Just returned from a lovely holiday travelling by car via Victoria through South Australia and back through inland NSW. Whilst visiting the Great Ocean Road we stayed a couple of nights in historic Port Fairy in Victoria and went for a walk around Griffiths Island which had a colony of mutton birds as well as a lovely lighthouse. The lighthouse was built from bluestone and is about 11m high. There was also the foundations of the lighthouse keeper cottage which had been demolished in the 1950s. After walking around the island I read in a brochure that it was named after John Griffiths who had a established a whaling station there in 1835. It got me thinking about the family of convict Jonathan Griffiths 1773-1839 who was a well-known Hawkesbury shipbuilder and I recalled that he had travelled to Tasmania and Victoria with some of his sons. I paid a quick visit to the library in Port Fairy and in a local history book it stated that John Griffiths was the son of convict Jonathan Griffiths, which confirmed my suspicions. Arriving home I checked a few local resources including the entry for 'Jonathan Griffiths' in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 1, pp. 485-487 (which you can view online at http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010442b.htm ) which put a few of the pieces together. Briefly...John Griffiths was born in Richmond NSW in 1801. He worked with his father in the shipping business and was involved with his sealing enterprises. In the 1820s Griffiths took 2 of his sons to Tasmania. They were granted land and built houses and established themselves in business. Jonathan Griffiths’ died in 1839 at Port Fairy. Second son, John Griffiths was concerned with the trading and the sealing & whaling industry in the 1830s. He then settled in Port Fairy (originally called Belfast) and in 1835 he purchased an island off Port Fairy where he built a whaling station. This island now bears his name. The seals were wiped out soon after and by the early 1840s, whaling terminated but Port Fairy flourished as a port town and commercial centre. It was also renowned for its rich soils. Griffith’s returned to Tasmania after suffering with financial losses in 1847 and re-established his shipbuilding business carrying the first wool cargo from Port Fairy to London. He! died in 1881 in Launceston. It is amazing to find the connections of Hawkesbury families in the most unlikeliest places.

What good 'detective' work Michelle. It is so rewarding when you have a hunch, follow it up and find the history. Thanks for sharing it with us. Regards Jan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michelle Nichols" <michelle_nichols@hotmail.com> To: <aus-nsw-hills-hawkesbury-hunter-valley@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 11:08 PM Subject: [HHHV] Griffiths Island, Port Fairy It is amazing to find the connections of Hawkesbury families in the most unlikeliest places.

Hi Michelle So glad you shared your experiences with us whilst visiting Victoria. As one of the many descendants of Jonathan Griffiths, I am attaching a website link to John Griffiths (1801) which you may be interested in reading now that you have visited Port Fairy. The 'current' John Griffiths maintains this site on the Griffiths family and descendants, there may be some other readers out there who also have interest in this amazing convict and his family. http://johngriffiths.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=johngriffiths&view=0&pid=384&rand=558125811 Cheers Julie Sunny Gold Coast ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michelle Nichols" <michelle_nichols@hotmail.com> To: <aus-nsw-hills-hawkesbury-hunter-valley@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 10:08 PM Subject: [HHHV] Griffiths Island, Port Fairy Just returned from a lovely holiday travelling by car via Victoria through South Australia and back through inland NSW. Whilst visiting the Great Ocean Road we stayed a couple of nights in historic Port Fairy in Victoria and went for a walk around Griffiths Island which had a colony of mutton birds as well as a lovely lighthouse. The lighthouse was built from bluestone and is about 11m high. There was also the foundations of the lighthouse keeper cottage which had been demolished in the 1950s. After walking around the island I read in a brochure that it was named after John Griffiths who had a established a whaling station there in 1835. It got me thinking about the family of convict Jonathan Griffiths 1773-1839 who was a well-known Hawkesbury shipbuilder and I recalled that he had travelled to Tasmania and Victoria with some of his sons. I paid a quick visit to the library in Port Fairy and in a local history book it stated that John Griffiths was the son of convict Jonathan Griffiths, which confirmed my suspicions. Arriving home I checked a few local resources including the entry for 'Jonathan Griffiths' in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 1, pp. 485-487 (which you can view online at http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010442b.htm ) which put a few of the pieces together. Briefly...John Griffiths was born in Richmond NSW in 1801. He worked with his father in the shipping business and was involved with his sealing enterprises. In the 1820s Griffiths took 2 of his sons to Tasmania. They were granted land and built houses and established themselves in business. Jonathan Griffiths’ died in 1839 at Port Fairy. Second son, John Griffiths was concerned with the trading and the sealing & whaling industry in the 1830s. He then settled in Port Fairy (originally called Belfast) and in 1835 he purchased an island off Port Fairy where he built a whaling station. This island now bears his name. The seals were wiped out soon after and by the early 1840s, whaling terminated but Port Fairy flourished as a port town and commercial centre. It was also renowned for its rich soils. Griffith’s returned to Tasmania after suffering with financial losses in 1847 and re-established his shipbuilding business carrying the first wool cargo from Port Fairy to London. He died in 1881 in Launceston. It is amazing to find the connections of Hawkesbury families in the most unlikeliest places. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AUS-NSW-HILLS-HAWKESBURY-HUNTER-VALLEY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi, My ggggrandmother's sister Anne Neenan married in Belfast, Port Fairy in 1847. The town was originally called Belfast. I've often wondered how on earth she ended up there. Her father, Denis Neenan a soldier with the 52nd Reg, had died/abandoned his family c1838 and his wife had placed her daughters in the Orphan School at Parramatta. It's a heck of a long way from Parramatta to Port Fairy, especially in those days. I've always thought that Ann must have been a very brave young girl to undertake that sort of journey. I don't know if I'd be game to do it. It all worked out well in the end though as Ann married Joseph Boyce (originally from Tasmania) and they ran a successful store in Port Fairy for many years. Our forebears were quite remarkable weren't they! Bye Anne > From: juliew@webbpacific.com.au > To: aus-nsw-hills-hawkesbury-hunter-valley@rootsweb.com > Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:00:19 +1000 > Subject: Re: [HHHV] Griffiths Island, Port Fairy > > Hi Michelle > > So glad you shared your experiences with us whilst visiting Victoria. As one > of the many descendants of Jonathan Griffiths, I am attaching a website link > to John Griffiths (1801) which you may be interested in reading now that you > have visited Port Fairy. > The 'current' John Griffiths maintains this site on the Griffiths family and > descendants, there may be some other readers out there who also have > interest in this amazing convict and his family. > http://johngriffiths.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=johngriffiths&view=0&pid=384&rand=558125811 > > Cheers > Julie > Sunny Gold Coast > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Michelle Nichols" <michelle_nichols@hotmail.com> > To: <aus-nsw-hills-hawkesbury-hunter-valley@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 10:08 PM > Subject: [HHHV] Griffiths Island, Port Fairy > > > > Just returned from a lovely holiday travelling by car via Victoria through > South Australia and back through inland NSW. Whilst visiting the Great Ocean > Road we stayed a couple of nights in historic Port Fairy in Victoria and > went for a walk around Griffiths Island which had a colony of mutton birds > as well as a lovely lighthouse. The lighthouse was built from bluestone and > is about 11m high. There was also the foundations of the lighthouse keeper > cottage which had been demolished in the 1950s. After walking around the > island I read in a brochure that it was named after John Griffiths who had a > established a whaling station there in 1835. It got me thinking about the > family of convict Jonathan Griffiths 1773-1839 who was a well-known > Hawkesbury shipbuilder and I recalled that he had travelled to Tasmania and > Victoria with some of his sons. > > I paid a quick visit to the library in Port Fairy and in a local history > book it stated that John Griffiths was the son of convict Jonathan > Griffiths, which confirmed my suspicions. Arriving home I checked a few > local resources including the entry for 'Jonathan Griffiths' in the > Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 1, pp. 485-487 (which you can view > online at http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010442b.htm ) > which put a few of the pieces together. > > Briefly...John Griffiths was born in Richmond NSW in 1801. He worked with > his father in the shipping business and was involved with his sealing > enterprises. In the 1820s Griffiths took 2 of his sons to Tasmania. They > were granted land and built houses and established themselves in business. > Jonathan Griffiths’ died in 1839 at Port Fairy. Second son, John Griffiths > was concerned with the trading and the sealing & whaling industry in the > 1830s. He then settled in Port Fairy (originally called Belfast) and in 1835 > he purchased an island off Port Fairy where he built a whaling station. This > island now bears his name. The seals were wiped out soon after and by the > early 1840s, whaling terminated but Port Fairy flourished as a port town and > commercial centre. It was also renowned for its rich soils. Griffith’s > returned to Tasmania after suffering with financial losses in 1847 and > re-established his shipbuilding business carrying the first wool cargo from > Port Fairy to London. He died in 1881 in Launceston. > > It is amazing to find the connections of Hawkesbury families in the most > unlikeliest places. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AUS-NSW-HILLS-HAWKESBURY-HUNTER-VALLEY-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AUS-NSW-HILLS-HAWKESBURY-HUNTER-VALLEY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message _________________________________________________________________ Looking to move this spring? With all the lastest places, searching has never been easier. Look now! http://clk.atdmt.com/NMN/go/157631292/direct/01/

Hi Julie, it seems we share an ancestor - small world and the descendants are far flung. Patricia Hi Michelle So glad you shared your experiences with us whilst visiting Victoria. As one of the many descendants of Jonathan Griffiths, I am attaching a website link to John Griffiths (1801) which you may be interested in reading now that you have visited Port Fairy. The 'current' John Griffiths maintains this site on the Griffiths family and descendants, there may be some other readers out there who also have interest in this amazing convict and his family. http://johngriffiths.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=johngriffiths&view=0&pid=384&rand=558125811 Cheers Julie Sunny Gold Coast

Hi Michelle, Thanks for a very interesting story. Some of the early Hawkesbury Settlers really had enterprise didn't they ? Port Fairy was a busy Port way back then & the light house would have been much appreciated. Some of my husband's early rellies arrived in Port Fairy in the mid 19th century & no doubt they were glad of the lighthouse being there to help them arrive safely. As Jan said - thanks for your good detective work Regards, Norma. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michelle Nichols" <michelle_nichols@hotmail.com> To: <aus-nsw-hills-hawkesbury-hunter-valley@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 11:08 PM Subject: [HHHV] Griffiths Island, Port Fairy Just returned from a lovely holiday travelling by car via Victoria through South Australia and back through inland NSW. Whilst visiting the Great Ocean Road we stayed a couple of nights in historic Port Fairy in Victoria and went for a walk around Griffiths Island which had a colony of mutton birds as well as a lovely lighthouse. The lighthouse was built from bluestone and is about 11m high. There was also the foundations of the lighthouse keeper cottage which had been demolished in the 1950s. After walking around the island I read in a brochure that it was named after John Griffiths who had a established a whaling station there in 1835. It got me thinking about the family of convict Jonathan Griffiths 1773-1839 who was a well-known Hawkesbury shipbuilder and I recalled that he had travelled to Tasmania and Victoria with some of his sons.

Jonathan Griffiths was my first ancestor in Australia and I have been told he died on Griffiths Island in November of 1839, I am descended from his son James who lived in Richmond NSW, Tasmania and Victoria. Patricia Just returned from a lovely holiday travelling by car via Victoria through South Australia and back through inland NSW. Whilst visiting the Great Ocean Road we stayed a couple of nights in historic Port Fairy in Victoria and went for a walk around Griffiths Island which had a colony of mutton birds as well as a lovely lighthouse. The lighthouse was built from bluestone and is about 11m high. There was also the foundations of the lighthouse keeper cottage which had been demolished in the 1950s. After walking around the island I read in a brochure that it was named after John Griffiths who had a established a whaling station there in 1835. It got me thinking about the family of convict Jonathan Griffiths 1773-1839 who was a well-known Hawkesbury shipbuilder and I recalled that he had travelled to Tasmania and Victoria with some of his sons. I paid a quick visit to the library in Port Fairy and in a local history book it stated that John Griffiths was the son of convict Jonathan Griffiths, which confirmed my suspicions. Arriving home I checked a few local resources including the entry for 'Jonathan Griffiths' in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 1, pp. 485-487 (which you can view online at http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010442b.htm ) which put a few of the pieces together. Briefly...John Griffiths was born in Richmond NSW in 1801. He worked with his father in the shipping business and was involved with his sealing enterprises. In the 1820s Griffiths took 2 of his sons to Tasmania. They were granted land and built houses and established themselves in business. Jonathan Griffiths’ died in 1839 at Port Fairy. Second son, John Griffiths was concerned with the trading and the sealing & whaling industry in the 1830s. He then settled in Port Fairy (originally called Belfast) and in 1835 he purchased an island off Port Fairy where he built a whaling station. This island now bears his name. The seals were wiped out soon after and by the early 1840s, whaling terminated but Port Fairy flourished as a port town and commercial centre. It was also renowned for its rich soils. Griffith’s returned to Tasmania after suffering with financial losses in 1847 and re-established his shipbuilding business carrying the first wool cargo from Port Fairy to London. He died in 1881 in Launceston. It is amazing to find the connections of Hawkesbury families in the most unlikeliest places. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AUS-NSW-HILLS-HAWKESBURY-HUNTER-VALLEY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message