Edward Hammond Hargraves (1816 - 1891)

Born 7 Oct 1816 in Stoke Cottage, Alverstoke, Gosport, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Eliza (Mackie) Hargraves — married 26 Dec 1836 in St Andrews, Sydney, Colony of New South Wales

Descendants

Died 29 Oct 1891 at age 75 in Forest Lodge, Sydney, Colony of New South Wales

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Biography

Edward Hargraves is Notable.

Edward Hammond Hargraves (EHH) was born on 7th October 1816 to Harriett Whitcomb, age 26, and John Edwards Hargraves, age 32. He was born at the home of his maternal grandfather, John Whitcomb, at Alverstoke, Gosport. His father was a Lieutenant in the Sussex Militia and Harriet and the older children joined him when Edward was 6 weeks old. ^[1] He was baptised at Holy Trinity, Gosport on 1st November 1816.^[2]

Schooling

According to his book, he attended school at Brighton Grammar and also at Lewes. He remembered boys outings to Brighton and that he had been a good runner at school.

Early Career

He went to sea at age 14 (c. 1830) as a cabin boy. He claimed that his two older brothers had been 'given appointments' in the East India Company, but he had to make his own way. Both of his brothers appear to have enlisted in the East India Company military units.

The Sydney Morning Herald of 9th of April 1832. announced: "From London, via Hobart Town, on Tuesday last, the barque 'Wave', Captain Lister, lading, merchandise." Many passengers were listed. EHH arrived as the cabin boy aboard.

In June 1833 he sailed with Captain Parry-Okeden to gather beche-de-mer and tortoiseshell along the Queensland coast. The cargo was sold at Timor where they loaded ponies and sandalwood for Batavia. At Batavia, 20 of the 27 crew died of typhus. The ship was sold and those left went to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa possibly with Captain Parry-Okeden on the 'Mary Ann'.

On 9th May 1834 the "Red Rover" called at the Cape of Good Hope en route to NSW. It is possible that EHH made his way back to NSW along with perhaps other survivors, including Parry-Okeden and a man called Walker who had also been on the ill-fated 'Clementine'. The 'Red Rover' arrived in Sydney on 22nd July 1834.

According to his book, EHH then went to work at Captain Hector's property at. During his time there, he wrote that he visited the Lewis Ponds area looking for stray cattle and stabled his horse at Parson Tom's place.

In September 1835 his parents, two brothers and 7 sisters arrived on the 'Canton'. His father, now Captain Hargraves (ret) took up farming at Parramatta, but soon preferred to be employed by the government as Chief Constable at Raymond Terrace and Dungog. He and most of the family emigrated to New Zealand with Baron de Thierry's abortive venture at Hokianga. On 12th of December 1836 he leased Dapto Farm for 7 years. The 100 acre farm fronted Dapto Creek at Charcoal in Illawarra. ^[3]

Marriage

EHH married Eliza (Clara) Mackie, daughter of Sydney merchant, John Mackie, at St Andrew's in Sydney. ^[4][5]

December 26th, 1836, by Special License, by the Rev. Mr. M'Garvie, A. M., Mr. Edward Hammond Hargraves, third son of John Edward Hargraves, Esq., formerly Captain of the Sussex Militia, to Clara, youngest daughter of John Mackie, Esq., George- street, Sydney.

The Illawarra

EHH and Clara went to his property at Charcoal where they opened 'the first store south of Wollongong'.

They had 2 convicts assigned to them in July 1837 - a waterman and canal digger and a cotton dyer. ^[6] On 30th September 1837 they and several other properties were robbed by bushrangers. They broke in and took a chest of tea, a keg of rum, lard, poultry and other things. ^[7] EHH participated in social life as a 'gentleman' donating to the stipend for a Minister (1838) and signing an address to magistrate, Alfred Holden, as one of the local "Magistrates, Clergy and Landowners". In December 1837, his sister, Eliza Harriet Harris, who lived nearby, died, probably in childbirth. In July 1838, his sister, Emma Maria Weston who lived in Sydney also died following the birth and death of her son in April.

Move to East Gosford

On 11th November 1839, EHH sold the leasehold of his Dapto Farm fronting Dapto Creek to William Arthur Marshall for £260. ^[8] Clara was about to give birth so they stayed in the Illawarra, probably at his father-in-law, John Mackie's hotel in Wollongong. William was born in December and EHH then took the opportunity to make a visit to New Zealand to apparently visit his parents who had settled at the Bay of Islands. He placed the following notice in the Sydney Herald:

"THE Undersigned being about to proceed to the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, requests all claims or demands whatsoever against him, may be sent in for immediate liquidation. Parties indebted are requested to pay their accounts forth with. All unsettled accounts after the 10th inst., will be placed it the hands of his Solicitor for recovery. EDWARD HAMMOND HARGRAVES. Dapto, Illawarra. Jan 1 1840.

N.B -Mr. H intends staying a few days only in the Bay, and will return direct to Sydney. Any parties having agency business to transact in that place, he will be happy to undertake it, and give unexceptionable security for the due fulfilment thereof. All letters on the subject addressed as above, and post paid, will be punctually attended to."

EHH travelled on the 'Speculator', Captain Matthison. He was back in Sydney for the move to East Gosford where his wife had several cottages as her dowry. East Gosford was a private township developed by Samuel Peek, a Sydney merchant who had had several dealings with John Mackie. EHH set up a temporary store near the punt across Erina Creek ^[9]

On 25th February 1840, EHH was recommended by Alfred Holden, the magistrate he had known in Wollongong, to be Census Taker for the territory from Reids Mistake (Lake Macquarie) to Cooranbong, Wyong and Gosford. EHH completed it in 14 days.

On 24th March 1840 EHH was recommended as the Collector of Quit rents by Holden. Some difficulty arose over sureties and the appointment did not proceed. But it was evident that he was seen as a leader in the settlement as on 4 Apr 1840 it was noted in the Australian that EHH had been appointed agent for the General Steam Navigation Company and in September, at a public meeting, EHH was appointed, along with two others, to superintend the building of the church and school. On 25th May 1840 he was walking up the lane from Moores Wharf at Millers Point in Sydney when he was set upon by 3 'villains'. He fought them off, but others were robbed that night. ^[10]

Meanwhile he was building a new store and a wharf. On 25 Nov 1840, this advertisement appeared in the Sydney Herald:

"The Inhabitants of East Gosford, and Settlers in the District of Brisbane Water, are respectfully informed that the undersigned will open his new Store on the Victoria Wharf, on Saturday, the 21st instant, with a complete assortment of Goods of the best description ; and as his prices are, with the ex- ception of the freight equally low with the Sydney market, he solicits a continuance of that patronage which he has so liberally experienced.

The undersigned has nearly completed his Stone Wharf, which will enable the Company's Steamers to discharge and take in cargo alongside; he will also be prepared to store Timber and other produce intended for the steamers in the course of ten days, when the inconvenience which has hitherto pre- vented back freight will be obviated, and a full cargo to Sydney, even for a dozen steamers may with certainty be depended upon.

E. H. HARGRAVES.

On 23rd June 1841 he wrote to the Sydney Monitor to point out that Victoria Wharf was a better place for steamships like the William IV to discharge goods and that he was erecting, at his own expense, pens for sheep and cattle.

In 1841 Hargraves bought an adjoining lot for £200 and built a hotel with 12 rooms, a 6 stalled stone stable, outhouses, a house and a store. The land was 1 acre with 200ft of water frontage, 214ft along Victoria St., 257ft along Wharf St. According to a family story, it was named 'The Fox Under the Hill' but there is no extant record of this. In 1842 the hotel was leased to J R Fraser who advertised it as the Queens Hotel, which likely was its name all along.

In the 1840's, the colony of NSW experienced a deep recession. In January 1843 EHH mortgaged the store and the hotel to William Balcombe, a friend, for £500. In October he raised a further £500 with a second mortgage to David Jones. This may have been to finance a lease of a cattle run on the Manning River as detailed in his book. However, there is no record of a formal lease of a run.

On 6th February 1844, William Balcombe, who was also affected by the depression, sold the mortgage to G C Curlewis for £575 (in effect he borrowed £75 from Curlewis). But by January 1845 when payment of the mortgage fell due, EHH was unable to pay. On 8 January an agreement was made between EHH, wharfinger, and his wife, of the first part, and David Jones 2nd part, William Balcombe 3rd part and George Campbell Curlewis 4th part. All agreed to avoid the cost of foreclosure by giving Curlewis the land and hotel and paying10/- each.

EHH was elected chairman at a meeting on 26th June 1844 which was held to protest a government Act to stop licenced timber getters cutting timber within 5 miles of a township. EHH spoke about the distress this would cause among the landless class and drew up a petition to be sent to the government. ^[11]

At this time EHH appears to have made his income by acting as a general agent and an agent for Samuel Peek and for Robert Henderson, both large property owners in the area. It was possibly Henderson who had the run on the Manning. On 11th November 1846 a cattle sale, with EHH as auctioneer, was advertised to take place at West Maitland with cattle from Bungaree Norah and also the Manning. The Bungaree Norah property of 640 acres was also advertised for sale. ^[12] Also in 1846, his tenants left the two houses he was renting as he would not reduce the 2/6 rent per week. EHH and his family were probably living in one of Clara's dowry cottages as when his daughter, Emma Maria was born, their residence was described as Waterview Cottage, East Gosford.

Between 1845 and 1847 EHH was involved in litigation about the ownership of some stacks of shingles. He had employed men with wages and rations, but because they had drawn more then agreed, he attempted to seize the shingles.

On 19th October 1848 EHH bought a lottery ticket in the Equitable Plan of Partition of the properties of the Bank of Australia to be drawn 1 Jan 1849. He bought it from his friend and lawyer, John Norton, with a half share to Thomas Cade Battley. The lottery was planned to wind up the affairs of the Bank of Australia where it was feared that if all the bank's property came on the market at the same time, it would badly affect the property market. The ticket drew Lot 7335, so possibly not of great value as EHH sold his share to Battley on 31 January 1849.

Gold was discovered in California in January 1848. Despite efforts to keep the discovery secret, by August there were 4000 people on the diggings and by September, rumours had reached Australia. Definite news was received by December and confirmation made when a keg of gold was landed in Sydney on 26th December 1848.

When EHH made up his mind to go to California is hard to say. He probably went up to the Manning in February as there was an unclaimed letter for him at Paterson in February. By the end of February he was back at Brisbane Water as he officiated as a steward at the races held on that day.

According to his book, in 1849 Hargraves 'sold his station' and brought 70 head of cattle to Brisbane Water to be sold but they did not even realise £1 per head. There is no record found of the cattle sale, but perhaps he did transfer a lease on the property on the Manning. By March EHH also knew that his wife was pregnant again with a due date late September.

On 4th June 1849 the 'Elizabeth Archer', Captain Cobb, was advertised to leave Sydney for California on 21 June. EHH must have acted quickly as he secured one of the 8 twin cabin berths. His cabin mate was to be Simpson Davison who had invested £300 in clothing to sell in San Francisco. Davison was a station owner who had held stations all over what was to be the gold regions of NSW. The ship was cleared on 27th June but did not get away until 6th July.

California

The 'Elizabeth Archer' arrived in San Francisco 22nd September. During the voyage EHH and 7 other passengers had formed a company to go to the diggings. Since the crew had deserted, these man now stayed behind to help Captain Cobb unload the ship. EHH was elected leader of the party and they reached Wood's Creek in November and staked their first claim. It did not pay well and the company broke up in March after a long and severe winter. EHH eventually returned to San Francisco where he once again met Davison. According to Davison, they were in the same room writing to friends at home when they struck up a conversation about the similarities between the Californian goldfields and the western areas of NSW. Both wrote to their friends about the likelihood of a gold field west of Sydney. EHH wrote to Samuel Peek on 5th March 1850:

"I am very forcibly impressed that I have been in a gold region in New South Wales, within 300 miles of Sydney; and unless you knew how to find it you might live for a century in the region and know nothing of its existence".

In San Francisco, EHH also met E W Rudder who he had known slightly in NSW. Rudder was a prolific inventor and had brought a machine with him to extract gold. The party set out on a trading trip in a small boat that Davison had bought. While EHH set up the store at Maryville on the Yuba, Davison took Rudder over to Forster's Bar to prove to him that his machine would be impractical in the getting of alluvial gold. A second journey was made in Summer 1850 with Davison, Rudder and Rudder's 2 sons staking a claim at Forster's Bar while EHH sold the goods and also the boat, before joining them. They worked diggings there and elsewhere until early November when the party broke up and Davison and EHH returned to San Francisco.

Rudder had written a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald which was published 22nd July 1850 where he described where gold was likely to be found in riverbeds but did not give any specific location. Rudder and his sons had already left California on the 'Rosetta Joseph' on 15 August before EHH and Davison returned. They were wrecked off the NSW coast on 2nd December, but all survived and managed to reach Port Macquarie by 10th December in an open boat.

EHH was now determined to return to Australia to seek gold there. Davison stayed to meet his brother who was bringing more goods to sell. However he urged EHH to go to his station at Goodgood and gave him a letter of introduction to the manager.

Davison said he urged EHH to go to his station of Goodgood. He also related an event on EHH's departure: "One of our American acquaintances jocosely shouted to Mr Hargraves, "There's no gold in the country you're going to, and if there is that darned Queen of yours wouldn't let you dig it." To which Mr Hargraves, first taking off his hat , and assuming a theatrical attitude, replied, in a highly heroic strain, "There's as much gold in the country I'm going to as there is in California, and Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, God bless her, will appoint me one of her Gold Commissioners:" and then, turning towards me, added, "when I shall get my friend Davison here a like appointment." Davison did not return to NSW until September 1852.

The Gold Discovery

EHH left San Francisco on the 'Emma' on 23 November, arriving in Sydney on 7 January, 1851. Many aboard the 'Emma' had gold dust with them, the total amount supposedly being $100,000 worth. EHH, with a modest sum, headed the listing of passengers on the 'Emma'. It appears that he did not go home to Brisbane Water, but stayed in Sydney. Sometime around the third week in January he sold some gold to Blau, a Sydney jeweller. Blau deplored that NSW did not and would not have a goldfield to which Hargraves responded by giving him a note which stated: "Gold will be discovered in New South Wales within three weeks of this date."

During this time he was following a course discussed with Davison in trying to get government support for his prospecting journey. He approached his friend Peek and his solicitor, Norton, both of whom were unimpressed. He publicised his project to many others including William Spain, the Police Inspector General, the City Surveyor, Mr Bryant . Norton, at least, did give EHH a letter of introduction to "my friend, Icely" who did get specks of gold in quartz on his property at Coombing. Around the end of January, Norton did write to Deas Thomson, the Colonial Secretary, on behalf of EHH, describing him as having "slender means and large experience" .The offer was declined, but Deas Thomson was interested to know that EHH planned to visit Icely.

Davison stated that EHH had used the proceeds from the sale of his gold to settle his wife's debts as she had been running the store at Brisbane Water while he was in California. Davison also identified Alderman William Northwood as the man who lent EHH £100 so he could outfit himself for the journey to the west. This was lent on the condition of repayment of the moiety (half) of any reward and information about the location so that Northwood could buy up the land!

EHH set off on his journey on 5th February, intending first to visit Coombing. Unfortunately on 6th February he met Icely at Kings Plains en route to Sydney. Changing his plans , EHH then decided to go to Guyong, where Captain John Lister's widow kept an hotel. Taking what he thought was a shortcut, he got lost in Frederick's Valley, later a profitable gold area, and did not get to Guyong until 10th February. The mantle of the fireplace was crammed with rock specimens as copper had been found in the locality.

On 12th July, EHH and John Lister followed Lewis Ponds Creek toward's Yorky's corner, named after a shepherd who, a few years before had found a gold nugget in the vicinity. It was a dry year and water was scarce, so a few miles upstream from Yorky's corner, where a schistose dyke creating a pool, crossed the creekbed they stopped. EHH washed six panfuls of dirt from the top of the dyke and got a speck in each of the first five. This discovery yielded the famous sentence that he, Hargraves would be made a baronet, Lister would be knighted and his horse would be stuffed and sent to the British Museum. Gathering the few specks in a screw of notepaper they went back to the hotel. That night EHH wrote a memorandum:

"Wednesday 12th day of February 1851 discovered gold this day - named the diggins "Hargraves" who is the first discoverer in New South Wales of that Metal in the earth in a similar manner as found in California. This is a memorable day." ^[13]

The Gold Crisis of 1851

EHH knew the chance nature of alluvial gold. He and Lister together with James Tom, the local parson's son, now set off on a journey along the Macquarie River from near Burrangong back to its junction with Summerhill creek and thence back to Guyong. Numerous pans of earth showed "colour", but not in the eyes of Tom and Lister who wanted 'payable' gold. EHH was prospecting: he washed only to find colour to determine the possible extent of a goldfield. When EHH got back to Guyong he wrote to Icely on 20 February stating that portions of Lewis Ponds creek and Macquarie river would pay seven to ten shillings a day just by panning. He then went on to Wellington and Dubbo finding 'show' in many places. When he got back to Guyong about 15 March Lister and Tom showed him the granular gold they had got on the Turon and some forty specks they had found below Yorky's corner. Hargraves now showed them how to make a cradle, a much more efficient way of washing more earth quickly. Lister and Tom claimed in 1853 that he urged them to keep any discovery secret so as not to precipitate a rush that would be harmful to the labour situation. They also said he planned to go back to California, but this allegation was not borne out by what EHH did next. ^[14]

EHH left for Sydney arriving on 20th March. He had found what he had set out to do though hampered by the dry summer. Aware that gold-mining was a lottery, he had not stayed to dig deep but was now hurrying back to follow his original plan of taking his discovery to the government hoping to impress them that the few specks he had were evidence of a payable goldfield. His request to Lister and Tom for secrecy was not so much to stop a rush but to forestall any rush before he had made his claim. His anxiety was probably increased with the knowledge that there were several returned Californian miners in Bathurst .

He reached Sydney probably Thursday 20 March. He claimed to have gone immediately to the Colonial Secretary's Office and waited 3 hours in a wet coat to see Deas Thomson. However it was probably Monday 24 March when there was a shower that swept in on a southerly wind.^[15] When he did get to see Deas Thomson, The Colonial Secretary was not overly impressed by a few specks of gold, but was interested in the likelihood of a large goldfield. Over two more meetings, EHH expressed his willingness to to reveal the location provided he was promised a reward.

Meanwhile, EHH had met Rudder, who had been wrecked on the journey from California. Rudder later claimed that EHH spent his time trying to organise private parties to go dig for gold. If EHH did so he probably went to his friend, Peek, who already had an interest in the Bathurst Copper-Mining Company.

On 3rd April EHH officially notified the government of his discovery and asked for an initial award of £500 and a promise of a further reward once the value of the goldfield was evident. The letter was a masterpiece of judicious exaggeration stressing the hardships he had undergone and the expense and the fact that his journey had succeeded beyond his expectations.

In an effort to persuade the government that action was necessary, EHH and Rudder composed a letter that was published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 4 April. In it Rudder announced: "A goldfield has been discovered extending over a part of the country about 300 miles in length...I have seen the specimens that have been procured, and from what I know I have no doubt but gold will be found distributed over as wide if not larger spaces than in California."

Deas Thomson forwarded EHH's letter to the Governor who replied that the same answer should be given as to another who had said he had found gold; that the locality should be disclosed and then he could rely on the government rewarding him in proportion to the value of the discovery.

On 4 April EHH had received a letter from William Tom that they had found sixteen grains of gold in a yard or two by using the cradle on Lewis Ponds Creek. EHH answered the letter immediately giving further instructions as to how to use the cradle, and asking them to keep the location secret, "but for gold being found, it is of no consequence who knows it."^[16] EHH then went to Brisbane Water to await the government's reply: the first time he had been home in almost two years. While there he carried out some prospecting trips, but the country was all sandstone. While on one of these trips the letter from the Colonial Secretary with the government's answer arrived and he returned to Sydney on 24 April. On that same day he received news from Lister that William Tom and he had found four ounces of gold at Yorky's Corner. EHH showed Deas Thomson this letter as further proof of a payable goldfield.

EHH must have received some assurances from the government of their willingness to reward him as on 29 April the Sydney Morning Herald reported "Recent intelligence would lead to the inference that there is something in the recent alleged discovery of gold in the Western Districts."

On 30 April EHH wrote officially to the government giving Lewis Ponds and Summerhill creeks, Macquarie and Turon rivers in the districts of Bathurst and Wellington as the location of the goldfield and added that he was awaiting "His Excellency's pleasure as to the mode of testing the value of my discovery."^[17] He also asked for a loan of £30 to buy a horse as his had been injured in a fall on the Macquarie. The governor now wrote to EHH and Stutchbury, the government geologist to arrange for them to meet to validate the goldfield.

This presented a problem. EHH knew that washing a couple of pans in front of Stutchbury may yield not much or nothing. If the goldfield was to be endorsed at all, there needed to be a large digging population on the field. Publicity was the key. This was probably the gist of a notice that was posted up in Brisbane Water by EHH and forwarded to the government by Commissioner Osborne on 6 May.

EHH hurried back to Guyong and on 4 May went with Lister and William Tom to the goldfield at Yorky'd Corner which he now named 'Ophir' and the bar where Tom had found a nugget was called 'Fitzroy Bar' in honour of the governor. Because the Toms and Lister were worried that new diggers might 'jump their claim' EHH now gave them an 'authorisation' that gave the "Australian Gold Company' the rights to Fitzroy's Bar, Hargraves Bar, Lister's Bar and Tom's Bar' which proved to be a rich area. EHH had of course no such authority, but it afforded the group some protection from the influx he intended to precipitate. ^[18]

EHH now went to Bathurst reaching there on 6 May. On 8 May he invited a few people to meet him at Mr Arthur's Inn. There he not only explained how to mine for gold, but showed then the four ounces he had bought from Toms and Lister and said that he thought pieces of 30 or 40 pounds weight would be discovered. He named where the gold discoveries had taken place but refrained from passing an opinion on the richness of the field as this would be a matter of actual trial.

The next day he went to Coombing to meet Stutchbury and give Icely the four ounces of gold to take to the government. Stutchbury said he would go to Guyong when he had finished at Coombing. EHH seized the opportunity and returned to Guyong via Bathurst and persuaded 40 or 50 people to follow him. When he got to the diggings there were already 30 or 40 people there. Thus, when Stutchbury arrived on 14 May, EHH was able to lead him into the narrow valley of Summerhill Creek and show him a scene of frenzied activity. It was this, as well as EHH panning 21 grains of gold in his first pan, that impressed the geologist that payable gold had been found. EHH stayed at the digging instructing the inflow of hopefuls in the art of panning so that on 18 May he was able to write to the government that there were now upwards of "500 men actively engaged in mining with success."^[19] He was not the only one publicising the location either. On 17 May the following advertisement appeared in the Bathurst Free Press. GOLD NOTICE ! ! ! All information respecting the GOLD REGION may be obtained at Mrs Lister's. Guyong. JOHN LISTER

He arrived back in Sydney on 22 May to pursue his cause. On 3 June the Executive Council voted him a reward of £500, appointed him a Commissioner of Crown Lands with the express duty of discovering new goldfields with a salary of £1 a day and 2/6 forage for two horses. EHH was disposed not to accept what seemed insufficient but agreed when it was pointed out to him that government service could increase his reward.

In the meantime the government had dithered. No less a person than the American Consul in Sydney had told Thomson that the gold must be Californian as the mountains in New South Wales were not high enough for gold to exist there.^[20] There were also suspicions that EHH was perpetrating a fraud as his gold was pronounced by a Californian miner to be from the Yuba and Feather River diggings. ^[21] However, all doubts were swept aside by Stutchbury's letter of 22 May. Governor Fitzroy who had delayed any decisions regarding regulating the goldfield, now allowed the introduction of licences and the Colonial Secreetary organised officials to carry out the policy and a police escort to maintain order.

Gold Commissioner

Over the next six months EHH travelled over 3000 miles while prospecting for new fields, inspecting working fields and instructing new diggers in the art of panning. He went next to Wellington, thence to Frederick's Valley, to Goulburn and the Tumut area. On 11 December he arrived back in Sydney. During that time he had been made a magistrate for the Bathurst area ^[22] and a Justice of the Peace in Sydney where he sat as a magistrate a few days after his return.

In July the news arrived of the discovery of a rich goldfield in the newly separated colony of Victoria. This had prompted some prospecting at Moreton Bay where a few specimens had been found. A memorial arrived from that settlement requesting that EHH come to Moreton Bay to explore for a goldfield there^[23]. The memorialists were mainly squatters, worried about the exodus of workers to the south.

Accordingly EHH was sent north and travelled to Brisbane via Warwick, Drayton and Ipswich. He did not detour at Warwick to investigate a diggings that had started there and did not go much beyond his route. He reported that there was no payable goldfield, an opinion which was soundly criticised in the Moreton Bay Courier of 31 July. The latter half of the year was spent inspecting the Victorian diggings and in December being feted in Melbourne before returning to Sydney.

EHH did not do much prospecting in 1853. A Select Committee was held into the gold discovery to determine the part played by EHH, Lister and the Toms brothers and also into the subsequent management of the goldfields. It finally recommended that EHH receive the recommended gratuity, but also that the Toms and Lister were to receive £1000 between them for their part in the gold discovery. Back in June, when a reward of £5000 was being considered, W C Wentworth, the chairman of the Select Committee had spoken against EHH receiving more than the original £500, but now, in the face of public criticism, he too had agreed to the final amount of £10000.

EHH had already received a tea and breakfast set from the grateful citizens of Bathurst in April, but had been too ill to attend the presentation of a gold cup and £250 from the citizens of Sydney in February. He had been made an honorary member of the Mechanics Institute and become a member of the Ireland Grand Lodge of Freemasons in May. As well he had received several other gifts. After his grant was confirmed he gave £100 to St Andrews Cathedral and £25 to a charity cause. His appointment as Gold Commissioner on £1 a day had been for two years; now, with his reward approved, he resigned his post on 10 October.

To London

On 31 December 1853, EHH left on the Pride of the Sea to Auckland to visit his parents at the Bay of Islands, and arrived back in Sydney on the Dolores on 10 February. He then arranged for a couple of casks of sugar to be sent to his parents. When he returned he was active as a magistrate at the Police Court and was concerned with the pursuit of a reward from the Victorian government where there was opposition from the landed interest to granting a reward. He had also booked his passage to England on the paddle steamer, Golden Age, which was to be the first merchant steamer to cross the Pacific to Panama. The retiring Governor Fitzroy was also to be a passenger. He remained active in his defence of his discovery and wrote a most sarcastic letter to the Empire on 14 March concerning the intended testimonial to W C Wentworth. ^[24]

On 5 May, the Golden Age left the docks in Sydney with EHH on board who intended to make a farewell visit to Melbourne and probably to pursue his claim for a reward. While there, a 'local identity gave 'poor Mr Hargraves' a bag containing 250 gold sovereigns, a gesture which apparently left him speechless for some time. ^[25] The ship was also joined by Governor La Trobe in Melbourne. Returning to Sydney , the Golden Age then left for Panama and arrived in Southampton on 17 July. Here, EHH wrote to the Hampshire Independent describing the voyage. ^[26]He probably took the opportunity, before proceeding to London, to visit his grandfathers original home, as well as the many relatives living in the Southampton area.

He was in London by 1 August because on that date he wrote a letter to Henry Parkes from the London Coffee House, Ludgate Hill, in which he said that Lord Grey and Duke of Newcastle had been very attentive and would present him to the Queen when she returned from the country.^[27] That he was presented to the Queen is evidenced by the gift of a vase from her, now in the possession of the family. Meanwhile he had also been busy preparing his book for publication. 'Australia and its Goldfields' was published 21 December 1854. He proudly added the Coat of Arms of Hargraves to the frontispiece. Whether he had applied to the Herald for that right is as yet unconfirmed. Later he claimed that he had almost ruined himself in London, keeping a large establishment and being presented to the Queen. ^[28]

He stayed in England for the rest of 1854 and until August 1855. During that time he must have visited his half uncle, Isaac Hargraves, a prominent surgeon, who lived at Tonbridge Wells. It was either at this time, or after Isaac's death in 1856, that EHH came into possession of a silver cup and a miniature of Isaac. Also during this time, according to a family story, he engaged the services of William Garth Fletcher, carpenter, to build what was reputedly a replica of Stoke Cottage, his birthplace, in NSW. EHH left England from Plymouth on the 'Waterloo' on 14 August 1855, arriving in Sydney on 28 November.

Noraville

Robert Henderson had selected 2000 acres at Bungaree Norah at least by 1828 and EHH had acted as his agent several times in the 1840's before he went to California. Now EHH had the funds to realise his dream of living at Norah Head. The selection had not been officially surveyed so the land grant to Henderson was not finalised until 10 July 1854. On 6 February 1856, Henderson sold EHH portions 37(25 acres) and 58 (50 acres) at Bungaree Norah with all buildings for £1000. ^[29] The house was built of red cedar from the Yarramalong area, the logs being floated across the lake and landed at Cedar Corner (still known by that name by fishermen) where they were snigged up to the site. The roof was shingled. In June 1857, the Reverend Glennie recorded in his diary that EHH, his son, William, and two men were "building a very spacious and commodious home." The interior of the house had paneled cedar ceilings and elaborate cedar fittings. Edward John, the eldest son who Glennie described as being an "agreeable companion, good natured, well disposed," graduated from Sydney University in 1859 and appears to have taken on the task of manager of the Noraville property. EHH and the family divided their time between Noraville and Sydney, hosting parties of notables at Noraville from time to time.

In 1861 he became embroiled in a dispute with Worley, the Chief Constable at Brisbane Water and also with Taaffe which led to his estrangement from Rev. Glennie and then his resignation as a Church Trustee. This was the first of several court cases he became embroiled with during the 1860's. ^[30]. He usually lost and did not get on with his fellow JPs on the bench.

In 1862 he bought and leased a further 2560 acres at Tuggerah Beach and Lakes extending his property down to The Entrance ^[31]. However it appears he was becoming stretched for funds as he mortgaged some of his property to his friend, James Norton, in May 1862.

Western Australia

Western Australia (WA) offered a reward of £5000 for anyone discovering a workable goldfield within 150 miles of the settled districts by the last day of 1862. On April 14, EHH wrote to the Colonial Secretary of WA offering his services for the sum of £500 plus expenses. If he succeeded he would be prepared to accept the reward, but if the field was beyond 150 miles he trusted the government to be considerate. He was prepared to spend 6 months on the search. The WA government was short of funds, but eventually decided to accept EHH's offer, despite letters to the press pointing out that there were already prospectors looking. EHH left for WA in September 1862 and dutifully traversed an extensive area of south western WA, noting copper and perhaps coal and tin as being present, but no workable goldfield despite some specks being found in black sand by a prospector. He left the colony on 2 Mar 1863 at Albany, after sending his report to the Colonial Secretary. The press was very critical of his inspection and his scientific credentials. Because WA was a convict colony at the time, the most accurate description of EHH was made as he was leaving - 5'10" tall, dark brown hair, grey eyes, dark visage and full complexion, two scars and a crooked toe on his left foot.

South Australia and Tasmania

In March 1863, on his way home from WA, EHH stopped off at Adelaide where the legislature had just offered £5000 for the first discoverer of a payable goldfield. ^[32] He went with the Governor on the Echunga diggings, discovered in 1852, washed a couple of pans and pronounced it as promising, saying that if a large number were attracted to the area, then he had no doubt a workable goldfield would be found. He also made a brief inspection of several other places but declined to make a report although offered compensation to do so because his inspection had been so brief. He left on the City of Melbourne on 15 April 1863.

Whether it was financial stress or the search for office is not known, but in May 1863 EHH wrote a letter to the Chief Secretary of the new colony of Queensland requesting recommendation for the office of Police Magistrate near Cape York. It would not have been an onerous position, requiring only his occasional attendance at the district.

In July 1863 the South Australian (SA) government wrote to EHH inviting him to make a more thorough inspection of SA. EHH replied, apologising for the delay because he had been ill, but that he was happy to do so on the same terms as had been agreed for WA. Because of some confusion over those terms, a telegraph was sent to EHH for clarification. EHH wrote that his terms were £1,000 per year, the engagement not to be less than six months; expenses to and from Sydney and in Adelaide to be paid; the party and equipment to be provided; and the reward of £5,000 to be paid him in the event of his discovering gold. These terms were initially considered to be too high, but eventually the government agreed. ^[33] He arrived on 25 October on the Rangatira.

He did find gold and at least one field would repay working, but he was limited to prospecting on public land only and went where the government asked him to go. The Sydney Morning Herald, never a supporter, was highly critical, but the press in SA was not.

During his sojourn in SA his wife had died as a result of a fall on 1 November 1863, a week after his departure for SA. She was buried at Randwick.

By September he was in Victoria he was making a tour of the Victorian Goldfields. He had been approached by a Committee to explore for gold in Tasmania which was suffering from heavy emigration to the Victorian goldfields. The legislature had decided against a grant of £2000 for the discovery of a goldfield so funds had been raised by the "Gold Prospecting Association". EHH was prepared to meet the Committee "in a liberal spirit". He needed a guide to go with him and about £50 initially to recompence him for the cost of coming to Launceston. He was prepared to start after his return to Sydney on 10 September and after the arrival of the English Mail. The Committee was very successful in raising the funds and by the end of September they had sent EHH a draft to cover his expenses in getting to Tasmania. Gold had already been found at Fingal, but it was deep and expensive to get.

At 10:30am in 12 November 1864 EHH arrived in Launceston. He was met by hundreds of people with Artillery band playing Cheer Boys Cheer! while the steamer docked.^[34] In a speech EHH warned the crowd that he could not find gold if it was not there, but if it was, he could teach them where and how to obtain it. He went first to the Fingal gold field where he was able to show better methods for retrieving the gold. While there he received the news of his father's death in New Zealand on December 9. In December he was seriously ill with influenza. He spent some time at the Mangana field and carried out journeys to the west and east of Launceston. He did not find any new goldfield, and it may have been the sense of paying for nothing that led to accusations that he never got off his horse and never camped out being the reasons for his failure. He left Launceston for Melbourne on 3 May. His horse was put up for sale 3 days later.

The Victorian Reward

EHH had received £10 000 from the NSW government as part of his reward for his gold discovery. At the time Governor Fitzroy made the promise, Victoria was not yet separated from NSW, which event took place July 1, 1851. Fitzroy expected that Victoria would similarly reward EHH and suppled EHH with a letter to Lieutenant Governor Latrobe about the matter. Latrobe referred the matter to his Legislative Council, who, at first voted the full £10 000, then cut it in half an then divided it up among several claimants. EHH only received £2381.6.1. In October 1864, while in Sydney before setting out for Tasmania, he petitioned the Victorian Government for the full payment of his reward. It came up for consideration by Parliament in May 1865. In the debate that followed, those in opposition argued that gold was known in the colony long before EHH went to California, that his claim was extravagant or unfounded and that all of the discoverers should be rewarded if EHH was to be. In the event the vote was lost 19 to 11. The Age newspaper commented on 12 July that some members of the house had gone to EHH with the proposition that is they received 10% of the reward, they would make sure the bill would pass. EHH emphatically denied this in his letter to one of the members who supported him. Both Syme of The Age and EHH were called to the bar of the house. The Committee investigating the charge concluded that there was no evidence beyond EHH's word that this had happened He then, in some anger, resigned his position as a territorial magistrate. In September, he launched an action for libel against the Argus, a Melbourne newspaper, with damages claimed of £5000. It appears it did not continue.

That EHH was in need of funds is evidenced by his mortgage of property to James Norton in December 1869. He spent the 1870's and 80's pursuing the balance of his reward from Victoria or a final settlement from NSW, travelling many times to Melbourne. In both colonies there was reluctance to pay. In NSW the issue was clouded by the claims of the Tom brothers and John Lister and T J Smith who were all also pressing for further recognition. In Victoria, there was reluctance to recognise a 'debt' consequent on the separation of Victoria from NSW and the fact that gold was discovered (but not exploited) in 1849 in Victoria. However in 1875, the NSW government, after several manoeuvres to avoid a debate or a committee sitting on a further reward, unanimously passed a pension of £250 a year. Nevertheless, when the yearly estimates came before the legislature afterwards, there was several times a motion proposed by a member to omit EHH's pension. It was always unsuccessful.

Finally in 1890 another Select Committee into the discovery of gold was held by the NSW government. The Toms and Lister had been pressing their claim as assiduously as EHH . The Committee reduced EHH's claim to merely being the teacher of the Toms and Lister and gave them the recognition of being the practical discoverers of gold. EHH was ill during part of the proceedings and John Lister died on the day he was to give evidence.

Later Life

EHH divided his time between his estate at Noraville and at least by 1872, a residence in Forest Lodge, Glebe in Sydney. In June 1872, he reported a robbery at his home of a nightshirt embroidered with his name! He, and sometimes his son, John, attended the Governor's levees on the Queen's birthday on several occasions. In February 1870 he brought back an angora goat from Melbourne with a view to running a flock on his property, but that seems not to have happened.

In 1874, 50 head of cattle were stolen from Noraville, supposedly by John Taaffe and others, who then sold them to free selectors on the Liverpool Plains. However no warrant was issued, so the matter was not pursued. John Taaffe had accompanied EHH on some of his prospecting trips in NSW and was an old settler in the area.

In July 1877, EHH was once again short of funds. He conveyed an Equity of Redemption to Harman John Tarrant, his son-in-law and prominent doctor. He also mortgaged some Noraville property to James Norton for £1573. Norton transferred the mortgage to the Bank of N Z. In 1906, the bank sold the property for £500. This was after the death of EHH and also of his son and heir, John, who died in 1905.

Death

Finally, on the 29th of October 1891 he died at his home, "Marionville", 64 Westmoreland St. Forest Lodge. The death certificate said influenza and pneumonia over 8 days, but the family story was that he fell from a horse and his illness was the result. During his life there had been several times when he was incapacitated by illness, perhaps a legacy of the bitter winter he spent in California.

Edward Hammond Hargraves. ^{[35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45]}

Died After a fall from a horse according to a family story but influenza and pneumonia (8 days) on the death certificate. 29 Oct 1891. Forest Lodge, Sydney, NSW. ^[46]

Event: Departure 25 Jan 1854. Auckland, New Zealand. ^[47] Arrival 10 Feb 1854. Port Jackson, New South Wales. ^[48] EHH was pursuing his reward. Victorian Reward. 15 Jul 1867. Melbourne, Victoria. Reported in the Hobart Courier 16 Feb 1854. Visit to Auckland. 21 Jan 1854. Auckland, NZ. Harman John Tarrant to the Bank of NSW. No 924 Book 503. Mortgage 25 Oct 1892. 2000 Noraville James Norton to Harman John Tarrant. No 237 Book 160. Reconveyance 20 May 1878. Noraville, NSW. Edward Hammond Hargraves to James Norton. No 602 Book 119. Mortgage 21 Dec 1869. Noraville, NSW. Reconveyance James Norton 1st part, James Norton and Henry Augustus Allen 2nd part and Edward Hammond Hargraves 3rd part. No 601 Book 119. Mortgage 30 Dec 1869. Noraville, NSW. Morgage to James Norton. No 283 Book 78. Mortgage 7 May 1862. Noraville, NSW. Addressed from the London Coffee House, Ludgate Hill, EHH said that Lord Grey and Duke of Newcastle very attentive and will present him to the Queen when she returns from the country. Parkes Correspondence, Vol 18, Mitchell Library. Letter to Henry Parkes. 1 Aug 1854. London Completion of Tasmania Search. May 1865. Tasmania File Format: doc. EHH Tasmania. at 10:30pm. Met by hundreds and a band playing! Launceston Examiner 12 Nov 1864. Arrival in Tasmania. 12 Nov 1864. Launceston File Format: htm. Reception in Hobart. Died of a rupture after a fall. Death of Eliza. 1 Nov 1863. Yurong St., Sydney, NSW. Letter to Queensland Chief Secretary requesting recommendation for Office of Police Magistrate near Cape York. Request for Office. 11 May 1863. File Format: htm. Request for Appointment. southern side of George St near the punt across Erina Ck. In 1861 it was sold to William who sold it in 1870. Buys Land. 1858 Gosford NSW. A number of entries in the Diary refer to the Hargraves family. Hargraves and Rev Glennie Diaries. 1858-1862 Gosford NSW. File Format: htm. Rev Glennie's Diary. Rev Glennie's Diary - visited Cabbage Tree. EHH and son William there and two men "building a very spacious and commodious home". House 17 Jun 1857. Cabbage Tree, NSW. Anniversary Dinner and Gold Cup. 12 Feb 1853. Royal Hotel, Sydney NSW. File Format: htm. Gold Cup. Travel as Commissioner. 19 Mar 1852. Tenterfield NSW. File Format: htm. Letter to Sydney Morning Herald. Emma Maria. Possibly named for EHH's sister who died 1838. Birth of Daughter. 29 Sep 1849. East Gosford, NSW. Emma Maria born "At Waterview-house, East Gosford, Brisbane Water, on the 29th Sept., Mrs. Edward Hammond Hargraves, of a daughter.". Birth of daughter. 29 Sep 1848. East Gosford, NSW. two lots of cattle, one possibly from Bungaree Norah and the other from the Manning. Cattle Sale. 18 Nov 1846. Maitland, NSW. Inn and property in East Gosford. Sale of Inn property. 23 Jan 1847. Sydney File Format: doc. Sale of Inn Property. Permission to leave WA as a free man. 5'10" tall, dark brown hair, grey eyes, dark visage and full complexion. Two scars and a crooked toe on his left foot. True Physical Description. 2 Mar 1863. Albany WA. Advertised in Sydney Morning Herald as ready to receive guests by J R Frazer. Queens Hotel. 3 Aug 1842. Peeks Point, Est Gosford. File Format: htm. Queen's Hotel. File Format: htm. Queens Hotel Sale. Eliza Harriet. His mother's and wife's name as well as his eldest sister who died 1837. Birth of daughter. 20 Oct 1841. East Gosford, NSW. Advertisement in Sydney Herald, 25 Nov 1840. Completion of stone wharf. 21 Nov 1840. East Gosford, NSW. File Format: htm. Completion of Stone Wharf. Appointed at a Public Meeting to superintend the building of the church and school. Mr Bean and Mr Wilson also appointed. Church Commission. 30 Sep 1840. East Gosford, NSW. Noted in the Australian - appointed agent for the General Steam Navigation Company. Appointed Agent. 4 Apr 1840. East Gosford, New South Wales, Australia. East Gosford was a private township developed by Samuel Peek. Eliza had several cottages there as part of her dowry. Move to East Gosford. Nov 1839. Leasehold of Dapto Farm fronting Dapto Creek assigned to William Arthur Marshall for L260. R/963 RGO. Sale of Dapto Property. 11 Nov 1839. Dapto Birth of William Henry. 7 Dec 1839. Gosford, NSW. Opened the first General Store south of Wollongong at North Dapto according to D Denniss in 'History of Dapto'. Opens Store. 1838 Dapto, NSW. Signed by 'Magistrates, Clergy and Landowners". Signs Vote of Thanks to Alfred Holden. 22 Dec 1837. Dapto, NSW.

Jul 19.-Terror, schooner, 95 tons, Captain Dumany, from Auckland the 2nd, and the Bay of Islands the 6th instant. Passengers -Mr. W. Spain, Mr. Simms, Mr. E. Hargraves, Mr and Mrs. Duckey, and Miss Brown. Visit to NZ. 6 July 1846. Notice SMH. Convicts Assigned Notice. 22 Jul 1837. Wollongong, NSW. Source: Note: 1 cotton-dyer and 1 waterman and canal-digger. Ill with Influenza. 24 Dec 1864. Tasmania File Format: htm. Ill with Influenza in Tasmania. Death 29 Oct 1891. Marionville, 64 Westmoreland St., Forest Lodge, NSW. Source: Note: Died after complications related to a fall from his horse in which he is supposed to have broken his thigh. letter written at Marionville to G K Mann, Sydney Mechanics School of Arts. Photo of himself with signature and F.G.S London inscribed on back. (ML Doc 1411). Location 1884 Forest Lodge, Sydney, NSW. Gratuity to Mr- Hargraves Last night the Legislative Assembly unanimously agreed to a resolution in favour of a gratuity of £250 a year to Mr. E. H. Hargraves, the original discoverer of gold in Australia. Evening News 6 Aug 1875. Pension 5 Aug 1875. Sydney NSW. Diary of his journey through SA, His letter to the government was published in the South Australian Register 26 Aug 1864. Travel 27 July 1864. South Australia. left Sydney for Adelaide where he arrived 25 Oct 1863. Travel 17 Oct 1863. on 'Rangatira'. Source: Note: arrived Adelaide 25 Oct 1863. Writes a letter to his son from there. Location 21 Jan 1861. Sydney, NSW. from Plymouth on the 'Waterloo'. According to family story in England he had engaged the services of Abraham Garth Fletcher to build a replica of 'Stoke Cottage', where he had been born. Travel 14 Aug 1855. arrived Sydney 28 Nov 1855. Source: Note: arrived Sydney 28 Nov 1855. D D Parker USN, Commander for Panama and Governor Latrobe on board. 'Australia and its Goldfields' published. Book Published. 21 Dec 1854. London to England on 'Golden Age'. D D Parker, USN Commander. Sailing for Panama. Governor LaTrobe was also on board. Travel 11 May 1854. File Format: htm. Travel to England on the Golden Age. File Format: htm. The 'Golden Age'. EHH went to East Gosford -the first time he had been home in two years. While he waited to hear from the Colonial Secretary he carried out prospecting journeys to Maitland and the country around Brisbane Water. Location 16 Apr 1851. East Gosford, NSW. On the brig "Emma", left San Francisco 23 Nov 1850. EHH listed first of all the passengers in the Sydney Morning Herald. Return to NSW. 7 Jan 1851. Sydney NSW. File Format: htm. Preparation for journey. Set out from Sydney 5 Feb, at Bathurst 7 Feb, then to Guyong by 10 Feb. Gold discovered. 12 Feb 1851. Yorky's Corner, Summerhill Creek, NSW. File Format: jpg. A General View of Ophir G F Angas. It was possibly leasehold on the Manning River which was sold to Mr Searle according to EHH story. Searle did have other property in the area. There is no record of a cattle sale at Maitland but it may have been private. Property 1848 renting out 2 houses. The tenants left after he would not reduce the rent of 2/6 a week. Property 1846 East Gosford, NSW. Source: Note: tenants left. 1 cotton dyer, 1 waterman and 1 canal digger. Convicts Assigned. 22 Jul 1837. Wollongong, NSW. Source: Note: See notes for full text of letter. Notice SMH. Travel 29 Jan 1840. Source: Note: To Captain Matthison Sir, we the undersigned cabin passengers on board the brig, Speculator, from Sydney to New Zealand, beg to acknowledge the seamanlike and gentlemanly conduct by which you were distinguished throughout the voyage and which united comfort and harmony to quickness and safety. Neither can we permit this opportunity to pass without noticing the conduct of Mr Morris, the supercargo of the vessel whose politeness and attention contributed in no small degree to our happiness. Henry Taylor, Henry Thomson, Richard Strickland, J T Howell, C M Christie, W McDonald, E F Hargraves. File Format: htm. Visit to NZ. Peeks Point bought for L200 and erected a hotel. Land 1841 East Gosford, NSW. File Format: htm. The Fox Under the Hill. File Format: jpg. Map of East Gosford 1840s. argument over the ownership of shingles. Litigation 1845 1847. East Gosford, NSW. to Sydney on 'Emma' leaving California. Return 23 Nov 1850. Source: Note: Capt Devlin, arriving January 1851. File Format: htm. Letter to Samuel Peek. elected honorary member of Sydney Mechanics School. Activities 3 Feb 1853. Public Dinner in Bathurst. Activities Mar 1853. invited subscriptions for C of E at East Gosford. Activities 3 Oct 1853. Council voted additional £4000 to make total £10000. Reward 5 Oct 1853. File Format: doc. Engraving of EHH. as Gold Commissioner. Resignation 10 Oct 1853. to Queen Victoria. Presented 1854 London as Church trustee Newcastle. Resignation 1861 Sold interest in Noraville to Tarrant for L100. Land 1877 letter re revision of Book of Common Prayer. Location 23 Oct 1886. Marionville, Forest Lodge, NSW. Select Committee. 1890 Bushrangers broke in and took a chest of tea, a keg of rum, lard, poultry and other things. They robbed other homes in the area as well. Hargraves Store robbed. 30 Sep 1837. Dapto File Format: jpg. Hargraves store robbed. E Hargraves donated £1. They lived 10 miles from the projected church. Donation for Minister's Stipend. 31 Jul 1838. Dapto, NSW. Between EHH, Wharfinger and David Jones 2nd part, William Balcombe 3rd part and George Campbell Curlewis 4th part. EHH unable to pay mortgages so all agreed to avoid cost of foreclosure to give Curlewis the land and hotel in exchange for 10/- ea. Indenture 8 Jan1845. East Gosford, NSW. File Format: htm. Indenture William Balcombe of Mononglo sold his mortgage to George Campbell Curlewis for £575. Sale of Mortgage. 6 Feb 1844. The hotel and store area was mortgaged to William Balcombe (friend) for £500. On Oct 1 a further £500 was raised with a mortgage to David Jones. Mortgage 1 Jan 1843. East Gosford, NSW. Sold his half share to Thomas Battley for £2. Sells Lottery Share. 31 Jan 1849. East Gosford. Taken up- c.1843. This was possibly just a lease. There is no formal record of either a lease or ownership. Cattle Run on the Manning. 1843 Manning River. File Format: doc. Cattle Run and Blacks 1844. Lottery ticket in the Equitable Plan of Partition of the properties of the Bank of Australia to be drawn 1 Jan 1849. Bought from John Norton with half share Thomas Cade Battley. Buys Ticket in Lottery. 19 Oct 1848. Sydney File Format: htm. Lottery left 24 Jan on 'Dolores', Capt Throop, from Chile. On 21 Feb he sent two casks of sugar to Auckland on the 'Mamora'. Travel 10 Feb 1854. From Bay of Islands, NZ. Supposed to have been stolen by John Taaffe and others and sold to settlers in the Hunter. There was ongoing friction with the Taaffes and Freemans. Report of Stolen Cattle. 8 Jul 1874. Noraville^[49] Gazetted. Appointed Magistrate. 21 Oct 1868. Brisbane Water NSW. Daniel Watson, brig, Capt Watson for Auckland, Mr Edward Mackie, Mr E H Hargraves, Mr & Mrs Pugh and 3 children. Travel 10 Feb 1846. Purchased Portions 37 & 58 Norah Head. These had been granted to Robert Henderson. A mortgage in 1895 stated that the grant had been made on 10 Jul 1854. Land 1853 Bungaree Norah. Conveyance of Equity of Redemption Edward Hammond Hargraves to Harman John Tarrant. No 690 Book 171. EHH was evidently behind in mortgage payments. Equity of Redemption. 5 Jul 1877. Noraville, NSW. Invited to prospect for gold. There for 6 months from September 1862 to March 1863. Travel to WA. Sep 1862. Western Australia. Henderson sold land with all buildings to EHH. Register Bk 41 p.981 Paid £1000 for portions 37(25 acres) and 58 (50 acres) at Bungaree Norah. Land 6 Feb 1856. Bungaree Norah. mortgaged Noraville property to J Norton for £1573.Norton transferred the mortgage to the Bank of N Z. In 1906 the bank sold the property for £500. Land 20 Jul 1877. From James Norton to Deas Thomson, Col. Sec. noting that Hargraves will begin his journey "today" and call at Coombing in 3 or 4 weeks time "which will...answer your purpose". No government support yet offered. Letter 3 Feb 1851. Sydney Letter from James Norton, solicitor on behalf of EHH to Edward Deas Thomson, Col Sec. requesting government support for Hargraves' prospecting tour. Letter 23 Jan 1851. Sydney

Residence 21 Oct 1868. ^[50] 1890 Glebe^[51] 1889 Australia^[52] 1841 East Gosford, New South Wales, Australia. ^[53] A nightshirt, value 5/- was stolen It had 3 plaits in front and E H Hargraves embroidered on the breast. Suspicion attached to a woman who had been begging in the area. 19 Jun 1872. Glebe Rd, Glebe. ^[54]

Baptism: 01 Nov 1816. Holy Trinity, Gosport, Hampshire, England. ^[55]

Occupation: Became Capt. Hector’s station manager. He traveled to the Lewis Ponds Creek area in search of lost bullocks stabling his horse at Parson Tom's. Jul 1834. Capt. Hector's station near Bathurst. according to his book he went to sea at age 14 as a cabin boy. 1830 Recommended by Holden to be Census Taker. Holden had known EHH at Dapto. The territory covered Reids Mistake to Cooranbong, Wyong and Gosford. He completed it in 14 days. 25 Feb 1840. East Gosford, NSW. Source: Note: Memo from Holden setting boundaries for Census.. recommended as Collector of Quit rents by Holden. Some difficulty arose over sureties and the appointment did not proceed. 24 Mar 1840. East Gosford, NSW. farmer. 1836 land at Charcoal Creek near Dapto. Storekeeper. 1841 East Gosford, NSW. Secretary of Brisbane Water Steam Packet Co. 18 Oct 1841. East Gosford, NSW. Source: Note: Ad in SMH 28 Oct 1841 p1 re General Meeting to be held in Sydney. Storekeeper. 1843 East Gosford, NSW. Source: Note: At birth of daughter Frances Jane. Chair of Meeting. 26 Jun 1844. East Gosford, NSW. Source: Note: Meeting held to draw up a petition against government proposal to limit timber cutting within 5 miles of a township. Mr Hargraves commented on the distress this would cause among the landless class. SMH 15 Jul 1844 p2. Cattle Sale advertised Maitland Mercury. 11 Nov 1846. West Maitland, NSW. Source: Note: Cattle Sale. MR. HARGRAVES will sell by auction at the Yards, at the Rose Inn, West Maitland, on WEDNESDAY, the 18th day of November, at Twelve o'clock precisely, 88 Cows, 21 of which have young calves by their sides 60 Heifers 92 Steers 113 Bullocks, 40 of which are fit for slaughter 353 Head. They will be put up in lots to suit all classes of buyers. Terms, cash on delivery. ALSO 130 Cows, about 80 of which have young calves by their sides 17 Bullocks 65 Heifers 77 Steers 2 Bulls. 291 Head. These will be sold in one lot, to be delivered immediately, on the Station, at Cabbage Tree, Bungaree Norah, or in Maitland in all December. TERMS-25 per cent, on the fall of the hammer, and the residue on delivery. ALSO, About 350 head at the Manning River. Terms as above. For further particulars enquire of the Auctioneer, at the Northumberland Hotel, or at the Mercury Office. 1326. gold digger. 1849 California Source: Note: He did not do much digging but was in business with a partner as a storekeeper. File Format: htm. Letter from California. Gold Commissioner. Jun to 15 Dec 1851. appointed Gold Commissioner. 4 Jun 1851. Gold Commissioner. 1852 Source: Note: 7 Feb to June Moreton Bay and New England. July to Victoria. 25 October report on Spring Creek, 17 Dec Report on Ovens River, Bendigo, Ballarat. File Format: htm. Criticism of EHH as Gold Commissioner. Gold Commissioner. Apr 1853. He became a farmer on 100 acres leasehold fronting Dapto Creek. He and Elizabeth kept a store here as well. Nov? 1834. Charcoal, Illawarra. Source: Note: He kept a store here. cabin boy on merchant ship "Clementine" Capt Dudoit. In search of beche de mer and tortoise shell along the eastern coast. In Batavia 20 of the 27 crew died of yellow fever. 1832 Station hand. Worked on Capt. Hector's property 8 miles from Bathurst. 1832 Bathurst, NSW

Education: Dates are based on probable attendance. He claimed to have been a good runner and remembers boys outings to Brighton. 1824-1830 Brighton Grammar School and later at Lewes.

Buried According to a family story he requested to be buried in an unmarked grave facing the sea where winds could blow over and grass and flowers grow. 2078 Sect 6 C of E, Waverly Cemetery, Waverly, NSW.

Physical Description: Erroneous description given by Aunt Ruth Hargraves who was born after EHH died.6'6" 21 stone no stomach blue eyes jet black moustache, florid complexion. It is based perhaps on a large carver chair in Noraville House which EHH is reputed to have used.

Emigration: on the Red Rover. 9 May 1834. from Capetown. Source: Note: It is possible that EHH worked his passage back on this ship in the company possibly of other crew members who had survived. Left the Cape of Good Hope 9 May 1834, arrived Hobart 26 June (SMH 17 Jul 1834) By the Currency Lass we receive the information of the death of Capt. Christie, of the ship Red Rover, on his passage from the Cape of Good Hope to Hobart Town. The Red Rover was entering the Derwent River as the Currency Lass was sailing out, and the pilot informed Captain Shaw that Captain Christie had been washed overboard in a heavy sea, about fourteen days back, and drowned; the command of the vessel had been given to Captain Walker, who left this Colony some time ago in the Clementine, and who was at the Cape when the Red Rover put in there, and had taken his passage in that vessel. -It appears that Captain Christie had only been married a short time previous to his sailing, and his lady was on board when the accident occurred. SMH 24 Jul 1834 We understand that we were in error in stating-, a few weeks back, that Captain Walker was given the command of the Red Rover after the melancholy death of Captain Christie. Mr. Harvey, the Chief Officer, who had served with Capt. Christie for several years, took the command of the vessel from the time of the accident. SMH 28 July 1834. File Format: htm. Emigration sailed on Elizabeth Archer. 17 Jul 1849. to California. Source: Note: She was a British barque. Sydney to California. Captain Cobb. File Format: htm. Travel to California. arrived Sydney 'Red Rover" Capt. Harvey, with sundries. 22 Jul 1834. Source: Note: left London 8 Feb. Passengers listed include Mrs. Christie, William Browne, Esq., Captain Okedon, Captain Walker, Mr. Henry Jarman, Mr. Charles Beck, Mr. Thomas Metcalf, Mrs. Metcalf, Mr. John Cosser, Mrs. Cosser, Mr. Peter Boddison, Mr. Thomas Emett, Mrs. Mary Emett, and John Perry. File Format: htm. Arrival Red Rover.

Will: Probate. 9 Dec 1891. Sydney, NSW. Source: Note: William Henry applied for probate. Value of the estate was L340. He was receiving an annuity from the government L19.6.8 of it was due at EHH's death. File Format: htm. Will Precis.

Source: Note: moved to East Gosford. Note: Source: Australian Apr 7 1840. Note: Mr and Mrs Hargraves depart for Auckland on the Hyderabab Maitland Mercury 8 Apr p2. Note: from London.

Note: Sir,. 2 Having seen a letter signed Index, and. headed Brisbane Water Steam Company,. published in the Monitor of (he 22nd- instant,. 2 I wrote a Statement of the facts in contradiction. of the assertions made therein, and directed. the same to the Editor of the Journal. I now. 2 offer them to you, feeling assured they will not. be rejected in the ungentlemanly manner they. were on the former occasion by Mr. O'Brien. First, that the boat was not detained one moment. after the usual time of starting ; second, that Mr. Hargraves was not connected with the Company. in any way at the time pf the affray; and. lastly as I have every authority for saying, that. there was no FLOORING in the encounter. 2 The reason the steam boat left Mr. Hargrave's. Wharf was 'in consequence of an offer for the. other at a much less rate. With respect to the. Minerva sailing vessel taking most of the cargo. and passengers, I beg to say, there is no such. vessel trading to the Port of Brisbane Water. The Correspondent of the Monitor says, if. another boat was placed on the station it would. pay well - he had better try the experiment him-. self before he advises others so to do,for it is a no-. torious fact that the William the Fourth barely. pays her expenses, nor has she done more for. some time past - every thing being very dull. 2 here. 2 Yours, &c. 2 ?WILLIAM THOMAS BOYCE. Brisbane Water,. 2 December 26, 1841.

File Format: doc. Engraving of EHH. Format: htm. Historical Significance of Noraville Homestead. Format: htm. Travel to England on the Golden Age. Format: htm. Reception in Hobart. Format: htm. Queen's Hotel. Format: jpg. Cradle used when Hargraves discovered gold at Ophir in 1851. Format: jpg. Hargraves store robbed. Format: doc. Hargraves and Bungary Norah 1846. Format: jpg. Edward Hargraves. Format: htm. Arrival Red Rover. Format: jpg. Signature of Edward Hammond Hargraves. Format: jpg. Hargraves_3 Format: htm. Letter to Samuel Peek. Format: jpg. Brass Name Plate attached to Hargaves' Sea Chest. Format: doc. EHH Tasmania. Format: jpg. "Marionville",64 Westmoreland St, Forest Lodge. Format: jpg. Edward H Hargraves feeding his poultry. Format: htm. Completion of Stone Wharf. Format: jpg. Noraville Homestead c 1860. Format: jpg. Vase from Queen Victoria. Format: htm. The 'Golden Age'. Format: htm. Letter to Sydney Morning Herald. Format: jpg. A General View of Ophir G F Angas. Format: jpg. Typical Barque 1830's. Format: htm. Travel to California. Format: jpg. Stables at Noraville_NEW. Format: htm. Auction of Cattle. Format: jpg. Wedding Notice. Format: doc. Sale of Inn Property. Format: doc. EHH appointed Magistrate. Format: htm. Lottery Format: doc. Cattle Run and Blacks 1844. Format: jpg. Original Document allowing Travel permission for E H Hargraves from Western Australia to Adelaide on the Wonga Wonga. Format: htm. Preparation for journey. Format: htm. Marriage Format: jpg. Edward Hammond Hargraves later in life. Format: jpg. The Obelisk at Ophir. Format: htm. Will Precis. Format: jpg. Obelisk 1923. Format: htm. Request for Appointment. Format: htm. Criticism of EHH as Gold Commissioner. Format: jpg. Gold Discovered Note written by Edward Hammond Hargraves. Format: htm. Queens Hotel Sale. Format: jpg. Appointment as Commissioner of Crown Lands. Format: jpg. Certificate Lodge No 266 to E. H. Hargraves. Format: jpg. Captain David Parry-Okeden. Format: jpg. Crest of Edward Hammond Hargraves. Format: jpg. Sea Chest belonging to Edward Hammond Hargraves. Format: jpg. Edward H Hargraves. Format: jpg. Survey map of 1867. Format: jpg. Edward Hammond Hargraves. Format: jpg. Death EHH. Format: htm. Letter from Norton to Deas Thomson. Format: htm. Ill with Influenza in Tasmania. Format: htm. Letter from California. Format: jpg. Edward Hargraves. Format: htm. Rev Glennie's Diary. Format: jpg. Gosford 1840. Format: jpg. St Andrew's Scots Church, Sydney. Format: htm. Emigration Format: doc. Hargraves Melbourne 1867. Format: htm. Will of EHH. Format: htm. The Fox Under the Hill. Format: jpg. Silver Tea Service Awarded to Edward Hammond Hargraves. Format: htm. Visit to NZ. Format: jpg. Map of East Gosford 1840s. Format: htm. Gold Cup. Format: jpg. obituary Edward Hammond Hargraves. Format: jpg. Lithograph Hargraves Discovering Gold. Format: htm. Indenture Format: htm. Emigration Format: htm. Arrival Red Rover. Format: htm. Visit to NZ. Format: htm. The Fox Under the Hill. Format: jpg. Map of East Gosford 1840s. Format: htm. Letter from California. Format: htm. Travel to California. Format: htm. Letter to Samuel Peek. Format: htm. Preparation for journey. Format: jpg. A General View of Ophir G F Angas. Format: htm. Criticism of EHH as Gold Commissioner. Format: doc. Engraving of EHH. Format: htm. Travel to England on the Golden Age. Format: htm. The 'Golden Age'. Format: htm. Ill with Influenza in Tasmania. Format: htm. Will Precis. Format: htm. Marriage Format: jpg. Typical Barque 1830's. Format: jpg. Captain David Parry-Okeden. Format: htm. Completion of Stone Wharf. Format: htm. Queen's Hotel. Format: htm. Queens Hotel Sale. Format: doc. Cattle Run and Blacks 1844. Format: htm. Indenture Format: doc. Sale of Inn Property. Format: htm. Lottery Format: htm. Letter to Sydney Morning Herald. Format: htm. Gold Cup. Format: htm. Rev Glennie's Diary. Format: htm. Request for Appointment. Format: htm. Reception in Hobart. Format: doc. EHH Tasmania. Format: jpg. Hargraves store robbed.

Marriage Husband Edward Hammond Hargraves. Wife Eliza Mackie. Child: Edward John Hargraves. Child: William Henry Hargraves. Child: Elizabeth Harriet Hargraves. Child: Frances Jane Hargraves. Child: Emma Maria Hargraves. Marriage 26 Dec 1836. St Andrews, Sydney. ^[56][57] Marriage License: 26 Dec 1836. St Andrews, Sydney. Event: Marriage Notice.

Research Notes

• Edward's gr. gr. gr. grandson, Paul Carter, is buried beside him.

Sources

1. ↑ E H Hargraves: Australia and Its Goldfields
2. ↑ "England, Hampshire Bishop's Transcripts 1680-1892," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLYW-6K5R : 2 January 2020), Edward Hammond Hargrave, 01 Nov 1816; citingBaptism, Gosport, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, "England, Hampshire Bishop's Transcripts 1680-1892," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLYW-6K5R : 2 January 2020), Edward Hammond Hargrave, 01 Nov 1816; citing Baptism, Gosport, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, Lancashire Record Office and Hampshire Record Office, United Kingdom.
3. ↑ Registers for Memorials for Land 1825-1842
4. ↑ The Australian 27 Dec. 1836
5. ↑ "Australia Marriages, 1810-1980", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTZ7-22D : 28 January 2020), Edward Hammond Hargraves, 1836.
6. ↑ Government Gazette 19 July 1837
7. ↑ Sydney Herald 16th October 1837
8. ↑ General Register Office R/963 GRO
9. ↑ The Colonist 8 April 1840
10. ↑ Sydney Monitor 25 May 1840
11. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald 15 Jul 1844 p2.
12. ↑ Maitland Mercury. 11 Nov 1846.
13. ↑ Hargraves Papers
14. ↑ Select Commitee 1853
15. ↑ Select Committee 1853
16. ↑ Select Committee 1853
17. ↑ Governor's Despatches Appendix p6
18. ↑ Select Committee 1853
19. ↑ Government Despatches Appendix p117
20. ↑ Select Committee 1890
21. ↑ Select Committee 1853
22. ↑ Maitland Mercury 30 Aug
23. ↑ Empire August 1851
24. ↑ Empire 16 March 1854
25. ↑ Empire 13 May 1854
26. ↑ Empire 24 October 1854
27. ↑ Parkes Correspondence, Vol 18, Mitchell Library
28. ↑ Kyneton Observer 20 Jul 1867
29. ↑ Register Bk 41 p.981
30. ↑ Historical Records of the Central Coast of New South Wales: Bench Books and Court Cases 1826-1874
31. ↑ Maitland Mercury 25 Sep 1862
32. ↑ South Australian Register 20 March 1863
33. ↑ South Australian Register 15 September 1863
34. ↑ Launceston Examiner 12 Nov 1864.
35. ↑ Source: #S-185992266
36. ↑ Source: #S-185894452
37. ↑ Source: #S-185894450 State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia; Returns of the Colony ('BlueBooks'), 1822-1857; Collection Number: Series 1286; Publication Year: 1851
38. ↑ Source: #S-185894449
39. ↑ Source: #S-185894448
40. ↑ Source: #S-185894447
41. ↑ Source: #S-169339404
42. ↑ Source: #S-185857735
43. ↑ Source: #S-185857735
44. ↑ Source: #S-183420867
45. ↑ Source: #S-185857735
46. ↑ Source: #S-185992266
47. ↑ Source: #S-183420867
48. ↑ Source: #S-183420867
49. ↑ Source: #S-185857735
50. ↑ Source: #S-185857735
51. ↑ Source: #S-185894447
52. ↑ Source: #S-185894448
53. ↑ Source: #S-185894449
54. ↑ Source: #S-185857735
55. ↑ Source: #S-169339404
56. ↑ Source: #S-185992244
57. ↑ Source: #S-185992244

• Source: S-169339404 Repository: #R-798468608 England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Repository: R-798468608 Ancestry.com
• Source: S-183420867 Repository: #R-798468608 New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Source: S-185857735 Repository: #R-798468608 New South Wales, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1854-1930 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Source: S-185894447 Repository: #R-798468608 Sydney and New South Wales, Sands Street Index, 1861-1930 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Source: S-185894448 Repository: #R-798468608 Sands Directories: Sydney and New South Wales, Australia, 1858-1933 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Source: S-185894449 Repository: #R-798468608 1841 New South Wales, Australia, Census Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Source: S-185894450 Repository: #R-798468608 New South Wales, Australia, Returns of the Colony, 1822-1857 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Source: S-185894452 Repository: #R-798468608 Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Source: S-185992266 Repository: #R-798468608 Australia Death Index, 1787-1985 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

See Also:

• Find a Grave, database and images : accessed 04 July 2020), memorial page for Edward Hammond Hargraves (7 Oct 1816–29 Oct 1891), Find A Grave: Memorial #200965015, citing Waverley Cemetery, Bronte, Waverley Council, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Shane (contributor 49774181) .
• Edward Hammond Hargraves
• Hargraves, Lister and the Tom Bros, discovery account, NSW State Library link