Charles Simpson – Waratah and Warden of Newcastle

Brinkburn Farm to the Folly, Waratah

In order to trace Charles Simpson’s story we need to find where he was employed. He appeared to be a judicious man not prone like some others to rush out and buy extravagant large land or property portions nor to seek advancement politically. He appears to plan the leasing or selling of his properties in advance to when he departs. There is not a lot of information or records but enough to give some understanding of Charles Simpson and where he was working and living.

There is only one reference to the idea that perhaps he may like some others seek election to a public office. However this there is no evidence this small news

This is only one reference to the idea that perhaps he may like some others seek election to a public office. However this there is no evidence this one small sentence ever eventuated.

Charles Simpson 1851 – leaving the district of Scone

The years 1851 and 1852 were to bring to Charles Simpson both a change of position within the Public Service but also a new part of the Hunter region to live.

Charles Simpson – Lease Brinkburn Farm

In seeking to establish Charles Simpson’s movements, arrival at the Folly, Waratah and dating the building of Waratah House, alongside the leaving of his position at Scone, two advertisements in 1850 help establish that some time after March 1851 Charles Simpson had likely left the area of Scone, Singleton and Brinkburn farm.

As can be seen in both 1850 – 1851 and later in 1853 – 1854, Charles Simpson seemed to be a very ordered organised man in his business affairs. In this case we see an advertisement on 2 October 1850 for the lease of his ‘Brinkburn Farm’. Just over two months later on 28 December 1850, indicating 900 acres had been leased along with the main cottage and buildings. This a second advertisement is for the lease of the smaller cottage and buildings described in the previous chapter along with and 450 acres are now also available to be leased.

The timing of the lease of his properties aligns with the timing of George Gray’s wedding in July 1850 and the account of his son George Abner Gray’s account in his journal that shortly after the wedding their family and two others moved to ‘the Folly’ where Waratah House was built. One would think that in order to move to Waratah House the building would need to be complete or nearing completion.

Waratah House – a new venture

There are some small clues to trace Charles Simpson one from ‘Brinkburn Farm’ to Waratah House unfortunately not many.

Whilst he is in Sydney, he advertises to sell his horse stock from Brinkburn Farm, then by February he is using an agent to sell his remaining horse stock, indicating he is downsizing his assets ready for a move to a new place.

As seen above by March 1851 the public announcement of his ‘leaving the district’ is made with a farewell dinner planned for 15 April 1851. Charles Simpson Esq is till involved in the Singleton Licensing Court on Tuesday 11 March 1851 with the final newspaper record that has been found for the Licensing Court where he is present, being on Tuesday 15 April 1851 which aligns with the farewell dinner on the same day.

From April 1851 until January 1852 there have been no records found to this point of Charles Simpson Esq work or whereabouts. It is possible yo assume he is in the process of building or setting up his ‘Waratah House’ and surrounding vineyard and gardens on his Allotment 51 and 50 at ‘the folly’ on Platt’s Channel. This aligns with records for George Gray, Edmund Bull and Ben Baker indicating that they left ‘New Freugh’ likely by the end of 1850 and definitely early 1851.

Charles Simpson – 1852 Warden of the District Council of Newcastle

Eliza Harriet Simpson – Ketch

In his reminiscences which he wrote in a letter to the newspaper in 1932, George Abner Gray recalls: ‘A schooner was built on the Waratah Estate by “Little Tommie the Ship’s Carpenter,” as he was called. It was launched and christened by Miss Ellen Gertrude Simpson the “Ellen Gertrude,'” ⁵ It is interesting to see much of what George Abner recorded in his journal and in letters is actually confirmed by other sources. This is an example of one of those times. He did get one detail incorrect, the ketch was named the ‘Eliza Harriet Simpson’ which was Charles Simpson’s wife, Gertrude Simpson (Darby) was Charles’ stepdaughter, the daughter of Eliza Harriet.

The articles below the ketch was launched at the end of May 1854 and there are numerous reports of her voyages through the Port of Newcastle.

This emphasises the importance of researching family stories handed down either in written or verbal from. Sometimes they are entirely correct, sometimes completely wrong but other times more often they contain elements of both. By checking other sources they can add or round out memories and stories.

Charles Simpson 1853 – Bank of New South Wales

In June 1853 a new branch of the Bank of New South Wales opened in Newcastle. The Manager was Alexander Stuart but of note is that the Local Director was C Simpson, Esq., J.P. The building was the former residence of Alexander Waker Scott of Ash Island, who as referenced earlier, Charles would have known from his work as a magistrate.

References

1. _{Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 – 1893), Wednesday 16 February 1853) THE DURHAM ELECTION C Simpson mentioned https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/662883?searchTerm=THE%20DURHAM%20ELECTION}
2. _{NSW Land Registry Services – No 541 Book 32 Conveyance https://hlrv.nswlrs.com.au/}
3. _{Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate (NSW : 1876 – 1954), Saturday 3 October 1936, page 5 WARATAH’S FIRST SETTLERS Mr. Braye Reviews Early History}
4. _{Eccles Road, Uncovering Salford’s Lost Heritage – John Simpson}
5. _{England and Wales Visitation, Volume I, III-XIV, Visitation of England and Wales Vol. 10, Simpson of Foston Hall, co. York, Simpson of Foston Hall, co. York – Original data: Joseph Jackson Howard, ed. Visitation of England and Wales. Vol. I-XIV. Privately printed, 1893-1906.}
6. _{‘Ploughing and Sowing: or the Annals of an Evening School in a Yorkshire Village and the work that grew out of it – By a Clergyman’s Daughter’ Signed M. E. S., i.e. Mary E. Simpson Edited by FD Legard https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Ploughing_and_Sowing_or_Annals_of_an_Eve/sKUUA1rgAewC?hl=en&gbpv=0}
7. _{‘Politics, Patronage and Public Works, The Administration of New South Wales Vol 1 1842 – 1900’ by Hilary Golder p83}
8. _{‘Politics, Patronage and Public Works, The Administration of New South Wales Vol 1 1842 – 1900’ by Hilary Golder p86}
9. _{NLA Trove – Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 – 1848) Saturday 7 August 1841, page 1 Classified Advertising}
10. _{NLA Trove – Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1831 – 1842), Monday 7 March 1842, page 2 Classified Advertising}
11. _{“India Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGZB-K2G : 5 February 2020), Gertrude Darby, 1837.}
12. _{‘Politics, Patronage and Public Works, The Administration of New South Wales Vol 1 1842 – 1900’ by Hilary Golder p59}
13. _{‘Politics, Patronage and Public Works, The Administration of New South Wales Vol 1 1842 – 1900’ by Hilary Golder p59}
14. _{Source: Gionni Di Gravio OAM, ASAAP | University Archivist Special Collections (Archives) Auchmuty Library Chair, Hunter Living Histories Initiative – ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF NEWCASTLE – SCONE PARISH}
15. _{Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 – 1893), Saturday 29 March 1851, page 2 SINGLETON. Charles Simpson, Esq., J.P.}
16. _{Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate (NSW : 1876 – 1954), Saturday 3 October 1936, page 5 WARATAH’S FIRST SETTLERS Mr. Braye Reviews Early History}