Free Settler or Felon

Convict and Colonial History



Joseph Brooks Weller - Settler

Map 1


Birth: Kent 1802
Arrival: Aguilar in 1824
Land Grant: 1200 acres in 1824
Occupation: Land Proprietor; whaler
Death: 1835

Joseph Brooks Weller and brothers George Weller and Edward Weller were members of a wealthy family from Kent.

Arrival in the Colony

Joseph arrived in Australia on the Aguilar in 1824 and was granted 1200 acres of land on 20 October 1824 by Sir Thomas Brisbane, the land being between East Maitland and Newcastle and adjoining John Platt's land at Iron Bark Creek.

He named his grant Wellerby Farm. This later became known as the township of Wallsend. The following article describes the early days of settlement when the Wallsend settlement was populated by convicts:

"The settlement was in the area bordered by Federal Park, Wallsend Park and Goat Hill. The convicts after being transported from Newcastle were set to work on the building of a large barn between Federal Park and the northern side of Co-operative Colliery. They left a landmark behind in the furrowed ground of the old Wallsend racecourse.

The Wallsend Coal Company commenced sinking operations in 1858, and a little canvas town sprang up in Pittown from Harvey's corner to John Reays. The first church service was conducted from a stump in this vicinity. The company began to send coal away in 1861 and many assisted immigrants came to the town and settled as close to the pit as possible.

The first store was opened by
Mr. Thomas Fryar and Mr. T. Johnson. A hotel was opened by Mark Fryar in Kemp-street in 1859. Others who opened in business were William Perry (baker), W. Kerr (blacksmith), W. Harris (publican) and Elijah Pratten (butcher), William and Thomas Turnbull (grocers), Thomas Alwick (news agency), James Richardson (veterinary surgeon), J. B. Hogg (bootmaker), Samuel Johns (blacksmith) and James Flinn (co-operative store)

In 1858 all the funerals were to Newcastle, but after much agitation a piece of land was given for a cemetery on Newcastle-road. The land was not cleared for some weeks an the first burial was held outside the fence on the present footpath.

Mr. J. Jenkins was the first undertaker. Other first residents were John Sharp, Daniel Sumners, Reuben Lavers, Robert Ling, N. Anthony and Dugald Cameron. The first doctors were two brothers
John and Robert Pierce, who conducted a surgery in Nelson-street.

The company, having sold most of its first subdivision, it became necessary to make a connecting link between Pittown and the main shopping centre. A bridge was built over the swamp near the present Wallsend Park. Park of this bridge was washed away in a flood in 1867 and after being rebuilt suffered the same fate in 1873
" - The Newcastle Sun 18 October 1938
Ash Island - Alexander Walker Scott John Laurio Platt Australian Agricultural Company Joseph Weller George Weller William Brooks Jonathon Warner George Brooks Richard Windeyer and Adam Beveridge William Peppercorn Richard Siddons John Maclean G.T. Graham William Sparke Henry Rae Vicars Jacob Francis Shortt Francis Moran John Eales William Bradridge Edward Sparke John Field George Thomas Graham Early Settler Map 1

Land Acquisition

The Weller brothers used some of their capital to build a large sandstone brick house (The Oaks) - about 200 yards from the Wallis Creek Bridge.

The Wellers were also granted 1360 acres in 1828 at Falbrook not far from James Glennie's Dulwich and a farm belonging to William Powditch.

They purchased a Government Cottage (Cottage Creek) about 1 ½ miles from Newcastle in 1832. This was a former military post situated on the road leading to Maitland and was occupied by Rev. Threlkeld when he first came to Newcastle. The cottage became known for a while as Weller's cottage and later became the site of Dangar's meatworks and in 20th century, the Palais Royale.

Whaling

The family developed whaling interests in New Zealand in the 1830s. Edward and Joseph junior established a whaling station at Otago.

Joseph junior died from tuberculosis in New Zealand in 1834 and his body was shipped to Sydney for burial.

Edward continued to run the successful business until 1840 when he returned to Australia due to ill health. He lived until 1893 when he was drowned in rising flood waters.

Convicts

Convicts Assigned to Joseph Brooks Weller:

William Barrett - arrived on the Borodino 1828

John Baxter - arrived on the Phoenix in 1828

Thomas Daley - arrived on the Mangles in 1828

John Dorney - arrived on the Borodino in 1828

Hugh Elvin - arrived on the Mangles in 1828

James Gosling - arrived on the Phoenix in 1828

John Griffin - arrived on the Grenada in 1821

Samuel Murphy - arrived on the Mangles in 1828

Patrick Nowlan - arrived on the Borodino 1828

Notes and Links

1). In 1842 A Claim for Deed of Grant shows the ownership of part of Joseph B. Weller's grant at Hexham...... 120 acres located on an order of Gov. Darling dated 24 July 1829 in favour of Joseph Brooks Weller (deceased) who conveyed to George Weller and he to Edward Weller and he to John Brown. Brown transferred to Louisa Stephens and she to John Black and he to claimant (John Whitehill Stephens) - Government Gazette 25 November 1842