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This page updated 31 January 2010

News in July 2006: The history websites on this domain now have a companion website, and an updating website as well, on a new domain, at Merchant Networks Project, produced by Dan Byrnes and Ken Cozens (of London).

This new website (it is hoped) will become a major exercise in economic and maritime history, with much attention to London/British Empire and some attention to Sydney, Australia.

Update: 31 July 2007: New website logo applied, by Lou Farina, Photographer, Tamworth NSW at: http://www.farina.com.au/

Update: March 2002: For more information on today's Blackheath in London, visit a site managed by the noted local historian there, Neil Rhind, now preparing his third book on the history of his area: http://www.blackheath.org

Acknowledgements

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The research for this book was conducted in waves, as time allowed, from 1977. I must record my gratitude with a proviso... that I, and not those who assisted me, am responsible for any errors of fact or emphasis in this book. (But of course, as long as it remains on the Internet, this book can be corrected if or where necessary.)

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I am grateful firstly to Graydon Henning, lecturer in Economic History at the University of New England, who showed me how to look newly at the Pacific, in which I had swum but not thought. And then to professors Geoffrey Blainey and A. G. L. Shaw, (both of Melbourne), who generously responded to my wish to know more; as did Professor Alan Atkinson of the History Dept., University of New England, over many years now. But more than anything else, this book is also a product of the encouragement, generosity, and the extraordinary feeling for the subject matter offered me by Mollie Gillen, OA, author of The Founders of Australia, a massive research work on the personnel of the First Fleet. The information-sharing generosity of Mr. Neil Rhind, noted local historian of Blackheath, London, was remarkable in 1989.

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If you value the information posted here, and the projects of these websites in general, you may like to consider making a donation to help reduce our production costs? It would be greatly appreciated. Options include: paying via PayPal which this website uses - Ed

To others in Australia: Professor Alan Frost of La Trobe University. Dr Noel McLachlan of Melbourne University. Dr Pennie Pemberton of Canberra, a student of the Australian Agricultural Company. Dr Pamela Statham, economic historian at the Faculty of Economics and Commerce, University of Western Australia. L. F. Fitzhardinge. Dr Bob Reece of Murdoch University, WA.

Earlier I had wondered about the work of the Tasmanian historian, K. M. Dallas, who also replied to letters. Early in research, my friend Malcolm Walker of London assisted greatly after I found it difficult in Australia to compile useful information on London's local politics and the careers of aldermen. My thanks on indispensable matters of whaling history, to James E. Mooney, Director, and Marc S. Gallichio of the Manuscript Dept., Pennsylvania Historical Society, for permission to quote from their holdings.

I am also grateful (in no particular order here) to Mr. L. H. Elliott of Greenwells, Walcha NSW (a descendant of the contractor for the First Fleet, William Richards). To genealogists Keith Johnson and Malcolm Sainty, publishers at Library of Australian History, Sydney. Janet Robinson. To historian Michael Flynn. To London friends, Graham and Margaret Halcrow, for hospitality to a visiting writer. Ms Jenny Wraight, Librarian at the Guildhall Library, London. The City Archivist, Corporation of London Records Office. To Elizabeth John, Legal and Personnel director of Brandshatch Leisure plc. Zena Bamping, writer, of Kent. Mrs. K. A. Jowitt, Assistant Librarian, Library and Museum of the United Grand Lodge of England, Freemason's Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ. Mr. Bernard R. Johnston, 60 Hurlingham Court, Ranelagh Garden, London.

Amongst librarians and archivists, some of the following have responded to requests for sometimes too-wide a range of information... The staff of the Mitchell Library, Sydney. Baiba Berzins as she was Mitchell Librarian, and the same for Suzanne Mourot. Librarian Nuala Sharpe at the Mitchell Library Reading Room, and Shirley Humphries and Anne Robertson there. Paul Brunton, Archivist of the Mitchell Library. Gail Davis, Senior Research Archivist at NSW State Archives. Angela Phippin, Librarian, Society of Australian Genealogists. Staff of the Library of the Royal Australian Historical Society, Sydney. Susan Butler, Executive Editor, and staff at The Macquarie Dictionary, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd.; and also there, research assistant Maureen Leslie. Librarian Maggie McElhill at NSW State Library' and Dixson Librarian in Sydney, Di Rhodes.

To archivists at NSW State Archives. And at the Australian National Library, Canberra, Carmel McInerny, Manuscript Librarian; Pam Ray, Acting Manuscript Librarian, Australian Reference; Catherine Santamaria and Carmel McInerny. For long patience, the librarians of Tamworth City Library and Namoi Regional Library (including Pam Warden, Judy Jaeger, Lorraine McCann, Joyce Webster, Dagmar Bearsy, Sue Nicholls). To many librarians at Dixson Library, University of New England (especially Christine Raszewski).

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To Dennis Rowe, Archivist at the University of Newcastle. Imke Fischer of the Australian Society for Sports History, Sport, etc., and Murray Phillips on Australian golfing history. Librarians at La Trobe Collection, Victorian State Public Library. Mark Staniforth at Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney, and library staff there. Mr. Frank Strahan, Archivist, Melbourne University Archives. For valuable access to a computerised version of the International Genealogical Index, staff of the Family History Centre, Mormon Church, Tamworth.

Members of Tamworth Historical Society, including Lyall Green, Jim Hobden (now deceased), Beth King (now deceased), Bill King (now deceased, a descendant of Governor P. G. King), Alan Cameron, Audrea Rogers.

In London, Dr. Roger J. Knight a deputy director of National Maritime Museum, Greenwich; and to Robert Baldwin, Curator, Hydrography, there; Mrs. Ann Shirley, Assistant Keeper, 1979, Dept of Navigation and Astronomy; Librarian Miss B. J. Fletcher and also there, Catherine Payling; and staff of the Reader's Services Section. To Robert Aspinall, Archivist of Port of London Authority Library. Ann Morton, Search Dept., Public Record Office, Chancery Lane. Librarians and staff at the Public Record Office, Ruskin Avenue, Kew. Staff various at The Guildhall and with the Corporation of the City of London.

Others in London include: Carl Harrison of the Lewisham Local History Centre, who kept documents leading to discovery of The Blackheath Connection. Julian Watson a professional local historian at Woodlands, 90 Mycenae Road, Greenwich/Blackheath in London, who introduced me to Neil Rhind, Secretary of the Blackheath Preservation Trust and local historian of Blackheath. To Patsy Kitchen of Kew. An historian of slavery, Dr Kenneth Morgan. Whaling historian, A. G. E. Jones of Tunbridge Wells. Ms Melanie Aspie, Archivist of The Times newspaper, London, on British newspaper history. Mr. John Goddard, Librarian, Royal Society for Arts, Commerce and Manufacture, 8 John Adam Street, The Adelphi, London; and later there, Ms Susan Bennett. Mr. George Brandon, and Anna Ling, Manager/Rooms Administrator, The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), 3 Robert Street, The Adelphi. (Once the address of Duncan Campbell, overseer of the Thames prison hulks.) Other correspondents, including at the Public Record Office, Dr. J. B. Post. Historical Officers at Lloyd's of London such as D. Burrel at the Agency Dept, Lloyd's. To author Michael Banks of London for access to part of his unpublished manuscript on London merchants. Mr. Anthony Twist of Cambridge. Staff at the British Library, especially those in the Manuscript Reading Room. Especially for detective work, London researcher, Mrs. Gillian Hughes.

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Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, and in Ireland: Sir William P. Curtis of Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire, in 1987. Archivists at the National Library of Ireland, and P. Connelly, National Archives Ireland, plus Gerard Lyne, Archivist, National Library of Ireland. In Scotland, special thanks to Alastair Campbell of Airds, Chief Executive of Clan Campbell, Inverary Castle, Archivist to the Earl of Argyll. Dr. Lorne Campbell, London genealogist of Clan Campbell. Miss Marion Campbell of Kilberry, FSA (Hon), Kilberry, Argyllshire, Scotland. Also to Ann M. Harrison, Archivist, The Manx Museum and National Trust. Wendy Thirkettle, Assistant Archivist, Manx Museum Library, the Manx Museum and National Trust, Douglas, Isle of Man. Mrs. Elspeth Simpson, Assistant Archivist, University of Glasgow; Michael S. Moss, Archivist of University of Glasgow and his colleague Hamish Maxwell Stewart.

And further afield... Diarmid A. Campbell, The Clan Campbell Society (North America), Journal Editor, Denver, Colorado. Lt-Col. Vic Clark, (USAF rtd) FSA (Scot), Dallas, Texas. Miss Avis Jones, Research Officer, Institute of Jamaica, West India Reference Library, Kingston Jamaica. Criminologist Charles Campbell of Juneau, Alaska. To Virginian genealogist John Dorman.

In Australia generally: My parents, who showed a boy what he needed to know of Sydney. And, not in any chronological order...

To Monika Allan of Coogee, Sydney. Paul and Janice Anglin, and Brian and Carol Bailey, all of Melbourne. Mrs. Jean Bell of Sydney (deceased by 2009). Greg Blaxland of Tamworth. John Bishop, Tamworth. Geoff (deceasedprior to 2009) and Carmen Blomfield of Armidale. Genealogist, Revd. Richard G. Borthwick, Chaplain and sub-warden, St George's College, Crawley WA 6009. Historian Dr. Carl Bridge (a good meeting in London). Ross Burnet, antiquarian bookdealer of Uralla. Jill Byrnes. Geoff Butler. Mr. Colin Campbell, (now deceased), Secretary of Clan Campbell Society, Australia. Pat Connelly of Melbourne. Peter Consandine. Julian Croft of Armidale. Max Ellis, Tamworth. Vaughan Evans of Australian Association for Maritime History, Sydney. Phillip Geeves (Sydney genealogist, ABC resident historian, deceased). Dr. Phil Gregory, Tamworth. Jim Hamilton of the Victorian branch, Fellowship of Australian writers. Artist Ron Hartree of Tamworth. Mrs. R. Humphreys of Jindabyne, Dalby, QLD. Mrs. Morag Hutton of Clan Campbell, Queensland. Historian Nance Irvine of Sydney. Rick Keam of Melbourne. Maria Kelly of the Upper Horton, NSW. Liz Keogh. Michael Kiely. Edward Linn of East Roseville, Sydney. Pam McLennan, of Cairns and District Family History Soc. Inc. Justice Bruce McPherson, Queensland Supreme Court. Mr. Bruce Mackey, formerly of Almaden in Queensland. Scholar Dr. Tod Moore, of Armidale. An old friend, a social worker with the Victorian prison system, Shane Muldoon (and Paula). My aunt and uncle, Phyllis and Roy Musgrave of Rose Bay, Sydney. Anne Needham. Averil Nicholl. Bookseller Pat O'Connor, Tamworth. Hugh Oldham of Canberra. My Melbourne friend Gerry Patterson (for computer support). Phil Reading, Tamworth. Bert Rice of Melbourne (whose grandfather remembered convicts working on the Thames River).

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To Michael Rimmer of Bundaberg, Queensland. Mrs. Nancy Roberts, Research Officer, Royal Historical Society Qld, PO Box 12057, Brisbane QLD 4002. Janet Robinson. Brian Robson (and his library, Bondi, Sydney). Anna Rose of Tamworth. Tamworth artist Phillip Russell. John Savic, Melbourne. Karl Schneider, Melbourne. Poet Gregory B. Shortis of Armidale. Jenny Smith of Armidale. Melbourne poet Maurice Strandgard. Peter Swain of the Mapping Dept., Mulgrave Shire Council, Cairns. Katherine Thomas of Armidale. Kitty Thomas of Tamworth and Bro. A. I. Keenan (who kindly helped establish in Rome that no Catholic Cardinal Campbell had ever sprung from Duncan Campbell's family line, as oddly had once been suspected by a Campbell descendant). "Tom the Poet" (now of Austin, Texas). Edwin Wilson, poet, of Sydney.

To the end of the project, thanks also to my cousin, Yvonne D'Elboux; and for computer support to Northnet Internet Service Providers, Armidale. To Jack Arnold (Armidale). To Georgina Chaseling. To Irina Dunn at NSW Writers Centre. Pearl and Joe Trindall in Tamworth. To Bob Faulkner at ATSIC in Sydney.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (further):
The research for this book has been conducted in waves, as time allowed, since 1977. I must record my gratitude with a proviso... that I, and not those who assisted me, are responsible for any errors of fact or emphases in this book. Those amongst the "second wave" of people whose views or work helped me finish this website book include:
Professor Alan Atkinson of the University of New England, Dr. Pamela Statham in Western Australia, Dr. Noel McLachlan, then of Melbourne University.

On the matter of untraceable Irish contracts for transportation, P. Connolly, National Archives, Dublin, Ireland. Archivists at the National Library of Ireland including Gerard Lyne. Staff at the Dixson Library, University of New England, including Christine Raszewski, Irena Niedzwiecki (deceased prior to 2009), Sharon Lenord, Jack Bedson. Librarians at the La Trobe Collection, Victorian State Public Library. Librarian Maggie McElhill at the New South Wales State Library.

London and/or the UK: The City Archivist, Corporation of London Records office. On Richard Betham (d. 1789), Assistant archivist, The Manx Museum and National Trust, The Manx Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man, Wendy Thirkettle. Michael S. Moss, Archivist, University of Glasgow, and Hamish Maxwell Stewart. Special thanks to archivist Robert Aspinall of Port of London Authority Library, Poplar, London. Librarians Mr. John Goddard and Ms Susan Bennett at Royal Society for Arts, Commerce and Manufacture, 8 John Adam Street, The Adelphi, London.

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I am also very grateful to Anthony Twist of Cambridge, England, for correspondence on many late eighteenth century London merchant biographies. Mr. Twist had been researching a biography of John Julius Angerstein (1735-1823), of Lloyd's of London. Elsewhere, in the United Kingdom: Zena Bamping, Historian, West Kingsdown, Sevenoaks, Kent. Mrs. K. A. Jowitt, Assistant Librarian, Library and Museum of the United Grand Lodge of England, Freemason's Hall, Great Queen Street, London.

In Australia, Angela Phippin, Librarian, Society of Australian Genealogists. Dennis Rowe, archivist at the University of Newcastle. Staff of the Mitchell Library Sydney. Staff of the Library of the Royal Australian Historical Society. Staff at the Macquarie Dictionary, Susan Butler, Executive Editor, The Macquarie Dictionary, The Macquarie Library Pty. Ltd.; and also there, research assistant, Maureen Leslie.
Archivist Mark Staniforth at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney. Frank Strahan, archivist at the Melbourne University archives. Tamworth City Library staff including Judy Jaeger, Pam Warden, Lorraine McCann, Joyce Webster, Dagmar Bearsy, Sue Nicholls. And librarians of The Namoi Regional Library Tamworth.
In the United States: Henry M. de Mauriac, Venice, Florida, USA on genealogical matters. Mrs. Jean Bell, a Campbell descendant of Sydney. Greg Blaxland, Tamworth. Geoff (now deceased) and Carmen Blomfield, Armidale. Beverley and Colin (now deceased) Campbell, then secretariat, Clan Campbell Society, Sydney, Australia. Imke Fischer of the Australian Society for Sports History. Historian Michael Flynn, Sydney. Mr. Bruce Mackey formerly of Almaden in Queensland. Dr Tod Moore (for discussions on English mariners and politically influential families from Elizabethan times.)

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In more recent years:
(Gathered alphabetically, other people who have generously assisted this project have been:)

In Australia: Dr. John Atchison, researcher of the Australian Agricultural Company. Dr. Pennie Pemberton, also researcher of the Australian Agricultural Company. Rev. Richard G. Borthwick, Chaplain and sub-warden, St George's College, Crawley WA 6009, for discussions on the genealogies of Duncan Campbell and William Bligh, his own material unpublished. Dr. Maxine Darnell, regarding British Imperialists and Australian colonists, the Botany Bay debate, variously, considering the use of Chinese labour in a variety of locations before 1830. Dr. Bob Reece at Murdoch University, WA.
I am also grateful to Professor Sippanah Arasaratnam (now deceased) for the benefit of his extraordinarily civilized knowledge of Indian and South Asian history after 1600, and to Associate Professor David Kent, University of New England, for a review of the history of the Industrial Revolution in England, 1750-1830.

Finis

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