Thomas Valentine Blomfield
1848 Collarnatong

Genealogy

Thomas Valentine Blomfield c1827 Image supplied by Elizabeth Virtue [elizabeth-at-virtue.id.au]

THOMAS VALENTINE BLOMFIELD is to be ranked as one of the pioneering band whose early settlement and recognition of its possibilities contributed to the development of Manaro. Born at Dagworth, in Suffolk, he was the representative of an old military family, whose traditions he followed by holding a captaincy in the 28th Regiment. He married Christina, the daughter of Captain Richard Brooks, and from his father-inlaw acquired Denham Court, near Liverpool. He was thus a brother-in-law of Richard, that son of Captain Brooks who came to Manaro in 1827. In 1848, when the applicants for leases were gazetted, Thomas Valentine Blomfield sought to obtain Run No. 8, known as Collarnatong, consisting of 35,000 acres and the boundaries whereof, as set out in the Gazette, refer. to neighboring runs as being those of Messrs. Cassels, Brooks, Brierly and Eccleston. Mr. Brooks' run was "Gejizrick." Arthur Blomfield, a son of T. V. Blomfield, was born in 1831 at Dagworth, Maitland, and apparently assumed control at Collamatong in 1853. His sons were Arthur, who held Collamatong, afterwards Coolamatong; Richard, who, during the early sixties, was manager at Coolringdon for Mr. W. Bradley, with three submanagers under him, and who afterwards succeeded to Denham Court; T.V., who entered the Army in India; Edwin, of Salusbury Court, Armidale; Alfred a grazer of Collarenebri, who have all passed away; and Henry, who is still alive in Queensland.

"BACK TO COOMA" Felix Mitchell 1926 pp72