Journal and ledger from Burrowel Estate, Seaham, New South Wales

MLMSS 11221/Box 1X

fonds

1839, 1843-1869

Textual Records, Ephemera

9659169

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

George Mosman (1799-1868) was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland. He emigrated to Sydney with his twin brother Archibald (1799-1863) in 1828. In 1830 George purchased a parcel of land - Burrowel - on the eastern bank of the Williams River near Seaham in the Hunter region of New South Wales. He continued to purchase and lease more land in the area, which increased his entitlement for convict workers, and by 1837 George Mosman had 35 assignees working on the property. Burrowel and its workforce were managed by James Gilchrist (a relative of the prominent businessman John Gilchrist) from the late 1830s until the early 1840s, while George’s primary residence remained in Sydney, though he visited Burrowel on occasion. George then moved to the property and took over management of the farm. George Mosman married Jane Blanch in 1852 and they went on to have nine chiildren. He died in 1868, aged 69 years old.

References:
Library correspondence file
'George Mosman and Burrowel' in Essays on Seaham by Cynthia Hunter, Seaham Public School P&C Association, 2002.

ITEM 1
Journal in one volume kept by James Gilchrist for dates January-December 1839, concerning the management of 'Burrowel' estate, Seaham, New South Wales, for George Mosman containing: Weekly labour journal, including tasks performed by convicts; account of crops sown; journal of transactions; details of the weather; and, record of visitors to the estate. Contains four separate pages of handwritten copied extracts from this journals, possibly copied at a later date.

ITEM 2
Ledger in one volume, containing details of produce bought and sold from the Burrowel estate, 1843-1869. Title on cover: 'Cattle book from year 1858 to ...".

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

The list of convict names was excised from Item 1 prior to acquisition. Item 1 has also been rebound and repaired prior to acquisition.

Reference:
Library correspondence file.

Front endpaper of item 1:
"This book was kept by James Gilchrist in the year 1839 during his management of George Mosman's estate (Burrowel), Seaham, Williams River."
G. B. Mosman (son of George Mosman)
Auchtyfardle
118 Macpherson Street
Cremorne, Sydney, on 21 June 1935