William Lilly

71

Robin Sharkey on 28th June 2020

William Lilly was a shepherd with John Jones from 1824 until 1837. He was recorded this way in the 1825 NSW Muster, the 1828 Census, and in a newspaper report of the murder trial of fellow Jones Ticket of Leave employee, Edward Tufts (Sydney Gazette, 22 February 1838, p.1). “1825 Muster: William Lilly, Trial Sentence: Life; Arrived per ship Guildford, 1824; Current Status: Convict; Employment: Govt Servant; Residence: Bathurst [Assigned to] John Jones.” Assignment to Jones continued through to the 1828 Muster: 1828 Census- William Lilly [sic] Aged: 28 years, Protestant; Arrived per Guildford (6) 1824; Current Status: Govt Servant, Shepherd, in household of John Jones, residence Kelso, David’s Creek. Bathurst. Lilly was one of 8 convicts recorded with John Jones in 1828. One other of those convicts, Edward Tufts per the Guildford (5) of 1823, also remained with Jones when he moved to “Turee" station near Cassilis in 1837. In 1834 he got a Ticket of Leave for the Cassilis area - where Jones's "Turee" station was. With a Ticket of Leave, he was entitled to go out and find his own living, however he remained working with John Jones on "Turee" — but would have been entitled to be paid. This Ticket of Leave was No. 34/1366 dated 9 December 1834. It was cancelled in July 1840 "for illegally selling spirits". MARRIAGE APPLICATION While he still had his first ticket of Leave, he applied in the Maitland District to marry Catherine Murphy who said she was 27 years old per "Mariner" and was then free. An annotation on the application for marriage by Banns noted that they had been waiting many months for a reply. (Convicts' applications to marry). There is no record of his ever marrying Catherine Murphy. However, the birth of Frederick Lilly is recorded in 1844 to mother Catherine and father William. Murder of John Jones. William Lilly was still a shepherd employed by John Jones as a Ticket of Leave holder, at "Turee" near Cassilis on 21 October 1837 when Jones was murdered by another Ticket of Leave Holder, Edward Tufts, who had been with Jones at Bathurst also in 1825 and 1828. In giving evidence against Edward Tufts, the overseer at "Turee", a man named James Burgess, mentioned Lilly in regard to payment of the workers at shearing time. Lilly was not involved in the murder at all. Burgess said: "William Lilly, another shepherd, was called in and received £3 10s.; he went out and I afterwards went into the kitchen; I then went up to Tuft's hut; Lilly and me had a quarrel" However, shortly after this Lilly must have been transferred to another master (why, if he was a Ticket of Leave holder?). In the December 1837 convict Muster he was recorded as being assigned to James Bellamy. NEW TICKET of LEAVE Lilly was given a new Ticket of Leave dated 23 Sept 1841, and was again allowed to remain in the District of Cassilis. The death of a William Lilly is recorded in 1845 as being aged 35, however this age is ten years too young for this William Lilly. "William Lilly, Guildford (6)" was recommended for a CONDITIONAL PARDON in 1847 - perhaps too late.

71

Robin Sharkey on 28th June 2020

WHO WAS HIS MASTER, JOHN JONES? In the 1828 this John Jones gave his arrival details as “free” per “Nile” in 1801. Nile had brought female convicts to NSW, and a number of free men and women and families. John Jones per ‘Nile’ was at Windsor, and in 1811 bought a farm from John Pugh (farmhouse now known as Claremont Cottage). He regularly tendered for supply of his meat to government (see newspaper notices of the period). John Jones also took up a brewing licence in Windsor from 1815 to 1818. (See Sydney Gazette, 1 April 1815, p.1). In 1820 his son-in-law George Kable (married to daughter, Ann Jones) applied for a brewers licence stating that “there is no such establishment of the kind in [Windsor[ since his father in law, Mr John Jones, has declined the business.” (Wentworth Family Papers, ML, A765, pp. 61-5 (CY 727, pp. 417-20); SG, 19 February 1820). John Jones was originally a builder. He was involved in construction of St Matthews Church of England at Windsor. Building of the church had originally got underway in 1817, but when it was not proceeding satisfactorily, Governor Macquarie appointed Francis Greenway to take charge. Greenway had the unsatisfactory work pulled down and appointed John Jones of Windsor as building supervisor. (See NSW Office of Heritage and Environment , State Heritage Register for St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Rectory etc) https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5045677). Greenway recommended recompense to those involved in building the church. So, on 13th July 1821 Jones wrote a memorial asking Governor Macquarie to give him a land grant around Bathurst "wither a part of his family is also about to settle". Governor Macquarie did give him a 500 acre land grant at Bathurst in 1821. The grant lay about one and a half miles south of Kelso, between the east bank of the Macquarie River and the main road from Bathurst that went through O'Connell Plains. In 1822, John Jones sold his farm “Pugh’s Farm” to William Cox, as he probably about this time moved to Bathurst (See NSW Office of Heritage and Environment, State Heritage Register for Claremont Cottage). Jones had been in Bathurst about two years when William Lilly was assigned to him. ________________________________________

71

Robin Sharkey on 28th June 2020

William Lilly arrived in NSW in 1824 on one of the voyages of "Guildford". He'd been given a Life sentence at the Worcester Assizes of 8 March 1823. From the Indent of the Guildford arriving on 5 March 1824: Aged 20 yrs. native place: Bromsgrove, Worcester. Life sentence. Height: 5ft 1&3/4 inches; flaxen haired, complexion: swarthy and freckled; eyes: hazel. Trade: Nailor. Colonial Secretary's papers: Letter dated 9 March 1824, On list of convicts landed from the 'Guildford' and forwarded to Bathurst for distribution. He was probably assigned straight away to John Jones at Bathurst since he was recorded as being assigned to Jones in the following year's muster of 1825. Lilly would remain with Jones until 1837, including through Jones's move from a Bathurst farm of 500 acres to a pastoral run near Cassilis in at least 1834. _____________________________