Apr, May, Jun 2000

1 DOWN UNDER THE NEWSLETTER OF THE AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND Vol 1, No 6, April, May, June 2000 BRANCH OF CLAN LESLIE SOCIETY PATRICK LESLIE OF THE DARLING DOWNS Davidson would not listen to suggestions, that the methods for It was a fine afternoon, late on the handling a sheep station had changed 20th March 1840 that two riders drew since he was last in NSW, and worst of rein to their horses and gazed out over all, would not honour the debts that a vast expanse of lush pasture. Patrick had incurred on the sheep One was Patrick, the second son of station. Some of the faults were William Leslie 10th Laird of Warthill; Patrick’s, as he was rather lax in his the other was Peter Murphy, an Irish bookkeeping. convict assigned to Patrick Leslie. Patrick’s younger brothers, Walter They had just completed an epic and George arrived in Sydney in 1839, journey to reach the area, now known with news that their uncle, Walter as "The Darling Downs”. They were Stevenson Davidson refused to honour not the first white men to find the the debts which now amounted to over Darling Downs; Patrick Leslie was not Five Thousand Pounds. This was too even the first man to graze stock on the much for Patrick and he resigned from land. As early as 1831, Thomas his position, and his uncle had the Crampton regularly grazed stock there, sheep station valued and sold. Even but he did not build a homestead, or then Patrick could get no relief for his even have a permanent camp. financial troubles. This dispute caused Patrick Leslie left Aberdeen, for a complete rift between the Leslie and London on 25th October 1834, and Davidson families. arrived in Sydney on the Emma Eugenia on 10th May 1835. He had letters of introduction to John Macarthur, and Hannibal Macarthur, as well as other influential families. Patrick studied sheep farming at both “Camden Park”, the home of John Macarthur, and “The Vineyard”, home of Hannibal Macarthur, at Parramatta. There were other interests at The Vineyard, such as Hannibal Macarthur’s’ daughter Catherine [Kate]. Patrick had come to Australia on the understanding that he would manage the property of his maternal uncle, Walter Stevenson Davidson, at Patrick had heard about the Darling Collaroy, near Cassilis in New South Downs, from the discoverer Alan Wales. Things were not well between Cunningham, whom he met at “The Patrick and his uncle, as Walter Vineyard”, and decided that as land 2 [2] was too expensive close to saddle horses. The most remarkable Sydney, he would look north. Patrick feature of this drive, was that not one Leslie and his brother Walter, animal was lost on the way north. accompanied by Ernest Dalrymple, Dr The three brothers were eventually John Dobie and two convict servants granted 100,000 acres of land. headed north. They got as far as the Patrick hurried back to Sydney as Clarence River before the aborigines soon as the preliminary work was attacked them time and time again. done, to see Governor Gipps and asked They struggled on for another four for a ticket-of-leave [probation] for days, but were finally compelled to Peter Murphy who had twice saved his retire to their camp at Falconers Plains. life. Governor Gipps however granted Patrick decided that he would make a conditional pardon to Peter Murphy, another attempt to reach the Darling who died in Charters Towers in Downs, but this time just himself and Queensland on April 6th 1878. Peter Murphy would make the attempt. Patrick Leslie and Catherine From Falconers Plains, which is near Macarthur were married at St Johns Guyra, they struggled north, passing Church Parramatta Sydney NSW on Glen Innes, Beardy Plains and crossed September 9th 1840, and had a the Dumaresq and again headed north. honeymoon at Catherine’s’ parents They emerged from the bush near beach house at Watson’s Bay Sydney. what was to become Toolburra, they explored the Condamine Valley, and I will continue this story in the next camped at what was to become newsletter. As a matter of interest Canning Downs homestead. Patrick was my 4th Cousin. Barrie Leslie Gordon NSW. NEW SECRETARY AND TREASURER I am happy to announce that Clan Leslie Society, Australia & New Canning Downs Homestead Circa 1842 Zealand now has a new Secretary and Treasurer. Patrick selected the best of the land and then he and Peter Murphy returned Jane Lingard, has accepted the to Falconers Plains, arriving at the position of Secretary, and Robert camp on April 4th 1840. On the way Gowing Lesslie, has accepted the back they were attacked on several position of Treasurer. occasions by aborigines, and Peter I look forward to working with them Murphy saved Patrick’s’ life on several in the future, and to get Clan Leslie occasions. They waited for Walter Society Australia & New Zealand Leslie to arrive from Sydney with the Branch based on a very broad stock and further supplies. The drive foundation. I would also like to expand north was started on April 14th with the membership to try and get more Patrick, Walter and 21 convict servants members to take an active part in the who were driving 4,000 breeding ewes, affairs of the Society. 100 rams and 1600 sheep, as well as a The addresses of both Jane and horse drawn dray, 24 bullocks and 10 Robert are on the back page, under officers of the Society. If any members 3 would care to become regional which is an organisation devoted to the councillors, please contact Barrie study of the Plantagenet Kings of Leslie, as we need people to open England and their life and times. “tents”, in other areas of Australia and Michael has painted two of the New Zealand. personal arms of my own family, one from 1805, and the other from the mid 1500s. I am very happy with the artistry, and can certainly recommend SYDNEY’S OWN him to any members, who would like a HERALDIC ARTIST painting of their family’s arms, or a representation of certain Leslie arms. Heraldic art, is an art form that Michael can be reached at the fascinates many people, but for some, following address. it is a life long passion. One such Mr Michael Spencer. individual, is Michael Spencer. 52 Berowra Waters Road. Michael has studied the subject for Berowra. NSW 2081 nearly forty years. His work has Phone 02 9456-2433. reached such high standards that e-mail [email protected] incoming orders keep him constantly Barrie Leslie.Gordon. NSW busy. Michael studied heraldry at the City NEW MEMBERS Literary Institute in London. The late Julian Franklyn, the celebrated author Members are asked approach anyone of the acclaimed books “Shield and that they know, who is descended from Crest” and “Heraldry”, gave the two the Family of Leslie, and encouraged year course at City Literary Institute. them to join Clan Leslie Society. Michael at that time, became an active This means people with the member of “The Heraldry Society of surname of Leslie, and also those of Great Britain”. the acknowledged septs of Clan Leslie. Later he studied heraldic art and They are Abernethy, Bartholomew, design, under Norman Manwaring, an Cairney, Lang and More and any of the eminent heraldic artist, who worked for spelling variations of those names. “The College of Arms” in London. Bartholomew is from the founder of Over the years, Michael has developed Clan Leslie, and the others came about a keen interest in Scottish heraldry, and through marriage. has told me that more than 70% of his work, comes from Scots, or Australians of Scottish ancestry. IMPORTANCE OF THE CLS In recent times Michael has been GENEALOGICAL SHEETS involved in assisting and advising on all matters heraldic, for local Scottish Just to show how important it is to Associations, and Clan Gatherings. give your family information. Michael is currently designing Award I was perusing the genealogical sheet medals for the Celtic Council of of one of our members, when I noticed Australia, and in conjunction with his that she had listed that her GG artwork, also gives illustrated seminars grandmother, on her maternal side was on heraldry to a wide range of Susanna Mary Ann Sparke, from the community groups. Hunter River region. I immediately Michael is currently President of the realised that she was related to my Plantagenet Society of Australia, wife, whose grandmother was a 4 Sparke, and after checking, found that they were indeed cousins. Therefore, as well as being a Leslie, she was also a relation of my wife. The moral of the story is, that the more information you give, the more you are likely to get back. Barrie Leslie.Gordon. NSW. TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND I flew over to New Zealand on the 19th October to visit family and friends and to see if I could get some new members for Clan Leslie Society. Although the following weekend was a holiday weekend, I rang Radio Pacific, which is a national radio station, and spoke to Phil Warren, and explained that I was over in New Zealand to try to get new members for Clan Leslie Society. After about thirty minutes I had my first reply, and to my surprise I found that we had gone to school at Point Chevalier, a suburb of Auckland, when we were five years old, and that his mother was a Leslie. I had many replies from people who had been told by friends about my interview on Radio Pacific. Over the next two weeks I had over thirty replies, and sent out information and newsletters to all of them.

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