to Maitland 14 days in the cells. (Patrick Malowney per Lonach)
APRIL 1833
16th April 1833 - To Maitland to meet the Governor
18th April - Quarter Sessions
19th April - Governor called. Judge Forbes, Burton, Major Mitchell.
22nd April - Mr. Harper's place and Ratagan robbed by two men.
27th April - Ann Dent died at Maitland
MAY 1833
8th May - Sent Joe with grey mare to Alcorn's
9th May - To St. Heliers.
22nd May - Sent Nagle and Price to collect the up country cattle.
JUNE 1833
17th June - Price returned on Saturday. Bill Neil goes with Lennan to Newcastle
21st June - Pulling maize - Blacks helping
24th June - putting up fence around the vineyard - 4 acres - Jenkins and Price, Joe and McGo. and Fenahy all the week.
Alward very busy
AUGUST 1833
13th - Walked to Ratagan with Alward
19th August - Lock to Sydney
SEPTEMBER 1833
5th September - Mr. Marsden and Lethbridge called.
OCTOBER 1833
15th Preparing post sleepers for threshing floor and mill house and placing rafters for dray shed.
16th October - Margaret unwell.
17th October - At 2 am boy born. John. Intense heat. Thunder clouds gathered
NOVEMBER 1833
4th November 1833 - Ann Prentice ran from husband (Probably Ann Simpson per Princess Royal)
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