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A study of the interactions between family, friends, acquaintances, surroundings and events leads to a better understanding of Colonial society.
A turning point in the history of New South Wales was the recommendation, arising from the Bigge Report, to encourage free settlers to the Colony. (1) In the early 1820s the decision to emigrate, leaving behind your family and friends to risk your capital in a country you knew little about was not a decision to be taken lightly. Once it was known that the Secretary of State intended to encourage settlement in New South Wales by way of offering inducements to persons “possessing considerable science, activity, integrity and property” (2 ) one can imagine that the idea was discussed by many young and adventurous men whose families could provide the necessary backing.
There are a number of reasons to believe that the settlers who came to the Hunter Valley in the early years did not make their decisions in isolation. However, proving the connections all these years later is somewhat of a challenge.
Changes in official policies in response to local conditions and directives from the Home Government each had their influence. Enthusiastic reports back to the Old Country encouraged others to try their luck. By the early 1830s it became obvious that free grants of land were no longer needed to entice settlers to New South Wales.
For those not interested in rural pursuits, mercantile and professional opportunities in Sydney Town became more attractive as the population increased.
In spite of the fact that few personal letters have been found it is obvious that the Cory family did keep in touch with family and friends back home. Over the years various close family members and family connections arrived in the Colony and also became settlers, some more successfully than others. Fate was not always kind to them and some must have regretted leaving the old country. Others came with the intention of just visiting.
The passenger lists have a story of their own to tell. Friends often arranged to sail out together. Some settlers paid for the passage of indentured workers who sailed with them, others with children often arrived with a nursemaid. On board romances could lead to marriages. Friendships formed and acquaintances made on the long voyage out were often long lasting in the Colony.
In other cases friendships, were made in the Colony because circumstances brought them together. People whose paths would never had crossed in the Old Country because of distance, religion and social standing became lifelong friends.
By no means are the following accounts meant to be a comprehensive history of the people involved. The main emphasis is how they interacted with the Cory Family. Some are treated in more detail than others because a knowledge of their activities had come my way in researching the Cory Family. Others are included simply because an unexpected connection presented itself.
This is very much an ongoing project and will be added to sporadically as snippets of information surface from the depths of my files.
Please E-mail me if you would like to add to one of the stories.
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