Information ex Death Cert. (Informant: William Scott (Jnr,) of Red Range.)

WORK HISTORY.

As a young man, William worked for station owners bringing cattle from Queensland down to the New England and Beardy River. He and his parents were listed in a book on early settlers in the Darling Downs – reference to taking part in cattle musters on Canning Downs Station – Condamine River near Warwick—“Thomas Scott, wife and son William” - as Horse Teamsters. [ref: Di Gibbs]

After his father died, (when he was 16 yrs) he worked in the Ipswich/Warwick area for 3 years – Large cattle and horse sales were held at Ipswich and Warwick, stock coming from Clarence Valley, New England as well as in Queensland. At 19 years of age, he moved to the Glen Innes area where he worked as a Stockman for station owners as “new chum” employee (indentured) [ see reference notes]. He married at 21 years of age and remained in the Glen Innes district, working on Station properties, (see listed previous with family records). He leased Forest Farm from the Dumaresq Bros. about 1870, where he lived for at least 3 years before moving to his first lease holding of 1,280 acres east of Glen Innes…[from Lands Dept. records]*  Established as a Grazier – with carrier business continuing. [Circa 1873]

LAND SELECTION – Circa 1870 .

When land became available for selection in 1862 *( under the Free Selection Act of 1861), a requirement was : a residence be on each ‘block’ for selection. Most homes at that time were made of timber slabs (trees cut and sawn with cross-cut saws, trimmed by axe and adze, with bark or shingle roofs until replaced with iron sheets). The homes consisted of 4 rooms, with a detached kitchen with open fire place. One such house was observed in the Oakwood State Forest, on what is believed to have been one of William Scott’s early selections, by his great-great-grandson, (and great-grandson of Thomas William Scott) Bruce Scott of South Grafton in circa 1988. The house had wall paper in the rooms and glued on a wall, a calender dated 1905.

William Scott acquired large Crown Leases on the Mann River and Eastern Escarpment areas. Had properties: Square Range (2), The Poplars (Mann River), at Yarrow River, Henry River. Extensive sheep/cattle grazing. Also had horse teams. Continued with carrier business (with sons), well into the 1890’s.

[Was at Glennies Creek –near Buccarumbi –on Old Glen Innes road- (Changing station for horses etc.) 1896, with son Thomas, transporting wool to Grafton for shipping.(Grafton was nearest river port for ships)]

[NOTE: He met Thomas Bradley and family there, (G.C.) they going west to sapphire fields near Inverell, later settling in Glen Innes. Thomas Bradley who was involved in the Eureka Stockade, was a native of Canada. Thomas Scott later married Bradley’s daughter, Annie Louisa, (my grand parents)]

William had houses at Square Range (including ‘Frogmore’ – still standing and occupied in 2009 and a house on the west side of Sheep Station Creek, still standing and occupied. “The Poplars” at Lambs Valley Turnoff, Pinkett Road (Mann River) – only the trees remain – golden poplars and golden elms (planted by wife Annetta).  He held a Lease on property at Sunnyside Creek, in Oakwood State Forest, where the earlier stated home was. Following the disastrous Australia wide drought of 1902-1905, the Lease was resumed by the Lands Department for State Forests. He had another lease, joined by leases held by his sons, which also was resumed for forestry purposes and became known as The Brothers State Forest circa 1920.

Was a noted Horseman [that from people who knew him and his wife - (Bloxsome, O’Hara, Wilson,) - [elderly residents of Glen Innes district]– I met in 1947, at Grafton Agricultural Show, where Wilson was judging horse events.

Death of daughter: Born and died in 1871 at Forest Farm, Blair Hill. Lived for only 11 days – died of convulsions. A tragic loss for Annetta from which she never recovered.

RE: Wife, Place of Birth. It is stated on birth certificates of children she was born in Old Mexico. Her father was an officer in the Royal Navy (UK) and she was born at sea, somewhere in the region of South or Central America. Closest English base was at Collinsville/Montezuma Slough area on the Sacramento River, Old Mexico.  Old Mexico…refers to area now known as California, was ceded from Mexico in circa 1850, to U.S.A. Montezuma is up-river from what is now San Francisco. 
[Records held at Grafton Historical Society show details of an English family who came from “Old Mexico”, also connected with the Royal Navy, who settled in the Upper Clarence River area about the same time as Annetta arrived in Australia.]

Indentured employees: Reference: Tindal Letters (Grafton Historical Society Library). Compiled from the Tindal Family Diaries, Circa 1852-1854.  indentured employees were sent out from Britain to work on station properties. Each had to be under 20 years of age, have work experience with horses, cattle and sheep. They were engaged for a period of 2 years, paid 30 to 40 pounds yearly with keep, and given assisted passage to Australia. Those already in Australia, could be engaged under the same scheme.

[William was already working in Australia, and when he reached the required age, and with his experience, he could be signed up which he did with the owners of Stonehenge Station. See above listing with children’s births. He worked as a stockman, which in those days meant looking after the cattle and sheep and over-seeing the farm labourers.]

for the records Jean Scott Deaner 2008/9.