Catherine Clarkson - GOULBURN

    Catherine, too, was busy letter writing. Addressed from No 8 Hunter Street, she once again petitioned for the grant of land promised her in Goulburn. Letters dated 22 July and 7 August were unanswered.(37)
    Catherine's letters re her land grant became caught up in what seemed like a myriad of applications from the Clarksons and others, regarding the Hunter Street ownership. Her letter was passed around from one department to another before finally being located and dealt with.(38)
    In December 1831. Governor Darling was replaced by Governor Bourke and it was to his Office that Catherine decided to apply one more time.(39)

To Richard Burke Esquire
Private Secretary
Govt. House

No 8 Hunter Street
Sign of the Woodman
30 January 1832

Sir,
I beg leave most respectfully to request that you will be pleased to lay this my application before His Excellency the Governor at your earliest convenience for an order for the measurement of 50 acres of land which was given me by the late Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane and which land was selected in the Co of Argyle, the late Surveyor general Mr Oxley promised me it should be measured there when the Surveyor was in the district.
I have made frequent applications both to the Colonial and Surveyor General's Office, letter after letter, but no answer could I ever get, but I do not consider myself worse than other and I now pray, as we have the honour of a change of Government here that you will be kindly pleased to move His Excellency, the Governor, for the said 50 acres of land to be measured to me, My son-in-law and daughter lives in Argyle, near Dr Gibson's, whom will manage the said farm for me and I am conscience that some portion of ample justice will now be done through you with His Excellency the Governor

The honour of an answer is solicited
I have the honour to be Sir
Your most obedient servant Image of this Letter

    And it was from Governor Bourke's Office that Catherine finally was informed that she had lost her bid for the 50 acres promised her in 1825.
    The reason for this denial was attributed to her non compliance with the regulation of 1826 which requested persons make their selections by a certain date. Since she had not done so, it was not in the Surveyor General's power to "relieve her from the effects of that omission." The notation was dated 27 July 1832.(40)
    Undeterred by this, Catherine was to be a participator in a sale of town allotments in Goulburn on 13 June 1834. Mrs Catherine Clarkson of Castlereagh Street Sydney, became the owner of Lot 15 containing 2 roods-- described as allotment No 7, Section 2. A letter from the Internal Revenue to the Colonial Secretary confirmed the purchase stating £3, had been paid on 3 June and the excess of £2/14/- on 12 July 1834. The Internal Revenue Office now urged the Colonial Secretary "to cause a deed of Grant in her favour … to be prepared and transmitted… as early as convenient".(41)
    A deed was executed on 1 August 1834 and despatched to the office on 23 October 1834. Catherine now owned 2 roods in Goulburn in the County of Argyle, being allotment 7 of Section 2, bounded on the West by Auburn Street.(42)         Image - Goulburn Land Purchase
    This property was left in Catherine's Will to her daughter Mary, who, at the time of Catherine's death was unmarried.(43) In February 1840, in Goulburn, Mary married William Harris.(44) On 1 and 3 January 1842, Mary and William Harris sold the 2 roods in Auburn Street, being allotment No 7 of Section 2, to John Hillas for £320 sterling.(45)
Image - Goulburn Liquor Licence and Map

Page last updated - 7 July 2006