Billy Freeman - Convict. What was he doing between 1837 - 1840?

[tedscout]

Goodmorning everyone,

Thank you for all your answers. It was late last night when I wrote the topic and yes of course I made a mistake. It is his Certificate of Freedom he recieved in 1837.

I haven't seen the 1837 muster and didn't know he was with Hawdon. This explains a lot. Thank you so much Debra.

Neil - Our family saying is "When is a Freeman not a free man? When he is a convict".

Oooh 3 red posts - you are working hard on my behalf. Thank you.

Cheers, Ted

[majm]

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bonney-charles-3020

"On 4 January 1838 he was invited by Joseph Hawdon to join an expedition taking cattle to South Australia. Bonney accepted at once and joined the party at the Goulburn River on 17 January. They travelled down the Goulburn to the Murray, which they followed until they saw the Mount Lofty Range and then turned west to Adelaide where they were enthusiastically welcomed by the colonists, many of whom were living on kangaroo meat. On the journey Bonney had often pacified hostile Aboriginals by his cheerful demeanour and the music of his flute."

BOOK perhaps in Ted's local library   

"The Journal of a Journey from New South Wales to Adelaide
Hawdon, Joseph
Published by Georgian House, Melbourne, 1952"
and from an online book review

"Illustrated with Black and White plates. Fold-out map. ....... 65pages This is the story of the first overlanding of cattle from New South Wales to Adelaide, undertaken at the height of summer, over unknown country and accomplished with the loss of only four cattle!"

height of summer .... hopefully the (Hume  ) River had water in it 

I have already phoned a rellie born in 1917, he is 'beside himself' he went droving out past Wentworth across to Adelaide with his Da and Uncle and Great Uncle in 1930s .... sleeping under a bullock dray   

Cheers,  JM

[tedscout]

BOOK perhaps in Ted's local library   

"The Journal of a Journey from New South Wales to Adelaide
Hawdon, Joseph
Published by Georgian House, Melbourne, 1952"

Better than my local library JM - its digitised on TROVE

[majm]

   Fantastical news Ted....  I will definitely be AWL 

[tedscout]

I've just finished reading it. Wow what a journey. I know a few people who live on the Murray who will be very interested in this book for various reasons.

Now how do I find that he was one of the "Servents" got paid to go on the trip?

If I'm lucky my Billy could be the "William" who was put in the hollow tree because he was nearly blind because of the heat. I wish Joseph Hawdon had used the men's names.  He obviously cared for them.

I wonder if a record was kept about the men's wages when they got to Adelaide?

Cheers, Ted

[Macushla]

JM, great to see one of your brick walls demolished after you have helped so many others with theirs.

Cheers
Macushla

[tedscout]

Thank you Macushla.

[Alan Francis]

Hi there,

In a court case in 1897 in which Billy Freeman (1817 -1899) sued a parson for money owing (!) it says "the old man, who came to South Australia with Captain Sturt in 1838" which strongly suggests that though he was indentured to John Hawdon, he came to Adelaide on the third cattle drive with the famous Charles Sturt. Cattles drives in 1838: Joseph Hawdon (John's brother), Edward Eyre and Charles Sturt. Sturt's farm at Varroville NSW was only 10 miles from John Hawdon's at Elderslie NSW. In the court case involving William and Sarah in 1862 a testimonial was handed up from Sturt and also from Edward Stirling. landowner and MP at Strathalbyn. This suggests Billy may have worked for Stirling when he arrived in SA. Alan Atkinson. Adelaide

Regards Alan Atkinson

[tedscout]

How do I thank you all.

It's been 10 years since I last read this thread.

Such amazing people you all are to help me and my hubby find his 4 x great grandfather.

To all who helped and cared we found Billy in his unmarked grave.

And traced the footsteps of his sons up the Murray.

Cheers, Ted