Send an e-mail to: Amanda TaylorSend an e-mail to: Amanda TaylorThe following article was written and researched by Grace Douglass & Laurel Legge and published in their book 'Along the Windsor Richmond Road' 1985 (ISBN 0 9589831 0 0 and ISBN 0 9589831 3 5) and is subject to copyright. Written permission is held from the late author Grace Douglass for the writer to publish contents via the Internet. However, although this book is in the public domain, it still remains copyrighted material and may not be copied for any reason without permission. I do not have the right to give permission to others to reprint the book. I was only given permission to put it on line. All copyrights stay with Grace Douglass & Laurel Legge and whoever they appointed, for control of the book. Under no circumstances may it be reprinted for profit.
Extractions of parts of the information for personal use with references to the book as the source is encouraged.
This photo is said to be of John Ezzey and his wife Rebecca Lamb
The Life story of John Ezzey must be recounted mainly from Official documents and records now housed in the State Archives Office and various Libraries, although there are a few more personal records scattered about, and I shall recount these as I go along. One personal record that has been left for all to see, that I feel we should possibly question the credability of, is John Ezzey's date of birth, 29th October, 1795, inscribed on his tombstone, in St.Peter's Churchyard at Richmond.
Who said this was his birthdate? Who kept a record of it until John himself was able to record it? And, having been told it was his exact birthday, how did he record it? We cannot be sure, whether or not, John Ezzey was able to read and write. Certainly towards the middle of his life he had learnt to sign his name, however, the signature was like a picture that a child might execute. He had copied an outline that he had been told was the way you wrote his name, but could he have identified the individual letters or rearranged them to form another word? So far as official documents and letters are concerned, 'John Ezzey' is the only thing we know of that he ever wrote. Even if he could write no more than just his name, he may, of course, been able to read a little, as some of our ancestors could read a few words, but were not able to write. However, if he could not do so, and if neither of his parents could, either, then who kept a record of when this second son was born? Members of the following generations kept records of this kind on the fly-leaf of the Family Bible. So far as we know this child was not baptised, so there was no convenient record in the Parish Register that could be consulted at a later date, to determine his exact date of birth. Stretching the possibilities to the extreme it could be argued that his Mother associated his birth with some particular event in the Colony a that time, however, whilst this may have aided her in remembering the particular year he was born, I very much doubt she could have remembered the exact day and month. Perhaps it is wiser to say John Ezzey was born about 1795 and record it thus - 1795c. Unless, of course, we assume that the record of this exact birth-date, is proof that William Ezzy could definately write, and that his eldest surviving son, could also do so, even if his knowledge of the two subjects was limited.
Where was he born? The chances of answering this question with accuracy are a little better. As he was born the son of a convict, and a smost of the convicts at that time were employed at Parramatta, then chances are, that most certainly Parramatta was his birth-place. By the time John had had his second birthday he would have been living with his parents at Mulgrave Place. In his early years he would have experienced, could, hunger, flood, bushfires, and been terrorised and endangered by aborigines. He existed and survived and was counted as a statistic in the Musters of 1806, 1811 and 1814, and it is only at this latter date that proof of his existence starts to show in official records. John Ezzey was 'supposed' to have signed an Address to Governor Bligh in 1806, however, boys of 11 or 12 did not sign documents, and it is more likely that the scribe entering the names of those who could only make their mark, put 'Jas.Ezzy' for James, and his writing has been later misinterpreted for 'Jno Ezzy'.
An issue of the Sydney Gazette dated 11/3/1815 carried notice of John's intention to leave the Colony on the ship 'King George'. This noticed appeared weekly with other names until 8/4/1815. The listing for the 'King George' appeared twice more, minus John's name prior to the sailing of the ship on 29/4/1815. As to whether he left the Colony or not we have no proof. The vessel sailed to South Sea Islands with a cargo of ballast and returned to Sydney in December 1815 with a cargo of salt portk and sandalwood. The next mention of John is in official records was when his sister Mary was killed in October the following year, so he could have made the journey -- a young man seeking adventure.
Early the following year, on the 24th March, 1817, John Ezzey married Rebecca Lamb at St. Matthew's Windsor. The marriage was performed by Rev.Robert Cartwright and the witnesses were John's sister Lucy, Joseph Harper and Henry Lamb, Rebecca's Father, as she was not of age. This was not the present-day St. Matthew's but an earlier building, on a different site.
Rebecca had been born in Mulgrave Place 19/11/1797, and was the daughter of Henry Lamb, a private in the N.S.W. Corps who cambe on the 'Albermarle' in 1791, and Elizabeth Chambers, a convict woman, who came onthe 'Kitty' late in 1792. The child Rebecca had been the eldest of their three children, and their only daughter. I shall not dwell on the Lamb Family Further at this poing, as they are covered in a later section of this book dealing with out Spouse Families.
The couple's first home was on the Windsor Richmond Road, on John's share of his Father's original grant. In a letter to Governor Darling in 1829 John Ezzey declared that his particular piece of land had a comfortable dwelling and outhouses on it and a five-railed fence all around it, that it's total acreage was fifty, thirty of which were cleared (at that time he had let it for 25 pounds per annum) however this state of development was most likely achieved over a number of years as his Family grew.
In the early years, John grew mainly wheat. In January, 1821, he paid 19 bushels of wheat into the Government Store at Windsor on the fifth of the month and a further 32 bushels on the tenth, for which he received 9 shillings a bushel.
August 1824 was the date of the first Memorial executed by John Ezzey asking for a Grant of Land. He stated that he had a wife and four children to support --William James born 1818, Elizabeth born 1819, Mary Ann born 1821 and John jrn. born 1824 (all at Mulgrave Place, and all baptised at St. Matthew's Windsor). He also stated that he owned 25 head of cattle and two horses. He did not receive a free Grant of Land at this time.
On 2nd Aug 1828, John Ezzey was appointed to be District Constable at North Richmond, [being appointed from the Windsor Branch to the District of North Richmond NSW] his predecessor being Richard Skuthorp, a convict who had arrived on the 'General Hewitt' and whose eldest son, Richard Skuthorp, the younger, was later to marry John's eldester daughter, Elizabeth. John's appointment was notified in the Sydney Gazette published on the 4th August. John was stationed at North Richmond from the 5th July, although his appointment was not official until the following month, and he remained in this position until about December, 1830 when he resigned. He rejoined the force a few months later as Assistant District Constable at North Richmond, and completed his term of three years (August 1831) which was the permitted length of service at that time.
When he was appointed to the Windsor Police Station, and subsequently stationed at North Richmond, John needed to find a home for his growing Family within the district. The couple now had five children, Henry had been born in 1826, and was the last child born in Mulgrave Place and baptised in St. Matthew's. John Ezzey rented a small farm of fifteen acres at North Richmond which belonged to Mr. Reuse (sic) of Vinegar Hill. (Now Rouse Hill)
The Census of 1828 shows John and Rebecca with six children --Jane had been born in October, at North Richmond, and baptised at St. Peter's Richmond --however, he also appears to have aquired an additional five acres of land, as his total acreage is given as seventy, thirty-eight being cleared and all but one under cultivation. His livestock had also increased and the farm now carried six horses, thirty-three cattle and three sheep. Two convicts had been assigned to the couple to assist them in their labours. Thomas McCullen aged 34 'Isabella' (1822) was assigned as a farm labourer and Catherine Renehan, 18 'Elizabeth' (1827) was assigned as a house servant.
The year 1830 brought two changes to the Family's circumstances. Another son, Charles was born and duly baptised in St.Peter's Church and John purchased his Father-in-law's of 80 acres at Richmond Hill, or Kurrajong, as the area was now starting to be called. Boundaries of any area change, of course, with the passage of time and the increases in population, but the original area designated to be called Kurrajong extended from a point about two miles from North Richmond, to the Grose River on the South, to what is now called Bowen Mount on the West, thence north- westerly to where the Comleroy Road was later to traverse, and northwards to Blaxland Ridge and Cox's Road. Kurrajong lies within the County of Cook and just outside the County of Cumberland and was later to become famed throughout the State as a fruit producing district, more particularly as regards the production of citrus varieties for which the soil and conditions generally seemed to be specially suited. It derived it's name from the fact that prior to European settlement and indeed for many years afterwards, the indigenous Kurrajong tree was found in greater numbers here thank in other parts. The word 'Kurrajong' is not the botanical name for this tree, but an original term significant of much more than any single word of the English language implies. From the inner surface of the prickly bark with which the trunks of these trees are covered, the natives made string and ropes and the term 'Kurrajong' in the dialect of the aborigines signified the chief uses to which these strings or ropes could be, and were put to use by them.
The area also became famous for it's 'Kurrajong Wool', a crop that most of John's sons who remained in the area were later to produce along with other residents. 'Kurrajong Wool' was the term applied to the bark stripped from the indigenous Kurrajong Wattle Tree. The bark from the trees was stripped and prepared for the tanneries and formed a profitable subsiduary to fruit growing and farming. The lemmon green wattle, with the yellow flower, grew abundantly and luxuriously in the paddocks, springing up like weeds and once the timber was cleared, there were many paddocks iin the Kurrajong. It's growth was wonderfully rapid. A small plant from the seed developed in a short space of three years into a tree fit for stripping. Although stripping meant sudden death to a tree, itself, there was always so many more other trees 'coming on' so that regularly every year, once the stripper got to work, many tons of bark were dispatched by dray and later by rail to the tanneries in Windsor. The amount of money that could be made out of this Kurrajong Wool, in relation to outlay, time and labour, was remarkable. Provided, of course the stripper owned the trees himself and was fairly industrious, good money could be made whilst the season lasted. Stripping commenced about March when the sap was well up and the bark heavy and work was generally done with the tree standing. The bark was 'nicked' and taken away in three to three foot six lengths. It was then spread out on the ground to dry, a process that took from three to four days, after which it was tied up with stringy-bark into bundles of about eighty pound's weight. The bark, it might be added was stripped from the trees with the fingers. The dead wattle trees were used for firewood, and not only did they make good burning timber, better indeed than most local wood, but the smoke gave off a pleasant aroma, and at that time was believed to be beneficial from a health point of view.
I think it should also be pointed out here that there was quite a few variations to the spelling of the name 'Kurrajong' before the final spelling was established as the accepted one. The first reference was made to the District in 1789 by Governor Phillip whilst on an early expedition in search of more suitable farming land for the struggling Colony. He named this hilly district the 'Carmarthen Hills' after the Marquis of Carmarthen, but it was later changed to Kurrajong Hills. From about 1820 onwards there were references to 'Corrygong', 'Koryong', 'Curryjong' and 'Kurry Jung' and also several other variations besides in the early years. In several of the early Ezzy baptisms and marriages, the place of birth or residence is given as 'Kurry Jung', so if you should find this place on Grandfather or Grandmother's Certificate, be not surprised. When Governor Macquarie toured the settlements in the Colony, and officially named the five Macquarie Towns, he referred in his report to the 'Kurry Jung Hills' and the 'Kurry Jung Brush'. In his opinion, the latter place was 'admirably well calculated for pasturage', and the Ezzys were about to prove him right!
When John Ezzey first took his Family to North Richmond to live the area was wild and primitive, cut off from Windsor, it must be remembered, by the Hawkesbury River. An unbridged river until 1860, served on by a Punt, which when John first went to the area in 1828 was owned by his immediate superior, Archibald Bell, who was the Superintendant of Police at Windsor, to which station John was answerable. In the 1830's a Government owned Punt came into operation and a fee was charged to cross the river. For every passenger on foot 2d. For every horse, whether it was drawing or not drawing a vehicle, and provided that vehicle did not have wheels (a sled), 6d. However, if the vehicle did have wheels then an additional 6d. had to be paid for each wheel. Having paid the toll the same horse could make the return journey without paying an additional toll, but if the horse on the vehicle was changed then an additional toll had now to be paid. The only exemptions to the payment of this toll were for persons crossing the river to attend church or a funeral. It is said that week-day funerals were well attended as the ladies who went took the opportunity of doing their shopping whilst they were on the other side of the river --and hid their purchases under their skirts on the return trip! Authorities eventually saw through this ruse and subsequently a time-limit was put on the free return trip to a funeral to stamp out the practice.
Towards the middle of 1831, when John was approaching an enforced retirement from the Police
Force, he again petitioned for a Grant of Land, and I feel that the manner in which it was
customary to phrase these petitions or Memorials as they were called, may be of interest to others.
The letter was addressed to his Excellency, Lieut. Governor, General Ralph Darling, Governor in
Chief of the Territory of New South Wales and it's Dependencies, and proceeds :-
'The humble petition of John Ezzey, North Richmond, most dutifully sheweth that your Memoralist
is by birth a native of the Colony, 37 years of age, and is also married to a native by whom he
has a family of seven children, the eldest being 14 years of age --That Memoralist has never received any land from the Government either by purchase or grant but is possessed of 180 acres
by private purchase situate at the Kurry Jong, the whole of which is now in the possession of
the Memoralist 40 acres of which are fell and 30 acres cleared and in cultivation, has erected a
substantial house, barns and stock-yard thereon as well as nearly fenced in the whole 180 acres
--That Memoralist by his struggling has accumulated 82 head of cattle, 6 horses and has every
impliment for a farmer consisting of cart, ploughs, harrows, etc. --That Memoralist was for
namely three years District Constable of North Richmond but in consequence of it being your
Excellency's pleassure that no lawholder can remain in the service of the Police after the
expiration of the present month, and he has a young and heavy family to support ventures to lay
this Memorial before your Excellency trusting that because of the circumstances of his case he
may be deemed worthy to receive a Grant of Land for which act your Excellency's Bounty he will
ever consider himself in duty bound to pray......North Richmond 29th April, 1831'.
As can be seen from this letter the couple and their young children had now moved from North Richmond and were living at Kurrajong. The 180 acres of land consisted of, in addition to the eighty acres purchased from Rebecca's Father, 100 acres John had purchased from George Loder, formerly known as 'Loder's Farm'. It was here, on the portion of land first owned by Henry Lamb, that John and Rebecca had built their home and called it 'Bonnie Doon'. The original homestead is, of course, long gone, however part of the old kitchen section, which was always built quite separate from the main home building to minimise the risk of fire, still remains. In later years one of John Ezzey's greatgrandsons, Louis Conrad Ezzy (Richard), built his own home, over the foundations of the original homestead. He surrounded the remains of the old kitchen out-building in corrugated iron sheeting and other materials to form a shed, and inside, even to-day (1984) can be seen the remains of what was once the life-centre of family activity. The hugh open fireplace where Rebecca cooked the Family meals and the children warmed their toes in the chilly winters, stands silently at one end. The floor of this building was originally formed with hugh slabs of stone. One of these Lou had removed to form his front step, and several of the smaller pieces made stepping-stones to his back doorway from the shed. Many interesting pieces of family bric-a-brac have been sifted from the dirt from beneath this old shed, and many more Ezzy secrets would certainly be hidden there.
At the back of this old tin shed and it's treasured remains, stands something that is even more revered by those members of the Ezzy Family who know of it's existence and origin. It is Grandfather John's Gum Tree. The story has been passed down from Father to Son, that John Ezzey, himself, planted the tree there, as a seedling outside his kitchen window when he first built his home. He carried it up from the river bank wrapped up in his pocket-handkerchief and tucked in his trouser- pocket. Certainly the tree is old, and tall, and there are no others like it in the surrounding area. The story could quite possibly be true. I, for one, believe it. I might also mention, that the tree is definitely healthy and thriving, like Ezzys themselves. Gum trees, like people, have a life-span; however, when that tree does die, there is no way you will remove ALL the roots!
The Deeds for this land where 'Bonnie Doon' stood, were signed by Governor Macquarie when he granted the land to Henry Lamb in the early 1800's, and the Title still remains in Ezzy hands. Five generations have owned it. If any Ezzy would like to visit the site of 'Bonnie Doon' and gaze at the old Gum Tree when he is in the area, is quite easily found. From the township of North Richmond take the Grose Vale Road towards the little village of Grose Vale as the area is now known. Cabbage Tree Road leads in from it on the left, just past Loder's Farm, and it neatly bisects John Ezzey's original homelands. A short way in from the main road, down Cabbage Tree Road is where you will find the site of 'Bonnie Doon', and Grandfather's Gum Tree. It is a wonderfully peaceful spot, gazing out across the valley to North Richmond, and I have stood there with more than one member of the Family, who has said with all due reverence--'It is God's own country!'.
If the visitor has still a little more time to spare he should continue up along the Grose Vale Road, and take a left-hand turn into the Bowen Mount Road, and immediately turn left again into Carters Road, which was the home of many Ezzy Families, before it ever saw any Carters. At one time there were at least four separate Families of Ezzys (and Ezzeys!) there, their properties backing-onto and adjoining those in Cabbage Tree Road, so that with the addition of a liberal sprinkling of associated Spouse Families, it was indeed 'Ezzy Country'. At one time Carters Road was referred to by the locals as 'Ezzy's Road', and there were quite a few members of the Family that felt that this is how it should have been later officially named.
To-day's visitor to Cabbage Tree Road, will also find there a new 'Bonnie Doon' recently built there by Lou's son, James Malcolm Ezzy. Jim has built his home 'around' the one built by his Father in order to preserve the history of the site. When carrying out the necessary excavations for the new home, evidence was found to suggest that the present one is possibly the fourth one on the site, so possibly Richard Ezzy also had an early home here, although this is not where he was living at the time of the devastating bushfires which burnt him out. I am sure the good Governor Macquarie would be pleased with the use the descendants of Henry Lamb have had from this early Grant.
Whilst still speaking of Henry Lamb and his early Grant, although there is no evidence to suggest that Henry ever lived at Richmond Hill as it was known when he received the land, there is a strong possibility that he may have done so, or at least had a resident overseer there. Further down in the valley from the back of 'Bonnie Doon', are the remains of an old home, or to be more accurate the sand-stock bricks of an old chimney. They lie there in a heap with a very old fig tree growing out of them. Several theories have been put forward as to 'who'did live there, but no person is still living who knows for sure, so we are left to ponder.
However, to return to the early years of John and Rebecca's residence. During the next eight years, four more children were born and the Family grew to eleven. Sophia born 1832, Richard born 1834, Benjamin born 1837, and Joseph born 1839. None of the children born to John and Rebecca Ezzey, died as infants, which is most unusual for such a large Family; they all grew to maturity, and except for John jnr. who was killed when kicked by a horse at the age of 47, they all enjoyed a life-span of a least 66 years.
When John and his Family first settled at 'Bonnie Doon', they were terrorised on one occassion by the bushranger, George Armstrong. Armstrong ini company with his friends, Jack Donahoe, James Walsley, John Webber and William Underwood, with Donahoe as leader, were a gang of bushrangers who terrorised the Kurrajong, Richmond-Penrith area in the 1820s to 1830s. With the exception of Underwood they were all escaped convicts. Sometimes they worked together as a team and sometimes they split up and worked alone, or with others, and were terrible men, indeed. A settler named Harrington, was shot and killed by Armstrong at Kurrajong when he refused to hand over his money. Armstrong and a friend named 'Scotchy' were chased by the police and Scotchy was shot and killed. Armstrong escaped with the police in hot pursuit and it is believed he hid in a cave on the Belmont Estate. (Now Hospital of St. John of God, a familiar landmark). The cave was later dubbed 'Armstrong's Cave'. Whilst the police were in the area, John Ezzey, being a hospitable man, and an ex-constable, gave them shelter at the homestead, and the enraged Armstrong vowed he would burn Ezzey's house down! For many nights John and his older sons had to take it in turns to keep watch to protect their property. Armstrong was shot by troopers near the Grose River and it was a very relieved John Ezzey who received a call from St. Lane of the Windsor Police to tell him Armstrong was captured and he could get to be in peace. Armstrong died shortly afterwards in Windsor Hospital (1837).
John received a grant of forty acres at Kurrajong in June 1831, adjoining the 180 acres he had already acquired by private purchase. Later the same year on the bottom of a letter relating to this same grant of land is the first evidence I have found of John Ezzey signing a letter. It is a very spidery, child-like scrawl, and is on microfilm at the State Archives Office.
Gradually the holdings of land at Kurrajong were added to over the next few years until eventually 'Bonnie Doon' was sited on a total of 480 acres all told. John was no longer a farmer --he was a grazier, and like others of his calling, he started to turn his eyes elsewhere for newer and larger pastures for his stock. I think it worth mentioning here that one of these acreages at Kurrajong, John officially named 'Clifton Grove' (The present-day farm on this lot still goes by this name). John acquired this property of forty acres in 1839, and stated on his original application that this was the name he was going to give it. No explanation was given for his choice of name. In recent years a new sub-division has been opened up on the outskirts of the City of Orange, N.S.W. named Clifton Grove, and I enquired into the origins of it's naming from the Orange Historical Society. I have found that the original homestead, named 'Clifton Grove', which is still standing on the Estate, was built by John Lane about 1840. John Lane was the eldest son of William Lane who came to the Colony from Devonshire about 1828. As to whether John Ezzey's choice for the same name for his property implies either William or Jane Ezzy, (or for that matter either of Rebecca's parents), had any connection with Devonshire, I shall leave you to ponder. Many of the early settlers chose names for their properties that were familiar to them in England. One of John Ezzey's sons-in-law, William Sullivan, named his home in Richmond 'Osier Bank' after his home in Ireland. The present-day Topographic Map of Kurrajong has 'Clifton Grove' plainly marked.
The first road to the North was via the Comleroy Road, Kurrajong, and for many years it remained a rough but nevertherless valuable access road to the North and Coal River, the original name for the settlement at Newcastle. Comleroy came from the name of the original tribe of natives who had lived in the area, the Kamilaroi tribe. The road was also known as the Bulga Road, this being the aboriginal name for mountain. Early travellers along the road from about 1817 were constantly worried by the natives. John Ezzey was for a time part-owner of a selection of land on the Comleroy Road about a half a mile before Chance Hill. This a a beautiful spot with clear views of the surrounding countryside in all directions and it is here that the Land's Department sited the 'Ezzy' Trigg Station (also shown on the Topographic Map of Kurrajong). It is only a minor station, but is still quite officially known as the Ezzey Trigg.
Against the wishes of the Law Enforcement Officers back in Windsor who did not relish administering an ever widening and enlarging settlement, the Hawkesbury Settlers began applying for and taking up leases of land along the Bulga Road between the settlement of Comleroy Road and the Hunter Settlement. During the next ten or more years John leased for varying periods of time a total of almost 3,000 acres of land along this road. In one letter of Application he makes reference to a parce of 1280 acres a the head of Wallaby Creek (could have been an early name for Wolombi Creek) where he was indending to establish a station. As to whether he built a homestead there I have been unable to clarify, and as all of those northern leases, or rentals had been relinquished by the time of his death there remains no record of them in his Will, where the title to his other holdings is so clearly set out. In early 1842, together with his son-in-law, Richard Skuthorp jnr., he applied for acreage at a place called 'Darky', at the foot of the Bulga, and this lease was taken up, as there is a record of him paying his fee at the Court House to register the lease.
What was he like, John Ezzey, the man? Unfortunately I was not able to meet any person who ever knew him. My own Grandmother was not born until two years after her Grandfather had been laid to rest in St. Peter's Churchyard, so we shall have to rely on the Testimonials and recollections of others, outside the Family. Several of the Memorials John submitted when applying for the land bear character references.
The Superindendent of Police at Windsor described him as a 'trusty, industrious man with a large growing family that he was bringing up with credit to himself' and a 'sober industrious man who performed the duties of his situation with dilligence and fidelity'. Whilst, Archibald Bell, when acting as his superior, spoke of him as a 'very worthy character'.
One person who claimed to have known him in person was Samuel Boughton, the journalist I have already spoken of in the early Chapter on Family Folk Lore. This gentleman said he had known several members of the Ezzy Family -- John, Charles, Lucy and Sophia. As I have already said 'Cooramill' was criticised for his inaccuracies by many readers, but the basics are there and I feel worth repeating.
Admittedly he states that Richard Skuthorp married the SECOND daughter of John Ezzey, instead of the second child, be believed that John had been with his brother, Charles at the Namoi -- perhaps he had, but there is nothing in the Land's Department Records to substantiate this claim -- and he also said Benjamin never married, which is also incorrect. However, Benjamin married away from the Hawkesbury, and so far as we can establish never returned their with his bride. Mr Boughton's Reminisences are, nevertheless, valuable, and after all, all that we have. As 'Cooramil' wrote the articles, he claimed, to acquaint the residents of the Hawkesbury with their past -- I am sure he will not object to me quoting him on the Ezzy and Skuthorp Families -- '..there are two families in this neighbourhood, The Ezzys and the Skuthorps. Although I have left them until last they are by no means the least -- taking them either numerically or as pioneers, not only of Kurrajong but of Australia. I do not know whether their ancestors arrived in England with William the Conqueror, but they can claim that at least one of them (in the person of Sgt. Lamb) came to Australia with Commander Phillip in the First Fleet which arrived here in 1787 (sic).....'
Obviously a bit of 'Family Folk Lore' slipping in here, not only has Grandfather been promoted to Sgt. they have made a First Fleeter out of him!...
'I will explain a bit later on where Lamb comes in with the above families. Perhaps as Ezzys are the oldest residents of the two I have named, I had better deal with them first. It is a very old name, and well known on the Windsor Road, now called Clarendon. Here it was that the founder of the family settled down in the very early days. I did not know him but his two sons and daughters, all native born, I remembered well. There was Charley Ezzy, whom Foley Ryan speaks of in his 'Reminiscences of Australia' as the treasurer of the Old Windsor Race Club in 1843. Mrs. Dargin, a well known and respected old lady who lived there all her life. Mrs. Bayliss and John. The latter was one of the first settlers in Kurrajong. He came to reside there when the blacks were troublesome and bushranging was rife. John was a man of exemplary conduct throughout the whole of his life, and one that would not wish his greatest enemy any harm. One would naturally think that such a man as I have described would have no enemies, but you must remember I said bushranging was rife, and it was well known that such characters were the greatest enemies of the most law abiding. However, it must have been a great relief to Mr. Ezzy when Sgt. Lane of Windsor Police rode up and told him he could go to bed that night as Armstrong, the bushranger, was shot. It had been necessary for Mr. Ezzy, with his household, to take turns in watching his buildings for fear Armstrong would carry out his threat and burn his place down for giving shelter to the police when hunting the bushrangers.'
'It was about the year 1820 that Mr. Ezzy married and settled down at 'Bonnie Doon'. He married Miss Lamb the daughter of the old soldier whom I mentioned as coming out with Commander Phillip in the First Fleet. They had eleven children, who were personally known to me, and 99 grandchildren, most of whom I also knew, as for great-grandchildren, I think I am well within bounds if I say there were 999. Of course these latter were not all born while the old people were still living, but came all the same, and they lived to see a great number of them.'
'It was fortunate for the Kurrajong that many of these people went away outback, for if they had stayed here there would have been no standing room for other folk! Aye! but it was a grand old time. No fear of a declining birthrate in those days! That is only a recently established institution. Of Mr Ezzy's eleven children there was only one who did not marry. That was Ben. Why he did not do so I cannot conceive, unless he was afraid he would someday be confronted with a large Family, as some of his brothers were. One had 18 children born to him of whom 14 are still living. Another had 14, 11 of whom are living. Of this latter family nine are sons and eight of them are, or have been soldiers, three of them served in South Africa.....'
Mr. Boughton's statistics are a little hay-wire in this last paragraph. Henry Ezzey and William James Ezzy had the largest Families, but neither tally with 18 born and 14 living. Henry had 16, 10 of whom were raised, and William James had 15, again raising 10. Richard certainly had 14, of whom he raised 11, which could be the other Family referred to, of which there were nine surviving sons, however, there is only evidence to suggest that the six younger ones were ever in the army, so perhaps Mr. Boughton was confusing sons and grandsons -- a pardonable error, after all, quite a few of us!
[Boughton continues]'...Besides these, there are sons of other branches of the Ezzy family who are soldiers -- the Skuthorps, Mayos and others. One would imagine that these young men inherited the fighting spirit of their great-grandfather Lamb. Not a very Lam-like quality! Having said so much of this family numerically, I must tell you something concerning them as pioneers. In addition to being among the earliest settlers in Kurrajong, Mr. Ezzy with his brother Charles Ezzy -- was one of the first to take up a station on the Namoi, which was at that time considered the North-east end of Australia. His sons settled on the Balonne, long before Queensland became separated from N.S.W. The name is well known there, as it is also in the West, and there are not a few away in South Africa, still assisting the British in their work in that continent.'
'The Skuthorps -- the name I mentioned when introducing Mr. Ezzy's -- are, I believe, among our most notable pioneers. Their work commenced with the founder, whom I mentioned some time ago as coming to the district at a very early date, to take Charge of Howell's Mills. He afterwards settled down in Kurrajong. He had three sons, Rick, Tom and Johnny - to whom I consider the country is in a measure indebted for their work as pioneers, more particularly the first-named. No doubt the others would have acted their part equally well, but they were unfortunately cut off in their prime of life. Johnny was drowned at Cowbail on the Gilgal (sic) in N.S.W. where he, with his brother, had just formed a station. Tom died of typhoid fever at his home on Kurrajong. However, the remaining brother with the assistance of his sons, carried on the work. They were the first on the Balonne, and from there they kept on going until they reached the Northern territory of Queensland where members of the family are at the present time located. Their journeys thither, looking up new country for their stock, the narrow escapes they had from being killed by the blacks, the dangers of crossing swollen rivers in times of flood, and the descriptions they gave of the wonderful country they passed through would make a book in itself. My only wonder is how they found their way back again. But they are all born bushmen. You will pardon the simile -- I am sure that if you tied any one of the family in a bag and dropped him in the centre of Australia, he would be like that cat, -- he would 'come back'. Mr Skuthorp I have been speaking of was known as Richard Junior, or sometimes Middle Dick to prevent confusion. He was a splendid horseman, and, up to within a few months of his death, could sit a horse, as straight as any of his sons. He died at the age of 84 years. His sons are equal to any equestrians in the land -- and are good judges of horse flesh -- the whole eight of them. Of Mrs. Skuhorp I must also say a little. She was the second daughter of Mr. Ezzy, the old gentleman of whom I spoke above, and was a kind, motherly woman. She died on the first anniversay of her husband's decease, and at exactly the same age...'
Mr. Boughton is not entirely correct here with either the date of their death nor their ages. His description of their horsemanship is very true and he has exaggerated in no measure at all. Skuthorps and their skill with horses were household words throughout Australia. Lance Skuthorp, the famous buckjumper, rodeo rider and circus performer, was not, however, a grandson of Richard and Elizabeth, he was a grandson of Richard's brother Thomas, whom Mr. Boughton speaks of as dying of Typhoid. There was however, one member of the Ezzy Family who could apparently outshine them in this field. It was said of John Ezzey's grandson, Edward Richard Ezzy (Charles) that 'he could sit a horse, even without a saddle, that no Skuthorp could get near'. Mr. Boughton continues with his narration........
'I must not pass 'Wyanbah' (sic) without a word about my old friend Billy Ezzy, the eldest son of John Ezzey of 'Bonnie Doon'. He like his brother-in-law Mr. Skuthorp, spent a few years of his life in the north country. However, he came back to his old home, and planted out an orchard, which he afterwards sold to the late George Cleve (sic), and went West where he died. Members of his family are still located near Orange'.
This last passage refers, of course, to William James Ezzy. After returning to he Hawkesbury from Balonne he named his orchard 'Wyenbah' after the station he had operated in the north with his brother Charles. This was situated on Loder's Farm fronting the Grose Vale Road. As to whether or not William James had a homestead on the orchard, is not known but the present day home, still called 'Wyenbah' was built by George Cleaves. William James left the area again about 1872 and settled in Spring Cove (now Millthorpe0 with the younger members of his Family.
From 1856-1868 John Ezzey was a member of the Committee of Trustees for the Hawkesbury Benevolent Society and Hospital. When John's parents first settled at Mulgrave Place the Settlement was without the services of a doctor or medical assistance of any kind. The settlers were evidently required to remain healthy. James Mileham was appointed to the area in 1809 as Assistant Surgeon, and you will recall he was summoned to Mary's assistance when she was struck and killed by lightning. As a result of the many floods in the area in the early years which caused so much distress and destitution to the Settlers, the Windsor Charitable Institution was formed about 1811 to carry out relief work. A cart used to travel throughout the settled areas to the various farms collecting grain, flour, meat and produce of any kind to give to the needy, however, many gave items they could ill-afford. The Hawkesbury Benevolent Society was first formed about 1818 to bring aid to the Settlers as a whole whether 'free' or 'emancipated convicts', and, from this time, instead of depending on charitable donations to give help to the needy of the area, a business-like effort was made to ear the funds to pay for the produce and other assitance. The Society established a herd, of cattle, and grazed them on a grant of land given to the Society by Governor Macquarie for this purpose; the original 63 head increased gradually over the years to a sizeable herd of over 4,000 by 1860. The herd was transferred to various locations over the years as the Settlement of the Hakwesbury grew, but the profit made from this farming venture paid for the care of the needy in their own homes by supplying provisions, etc., and eventually the Society were able to provide accomodation for the poor, destitute and ill of the Settlement. By the time John Ezzey became involved with the Society the Hospital was operating from it's present site in Macquarie Street Windsor, and although the original building has been enlarged many times and undergone many changes over the years, the original walls of the old Macquarie part of the building still remain as John Ezzey knew them.
In the latter years of his life John Ezzey acquired quite a few properties in the township of Richmond. Some he disposed of, whilst others were bequeathed to his children in his Will. One, of two, stands to-day (1984). He also owned, by private purchase, during his lifetime other properties near his main holdings in Cabbage Tree Road but they were disposed of prior to his death and become too time consuming to trace. His nephew, William John Ezzy, purchased one or more from him and they are described in that gentleman's Will.
In the evening of their lives John and Rebecca retired to a home in the township of Richmond,
called 'Fuschia Cottage' in Francis Street. Rebecca was the first to pass away on the 5th April,
1867, and the Sydney Morning Herald of April 9th, carried the following notice:
'Ezzy Rebecca, at her residence Francis Street, Richmond, Rebecca, wife of Mr. John Ezzey,
aged 69 years, leaving a husband, 11 children, 62 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren to
deplore their loss'.
John Ezzey out lived his wife by just over two years and passed away on 29th May 1869. The
Sydney Morning Herald two days later The carried the following notice :
'Ezzey - on the 29th inst., at his residence Fuschia Cottage, Richmond. Mr. John Ezzey, an old
and respected Colonist, aged 74 years, leaving a large family and circle of friends to mourn
their loss'.
If the date of birth inscribed on his tombstone [in St. Peter's Churchyard at Richmond (Row 2, Grave 41/42 Section A)] is correct [the date of birth, 29 October 1795], then he had not had his 73rd birthday, so he was not even in his 74th year.
When Rebecca died, John laid her to rest in a fine new vault in St. Peter's Churchyard (Row 2, Grave 41/42 Section A). When John, himself, passed away, the family buried their beloved parent with his wife in the same vault. In his Will, John Ezzey left the vault to his youngest son, Joseph Ezzy, who was only in possession of it for two weeks, when it had again to be reopened, for Joseph to lay is infant daughter, Edith Eudora there alongside her grandparents, at the tender age of two years.
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Wheeler Heights NSW 2097 Australia
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