John Nevell

54

Phil Hands on 2nd May 2017

Tried and convicted at the Stafford Assizes on 30th March 1808, for stealing a mare from Thomas Banks in 1807, sentenced to death, this was later commuted to transportation for a term of life. Left England on 18th July 1810. Ship:- the 'Indian' sailed with 200 male convicts on board of which 8 died during the voyage. Arrived on 16th December 1810. As the Indian arrived, Rev. Robert Cartwright wrote to Governor Macquarie requesting John Nevell be assigned to him. By 1816 he had become associated with William Cox and assisted Cox in his work in Bathurst from that time until 1818 when John received his emancipation. In 1818 John Nevell was included in the first ten men to be granted land in Bathurst. In this year he was also granted a Conditional Pardon. During 1827 he was appointed treasurer of the Bathurst Independent Academy. John Nevell was named on 23rd Apr 1818 in a letter written by William Cox to Gov Lachlan Macquarie as being one of ten 'New Settlers in Bathurst April 1818.' John Nevell was issued one cow in Oct 1818 from the Government Herds, Bathurst, NSW, Australia. John Nevell was granted a Conditional Pardon on 28 Oct 1818. John Nevell was recorded on 9 Oct 1820 as having thirteen acres of wheat, half an acre of potatoes, fifty cleared acres, fifty acres total held, two horses, four horned cattle, ten hogs and two acres of oats. All on the fifty acre grant opposite the Town of Bathurst, NSW, Australia. Married free sttler Elizabeth Vincent on 13th May 1822 at Richmond, they had 6 children between 1823-1839. In 1823 the town of Bathurst consisted of about a dozen houses besides two larger buildings. There were about fifty farms on the surrounding plains and the population of seven hundred consisted mainly of convicts, The garrison held twelve soldiers. John Nevell was granted ninety acres of land for one shilling on 30 Jun 1823 at Kelso, NSW, Australia. It was conditional on him to clear and cultivate nineteen acres within the term of five years. John Nevell was elected Treasurer on 11 Aug 1827 at Bathurst Independent Academy, Bathurst, NSW, Australia. Three elders were also elected. They were William Lee, Thomas Kite and James Blackman jnr and William Coates was appointed secretary. A portion of land on the Sydney road was leased from Richard Mills. By 1832 the family had moved to Carwell, west of present day Rylstone. John made application for permission to purchase land on 27th November 1833 at Roxborough, NSW, Australia, bounded on the north by the Cudgegong River, east by section lines two miles west of Bloodsworth's land and south by section lines and west by John Tindale's land. The eight hundred acres west of Bloodsworth's land was put up to auction on 11 Apr 1834 at Police Office, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Price five shillings per acre. John made application to purchase 640 acres bounded by the Mudgee River and Tindale's 640 acre purchase on 11 Apr 1834 at Roxborough, NSW, Australia. The seven hundred and fourteen acres west of John Tindale's land was put up to auction on 9 Jan 1835 at Police Office, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Price five shillings per acre. John Nevell recorded his signature with the Bank of New South Wales on 28th November 1838. His residence is described as Carwell Creek, Dabee. John Nevell was granted an Absolute Pardon on 1st January 1841. John was visited by four bushrangers on 9th April 1844 at Carwell, NSW, Australia. He was robbed of forty seven pounds ten shillings cash, thirty pairs of moleskin trousers, twelve regatta shirts, three check silk handkerchiefs, a quantity of tea and sugar, and sundry other items too numerous to mention; also two horses - one cream with a switch tail, the other a bay pony also with a switch tail. He offered ten pounds reward for the capture of the bushrangers. John's son, John, and son-in-law, Edward Readford, were able to capture the bushrangers. They were John McIntyre ("Cursed Jack") and Thomas Rook ("Hellfire Tom"). The bushrangers had unknowingly stolen a horse which left a distinctive track which made it easy to follow. They traced the horse to D M Irwin's station, Green Swamp and discovered that his newly arrived hut-keeper was the third person involved in the theft. A considerable amount of the stolen goods were recovered. It is said that the reward was given to a policeman who became involved with the investigation. John died on 8th October 1854 at Rylstone, Central Tablelands, New South Wales. Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday 17th October 1854 p. 5 DEATHS. At his residence, Carwell, on Sunday, the 8th instant, John Nevell, Esq., aged 73. He arrived in this colony in 1810, and has left a large family to lament their loss.