Governor William Bligh was a very popular man in the Hawkesbury area. He had done much, in his years as Governor, to gain the respect of the local settlers.
On the 14th August 1806 the officers, civil and military, "with the free inhabitants" tendered their written congratulations to the new naval governor. This address was signed by : -
George Johnston for the military inhabitants
Richard Atkins for the civil inhabitants
John McArthur for the free inhabitants.
The Hawkesbury settlers were annoyed that, in particular, John Macarthur had signed on their behalf. An undated address to Governor Bligh from 244 Hawkesbury settlers was probably written and presented about the same time as an address from the Sydney inhabitants, that is five weeks after the first address. . They were incensed that Macarthur felt he could sign on their behalf and they authorised their deputies, John Bowman, Williams Cummings, George Crossley, Matthew Gibbons and Thomas Matcham Pitt to express their indignation at this infringement of their rights and privileges.
Bligh received a signed address from 135 "free inhabitants of Sydney" who were also annoyed that John Macarthur would have the audacity to sign on their behalf. In this address they stipulated that John Macarthur would never be chosen to deputise for them.
From the main body of the letter from the Hawkesbury settlers Bligh understood what difficulties the settlers at the Hawkesbury were suffering, e.g. a great flood that they had just experienced, the extremely low price they were getting for their grain and other agricultural produce and the evils arising from the depreciated currency. The signatories then drew up for Governor Bligh their bill of rights, asking him, amongst other requests, to restore freedom of trade, to allow commodities to be bought and sold in a fair open market and to prevent monopolies and extortion which was currently being practised.
The Hawkesbury had suffered two disastrous floods in February and March 1806. The consequence of these floods affected the whole colony because at that time very little grain was grown in any other part of New South Wales. There was, therefore, an acute shortage and prices rose at once. A 2 pound loaf of bread was being sold in Sydney for 4s and 6d and many families in the Windsor district had no bread in their house for months. They simply could not afford to pay the price.
Bligh made every attempt to alleviate the distress of the Hawkesbury settlers. He toured the whole of the occupied area, and inquired into the circumstances of each individual settler, a course of action which not only gave him a first-hand acquaintance with the people but also of their troubles. By showing he was interested and cared about them he became highly regarded amongst the settlers. He had government cattle slaughtered and given to the needy of the Hawkesbury and promised to purchase for the government supplies all the surplus wheat from their next crop at ten shillings a bushell. Lord Castlereagh in London commended him for his zealous and patriotic exertions on behalf of the Hawkesbury sufferers.
In early 1807 Bligh purchased for 950 pounds two grants of 170 acres belonging to Thomas Tyler, who was returning to England. He later bought another 110 acres for 100 pounds adjoining the 170 acres in the area now known as Pitt Town. The successful farm had a dairy with an "immense flock of cows from the government herd". His farm overseer, was the successful emancipist, Andrew Thompson who resided at the Red House Farm, now in the suburb of McGraths Hill, near the Chain of Ponds. Bligh employed some twenty or thirty men on his farm and fed them at the expense of the Crown.
After Governor Bligh's arrest by the military the Hawkesbury settlers supported him and wrote their account of what they considered the causes of the rebellion. They felt the officers had been merchants, traders and dealers, had employed convicts as their agents which gave them " a dangerous influence". The officers also monopolised all of the spirits bought into the Colony, which they purchased cheaply and sold at 200% to 300% profit. Some of the wealthy officers bought up whole districts, placed convicts tenants on the land and later sold at huge profits. The officers also paid for their goods in promissory notes, which in some cases they redeemed at 1000% profit.
Bligh delayed his departure to England after the rebellion by spending a lot of time at his Hawkesbury farm, knowing he would be safe surrounded by the local settlers who were his friends and allies.
[ Back to previous ] [ Historical Influences on the Hawkesbury ] [ Back to Historical Society's Home Page ]