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Joseph Henry Chalker
Adaminaby 1833
JOSEPH HENRY CHALKER was one of the very earliest men to come on to Manaro. He was at Billylingera with John Cosgrove about 1833. Shortly afterwards he went to Adaminaby as storekeeper for Messrs. Charles and Henry York, step-brothers of Mr. Cosgrove and partners with him in the Adamindumee Run. This employment he retained till the breaking out of the Kiandra Rush in 1860, and on the 11th September of that year was granted a publican's general license for The Travellers' Rest Hotel at Adaminaby, where he did a roaring trade selling grog at 1/- a nobbler. The old house, which was of wood and had a root thatched with grass, was burnt to the ground. Chalker then built opposite the old site the premises later known as The Rose Inn. He died at Adaminaby on 21st June, 1893, at the age of 80 years.
"BACK TO COOMA" Felix Mitchell 1926 Page 74 - Transcribed by Pattrick Mould 2002
JOSEPH HENRY CHALKER & ELLEN KELLY
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Matthew & Elizabeth Shanley nee Chalker daughter of Joseph Henry & Ellen Chalker. |
Joseph Henry Chalker was born to convict parents William Charker & Elizabeth Shackle on August 26th 1813. He was baptized at St Johns Parramatta on December 26th 1813.
Joseph grew up at South Creek (Penrith) on the family property known as ‘Elder Park’. The land on which ‘Elder Park’ was built had been granted by Governor Lachlan Macquarie to his father William Charker. Unfortunately William died in 1823 before the house was completed.
Until the age of ten Joseph had experienced his father pursue various activities. So by the age of twenty Joseph was prepared to take on his own adventures, and journey into the relatively unexplored areas of southern NSW.
It is reasonable to assume that Joseph had some contact with his sister and brother-in-law regarding the opportunities that existed in the Monaro area.
At some time in 1833, Joseph accompanied by his friend and neighbour John Cosgrove, began the journey south. Upon reaching their destination the pair started a carrying business. How long this venture lasted is not known.
After returning to his family property at South Creek, Joseph married Ellen Kelly on the 16th March 1837. The Rev. Thomas Hassell officiated & both parties signed their ‘X’ mark In the presence of Henry & Mary York, at St Paul’s Cobbity
Ellen Kelly was also born of convicts parents, Morgan Kelly & Mary English.
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This marriage produced nine children, the first of these being:
MARY CHALKER, b. January 30, 1838, South Creek NSW;
m. (1) JAMES BERRIGAN; m. (2) EDWARD POWER, 1858, Queanbeyan NSW.
MARIA CHALKER, b. January 02, 1840, 'Wayhill Farm' South Creek NSW
d. December 08, 1845, South Creek NSW.
JOSEPH H CHALKER, b. September 10, 1843, South Creek NSW
m. (1) MARGARET SMITH; m. (2) MARY WINDLE, 1872, Cooma NSW.
d. June 02, 1924, Hermindale
WILLIAM H CHALKER, b. July 03, 1846, South Creek NSWJAMES3 CHALKER, b. July 03, 1846, South Creek NSW NSW
m. ELIZABETH(ELIZA) SIMS, December 19, 1871, C/E Christ Church Cooma NSW
d. March 25, 1930, Adaminaby
Cause of Death: Senile Decay aged 89 years
Occupation: Station Hand, Old age pensioner
Burial: March 26, 1930, C/E Old Adaminaby Cemetery
Informant on death certificate: Reginald Stanley Venables,Grandson of Adaminaby
witnesses at burial : Thomas Burgess & C Venables
Sometime over the next 3 years Joseph and Ellen made the decision to journey back down to the Monaro district.
The next three children were born on the Cattle Station Billilingera near Bredbo.
20th May 1874ELIZA CHALKER, b. July 14, 1849, 'Billilingera' Bredbo NSW
m. MATTHEW SHANLEY, 1869, Cooma NSW. 8th February 1869
Matthew Shanley born, Cattigat NSW Squatter (James Shanley & Ann Caroll)
married Elizabeth Chalker born, Billilingera NSW Inkeepers daughter (Joseph Chalker & Ellen Kelly)
at Mr Joseph Chalkers residence , Adaminaby
by Father Patrick White
Alexander Barrett & Mary Ann Heywood witnesses
d. January 03, 1922;
Burial: Old Adaminaby CemeteryEDWARD CHALKER, b. January 14, 1852, 'Billilingera' Bredbo NSW
m. JANE HEYWOOD, 1874, Cooma NSW.
John Cosgrove and his stepbrothers Charles and Henry York owned Billilingera. Whilst John Cosgrove settled and stayed at the ‘Billilingera’ property his stepbrothers Charles and Henry York moved on to Adaminaby. Charles returned to Emu Plains where he had purchased land previously. Here, he and his wife, Maria made their home, and their family grew to eight children. Henry’s wife, Mary was tragically burnt to death in a house fire in 1856. After her death the interests of the York’s and Cosgrove in Adaminaby were looked after
by their stockmen and hut keepers. These men included Martin Byrne, Henry Ball and Thomas Westerman. It seems an opportunity opened up for Joseph Chalker when Byrne left. Joseph and his family moved to Adaminaby and established themselves in a slab hut. The last of their children was born here SARAH J CHALKER, b. 1857, Cooma NSW; d. 1860, Cooma NSW. After the death of Ellen’s father, Morgan in 1842. Ellen’s mother, Mary came to Monaro. to live with her children Ellen and James. On November the 5th 1856 at the age of 76, Mary Kelly died at Adaminaby. She suffered from ‘Supposed old age’. Mary was buried at Cooma Cemetery 4 days later witnessed by James Hain and Robert Gillian. Joseph Chalker, her son-in-law was the undertaker. On the 11th September 1860, Joseph Henry Chalker was granted a publicans licence and opened an inn at Adaminaby appropriately called The Travellers Rest, which did a roaring trade. Here, the weary traveller could get rum at one shilling a nobler. The old house, built of wood
with a roof thatched of grass was unfortunately burnt to the ground. Chalker, not to be put out of business for long, built opposite the old site. The premises was known, as the Rose Inn & Eventually became the Australia Hotel. The first sale of land in the township of Adaminaby was held on January 7th 1861, but only three suburban blocks were sold, the purchaser was Joseph Chalker. The following day more town lots were on sale. Chalker purchased three of these, for about Four pounds each. Another piece of historical interest regarding the Chalker presence at Monaro,
concerns a map drawn up in the July of 1860, by the surveyor-general of South Australia. This map, showing routes to the Kiandra goldfields demonstrating that the name of Adaminaby was originally known as Chalkers. A fact supported by Frederick M Stokes who wrote a letter to the post master general on the 25th August 1860 in which he advocated the establishment of a Post Office. Stokes stated that the inhabitants of the district had to travel 30 miles to Cooma for the mail. Tenders were invited for the Conveyance of mail to and from Cathcart and Chalkers once a week from October 1st
1860. (Cotter Country) Following the introduction of Free Selection in 1862 Joseph Henry applied for and was granted freehold title to 42ac which became portion 1 of the Parish of Bumbalong and the homestead block of the bumbalong Run. The block was applied for by virtue of the improvements he had built. After some years Joseph Henry Chalker moved to Caddigat near Adaminaby where he combined his pastoral activities with keeping the Rose Inn. Bumbalong was managed by his sons. In 1871 Joseph Henry Chalker was paying 12pound 10shillings per annum rent for the Bumbalong Run of 6,400 acres. Monaro Electoral Rolls CHALKER Joseph H - 70-71, Seymour - 78-79,seymour - 81-82, Seymour - 83-84, Seymour James - 70-71 seymour - 78-79 Rose Valley - 81-82 Seymour - 83-84 Seymour John - 70-71 Billilingra - 78-79 Gungoandra - 81-82 Gungoandra - 83-84 Bredbo William - 70-71 Bombalong - 78-79 Colington(freehold) Joseph - 70-71 Seymour - 83-84 Seymour Charles - 78-79 Adaminaby (leasehold) - 81-82 Adaminaby - 83-84 Adaminaby Henry - 70-71 Eucumbene - 78-79 Seymour/Gungoandra - 81-82 Seymour - 83-84 Seymour Grevilles PO Directory 1875-76 CHALKER Joseph - Innkeeper, Adaminaby James - selector, Adaminaby Joseph - selector, Adaminaby Edward sen - shepherd, Billilingera Henry – selector Adaminaby Property Holdings - Seymour 1885 'Adaminaby' Joseph Henry - 40ac - 3 horses - 5 cattle Joseph Jnr - 80 ac - 10 horses - 10 cattle James Berrigan - 490ac - 20 horses - 50 cattle - 322 sheep - 4 pigs James Reed - 320 ac - 2 horses - 6 cattle 'Lime Stone Vale ' John Chalker - 5 horses - 6 cattle - 400 sheep 'Long Plain' Charles Chalker - 260 ac - 3 horses - 13 cattle - 1pig John Mansfield - 280ac - 8 horses - 4 cattle - 200 sheep Edwin Russell - 420 ac - 3 horses - 2 cattle - 100 sheep - 1 pig (Cotter Country) The river crossing at Bumbalong was again the scene of a drowning accident on 10 August 1874. The tradgedy was reported in the cooma Gazette. A sad accident is reported which terminated fatally by the drowning in the Murrumbidgee River of Edward Chalker, son of the proprietor of the Rose Inn of Adaminaby. It appears that unfortunately the deceased left Cooma on the afternoon of Tuesday 11th instant and having to cross the river about the mouth of Collyiers Creek must have essayed to do it at the old disused ford which most probably have been considerably
deepened by recent floods. Such atleast is conjected, originating in the discovery of the horse tracks to the crossing place and the bridle entangled in a tea tree some yards below it. The first indication of the sad accident was given by the horse being found cold and shivering on the bank of the river. Up to the time of going to press the body of the unfortunate man had not been obtained, although a most dilligent search prompted by affection and respect had been made for it. The Cooma Gazette of 24th October 1874, carried the story of the discovery of the body. On Saturday 10th inst. as
William Chalker, the eldest brother of the unfortunate young man who was drowned in the Murrumbidgee on the 10th Auguat last, was with a companion exploring the banks of the river in sanguine hopes that ever so long after so long a period the body of his brother might be found -----then discovered it in a tea tree about two feet out of the water. Her daughter Mary Ann Power was the informant on the death certificate Ellen was buried on the 5th May 1875 at Seymour (Adaminaby), witnessed by James Burgess and John Burne. After living a long and eventful life Joseph Henry Chalker died on the 14th June 1893 at ‘Cattigat’ near Adaminaby. He was 80 years old and died from ‘Old age’. Joseph was buried at Old Adaminaby Cemetery on June 16th witnesses Archibald Brayshaw and Ernest Locker. MONARO MERCURY 24-6-1893 Chalker Mr JH died on Wednesday night, old resident of Monaro, came to Billylingra owned by Mr Cosgrove about 60 years ago, aged 80 years, funeral Friday.
Photos supplied by Lorraine
Ashford [matilda-may-49-at-hotmail.com] 17.07.10 Eliza Schofield nee Power Randall Schofield Ethel Fuller nee Schofield Austin Thomas Schofield
The area around Adaminaby was a cattle station for many years but at the height of the gold rush a small village settlement developed. It became a halfway staging camp between Cooma and Kiandra. Diggers, storekeepers, mailmen, coach drivers and general travellers stayed overnight at this halfway point.
In 1875 at the age of 53 Ellen, still working as a landlady contracted measles and tragically died on the 3rd May.
The following photo was supplied by Michael Povey <mpovey-at-tpg.com.au>
27.09.11
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Descendants of Joseph Henry Chalker
Ian Harvey <iansharvey-at-bigpond.com> 10.03.07
Maree Myhill <mmyhill-at-dragnet.com.au> 12.03.07
Recompiled from the new Monaro Pioneers database:
16.05.08
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Monaro
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