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Cook Claims New South WalesFrom Cook's, HMS Endeavour Journal [manuscript], 22nd August 1770:
"before and after we landed Anchor'd we saw a number of People upon this Island arm'd in the same - manner as all the others we have seen except one man who had a bow and a bundle of Arrows the first we have seen on this coast. from the appearence of these People we expected they would have opposed our landing but as we approached the Shore they all made off and left us in peaceable posession of as much of the Island as served our purpose."
"Between 7 and 8 oClock in the Morning we saw several naked people, all or most of them women, down upon the beach picking up Shells, &Ca they had not a single rag of any kind of Cloathing upon them and both these and those we saw yesterday were in every respect the Same sort of people we have seen every where upon the Coast; two or three of the Men we saw Yesterday had on pretty large breast plates which we supposed were made of Pearl Oysters Shells this was a thing as well as the Bow and Arrows we had not seen before —"
Notwithstand I had in the Name of his Majesty taken posession of several places upon this coast I now once more hoisted English Coulers and in the Name of His Majesty King George the Third took posession of the whole Eastern Coast from the above Latitude down to this place by the Name of New South Wales together with all the Bays, Harbours Rivers and Islands situate upon the same said coast after which we fired three Volleys of small Arms which were Answerd by the like number by from the Ship this done we set out for the Ship
The arrival of the First Fleet, saw the aggressive dispossession of land, and the introduction of diseases, such as small pox.
Transactions of the Colony, from the Commencement of the Year 1789,
until the End of March.
Pursuant to his resolution, the governor on the 31st of December sent
two boats, under the command of Lieutenant Ball of the 'Supply', and
Lieutenant George Johnston of the marines, down the harbour, with directions
to those officers to seize and carry off some of the natives. The boats
proceeded to Manly Cove, where several Indians were seen standing on the beach,
who were enticed by courteous behaviour and a few presents to enter
into conversation....freeread.com.au/ebooks/e00084.txt
Captains Hunter, Collins & Johnston with Governor Phillip, Surgeon White &c. visiting a distressed female native of New South Wales at a hut near Port Jackson [picture].
# [London] : Published by Alexr. Hogg, Aust. 31, 1793. National Library of Australia
Variation on the above etching (State Records NSW:Reel 2786)
In May 1793 Johnston received an initial grant of 100 acres which would become Annandale Farm in the Parish of Petersham from Lieutenant-Governor Grose. Johnston papers include a letter from England dated 2 September 1803, conveying to Paterson the commander-in-chief's permission, previously refused, for the officers to engage in farming. By 1801 Johnston had 602 acres (244 ha) at Annandale and...
adb.anu.edu.au (viewed 23 February 2012)
Mitchell Library First Fleet Images released for Library Hack 2011
Lt. Col. George Johnston, 1810 / watercolour portrait by R. Dighton
First Fleet Art Collection (Natural history, Ethnography, Topography, History)
Johnston's land was now bounded by two Creeks (now known as Johnston's Creek and White's Creek, Port Jackson and Parramatta Road passed through it. George Johnston, a Marine who had supervised the transportation of convicts on the Lady Penrhyn in the First Fleet. George re-named the area Annandale after his birthplace Annan, Scotland, in the tradition of another Scottish emigre. A century earlier, Col. William H. Fitzhugh had named Annandale, Virginia, USA.
Enroute to Australia, Johnston met Esther Abrahams, one of the convicts he was supervising.
Captain William Bligh (State Records NSW)
Camperdown, from the Eastern bank of Johnston's Creek to Parramatta Road was granted to William Bligh by Governor King on August 10, 1806.
By 1800 Johnston was commanding officer of the NSW Corps. When Bligh threatened six of his officers with treason, Johnston responded by leading the Rum Rebellion against Bligh who "needed to be removed from office for his own safety and for the good of the Colony"....www.sl.nsw.gov.au
On the 26 January 1808, Lieutenant Colonel George Johnston arrested Governor Bligh and assumed Lieutenant Governorship. He administered the colony until 28 July 1808 - records.nsw.gov.au
"The public peace being happily, and I trust in almighty God, permanently established, I hereby proclaim the cessation of martial law." Proclamation issued by Major George Johnston on the day after the deposition of Governor William Bligh, proclaiming the cessation of martial law in the colony, dated from Head Quarters, Sydney, Jan, 27, 1808." - nla.gov.au
The ‘Rum Rebellion’ – a title later conferred on the event by Governor Thomas Brisbane; referred to as the ‘Insurrection’ by contemporaries – was an overthrow of the government, a mutiny against Governor William Bligh’s imperially sanctioned authority. It was not a rebellion over rum nor a popular rebellion by the people, but a forceful removal of a governor from office by sections of the colonial elite and the military. - www.hht.net.au
In 1911 George Johnston returned to England to face a Court Martial for his part in the Rum Rebellion. His journey co-incided with the passage of the newly appointed Governor Macquarie in the opposite direction. The two had been fellow officers and friends since the American War and it would have been awkward for Macquarie to have arrested Johnston.(Horsemen of the First Frontier (1788-1900) and The Serpents Legacy By Keith Robert Binney pg 27/28)
On 17 July 1812, Johnston wrote to Earl Bathurst:"I trust your Lordship will excuse me troubling you upon this occasion, which is to solicit from your Lordship an Order for a passage to New South Wales, for myself, my Daughter[probably Julia], and a Servant in the Ship Fortune.
I have spent much and the most active part of my life in the Service of that Colony. I have a numerous family there, and all that I possess in the World now, to enable me to provide for that family, is in that Country.
I therefore hope your Lordship will permit my return to my Family as a Settler, By the Fortune. - Transcript of Letter Book containing copies of correspondence between Major George Johnston and the Duke of Northumberland, 1811 - 12 Presented by Mrs E.C. Johnston ["Jeir"?] Nelson St., Lindfield. (This book was formerly among the papers of Mrs. Weston of Horsley, then passed into the possession of her daughter, Mrs. Smart, who presented it to Mrs E.C. Johnston.) HW. 1926.http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2011/D11961/a2252.htm#a2252003
On 30 May 1813, Johnston eventually arrived back in Sydney as an ordinary Settler. On 12 November 1814, he formalised his marriage to the mother of his three sons (George, Robert and David) and four daughters(Julia, Blanche, Isabella and Maria) at St John's, Parramatta. (Johnston, George (1764–1823) by A. T. Yarwood http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/johnston-george-2277
'Two hundred and seventeen years ago tomorrow, a 16-year-old girl, Esther Abrahams, was arrested in London for "feloniously stealing 24 yards of black silk lace, value 50 shillings".' - Online transcripts illuminate world of First Fleeters (July 26 2003)
"Yesterday morning a Native from Botany Bay brought an account of a large ship having anchored there: As the wind was fair for her getting into this Port, the reasons for her going into Botany Bay could be in no other way ac- counted for than the probability of its being some ship with hostile intentions... Major JOHNSTON immediately set off to reconnoitre..she was the ship Mary of Boston.. bound to Manilla" - The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (about) Sunday 22 January 1804
The turpentine and iron bark forest was cleared, to make way for agriculture and, any remnants of the original vegetation, were subsequently wiped out by urbanisation. The Rozelle Bay Community Native nursery is now undertaking projects to recreate pockets of original forest in public spaces.
George and Esther developed their estate to eventually include a bakery, smithy, slaughterhouse, butchery, stores, vineyard and orangerie. In 1799 they built Annandale House south west of the present intersection, of Parramatta Road and Johnston St.
When Annandale house was demolished, it was discovered that it was made of prize cedar which had been growing within a mile or two of the building. In its place, Norfolk Island pines had been planted. The Cedar rafters, joists, "other scantling" and joinery were shaped with an adze [a tool used for smoothing or carving rough-cut wood in hand woodworking.] as saw-pits were scarce - 1914 'PROGRESS OF THE SUBURBS.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 14 March, p. 8, viewed 6 March, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15469221
John M'Longhlen, a labouring man, on Monday night last gave, information at the Police Office of his having about seven the same evenin been knocked down by four ruffians between Gross Farm and Annandale - The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser Saturday 8 October 1814
In July, 1819, Governor Macquarie appointed George Johnston Junior as Superintendent of the Government Herds and Flocks.- 1819 'GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL ORDERS.', The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), 17 July, p. 1, viewed 28 January, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2178828
"We reported with great regret in our last paper that GEORGE JOHNSTON, jun. Esq. had met with a very serious and alarming accident, by the falling of his horse at Camden, in the Cow-pastures; ...Mr. Johnston's funeral took place on Tuesday last at Annandale, the seat of his father, where a vault had been long since consecrated for such solemn purposes. ... almost every person of rank or consideration in the Colony, amongst whom were HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR and his Staff; the Lieutenant Governor, and several of the other Officers of the 48th Regiment ; together with the Civil and Naval Officers and Gentlemen of the Colony ; all of whom manifested the deepest sorrow and sincerest sympathy with the feelings of this regretted Gentleman's Parents and Family; indeed it has seldom been our lot to record an event that has been so universally felt and deplored." The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803-1842) Saturday 26 February 1820
Julia was probably the daughter who accompanied Johnston to England to face Court Martial. A daughter is mentioned in his correspondence with the Duke of Northumberland - P75, George Johnston letterbook, being copies of correspondence between Johnston and the Duke of Northumberland, 1811-1812. Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2011/D11961/a2252.htm viewed 6 March 2013.
In 1816 Johnston received land grants in the Illawarra. The Illawarra Historical Society has one of Julia's Dresses, perhaps made while she was in England with her father. Julia was born at Annandale in 1796 - http://www.australiandressregister.org/garment/133/ and a pair of Boots possibly also from the same trip. 85/434 Boots, pair, women's, leather/silk/cotton, [Australia], c. 1860: http://from.ph/48169
Titled in pencil 'Johnston's Estate, Annandale' below signature Note in pencil on second sheet along lower edge of view 'finished Wednesday 18 April 77'...Johnston's Estate, Annandale, 1877 / Samuel Elyard
This page www.ramin.com.au/annandale/story2.shtml last updated: 18 June 2013.
Fitzroy Terrace, Camperdown 1840 - 1849. NLA MAP F 570
The arrest of Governor Bligh, 1808 (Mitchell Library State Library of NSW Call Number Safe 4/5)