AUS-NSW-Hunter-Valley-L Archives

From: "Daryl Lightfoot" <>
Subject: Re: JOHN JONES & MARY ANN SELBY
Date: Sun, 5 Mar 2000 07:48:50 -0800

Hi Noel, A little bit of background re Threlkeld might assist - Lancelot
Threlkeld was originally an LMS missionary - came to NSW after a family
tragedy, and afterwards opened up a mission to the aborigines in the Belmont
area of Lake Macquarie in May 1825.
He had a falling out with the mission administrators and eventually in 1831
moved to a grant he had earlier selected on the west side of Lake Macquarie
taking in parts of Toronto and the Coal Point peninsula - I live on the
boundary block of his original grant facing SW towards Fishing Point.
In July 1831, Threlkeld was advised of of an allowance, plus clothing and
rations for 4 convicts for his efforts in "the civilization of the
aboriginal inhabitants and acquiring a knowledge of the native language".
During 1834, Threlkeld was engaged in building a house and other buildings
in what is now the Toronto business area, and had thought to build a chimney
from a "fine black stone" he found some 2 miles away. This in fact turned
out to be "cannel coal" of excellent quality, and resulted in the area being
named Coal Point.
The coal was eventually mined, shipments beginning in 1841, and the
circumstances of the original grant and this discovery of coal had quite a
deal of significance for the development of the coal industry in the Hunter
Valley right up till recent times.
I assume John Jones was indentured to Threlkeld somewhere around these
enterprises, either as a replacement for an earlier convict, or in direct
consequence of his coal mining plans.
By end 1844 Threlkeld had a large coal business, owning 6 vessels in his own
right. He had by this time moved to Sydney and put a manager in charge of
the coal operations. Threlkeld sold up very cheaply at the end of 1844,
apparently because of the financial problems of one of his sons in in a
failed agricultural enterprise.
(As a kid, I used to play some distance underground in Threlkeld's old mine
shaft here - know the location well, but the shaft has been filled in long
since as a hazardous area.)
Hope this is of interest. Daryl Lightfoot on beautiful Lake Macquarie.
-----Original Message-----
From: Noel Wilkinson <>
To:
<>
Date: Friday, 3 March 2000 23:35
Subject: JOHN JONES & MARY ANN SELBY


>Hi
>
>I am seeking information on the above couple who were married in Sydney in
1847. JOHN JONES was a convict who arrived on the Surry (7) on 17 Aug 1834.
He was a brassfounder who was indentured to L. E. THRELKELD of Newcastle.
MARY ANN SELBY was born in Shadwell near London and arrived in Australia
circa 1843. The family later moved to the Armidale area. A friend is
seeking information and/or contacts and would appreciate any help listers
are able to give.
>
>Noel
>
>

This thread:

• Re: JOHN JONES & MARY ANN SELBY by "Daryl Lightfoot" <>