New Freugh to Waratah

The Gray, Bull & Baker Families – New Freugh to the Folly

It needs to be remembered that the population of these areas are very small, people would travel further to see neighbours and organise social activities where they could all meet and spend time together.

So it is important to look at the proximities of the properties to see whether there would be opportunities for these landholders and their employees to be able to meet. Brinkburn Farm was about a 20 minute ride to Glendon House which was across the Hunter River from New Freugh. The Hunter in this section although in flood times would rise considerably it is also not a big river and in other times aside from floods the embankments are steep and the river seems easily swum or perhaps a small boat could be used. The images below show the section of the Hunter River between Glendon House and the land opposite where New Freugh property and houses would have been quite close.

From New Freugh to the Folly

There is little information about Edmund Bull and Benjamin Baker at New Freugh. When Edmund Bull married Mary Jane Sands on 15 May 1849 ¹, they were living at New Freugh but the register does not give his occupation. The next document that is George Gray and Emma Dwyer’s marriage on 29 July 1850 ² at New Freugh with Edmund Bull as a witness. The final document showing the change of address from New Freugh to ‘the folly’ Waratah is the registration of the birth of Edmund and Mary Jane Bull’s first son, William Bull who was baptised on the ‘Hunter River Circuit’ by the Methodist Minister Joseph Fillingham on 12 October 1851³ with his birth registered as 10 August 1851.

Benjamin and Elizabeth Baker’s daughter Mary Ann on 19 November 1848 is the first document that places his abode as New Freugh where his occupation stated is as a carpenter. The next reference is in the NSW Government Gazette advertised on 14 February 1851, it is for an unclaimed letter dated 31 January 1851 for ‘Benjamin Baker, Newcastle’.⁴

In his journal George Abner Gray mentions that: ‘After a year or so we shifted to another place 2 miles away. Father was building a house there, my sister, brother and I were with him.’ ⁵

This indicates that George Gray was working as a builder and building houses for at least one person in about 1850.

After his father’s marriage to Emma Dyer George Abner Gray at the end of July 1850, he recalls: ‘Shortly after [the wedding] we all, excepting my sister, went to the cost.’ ⁶ The next record was for the birth of their first daughter Georgina Gray, ‘the first white child born in Waratah’ is recounted by her half brother George Abner.⁷ Georgina Grierson nee Gray record her birthday as June/July 1851.

Combining all these records it is likely that George Gray, Edmund Bull and Benjamin Baker arrived at the folly between September 1850 and January 1851 with Charles Simpson Esq., Newcastle, first record in the NSW Gazette for unclaimed letters on 15 April 1851 for the previous month from 15 March, 1851.

These dates would align with the clearing and preparation of the land and building site for Charles Simpson’s ‘Waratah House’ in the chapter George Gray ‘Builder’ – Edmund Bull – Benjamin Baker & Waratah House.⁸

References

1. _{NSW BDM: Marriage Registration 584/1849 V1849584 34C Edmund Bull and Mary Jane Sands – District: MR Church of England. Whittingham}
2. _{Marriage Register Whittingham – Parish of New Freugh – Marriage – Edmund Bull & Mary Jane Sands – 15 May 1849 Singleton Marriage Register, 1840 – 1870 Page 21 – Newcastle Anglican Register, University of Newcastle}
3. _{NSW BDM: Birth Registration 366/1851 V1851366 56 William Bull DISTRICT: IP -Wesleyan Methodist Hunter River District; Newcastle}
4. _{Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW: 1843 – 1893), Wednesday 19 February 1851}
5. _{The Journal of George Abner Gray 1846 – 1941 from the Original Clarence River Historical Society Grafton Second Edition 1975 page 8}
6. _{The Journal of George Abner Gray 1846 – 1941 from the Original Clarence River Historical Society Grafton Second Edition 1975 page 14}
7. _{Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 – 1954), Monday 28 March 1932, page 4 WARATAH 80 YEARS AGO Reminiscences of a Pioneer Veterinary}
8. _{George Gray ‘Builder’ – Edmund Bull – Benjamin Baker & Waratah House https://georgegraybuilderwaratah.com/2023/07/03/george-gray-builder-edmund-bull-waratah-house/}