AUS-VIC-WESTERN-DISTRICT-L Archives

From: "M R BIRRELL" <>
Subject: [AUS-VIC-West] HENTY family
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 10:29:40 +1000

Henty Story.

Thomas Henty, banker, farmer, horse breeder and a leading merino sheep
breeder of Sussex U.K., decided to settle in New Holland, where he already
had friends and where he was already known as a sheep breeder. Whilst
planning their move to N.S.W., he heard in 1829 of the newly established
settlement at Swan River, now Western Australia, and finally decided that
would be their destin ation, where he estimated that with the capital he had
available, he would be entitled to a grant of some 84,000 acres. He
therefore arranged for his eldest son James, then aged 29, accompanied by
Stephen and John to precede the remainder of the family in a chartered ship
'Caroline' whilst he and the others would follow later, with the exception
of William who would remain in England. The advance party left in June 1829
and while Thomas Henty was planning his own departure, he heard from James
in mid 1831 that he was most disappointed with conditions at Swan River and
intended to move to Van Diemen's Land, now Tasmania. Thomas Henty therefore
decided to alter his destination and join his sons in Van Diemen's Land.
Accompanied by his wife and sons Charles Shum,Edward and Francis and the
only daughter Jane, they left in the barque
'Forth of Alloway' from Gravesend on 3.11.1831 and landed at Launceston ,
V.D.L. on 4th April 1832. Having arrived too late to be eligible for a free
grant and having been unable to prevail on the government to make him a
smaller grant in V.D.L. in exchange for the Swan River grant, Thomas Henty
rented a 2,000 acre farm named 'Cormiston' on the Tamar River near
Launceston. (Cormiston - links with Manifold) He had taken with them a
variety of livestock, including ewes and rams from his pure Merino flock,
and at 'Cormiston' Edward and Francis were abler to further their
farming experience under the tutelage of their father.
Thomas Henty became a director of the old Cornwall Bank of
Launceston in 1835 and was much sought as a judge at horse
and sheep shows. (Michael Connolly of W.D. also in Cornwall Bank)
He identified himself closely in trying to improve the standard of horse and
sheep blood-stock and continued in his efforts to persuade the Government to
recognise their claims to Crown Lands. He died without having known of the
partially successful outcome of his own and his sons persistence, in this
connection particularly at Portland Bay where they were granted 155 acresand
given a small allowance to cover improvements which was small compensation
for the many thousands of pounds spent by the family in developing the
country.
Some family name links in the Western District in next email.....
Sincerely Thelma (Bostock) Birrell in Queensland.

BOSTOCK- www.ozemail.com.au/~mrbirrell/
BIRRELL- www.electricscotland.com/webclans/atoc/birrell.html
MONTGOMERY- www.escalix.com/freepage/mrbirrell/
STOKES-WILSON - www.freehomepages.com/mrbirrell
IRISH-SCOTS links - http://matthewbirrell.50megs.com/index.html

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• [AUS-VIC-West] HENTY family by "M R BIRRELL" <>