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Archiver > AUS-NSW-Hunter-Valley > 2000-03 > 0952004121


From: "Tim Jones" <>
Subject: RE: Names and places from an old diary/journal
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 00:35:21 +1100


Jeannine

Thanks for that. Ancestors on my father's mother's side were Eckfords from
Maitland area...I'd like to hear of any references to Eckfords Scrub. I am
also trying to trace my father's great grandfather (Thomas Jones - tailor
and Mayor of Morpeth 1880) who moved to East Maitland about 1856 so any
history of that time is of interest to me.

Regards, Tim
www.familytreemaker.com/user/j/o/n/Timothy-C-Jones

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeannine [mailto:]
Sent: Thursday, 2 March 2000 10:49
To:
Subject: Names and places from an old diary/journal


Greetings fellow listers,

In a journal/diary begun 1st January 1858 my great, great grandfather,
Edwin Horner Fearnside, makes mention of many places and people in the
Hunter area. He was a surveyor/draughtsman in the 99th Regiment (later
known as the Royal Engineers). The surveyors of this regiment worked on the
preparation of proposed routes for railway lines in the Hunter River Valley
and over the Blue Mountains to the western plains. Edwin was the head
draughtsman for most of this work.

They were to survey a route slightly north of the Hunter River along the
Williams River, from Maitland to Carrington and thence to Armidale. Their
initial orders were to survey the first stage from Maitland to Gloucester.

Starting at 1st January 1858 – the intense summer heat slowed down their
work, as did the difficulties they had keeping to the strict terms of their
contract with the Australian Agricultural Company (AA Co). In their first
week they moved camp from Geers to Kauthai Flat on the Barnard River and
then spent two days fighting a bush fire - until relief arrived in the form
of heavy rain the second evening.

Edwin and a co-worker also went to the aid of some travellers – by splicing
the broken pole of the phaeton in which they were travelling. He described
them as "two of Mr Elliott's squatters".

The surveyors' second camp was made at the site of an abandoned station at
Brittai which was "on the Church and School Estate".

Mention is made of the regular mail service by steamer between Sydney and
Morpeth and then by means of a postman on horseback or a passing traveller
- to a convenient collecting depot. In his journal Edwin tells of posting a
parcel of dirty washing to wife Eliza who, at that time, was back at the
Barracks in Parramatta. She washed and repaired the clothes and then sent
them back the same way.

Mention is made of interaction between the surveying party and the area's
farmers/settlers. The latter provided both supplies and social company to
the surveyors. A Mr Brimms of Tiggerah Flats often invited the men to a
meal and also gave them potatoes to supplement their rations. Mention is
made of meeting with Mr Green, Deputy Superintendent of AA Co, to report
their progress to him and to receive fresh instructions issued by the
Superintendent of the AA Co, (Mr Hodgson). They were told that they had to
finish the check levelling by the end of February 1858 and that no more
rations would be issued after that date.

After a month's separation, Eliza, my great great grandmother, travelled
from Sydney to Stroud with three young sons to be near Edwin. It appears
the family followed him wherever possible – staying at the surveyors' camp
or at an inn or boarding house in a nearby town. From 1/1/1858 to 10/2/1858
mention is made of Craven's Creek, Barrington River, Avon Creek, Grants 17
Mile Station, Gloucester, Mr Brimms and his 12 year old daughter, Durally
Flat, Mamme Johnson Creek and Tellegaharee. On 10/2/1858 mention is also
made of Capt J Williamson of Sydney being elected MLA for the County of
Argyle by a large majority and of a noisy celebration. Edwin was ill and
the noise of it troubled him!

Between 1/1/1858 and 18/3/1858, Edwin and Eliza received two lots of mail
from family and friends in England. Other names and places mentioned during
this period are Mr Snape, storekeeper of Stroud, Sugar Loaf Creek, Little
Branch, Mount Lilly Creek, Carrington at the mouth of the Karuah, Alderley
Village. Friendships were established with the Brimms' family, Mr and Mrs
Baker and Mr Masters and his son. A life long friendship was established
with Mr and Mrs Williams and their family. They owned the "Australia Inn"
where Eliza and children stayed at Stroud. In subsequent years, when Edwin
and Eliza were living in Sydney, frequent visits took place between the two
families and in 1875, after the death of Edwin and Eliza's remarriage, the
youngest Fearnside son (Joseph aged four) went to live with the Williams at
Stroud and was raised by them. Any of this family's descendants reading
this? If so, please contact me!

By 18th March 1858 the men had gone more than two weeks over their allotted
time and were advised they were to receive one shilling and sixpence per
day in lieu of rations. Their work in that area being finished, they were
ordered back to Maitland. Before leaving Edwin made a sketch of Mr
William's house and gave it to him as a gift (anyone out there still got
it???!! If so I would love a photocopy or photo of it – at my expense of
course).

On their way to Maitland they stayed at Raymond Terrace at "Mrs Holdstock's
Steam Packet Inn". They travelled from there to Morpeth by the steamer
"Williams". From Morpeth to West Maitland Edwin "rode his mare and Eliza
and family went by horse drawn omnibus". That night was spent at
"Birmingham House Inn" at West Maitland.

Corporal Lavelle, Sapper John Wood, Sapper Grierson and Sapper Edwin
Fearnside were ordered to take levels of the Hunter River and its banks.
Lavelle levelling the north bank, Wood the south bank, Grierson taking
soundings of the river from a boat and Edwin, the diary writer, was to
spend his time "reducing levels and drawing sections". This covered the
period of time in his diary from 6/4/1858 to 3/5/1858. During this period
Edwin's frisky mare was causing him trouble by straying and being
impounded. He decided to sell her. Mr Dodd, auctioneer at East Maitland,
sold her for five pounds, twelve shillings and sixpence. Edwin was
disappointed as he had hoped for twelve pounds to cut even.

On 21/4/1858 Eliza received a letter from Parramatta Barracks, from the
wife of Private Davies, telling of the death of Mrs Grierson. Sapper
Grierson travelled to Parramatta to arrange the funeral and to organise the
care of his children. He returned three days later to continue with the
field work.

Well folks, that's all I have time to type tonight. What's your verdict?
Would you like me to continue summarising the parts of Edwin's diary that
relate to the Hunter region? The remaining period in the Hunter area covers
3/5/1858 to 14/11/1858 and refers to Eckfords Scrub, West Maitland,
Morpeth, Hinton, Raymond Terrace, Fishery Creek, Dagworth, East Maitland,
Hexham, Newcastle and Honey Suckle Point.

I will wait for some feed back before I type up a second instalment.

Cheers and best wishes to you all.

Jeannine (in Camden, NSW)

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