Benjamin Singleton (1788 - 1853)

Born 7 Aug 1788 in Cripplegate, London, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Lane) Singleton — married 4 Feb 1811 in St Matthew's Church of England, Windsor, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 2 May 1853 at age 64 in Singleton, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Based on the work of Nancy Gray and updated:

Benjamin Singleton (1788-1853), settler and miller, was born on 7 August 1788 in England of Scottish parentage. His father, William, then a warehouse porter in London, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on 8 June 1791 to transportation for seven years. With his wife Hannah and two sons, Benjamin and Joseph, William arrived at Port Jackson in the Pitt on 14 February 1792. Five years later the family settled on a ninety-acre (36 ha) grant at Mulgrave Place, where another son, James, then aged 30, joined them in 1808.

On 11 February 1811 Benjamin (then age 22) married Mary at Windsor. This was a double celebration as his sister Sarah was also married in the same church on that day.

James and Benjamin built excellent water-mills, the first at Kurrajong, where they ground wheat for the government stores, a second at Lower Portland Head and a third on James's fifty-acre (20 ha) grant at the Hawkesbury. Benjamin accompanied William Parr on part of his exploration of the present Bulga Road in October 1817 but, realizing the advantages to be gained by discovering a trafficable route to the Hunter valley, he withdrew and led a private expedition in April 1818. This, like Parr's, was a failure, but the experience proved useful when two years later as a member of John Howe's party, he finally reached Patrick's Plains. The town of Singleton is built on part of Singleton's 200 acres (81 ha), granted on 31 March 1821 as a reward for his share in this successful expedition.

Cattle on agistment from the Hawkesbury were soon grazing 'at Singleton's' and in February 1823 Major James Morisset appointed him district constable, on the recommendation of Edward Close who thought Singleton 'a very trustworthy man'. In the same year he fell foul of James Mudie, who refused to accept his instructions concerning the employment of convicts on Sundays and their attendance at musters. Singleton appealed successfully to Close, the nearest magistrate, to uphold his authority 'or else the District will be no better than bushrangers'. In 1825 his application for additional land, granted in 1828, was supported by the four major landholders of the district.

Farming he found 'but a poor employment'. He was grazing stock on Liverpool Plains in 1827, his mill and inn at Singleton being managed by relatives. With his brother Joseph he built a water-mill at Boatfalls, near Clarencetown, in 1831 and then embarked on a new venture. He commissioned from William Lowe's yard at Clarencetown a horse-drawn vessel, aptly named the Experiment, to be used in the Parramatta trade. Neither horses nor passengers took kindly to the novelty, and in December 1832 he offered it for sale 'for want of funds to propel her by steam'. Want of funds also forced the subdivision, sale or mortgage of much of his property during the 1830s and his insolvency in 1842, but did not prevent him making the first gifts of land to the Anglican and Presbyterian churches in Singleton. His unique contribution to education was to plough a furrow from the town to the schoolhouse at Whittingham, so that the children would not lose their way. He died on 2 May 1853, aged 65, and was buried in the Whittingham (Singleton) cemetery. He was survived by his wife Mary (1796-1877), daughter of Thomas Sharling of the 102nd Regiment, whom he had married on 7 February 1811, and by their ten children.

Adventurous, energetic and trustworthy, he retained the affectionate regard of his friends and well deserved Mudie's unconscious tribute — 'Singleton is on a perfect footing of equality with his convict servants, mine or any he comes in contact with … in a word Ben Singleton (as they call him) is a fine fellow'.

Per The Sydney Morning Herald in 1853:^[1]

At Singleton, on the 3rd instant, Mr. Benjamin Singleton, aged 65, leaving a widow who had been a faithful companion 42 years, eight children, and thirty-one grand-children, to lament their loss. He was one of the first discoverers of Patrick Plains - a man of indomitable energy and perseverance, of frugal and temperate habits : and if he had a fault, it was that he was a greater friend to everybody than himself.

As detailed in the Singleton Argus in 1935:^[2]

SINGLETON OF OTHER DAYS

ITS PEOPLE AND AFFAIRS.

BENJAMIN SINGLETON.

(By SIR SOLOMON).

The question as to what constitutes a pioneer has repeatedly cropped, up, and some time, ago the Historical Society decided that only those that had arrived in the colony prior to 1820 could lay claim to the coveted distinction. That, of course, applied only to the County of Cumberland. One person made certain to comply with that part of the qualification .by arriving in the colony in 1792, fourteen years after it was founded, and that person was Benjamin Singleton. He was only four years of age at the time, he having been born in 1788. He was accompanied by his father, William Singleton, who was appointed a private in the historic' "Rum" corps. Both hailed from Yarmouth, where the tasty bloaters are to be found. After a time Singleton, Senior, obtained a land grant of 90 acres at Wilberforce, on the Hawkesbury, and then launched out as a farmer. In between times he took a prominent part in public affairs, and he and a Mr Henry Baldwin were appointed joint- secretaries to the Emancipated Colonists' League at Wilberforce. As young Ben reached man's estate he proved himself one of the most enterprising and progressive young men of his time. He had a penchant for converting wheat into flour, and had erected at various centres on the Hawkesbury all the gristing mills required, and these were all named "Singleton's Mill". The one he built at Wiseman’s Ferry is still in a good state of preservation. In certain quarters it has been stated that Ben Singleton discovered these regions two years before Howe's party came along. There is nothing to warrant that wild assertion. Indeed, some writers on old Hawkesbury history assert that Singleton was not a member of Howe's first expedition. To the writer that contention is equally absurd. There is evidence that for a couple of years before Howe organised his party Singleton was in possession of facts, obtained from the blacks, that there were fertile plains, and copious rivers, on the opposite side of the mountain from Windsor. In 1817 Singleton and a man named Parr (no relation to the family of that name living here) attempted to explore the country specified by the aborigines. Accompanied by three convicts, who were in the service of Singleton, and two blackboys, the party set out, but soon returned, and the abortive effort was soon abandoned. They felt that the Bulga Mountains presented an unsurmountable difficulty. Singleton then imparted to Howe his information, and the latter acted. Had the former discovered the place before Howe it would have been proclaimed from the house-tops. He, too, would have been entitled to better recognition than he received, and his land-grants would have preceded the latter, which was the third issued in the district. Why it was not the first is hard to understand. Singleton's was the twelfth. If any doubt on the matter existed it is cleared by Governor Macquarie's notice issued on September 18th, 1820: "Government-House, Windsor. I do hereby certify that Mr John Howe, chief constable at Windsor, has obtained my permission to graze his flocks and herds at St. Patrick's Plains on Hunter’s River (which he himself first discovered) until further orders, or until such time as he shall have the grant of 700 acres promised him as a reward for his discoveries in that quarter of the colony." Singleton married Miss Mary Lane Sherland a young lady who was born at sea (Bay of Biscay) whilst her mother was en route to these shores. Mother and daughter arrived in the colony in 1793, when the infant was only a few months old. The couple had 10 children and the eldest (Elizabeth) married George Yeomans; William married Jemima Gullege; Hannah became the wife of Patrick Campbell; Ben, Jnr., wed Miss Eliza Horne daughter of Mr Sam Horne, who was chief constable here way back in the forties; Mary married Thomas Lloyd, a native of Bristol, England, and at one time the couple kept an hotel at Belford which place was then named Jump-Up. Mrs Coughlan, mother of Mr George Coughlan, of Grainger and Falkiner, and the late Mr G.B. Lloyd, were two of their children. Other children of Ben and Mary Singleton were John, who married Miss Jane Rotton, but the union was cut short when the husband died at sea whilst en route to California. Emma married James Solomon, and that union too was shortened, by his premature death, and then the widow married George Vindin. A descendant lived in William street in the nineties, and he died unexpectedly in the train whilst travelling from the North to Sydney. Sarah married Bourne Russell, and Louisa first became the wife of William Newsham, and after his death she married Dr. Schulzen. George married Miss Sophia Todhunter.

Benjamin Singleton, as we have already stated, was a most progressive and enterprising man, but unfortunately the results of his labours were not commensurate with his efforts. After the discovery of Patrick's Plains he went back to Windsor. The date of his return here is not definite, and one Hawkesbury historian gives it as probably being about 1828, but that is altogether wrong, for there is evidence that about the year 1822 he engaged in farming pursuits in the vicinity of Neotsfield. Why he chose that area instead of his own grant is one of the many incidents of' our early history which is hard to follow. It is known also that in 1822 Singleton and his friend Phillip Thorley brought their wives here, and these ladies were the two first white women to cross the Bulga and become residents of the district. On the January following Benjamin, Junr., was born, and was the first white child to see the light of day in Patrick's Plains. Later on Benjamin, Senr., brought his aged father to reside here, and in May, 1835, the old gentleman passed peacefully away at the ripe old age of 90 years. It has been stated that he was buried in the plot in which his son's house in John street was situated. There is nothing extraordinary in that, for it was quite a common thing in the long ago, and even at the present time is occasionally practiced. On April 29th of this, year (1935) the Sydney Morning Herald" published a statement that the town of Singleton was on that day, celebrating its hundredth birthday, and based the statement on the fact that 100 years previously "The Sydney Gazette" stated that Benjamin Singleton had that day received a grant of 200 acres, and on the same day the town of Singleton received its name. There was no necessity for Benjamin Singleton to wait till 1835 to establish a town on his grants if he considered the time opportune earlier. The first grant was made him on March 31st, 1821, and a second one, which adjoined the first, some little time later, and it is on these that the town is built. Early in 1835 Ben decided that a town should be built on his land and named Singleton. He had the area surveyed, the streets aligned and named, and allotments made available to buyers. His desire to keep close to the river and the proximity of Macquarie Place and Redbournberry on the other side is responsible for the ugly triangles, and the annoying street corners of the town. After a further very exhaustive search amongst early records we find that Benjamin Singleton was the recipient of two land grants in 1835. Representations were made Governor Sir Richard Bourke on his behalf, and he (Singleton) expressed a desire to establish a town at Patrick Plains to be named Singleton. On April 28th, 1835, a Commission appointed under the Act recommended that Benjamin Singleton, of Wallis River, or Creek, be granted 100 acres of land which had been promised to Joseph Bigge, but it was not till December 20th, 1835, that letters patent were issued conferring the land to him. On the day following (29/4/1835) the recommendation of the Commission, Mr Richard Bourke made a grant of 200 acres to Singleton, which was separate from the other, and the notice clearly stated it was being made by virtue of a promised grant by Sir Lachlan Macquarie in 1821 during his term of Governor. In this grant Singleton's address was given as Darlington, Patrick's Plains, though the previous day it was stated to be Wallis' River or Creek. The total area of the two grants of 1835 was less than half mile square, and most of it subsequently became the property of four members of the Burdekin family, including Sydney, who was so prominent in Sydney civic life and N.S.W. politics. Certain conditions were attached to the grants, such as a certain amount to be put under cultivation or failing that improvements of at least £150 be substituted. The grant of 29/4/1835 to be known as Singleton. For a very brief period Ben took up residence at Clarence Town where he built a flour mill. This, with the one he had built locally, but only had for 10 months, and those at Wilberforce, Kurrajong, and, Wiseman's Ferry, made a chain of five. He also built what, at that time, was a palatial structure for a place like Singleton -the first hotel, and it looked down Campbell-street towards the Caledonia. He named it the "Barley Mow," but it was generally called "Singleton's." Later it was named "The Forbes," after the same gentleman that Castle-Forbes derived its name. In later years the building became the home of the "Argus," till the present offices were erected. In the thirties Ben extended his field of operations to the north. At Liverpool Plains he acquired a station and installed his son-in-law, Pat Campbell, as superintendent. Another large property of his was named "Pine Ridge,"' and he appointed a Mr Penson overseer. He had another estate on the MacIntyre, which his son-in-law, George Yeomans, managed. Here he established one of the first cheese factories in Australia, and waggon loads were brought here for local consumption and for transit to Sydney. Yeomans was progressive like his father-in-law, and to overcome the difficulty of getting wool, cheese, and other commodities to market he built two small vessels of between 20 and 30 tons each. He also had built an accommodation House at Liverpool Plains, and this was regarded as a boon by the many travellers along that road. In 1842 Singleton was occupying Glenridding, but whether as an owner or tenant we are unable to determine. His son Benjamin was in charge and had nine employees, all free men, engaged. One named Scott subsequently turned very nasty on his employer. This year (1842) there was a crop of 42 acres of wheat on Glenridding. Early in 1840 a Mr Stubbs, acting on behalf of Mr Singleton, held an auction sale in Sydney of 100 building allotments in this town. This was not the first auction sale of local land, as a short time previously Castle Forbes had been subdivided. On 12th August of the same year a second auction sale by Stubbs was held, and the advertisement referred to our town as "the future Manchester, or Leeds, of N.S. Wales." The locations of the allotments, were well defined and adjoined those of Captain Russell, Messrs Dangar, McDougall, Doyle, Duguid, Millar, Fleming, Nowland, Joseph, Long, Cullen, Atkinson, Home, Perrett, Johnstone, Alcorn, Pilcher (this gentleman was a near relative of the erstwhile well-known barrister C.E. Pilcher), and Dr. Dowe. The latter married a daughter of Mr G. Loder, who accompanied Mr John Howe in 1820. Therefore, he was connected by marriage with the latter. The streets which Singleton had named in 1835, and in which the allotments were located, were: William, Pitt, Bathurst, Church, Kent, Cambridge, Market, High, and Gipps. The blocks realised about £15. each. For fully 50 years these thoroughfares were regarded as the back streets of the town. Late in 1840 Mr Singleton visited his native land, and whilst away his many enterprises appear to have suffered through the want of his guiding hand. Early in 1842 he sequestrated his estate, though his assets appear to have greatly exceeded his liabilities. The want of ready cash appeared to have seriously hampered his operations. His principal creditors were Messrs Burdekin, Cullen, Mclntosh, and Smith. To Burdekin his indebtedness was £2100, to Cullen and Mclntosh £1000 each, and Smith £600. The above Mr Burdekin was a member of the well-known family of that name. He donated, to the town Burdekin Park. The gift was originally intended as a market place, and at one time was known as "Market Square." On May 3rd,' 1853, Mr Singleton went the way of all flesh, but it was not till August 5th, 1877, that he was re-joined by his good wife. Inscribed above their last resting place in the Church of England cemetery at Whittingham is this Biblical quotation: "And herein is that saying true, one soweth and another reapeth." St. John iv. 37. It should be mentioned that the land on which the Church of England and other parish buildings adjoin was presented by Mr Singleton for the above purposes.

Sources

1. ↑ The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Thursday 5 May 1853
2. ↑ Singleton Argus (NSW : 1880 - 1954) Fri 7 Jun 1935 Page 4 SINGLETON OF OTHER DAYS

• NSW BDM marriage record 1170/1811 V18111170 3A/1811, DC 933/1853 V1853933 39B age 65.
• Whittingham Anglican Cemetery - Grave site image - https://www.austcemindex.com/inscription?id=10093315
• Link - https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LCTC-XPR
• Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/123803805/benjamin-singleton : accessed 15 August 2021), memorial page for Benjamin Singleton (7 Aug 1788–3 May 1853), Find a Grave Memorial ID 123803805, citing Whittingham Cemetery, Singleton, Singleton Council, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by III (contributor 47426837) Find A Grave: Memorial #123803805

See also:

• Nancy Gray, 'Singleton, Benjamin (1788–1853)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/singleton-benjamin-2667/text3717, published first in hardcopy 1967, accessed online 9 January 2019.