HORSEMEN OF THE FIRST FRONTIER
(1788 – 1900)

An economic and social history of early New South Wales, told through the fascinating life stories of pioneer 19th century horsemen. Traces the origin and development of the “Horse” in Australia. The remarkable lives and times of governors, military officers, clergymen, civil administrators, private merchants and wealthy pastoralists all serve to encapsulate the unique history of New South Wales from the time of the First Fleet’s arrival in 1788 up to Federation of the Australian Colonies.

AND THE SERPENTS LEGACY

“ ..…the serpent that we are nursing at Botany Bay”(Sir Francis Baring, Chairman–British East India Company–1792-93.)
A strongly felt sentiment expressed by Sir Francis Baring during negotiations held in London in 1793, for renewal of the Royal Charter of 1600, that had traditionally provided a lucrative trading monopoly for the British East India Company.
From 1792 onwards, the deliberate though illegal flouting of British East India Company rights by military and civil officers led by a youthful John Macarthur, Australia’s first entrepreneur, heralded a nascent private economy for the New South Wales penal colony.

SECTION ONE
The County of Cumberland, 1788 to 1860

Chapter One - The Military Officers
John Macarthur, Thomas Rowley, William Kent, George Johnston, Nicholas Bayly, William Cox, William Lawson, Archibald Bell

Chapter Two - The Civil Officers
Richard Atkins, John Palmer, Dr D’Arcy Wentworth, John Piper, Samuel Marsden, Rowland Hassall, John Oxley, John Campbell

Chapter Three - The Merchants
Robert Campbell, Charles Hook, Aspinall Browne & Co, Richard Jones, James Bettington, Alexander Spark, Capt. John Lamb, Capt J.G. Collins, Captains A.W. Dallas and W.W. Apperley

Chapter Four - The First Free Settlers
Thomas Moore, James Badgery, Alexander Riley, William Klensendorlffe, John & Gregory Blaxland, John Purcell, Sir John Jamison, William Howe, Robert Lethbridge, Henry Kater, John Howe, George & Andrew Loder, George Hall, Walter Hall

Chapter Five - The Governors’ Families
Robert Copeland Lethbridge, Anna Josepha King, Phillip Parker King, Mary Bligh & Colonel Sir Maurice O’Connell

Chapter Six - The Emancipists
Thomas Rose, Andrew Nash, John Lacy, Paul Bushell, John Benn, Andrew Thompson, Thomas Rickerby, Samuel Terry, Simeon Lord, Richard Fitzgerald, Andrew Doyle,Charles Smith

Chapter Seven - The Currency Lads
William Wentworth, James & William Macarthur, David Johnston, Charles Roberts

SECTION TWO
Over the Blue Mountains to the Counties of Cook, Bathurst, Wellington, Roxburgh and Bligh, 1815-1900

Chapter Eight - The Western Pastoralists. Bathurst, Carcoar, Mudgee, Dubbo, Warren, Gulgong and Cassilis Thomas Icely, William Rothery, John Rodd, William Lee family, William Kite, Henry Bayley, Richard Rouse family, Alexander and William Busby, George Suttor family, John and Edward Readford

SECTION THREE
The Hunter Valley and the Counties of Northumberland,Hunter and Phillip, 1823-1860

Chapter Nine - The first wave of Free Settlers on Hunter’s River, together with some emancipists and currency lads
Henry Dangar, Thomas Potter Macqueen, Peter McIntyre, Henry Dumaresq, Robert & Helenus Scott, Otto Baldwin, John Hooke, George Bowman, Capt. Bourn Russell, Alexander Bowman, George Yeomans, Benjamin Singleton, Edward Cory, James Bowman, James Glennie, Robert Pringle, George Townshend, Thomas Winder, Henry Nowland, John Galt Smith, Henry Garrard, Joseph Brown, Thomas Jones, Richard Cornelious, Henry Reeves, John Earl, Richard Harris, Thomas Bloomfield, Edward Close, James Atkinson, Stephen Coxen, Capt Edward Biddulph, Henry Eckford, Leigh Halstead, Alexander McLeod

SECTION FOUR
The Richmond and Clarence Rivers, the Counties of Gloucester, Durham and Brisbane and the Squatting Districts of New England and Macquarie

Chapter Ten - Explorers, Squatters and Selectors
Admiral Henry Rous, Australian Agricultural Company, Dr John Dobie, John Shannon, Henry Barnes including William Noud, Thomas H. Smith, George Wyndham, Charles Tindal including Mylne Brothers and Edward Ogilvie, Robert Dawson, Ramon E. deB Lopez, Charles Walker including R.H. Bridges & John Casson, W.A.B. Greaves, Brisco Ray, Thomas Small, Matthew Devlin, Alexander Mackellar, Thomas Hewitt

SECTION FIVE
The Southern Counties of Argyle, King, Murray and St Vincent

Chapter Eleven - Moss Vale, Braidwood, Yass, Young, Goulburn, Boorowa
Charles Throsby, George Harper, Henry & Cornelius O’Brien, Andrew Badgery, Hassall Roberts and Royds, James & Joseph Roberts, John J. Roberts, James White of Young, Francis Rossi, Benjamin Boyd, Prosper & Etienne De Mestre

SECTION SIX
The second wave in the County of Cumberland, 1840-1900

Chapter Twelve - The Inheritors and New Arrivals
Edward King Cox, John Cleeve, Andrew Town, Thomas Ivory, John Tait including Justice Alfred Cheeke and Samuel Jenner, Benjamin Richards, George Yeo

SECTION SEVEN
The second wave of Free Settlers and other bloodhorse breeders in the Hunter Valley

Chapter Thirteen - Trend to breeding thoroughbreds 1840-1900
Thomas Cook, Hon James White & the Whites, John Eales, Richard Dines, Charles Reynolds & Frank Reynolds, Thompson’s of Widden, John Brown

SECTION EIGHT
“ The Gentle Giant from Clarence Town”

Chapter Fourteen - A Centenary Tribute to C. Bruce Lowe
Postscript: Not to be confused with a contemporary, Charles Bland Lowe
Transcripts: Letters from Charles Bruce Lowe to his collaborator, Frank Reynolds

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ABBREVIATIONS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INDEXES
General
Horses
Studs, Stations & Townhouses

MONETARY VALUES AND COMMON CONVERSIONS