Hi List Just picked up on this thread I have a convict Thomas Grant - Ship Almorah in 1820 received his COF in 1827. In 1834 he is listed as a Publican - Inn "Sign of the settlers Arms" of Stoney Creek This is mentioned in the Maitland Bench Books where is he is found guilty of a crime and sentenced to a further 7 years at Morton Bay I have been to the state archives and could not find any mention of a Publicans Licence issued and have not been able to find out what happened to the Inn after his conviction. I have wondered as a former convict where he was able to find finance to open such a place. He is also mentioned in the Sydney gazette as a Publican from Maitland, so I have presumed Stoney Creek was somewhere near West Maitland. regard Faye

----- Original Message ----- From: "F. Sheridan" <nadirehs@optusnet.com.au> To: <AUS-NSW-Hunter-Valley-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 7:05 PM Subject: [HV] HOTELS IN THE HUNTER VALLEY Hi Faye > Just picked up on this thread > I have a convict Thomas Grant - Ship Almorah in 1820 > received his COF in 1827. > In 1834 he is listed as a Publican - Inn "Sign of the > settlers Arms" of Stoney Creek Nothing in AGCI Vol 1 , indexes to the Gov Gazettes. If he got a publicans license am sure there would have been some ref in a G Gazette ??? > This is mentioned in the Maitland Bench Books where is > he is found guilty of a crime and sentenced to a further > 7 years at Morton Bay Are 2 refs to that effect in the Col secs correspondence 1832 - 1837 35 /7535 and 38/3018 . > I have wondered as a former convict where he was able to > find finance to open such a place. Ill gotten gains ?? Are a couple of other ref to Thomas GRANTs in Maitland in the Qrt session indexes and Deposition Registers. Could be same name different people , so I have presumed Stoney Creek was somewhere near West Maitland. Dont know ............. Bye MargM Hunter Valley List Admin