George Green
George Green > Annie Green > Annie Reily > Frank Murphy
George Green was my great-great-great-grandfather.
George was born on 23 May 1808 in Stafford, near Birmingham in England, the son of Henry and Mary Green [1,2]. He was baptised on 23 June 1808 at Saint Mary's Church, Stafford [1].
In 1827, George was a 19-year-old farm labourer when he was sentenced to transportation for life for house-breaking. He was tried and convicted at the Salop Assizes on 10 August 1827 and departed London on 24 March 1828 aboard the Bussorah Merchant, one of 170 male convicts [3].
According to the Convict Indents, George had two previous convictions, which probably accounts for his life sentence. He was 5ft 4.5in tall, with a fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. He also had several scars and tattoos.
George was born on 23 May 1808 in Stafford, near Birmingham in England, the son of Henry and Mary Green [1,2]. He was baptised on 23 June 1808 at Saint Mary's Church, Stafford [1].
In 1827, George was a 19-year-old farm labourer when he was sentenced to transportation for life for house-breaking. He was tried and convicted at the Salop Assizes on 10 August 1827 and departed London on 24 March 1828 aboard the Bussorah Merchant, one of 170 male convicts [3].
According to the Convict Indents, George had two previous convictions, which probably accounts for his life sentence. He was 5ft 4.5in tall, with a fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. He also had several scars and tattoos.
The Voyage to NSW
Before the ship's departure, one of the crew was found to have smallpox and was sent back to Chatham. Although the berths were scrubbed, fumigated and whitewashed, another crew member, two prisoners and a baby belonging to one of the guard also contracted the disease. The surgeon, Robert Dunn, attempted to vaccinate everyone on the ship but was not successful.
The Bussorah Merchant travelled directly to Port Jackson without touching land anywhere. This meant that those on board survived on a diet of salt provisions during their 120 days at sea. The absence of scurvy during the journey, so prevalent on other vessels, was attributed to the fact that the men behaved very well during the passage and kept themselves, as well as the prison and hospital, very clean. Because of their good behaviour, their irons were removed and, whenever the weather was fine, they were allowed on deck for the whole day. They were also permitted to bathe regularly [4].
The Bussorah Merchant travelled directly to Port Jackson without touching land anywhere. This meant that those on board survived on a diet of salt provisions during their 120 days at sea. The absence of scurvy during the journey, so prevalent on other vessels, was attributed to the fact that the men behaved very well during the passage and kept themselves, as well as the prison and hospital, very clean. Because of their good behaviour, their irons were removed and, whenever the weather was fine, they were allowed on deck for the whole day. They were also permitted to bathe regularly [4].
Arrival in Port Jackson
The Bussorah Merchant arrived in Port Jackson on 26 July 1828 [4].
Because of the outbreak of smallpox during the voyage, the vessel was placed in quarantine on arrival in Sydney and the prisoners and guard were quickly landed at Spring Cove. There were no formal buildings on North Head (later the site of the Manly Quarantine Station) at that time so the ship was anchored in Spring Cove where the men waited out their seven weeks in quarantine.
A ship named the Alligator was moored in Spring Cove as a hospital ship and all those in quarantine were vaccinated. All clothing, bedding and personal items suspected of carrying disease were burned and, after bathing in warm water, the convicts and guards were given new clothing and bedding.
Surgeon Superintendent of the ship, Robert Dunn, thought that this time in quarantine was excessive as it had been eleven weeks since any sign of the disease, however Governor Darling was taking no chances. The Governor's son, Edward, had just died from whooping cough after that had been introduced to the colony from the ship Morley only three months earlier [4,5].
Because of the outbreak of smallpox during the voyage, the vessel was placed in quarantine on arrival in Sydney and the prisoners and guard were quickly landed at Spring Cove. There were no formal buildings on North Head (later the site of the Manly Quarantine Station) at that time so the ship was anchored in Spring Cove where the men waited out their seven weeks in quarantine.
A ship named the Alligator was moored in Spring Cove as a hospital ship and all those in quarantine were vaccinated. All clothing, bedding and personal items suspected of carrying disease were burned and, after bathing in warm water, the convicts and guards were given new clothing and bedding.
Surgeon Superintendent of the ship, Robert Dunn, thought that this time in quarantine was excessive as it had been eleven weeks since any sign of the disease, however Governor Darling was taking no chances. The Governor's son, Edward, had just died from whooping cough after that had been introduced to the colony from the ship Morley only three months earlier [4,5].
Life in NSW: 1828 - 1837
A Muster was held on board the Bussorah Merchant by the Colonial Secretary Alexander McLeay on 15 September 1828 [4].
Convict Indents and the 1828 Census show George as being first assigned to work for Amelia Bingham at Kissing Point in Sydney, an area which covers what are now the suburbs of Gladesville, Putney and Ryde [6].
By the time of the 1837 Convict Muster, George had been assigned to work for William Shelley in the Goulburn area [6]. In 1834, William Shelley was granted land at Burrawa Plains (Boorowa) in the County of Argyle and in the late 1830s, he moved to Lansdowne House in Goulburn [reference required].
George was probably living at Lansdowne House when he met Ann Doran, a convict servant assigned to Mrs Hovell in Goulburn. In about 1837, the explorer William Hovell went to live on his property Grabberdrack near Goulburn and it was here that Ann was working when she met George.
The connection between the Shelley and Hovell households was a man named William Bradley. Bradley's was William Shelley's business partner and Bradley's wife, Emily, was the daughter of William Hovell [reference required]. It seems likely that Ann and George met sometime in 1837 or 1838 as their respective employers, Shelley and Hovell, socialised and worked together, along with William Bradley.
William Bradley was one of the largest landholders in the Goulburn area and also established a brewery near Goulburn in 1833, at a place called Bradley Grange on the banks of the Mulwaree Chain of Ponds. The brewery grew into Australia’s first inland industrial complex and today is Australia’s oldest surviving industrial complex. In addition to the brewery itself, the complex contains a stream-powered flour mill, tobacco curing kiln, stables and workers’ cottages [7].
Construction of Bradley Grange was underway in 1833 and it was completed sometime after 1836. It was designed by Francis Greenway for Jonas, Thomas and William Bradley and operated as a partnership in the names of William Bradley and William Shelley, millers and brewers [8].
Convict Indents and the 1828 Census show George as being first assigned to work for Amelia Bingham at Kissing Point in Sydney, an area which covers what are now the suburbs of Gladesville, Putney and Ryde [6].
By the time of the 1837 Convict Muster, George had been assigned to work for William Shelley in the Goulburn area [6]. In 1834, William Shelley was granted land at Burrawa Plains (Boorowa) in the County of Argyle and in the late 1830s, he moved to Lansdowne House in Goulburn [reference required].
George was probably living at Lansdowne House when he met Ann Doran, a convict servant assigned to Mrs Hovell in Goulburn. In about 1837, the explorer William Hovell went to live on his property Grabberdrack near Goulburn and it was here that Ann was working when she met George.
The connection between the Shelley and Hovell households was a man named William Bradley. Bradley's was William Shelley's business partner and Bradley's wife, Emily, was the daughter of William Hovell [reference required]. It seems likely that Ann and George met sometime in 1837 or 1838 as their respective employers, Shelley and Hovell, socialised and worked together, along with William Bradley.
William Bradley was one of the largest landholders in the Goulburn area and also established a brewery near Goulburn in 1833, at a place called Bradley Grange on the banks of the Mulwaree Chain of Ponds. The brewery grew into Australia’s first inland industrial complex and today is Australia’s oldest surviving industrial complex. In addition to the brewery itself, the complex contains a stream-powered flour mill, tobacco curing kiln, stables and workers’ cottages [7].
Construction of Bradley Grange was underway in 1833 and it was completed sometime after 1836. It was designed by Francis Greenway for Jonas, Thomas and William Bradley and operated as a partnership in the names of William Bradley and William Shelley, millers and brewers [8].
Marriage
George obtained his Ticket of Leave on 15 August 1837 [9,10] and on 17 October 1838 George and Ann applied for permission to marry. Permission was granted on 26 October [9,10] and they were married on 12 November 1838 according to the rites of the Church of England. Ann was 24 years of age and George was 30. Both were still convicts at the time of their marriage.
Note that George and Ann's marriage is recorded as having taken place at St Saviour's Church in Goulburn [11,12], however, the first church on that site was not built until 1840 [13].
Note that George and Ann's marriage is recorded as having taken place at St Saviour's Church in Goulburn [11,12], however, the first church on that site was not built until 1840 [13].
Children
George and Ann had the following children together:
1. Sarah, born 1839 (NSWBDM 1419/1839 V18391419 24A). Note: mother's name is given as Anne. Born Bombowlee, died 1911, Tumut (aged 72);
2. William Henry, born 1841 (NSWBDM 1517/1841 V18411517 26A). Note: mother's name is given as Anne.
Born Bombowlee, died 7 October 1893, Bombowlee (aged 52);
3. George Richard, born 9 May 1844 (NSWBDM 1986/1844 V18441986 30A).
Born Bombowlee, died 1885, Young (aged 40);
4. Thomas, born 19 September 1848 (NSWBDM 2068/1848 V18482068 34A).
Born Bombowlee, died 1 January 1929, Liverpool (aged 80);
5. Ann(a), born 7 May 1851 (NSWBDM 3762/1851 V18513762 39A).
Born Bombowlee, died 15 August 1904, Auburn (aged 53);
6. William, born 1854 (NSWBDM 3627/1854 V18543627 40).
Born Tumut. Query: two sons called William? Does seem correct, though.
1. Sarah, born 1839 (NSWBDM 1419/1839 V18391419 24A). Note: mother's name is given as Anne. Born Bombowlee, died 1911, Tumut (aged 72);
2. William Henry, born 1841 (NSWBDM 1517/1841 V18411517 26A). Note: mother's name is given as Anne.
Born Bombowlee, died 7 October 1893, Bombowlee (aged 52);
3. George Richard, born 9 May 1844 (NSWBDM 1986/1844 V18441986 30A).
Born Bombowlee, died 1885, Young (aged 40);
4. Thomas, born 19 September 1848 (NSWBDM 2068/1848 V18482068 34A).
Born Bombowlee, died 1 January 1929, Liverpool (aged 80);
5. Ann(a), born 7 May 1851 (NSWBDM 3762/1851 V18513762 39A).
Born Bombowlee, died 15 August 1904, Auburn (aged 53);
6. William, born 1854 (NSWBDM 3627/1854 V18543627 40).
Born Tumut. Query: two sons called William? Does seem correct, though.
Life in NSW: 1838 - 1866
William Shelley, to whom George was assigned, was - with his brother - among the pioneers of the Tumut district. In 1829, they took their herds beyond the Nineteen Counties and it seems that William owned a property called Bumbowly around the Tumut area from as early as 1832 [14]. An 1895 newspaper article states that William Shelley's son, George, was the "first white man born in Tumut" and that "Shelley and Green on Bamborabee were the first farmers" in the area. The district of Bombolee, located across the river from the town of Tumut, took its name from Shelley's property.
George and Ann probably moved to Bumbowly sometime in 1839, after their marriage in November 1838 as their first child was born there in 1839. George was still assigned to William Shelley (until 1845) so it's likely he moved there to work for Shelley. The area is rich farming country and today produces livestock, tobacco, fodder, fruit and vegetables.
All of Ann and George's children except the youngest are recorded as having been born at Bombowlee [15] and there is a record of a George Green's farm at Bombolee being for sale in 1866 in the area. This suggests that George Green went to Bumbowly to work for William Shelley and, when granted his Conditional Pardon on 1 February 1845, bought land in the area and farmed for himself [16].
We know that on 1 November 1851 George purchased land in the Tumut area. This was after his and Anne's fifth child was born at Bombowlee. In 1854, their sixth child was born and he was registered as having been born in Tumut. George went on to purchase more land in the area on 14 August 1855.
The description below of Bombolee was published in 1870, four years after George's death. It provides a good idea of what the area was like in the years before and after George died.
George and Ann probably moved to Bumbowly sometime in 1839, after their marriage in November 1838 as their first child was born there in 1839. George was still assigned to William Shelley (until 1845) so it's likely he moved there to work for Shelley. The area is rich farming country and today produces livestock, tobacco, fodder, fruit and vegetables.
All of Ann and George's children except the youngest are recorded as having been born at Bombowlee [15] and there is a record of a George Green's farm at Bombolee being for sale in 1866 in the area. This suggests that George Green went to Bumbowly to work for William Shelley and, when granted his Conditional Pardon on 1 February 1845, bought land in the area and farmed for himself [16].
We know that on 1 November 1851 George purchased land in the Tumut area. This was after his and Anne's fifth child was born at Bombowlee. In 1854, their sixth child was born and he was registered as having been born in Tumut. George went on to purchase more land in the area on 14 August 1855.
The description below of Bombolee was published in 1870, four years after George's death. It provides a good idea of what the area was like in the years before and after George died.
Sale of George's Property Bombolee
George and Ann's farm Bombolee was listed for sale on 8 February 1866 [17]. The farm and effects were sold by auction on Monday 2 April 1866 [18].
Death
George died on 17 June 1866, only two months after the sale of his property Bombolee. He was 57 years old.
George died in the Tumut area, probably in the town of Tumut itself [19]. He is buried in Tumut Pioneer Cemetery. His wife and all his children were still living at the time of his death.
The sale of his farm just before his death at a relatively young age suggests that George was ill and knew that he was going to die.
The inscription on George's headstone reads:
Sacred to the memory of
George Green
Native of Birmingham
England
Who departed this life
June 17 1866
Aged 57 years
Remember man as you pass by
As you are now so once was I
As I am now so will you be
Remember man eternity
Probate was granted on 21 January 1867 (Item 37):
https://records-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/
George died in the Tumut area, probably in the town of Tumut itself [19]. He is buried in Tumut Pioneer Cemetery. His wife and all his children were still living at the time of his death.
The sale of his farm just before his death at a relatively young age suggests that George was ill and knew that he was going to die.
The inscription on George's headstone reads:
Sacred to the memory of
George Green
Native of Birmingham
England
Who departed this life
June 17 1866
Aged 57 years
Remember man as you pass by
As you are now so once was I
As I am now so will you be
Remember man eternity
Probate was granted on 21 January 1867 (Item 37):
https://records-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/
References
[1] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NGC2-KF9
[2] NSW Death Certificate (no copy on file);
[3] Convict Indents (copy on file); Ian Harvey's research (actual DOB and town):
http://www.monaropioneers.com/TNG/
[4] https://www.freesettlerorfelon.com/convict_ship_bussorah_merchant_1828.htm
[5] Q Station Facebook page, 26/7/19;
[6] Convict Indents (copy on file); https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/green/george/109558
[7] https://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/5792991/a-long-history-of-towns-innovation/
[8] https://www.goldtrails.com.au/article/bradley-grange-and-old-goulburn-brewery/
[9] List of Persons Applying for the Publication of Banns, 1838; (copy on file);
[10] Ticket of Leave 37/1201(?), 15 August 1837 (copy on file). This one returned "mutilated and not available(?)" and replaced by TOL 39/1986, 30 October 1839 (copy on file);
[11] Ian Harvey's research (actual date of marriage):
http://www.monaropioneers.com/TNG/
[12] NSW BDM 1972/1838 V18381972 22;
[13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Saviour%27s_Cathedral,_Goulburn
[14] http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/shelley-william-james-2653
http://blowering.com/tumutpla.html
http://www.tumuthistory.com/files/French_one_column.pdf
[15] Ian Harvey's research: http://www.monaropioneers.com/TNG/
[16] Conditional Pardon: 45/103, 1 February 1845 (copy on file);
[17] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144774079
[18] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144777851
[19] Ian Harvey's research: http://www.monaropioneers.com/TNG/
[2] NSW Death Certificate (no copy on file);
[3] Convict Indents (copy on file); Ian Harvey's research (actual DOB and town):
http://www.monaropioneers.com/TNG/
[4] https://www.freesettlerorfelon.com/convict_ship_bussorah_merchant_1828.htm
[5] Q Station Facebook page, 26/7/19;
[6] Convict Indents (copy on file); https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/green/george/109558
[7] https://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/5792991/a-long-history-of-towns-innovation/
[8] https://www.goldtrails.com.au/article/bradley-grange-and-old-goulburn-brewery/
[9] List of Persons Applying for the Publication of Banns, 1838; (copy on file);
[10] Ticket of Leave 37/1201(?), 15 August 1837 (copy on file). This one returned "mutilated and not available(?)" and replaced by TOL 39/1986, 30 October 1839 (copy on file);
[11] Ian Harvey's research (actual date of marriage):
http://www.monaropioneers.com/TNG/
[12] NSW BDM 1972/1838 V18381972 22;
[13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Saviour%27s_Cathedral,_Goulburn
[14] http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/shelley-william-james-2653
http://blowering.com/tumutpla.html
http://www.tumuthistory.com/files/French_one_column.pdf
[15] Ian Harvey's research: http://www.monaropioneers.com/TNG/
[16] Conditional Pardon: 45/103, 1 February 1845 (copy on file);
[17] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144774079
[18] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144777851
[19] Ian Harvey's research: http://www.monaropioneers.com/TNG/
Notes
TOL: 39/1986, 30 October 1839 (copy on file) in lieu of 37/1201(?) which was damaged. I think the writing across this one states "Ticket of leave torn up. George Green to ... (illegible) ... Conditional Pardon 103 1 February 1845"; "Allowed to remain in the District of Yass";