James Blackman

  General Notes:

KEMP, Isaac. Per "General Stuart", 1818
1823 Jun 14 To take charge of the grazing run of James Blackman
fourteen miles north of Bathurst (Reel 6010; 4/3508 p.519)
1824 Aug 17 To take charge of the grazing run of James Blackman in
the County of Westmoreland (Reel 6013; 4/3512 p.210)

  Death Notes:

At "Bleak House".

  Burial Notes:

At New South Wales, Mudgee, Blackman Park, Blackman Vault.

Blackman Park Head south on Cox St for one block to the Mortimer St corner. Blackman Park was a cemetery from 1844-88. Although the headstones were removed to Memorial Park, it still contains the Blackman Vault at its western boundary which contains the remains of James Blackman who, in 1821, became the first European in the area.

  Noted events in his life were:

• He had health issues from 1754 to 1781 in England, United Kingdom. ² James was a sickly child, frequently suffering from chest complaints. As a young man he was reported as being a handsome, well educated, spoilt and flamboyant young gentleman.

• He worked as an Artilleryman in 1776 in Woolwich, Kent, England, United Kingdom. ² At the Royal Arsenal.

• He was educated at well-educated, although not trained for any particular profession before 1779 in England, United Kingdom. ³

• Emmigration: 1801, England, United Kingdom. ^{2 3} In 1800 James was ill and his doctors recommded a sea voyage. He was able to obtain a high recommendation from the Colonial Office who were encouraging skilled people to migrate to the colony.

• He immigrated per Canada on 14 Dec 1801 to Sydney, Cumberland County, New South Wales.

• Living at Lived as guests of Governor King, Sydney, Cumberland County, New South Wales in 14 Dec 1801-1802. For 12 weeks.

• He was employed in 1802 in Mulgrave Place, New South Wales. Superintendant of Agriculture

• He owned land on 31 Mar 1802 in Mulgrave Place, New South Wales. ⁴ On list of all grants & leases of land registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office.This grant was of 100 acres at Mulgrave Place (Now North Richmond, NSW, Australia). The modern day address of this property is 370 Windsor Street, Windsor, NSW 2753. (Which confuses the life out of me. It is in Richmond.)

• He owned land from 1805 to 1817 in Mulgrave Place, New South Wales. Unable to pay debts and forced to sell 40 acres of 100 acre property.

• Other: Produce received from at the Hawkesbury Stores, Apr 1809-Aug1809, Hawkesbury, New South Wales. ⁵

• Juror: at inquest on George Rouse, 24 Sep 1809, Richmond, Cumberland County, New South Wales. ⁶

• Juror: at inquest on James Steadman, 6 Apr 1810, Richmond, Cumberland County, New South Wales. ⁷

• Signatory: to address from the settlers of the Hawkesbury to Governor Macquarie; and Macquarie's reply, 1 Dec 1810-5 Dec 1810, Hawkesbury, New South Wales. ⁸

• He owned land on 12 Jun 1811 in Mulgoa, Cumberland County, New South Wales. ⁹ On list of persons to receive grants of land in different parts of the Colony as soon as they can be measured.

• Other: Permitted to draw cattle from Government herds on credit., 12 Sep 1812, New South Wales. ¹⁰

• He worked as a Principal Overseer of Government Stock from 1 May 1813 to 30 Dec 1815 in New South Wales. ^{11 12} William Chalker was appointed to replace Blackman, who had resigned .

• Correspondence: Re appointment as a Principal Overseer of Government Stock, 13 May 1813, New South Wales. ¹³

• He was employed between 23 Oct 1813 and 10 Feb 1816 in New South Wales. ¹⁴ His salary paid from Police Fund.

• He owned Built a cottage. from 1815 to 1817 in Windsor, Cumberland County, New South Wales. It is constructed from brick nog, common at the time but now extremely rare.

It seems that James and Bowman were in partnership and becuase of James' financial problems, the Bowman took over the cottage.

• He owned land Unable to pay debts. in 1818 in Mulgrave Place, New South Wales. William Cox foreclosed on the property. Sold to George Bowman. The hut, built by James Blackman, on this property is now managed by the Australian National Parks service. (1999) It is called Bowman's Hut.

• Land grant: Feb 1818, Bathurst, Bathurst County, New South Wales. ¹⁵ Recieved a 50 acre grant of land in Bathurst and acrerage outside of town which he called Kelso. (Kelso is now a suburb of Bathurst.) Stephen's Lane in Kelso runs down middle of this block of land.

• Correspondence: Certifying to the character of Eli Birmingham in support of Birmingham's petition for a ticket of leave, 1818, New South Wales. ¹⁶

• Exploration: he is thought to have accompanied Oxley on his Journey to Port Macquarie, 1818, Port Macquarie District, New South Wales. ¹⁷ Blackman's Point at Port Macquarie is named after him

• Other: List of provisions issued at Mulgoa to Blackman, District Constable, and party in pursuit of bushrangers, 24 Apr 1819, New South Wales. ¹⁸

• He worked as a District Constable & Poundkeeper in the high-lands of the Richmond district from 24 Aug 1819 to 3 Jul 1822 in Richmond, Cumberland County, New South Wales. ¹⁹ Paid from the Police Fund for services after bushrangers.

• Exploration: 1820, Portland, Roxburgh County, New South Wales. ²⁰ Marked the first road from Bathurst, New South Wales, to Wallerawang, New South Wales.

• Exploration: 1821, Bathurst, Bathurst County, New South Wales. ¹⁷ Haded north east from base camp. This was located near the modern town of Wallerawang. Travelled through modern day Cullen Bullen in the direction of Mudgee. Balckman's Flat and Balckman's Crown have his name. He is the first European to cross the Cudgegong river.

From: Blackman's Base Camp:
In it Val Walsh quotes from the records of Alan Cunningham, which can be found in the lands office in Sydney- re the discovery of Mudgee in 1821.
....."No persons have ventured to penetrate in a due north direction until somewhat more than 12 months since; when James Blackman the late superintendent made an effort at that point of bearing and discovered the valuable limestone sixteen miles on his route, the "Cugeegang" (Cudgegong) a distance of 34 miles further and fine grazing country in the immediate vicinity of the native station called Mudgee 25 or 26 miles down the left bank of that secondary stream.....
Elsewhere in his notes ... " The Cudgeegang River, a stream discovered by James Blackman and marked in 1821.... upon which is situated the native "Sit Down" or Bimmil" called Mudgee"
Apparently the claim that Lawson discovered Mudgee and James was just a Lieutenant was made in the book "History of Mudgee" by G.H.F. Cox who mistook an 1822 expedition to the area by Lawson and Blackman for the original 1821 trek by James.
Lawson himself in a letter to Sir Thomas Brisbane states "....He (James B) was the first person to mark the road to Mudgee and also a road to Mr Walkers.... "

• Exploration: Blackman's Swamp, 1822, Orange District, New South Wales. ¹⁷ In 1822 James and Percy Simpson drove to the Wellington District and established a convict settlement which was originally called "Blackman's Swamp"- In 1846 the name was changed to "Orange".

• Exploration: 1822, Mudgee District, New South Wales. ¹⁷ In 1822 James and Lawson traced out the route from Wallerawang to Dabee near Rylstone.

• He was employed from 4 Jul 1822 to 22 Aug 1822 in Paramatta Goal, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ²¹ Chief Constable of Parramatta

• He worked as an in charge of the Parramatta Women's Factory from 22 Aug 1822 to 28 Nov 1825 in Parramatta, Cumberland County, New South Wales. ²²

• He owned land On list of persons who have received orders for grants of land; on list of lands granted and reserved by Sir Thomas Brisbane from 22 Feb 1825 to 23 Feb 1825 in New South Wales.

• He worked as a Cheif Constable and Pundkeeper of Bathurst between 28 Nov 1825 and 1 Nov 1831 in Bathurst, Bathurst County, New South Wales. ^{23 24} The Kelso book has an alternate start date of 12 December 1825.

• He was involved in a court case from 20 Feb 1828 to 21 Feb 1828 in Supreme Court of New South Wales, Cumberland County, Sydney, New South Wales. ²⁵ R. v. Walker, Keefe, Cuff, Adkins and Coates [www.law.mq.edu.au]
Supreme Court of New South Wales
Stephen J., 20 and 21 February 1828
Source: Australian, 22 February 1828
Mr. CHARLES SUTTER examined on the side of the prosecution Is a settler living at Bathurst. In the month of September, 1827, the mounted police searched his flock for some sheep, on suspicion that some of them were Mr. Terry's. Blackman, the chief constable, accompanied by one of the mounted police, and an overseer of the name of Gardner, then in Mr. Terry's employ, after examining the sheep, collected, and took away with them about eighteen head. These sheep witness got from the prisoners Adkins and Coates, with whom he exchanged the said sheep for a mare. Adkins and Coates drove a flock of sheep, which belonged to them, into a washing-yard, and selected from among the number, the sheep in question, which witness purchased, and afterwards drove away to his own station. There were several of witness's servants present at the time of this purchase. During the time of sale witness made some enquiries about the quality and breed of the sheep. Adkins said he had purchased them from Mr. Jones, a settler in the neighbourhood, and who is an extensive stock holder in that district. Coates, who was present at this conversation, confirmed the statement made by Adkins, and said he had then a receipt in his possession for the purchase of the sheep. He further undertook to be answerable for Adkins buying the sheep from Jones. Witness knows that the prisoners Adkins and Coates run their sheep in flocks together. Examined the brands of the sheep at the time of purchase. The brand was a cross. There was a sort of welt on the face of the sheep, but no one could distinctly say what was intended by it. They were lambs, with he exception of one or two. Recollects one ewe, which was thrown into the bargain that one had a large welt, and appeared to have been once branded with a round brand, but was badly burnt.
Cross-examined Coates's sheep are marked J C. From the knowledge which witness has of sheep and branding them, there was nothing uncommon about the sheep he bought. Thinks it would not be strange if people, whose christian names happened to be John William, and the surname to be Coates, to brand J C. only as the brand of John Coates, leaving the christian name of William entirely out. Witness bought the sheep in question as Adkins's sheep. The only interest which Coates appeared to have in the disposal of these sheep, was in assuring witness that Adkins had bought them of Jones, a settler, who had a farm in the neighbourhood. Jones (the individual alluded to) has since spoken to witness on the subject of those sheep, and told him that the prisoner Adkins had on one occasion made a purchase of sheep from him. Witness has spoken of a conversation he had with the prisoner Coates. On that occasion Coates said it was agreed between him and Adkins, that he should have the wool the sheep produced, by way of remuneration for the sheep belonging to Adkins grazing on his (Coates's) farm. Cannot tell what were the brands of the sheep bought by witness of Adkins. He bought eighteen on the whole.
Re-examined The marks on the sheep might have been one close brand. It however, was so imperfectly made, that no person could distinguish a letter in it.
Mr. JAMES BLACKMAN searched the flock of Mr. Sutter, in the district of Bathurst, and took thereout seventeen sheep they resembled the prosecutor's sheep, with the difference of a cross, which appeared not to be a natural mark.
This was the case for the prosecution.
For the defence the following witnesses were called:
RUGG, a deputy overseer of Mr. Terry's stated that some sheep of Mr. Terry's were lost from the flock of a shepherd named West, and that he went to the prisoner Coates´s station, being the adjoining run, to look for them, but found none. If they had been there, he must have seen them. The prisoners Walker, Cuff, and Keefe, were shepherds in Mr. Terry's employ at this time. If any sheep had been missing at this period from either of those men's flocks, he must have known it, from having to muster them at stated periods. The sheep that were lost belonged to West's flock. Witness cannot be mistaken in his master's brand. He examined very carefully the prisoner Coates's flock of sheep, but found none of Mr. Terry's among them.
Wm. CHAMBERS. Has also been in Mr. Terry's employ as overseer. Has frequently assisted in branding sheep; Mr. Terry's sheep; has had frequent opportunities of noticing the prisoner Coates's flock, both in the pens and on the run, whilst grazing. After the loss of Mr. Terry's sheep was discovered, he was called upon by the Magistrates at Bathurst to inspect some sheep which were there in charge of the mounted police[.] Understood those sheep to have been sold by Coates and Adkins to Mr. Sutter, from whom they were taken. Witness, on being examined before the Bathurst Magistrates respecting the identity of the sheep in question, and for which the prisoners now arraigned were accused with being complicated in stealing. Made a deposition that they were none of Mr. Terry's property. The prisoner Coates was in close confinement at the time. Witness is enabled to swear most positively that the sheep, the subject of present enquiry, so far from belonging to any of the blocks of Mr. Terry, does not even bear a resemblance to any sheep Mr. T has. Prisoner Coates's sheep are of a superior breed, and generally speaking, more adapted for the cultivation of wool than for the purposes of slaughter.
Counsel for the prisoners Coates and Adkins here closed their case.
The learned Judge recapitulated the evidence to the Jury at great length, after which the Jury retired to their room, where they remained in consultation for nearly an hour, and then returning into Court, found the prisoners Walker, Cuff, and Keefe, Guilty of the capital part of the charge, viz sheep stealing; Adkins Guilty of receiving the sheep laid in the indictment, knowing the same to have been feloniously stolen; and William Coates, the remaining prisoner, Not Guilty, who was accordingly discharged by proclamation.
The prisoners who were found guilty were then remanded to custody, to be brought up on a future day for judgment.

• Robbed: 26 Dec 1826. James Blackman's station was robbed on the night of 26 December 1826 . John Hossel stood trial for this crime on 30 May 1826, was sentenced and hung for the crime. [http://www.whiskershill.dynamite.com.au/h.htm]

• He was involved in a court case on 16 May 1827 in Burragarang, New South Wales. ²⁶ R. v. Jamieson [www.law.mq.edu.au]
Supreme Court of New South Wales
Stephen J., 16 May 1827
Source: Sydney Gazette, 18 May 1827
In the general body of the text...
Henry Preston (the man who was supposed to have been murdered), stated, that he went, according to custom, to the prisoner's at Greenwich Park, for the rations, about 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the 23d of December last; Greenwich Park is about five miles from the out-station where witness is employed; on his return back, witness quitted the regular path, for the purpose of seeing an acquaintance, a shepherd, whom he expected to find; and went astray in the woods, nor could he discover any station till he got to Mr. Blackman 's at Burragarang, on the 2d or 3d of January, about 40 miles from the main road, and nearly 80 miles from the place to which he was proceeding.

• Correspondence: 1 Feb 1831, Bathurst, Bathurst County, New South Wales. ²⁷ Source: Australian, 4 February 1831 [www.law.mq.edu.au]
JURISPRUDENTIAL ANOMALY.
To the Editor of The Australian.
``Had the lion been the sculptor, he would have been represented standing over the man."
SIR, - I was present yesterday in the Supreme Court, at the trial of a cause, Williams versus Keane, before Mr. Justice Dowling, and a special Jury. I will briefly state the facts, as they came out in evidence, and then offer a few comments on the result.
The plaintiff, Williams, is a sawyer, holding a ticket of leave, in the employment of Thomas Rayne, Esq. of Sidmouth Valley. In the evening of the 22d June last, in the vicinity of Bathurst, on his return to his master's residence, he lost his way, and made up to the nearest house he could discover, to request directions. This happened to be the residence of the Reverend E. Keane, the chaplain at Bathurst. Williams leaped the fence separating Mr. Keane's premises from the main road, and entered the backyard, calling aloud to attract the attention of the inmates. This latter fact renders absurd the imputation of any felonious design. A servant opened the door, and sallied out, and while in conference with Williams, who was unarmed, and totally defenceless, he was followed by Mr. Keane, armed with sword and pistol, and who, with a random blow of the former, nearly wounded his own servant, and before any explanation could be offered, repeated his blow, and inflicted three wounds on the left arm of Williams, whom he then commanded to march before him to a small gate, opening from his premises into the road. Here he inflicted another severe wound on the right shoulder of Williams, and applying a pistol to his ear, ordered him to decamp, without looking to the right hand or to the left, or he would blow his brains out, and send his soul to the Devil! The wounded man proceeded to another house, which proved to be that of Mr. Blackman, the chief constable, who, like the good Samaritan, bound up his wounds, and conveyed him, covered with blood, and in an exhausted state, to the district hospital. It was proved by Mr. Rayne's overseer, that Williams is a man of very good character, which he established during nine years confidential employment, in the service of Mr. Lowe, the Magistrate at Bringelly. The overseer also deposed, that Williams's wounds disabled him for several weeks from his usual work. Such were briefly the facts in proof. The Jury, under direction of the learned Judge (whom I was sorry to hear, in the slightest degree, palliate Mr. Keane's language or conduct) returned a verdict for the plaintiff, with the paltry and inadequate damages of £10. Admitting the former wounds to have been inflicted in a moment of agitation and alarm, the last and most severe wound was palpably given with .... .... .... .... .... .... Williams, at worst, committed only a trespass, an involuntary trespass, or rather a compulsory one, from his peculiar situation, and for it, was severely cut and maimed by a Reverend Member of the Church Militant. Captain Moir shot at and wounded a voluntary and contumacious trespasser, not mortally, but the man subsequently died of a locked jaw! Captain Moir, a military man, was hanged; Mr. Keane, a minister of the gospel of peace, is fined £10. Such is the difference of estimation, .. .. .. .. .. .. in offences. What offences have the chaplains, Wilkinson and Middleton committed, (I would ask our Venerable Archdeacon), at all comparable .................... to this ........ exhibition of sanguinary ferocity by Mr. Keane? THEMIS.

• Living in 1833-1837 at Mudgee, Wellington County, New South Wales. He had a slab hut in Mudgee town. This was both a residence and a store.
[http://mudgee.communitytechnology.net.au/about_ctc/] & Bleak Hut History.

• Other: Built the first house on the present site of the township of Mudgee., Mudgee, Wellington County, New South Wales. ²⁸

• Living at "Dewhurst", Mudgee, Wellington County, New South Wales in 1842. ²⁹ South of the town near the road to the waterworks.

• He worked as a poundkeeper in Macquarie Plains, Roxburgh County, New South Wales. ³⁰

James married Elizabeth Harley, daughter of George Harley and Elizabeth Love, on 3 Dec 1785 in Lee, Kent, England, United Kingdom. (Elizabeth Harley was born in 1765 in Woolwich, Kent, England, United Kingdom ^{30 31}, christened in 1771 in Woolwich, Kent, England, United Kingdom,³⁰ died on 2 Jul 1842 in Mudgee, Wellington County, New South Wales ^{1 32} and was buried in Mudgee, Wellington County, New South Wales ¹.)

  Marriage Notes:

Kent, Lee, St Margaret's Church.

George Harley, Elizabeth's father, opposed the wedding. ³