Laurence Butler- the life of a 1798 Irish Rebel: Laurence Butler- Ch. 13: Butler's Land Grant

In the Colonial Secretary’s Papers, Laurence Butler was on the:

“List of names of Free Settlers and other Free persons allowed to become Settlers who are to received Grants of Land in 1816”

- Laurence Butler; Residence: Sydney; Acres: 100; Recommended: D’Arcy Wentworth Esq.; Remarks: Married and Industrious.”[1]

Notably this was in the same year that Wentworth awarded Laurence the contract to furnish the new Courts of Law. Wentworth, an Irish surgeon, was related to a noble family and sponsored by distant relative, Lord FitzWilliam (appointed Viceroy to Ireland for a brief period in January 1795, he favoured parliamentary reform in favour of the reformists). D’Arcy had been accused of several acts of highway robbery and rather than be tried, accepted self-exile in the new Colony. He rapidly advanced in the Colony and held several positions of high responsibility, including Chief Surgeon and Superintendant of Police.[2]

The Land Grant in the District of Petersham (now the suburb of Lilyfield) was conditional that Butler was not to sell or alienate the land for the space of 5 years, and to cultivate 20 acres of it. The Government reserved the right to make a public road (later Balmain Rd). Such timber on the land as may be desired fit was also reserved for naval purposes. The land that the Butlers cultivated was bounded by present day Joseph, Grove and Brenan Streets. [3]

Laurence submitted a petition in February 1817, for Deeds to his 100 acre block of land.

He stated:

That your Excellency was pleased some time since to Grant an order for a farm, which has been accordingly allotted to Petitioner being adjacent to those occupied by George Johnston and John Piper, Esquires, who have been pleased to Sign the Annexed Certificate which is humbly submitted to Your Excellency’s inspection.

Petitioner is induced to Solicit Your Excellency that you will be pleased to Grant him an order for the Indulgence usual in such Cases as he has (conformed to Your Excellency’s Orders) proceeded to Cultivate the said farm on which he has Persons now employed erecting a Dwelling House thereon.

Dated 15 February 1817

The petition was endorsed by his neighbours, Captain John Piper and Major George Johnston:

We the undersigned do hereby Certify that Mr Laurence Butler who possesses a farm of land adjoining to those farms located by us has for some time back clearing and cultivating the same, and that he has Persons now employed erecting a Dwelling House on the said farm. Signed Geo Johnston, John Piper.[4]

Land Grant- District and Parish of Petersham NSW Dept of Lands, Parish and Historical Maps: Petersham, Barcode 140622, Sheet 2, PMap MN 04, Image 14062201. (Department of Lands; Panorama Avenue Bathurst 2795)

Capt John Piper[5], was a well-known local identity, and John Macarthur's second in an infamous duel with Major Paterson (who briefly held the post of Governor following the Rum Rebellion). Point Piper in Sydney is named after him. He was in charge of the penal colony on Norfolk Island for a number of years until its first closure, succeeding Foveaux, and was known as a ‘gentleman’, a man of honour, and a fair commandant.

Major George Johnston of Annandale, following the Rum Rebellion was ordered home to London where he was court-martialed in 1811 for his role in the rebellion.

Although cashiered, he returned to New South Wales in May 1813. He had previously gained fame for his courageous actions quelling the Irish uprising at Castle Hill in 1804. In 1793, George Johnston was granted the land that now comprises the suburb of Annandale, which he named personally after his birthplace in Scotland, when he received 100 acres. By 1801 he held 602 acres at Annandale and Bankstown, and gained many more acres before his death in 1823. Lt. Finucane visited Annandale and described it in his journal: Sunday 21^st August 1808:

“For the first time since my arrival I have passed the limits of the town. I drove early this morning to Major Johnston’s seat, called Annandale, about 3 miles off. The house is neat and the grounds and garden well cleared and tastefully laid out. I was struck with the variety of birds both wild and domestic, consisting of flocks of parrots of the most splendid plumage, black swans, the greenish geese of Bass’s Straights, etc.etc.” [6]

John Oxley, Surveyor General, also endorsed the petition:

This is to Certify that Mr L. Butler is in possession of the Ground allotted to him under the Directions of His Excellency the Governor, and that he has proceeded to Clear and Cultivate the prescribed Quantity and Persons are now actually employed in erecting a Dwelling House.

Signed J. Oxley Sur. General

Oxley had been part of the scene since 1801, doing coastal survey work until 1805. After returning to England in 1807, he returned in November 1808 on the ‘Speke’ as agent for the Transport Board (NB. Laurence’s wife, Ann Roberts was transported on this ship), and following the rebellion, was accused of being a partisan of Macarthur, which he denied. However, in 1812 he was engaged to marry Macarthur’s daughter Elizabeth, until the engagement was broken off by Macarthur on discovering the extent of his debts. He was appointed Surveyor General and died in 1828. [7]

Although the Deeds were not finally granted until 1819,[8] Laurence was clearing and cultivating the land by February 1817 and had “persons now employed erecting a dwelling house on the said farm.”

As Laurence appears to have been associated with this faction that were part of the Rum Corp, it may account for his receiving a grant of land in this area of Sydney, adjacent to Johnston and Piper. John Oxley, as Surveyor General, may have been influential in obtaining this grant for Laurence, as was D’Arcy Wentworth, who recommended the grant.

The list of land grants, granted in 1816, (the previous grants were in 1814, the following grants in 1818) consisted of a total of 346 grants.[9] Of these, twenty large grants of over 400 acres were granted to Government officials, officers and wealthy settlers (as directed by the Secretary of State in England); seventeen grants of 200 acres were granted to people such as wealthy emancipist sealing merchant Henry Kable, and twenty-three grants of 100 acres were granted to emancipists such as John Brenan (from Wexford), James Rouse (the first cultivator in the Colony), Watson (in Government service), and Laurence. The rest of the 286 grants were for parcels of less than 100 acres, mostly averaging 50 acres. Notably, of the 346 grants, Wentworth recommended only 12 of them. This would seem to indicate that Laurence was on very good terms with Wentworth at that stage, not surprisingly given Wentworth’s Irish background.

It should also be pointed out that all of the grants in this particular area of the Petersham District, which was only about 4-6 miles from the centre of Sydney, were initially made to military officers, civil officials, and later, a few successful emancipists, all of whom were associated with these officers or officials in some way. (see below) Notably Laurence was the only Catholic to receive a grant in this area.

Aerial view of Butler's grant, now the Callan Park Hospital Grounds

Map of the land grant today

The Deeds to the 100 acre grant:

The 100 acre grant, granted 31/8/1819 by L. Macquarie

Annual quit rent 2 s.; when quit rent commences 31/8/1824; bounded on the N side to Austin’s farm, on the S side by 20 chains of John Piper’s Farm, W to Long Cove and on the N side by that Cove; Conditioned Not to sell or alter the same for the space of 5 years from the date hereof and to cultivate 20 acres within the said ....... reserving to Government the Right of making a Public Road through the same and also reserving for the use of the Crown such timber as may be deemed fit forNaval purposes. [10]

(NB Austin’s farm was bounded by Wharf Street. Note Long Cove is now called Iron Cove)

Callan Park Hospital from Long/Iron Cove

The original maps of the land grants[11] give us a clear picture of the boundaries of his grant, just below Dr William Balmain’s 500 acre grant, now borders Wharf Road, extending down as far as Lilyfield Road/Brenan Street/City West Link, and taking up the southern half of the present Callan Park Hospital precinct.

The land that the Butler family cultivated was bounded by present day Joseph, Grove and Brenan Streets. By the 1850’s it had become known as the GarryOwen Orangery.

A description of Laurence’s neighbour’s grant in the NSW Government Gazettes 1833-1850, gives a description of the position of the farms:

“I July 1834: Grants of Land:

No 35 Mrs Luke Ralph (trustees of), 50 acres, parish of Petersham, at Long Cove, commencing at Long Cove, at the west corner of William Balmain’s 550 acres, and bounded on the east by a line south 35 degrees east 30 chains; on the south by Francis Lloyd’s farm, being a line 65 degrees east 19 chains to Lawrence Butler’s farm; on the west by that farm, being a line north 25 degrees west 39 chains long to Long Cove; and on the north by that cove to the west corner of Balmain’s farm aforesaid. Promised by Governor Darling on 11^th Aug 1831 and possession authorized 15 Oct 1831 as a marriage portion. Quit Rent 8 s 4d sterling pa. Commencing 1 January 1839.” [19]

NSW Lands Dept Petersham, PMap MN04 image 14072901 (After later subdivision showing boundaries. The roads displayed are: Wharf St on left, Brenan St/Lilyfield Road on bottom of block and Balmain Rd passing through the centre; Iron/Long Cove borders the top NW side of the block

Land grant is where ‘Hospital' is marked below and SW of Balmain. Suburb now Lilyfield, bordering Rozelle. Hospital is named Callan Park. (now University of Sydney Arts College grounds).

Curiously, the 100ac land grant was transferred to William Davis shortly after Laurence Butler's death. As William Davis was a nominated trustee for the children, maybe this was the reason so that he could hold it in trust until they were of age:

In 1834, Walter must have owed money, probably for his new pub, the Manchester Arms in George Street, and mortgaged his third of the land for £50, on proviso of redemption on payment of the money owed by September next, which he must have successfully done:

Laurence Butler’s sons, Walter and Lawrence Jnr, placed advertisements in the newspapers during 1834 and 1835 cautioning trespassers:

‘The Australian’, 17^th, 22^nd 25^th, 29^th July 1834,

CAUTION

ALL PERSONS are hereby cautioned against trespassing on the Land of the Undersigned, situate in the district of Petersham, adjoining the farm of C. Windeyer, Esq. and any person or persons found cutting wood burning shells, &c. on the said land without our written authority will be prosecuted as the law directs.

WALTER BUTLER

LAWRENCE BUTLER

And again the following year, Sydney May 14 & June 2, 1835:

CAUTION:

The public are hereby cautioned against trespassing upon the farm of the undersigned, in the district of Petersham, adjoining the property of Mr. Windeyer, J.P., on the north, and on the east by the waterside, by felling timber, or otherwise injuring it. Any person found so trespassing after this caution will be prosecuted as the law directs.

LAWRENCE BUTLER

The following Advertisement for land adjacent to the Butler property gives a glowing description of its locality:

Sydney Herald 22 December 1834 p4

In 1837 the Butler family sold the 100-acres to George Robert Nichols, solicitor of King Street east, for ₤300. This appears to have been a very low price for this land, given that in 1826, Wentworth bought 265 acres of John Piper’s land, adjacent to Laurence’s, for ₤1500, which translates to ₤500 per 100 acres.[12]

Nichols resold the block only two years later to John Ryan Brenan, Superintendent of Convicts, for ₤800 (although there is a suggestion that Garryowen House may have been built by Nichols between 1837 and 1839 which would account for some of the rise in value. [13] However, a profit of two and a half times the original price in the space of two years would indicate the property was sold undervalued. Whether the Butler children were desperate for money at that time is unknown, however, it is known that Lawrence Junior was under warrant for arrest in 1835 and 1836 for absconding from his employment contract with the “Sydney Gazette” as a compositor, and that in late 1838 he was in prison when he wrote to George Nichols asking for advice on his release date.[14] One would suggest that the timing of the sale and the legal problems faced by Lawrence Junior at that time, were related, and may even account for the undervalued sale. Shortly after his release, Lawrence moved to Melbourne, followed a year later by his brother Walter.

(The name Garry Owen is an Irish place name meaning garden, and would therefore indicate the name was given by Irishman John Ryan Brenan, not Nichols who was English.)

Notably Nichols was a close associate, professionally and personally, of both Walter and Lawrence Junior. In 1836, Nichols represented Lawrence Junior in Court when he was charged with breaking his contract with the Sydney Gazette [15], and in 1838 Lawrence Butler Junior wrote to Nichols asking for legal advice, as mentioned; in 1839/40 Nichols was a character witness at the trial of Walter Butler who was charged with horse stealing (for which he was found not guilty).[16] Nichols stated that he had ‘known Walter from his childhood as they had attended school together, and had always found him honest and trustworthy’, and that Walter had been living on his brother’s farm for a couple of years (Notably, Isaac Nichols Jnr and Walter received land grants from Governor Brisbane at the same time, so the grants may have been in the same area). George Nichols would also, later in 1850, supply a character reference for Lawrence Junior’s wife when she applied for a position with the Government Printing Department (the job being awarded to a woman recommended by Caroline Chisolm). [17]

George Robert Nichols

Nichols (1809-1857) was the Australian born son of ex-convict, Isaac Nichols, successful entrepreneur and Australia’s first Post-master. Isaac Nicols was married to Rosanna, the daughter of Major George Johnston’s convict mistress Esther Abrahams, whom Johnston eventually married in 1814 (Rosanna being born while Abrahams was in Newgate Prison, before transportation). George Nicols was sent to England in 1819-1823 for his education and was admitted as a solicitor in NSW in 1833. In the 1830’s, Nichols purchased and edited “The Australian” newspaper. Edward Hall (Lawrence Butler Junior’s one-time employer-Lawrence worked for Edward Hall on the “Sydney Monitor”) had sold his “Sydney Monitor” in 1838 and conducted “The Australian” until 1848. Nichols was also a political associate of W.C. Wentworth’s (son of D'Arcy). In 1843 he was elected in the first Legislative Council on NSW, along with Wentworth. Nichols was appointed Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons lodges of NSW, S.A. and V.D.L in 1839, and was replaced as Grand Master of NSW in 1849 by Captain Joseph Long Innes, a Sydney magistrate and former officer of the 39^th Regiment. [18] Captain Long Innes would also give support to Lawrence Junior in a job application. Nichols was considered a brilliant orator, and became the colony's first auditor-general before his death at the young age of 48 years in 1857.

Recommended reading: "Esther", by Jessica North (2019, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW, Australia)- the life of the convict mistress of Major George Johnston, whom he eventually married in 1814 after 26 years together and having borne Johnston eight children. In his absence on two occasions including his return to England to face a court-martial over his role in the Rum Rebellion, Esther managed his properties very capably for a total of 6 years. Both arrived in Sydney Cove on the first fleet. For a brief period after Maj. George Johnston arrested Gov. Bligh and became acting governor until his replacement arrived, this young convict woman who was Johnston's long-term mistress, became the first lady of the colony. This fascinating and well researched story gives the reader an excellent overview of life in the colony from their arrival in January 1788 until their marriage in 1814, including the many historical characters and events they were associated with.

The Callan Park Hospital Grounds (on Butler's grant)

A lecture given by Arthur McMartin on “Early Sydney- the suburb of Leichhardt”[20] gave the following information:

Another important public institution, which forms part of the history of Leichhardt is Callan Park Mental Hospital. On the grant to Lawrence Butler and on part of a nearby grant to Mrs Ralph, the government decided in 1878 to establish a branch of Gladesville Asylum, which had formerly been known as Tarban Creek. At the time of the resumption, part of the Butler grant in question had formed the Garrowen Estate on which the house known as “Garrowen”, had been built by Ryan Brennan in about the year 1835. The foundation stone of Callan Park Hospital was laid in February 1880. The grounds were about 106 acres in area and part of them consisted of lands that had been reclaimed from the waters of Long Cove. In 1890, the institution contained approximately 800 patients and was in charge of Dr. Herbert Blaxland, grandson of Gregory Blaxland.

Callan Park adjoins Iron Cove in the suburbs of Lilyfield and Rozelle. Laurence’s grant was bounded by Wharf Street, which bordered his neighbour John Austin’s land, Iron Cove then known as Long Cove, and included the Callan Park area. This Ryan Brenan was John Ryan Brenan, Principal Superintendant of Convicts in 1835.

John Ryan Brenan, an attorney, son of John Brenan and Maria Ryan, born c.1798 in Limerick, emigrated with his wife to NSW in 1834, and was appointed as Superintendant of Convicts, coroner and magistrate. He sold his property named Garry Owen in 1864 due to bankruptcy, and died at Petersham in 1868. [21]

The Callan Park Hospital precinct was the subject of protests in 2008, by a group called the “Friends of Callan Park” who were trying to prevent the government from selling the precinct to property developers. They and associated groups, gave the following information: [22]

History of the Callan Park Hospital estate

The Rozelle Hospital site forms part of the Leichhardt Municipality, a district formed by 15 land grants between 1789 and 1821. Before European settlement, the Wangel clan or group lived there, part of the Eora or Dharug tribes. They were nearly wiped out by a small pox epidemic between 1789 and 1790.

There were two small grants to Francis Lloyd who received 50 acres in 1819 (Portion 112, Parish of Petersham) and Luke Ralph who received 50 acres in 1821 (Portion 113). These adjoining grants stretched from Long or Iron Cove to Rozelle Bay.

To their west Lawrence Butler received 100 acres in 1819 (Portion 114).

These grants by the 1840’s were in common ownership and became Garry Owen estate, later known as Callan Park.

To the west of Butler’s grant was John Austin’s 100 acre grant which he received in 1819 (Portion 115). This estate was initially called ‘Spring Cove’, but by the 1840’s was known as Austenham. The two relevant houses on this estate were called Austenham (or Kalouan) and Broughton House.

The Garry Owen estate was separated from the Broughton House/Austenham estate by a line formed by the extension northward of Wharf Road.

Callan Park was originally owned by Crown Solicitor and Police Magistrate John Ryan Brenan. Brenan’s residence Gary Owen was built about 1839. In 1841 Brenan bought an additional 3 acres west of his estate and built Broughton House which he then sold in 1845.

In 1864 Brenan sold the estate to Sydney business man John Gordon who renamed the property Callan Park.

Callan Park Psychiatric Hospital was completed in 1885.

In 1992, one block leased to the University of Sydney for the College of the Arts.

History of the Garry Owen Estate

A combination of purchases by Crown Solicitor and Police Magistrate, John Ryan Brenan. In 1839 he bought what he then named the Gary Owen Estate.

His residence, Gary Owen House, built about then and possibly designed by Colonial Architect Mortimer Lewis, was on an elevation overlooking the Parramatta river, with a tree lined avenue from wrought iron gates on Balmain Road through spacious gardens.

Brenan’s bankruptcy in 1864 forced him to sell the estate to Sydney businessman John Gordon. The Colonial Government bought the whole 104.5.acres as a site for a new lunatic asylum.

The Rozelle Hospital site in Sydney's inner west is 61 hectares of exceptionally beautiful undulating waterfront parkland, preserved by historical accident.

The History of the Leichhardt area

Surgeon William Balmain sold his 500 acre land grant in 1801 for 5 shillings to John Gilchrist. Birchgrover was known as Whitfield's Farm, named after its owner, George Whitfield. In 1810 he sold his farm to John Birch, who renamed the same Birchgrove. Rozelle was farmland, named because of the number of resella birds seen in the area.

A description of the district was given in a lecture on Leichhardt given by A. McMartin at Burwood Evening College:

In 1878, the future suburb of Leichhardt consisted of a mere fringe of houses along the Parramatta Road. The rest of the district consisted of large fields with only a house here and there. It had a number of advantages also over the settled districts to the east. On the higher flats the soil was rich and loamy clay while in the hollows were many areas of deep alluvial deposits. In the beginning, much of the country had been covered chiefly with stringybark and blackbutt with some red gums intermixed of enormous size. Beneath these the ground was open and often well grassed. In the valleys the chief timber was box with a good sprinkling of wattle and ti tree scrub. The large timber was soon cut down for building purposes.

The entire district had nearly all been granted before the end of the 19^th Century and these grants included some of the earliest in the Colony’s history. The recipients, who were practically all military officers or civil officials, included John Piper and his sons 270 acres; John T. Prentice; John White; and Lt. William. Beckwith. Other and later grantees included James Francis Lloyd 50 acres; William Thomas 38 acres; Thomas Biggers 30 acres; James Darbyshire 30 acres; John Austin 100 acres; Lawrence Butler 100 acres; Mrs Luke Ralph’s 50 acres; and George Johnston’s 408 acres named Annandale. (Source of Lecture: Society of Australian Genealogy) NB. The lecture later gave the names of other grantees mentioned below. [23]

The other grantees of land near Laurence had varied backgrounds. The early grants were made to Military officers and civil officials. Apart from Major George Johnston’s 408 acres, and Captain John Piper and his son Hugh’s combined 435 acres, grants were given to Dr William Balmain Chief Surgeon 500 acres; Captain John White, 130 acres, chief naval surgeon on the 1^st Fleet and amateur naturalist; Lt William Beckwith; Lt John Thomas Prentice of the NSW Corps (arr 1794) 100 acres; Captain Thomas Rowley of the NSW Corp (arr 1793), 240 acres. Mary M. Moore, a free settler, very small acreage between Johnston’s grant and a creek.

The emancipists who were granted land in this area mostly appear to have been closely associated with these officers or officials in some way:

James Darbeyshire, 30 acres, trial in 1804, arrived in 1806 on the ‘Fortune’ from Leeds, Yorkshire, for a seven year sentence, “Superintendant of Working Cattle Sydney for the Government”.

Thomas Biggers, 50 acres, arrived 1793 on the ‘Boddington’ from Cavan Ireland, tried 1790, sentenced for life, probably for political crimes. Pardoned in 1794, he began farming at Petersham. He was overseer for Major George Johnston by 1799. He gave information in 1800 about the suspected Irish plot and by 1802 had received an absolute pardon. He became a supervisor for Commissary John Palmer for a while before returning to Johnston. In the 1806 floods he rescued 150 people and again in the 1809 floods. He was very much a supporter of the Johnston faction during the Bligh takeover.

John Austin, 100 acres, a jeweler, silversmith and engraver from Dublin who was very friendly with officers in the navy and military, in particular Lt. William Cox who supervised the convicts on the ‘Minerva’, for whom Austin engraved watches Cox had bought for resale on the voyage from Ireland for which they made a tidy profit. Cox settled in the Hawkesbury area and supported convict rights. Austin arrived on the ‘Minerva’ with Joseph Holt, after his trial in Dublin in 1798 for forgery and was pardoned in 1809. He was appointed Keeper of the Town Clock in Sydney. His land adjoined Laurence’s on the south side.

Francis Lloyd, 50 acres, accompanied John Oxley on his 2^nd exploration expeditions and pardoned.

Luke Ralph, 50 acres, a free settler who arrived in 1801 on the ‘Minorca’. Adjacent to Lawrence Butler’s grant and Francis Lloyd’s grant, Luke Ralph settled the land, named “Fairlight” as a marriage portion on his wife, Jane Morrison, which became effective in 1831. They sold the property in 1834 for ₤200 to H. Bell. It was resold to John Ryan Brenan in 1840, to make up part of the Garry Owen Estate. [24] (In 1828 Census, Ralph was employed as a labourer for Thomas Kennedy, and living in Kent Street. He may have fallen on hard times, to be labouring when he owned such a valuable property, although it did enable him to make an advantageous marriage shortly after.)

There were seven convicts by the name of William Thomas, all from England, arriving from 1790 to 1811, with terms ranging from 7 years to life. However, a William Thomas, arrived 1802, granted 38 acres, a member of the Governor’s bodyguard, seems the most likely candidate.

Laurence’s neighbour, John Piper, had led a colourful life and was a well loved and long serving member of the community. Having arrived in 1792 in the New South Wales Corp, he became a close family friend of John Macarthur. He quickly rose to the rank of Captain and served on Norfolk Island 1793-5. In 1801 he acted as Macarthur’s second in a duel with Colonel William Paterson, his commanding officer, during which Paterson was severely injured in the shoulder. At Piper’s court martial in 1802, he apologized and was acquitted. In 1804 he was again sent for duty on Norfolk Island and when the infamous Lt Gov. Joseph Foveaux left on sick leave in September, Piper became acting commandant. Joseph Holt, in his memoirs (‘A Rum Story’), declared the new Governor “had the good will and respect of everyone, for he always conducted himself as a Christian and gentleman”. He returned to Sydney in 1810, left for England and resigned his commission. In 1813 he was appointed Naval Officer in Sydney and returned in 1814. This position included the collection of customs duties, excise on spirits and harbour dues, etc and as he was given a percentage of all monies collected, his income grew to £4000 p.a. He bought many properties including Vaucluse, and was granted 190 acres on Eliza Point, now known as Point Piper where he built Henrietta Villa, the scene of many sumptuous entertainments. He was a close friend of Lachlan Macquarie who appointed him magistrate in 1819. In 1825 he was chairman of directors of the Bank of NSW. Due to his rather lavish lifestyle his debts grew. In 1827, Governor Darling ordered an inquiry into the affairs of the Bank, and Piper’s administration as Naval Officer. Piper was suspended in 1828 for his poor accounting records, and tried to drown himself, but was rescued. Most of his property had to be sold to clear his debts to the government and to his creditors, and as values were low owing to the general depression, his properties sold for a fraction of their true worth. He retired to his Bathurst property, where he lived the life of a farmer. In 1838 he was forced to mortgage this property due to the drought, and due to the continuing depression sold his property at Petersham for only a few hundred pounds. His friend William Wentworth established him on a property on the Macquarie River where he died in 1851. He was remembered as an honourable and generous man.[25]

Laurence’s other neighbour, George Johnston, was born at Annandale, Scotland in 1764. He arrived with the marine detachment in the First Fleet and was reputedly the first man ashore at Port Jackson in January 1788. He was granted several promotions and often held positions of responsibility. In 1793 he received his initial grant of 100 acres at Petersham from Lt. Gov. Grose, which he named Annandale Farm. (now the suburb of Annandale). By 1801 he had 602 acres at Annandale and Bankstown. In 1804, Johnston showed courage and presence of mind in suppressing the armed uprising of the Irish convicts at Castle Hill. On 26 January 1808 he made the fateful decision to assume the lieutenant- governorship and arrest Governor Bligh, in support of Macarthur, the officers of the NSW Corps, and a large proportion of the general populace. Accompanied by some of their supporters, Macarthur and Johnston returned to England, where Johnston pressed for an investigation, which he hoped would vindicate his conduct. However, he was court-martialed in June 1811 and suffered the mild penalty of being cashiered. He arrived back in the colony in 1813, and the new Governor, Lachlan Macquarie treated him as any other ordinary settler. He was frequently entertained by the Governor and received generous grants of land. By 1820 he was in failing health and deeply distressed at the loss of his eldest son George who was killed in a riding accident. He died in 1823 and was buried in the family vault at Annandale Farm. [26]

As one can see from the above list of grantees in this area, there is distinct evidence that land granted in this area was initially reserved for military and civil officials, and that later grantees were associated with those officials.

Link back to Introduction:
http://butlerfamilyhistoryaustralia.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/laurence-butler-intro.html

[1] SRNSW: Colonial Secretary [9/2652, p25]; List of persons to receive grants of land, 16 Jan 1816; Fiche 3266

[2] John Ritchie, The Wentworths, Father and Son, Melbourne University Press, 1997, p158; J.J. Auchmuty, Wentworth, D’Arcy (1762-1827), Australian Dictionary of Biography (online), V2, Melbourne University Press, 1967, pp.579-582

[3] Ken Leong, thesis written 1984 “Rozelle Hospital 1819-1984- the amalgamation of Callan Park Mental Hospital and Broughton Hall Psychiatric Clinic’- Bachelor of Architecture at the School of the Built Environment at UNSW

[3] A. M. Whitaker, Distracted Settlement New South Wales after Bligh , Melbourne University Press, 1990, p.56

[4] SRNSW: Colonial Secretary; [4/1739, pp147-9]; Petition for indulgences; 15 Feb 1817; Reel 6047

[5] Australian Dictionary of Biography, Melbourne University Press, vol 2, 1967: Piper, John (1773-1851) pp334-335; Johnston, Geo (1764-1823) pp20-22; [5] Generally acknowledged that the land neighbouring Laurence was granted to Captain John Piper in 1811, new research indicates that the land was granted in trust for Piper’s son John Piper b.1808. A letter from the Surveyor’s Office dated 31 May 1831 outlining the Return of Lands held by Capt. John Piper both by Grant and Purchase (Col. Sec SRNSW Reel 1173, 31 May 1831) has 17 Oct 1811, 165 acres, Grant Petersham (known as Peterston), to John Piper Junior, From Gov. Macquarie

[6] A. M. Whitaker, Distracted Settlement, op.cit, p57

[7] Australian Dictionary of Biography, Melbourne University Press, vol 2, 1967: E. W. Dunlop, Oxley, John Joseph William Molesworth (1785?-1828), pp305-307

[8] SRNSW: Colonial Secretary; Registers of Land Grants & Leases 1816-1822 Volume 3, 1819, page 13, Grant No. 99.

[9] SRNSW: Colonial Secretary: [9/2652, p25]; Land Grants 1816; Fiche 3266

[10] SRNSW: Colonial Secretary Land; Registers of Land Grants and Leases 1816-1822; Laurence Butler, Reel 2561, Vol 3, p13, (Reg 7, Fol No 50), Grant no 99, 100 acres, Petersham, Year 1819, Tenure Grant

[11] NSW Department of Lands, www.lands.nsw.gov.au , Parish and Historical Maps, Parish of Petersham

[12] John Ritchie, The Wentworths, Father & Son, Melbourne Uni Press, 1997, p213

[13] Ken Leong, “Rozelle Hospital 1819-1984- the amalgamation of Callan Park Hospital and Broughton Hall Psychiatric Clinic” Thesis written 1984 -Bachelor of Architecture at the School of the Built Environment at UNSW. Pp 6-10; (Source for sale prices given as RGD, OST Bk L No 596, and Bk O No 853- viz. Register General's Dept- Old System Deed); and, Friends of Callan Park online website.

[14] Mitchell Library NSW, ML Doc 815, Liverpool Oct 30 1838 Letter from L. Butler to G R Nichols

[15] Sydney Gazette, Sat 2 July 1836, p2.

[16] Sydney Gazette, Tues 4 Feb 1840 p2

[17] SRNSW: Colonial Secretary, Index to Convicts & Others 1845; [4/2688.6]; Letter 45/5986; Agnes Butler

[18] ADB, Vol 5, MUP, 1974, pp335-336, G. P. Walsh, Nichols, George Robert (1809-1857)

[19] NSW Government Gazettes 1833-1850; 1834; p463; Grants of Land; No 35, Mrs Luke Ralph

[20] Arthur McMartin, History of some of the Western Suburbs of Sydney- Early Sydney 1788-1898, Burwood Evening College, Lecture 18 ‘Leichhardt’ (accessed SAG- Soc of Aust. Genealogists- Kent St Sydney)

[21] ADB, Vol 1, Melbourne Uni Press 1966, p149, Brenan, John Ryan 1798-1868

[22] ref www.callanpark.com & www.heritage.nsw.gov.au & www.sydneyarchitecture.com

[23] A McMartin, History of Some of the Western Suburbs of Sydney-Early Sydney 1788-1898, Burwood Evening College, Lecture 18 , ‘Leichhardt’ ,(copy at Society of Australian Genealogists, Sydney);

Ken Leong, thesis written 1984, Rozelle Hospital 1819-1984- the amalgamation of Callan Park Mental Hospital and Broughton Hall Psychiatric Clinic,- Bachelor of Architecture at the School of the Built Environment at UNSW

[24] Ken Leong, “Rozelle Hospital 1819-1984- the amalgamation of Callan Park Hospital and Broughton Hall Psychiatric Clinic” Thesis 1984, op.cit, p7-8

[25] ADB, Vol 2, MUP, 1967, pp334-335, Marjorie Barnard, Piper, John (1773-1851)

[26] ADB, Vol 3, MUP,1967, pp20-22, A.T. Yarwood, Johnston, George (1764-1823)

Laurence Butler- the life of a 1798 Irish Rebel

Thursday, 9 August 2012

Laurence Butler- Ch. 13: Butler's Land Grant

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