Francis McCaffrey Collection University of Wollongong Archives D92 The information reproduced here is for personal research only and must not be copied or published in any form. The notebooks are the property of the University of Wollongong. Spelling and grammar are as found in the original handwriting. Question marks indicate that the word was not clear - if you recognise any such words please email me. Page 12 Michael Hyam was born in London in 1799 and arrived in Sydney late in the twenties of last century with a capital of œ2000. He obtained a grant of 640 acres of land at Lochinvar - Hunter River - and later on (1829) obtained a grant of 1280 acres of land - Sarah's Valley - now Jamberoo. He got married in Sydney and settled on his Sarah's Valley Estate in 1833. Having obtained a number of Convict servants from the Government of N.S.Wales he turned his attention towards the bush - Employed Sawyers and Tanners, Shoemakers and Cobblers. Opened a public house and store. As time rolled on he sold out for œ1000 to Captain Wilson. Wilson went broke and had to forfeit his deposit money to Hyam. Hyam had taken his passage to England - and had to forfeit his deposit to the shipping company. The vessel Hyam and his family were going home on was wrecked and all hands lost. Hyam then morgaged [sic] to Parson Meares - for œ600. The races of F??? Jamberoo were held on Hyam's flat in 1844. Meares was nasty with Hyam over these races - Consequently in 1845 Hyam sold out to Robert Owen for œ1100. Hyam went to live in Kiama - in a storied house opposite the R.C. Church, near the beach, and remained there till 1847. Page 13 During Mr Hyam's stay in Kiama he paid a deposit on a store and hotel at Gundagai.. He was advised off it. He forfeited his deposit and went to live at Greenhills - Terrara - Shoalhaven. The hotel and store which Hyam was buying at Gundagai was eventually swept away in the Great Gundagai flood and all hands drowned. Mr Hyam opened an hotel and Store at Terrara - and went in for timber dealing. He was a sportsman, and always had race-horses. Corinthian Kate, Jerry and Jamberoo all carried his colours. He made sporting matches against William Wright's Pedro, Brown's Grey, Kennedy's Grey and McKenzie's Duke. Young Burke usually rode Hyam's horses. David Hyam was born at Sarah's Valley in 1835 - and was educated for a time at Rigney's school. He, Rigney was a brother of Fr Rigney and kept school near or on the South West side of the police station Jamberoo. David afterwards went to old Splaine's School near where the Presbyterian church stands - near the turn off towards Albion Park. In 1844 the Race Meeting of famed Jamberoo took place on the flat below the hotel. The Estate was morgaged to Parson Meares who was very anxious to get possession of it. Page 14 Michael got annoyed with Meares and morgaged to Robert Owen. The story of the servants at Hyam's Estate. Little Ann married big George. And big Mary married Sirucon?? Moore. Dr Menzies was living up at what is now Fountaindale Creek. It was he who warned Michael Hyam about the dangers of Gundagai. Hyam then took an hotel and store at the Greenhills - now Nowra from William Graham (terrible Billy). The place was all bush for miles around. Where the hotel stood was felled and partly burnt off. A policeman named Tanner was stationed at Worrigee and Owen Hewit was working a flour mill for Berry & Wollstonecraft. The mill was being worked with horses and a blacksmith named Russell was looking after the machinery. The ship Surace?? Captain Mat Pullman in charge B&W had 100 acres of wheat seed imported from America - wheat, maize, potatoes, barley - all harvested with ?? ?? ??. Saw the first strippers at work. They were brought from America same time as the seed wheat. Page 15 The Messrs Berry Bros imported a pure bred bloodhorse 'Scamp' for stud purposes. John Berry died - was killed 1849. The Jindyandy cattle were mostly black & white & roan cattle. Paddy Rider was in charge of the dairy cattle and kept a race mare named 'Evergreen'. In those days men were not particular how they married. Jimmy Sinclair married a half-caste woman - got by Paddy Rider. The noted blacks were mangy & Biddy - Captain Brooks was a cannibal. ??ethery was considered very dangerous. Black Harry and Jacky Jacky were Burrier blacks. Burrier Jack, Johnny Winfred was King of Shoalhaven - and Aboriginal. Floods. There were great floods in 1860 & 1862 at Burrier - the majority of all the farm houses were swept away - and all the crops in 1860. Many lives were lost. At upper Longreach McKenzie's and Lumoden's barns Hyam (David) lost all his property - 40 acres crop - house, stockyards, barn & cattle - swept everything was in the boil - got compensation from Government 40 acres at Cambewarra. David Hyam's place was Bamerang. William Wooden lost everything. -- Vivienne Caldwell viv@zipworld.com.au Wollongong NSW http://www.zip.com.au/~viv