George William Barnard

Grant 21-115-4484 dated the 11th of January 1847. George Barnard had many grants in Launceston but it appears this grant in New Norfolk was forgotten about when he died in 1864! This will be very interesting.

GEORGE WILLIAM BARNARD was christened on 13th March 1791 at Lambeth, Surrey, England. In his younger days he served as a midshipman in the Royal Navy, and later he became a Captain in the Mercantile Marine. He saw service in the Navy during the French wars. In mid 1814, he appears to have left the Navy and began to study agriculture.

The Archives Authority of New South Wales has transcribed the following letter written by G.W. Barnard to the Colonial Office: (taken from the microfilm copies of the Public Record Office material - C.O. 201/83, p. 251 and 282 P.R.O. Reel 39)

Kings Arms Stairs, Lambeth Dec. 16th. 1816

“Being desirous of settling in the colony at New South Wales, I have presumed to address you, to request the sanction of His Majesty’s Government. My intention is to settle as an agriculturist, to which end and I beg leave to solicit a grant of land. I shall carry with me a capital of 1,000 pounds with further assistance from my friends in England, (should I need it) and from connections which I have in the Colony. The accompanying documents which I take the liberty to lay before you, will show that I have served seven years in the capacity of Midshipman in His Majesty’s Naval Service which credit to myself and satisfaction to my Commander; and am qualified for a Lieutenant, tho I have not the honour to bear that rank: they will I hope, prove that I am not unworthy of your patronage.

The ship Canada - Greig, Master, about to proceed to New South Wales with convicts, will, as I am informed, have spare room. I am known to the Master - may I be allowed to solicit the indulgence of Government to proceed in her, if not otherwise, yet with provisioning myself, an indulgence which I would do my best to requite in my capacity on board of her, for which my knowledge as a Naval Officer or Seaman might qualify me.

As for my service at sea, I may be supposed to have no knowledge of agriculture. I deem it necessary to inform you that in two years and a half residence on shore, I have made it my business to gain knowledge of the subject and I feel myself competent to the undertaking.”

I remain Sir, with the utmost respect Your most obedient humble servant. George William Barnard

Approval was granted for him to proceed to the Colony but he would be required to pay his own way. (Ref: Transport Office 21st December 1816) Governor Macquarie had been notified by the Under Secretary that George Barnard had been granted permission to proceed to New South Wales as a settlor and that he was to receive a grant of land proportioned to his ‘means’ of cultivation.

George replied to Macquarie on 23rd December, 1817, that he was prepared to lay out 1000 to 1500 pounds on the promised grant of land and that he wished to settle in Van Diemen’s Land. (A.C. ref. 4/1729 p.93)

A letter from ….Baker…..,

‘ In return to your letters of the 18th and 19th instant, requiring passages to New South Wales for Mr George William Barnard and for William Johnston and his wife and Michael Henderson and his sister, I am … that the ‘Canada’, the only convict ship now in the river, is expected to sail from Deptford this day and in case these persons should not embark in her before she quits the river, they may join her at Cork.’

George eventually arrived at Sydney Town aboard the ‘Duke of Wellington’. The Sydney Gazette of November 15th 1817 reports:

“Arrived on Sunday last (10th Nov.1817) from England, the ship Duke of Wellington, Captain Howard, with a valuable investment. She left the Downs the 13th of April. In the course of her voyage of nearly eight months she called at Madeira, Rio, the Cape and lastly at Hobart Town, which she left on the 1st instant. Passengers, the Rev. Mr O’Flynn, Mr Wm. White, Mr Barnard, Mr Florance and Mr Muckle” (CSO 1/45/845)

According to J.S. Cumpston, in ‘Shipping Arrivals and Departures’, Sydney 1788-1825 (1964), the Duke of Wellington was a vessel of 366 tons, carried 2 guns, 21/20 men was built at Limehouse and registered in London. Her cargo included such items as oil of turpentine, nails, salt, soap, pickles, hats, stays, gloves, butter, ironmongery, blankets, medicine, toys, boots, window lead, window glass, stout, anchors, snuff, tobacco & pictures. (A.O. ref. X699 p.159)

From Sydney Town he proceeded on to the Derwent River in Van Diemen’s Land in late 1817, accompanied by a convict servant named Phillip Riley. (CON 13/2 p. 165).

He bought a Colonial built schooner “Sinbad” in which he traded between New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land in 1818/19.

In September of 1818 he decided to settle in the north of the island. On 20th November, 1818, Lieutenant-Governor Sorrel recommended to Col. Cimitiere, Commandant of Launceston, that George Barnard be allotted a parcel of land and George received an allotment of 1000 acres of land near Mountgarretts Lagoon on the right bank of the Tamar River on which he built a store and residence, received rations for himself and six Government servants for twelve months and the use of six cows on two years credit, the purchase price to be paid on expiry in wheat or cash currency. (Historical Records of Australia, series 3 vol 2 p. 495). It seems from a letter George wrote to Captain Robinson in May 1824, that this grant was identical with Landfall Farm where he was living as it had a frontage to the Tamar River and extended upwards inland along a substantial creek and adjacent to the grant of land held by his brother Charles. Today this creek is named Barnard Creek.

In June 1818 he had applied to Governor Macquarie to build a sawmill at Macquarie Harbour in partnership with Thomas Florance of New South Wales, but was refused: the Government wishing to have further information in relation to the harbours on that coast and the extent of the pine forests.

His grant on the Tamar was then referred to as Barnard's Point. Besides his grazing interests, he took up agricultural farming. In 1820 he owned livestock and contracted for meat with the Government. In 1823 he had wheat contracts with the Government and had a large area under crop.

Apparently he became dissatisfied, like his brother Charles, over the delays in receiving the necessary labour for the proper development of his property and he called on the Government for employment in survey work in 1826. Governor Arthur was anxious for the carrying out of land and coastal surveys and engaged his services for the survey of King Island in Bass Strait. He owned the boat ‘Prince Leopold’ which plied between Tasmania and Sydney.

On 4th November, 1826 he left from Hobart Town. He surveyed the coast and King Island from December 1826 to February 1827. On 28th February, 1827 his extensive report of it's soils, fauna, flora, climate and coastal outlines, (see report on hand in files) was presented to Parliament. His work was much appreciated and is quoted largely. (CSO 1/13/243) During his residence on the island, a disturbance was made by one of his chain men, a man named Johnson, in connection with the spirits ration, and Barnard was nearly strangled by this man. Johnson was tried for the offence and served five years at Macquarie Island Settlement.

The ‘Prince Leopold’ was one of two ships involved in the discovery of Strahan and the Gordon River while transporting convicts in the area and surveying for huon pine for the Government.

George Barnard wrote a covering letter to John Batman's petition to the Governor for allowance for John Batman to marry one of his assigned servants, Eliza Thompson, alias Elizabeth Callaghan. The petition received the Governor's approval. That letter is headed ‘Derwent Hotel”, Elizabeth Street, Hobart, showing that George was visiting the south of the island at the time. Note: John Batman was the settler from the slopes of Ben Lomond who first achieved fame by capturing bushranger Matthew Brady, then crossed Bass Strait in the sloop Rebecca and at Port Phillip uttered the immortal words ‘This will be the site for a village’. The ‘village’ became Melbourne, and on his return to Launceston, he proclaimed himself the largest landowner in the world, having bought a vast area of Victoria from the aborigines for a handfull of beads and baubles! The John Batman Festival is held in Northern Tasmania yearly and honours the accomplishments of many other illustrious early settlers as well as John Batman. Unfortunately the date of the letter written by George Barnard is not known.

George William Barnard applied for further occupation as Surveyor under the Colonial Government, but the British Government had appointed Mr S Sharland to the Survey Dept. in the early twenties and he, with Thomas Scott, did the necessary field work until the early thirties.

There are photos of a letter (and the Government’s notes on same) written by George in regard to the building of a bridge, and kindly given to the family by the Hobart Archives. Transcribed, the letter reads:

Hobart, May ... 1827 Sir, “In receiving the papers containing the proposal to subscribe a fund for the erection of a bridge across the north Esk river at Launceston, and the formation of a road therefrom through the swamp land whereon the bridge would abut, made by the inhabitants of the District Tamar East, April 1st 1826. I have to observe that it met with an absent (merely verbal communication) too late to carry the subscription into effect in the manner proposed, viz. By payment of certain quantities of wheat into His Majesty’s stores at the then price, which was eight shillings per bushel. The road was begun and carried on both by Government and the inhabitants after the manner of the plan adopted, until the wet set in and put a stop to the ditching: since when the work has never been resumed.

I beg leave to make known as the organ of the committee then appointed, and of the inhabitants of the District Tamar East generally, that the work be executed is one of their most earnest wishes: that in the present state, communication with the town is almost cut off in the winter, the only mode being down the muddy bank of the river by a dangerous slippery ladder without even a handrail, from which the landing is in mud frequently knee deep.

It is therefore earnestly to be hoped that the plan may meet the direct attention of Government and that either Government will take upon itself the erection of the bridge to be paid for from the sale of the swamp land adjoining, being part of the District; or otherwise, that the inhabitants be fully authorised to carry the work into effect by subscription and to have a right to toll upon the bridge until the capital expended in the creation be repaid and a certain percentage thereon.

I have to request that you will be pleased to submit this statement to His Excellency the L.Governor with an assurance that so soon as the inhabitants (if they are to do it) receive the necessary authority from Government, to subscribe for, erect the work, and to be reimbursed, that a subscription will be entered into forthwith.”

I have the honour to be Sir Your very obedient Servant (signed) G.W. Barnard

George returned to England at the end of 1827, probably leasing his Van Diemen’s Land property or employing an overseer to develop it for him. He returned to Lambeth in Surrey, England.

On 13th May, 1829 at Saint John the Evangelist Church, Lambeth, he married ANNE GREENSILL (IGI Record)

A descendant, Solicitor R.M. Green of Launceston, Tasmania, says that the family lived at 32 Montpellier Cres., Brighton, England.

On 27th May, 1845, he arrived at Port Dalyrimple near Launceston on the 369 ton barque he had chartered from London. The Launceston Examiner states:

“The bark, Kinnear, Captain Veale, arrived from London on Monday, having left the Downs on the 1st of February. She put in nowhere and spoke no vessels connected with the Colonies. She brings a full cargo of general merchandise, a considerable portion being the property of G.W.Barnard Esq., the charterer of the vessel, who intends establishing himself as a merchant at Launceston, in connection with the house of Mr Brookes of London. Mr Barnard and family, with the exception of a younger son of the late W.E. Lawrence Esq., who is also a passenger, occupied the whole of the cabin. Mr Barnard was a resident in Launceston some eighteen years ago and will be known to many of our readers. He is proprietor of the land at ‘Barnard’s Point’ from which the locality derives its name.” The Kinnear brought G.W.Barnard Esq. Lady, nine children and 3 female servants, Miss Barlow, Mr Ganning, surgeon, Master John Lawrence, Richard Holmes and his wife and John Holmes.

The family settled at Landfall where a large 3 level house was built on the banks of the Barnard Creek to accommodate both the family and the flour mill which formed part of the house adjacent to the creek. A large rock and soil dam was built over the creek to channel stored water to the water wheel driving the grinding mill, however a huge flood broke the dam wall and unexpectedly flooded part of the house. As it became apparent that this phenomenon would occur again in the future, the mill workings were dismantled, sold, and later re-erected in Launceston.

Undaunted by the mill failure, George carried on farming and developed the property with the help of his sons, George and Thomas. In the meantime in 1842 he had purchased his brother Charles' 1,050 acres.

George became involved with local affairs and was for many years an active Trustee of the Church Grammar School.

He died at ‘Landfall' on 2nd September, 1864 aged 73 years from disease of the liver and a stroke which paralysed his right side. Anne survived him till 19th November, 1879 when she died at the age of 70 years. They are buried in the picturesque cemetry at St Matthias Church, Windemere, overlooking the Tamar River which he loved so much during his lifetime. His substantial Will and last Testament was prepared by a Legal Representative under George’s direction, signed for and on behalf of George by the Reverend Henry Pim Kane of Rostella, and witnessed by Solicitor William Archibald Grey.
"This is the last Will and Testament of me George William Barnard of Landfall

21st August, 1864

This is the last Will and Testament of George William Barnard of Landfall, Tasmania, Esquire. I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Anne Barnard, all my household furniture, plates, linen, china, books, pictures, money and securities for money, after payment of my just debts for funeral and testamentary expences. I give, devise and bequeath all the real estate and residue of the personal estate of which I shall have possessed in Tasmania aforesaid of over which I shall have any disposing power, unto my said wife and to my sons George and Thomas and to my daughters Sarah and Rose and their executors and administrators, according to the nature of the property. But nevertheless, upon trust to and for the ends, intents and purposes herein before declared, all my real estate in Tasmania aforesaid to sell and absolutely dispose of the same within twelve months after my decease, or soon thereafter as my trustees shall deem prudent and advisable and most advantageous, upon such terms and conditions and in such manner as they shall think fit. And upon trust as to the residue of my personal estate in Tasmania aforesaid to sell and dispose of the same and convert the same into money at the same time as my said real estate shall be sold. And I direct that in the interval between my decease and the sale of my said real and personal estate, my said son Thomas shall be allowed to occupy my farm at Landfall and use the stock, implements and property thereon if he shall think fit, allowing my said wife to reside with him in the house at Landfall aforesaid and paying her upon the rate of two hundred pounds per annum for every year or portion of a year of such occupancy, as the case may be but if my said son Thomas shall not agree to use and occupy my said farm, stock and implements aforesaid on the stated conditions aforesaid, then I shall direct that my said trustees shall carry on such farm until the same shall be sold as aforesaid and use the stock, implements and property thereon and that the profit and proceeds thereof shall be divided and distributed in the same manner as in herein provided with regard to the proceeds and produce arising from the sale of my said real and personal estate as hereunder mentioned. And I direct that my said trustees shall stand possessed of the monies arising from the sale and conversion into money of my said real and personal estate and of the income produced or profit which may arise there from and in such interval between my decease and such date. I direct that the trustees pay one third of such monies unto my said wife for her own absolute use and benefit and the remaining two thirds of such monies to pay to and equally divide between all children of mine living at my decease, share and share alike. I give, devise and bequeath all the real and personal estate which I shall have possessed or over which I shall have any disposing power in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland or any part thereof, unto my nephew, George William Barnard of Lambeth in the County of Surrey in England, solicitor, his hire as executive administrator according to the nature of the property. Upon trust as hereafter mentioned and I also give and bequeath unto my said nephew, a certain Policy of Assurance on the life of Henry Greensill of Bexley Heath in the County of Kent in England aforesaid, for the sum of 500 pounds and which said policy has been assigned to me and the amount thereof payable to me or my executors at the decease of the said Henry Greensill. Upon trust as hereunder mentioned and I direct that my trustee in England, the said George William Barnard, shall stand possessed of and receive the rents, issues, profit and annual produce of any said real and personal estate in the said United Kingdom. Upon trust to pay thereout the annual premiums and sums of money necessary and payable in order to keep on foot such assurance in the life of the said Henry Greensill and to remit and pay yearly the balance of such rents and profits to my said wife for her own absolute use and benefit and her receipt of that of her duly appointed agent shall be a sufficient release and discharge to the prior paying such yearly and other balances to her by my said trustee deducting from such net balance the cost of remitting the same, whether premiums or bank drafts or otherwise, and on the decease of the said Henry Greensill, I direct that my said trustee in England shall stand possessed of the said real and personal estate of mine in the United Kingdom and also of the proceeds and amount of such policy of assurance and all bonuses and other monies payable thereon. Upon trust to sell and absolutely dispose of the said real and personal estate and home or interest thereon and after payment of all costs, charges and expences and incidental to the execution of any of the before mentioned trusts, to pay thereout to my godson, the son of my said nephew, the said George William Barnard whose christian names in full I do not exactly know, but part of them are George William, the sum of one hundred pounds and to remit and pay the balance of such monies unto my said ttrustee in Tasmania to be divided and distributed in the same manner as I have before directed as to the distribution of the proceeds of my real and personal estate in Tasmania. I direct that the share of every child of mine under this my Will, shall be paid to them, his or her, on attaining the age of twenty one years, or if a daughter, on attaining that age or marriage whichever shall first happen, so that the share of such daughter shall be free from the control or interferences of any husband with whom she may marry. And that the share of any child of mine who shall at the period of the distribution be under the age of twenty one or if any daughter be under that age and married, shall be invested by my said trustees for the time being, for this my Will in good deal or government security and the interest, income and annual produce of each such share, shall be applied by my said trustee in and towards the maintenance, education and support of such child and I direct that share of any child of mine dying, if a son before having attained the age of twenty one or if a daughter having attained that age or married, shall go to and be divided amongst the survivors, share and share alike, or if only one survives, then to him or her absolutely. But if either of my said children shall die, if a son having attained the age of twenty one or if a daughter having attained that age or married, having lawful issue, then I direct that the share of such child or children so dying shall go to and be divided amongst such issue, share and share alike, but so that the children shall only take their own parent’s share or presumption share provided always and I hereby declare that the receipts in writing of the said trustees or survivor or survivors or their executors or administrators respectively of such survivors or other the trustees or trustee for the time being of any Will for any sum or sums of money payable to them or him by virtue of any of the powers or authorities herein before contained or otherwise in the execution of the trust of my Will, shall be effectively discharged for the same respectively or for so much thereof respectively. As in such receipts shall be expressed or acknowledged to being received and that the person or persons to whom the same shall be given, his or hers or theirs, heirs, executors, administrators or assigned, shall not afterwards be answerable or accountable for any loss or misappropriation thereof, and that no purchasers or other persons paying monies into this my Will shall be bound to enquire or to take notice either in the United Kingdom or Tasmania whether the occasion for such sale had arisen or otherwise to ascertain or consider or see to the application of any purchase or other monies or the necessity or proposal of any sale or sales. Provided always and I hereby further declare that in any case the trustee for Tasmania hereby appointed or any of them or the trustee for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland hereby appointed should die in my lifetime, or at any decease should renounce or be incapable of acting in the trust hereof or in case of any of the trustees for the time being of my Will should during the continuance of the aforesaid trust die or desire to be discharged from the aforesaid trust or expire or become incapable to act therein, then and so often as the same shall happen, it shall be lawful for the surviving or continuing trustees or trustee for the time being in either the United Kingdom or Tasmania or if there should be no trustee, then for the executor or administrators of the last surviving or last acting trustee being by any deed or deeds to be sealed and delivered in the presence of two or more witnesses or by a last will and testament or by any testamentary writing, to nominate and appoint some other fit person or persons to be a trustee or trustees for the purpose of the aforesaid in any of them in the place or stead of the trustees dying in my lifetime or dying or desiring to be discharged or refusing or becoming incapable. And that every such new trustee shall and may act and assist in the management and execution of these trusts to which he or she shall be so appointed as fully and effectually in all aspects and with the like powers and indemnification as she or he might have done if originally in and by this my will appointed a trustee for the purpose aforesaid or as if his or her name had been inserted in this my Will in the place of the trustee in whose stead he or she shall be substituted. Provided also and I further declare that all and every trustee for the time being of this my Will shall be answerable and accountable the one for the other or others of them or for the acts, deeds, defaults, receipts, payments and disbursements of the other or others of them or be charged or chargeable with or accountable for any further or other sum or sums of money or other trust property and effects than what shall actually come to the hands of and be received by them respectively and notwithstanding they or any or either of them shall give or sign or join or concur in giving or signing any receipt or receipts for the sake of conformity and that they or any or either of them shall not be answerable or accountable for the insufficiency defeat or failure of any pastor (?), auctioneer, agent or other person in whose hands any part or parts of the aforesaid trust monies or other property shall or may at any time or times hereafter happen to be by them or any or other of them placed or lodged for safe custody to whom may be allowed to receive the …….in the course of the execution of the trust of these present or for any loss or damage which shall or may happen or arise of or to all or any of the aforesaid trust estate monies effects and premiums or the proceeding product thereof or of any part thereof provided the same shall happen without any wilful neglect or default on the part of such trustees respectively and I declare that it shall be lawful for every trustee for the time being of this my Will from time to time and at all times to retain to and reimburse himself respectively and to allow to his co trustee s or co trustee by and out of the said trust estate monies and premises or the income or proceeds thereof all such .…….costs charges and expences as they or any or either of them shall or may pay sustain expend or be put into by reason of the trusts hereby in them respectively reposed or in the management or execution thereof or otherwise relative thereto and especially declare that my trustee for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland shall be allowed his full costs as between attorney and client and that not only him but also every trustee of my Will who may happen to be of an attorney solicitor auctioneer or appraiser either in Great Britain or Tasmania shall be entitled to make the use professional charges for advice ……..and business transacted and done for and on behalf of my trust estate my rule of equity to the contrary notwithstanding and I direct and declare that in case a difference of opinion should exist among my trustees for the time being in Tasmania in regard to any of the trust affairs or any act matter or thing proposed to be done in relation thereto the opinion or determination of the majority of the same trustees shall or may be conclusive it being my intention that the acts and proceedings of the major part in number of the said trustees shall for all the purposes of this my Will be and determined to be and be taken as the acts and proceedings of the whole or entire body of the same trustees any side (?) of law or equity to the contrary notwithstanding. I appoint my said wife to be guardian of any children during their minority and nominate and appoint my wife and my said sons George and Thomas and my said daughters Sarah and Rose to be trustees and executors in and for Tasmania and that my wife and I also nominate and appoint my said nephew George William Barnard to be the trustee and executor in and for the United Kingdom and Ireland and I declare of this my Will I hereby revoke all former and other wills hereto for made and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament whereof I have hereunto set my hand on 21st day of August in the year of our Lord, 1864. Written and signed by Reverend Henry Pimm Kane, M.A., in Holy Orders, of Rostella in Tasmania, under the direction of the testator, George William Barnard (his right arm being paralysed) and witnessed by William Archibald Grey, solicitor in Tasmania."

George William Barnard Full