When recalling an encounter with a fearsome Aboriginal man who he called ‘Better Bread’, George Abner Gray: ‘My sister, brother and I were sitting at the end of our hunt and sister was reading … Better Bread was at his camp as usual and seems to think we were teasing him; all at once he jumped up running towards us saying he would “Nulla Nulla” our heads – of we ran behind the hustle, my sister put me under a washing tub which was half a cask, then she and my brother ran screaming towards a Mrs Baker who lived about 300 yards of p she heard them and ran to meet them. Then Better Bread retreated to his camp … When Mrs Baker took the tub of me I was more dead than alive from fright.’ 1
On 6 February 1840 at the Parish Church in East Tisbury, Benjamin Baker a Gardener from Dinton, the son of Henry Baker, also a Gardener and Sarah Saunders, married Elizabeth Howell. Elizabeth Howell who was born in Tisbury, was the daughter of Samuel Howell, a Thatcher and Susannah Badder.
Benjamin and Elizabeth Baker arrived on the ship ‘Symmetry’ on 11 December 1849, they along with Mrs Butler (presumable the wife or relation of the ship’s Captain Butler) were the only passengers. Ben Baker’s immigration records indicate that he was a ‘Gardener’ and his wife Elizabeth (nee Howell) was a ‘Dairy Maid’. It can be noted in the Remarks, that both Ben and Elizabeth ‘Complained of ill treatment’.
The important link to George Wyndham Esquire of Dalwood House at Black Creek which is now known as Branxton and the Baker’s is within the immigration and shipping records.
Advertisements for the ‘fast sailing Ship SYMMETRY’ in Newspapers in England noting accomodation for passengers.
The arrival was noted in the Shipping Intelligence on 12 December having left on 14 July, so a 3 month voyage.
It is recorded that George Wyndham brought the first Hereford cattle to New South Wales in 1827. 2
Another small newspaper reference indicates that alongside the immigration of the Baker’s on the ‘Symmetry’ were ‘six splendid bulls …in excellent condition, for Mr George Wyndham … four of them are Hereford, one Devon.’ The Baker’s were the only passengers with Ben Baker was sent along with the cattle to care for them.
The Australian Dictionary of Biography provides an outline of his life and work including: ‘George Wyndham (1801-1870), farmer, wine-grower and pastoralist, was born at Dinton, Wiltshire, England, the third son of William Wyndham of Dinton House and his wife Letitia, née Popham. … he decided to emigrate to Australia as a farmer. Taking with them a number of stock, including Southdown sheep, he and his wife sailed in the George Horne in August 1827 and reached Sydney in December. He settled near Branxton in the Hunter River valley, naming his property Dalwood, and began experimental farming. Among crops mentioned in his diary for 1830 were maize, wheat, hemp, mustard, castor oil, tobacco, millet and cape barley. He also planted a vineyard and began wine-making … Hereford cattle were imported and bred … George Wyndham died in Sydney on 24 December 1870, three months after the death of his wife. … He was a magistrate in Maitland for some years, but refused a seat in the Legislative Council when it was offered in 1839. He was respected for his leniency to assigned servants in his earlier days, and was himself a hard worker in the field.‘ 3
George Wyndham’s life was recorded in his obituaries when he died in December 1870 and in others memories of him, his work and Estates.
References
- The Journal of George Abner Gray 1846 – 1941 from the Original Clarence River Historical Society Grafton Second Edition 1975 page 10
- Dalwood House Hunter Valley – National Trust History – George Wyndham – Hereford Cattle
- Dalwood House Hunter Valley – National Trust History – George Wyndham – Hereford Cattle
George Gray - Stonemason & Builder 