Robert the mariner, ship builder and ship owner

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser,
 30 October 1830, page3

Robert Henderson was nearing 30 years old when he started his ventures into the shipping business. Over the next 35 years he would build, sail and own at least 14 vessels of various sizes, mostly for the coastal trade.

His first venture started in 1826 when he was part owner of Northumberland. 

Next, he set up one of the first shipyards in Brisbane Water, at Veteran Hall, the family farm at current-day Saratoga. He probably employed shipwrights to do the actual building, but managed the projects himself. He built at least 5 vessels between 1829 and 1836, including vessels named Sarah, Lark, Maid of Australia and Catherine.

He was able to sail vessels himself, and seems to have been a competent seaman. There is one account (see clipping right) of a rescue he made while master of the cutter Linnet. 

I have not found any evidence that he owned the Linnet but he was shown as the master on at least three other voyages into Sydney in 1830.

Robert also sailed as master on his own vessels on occasion, including Rambler, Lark and Betsey, but he usually employed professional seamen.

Coastal shipping was both a very risky and profitable business. Many of the early settlements were in coastal areas. The coastal rivers and the enclosing Great Dividing Range made land travel very difficult. Settlers depended on sea transport to get their produce to markets in Sydney, and also for most of their provisions and mail. Many also chose to travel by sea. Often, there was only one trading vessel serving a number of settlements, so there was little or no competition. Robert may also have profited from some illicit trade and was known in some circles as 'Bob the Smuggler' (that will be the subject of a separate post).

The following vessels were owned at some point by Robert Henderson:

• Northumberland, 18-ton sloop (part owner);
• Sarah, 14-ton cutter, built by Robert in 1829;
• Rambler, 18-ton cutter;
• Betsey, 12-ton sloop;
• Lark, 19-ton schooner, built by Robert in 1832 ;
• Maid of Australia, 77-ton brigantine, built by Robert in 1834;
• Catherine, 35-ton cutter, built by Robert in 1836;
• Ranger, 46-ton sloop;
• Nautilus, 43-ton schooner;
• Fly, 20-ton schooner;
• Currency Boy, 50-ton schooner;
• Australia, 46-ton 3-mast schooner;
• Wanderer, 138-ton brigantine;
• Policeman, 100-ton 3-mast schooner.

But the risks were real and many of the vessels ended their days wrecked in a storm. Robert's most significant loss was probably the Maid of Australia. Robert had personally  supervised her construction at Veteran Hall and the newspapers carried glowing reports of her first arrival in Sydney. She had cost £1,500. She sailed on her maiden voyage to Hobart on 8 June 1834 with a cargo of maize, flour, butter, fruit and timber. She was never seen again and presumed lost with all hands.

Despite the loss, Robert persevered with shipping for more than 20 years, although he gave up shipbuilding. It was possibly the wreck of the Currency Boy that was the final straw, that convinced Robert to retire from the shipping business. He had just turned 60 a few months before the tragedy. Currency Boy was wrecked near Norah Head in November 1856 with the loss of three lives. Over the next few years Robert sold his remaining vessels including the Australia, Wanderer and Policeman.

If you were wondering about the different classes of vessels, it is all about the way the sails were rigged: 

• A sloop is the most, a single mast and two sails, one in front and one behind the mast. 
• A cutter has a single mast, but is able to carry extra sails both fore and aft of the mast, improving performance. 
• A ketch has two masts with the rear one being smaller (Robert did not own ketches, but William ward did). 
• A schooner has two or three masts, and the foremast is the same size or smaller than the main mast. 
• A brigantine has two masts, but is a square rigged on the foremast. 

Many of the larger schooners and brigantines were 'clipper ships' meaning they were sleek fast-sailing vessels, the pinnacle of sailing technology. They were eventually replaced by steam power which was more reliable and required a much smaller crew.

Robert Henderson the Sydney landowner

It has been difficult to research Robert Henderson';s land dealings in Sydney because so much of the history has been overwritten by several phases of development in the city since Robert's time. To make matters worse, there was another Robert Henderson in Sydney at the same time. The other Robert was a gardener and nurseryman who lived in Newtown.

It is pure conjecture, but a feasible hypothesis that it was our Robert’s growing involvement in shipping that encouraged him to start investing in Sydney. It looks as if most, if not all, his land purchases were close to the waterfront around Darling Harbour.  He was certainly involved in owning and operating wharf space and had several wharf properties in his portfolio when he died.

Click to expand - 1930s map of Sydney showing the rough location of some of Robert Henderson's properties. The red line marks the 1830s waterfront. Today's waterfront has reclaimed even more of the harbour and is roughly at the end of the wharves shown on this map.

The earliest property dealings I have found for Robert Henderson in Sydney was the purchase of property in Kent Street in 1830. I have found it difficult to sort out the details, but Robert seems to buy the property for £150, then sell it in 1835 for £400.

In 1836 Robert is given permission to erect a wharf on his land at Darling Harbour. He must have already owned the land and it seems to be at the western end of Erskine Street. Around the same time, Robert buys property on the west side of Sussex Street for £650.  The land has a cottage on it.

In 1838 there seems to be a purchase of land and buildings on the north side of Erskine Street and running along the west side of Sussex Street. I think this may have adjoined the earlier land and also contained a public house known as the Sprig of Shillalah. The pub was leased to William Bergin who held the license from 1838 until 1841. In 1842 Robert advertises the Sprig of Shillalah for rent or lease, then in 1844 he takes out his own license for the Dove Inn seemingly at the same location.

There is a document dating from 1941 about a Town Grant in York Street. Based on the wording of the document, it is possible that this was originally granted in 1824, but whether this was to Robert is not clear. Lad records in the 1820s and 1830s were haphazard and many titles had to be reviewed by the Court of Claims in the early 1840s.

In 1842 Robert advertises a property for sale in Miller's Point. It is possible that this was part of his duties as a trustee - he had several such trustee responsibilities.

There is evidence that Robert engaged builders to erect buildings on his land in Sussex Street. When he advertised his Budgewoi farm for sale in 1846 he added a postscript:

Any builder or contractor may purchase the above by erecting buildings in Sussex Street North as per plans and specifications.

The farm did not sell, but the buildings were eventually completed. A diagram exists showing the Dove in and a row of 8 terrace houses running along Sussex Street. These houses would have been rented out.

The Dove Inn and houses in Sussex Street. To align this diagram to the above map it would need to be rotated anticlockwise.

About 1851 Robert purchased a small church known as the Bethel Chapel that had been used as a seaman's mission. The Church had been replaced by a new one in The Rocks and an Act of Parliament had to be passed to allow the former site to be sold. Robert seems to have been the purchaser as the Chapel property is included in his Will.

In 1856 Robert takes out a license for the Clarence Hotel, which I believe was on the corner of Erskine and Shelley Streets. The license for the Clarence Hotel is subsequently in the name of Robert Jnr, and in 1860 is in the  name of Hannah Henderson, Robert Jnr's estranged wife.

In 1865 Robert purchased several lots that seem to be part of the Phoenix Wharf.

Robert Henderson's will names the following properties in Sydney:

• Parts of lots 4 and 5 of Phoenix Wharf.
• Lot 3 of Phoenix Wharf with the Clarence Hotel.
• A wharf and buildings known as the Bethel Chapel.
• The Dove Inn and associated properties in Erskine and Sussex Streets.

The Will left most of these properties in trust for his grandchildren, but the properties were subsequently resumed by the Government in 1900 for a redevelopment of Darling Harbour. 

Next week I will be looking at Robert Henderson the mariner and shipowner.

Brisbane Water land baron

Robert Henderson was able to acquire a substantial land holding in what later became the Parish of Kincumber. I have found 8 separate farms that I think he owned at one point and at least 5 of these were still in his ownership when he died.

Robert Henderson's land holdings in the parish of Kincumber. The numbers represent the portion numbers assigned in the 1880s. 

Robert Henderson's main base in Brisbane Water was Veteran Hall, a 100-acre farm that he inherited from his father-in-law, Patrick Geary in 1827. Patrick had been Granted the land in 1823. When the first Parish Maps were prepared in the 1880s, this was identified as Portion 26. Robert and his wife Catherine lived at Veteran Hall from 1825 until about 1835 when they moved to Sydney. They returned in about 1845 when Robert was appointed District Councillor and remained there until they died in 1869 and 1868 respectively.

The first land in the area that I have found acquired by Robert in his own right was a 60-acre farm originally granted to James Spears. Robert bought this farm in 1826 for 'fifteen pounds in dollars'. I assume this refers to 'holey dollars' which were legal currency in the colony until 1828. Based on the description of this land, and some other clues, I think this was Portion 43, at Empire Bay, and Robert probably sold it to James Richards by 1830.

Next he purchased 100 acres at South Kincumber from William Blizzard for £12/10. This was Portion 29 which was eventually inherited by Robert's grandson, who sold it to Sister Mary McKillop for her home for boys.

Also in 1828, Robert purchased 320 acres from Peter Campbell for £50. The farm was named ‘Culcoran’ and was about 3 km south-east of Kincumber, on Cochrone Creek. It was Portion 285 and was still in his possession when he died.

In 1833 he purchased 60 acres near Green Point from John Miller for £50. He sold this block to Thomas and Maria Pidding the following year for £100.

Then in 1834 he purchased two new grants directly from the Government. The first was 50 acres adjoining Veteran Hall to the west - Portion 71. This cost £12/10. The second grant was 100 acres to the east of Veteran Hall for £25. This was portion 116, part of Davistown today. I think Robert still owned both of these properties when he died.

The 100-acre farm to the north of Veteran Hall may also have belonged to Robert. It is shown as Robert's property on a map in Joan Taylor's family History, and there are documents among Robert's papers about a claim on the farm after Robert's death. This farm was Portion 27 and was named 'Mt Pleasant'.

The next post will look at Robert's land dealings in Sydney.

Henderson's land around the town of Gosford

From the plan of the Town of Gosford from 1890. The
names are those of the original grantees.

I am slowly getting my head around Robert Henderson's complex land dealings. I have already looked at his land in the Pittwater and Budgewoi districts (see earlier posts). 

I have had to accept that the information available on land dealings is less than perfect. Before the Torrens Title system was introduced in the 1880s there was no standardised way to identify a particular parcel of land, other than the description of the original area in the grant documents. Subsequent sales and subdivisions were not necessarily registered.

When Torrens Title was introduced, comprehensive maps were prepared for each Parish and a number assigned to each portion. This became the initial 'Deposited Plan' that has been the basis for subdivisions since.

At the time that Robert Henderson started to buy land, there were no Parishes defined, let alone Parish maps. In some cases it is easy to work out which parcels of land Robert owned, because he was the original name on the land title, so his name is the one used on the early Parish maps. But where the original blocks were subdivided before the first maps were prepared, I have had to rely on the original description when trying to locate a property.

Robert purchased two farms close to the current City of Gosford in 1830 and 1832. There was no town then and not even plans for a town. It would not be named Gosford until 1839! 

The first farm was 320 acres. Robert purchased this farm from Thomas Alison Scott in May 1830 for £150. The paperwork is in the form of a mortgage, so Robert may have borrowed the money, possibly from Scott himself. By the description it was around current-day Point Clare. The sale document can be attributed to our Robert Henderson by his signature. I believe that Thomas Alison Scott is recognised as one of the first settlers of the district and owned large swaths of land. The sale document says that this was the farm where Thomas lived.

The description of the farm is as follows:

'... being in Brisbane Water in the County of Northumberland ... bounded on the south and east by water if Brisbane Water, north and west by unallocated lands, opposite Point Frederick and to the southward of Narara Creek...'

The second farm was 100 acres purchased from Columbus Fitzpatrick in March 1832 for £15. This appears to be an outright sale. This farm is described as follows:

 '...situated in the County of Northumberland, Parish unnamed at Brisbane Water, bounded on the east by Nerara Creek and on the north by a small freshwater creek which is about a quarter of a mile from the southern boundary of W. Heley's three hundred acres ...'

Note the two different spellings of Narara Creek!

I have not found what happened to these two farms, but it is likely that Robert sold them or they were resumed by the Government when the Town of Gosford was established.

In 1841 Robert was granted three allotments in the newly surveyed Town of Gosford. These blocks were each of 2 roods (½ acre) in area (see picture above). They were Lots 16, 17 and 18 in Section 8 of the town plan. The three lots front Baker Street, between Gorgiana Terrace and Donnison Street. Lot 16 cost Robert £22, the other two cost £20 each. Robert held onto these lots and they were included in his estate when he died. I assume he leased them. I don't think the same parcels of land exist in the modern city. They seem to have been combined into larger blocks running all the way between Baker Street and Mann Street.

Next week I will have a look at the land Robert owned in the Parish of Kincumber.

Cabbage Tree - a dairy farm at Budgewoi

Robert Henderson purchased the property at Budgewoi from the original grantee, John Slade. The purchase price was 100 pounds. The property was 640 acres and was located between Lake Munmorah and Tuggerah Lake. Slade had called it 'Pudgewoi', but it is named 'Budgewoi' on the Parish Map shown right. 

James Freeman had been an assigned convict at  Robert's Pittwater farm. Reading between the lines of the Freeman family's story, I think James probably worked at Robert's Brisbane Water properties as well, which was where he met his wife, Mary, another of Robert's assigned Convicts. Robert set up the couple as managers of the Budgewoi property. Under their management it became known as 'Cabbage Tree'. 

The property operated as a dairy farm, supplying milk, meat and cheese to the developing towns such as Gosford. It is likely Robert also supplied his Sydney hotels with produce from the various farms.

In 1846 Robert advertised the farm for sale as a going concern with 400 head of cattle. He may have been trying to fund his investments in Sydney because the advertisement suggests that a builder could erect buildings in Sussex Street as payment for the farm. It did not sell!

Then in 1852 and 1854 Robert was granted two 25-acre blocks in the village of Norah (near Norah Head) for 50 pounds each.

He finally sold the farm and the two 25-acre blocks to his good friend, Edward Hargraves. The sale took place in 1856 and the price was 1000 pounds. Hargraves was cashed up after claiming a Government prize for the discovery of gold near Bathurst (under controversial circumstances). Hargraves renamed the property 'Noraville' and built a homestead that still stands today. He had a falling out with the Freeman family and evicted them from the property where they had lived for more than 20 years. 

The Freemans went on to establish a haulage business with bullock teams, hauling goods from the coast to the Hunter Valley over ‘The Gap’. The route is remembered today by the name of the road, Freeman’s Drive, and their key watering place, Freeman’s Waterhole.