ILLAWARRA IN THE 1830S AND 1840S

 

From the Sydney Gazettes of the late 1830s and early 1840s, there appears to be a period of land sales in Balgownie and Fairy Meadow. At this stage, research is indicating that William and Mary McNally had 50 acres of land each at Fairy Meadow or Fernhill. Unfortunately, some of this information comes from unexplained sources and/or from Mrs Hamilton-Grey with familiarly emotive deductions. Nevertheless there is enough legitimate evidence to suggest that there were adjoining grants belonging to William McNally and James and Mary(McNally) Martin which were acquired in 1830. There is a later suggestion that in app 1840, James Martin sold the grant of 50 acres which had been either his and Mary’s or Mary’s alone and vanished then without further record. It is at this time that Dr Cox appears in the story and Patrick McNally is listed as his tenant. Be that as it may, here are some aspects of the situation in the Illawarra in the 1830s and 1840s. Background again.

FROM MR ALICK OSBORNE SURGEON ROYAL NAVY Preston Chronicle (Preston, England), Saturday, October 5, 1833; Issue 1101.

ON 25 JUNE 1829, Sydney Gazettte and NSW Advertiser – Twenty pounds Reward was advertised WITH A TICKET OF LEAVE – to anyone who lodged the following in gaol or gave information leading to their arrests. The felons were two black natives BROGER and GEORGE MURPHY. They were suspected of being involved in the murder of  JOHN RIVETTS and were at large and committing various depredations in the ILLAWARRA DISTRICT. _____________________ Freeman’s Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser (Dublin, Ireland), Friday, July 19, 1839 On the 23 January 1839  a son was born to the lady of Captain Raitt 80 Regiment at the ILLAWARRA STOCKADE. ____________________________ THE MCNALLYS being Irish Catholic; ____________________ In the Illawarra: 1830, JOHN WYLLIE had a grant of 4000 acres bounded on the south by his own land on the north by a chain of hills and on the east by Mrs Jenkins. ________________________

IMPOUNDED, at Illawarra, on the 2d of December, 1829, one red and white Cow, white tail, snail horns, branded on the near hip IS. If not owned within fourteen days from this date, will be sold at the Pound, to defray expenses. By Order of the Resident Magistrate, JAMES PIERCE, Poundkeeper. Wollongong, Jan. 8, 1830. [12s. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2194289 The Sydney Gazette and… Thursday 14 January 1830,

RATIONS FOR TROOPS AND MOUNTED POLICE STATIONED AT WOLLONGONG OR AT ANY OTHER DISTRICT OF ILLAWARRA. NOVEMBER 1829 daily for each soldier 1lb of bread or biscuit or; 14 2-7 oz flour from which 20 per cent has been deducted in Bran and Pollard and; 1lb fresh or salt beef women one half and children one quarter of the above. daily for each horse