Certified copies of the land grant and will of William Redfern, 1817 and 1834; land grant and indenture of John Palmer, 1822 and 1847

A 359

fonds

1817-1847

1102909

0.2 metres of textual material (1 volume)

William Redfern is thought to have been born in Canada in 1774 and spent his childhood in Trowbridge, England. He completed studies at London Company of Surgeons and in 1797 was commissioned to the Royal Navy as surgeon's mate. Redfern became involved in the Mutiny of the Nore, 1797 and as a result was sentenced to death, though he was subsequently reprieved because of his young age and sent to Sydney in 1801.

In 1802 Redfern commenced work as an assistant surgeon in Norfolk Island where he received a conditional pardon, extending to a free pardon in 1803. He returned to Sydney in 1808 where he worked at Dawes Point Hospital and won the recommendation of Lachlan Macquarie as a qualified surgeon. In 1817 Redfern received his first land grant from Macquarie of one hundred acres in the district of which the modern suburb of Redfern has developed upon.

John Palmer, born in England, spent his childhood from the age of 9 as a servant to the Royal Navy and first came to Sydney as a purser on the First Fleet ship 'Sirius' in 1788. In 1791 was promoted to Commissary General of New South Wales which involved administering supplies to the new colony. After returning to England, Palmer decided to settle in New South Wales and returned in 1800 with his wife and family. He received his first land grant of 100 acres (40 ha) in 1793 which he named Woolloomooloo Farm. In 1822, he sold the property in 1822.

References:
Compiled from the collection
Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/ (accessed 27 February 2014)

1. Manuscript copy of grant of 100 acres of Land at Sydney Town awarded to William Redfern by His Excellency Lachlan Macquarie Esquire, 20 June 1817, followed by copy of the will of William Redfern, 1834. Original grant and will are certified as true copies by clerks to Mr. J. Norton [solicitor]

2. Manuscript copy of grant of 100 acres of land known by the name of 'Walloomoolo Farm' awarded to John Palmer by Francis Grose Esquire Lieutenant Governor, 25 February 1793, followed by copy of indenture made between John Palmer, Edward Riley and William Walker relating to the sale of the same land, 1847. Original grant and indenture are certified as true copies by clerks to Mr. J. Norton [solicitor]

Information transferred from Manuscripts Index Catalogue as part of the eRecords Project, 2013-2014