Escape 1815

Exactly 200 years ago in the first week of April 1815,  James Gough escaped from the Parramatta Lumberyards where he had been working on the new extensions to Government House. He managed to hide from the authorities for about a month until he finally surrendered to the Superintendent of Convicts at Sydney. How did he manage this escape? Where was he hiding during this time? Did Ann Cain help him? He certainly managed to meet with Ann and spend some time with her as their eldest son James was born later that year.

The Parramatta Lumberyard

Richard Rouse (1774-1852)

Richard Rouse (of Rouse Hill) was the supervisor of the lumberyard, and was in charge of all government works in the Parramatta district. When James Gough arrived at the Parramatta Lumberyard 200 years ago, in early 1815, there were 100 men listed working there. He was one of six men in the team of carpenters, and was one of the two joiners. Extensive renovations were underway at Government House and two new wings were being added to the original building, to provide a more comfortable residence for Governor Lachlan Macquarie and his family. 

(Photos of the interior of Government House and full details of the work undertaken by Gough and his team, are all included in the James Gough book)

Australia Day 26 January 1821

In 1818, Governor Lachlan Macquarie declared that the 26 January would be called Australia Day to commemorate the founding of the British colony. The Sydney Gazette recorded the celebration of the event on the 31 January:

"On Monday last His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR review[ed] the 48th Regt, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel ERSKINE, and we learn expressed himself much pleased with the military appearance of this distinguished corps.

The same day a dinner was given at Government House to the Civil and Military Officers at Head Quarters, in commemoration of the Establishment of this Colony, which on that day had attained its thirtieth anniversary. We understand that His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR, in celebrating an event in which all present necessarily felt much interest, was pleased to pay a handsome tribute to the memory of the late Admiral PHILLIP.

In the evening a Ball was given by Mrs. MACQUARIE to a numerous party, which was continued with spirit to a late hour. We were particularly gratified with a likeness of GOVERNOR PHILLIP (executed by Mr. Greenway, who felt much pleasure in this opportunity of celebrating the memory of the Vice Admiral, who had ever been his steady friend and patron), suspended at one extremity of the room, in a wreath, supported by two banners; one being that of Vice Admiral, and the other containing the following inscription. "In Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the Colony of New South Wales, established by ARTHUR PHILLIP, whose virtues and talents entitle him to the grateful remembrance of his Country, and to whose arduous exertions the present prosperous state of the Colony may chiefly be ascribed."

Australia Day 26 January 1821 was a very special day for James Gough, as on that day Governor Lachlan Macquarie granted him a Conditional Pardon. Having served nine years of his sentence, this meant that, although he could not return to England, he was now FREE within the colony. This was the start of a new chapter in his life...

 

 

James Gough book order

 

If you have read Dicken's ''Bleak House'' or seen the BBC series of  the same name, you will be familiar with the High Court of Chancery in London. In Dicken's story it was the fictitious case of  Jarndyce v. Jarndyce that concerned the settling of an inheritance case, and was a central part of the story.

In the James Gough story, this was a reality. In 1856 on his behalf, his younger brother John Gough brought a case before the High Court of Chancery in London, to settle an inheritance from an old will that had been written in 1796. He won the case and it is fully detailed in the book.

This book covers his life in NSW in detail from his arrival in 1813; his colonial crime; work at the Parramatta Lumberyard and Old Government House; marriage and children with Ann Cain; the Old Supreme Courthouse, Sydney; patronage from William Cox at Sydney and Windsor; managing the White Hart inn; work on the church schools at the Hawkesbury (including his original tenders); the Berrima Jail fiasco with John Richards; life at Sutton Forest with Mary Allen (nee Sherwin) and their children; a brief stay at Cockatoo Island and an Absolute Pardon in 1842. Evidence given by Gough in a number of NSW court records provides contemporary information and confirms his business relationships with William Cox, and Dr. William Sherwin. 

Intriguing details of his English ancestry not previously known are also revealed after a chance discovery in an old newspaper of a legacy. 

*** New proof of his birth in London in 1790. 

208 pages; 16 pages of illustrations containing 29 images, (including photos inside the roof of the Old Supreme Courthouse, a collection of 19th century tools, and a letter from James Gough); bios of family members; 313 reference sources. 

Price: $40 plus $9 postage within Australia

Payment by direct bank deposit or cheque

Contact Marion Starr to order 

Welcome to all recent visitors from New Zealand! Yes, James Gough was the elder brother of John Gough. Their UK story is included in the book. 

*** This book is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the author. This particularly applies to copying information or images to the internet.***

Comments about the book:

J.P. ...''A wonderful book. New information for all Gough family researchers. Very well researched. What an achievement. I didn't want to put it down.''

L.Mc ... ''I am impressed by how much research must have gone into writing this. You have  done a great job.''

R.H. ..."The coloured photos are fantastic!"

N.P. ... "I appreciate greatly all the time and effort you have put into this book. It is an excellent resource.'' 

S.O. ... "I found the UK details very interesting."

F.S. ... "I loved reading about Gough's family origins in England - it all adds a special twist to his story!'' 

 J.P. ...  "Congratulations on such a wonderful book. You have done a great job and I am so grateful to have all these interesting details."

M.S. ... "This book has been well researched and has a number of surprises to be found. Marion has published other historical books, great if you want true facts for your family.''

Convicts in the James Gough book

The book includes biographies for Ann Cain, Mary Sherwin and all the Gough children. It also includes a biography for John Richards, who was James Gough's partner. This is a list of convicts who are included in the James Gough book, many of them in detail.   

 

Allen, Daniel (Admiral Gambier 1811)

Billingsley, William (Phoenix 1828)

Chadwick, William (Atlas I (2) 1819)

Flannaghan, Patrick (Mary 1819)

Forrester, Robert (Scarborough 1788)

Gore, Robert (General Hewitt 1814)

Grimes, James (Malabar 1819)

Harrow, James (Albion 1829)

Hartley, John (Mary 1822)

Henderson, Mary (Asia (7) 1830)

James, Richard (Ocean II (1)

Johnson, Charles (Admiral Gambier 1811)

Johnson, James (Guildford 1827)

Jones, Richard (Baring 1815)

Jones, William (Earl Spencer 1813)

McDonnell, Margaret (Brothers 1827)

Metcalf, George (Larkins 1817)

Mitchell, Andrew (Morley 1818)

Morton, John (Mangles 1820)

Moseley, John (Surrey 1823)

Olds, William (Admiral Gambier 1808)

Reason, Ann (Brothers 1824)

Reddington, Thomas (Earl St Vincent 1818)

Redman, John (Surprise 1790)

Richards, John (Mariner 1816)

Roberts, William (Scarborough 1788)

Rutherford, Charles (Admiral Gambier 1811)

Sanderson, Thomas (Indefatigable 1815)

Sewell, George (Somersetshire 1814)

Shaw, Thomas (General Hewitt 1814)

Skinner, Francis (Minerva 1824)

Smith, James (Indefatigable 1814)

Walker, William (General Stewart 1818)

Ward, Joseph (Tottenham 1818)

Wilson, John (Mangles 1820)

James Gough book review RAHS

The following book review appears in the current edition of History, the Magazine of the Royal Australian Historical Society March 2014

James Gough: a very industrious man

Author: Marion Starr 

Convicted London joiner and carpenter James Gough (1790 -1876), who arrived on the Earl Spencer in 1813, was involved in the joinery at Old Government House, the first Hospital and the Barracks at Parramatta and projects in the Hawkesbury. After gaining his Conditional Pardon in 1821 he won the contracts to re-roof the Old Supreme Courthouse in Sydney. Private commissions included John Wylde's 'Cecil Hills' at Cabramatta; schools in the Hawkesbury and Blacktown; the White Hart Inn between Parramatta and Windsor; William Cox's house in O'Connell Street, Sydney and by 1828, Joseph Underwood's terraces on Church Hill. Awarded the construction of Berrima Gaol in partnership with John Richards in 1834, the contract was terminated in 1836.

The publication includes biographical details of fifteen people including Gough's wife Ann Cain and later partner Mary Allen and their children; an appendix of nineteenth century carpenter's tools; extensive bibliography, notes and index. Starr also reveals a serendipitous finding which led her to further research into Gough's English family, that adds a fascinating epilogue. Illustrated with photographs, drawings, plans, tools, portraits and documents, Starr has produced a work that uncovers the legacy of the man in the well-chosen title and the vicissitudes of life in the colony.

Margaret Dalkin RAHS

The White Hart Inn rediscovered

The remains of the White Hart Inn have been unearthed by workers preparing to build the North West Rail link in Kellyville, NSW, and a full archaeological dig has been underway for several months. The footings and a cellar for the two storey building was found with many artifacts including coins from 1816 and 1853.

Images: The Australian 10 March 2014

This inn was owned by William Cox and was probably built by James Gough about 1825 when he was working for Cox in the Hawkesbury district at Castlereagh, Richmond and Windsor, including repairs and renovations to St Matthew's Church in 1824. By then Gough, (who was free and a contract builder with at least five assigned convict tradesmen and an apprentice), had been associated with Cox in Sydney at his various properties in O'Connell Street, and was described when giving evidence in a court case in 1824 as, '' supervising the private concerns of William Cox, Esquire". Gough was the innkeeper at the White Hart in 1826 although the first licence was not issued until 1830.  

There is a full chapter about the history of the White Hart in the James Gough book.

 Update: More info & video here http://nwrail.transport.nsw.gov.au/The-Project/Heritage#1

Image: Marion Starr

Update: Spent a very interesting morning on Sat 5 April at the Open Day on the site. Fascinating to see the actual layout of the inn and imagine the lives of those who stayed overnight or who lived there over many years.  My favourite artifact was the 1816 coin found on the site. Thanks to all who organised this very successful open day inspection.

Book reviews

There has been a wonderful response to the James Gough book with a lot of interest in his story. Reviews of the book will be published in two Australian magazines next month so watch this space for further details.

More information about James Gough's family in London in the late 1700s has recently been discovered and research is ongoing...

 UPDATE  

 James Gough review in RAHS History magazine March 2014

James Gough book

This book covers his life in NSW in detail from his arrival in 1813; his colonial crime; work at the Parramatta Lumberyard and Old Government House; marriage and children with Ann Cain; the Old Supreme Courthouse, Sydney; patronage from William Cox at Sydney and Windsor; managing the White Hart inn; work on the church schools at the Hawkesbury (including his original tenders); the Berrima Jail fiasco with John Richards; life at Sutton Forest with Mary Allen (nee Sherwin) and their children; a brief stay at Cockatoo Island and an Absolute Pardon in 1842. Evidence given by Gough in a number of NSW court records provides contemporary information and confirms his business relationships with William Cox, and Dr. William Sherwin. Intriguing details of his English ancestry not previously known are also revealed after a chance discovery in an old newspaper of a legacy.

208 pages; 16 pages of illustrations containing 29 images, (including photos inside the roof of the Old Supreme Courthouse, a collection of 19th century tools, and a letter from James Gough); bios of family members; 313 reference sources.

Price: $40 plus $12 postage within Australia
Other international locations: please contact me for details 

Payment by direct bank deposit or cheque. 

Contact Marion Starr to order 

Welcome to all recent visitors from New Zealand! Yes, James Gough was the elder brother of John Gough. Their UK story is included in the book. 

*** This book is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the author. This particularly applies to copying information or images to the internet.***

Comments about the book:

J.P. ...''A wonderful book. New information for all Gough family researchers. Very well researched. What an achievement. I didn't want to put it down.''

L.Mc ... ''I am impressed by how much research must have gone into writing this. You have  done a great job.''

R.H. ..."The coloured photos are fantastic!"

N.P. ... "I appreciate greatly all the time and effort you have put into this book. It is an excellent resource.'' 

S.O. ... "I found the UK details very interesting."

F.S. ... "I loved reading about Gough's family origins in England - it all adds a special twist to his story!'' 

 J.P. ...  "Congratulations on such a wonderful book. You have done a great job and I am so grateful to have all these interesting details."

M.S. ... "This book has been well researched and has a number of surprises to be found. Marion has published other historical books, great if you want true facts for your family.''