Letter from Andrew Murray to Thomas Gibbs of Piccadilly, 5 August 1822

MLMSS 10038/Box 1X

fonds

5 August 1822

9583925

0.44 metres of textual material (1 outsize box) - manuscript

Andrew Murray (ca. 1793-1858) arrived in the Australia in 1817 on the 'Lord Eldon', the same ship on which John Macarthur returned from England. After a short time in the colony, Governor Thomas Brisbane appointed Murray as one of his gardeners.
Murray married Eleanor McGill Kilpack at Parramatta in 1818 (her sister had married the influential farmer James Milson), and Murray was also close with another agricultural pioneer, John Blaxland. Murray took up land at Wollombi and Bathurst, as well as establishing a 230 acre grant at Pennant Hills in 1823. In 1827 he was appointed superintendent of the Carter’s Barracks, an influential position he filled until it was abolished in 1834. He retired from his government posts soon after, and lived for more than 20 years on his farm. He died in 1858 and was buried at St. John’s Parramatta.

Thomas Gibbs, of Thomas Gibbs & Co, lived at Piccadilly, England. He ran a nursery in Brompton and was seedsman to the Board of Agriculture.

Sir Thomas Brisbane, (1773-1860), governor, served as the patron of the New South Wales Agricultural Society.

Reference:
Library correspondence file

Letter from New South Wales settler and gardener Andrew Murray to nurseryman Thomas Gibbs of Piccadilly, discussing horticultural matters, the gardens of Government House and the procurement of seeds from the voyage of the ‘Bathurst’. The letter is handwritten in ink on 3 sides of a folded sheet and is addressed on the outer side to Gibbs.

In the letter, Murray thanks Gibbs for his letter of recommendation to Governor Thomas Brisbane. He refers to John Macarthur and mentions that he had previously been in Macarthur’s employment. Murray also refers to the recently returned botanist Allan Cunningham, who had been on voyage on the ‘Bathurst’. He informs Gibbs that he is sending a collection of seeds procured from an acquaintance who was on the same voyage and, on the order of his employer Brisbane, requests that seeds be sent in return by Gibbs.

Copyright status:: In copyright
Research & study copies allowed: Author has been deceased for more than 50 years
Rights and Restrictions Information:: No publication without prior written approval of copyright holder
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder