These are two of the buildings near the Terrace Motel in Windsor. OLD GOVERNMENT HOUSE is long gone but we are coming across images and newspaper reports about it.
EXTRACT FROM PHIL READY’S ‘READY OR NOT’.
JOHANNAH READY 1765-183?
” The ARCHDUKE CHARLES , a one class two decked vessel of five hundred and twenty five tons burthen was built in Newcastle England in 1809. With J.P. JEFFRIES as master and JOHN PAWSON as surgeon the ship sailed from Cork, Ireland on Friday 15th May 1812 with 147 male and 54 female convicts for the Penal Colony of NSW. Travelling via Rio de Janeiro she arrived at Sydney two hundred and seven days later on 16th February 1813. ( The Convict Ships by Charles Bateson)
Among the prisoners was 47 years old Johannah Ready sentenced by the court during 1811 in County Tipperary, Ireland to fourteen years transportation to the Colony.
On disembarking at Sydney Cove, Johannah was taken to the women’s barracks and then allocated to work at Government House Windsor. This necessitated a journey that was long and dangerous at that time for there were many thieves and bushrangers about so the party travelled with an armed guard. Johannah is listed in the Windsor Ration Book as receiving rations during 1813 and 1815 ( loc A 803 pp 59,90,122 ML) and during this time became Housekeeper at Government House.
Records show that she received payments for this position during 1814 and 1815 from the Police Fund. (Wentworth Papers loc. D1 M4 pp 121 137 ML) Her salary was published in the following editions of the SYDNEY GAZETTE.
5 AUGUST 1815 12 MONTHS WINDSOR 20 pds
11 MAY 1816 6 MONTHS PARRAMATTA 10 pds
8 FEB 1817 12 MONTHS WINDSOR 20 pds
As housekeeper at Government House Johannah would have come in contact with some of the most influential people in the Colony including the Rev Samuel Marsden and William Cox , Magistrate.
Johannah’s son John Ready, arrived as a prisoner aboard the convict ship THE THREE BEES in June of 1814 and by the end of the year had become overseer of the Government Dairy at Windsor.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15863030 TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.The Sydney Morning Herald… Tuesday 7 October 1919, TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. | Sir, – I note that. in your to-day’s issue you have an interesting article on some of the historic churches In New South Wales. You also make reference to the old Government House at Windsor, still standing. I have a photo, of this old building, and when I was in Windsor a year or two ago I was surprised to see that this historic building was then being used partly as a stable and partly as a laundry. We are inclined to decry conservatism as not worthy of this comparatively young country, but I think and believe that many will agree with me that a little conservatism in this particular case would be a good thing. The building, together with the land it occupies, could probably be bought for a nominal figure, and at a very slight expense could be secured against further decay, and kept as a relic of the early days of this State (or colony as it then was) I am, etc, HISTORICUS. Newcastle, Oct. 3. |
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18981643
DOCUMENT REFERRED TO. 1820.The Maitland Mercury… Saturday 22 March 1890, |
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15427482
A BOOK FOR ARCHITECTS.The Sydney Morning Herald… Saturday 14 June 1913,
|
FROM NATIONAL LIBRARY AUSTRALIA.
nla.pic-an2384440 Cazneaux, Harold, 1878-1953. Second Government House … [picture] [191-?] 1 photograph ; 17.1 x 25.2 cm. |
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15989304
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Tuesday 14 February 1922, page 11 |
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16787808
HISTORIC WINDSOR. SMUGGLERS’ CAVE AND OLD HOUSES.The Sydney Morning Herald… Monday 22 June 1931
|
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16932778
"BACK TO WINDSOR" WEEK. WINDSOR, Wednesday.The Sydney Morning Herald… Thursday 24 November 1932 |
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17311820
OLD SYDNEY. Combined Etching ExhibitionThe Sydney Morning Herald… Tuesday 8 December 1936, |
https://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.
THIS IS THE FOREWORD PHIL READY WROTE FOR HIS BOOK – “READY OR NOT “. I AM REPRODUCING IT FOLLOWING HIS EMAIL RE MY PUBLISHING HIS FINDINGS. PERMISSION GRANTED.
When I decided in 1981 to research the history of my family, i believed that we were on my father’s side, descended from an average English, Protestant family with nothing very exciting to be found.
How wrong I was for I have found that we are descended from Irish Roman Catholic convicts, that there are numerous skeletons in the family closet and that there existed adventure and romance that I for one never dreamed of and my father, as far as I am aware, never realised.
My mother, would have been shocked, for my earlier memories of her are that she was rather biased against Irish Roman Catholics and judgemental about people’s moral values but as she got older, in line with the changes going on, she mellowed and became more tolerant of other people’s points of view.
The detective work necessary to ferret out the information has taken my wife,Lois, and I to many parts of NSW and VICTORIA whilst the rest of the family have waited to see what would be the next discovery.
The pleasant surprise of receiving phone calls from others researching the READY family has introduced me to Doug Howe and Betty Alford, grandchildren of Catherine Louisa and Sarah Ann, my grandfather’s sisters who married Joseph Howe and William henry Watson respectively. This has opened up more information and has not only led to a continuing friendship with Doug but introduced me to several more cousins on his side of the family. Research by Doug also led to a meeting with Ken Eccleston, great grandson of George Eccleston and his wife Catherine, sister of my great,great grandmother Elizabeth Curtis. Ken’s contributions on the Curtis Family have been invaluable.
Each time I find more information I get a thrill, for there are times when I despair of ever finding the information I want, such as; WHAT HAPPENED TO THOMAS and ELIZABETH HOGAN and to JOHANNAH PRENDERGAST? I thought that release of the Victorian Records might help but a search of these records has also proven fruitless. Time and further research may find the answer.
Finding my ancestors and researching their history has helped fill in some of my genetic heritage and what has helped in making me the way I am, for each member has added their contribution. I well remember strange feelings I had when I read JOHANNAH’s letter to Governor Darling, and also the story of HANNAH HUTCHINS or HITCHINS ( for there are many variations to the spelling of her name.)
Reading the Surgeon’s account of the voyage of the ‘Dorothy’ gave me some idea of what it was like to travel out on one of the Convict Transports, although the Dorothy apparently had a much better trip than many others.
In some ways I feel that I may have deprived those who come after me of the fun I have had but there is still a lot left untold and each day I guess, we are making history. I hope that later researchers will enjoy it as much as I have. be careful of what you throw out for, I believe, that although we are not responsible for our ancestors, who incidentally wen through situations that I,for on, would not like to have gone through, we are, as guardians of our heritage, responsible to our descendants.
Phil Ready. July 1988.
![]() |
SARAH ANN READY (BENSON) 1830-1910 GEORGE MOORE Jnr 1828 -1903 |
PHIL of READY OR NOT has now sent me an email in response to my request to use his research online. PERMISSION GRANTED said Phil only recently back in Action after a nasty accident. It was years of work and travel and research that provided the information on the READY line for this generation. PERMISSION GRANTED. A very gracious response indeed. Phil is currently at work on his Index and updates on READY OR NOT.
from ready or not ; following the death of Peter Mark Ready on the Goldfields of Victoria. Following on from
PETER MARK READY AND SARAH ANN BENSON ON THE GOLDFIELDS
SARAH ANN (BENSON) READY and GEORGE MOORE Jnr.
Faced with the problem of survival, and with 5 young children to feed, on the 30th October 1863, Peter Mark Ready’s widow, SARAH READY, took the only acceptable course open to her. At the age of 31, 16 months after her husband’s death, she married 35 year old GEORGE MOORE, born in 1828 in SYDNEY to GEORGE MOORE Snr and ANN TRACEY. ( Vol 63 no 897 RGI )
GEORGE MOORE’s relationship to the family before the tragedy is not known but he seems to have been a close friend. Soon after the death of PETER MARK READY, he brought the family back to NSW for it would have been an unhappy reminder to all if they had remained. The fact that George had paid for the funeral and married Sarah the following year, taking on 5 children at the same time says something of his regard for them.
GEORGE SENIOR AND ANN TRACEY. George Jnr’s father, GEORGE MOORE Snr, was a 19 year old carpenter who had been living at Newcastle, England , when he was sentenced at his trial on 24 October 1821 to a life sentence and transportation to NSW. Arriving aboard the ASIA II on 24 July 1822, he was assigned to work for SOLOMON LEVY in SYDNEY and in 1826 received permission from the Governor to marry. His marriage to ANN TRACEY who had come free to the Colony, took place on 5 February 1827 and over the next 24 years they had a family of three sons. GEORGE 1828. HENRY 1832 WILLIAM 1842.and a daughter MARY in 1851. George had received a conditional pardon from the Governor in 1837 and lived until 17 April 1883.
GEORGE MOORE Jnr and SARAH settled down in SYDNEY and three years later a son WILLIAM THOMAS MOORE was born, the first of their three children. A daughter ESMA was born in 1870 and the last of their children HENRY THOMAS MOORE was born in 1874.
Seeing an opening, GEORGE MOORE Jnr set up as a PRODUCE MERCHANT at 165 Sussex Street Sydney with the family residence at 92 GLEBE STREET, GLEBE. it was here in this area that the children went to school and grew to maturity until on the 4th April 1874, Sarah Ann Ready married WILLIAM HENRY WATSON, a blacksmith from NEW ZEALAND. Four years later, in 1878, her sister ELIZABETH HANNAH READY, married JOHN SMITH and on the 10 June 1879, three months before the establishment of the first steam trams in Sydney, the last of PETER MARK READY’S daughters CATHERINE LOUISA was married to JOSEPH HOWE.
1897 saw the marriage of HENRY MOORE their younger half brother to ELLEN MCPHEE, setting up home across the road from his parents at No 75 GLEBE ROAD GLEBE. Esma Moore appears not to have married.
At the time GEORGE MOORE died , Sarah and he were living in no 94 Glebe Road Glebe, the house next door to their original home. it was here that Sarah died on 17 October 1910. Their graves are in the Church of England Section of Rookwood Cemetery along with the body of one of Sarah’s grandchildren FREDERICK BENSON READY.
There is some evidence that SARAH and PETER MARK READY may have quarrelled on the night so long before when he was killed, for a saying has come down through their daughter Sarah Ann Watson’s branch of the family ;
“ NEVER SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR HUSBAND IN ANGER FOR HE MAY FALL DOWN A MINE.”
SARAH ANN(BENSON) READY m 30/10/1883 GEORGE MOORE JNR WILLIAM THOMAS
1865-1872ESMA
1868HENRY THOMAS
1874-19??
M ELLEN MCPHEE
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FROM MARILYN; George Moore married Sarah Ann Ready in Sydney not Victoria, have a marriage transcript and it says Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth St, Sydney, witnesses Henry Samuels (step father) and Jane Samuels!! Hadn’t noticed before but this must be a half sister, but is she ‘Jane’ or ‘Hannah’.
Their 3rd child, Henry Thomas Moore who married Ellen McPhee, then their 2nd child Leslie Francis Moore who married Gladys May Robinson, then their 1st child Gladys Ivy Moore who married , Allen William Roberts
TRIAL OF GEORGE MOORE SENIOR GEORGE WILLIAM LEWIS, GEORGE MOORE, Theft > pocketpicking, 24th October 1821. Reference Number: t18211024-151 FROM TRIALS OF THE OLD BAILEY ONLINE http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t18211024-151-defend1366&div=t18211024-151#highlight 1324. GEORGE WILLIAM LEWIS and GEORGE MOORE were indicted for stealing, on the 29th of October , one handkerchief, value 2 s. the goods of James Larbalesher , from his person . JAMES LARBALESHER . On Monday last, between twelve and one o’clock at night, I was at the corner of Hatton-garden , coming home with my wife, several people passed near me, I felt and missed my handkerchief, and saw the prisoner Lewis give it to a woman. I took him and the woman. Moore came up and said, "What have you to do with this woman, she has nothing of yours." I called the watch and took Moore too as an accomplice; he endeavoured to escape, but I pursued and took him. I do not know what became of the woman. I am sure I saw it in Lewis’s hand. BENJAMIN RUSHBROOK . I was parting from a few friends at the corner of Hatton-garden. I heard a bustle, and saw Moore lay hold of the prosecutor, and say "What have you to do with this woman, she has no handkerchief of yours." The prosecutor took him, the woman escaped with the handkerchief. THOMAS BARTLET . The prisoners were given in my charge. LEWIS’S Defence. I was out of employ and was distressed, my parents having a large family I did not like to live on them, which caused me to keep late hours. I humbly implore mercy. MORRIS’S Defence. I got intoxicated and shoved one of these gentlemen, but what else I did I cannot say. I was in the woman’s company. LEWIS – GUILTY . Aged 18. MORRIS – GUILTY . Aged 18. Transported for Life . First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Recorder. |
Today I received an email from PHIL READY, who with his wife Lois, ( descendant of 2nd fleet) compiled READY OR NOT . Hours and hours he tells me in the Mitchell Library and many cemeteries. Phil’s work was one of the major initiating factors for me in this venture. He has given me full permission to use his research . Thank you, indeed, Phil.
History, Mystery, Research in Progress
Funny Posts and Solid Information for those who suffer from bipolar disorder and alcohlism
Learning to stumble through life without the comfort of booze.
A sweary alcohol recovery blog written by a Yorkshireman
Adventures in Addiction Recovery & Cancer Survival
A woman's quest for one year of sobriety
A mom, wife and professional's journey on recovering from addiction
I used to drink and now I don't
ACoA Recovery Issues (adult-children of alcoholics & other narcissists)
Watching life as it passed by
Editing and Creative Services
WHERE TO START WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START
Daily Recovery Messages
biographical, non-fiction
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Mountain City, Tennessee
Emotional musings- emotionspassion@gmail.com
Singapore to New Zealand - 12,000km by human power!