Catherine Rowley
Catherine was the eldest surviving child of
Catherine and Thomas
Clarkson. They baptised her in Kingsbury, England on 29 May 1798.(1)
Catherine accompanied her family to NSW in 1806 on board the
"Alexander" . (2)
With younger children in the family, she would have
assumed some
responsibility for the caring of her brother and sister and would
probably have helped in establishing their new home in Bell Row (Hunter
Street) and the bakery which was to provide them with a living for many
years to come: (in fact until the death of Catherine's mother in 1$39).
Catherine worked in the bakery serving customers and in 1813 (then aged
about 15) she overcharged a man on a loaf of bread. Her father Thomas,
was fined for overcharging.(3)
In 1814 Catherine Junior, purchased in her own
right, a portion of land
in Macquarie Street belonging to Andrew Kaine and which we believe was
later let to Edward Roche.(4)
Catherine was married in 1818 to Thomas Rowley, the
eldest son of the
late Thomas Rowley, Esquire and Elizabeth Selwyn, or Kingston, near
Newtown.(5)
Thomas had been born at Sydney Cove on 12 August
1794 and was baptised
at St Phillips on 5 September.(6) His father was a member of the NSW
corps and is believed to have arrived in the colony on 14 February 1792
on the "Pitt". On board the same vessel, in the convict quarters, was
Elizabeth Selwyn, convicted of theft and transported for seven years to
NSW by order of the court in Gloucester.(7) The couple were to form a
relationship which lasted until the death of Captain Rowley in 1806. On
his death his Will left all his estate in trust for his "five natural
children begotten on the body of Elizabeth Selwyn, namely Isabella
Rowley, Thomas Rowley, John Rowley, Mary Rowley and Eliza Rowley".
Elizabeth was to receive an allowance for the
duration of her natural
life so long as she remained single in habitat, but she was to forfeit
this benefit by living with Abbott Osborne, a convict who had been
assigned to her husband.(9)
In 1814 Thomas Rowley Junior was listed in the
muster as being free
born and a landholder.(10) In 1816 his activities were centered in the
Liverpool district where he was rearing cattle and horses. The Sydney
Gazette for 1816 reported Rowley was offering the services of his
stallion "Escape", for a fee and it also listed him among suppliers of
beef to the Government Stores: he and his brother John.(11)
The horses and the beef would have been part of his
father's estate, as
in 1817, the trustee's of the Will. Johnston and Harris, demanded the
return of cattle and horses sold by Thomas and John from the estate
without the Permission of the executors. They threatened "prosecution
with the utmost rigor the law" if the purchasers did not comply. (12)
On 26 June 1819 Thomas Rowley leased his stockyard
and run at Liverpool
to Thomas Flanagan for seven years at £16 per annum. The run and
stockyard had been held by the late Thomas Rowley and was leased on the
condition that his son, young Thomas, could reserve a run "for any
quantity of his own cattle he may think proper".(13)
When the executors of the Will were called to
England, Governor
Macquarie appointed Thomas Moore as trustee and guardian of the Rowley
children. His action in handling the estate was to cause much
controversy and the story of this incident can be read in other
accounts of the Rowley family. In spite of this, Thomas Moore remained
a good friend of Thomas Rowley Junior, even providing him with a
character reference at a later date. Thomas Moore is buried near young
Thomas at the Pioneer Cemetery at Liverpool.(14)
From the Burwood estate, Thomas Rowley received 213
acres near the
present day railway station(15) and he was in occupation of the
Bankstown land of his father's which included a 700 acre grant of 1804
and purchases from William Baxter and Ann Gilbert of 60 acres and 110
acres respectively and 30 acres of the 50 acre grant given to Michael
Murphy. This land was at Harris Creek and was near the Georges River.
Today the land is known as Hammondville.(16)
Catherine and Thomas Rowley lived in the Minto area
after their
marriage. Here three children were born to them; Thomas in 1818,
Isabella in 1820 and John in 1822.(17) During this time they were
residing in the house that Thomas Clarkson owned and built at Bunburry
Curran.(18)
Thomas Rowley Junior became a close friend of Thomas
Clarkson and it
was from this house at Bunburry Curran that they organised their
farming interests. Both are listed in detail, with their holdings in
the Land and Stock musters of the Liverpool district.(19)
1818-- Thomas Rowley had 150 acres (120 cleared), 600 head of cattle, a
flock of 300 sheep, 22 hogs and 3 horses.
80 acres were
under cultivation and he had a garden of 6 acres.
1819-- Holdings increased to 900 acres (this was the acreage at
Bankstown) and his cattle numbered 117.
1820-- 1060 acres and a marked increase in sheep, now numbering 2656.
1822-- He was occupying 1300 acres, 400 which were cleared and about
half the number of sheep of the previous year. His horned cattle
numbered 60 and he had 4 horses.
Both the years of 1821 and 1822 list him as being
resident in the
Liverpool area (bear in mind this area also covers Airds, Minto and
Bunburry Curran).
In 1823 Thomas Rowley signed a character reference
for a convict in his
employ since 1817. Michael Cook was applying for a Certificate of
Freedom and Thomas Rowley and Rev. Reddall attested his suitability to
receive one.(20) That same year Rowley had enjoyed the services of an
assigned convict who was employed in the capacity as painter. For this
he owed the Government £1/3/6. The previous year had also seen
him employ another convict for the sum of
£4/11/6.(21) Image of
Character Reference
Thomas Rowley received a grant of 60 acres of land
in the Airds
district near Bow Bowing Creek in 1823.(22) He had occupied this land
for some years previous to this date and during this time it became
part of the estate of Thomas Clarkson (It was to appear in mortgages of
Clarkson's from time to time).(23) When Clarkson's estate at Bunburry
Curran was sold to Cooper in 1822, it had still not been officially
granted to Rowley but was included in this sale as Rowley's grant.(24)
When the land was sold by Cooper in 1828 to Jemima Jenkins, Cooper
stated Rowley had conveyed the land to him, This grant was the only
grant of land young Thomas Rowley was ever to own.(25)
The Rowleys then moved to Harris Creek.(Holdsworthy)
It was interesting
to note that Michael and Sarah Cook became residents of Minto at the
time the Rowleys moved. From Holdsworthy, Thomas Rowley petitioned the
Governor, Sir Thomas Brisbane for a grant of land. This was dated 1824
and during that same year a daughter, Catherine Ann, was born to the
Rowleys at Liverpool.(26)
In petitioning for this grant, Thomas claimed
eligibility on the
grounds of him being a native born youth. (Some years later his brother
in law, Thomas Clarkson Jnr. was to bid for a grant on the same
grounds, but unsuccessfully). Rowley's letter read…
(27)
That
your Excellency's Memorialist is the son of Thomas Rowley
Esquire, late Captain of the NSW corps, and by
persersverance and
industry has accumulated one hundred and fifty head
of horned cattle, exclusive of horses. That Memorialist has never
received any grant of land from Government except from the late
Governor Macquarie which is very inadequate for the maintenance of the
stock of cattle he now holds and for which he is necessitated.....under
many disadvantages.
Memorialist therefore humbly hopes
your Excellency will be pleased to
grant him such portion of land for
his stock as to your Excellency wishes judgement may seem meet and your
Memorialist will as in duty ever pray.
Thos.
Rowley.
Image of Letter
Thomas Moore added his recommendation in the form of
a character
reference stating Thomas Rowley was a steady, sober and industrious
man. The outcome of this letter in unknown.
That same year Thomas Rowley, yeoman, of Harris
Creek, was to act on a
panel of Jurors at the Quarter Sessions of the Peace at Liverpool.(28)
Some months previously he had become caught up in the controversy
concerning the Will of Thomas Clarkson, for he was co-executor. He and
his mother in law were to "weather many a storm" together over the
right to title of Thomas Clarkson's one remaining piece of real estate,
the "Woodman" in Hunter Street.
In 1826 Catherine Rowley of Bankstown, witnessed a
sale of household
goods and farming implements from her brother in law, Michael Cook of
Minto, to her mother, Catherine Clarkson.(29) That November, Catherine
Rowley gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, whom she baptised with the
twins of Sarah and Michael Cook at St Phillips Church in Sydney.(30)
During this and the following years, Thomas Rowley
of Liverpool was to
experience some of the pressures in the financial field that Thomas
Clarkson had felt in former years. It would appear that from the names
listed in the court judgements at the Archives Office that he was
dealing with the same people that Thomas Clarkson had encountered.
In December 1826, Thomas Rowley of Bunburry Curran
was threatened with
having his goods and chattels auctioned to recover a debt owed to
Daniel Cooper.(31) Image of Writ
of Fieri Facias
The census of 1828 shows Thomas Rowley as being a
tenant at Holdsworthy
in possession of 900 acres of land. With him were; Ann Burns, a
servant, aged 45 years, James Kelly, a Government servant, aged 31
years, (he arrived in 1823 on the "Earl St Vincent", Edward Shakely,
aged 41 years, in the capacity of gardener and Henry White, ticket of
leave convict, aged 32 years, working as a nailor. (32)
During 1828 a notice appeared in the Sydney Gazette
from Catherine
Clarkson, cautioning people against trespassing on Payne's Hill. (This
was the land at Harris Creek now in the occupation of Thomas
Rowley)(33) Three years later Catherine was to give this land to her
daughter, Catherine Rowley, as a gift,` stating it had been given to
her late husband. Four days later Thomas Rowley declared himself
bankrupt! This land was given back to Thomas Rowley by Catherine
Clarkson just days before Catherine died in 1839. 34)
;
During the years 1831 to 1840, two boys and three
girls were born to
the Rowleys.(35)
In 1836 Thomas Rowley gave evidence at a murder
trial involving a
convict named James Ryan. At the trial it was stated that Rowley lived
two miles from the Stockades at Holdsworthy. He was referred to as
being an unquestionable witness so obviously his honesty and character
were held in high esteem.(36) On 8 December 1836 Thomas Rowley of
Holdsworthy, married man, applied to "depasture stock beyond the limits
of location" in the Monaro district.(37) The stock was to be in the
care of Patrick Buckley and the licence issued is reputed to be one of
the first of its kind. At the time his real and personal effects
included 900 acres, 400 head of cattle and 30 horses. In 1840 Thomas
Rowley played a part in the sale of the "Woodman" to James Holt by
Catherine Clarkson's children.(38)
In 1850, Thomas Rowley's estate went before the
Insolvency Court.(39)
Catherine Rowley died at Liverpool on 19 July 1858.
She was buried in the Pioneer Cemetery Liverpool by Daniel Tindale,
whose grandson Steven Burcher married Catherine's daughter, Elizabeth
in 1849.(40)
The Sydney Morning Herald and the Sydney Mail of 13
September 1862
announced the death of Thomas Rowley, who had died at Cabramatta on the
11 September 1862. He was buried on the 13th beside his wife, Catherine
Clarkson/Rowley. He was survived by 4 sons and 6 daughters. One son,
John had predeceased him.(41)
Image - Warrant of Attorney by Thomas Clarkson plus
Depositioin by Robert Campbell
Image - Catherine/Thomas Jnr Pedigree
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Page last updated - 7
July 2006