INFO ON JOHN CURTIS AND ANN MORAN COURTESY MARY WILSON

John Curtis was probably born in Daglingworth/Bristol England c 1750 and was married at St Phillips and Jacobs in Bristol to Jane Purrier in 1773. They had 10 children. John practiced accountancy until the early 1790’s .

In March 1795 he was tried and convicted at the Lent Assizes in Gloucester on 4 counts of “forging, counterfeiting, coining . . . silver coin of the realm called a sixpence”. He was sentenced to 7 years which was transmuted to transportation to Australia. He left England on the Ganges in August 1796 and arrived in Sydney on 2 June 1797.

In his first years in NSW he worked for the Government as a dairyman at Toongabbie. He was promoted to overseer and Superintendent of the Government herd in 1802.

John was emancipated on 4 June 1802 and the next year petitioned Governor King for permission to return to his family in England, unaware that his wife, Jane, had died from consumption in 1800. Despite his good reputation and that Governor Patterson, George Johnston and Rev. Marsden signed his plea he never returned to England.

In 1802, an Irish convict, Ann Moran arrived in NSW and was assigned to work for John. They eventually married in 1814 and had 5 children (not necessarily in that order).

In 1809 John was granted 80 acres of land at Liberty Plains (now Chester Hill), Sydney. Curtis Rd in Chester Hill runs across part of this land grant. By 1821 he owned a house in Parramatta, which he left to his oldest daughter, Betsy, 26 head of cattle and a mare, a 30 acre farm on Sydney Rd, near Haslem’s Creek (now Lidcombe), adjoining a grant of 100 acres made to Ann after John’s death. This land stayed in the family.

The Villawood Migrant Hostel in Millers Rd Villawood stands on John Curtis’s original estate.

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John Curtis Petition to Governor King in 1803

 

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This is from “Kings Papers” in Sydney Library. It was sent to me by Ken Eccleston about 15 (?) years ago. Looking at the handwriting it is very similar to my father’s handwriting (also a John) – he always had the reputation of having beautiful handwriting when he was young; may be it is inherited. Dad was also an accountant.

John Curtis Letter to Governor MacQuarie

 

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John died on 12 September 1821 and is buried at St John’s Pioneer Cemetery Parramatta.

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John Curtis Will:

 

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Ann Moran (c1767 – 1832)

Born c 1767 in Ireland. She was one of the first hundred Irish women convicts to come to Australia. She arrived on the “Hercules” in 1802 after being convicted in County Heath, Ireland.

After arrival she was assigned to work for John Curtis₁ They eventually married on 6 August 1814 at St John’s Parramatta, NSW, and had 5 children, not necessarily in that order.

After John’s death in 1821 she applied for and was given a further land grant of 100 acres adjoining John’s original 30 acres in c1824.

Ann died ion 6 October 1832 and was buried at the site of Central Railway Station in Sydney. Later the original cemetery was moved to the Pioneer Cemetery at Botany.

SITES TO SEE : THE TIME OF ANN MORAN AND THE HERCULES.

http://www.jenwilletts.com/colonial_events_1802.htm

http://www.convictconnections.org.au/shipsA-I.html

http://www.danbyrnes.com.au/blackheath/ships3.htm

http://www.historyservices.com.au/nsw_colonial_chronology_1770_1803.htm

http://www.jstor.org/pss/27516597

http://www.mcginleyclan.org/irishslaves.htm

 

EXTRACT FROM http://www.ulladulla.info/historian/1804deaths.html

Deaths 1804 NSW & Norfolk Island Early Colonial History Research and Indexed by Historian Cathy Dunn. 

Castle Hill

HUGHES

James

1804

SG 19 Jan 1806. Last week a native informed Tarlington, a settler, that the skeleton of a white man, with a musket and tin kettle laying beside him, had been seen under the first ridge of the mountains. The settler accompanied the native, and found the skeleton, and as described, the bones of which being very long, leads to a more than probable conjecture, that the remains are those of James Hughes, who absconded from Castle Hill the 15th of February 1804, in company with 15 others, most of whom had recently arrived in the Hercules, on the ridiculous pretext of finding a road to China, but in reality to commit the most unheard of depredations; the consequences of which were, that the whole except Hughes were shortly apprehended, and 13 capitally convicted before the Criminal Court, of whom two were executed, and 11 pardoned. Hughes was an able active man, well known in Ireland during the rebellion that existed in that country for his abominable depravities; and it is hoped his miserable end will warn the thoughtless, inexperienced and depraved against an inclination to exchange the comfort and security derived from honest labour, to depart from which can only lead to the most fatal consequences

Parramatta

HUMES

Samuel

Mar 1804

Leader in the 1804 Battle of Vinegar Hill – rebellion executed at Parramatta and hung in chains, Convict Hercules I 1802

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Revolution, counter-revolution, and union

By Jim Smyth

JOHN CURTIS

There are 11 mentions of a John Curtis in the years 1800-1810 in the Sydney Newspapers.

THE PROMISORY NOTE.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article627810

The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803-1842) Sunday 3 September 1809

GRANTS WERE MADE TO :

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article627880

he Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803-1842) Sunday 17 December 1809

GRANTS.

Martin Sweeney Isaac Cornwall  
Michael Murphy Stephen Shore   

John Jones Humphry Thorn 

Thomas Mansfield John Handle  
John Liquorice James Ruse

James Plunkett William Ward
John Lacy Edward Ryan    
Thomas Dunn John Miller 

John Rowe Edward Miles  
John Jones John Nichols

Hannah Taylor Annesly McGra

Elizabeth Moore Hume Richard Hammet   

Richard Dowling David Batty 

John Curtis Edward Main
Thomas Rose Obadiah Ikin      
Charles Tompson Mary Shepley  
Thomas Green John Burgin   

Alexander Ikin John Farlington   

Andrew Cunningham John Jones

PAUL FERGUS AND ANN MORAN AND JOHN CURTIS

 

Dear Lynne
I also am descended from John Curtis and Ann Moran through their daughter Catherine and George Eccleston. I am their third great-grandson.
In two weeks, my wife and I will be visiting Ireland and I am hoping that I might be able to do a bit more research on the ground about Ann as she certainly seems to have been a remarkable woman.
I am trying to resolve a number of discrepancies between various items of information in my possession.
The best information seems to indicate that she was convicted in Trim in Co Meath in 1797 (coincidentally the year that John arrived in Sydney)in connection with political activities and that she was held in jail in Ireland for five years before being transported to Australia on the Hercules in November 1801, arriving here on 26 June 1802. One record in the State Library implies that the prisoners on the Hercules were convicted for offences in the “late rebellion” which can only mean the United Irishmen in 1798 from the context.
I should be grateful for any information you can provide that might assist with my research in Ireland.
While visiting my son and his family in London after Ireland, I intend to return to Bristol to undertake more research into John Curtis. I obtained a lot of information 18 months ago including records of the marriage of John Curtis and Jane Purrier and of the baptisms of all 11 of their children in St Philip and St Jacobs Church in Cheese Lane, Bristol. From these records, I managed to visit the three streets in which they lived at the times of the births of different children. For most of their married life they lived in Cheese Lane, near the Church. I suspect that as his accountancy practice failed and he got into financial difficulties, the family was forced to move to less salubrious accommodation.
I also managed to obtain copies of one press report of John’s conviction and death sentence at Gloucester Assizes for coining. The judge must have been feeling sympathy for John because another man convicted and sentenced to death at the same sittings was immediately taken for “execution of the sentence” but the judge commuted John’s sentence to transportation for life.
After returning to Australia in April 2008, I managed to locate descendants of John’s and Jane’s youngest child in New York.
Paul Fergus

UPDATE TO READY OR NOT

http://lynnesheritage.wordpress.com/ready-or-not/

I am placing the READY OR NOT research on a page of its own. (see above). Updated today is the story of JOHANNAH READY and FRANCIS PENDERGRAST. 

COLONIAL MOTHERS

THE SAG Newsletter reports that Dr Tanya Evans, now of Macquarie University, is engaged in researching the history of motherhood in early Colonial Australia and Britain between 1750 and 1850. The focus has caught my fancy. My Mind seems to have taken a disproportionate amount of time in recovering from the Change of year and the Summer Season and I haven’t been able to get my mental historical  hard drive functioning at all but this little article has begun to bring the ghosts back to life again. Dr Evans is asking for assistance from any who have worked extensively on their family histories and have details of mothers from these early times. Dept of Modern History at Macquarie University, Sydney would have the contact details for you.

As for me, it has me thinking of all the Mothers of Mine who and the folkore I have been given. The Scottish Widow who was asked to be Laird of the Clan but came out here with her children instead.  Johannah Ready Prendergast, whose son John was sent as a convict to Government House at Windsor where his mother was Housekeeper. I wonder often about Johannah who was 47 when convicted in Ireland. She tried to have another son and his family sent out but failed. When John’s marriage failed and he became excessively odd in his behaviour and was sentenced to Moreton Bay, Johannah disappears from the records. I like to think she followed him.

Ann Moran and Hannah Hutchings/Hitchens. What was it like for them to be mothers here in the early 19th Century ? Young convict women. Ann had 5 children to John Curtis who was already husband and father to a family in England and had attempted to have them brought to him.  Hannah was recorded as a ‘ loose woman’ on the convict ship THE BROTHERS. How did her life as a mother develop from that starting point and from the death of her first husband in the Lunatic Asylum, Liverpool ?

PARRAMATTA IN THE NLA NEWSPAPERS PT 2

REFER TO ANN AND JOHN CURTIS

 

JOHN WAS GRANTED LAND ON 17 DECEMBER 1809 BY GOVERNOR PATTERSON. LATER CANCELLED AND THEN RE-GRANTED BY MCARTHUR IN 1810.

SOME MORE BACKGROUND NATIONAL LIBRARY AUSTRALIA ARTICLES REFERRING TO PARRAMATTA OF THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY.

YEAR	FAMILY NEWS	NATIONAL LIBRARY HISTORIC NEWSPAPERS ARTICLES OF THE TIME
1809	On 17th December  1809 JOHN CURTIS was notified that Lt Gov Patterson had granted him land at Parramatta.	January 14, 1809. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article627664 THE Lieutenant Governor has been pleased to appoint Mr. James Larra to be Vendue Master to the District of Parramatta. By Command of His Honor the Lieutenant Governor, Alexander Riley, Secretary. Head Quarters, Sydney, Jan, 14, 1809.
1810	JOHN CURTIS wrote a memorial to Gov Macquarie seeking confirmation of the grant. ( sm folio pp 4 1810 NSW Colonial Sec in letters and memorials 1810 AK NO 80 REEL 1066 AONSW	http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article627901 The Sydney Gazette and… Sunday 14 January 1810, page 1. SOME OF THE OFFICERS WHO HELD OFFICE BEFORE THE LATE GOVERNOR WAS ARRESTED ARE RE-INSTATED TO THEIR POSITIONS INC REV FULTON. SEE JOHN CURTIS
1811	Ann  too was proving to be a marvellous help and mother and on Wed 3rd July 1811 gave birth to their third son PETER.	http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article628206 Clear orders from the Governor regarding illegal brewing of beer and spirits in Sydney and in the out-settlements which included PARRAMATTA. A list of names of people granted licences. Ann Moran is not listed here but in later years is issued with a brewing licence.
1812	During March 1812 there were again heavy rains and the Hawkesbury rose 12 feet over its banks. Flood years seemed to stir John’s spirit for on 7th December he further petitioned the Governor , this time for a free pardon which was granted	http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article628476 A property was listed for sale as follows TO be SOLD by Private Contract, a very desirable FARM on the Road to Parramatta, from which it is scarcely a mile distant, known by the Name of Rafferty’s Farm, and now occupied by Mr. Edwards, The above is beyond dispute one of the most enviable Farms of its extent in the Colony, containing about 80 acres, and having a neat, commodious, agreeable, and substantial Dwelling-house near the high road, with every Appurtenance that can tend to convenience and accommodation, with Possession next July.- For particulars application is requested to Mrs. Walker,  at the End of Cumberland street, towards Dawe’s Battery.
1813	As cattle were always straying through the burial grounds  behind St Johns Church Parramatta, an appeal for funds towards enclosing the grounds was made, to which JOHN CURTIS subscribed ( Sydney Gazette Jan 1813).	http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article628632 The Sydney Gazette and… Saturday 13 February 1813, page 4. An iron grey horse had also strayed – from Smith’s Paddock, at the PARK GATE near PARRAMATTA. The owner JAMES WRIGHT offered a 20 shillings reward.
1814	ANN MORAN and JOHN CURTIS MARRY Catherine ( Kitty ) is born.	http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article628939 The trial and tale of a sordid murder at the Turnpike at Parramatta. A story of RAGGED RASCALS and COARSE WOMEN. Of HOOLAGHAN and SUITAR. Of a yellow  handkerchief and a piece of lead worn in an ear.
1815		http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article629070 The Sydney Gazette and… Saturday 7 October 1815, page 2. The second Thursday of March meant that the half-yearly fair was to be held in PARRAMATTA and it was expected that it would be well attended. IN addition there is an account of a fatal trip to the Shoal Haven and of the party sent to look for missing men.
1816		http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2176963 The patronesses of the FEMALE ORPHAN INSTITUTION are named. Mrs Wylde , Mrs Molle, Mrs Hannibal MacArthur and Mrs Macquarie.
1817		http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2177429 THIS PRESENT SEASON OF SCARCITY. A calamitous season of floods leads to Government Orders regarding rations. Details are set out in the article.

PARRAMATTA THROUGH THE NLA NEWSPAPERS

JOHN CURTIS AND ANN MORAN WERE GRANTED LAND IN PARRAMATTA IN 1809 .

THE EVENTS OF THE CURTIS ERA WERE REPORTED IN THE SYDNEY GAZETTE – NOW THANKFULLY ONLINE. FOLLOW THE LINKS TO THE WORLD OF THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY OUT AT PARRAMATTA.

 

EVERY Person throughout the Colony, professing the Roman Catholick Religion, is to attend at Government House, Parramatta, on Wednesday the 20th of April Inst. at ten o’clock in the forenoon ; previous to which, those residing about Sydney are to give their names, places of abode, &c. to the  Rev. Mr. Dixon ; to the Magistrate’s Clerk at Parramatta ; and to Thomas Arndell, Esq, at Hawkesbury. By Command of His Excellency W. N. Chapman, Sec. Government House, April 12, 1803. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article625514   REGULATIONS TO BE APLIED TO REV DIXON AND ALL CATHOLIC  OBSERVANCES.inc police being stationed at all services. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article625535     ( John Curtis and Ann Moran ) With other ROMAN CATHOLIC members of the community, JOHN CURTIS signed a petition to J T  BIGGE for a ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL when Bigges came out to the Colony to investigate and report on how it was going. ( 20 Feb 1820 Bigges Report app p 3943).

 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article625496

The Sydney Gazette and… Saturday 2 April 1803, page 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article625427	THE INSURGENTS AT CASTLE HILL
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article625475 The Sydney Gazette and… Saturday 26 March 1803, page 4	EXECUTIONS RESULTING FROM CASTLE HILL UPRISING.

SOME CURTIS DESCENDANTS

JOYCE BELL IN 1948                     A FLOCK OF READYS                                    AT TWEEDMOUTH AVE ROSEBERY

JOHN CURTIS    JOHN CURTIS is the home person    0 ELIZABETH CURTIS    ELIZABETH CURTIS is a daughter of JOHN CURTIS    1 ANN MORAN    ANN MORAN is the wife of JOHN CURTIS    1 PETER MARK READY    PETER MARK READY is a grandson of JOHN CURTIS    2 THOMAS HOGAN    THOMAS HOGAN is a son-in-law of JOHN CURTIS (the husband of his daughter)    2 JOHN READY    JOHN READY is a son-in-law of JOHN CURTIS (the husband of his daughter)    2 PETER ( GEORGE) READY    PETER ( GEORGE) READY is a great-grandson of JOHN CURTIS    3 CATHERINE READY    CATHERINE READY is a great-granddaughter of JOHN CURTIS    3 ELIZABETH READY    ELIZABETH READY is a great-granddaughter of JOHN CURTIS    3 SARAH ANN READY    SARAH ANN READY is a great-granddaughter of JOHN CURTIS    3 SARAH ANN BENSON    SARAH ANN BENSON is the wife of a grandson of JOHN CURTIS    3 JOHANNAH CAVANAGH    JOHANNAH CAVANAGH is an in-law of JOHN CURTIS    3 JESSIE SARAH READY    JESSIE SARAH READY is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (4 generations; great-great-granddaughter)    4 JULIA JACKSON    JULIA JACKSON is the wife of a great-grandson of JOHN CURTIS    4 THOMAS BENSON    THOMAS BENSON is an in-law of a daughter of JOHN CURTIS    4 HANNAH HUTCHINS    HANNAH HUTCHINS is an in-law of a daughter of JOHN CURTIS    4 GEORGE MOORE JNR    GEORGE MOORE JNR is the husband of the wife of a grandson of JOHN CURTIS    4 FRANCIS PRENDERGAST    FRANCIS PRENDERGAST is the husband of an in-law of JOHN CURTIS    4 JACK BELL    JACK BELL is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (5 generations; great-great-great-grandson)    5 JOYCE BELL    JOYCE BELL is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (5 generations; great-great-great-granddaughter)    5 BETTY BELL    BETTY BELL is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (5 generations; great-great-great-granddaughter)    5 JEAN BELL    JEAN BELL is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (5 generations; great-great-great-granddaughter)    5 WILLIAM ALLEN BELL    WILLIAM ALLEN BELL is the husband of a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS    5 WILLIAM BELU JACKSON    WILLIAM BELU JACKSON is the father-in-law of a great-grandson of JOHN CURTIS    5 ELIZABETH JOHNSON    ELIZABETH JOHNSON is the mother-in-law of a great-grandson of JOHN CURTIS    5 WILLIAM JACKSON    WILLIAM JACKSON is a brother-in-law of a great-grandson of JOHN CURTIS    5 SARAH A JACKSON    SARAH A JACKSON is a sister-in-law of a great-grandson of JOHN CURTIS    5 JACKSON    JACKSON is a sister-in-law of a great-grandson of JOHN CURTIS    5 HENRY SAMUELS    HENRY SAMUELS is the step-father of the wife of a grandson of JOHN CURTIS    5 JON SANDERS    JON SANDERS is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (6 generations; great-great-great-great-grandson)    6 ROSS CARTER    ROSS CARTER is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (6 generations; great-great-great-great-grandson)    6 KEITH DUIST CARTER    KEITH DUIST CARTER is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (6 generations; great-great-great-great-grandson)    6 JANINE CARTER    JANINE CARTER is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (6 generations; great-great-great-great-granddaughter)    6 SUSAN SANDERS    SUSAN SANDERS is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (6 generations; great-great-great-great-granddaughter)    6 LYNNE SANDERS    LYNNE SANDERS is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (6 generations; great-great-great-great-granddaughter)    6 CHERYL BURTON    CHERYL BURTON is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (6 generations; great-great-great-great-granddaughter)    6 WILLIAM DUIST CARTER    WILLIAM DUIST CARTER is the husband of a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS    6 ALFRED ROY BURTON    ALFRED ROY BURTON is the husband of a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS    6 BRUCE SANDERS    BRUCE SANDERS is the husband of a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS    6 BENJAMIN POMROY    BENJAMIN POMROY is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (7 generations; great-great-great-great-great-grandson)    7 JIM ROBERT BRAITHWAITE    JIM ROBERT BRAITHWAITE is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (7 generations; great-great-great-great-great-grandson)    7 KATI BRAITHWAITE    KATI BRAITHWAITE is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (7 generations; great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter)    7 JOSEFINE DEWBERRY    JOSEFINE DEWBERRY is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (7 generations; great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter)    7 CASSANDRA POMROY    CASSANDRA POMROY is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (7 generations; great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter)    7 MADELINE POPPY BRAITHWAITE    MADELINE POPPY BRAITHWAITE is a direct descendant of JOHN CURTIS (8 generations; great-great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter)    8 APOLOGIES TO THOSE I HAVENT YET INSTALLED. or those WHO WISH TO BE UNINSTALLED.

LYNNE JOY SUE SANDERS WITH JESSIE BELL. READYS AT A WATERFALL.            JACK JOY JEAN JESSIE BELL AT ROSEBERY.

ANN MORAN CURTIS : FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF JOHN

 

ANN MORAN CURTIS : FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF JOHN

FROM PHIL READY’S READY OR NOT.

In his will JOHN CURTIS left everything to ANN in trust for his children, ELIZABETH, JAMES, JOHN, PETER and CATHERINE.

Ann having an equal portion in the rest. To his married daughter ELIZABETH READY he also left 10 head of cattle.

This left 26 head of cattle and 2 mares, a certain house in the township of PARRAMATTA , and a 30 acre farm along the SYDNEY ROAD which he had bought from JAMES WRIGHT. These were to be divided as evenly as possible between ANN and the children but if ANN were to remarry ad the childrens’ shares become endangered , then his friends, JOHN LACEY and THOMAS GARTY were to become the guardians of his children’s property until they were able to look after their own interests. Witnesses to his signature were JOHN LACEY, THOMAS GARTY and his son-in-law JOHN READY.

Two months after John’s death, a letter came from J MEEHAN ordering him to remove his herds etc from his land at TOONGABBIE as it was now required by the Government. ( NSW COL SEC in letters p 14 reel 2167 ) .

ANN had received a grant of 100 acres at PARRAMATTA ( Vol 18 p 169) and was leasing two small blocks nearby one of 36 perches ( Vol 16 pp 339 and one of 38 perches Vol 16 p 231 ) In 1822 she is reported as supplying yeast for the prisoner’s barracks at PARRAMATTA (A 766 p 2 ML)

As ANN’S brewing licence had expired although her eyesight had been damaged in an accident she went to SYDNEY on 5 MARCH 1822 to renew the licence. Upon her return she found that her brewery with most of its stock had been destroyed by fire. There was always the danger of this happening for at that time there were only wood fires for cooking or oil lamps for lighting. The fire was put out with the help of several people and in the 14th March Edition of the AUSTRALIAN Ann thanked them for their help. At the same time she circulated a petition for help from the local populace to get started in business again so that she could feed her children. ( petition to the people of SYDNEY from ANN CURTIS )

The 16 October 1822 edition of the SYDNEY GAZETTE carried an advertisement from Ann advertising that she was leaving the Colony but in November that year a court case COOPER V CURTIS took place with the verdict being found in favour of COOPER.

On the 10 November 1822, J T CAMPBELL placed a notice in the SYDNEY GAZETTE,

“Pursuant to levy I will cause to be set up and sold. one Cow and calf, 1 pig,a small quantity of sugar and sundry household items of furniture . I will further sell by auction at my office in HUNTER STREET at 12 noon the defendant CURTIS’ right, title and interest in and to the house wherein she now resides situated near the Turnpike gate at PARRAMATTA on the road leading to WINDSOR being on a corner of the road leading to the ORPHAN SCHOOL.

On Tuesday 25 November 1823 JOHN CURTIS’ request for land was granted ( too late for JOHN ) : 80 acres at PILGRIM HILL, LIBERTY PLAINS. (Bk p 4 D 225 ) . The following year 1824 on page 4 of the 19th February Edition of the SYDNEY GAZETTE Ann’s home was again advertised for sale and she moved to the 30 acre farm on SYDNEY ROAD where in 1826 she was listed as  property owner ( Wentworth Papers A 767 p39).

As soon as he was old enough PETER CURTIS was apprenticed as a BUTCHER to WILLIAM SHARP in HUNTER ST SYDNEY and on 5 DECEMEBER 1828 gave sworn evidence for SHARP when SHARP was accused of dishonesty. Apparently Sharp was unable to read and signed a document read out to him by one BENJAMIN KIRKBY purported to be an agreement to lease a house which Kirkby was about to take from one MERRITH. it later turned out that what Kirkby had really tricked Sharp into signing was a bill of exchange for 50 pounds and it was only because of PETER being there at the time that he was able to appear as a witness for SHARP.

By 1828 John and Ann Curtis’ eldest son JAMES had reached the age of 22 and had met and courted MARY PARSONS born in the Colony in 1811. During the year they were joined in marriage and set up home together.

When the Census was taken in November of 1828, there were only 15 year old Catherine, Ann and 72 year old JOHN BRYAN left living at the SYDNEY ROAD property. Bryan had arrived on Sat 15 Feb 1806 aboard the TELLICHERRY and was working as a labourer for ANN.

(This census shows ANN as arriving on the ATLAS but careful research shows that none of the three Anns who arrived aboard that ship married a CURTIS. AS THE ATLAS and HERCULES had left the same port on the same day sailing most of the way together it is reasonable to assume that a mistake has been made in the entry.)

1829 saw the birth of a son JOHN HENRY to JAMES and MARY CURTIS and to ELIZABETH READY who had given birth to a daughter in 1826, a son- PETER MARK READY.

WHAT part if any ANN played in the events that shook the family in 1829-30 is not known but one day in 1830 her son-in-law JOHN READY arrived at her farm with some cattle which were branded JC on their rumps . These beasts he left at the farm and departed. The next day they were removed by the Police. Later JEREMIAH DALEY who lived at the farm testified that JOHN READY was the one who brought them there.

Two years later on 6 October at the age of 60, ANN died and was buried at the SYDNEY BURIAL GROUND, at that time where central Railway Station now stands. About 73 years after ANN’S burial, when the land was required to build the Railway Station and tracks her remains were transferred to the PIONEER SECTION of BOTANY CEMETERY where her headstone still stands today among those of numerous well known early settlers. 

 

2. JOHN CURTIS MARRIED 1814 TO ANN  MORAN

1	1803	ELIZABETH	MARRIED 1820 TO JOHN READY
2	1806	JAMES	MARRIED 1828 TO MARY PARSONS
3	1807	JOHN
4	1811	PETER	MARRIED 1842 TO ADELA AUSTIN
5	1814	CATHERINE	MARRIED 1833 TO GEORGE ECCLESTON

JAMES CURTIS became a very successful cabinetmaker, upholsterer and UNDERTAKER carrying on his business in HUNTER STREET , SYDNEY and several times having to move into larger premises. After the death of his wife MARY in 1848, JAMES with a family of 7 children to care for remarried , his wife being ELLEN SWEENEY.

CATHERINE continued to live at the SYDNEY ROAD property until she married GEORGE ECCLESTON who had arrived in NSW as a soldier and was later a founding member of the NSW MOUNTED POLICE.

Very little is know of JOHN CURTIS JNR and although there is an interesting story of a JOHN CURTIS who was executed in 1828 for stealing a cow at BRINGELLY belonging to W C WENTWORTH, the account does not appear to tie up with our JOHN whom I believe was in the MOLONGOLO PLAINS AREA where he advertised in 1844 for three lost horses which had strayed. It was to this general area that PETER CURTIS and GEORGE ECCLESTON moved after their respective marriages with George setting up his cattle station BLACKFOREST near COOMA and PETER running a very successful cattle and butchering business there . The last known of JOHN JNR was at DIAMOND CREEK in VICTORIA . After that there were too many JOHN CURTIS’ to distinguish one from another.

PETER CURTIS raised a family of four girls and one son  and lived until 1885 , his wife ADELAIDE, having died in 1875 at the age of 52. 

CATHERINE and GEORGE ECCLESTON had a family of two boys and eight girls. both George and Catherine died in 1882. George on the 18 May and Catherine on 22 September at the age of 62.