Jacob Wyer

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Maureen Withey on 10th October 2025

Commandant’s Office, Port Macquarie, 22 Dec 1825. Sir. As dangers have attended the bringing of Colonial vessels over the Bar at this Settlement, I determined to build a Brig calculated expressly for the Harbor here; and I have the Honor to inform you that I have now dispatched this vessel, The Mary Elizabeth, to Sydney, in charge of Mr Neave, the Pilot at this station, and some prisoners, with a cargo of Cedar plank for the Public Service. The Circumstance of her having been built and fitted out within these last six months, together with her being of 90 Tons, strong, well built and of a good mould, will prove, I trust, creditable to this station. Enclosed I have the Honor to forward to you the Indents of the prisoners, having short times to serve, whom I selected to assist in taking the Brig to Head Quarters. They are in charge of a Military Guard on board; and I request they may all be returned by the first opportunity. On this occasion I have also forwarded John Holmes, the Overseer of the shipwrights, whom I promised to obtain a Ticket of Leave, when the vessel was completed, which I hop will meet His Honor the Acting Governor’s approval, as this work has been performed in so masterly a manner and in so short a time, and as Holmes is an Overseer of very industrious habit and good character, and was sent to this Settlement on suspicion of having been before convicted in the Country, which I have every reason to believe was not the case. I request that this man whom I consider an Acquisition to the Colony, may be returned should he obtain his Ticket of Leave, as I am desirous he should build another vessel which I propose to commence upon here. I have the Honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, H Gillman (?), Commandant. To Frederick Goulburn, Esq., Colonial Secretary. Indents of Crown Prisoners proceeding to Sydney on board the “Mary Elizabeth” for the purpose of taking the vessel to Head Quarters. (Nine men were sent) Jacob Wyre, per Baring, Colonial Conviction: C. Ct, 7 May 1822, 4 years. Original sentence expired. These men are all usefully employed in the boats on the Settlement and it is requested they may be returned as soon as possible. H. Gillmann, Commandant.

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Maureen Withey on 12th October 2023

Married Also, by Special License, by Dr. Lang, on the 25th inst., Mr. George Wyer, only son of the late Mr. Jacob Wyer, of Sydney, to Julia Ann, third daughter of Mr. Bullivant, of Cumberland-street, Sydney. Colonial Observer, 28 Mar 1843.

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Maureen Withey on 3rd August 2020

Correction. Jacob was a rope maker, not a peper maker. ----------- JACOB WYER, rope-maker, No. 9. Upper Pitt-street, most respectfully informs Owners and Captains of Ships, and the Public in general, that he has at length, at a very considerable Inconvenience completed his Machinery for the Manufacture of Patent Cordage; and trusts, by proper assiduity and attention to their commands, and from the well-known superiority of strength and better service of the Patent Cordage, that he may be honored with an encouragement adequate to the expence such an undertaking has incurred.—Orders executed with all possible dispatch. Sydney Gazette, 30 Jun 1821. -------------------------------------------------- Jacob Wyer and Mary Black were convicted of having stolen property in their possession - 4 years transportation. Sydney Gazette, 10 May 1822. -------------------------------------------------- The undermentioned Persons have obtained Certificates, during the last Week; viz. CERTIFICATES. Baring (1] . . Jacob Wyer, from a Colonial Sentence Wanstead . . Mary Black, from a Colonial Sentence. ------------------------------------------------------- Deaths. Yesterday, in Castlereagh-street, Mr. Jacob Wyer, for many years the principal ropemaker, of Sydney. Sydney Herald, 26 Nov 1835. -------------------------------------------------- Our Reporter has been called on by Mrs. Wyer, the proprietress of the Queen Catherine, public-house, Castlereagh street, widow, to explain a paragraph which appeared in our paper of the 11th instant, and which has immediate reference to a paragraph that appeared in the Herald of the date preceding our publication. Our Reporter has, by desire of Mrs. Wyer, and being a neighbour, visited Mrs. W.'s premises, which are all occupied by persons of respectability, either mechanics, or holding responsible and trustworthy situations in offices in Sydney, and our Reporter with pleasure adds, that the nest of improper characters complained of in our paper, and in the paragraph in the Herald from which our report was taken, had no connection with Mrs. Wyer's premies, but exists higher up the street, and near, although having no connexion with the Queen Catherine, public-house. Mrs. Wyer, who is the relict of an old and respected Colonist, Mr. Jacob Wyer, rope-maker, is too well known to the police and the public to require relation of the circumstance, but it is due to Mrs. W. to explain the matter, which has been of some inconvenience to her. Sydney Gazette, 20 Feb 1836. ------------ The relevant paragraph... We have been requested by a respectable inhabitant of Castlereagh-street to draw the attention of the Police to a nest of brothels and their inhabitants, near the "Queen Catherine," public-house, extending back to Elizabeth-street. These houses are supposed to contain about seventy or eighty of the most disreputable women in Sydney, and many bad characters of the other sex. We could not have supposed it possible, if we had it not from the best authority, that such an infamous assemblage could exist in Sydney, especially with our much boasted Police. We would advise those parties who live in the neighborhood, as the most effectual method of getting rid of the nuisance, to indict the landlords of the houses at the Quarter Sessions. Sydney Herald, 11 Feb 1836. TO LET. THAT well-known and long established Public House the " Queen Catherine," situate in Castlereagh-street, now in full trade and licensed to the late Mr. Jacob Wyer. Possession given on Transfer Day. Further particulars may be known on application to Mrs. Mary Wyer on the Premises. Sydney, February 1st, 1836.

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Maureen Withey on 3rd August 2020

Colonial Secretary Index. WYER, Jacob. Per "Baring", 1815. 1822 Apr 29-May 9 - In reports of prisoners tried at Court of Criminal Jurisdiction (Reel 6023; X820 p.49) 1822 May 15 - On lists of prisoners transported to Port Macquarie per "Lady Nelson" (Reel 6009, 4/3505 p.277; Reel 6019, 4/3864 pp.356-7) 1825 Dec 22 - Prisoner at Port Macquarie. Sent to Sydney per "Mary Elizabeth" (Reel 6069; 4/1816 pp.531-5) -------------------------------------------------- 1828 NSW Census Index. Jacob Wyer, age 57, F.S., per Baring 1, 7 years, protestant, Paper maker resident at Market Street, Sydney. Mary Wyer, age 35, F.S. per Wansted 1814, 7 years, protestant. George Wyer, aged 8, born in Colony. Joseph Wyer, age 52, F.S. per Baring 1, 1815,7 years, Protestant.