Family Treeof Trudy Mae COWLEY
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This page last updated: 26-Oct-2003 Abodes Baptism Birth Burial Children Community Life Death Education Immigration Marriage Occupations Property Siblings
BirthNo record has been found of John's birth or baptism. However, it is highly probable that he is the younger son of James PRESNELL and Sarah TOOTH, thus being a younger brother of Thomas PRESNELL, whose son, Thomas, married John's daughter Christiana. It is possible that James and Sarah moved to London circa 1783 (Thomas was married in London). This may explain why no record of John's birth has been found. ChildrenOn 8 February 1825, in a memorial to Governor ARTHUR, John stated he had a wife and four children, the eldest of which was a daughter, Christianna, aged 17 years. Therefore, one of his children, excluding the two youngest and eldest, died prior to 1825. This is likely to be the first Frederick PRESNELL. Community LifeAccording to von Stieglitz (1960, pp16-17), on 1 November 1829, 35 people met at Peter HARRISSON’s inn at Jericho to consider the best method of approaching Governor ARTHUR and Archdeacon BROUGHTON to get funding to build a church for their congregation. These people raised £115 between them. John PRESNELL was at the meeting. DeathJohn died at Antill Ponds in the district of Green Ponds, Tasmania aged 45 years on 20 May 1831. He was a free man when he died. The Hobart Town Courier of 25 June 1831 printed the following death notice. DIED – On 20 May last, Mr John Presnell of the White Hart Inn, Antill’s Wells. He has left a wife and five children to deplore his loss. As a father, kind and affectionate, as a husband, always kind, his loss will be deeply felt by all his family. ImmigrationJohn and his family emigrated from England to Tasmania in 1820. They arrived in Hobart per Midas on 12 January 1821 under the captaincy of Master WATSON. MarriageAccording to an affadavit by Ann PRESNELL (wife of James PRESNELL), John PRESNELL was married to Eleanor SKELTON between 1808 and 1818 in England – ie, between 20 and 30 years before 1838. (SC 285/36). It is likely that John and Eleanor met and were married in London and had both moved there from other counties at some time. There is no record of marriage. All Eleanor SKELTONs on the IGI hail from round Yorkshire way, whilst all PRESNELLs hail from round Kent/Sussex way. OccupationsJohn was a publican for most of his time in Tasmania. He was licensee of the White Hart Inn at Sorell Springs from 1822 to c1828, then the proprietor of the Half Way House at Antill Ponds on the Rockwood estate until his death in 1831. A licensee notice in the Hobart Town Gazette of Saturday, 5 October 1822 (p1 c3) read: At a General Meeting of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace in the County of Buckinghamshire, holden at the Court House in Hobart Town, on Saturday the 28th day of September last, Licenses were granted to the undermentioned persons for one Year:- To sell Spirits, Wines, and beer, in the Country. Thos. Presnell Half-Way House Black Snake John Presnell White Hart Sorell Springs To ply Boats in the River Derwent. Thos. Presnell from the Black Snake to Green Point. H J Emmett, Clerk to the Bench On 8 February 1825, in a memorial to Governor ARTHUR, John stated he was a blacksmith by trade. (CSO 1/79/1760) In the Hobart Town Gazette of 24 December 1825, John is listed as having the Fresh Meat contract for Lemon Springs, on behalf of the Government, for the quarter commencing 25 December 1825 and ending 24 March 1826, paying 3¾ pence per pound for meat. A licensee notice in the Hobart Town Gazette dated 4 October 1826, granted John the license to sell spirits, wines and beer at the White Hart Inn at Sorell Springs until 29 September 1827. Licenses were granted for a year at a time. Three days later in the Hobart Town Gazette (7 October 1826) John was listed as the person receiving meat for the Government from suppliers at the Lemon Springs station. In the Hobart Town Gazette of 6 October 1827, John PRESNELL of the White Hart Inn at Sorell Springs is listed as a licensed publican for the year 1827-1828. Since the White Hart Inn was auctioned in 1829 and John was still building the Half Way House at Antill Ponds, he is not listed as a licensee in Buckinghamshire in the Hobart Town Gazette of 3 October 1829. PropertyWeeding (1980) has written: The White Hart Inn, erected by John Presnell in 1820, once stood near the spot where the Vice Regal party paused before proceeding to Wright’s Inn, where they spent the night. This became “Meadowbanks” at the Governor’s suggestion, and three sugar loaves – Mt. Stewart, Mt. Roebeck, and Wyldes’ Hill – were also named by him. The next day, 3rd June 1821 at a quarter past twelve, Oatlands was named. On Saturday, 5th October 1822, John Presnell received a licence to sell spirits, wine and beer, at the White Hart Inn, and on 6th February 1824, advertised for two assistants to help him – “… Wanted two steady men, either free or ticket of leave, as a cook at the inn, the other to be employed in the bakery and milking which he must well understand. Liberal wages will be given and application to be made to William Presnell, Hobart Town, or to John Presnell, White Hart, Sorell Springs …” During the very early years of settlement, when mail was carried on foot, mailmen from each end of the island would meet at Presnell’s Inn, where they rested and exchanged mail before making the long return journey to the north and south. Von Stieglitz (1960, p20) has also written about PRESNELL's White Hart Inn: On 28 December 1824, J H WEDGE, a pioneer surveyor, wrote in his journal “that when he called in at Presnell’s White Hart Inn he found Mrs. Pedder, the judge’s wife, recovering there from the effects of being thrown from a gig on the rough road” On 8 February 1825, in a memorial to Governor ARTHUR, John stated Governor SORELL granted John 300 acres of land, which he located at Sorell Springs. (CSO 1/79/1760) To
His Honor 8
February 1825 Requesting additional land. Sorell
Springs, March 16th 1825 John
Montagu Esquire 18 March 1825 – States reasons (?) for cultivation of land. On 24 March 1827, according to the Return of No. of Grants of Land Ordered (HRA Series III Vol.V, p.708), John PRESNELL received 500 acres at Green Ponds. This is likely to be the land at Antill Ponds where he built the Half Way House. An application for land was made by John in 1827. (CSO 1/79/1760) To
His Excellency There
was a memorial from this applicant some time since and I accessed it for the
certificate, I think if Mr Harrison and Mr Anstey.
I do not remember the result but I believe it was not favourable –
refer It
was on the application in July last that the information, to which I have
adverted, was obtained, an upon which I
have so clear an impression that I think I cannot be mistaken – although the
nature of the information I do not recollect – the mou dated in June last
maybe acted upon and notification given of the 500 acres of land additional. In 1828 the historian WIDOWSON visited Jericho. According to Von Stieglitz (1960, p20) described John PRESNELL’s inn at Sorell Springs as: Two or three miles before you arrive at the inn [Presnell’s] you pass a house commonly known as Joe Wright’s. This place has long been the rendezvous of cattle and sheep stealers and where many a good fat steer has been salted down. The White Hart Inn kept by Mr. Presnell has very little to recommend it to the traveller who, however, has no alternative but to halt, or ride on to Ross Bridge, fifteen miles farther. A notice in the Hobart Town Gazette of 21 March 1829 listed John PRESNELL owing £3 2s 6d in rent (due 1 January 1829) for 500 acres of land leased from the Crown. It is not certain if this is the land at Antill Ponds or the land at Sorell Springs, or a combination of both. As at 1 November 1829, John was building the Half Way House at Antill Ponds but still running the White Hart Inn at Sorell Springs (von Stieglitz, 1960, pp16-17). According to von Stieglitz (1960, p41), John’s inn at Sorell Springs is also mentioned in Dr James ROSS’ Almanac of 1829: Here the White Hart Inn is kept by Mr. Presnell and is one of the oldest and best inns between Hobart Town and Launceston. Here the post office messengers from both ends of the island meet and exchange dispatches as being the most convenient and central point of the road. Two miles after passing Presnells inn the road turns off suddenly to the right down a steep hill and out onto the Salt Pan Plains. It would seem that John got himself into some sort of debt or trouble circa 1829. Four notices from the Sheriff's Office regarding the outcomes of a court case in the Supreme Court in May 1829 involving ADEY v. PRESNELL and LESTER v. PRESNELL appeared in the Hobart Town Gazette in May (23rd and 30th) and June (6th and 13th) of 1829. They read: Sheriff's Office, 14th May, 1829 In the Supreme Court. Adey v. Presnell. Lester v. same. On Tuesday the 26th instant, at 1 o'clock, the Sheriff will cause to be put up for sale by Public Auction, at Sorell Springs, About 200 head of excellent horned Cattle, the property of Defendant, unless these executions be previously satisfied. Sheriff's Office, May 28, 1829 In the Supreme Court. Adey v. Presnell. Lester v. same. On Wednesday next the 3d June, at 12 o'clock, the Sheriff will cause to be put up for sale by Public Auction, at Compton Ferry, About 200 head of excellent cattle, well worth attention; also, at a future day, of which due notice will be given, all Defendant's right and title in and to the farm, with the house thereon, known by the name of the White-hart inn, situate at Sorell-springs, the property of the Defendant, unless these executions be previously satisfied. Sheriff's Office, June 4, 1829 In the Supreme Court. Adey v. Presnell. Lester v. same. On Monday the 22nd instant, at 12 o'clock, the Sheriff will cause to be put up for sale by Public Auction, at his Office in Bathurst St, All Defendant's right and title in and to the farm, with the house thereon, known by the sign of the White Hart Inn, situate at Sorell Springs, unless these executions be previously satisfied. Sheriff's Office, June 4, 1829 In the Supreme Court. Lester v. same. On Monday the 22nd instant, at 12 o'clock, the Sheriff will cause to be put up for sale by Public Auction, at his Office in Bathurst St, All Defendant's right and title in and to the farm, with the house thereon, known by the sign of the White Hart Inn, situate at Sorell Springs, unless these executions be previously satisfied. Thus, John's property, including the cattle, farm and White Hart Inn at Sorell Springs was auctioned by the Sheriff, presumably for payment of debts. However, at this stage, he was already underway with the farm and Halfway House at Antill's Ponds. Yet, one year later, in the Hobart Town Gazette of 10 & 17 July 1830, another notice from the Sheriff's Office, dated 8 July 1830, the result of the case of RISELY v PRESNELL in the Supreme Court of Tasmania, stated:
On Wednesday the 21st instant, at 12 o'clock, the Sheriff
will cause to be put up for sale by Public Auction, at his office in
Bathurst-street, Hobart Town. Thus, the property at Sorell Springs which was to be auction in June 1829, was not auctioned until July 1830, and the prosecutor in this case was a different person! On 22-23 November 1830, 60 + 300 acres were conveyed from William PRESNELL the Elder (John's elder brother) and William PRESNELL the Younger to John PRESNELL. Presumably this is the land at Antill's Ponds. Perhaps it had been conveyed to William initially to prevent it being sold at auction in 1829! Weeding (1980, p26) writes about John's new inn at Antill Ponds: The village of Antill Ponds owes its origin to the first inn there, which was built by the same John Presnell who had kept the inn at Sorell Springs. When the new highway by-passed the old inn, John Presnell erected in 1830 a modern inn at Antill Ponds which also bore the name “White Hart”. In 1843, the name “Half-Way House” replaced the original name. It was gutted by fire in 1852 but soon rebuilt. For many years “Half-Way House” was the best known of public houses in Van Diemen’s Land. It was selected as a changing place for Page’s coaches, where passengers and mails were transferred from the northern to the southern coach. When the railway became a reality in 1876, the inn became a major stopping place where passengers on the day train had lunch, a welcome break after the weary nine hour journey. On the night trains, the journey was broken here for four hours while passengers rested. “Half-Way House” did not escape visitations from bushrangers at various times. Such well known lawbreakers as Dalton, Kelly, Cash, Kavanagh and Jones made their present felt by their patronage. von Stieglitz (1960, pp83-84) writes similarly, though he refers to John as William PRESNELL: In 1830 when William Presnell found that his old inn at Sorell Springs (recorded as early as 1820 in J.T. Bigge’s report) was being by-passed by the new road through St. Peter’s Pass, he built the White Hart Inn at Antill Ponds. Later it became known as the Half Way House at which the coaches and most private conveyances halted for refreshment. For many a long day it was the best known country public house in Tasmania where a man and his horse could get most satisfactory meals and a comfortable bed at any time day or night. But when the railway and then motor traffic drove horses from the road and travellers sped past to larger centres, the last days of Half Way House were numbered. Finally it lost its licence and was closed, the furniture sold and the cedar wood fittings taken away. At the present time, with glass broken in the window frames, doors swinging in the wind and the paint all gone from the woodwork, it is a place to avoid and is another crumbling link with the early days of Van Diemen’s Land. Another land 300 acres Governor Macquarie recommended 8 April2 … vacant adjoining White
Hart In, Antill’s Ponds To
George Franklin Submitted for His Excellency’s consideration 12 May 1831 Referred for the report of the Land Board 12 May 1831 After John died, Eleanor, his wife, took up the plea for more land. To
His Excellency Colonel George Arthur, Lt Gov of VDL, etc. Mrs
Presnell having requested my certification to this memorial, I can only say that
the facts are correctly stated. Mr
Harrison, JP of Woodbury, being the deceased John Presnell’s executor I would
recommend Mrs Presnell to obtain Mr Harrison’s certificate hereto and then
send this document to Mr Franklin who will instruct the executor which to do. I
beg most respectfully to recommend memorialist Ellenor Presnell to His
Excellency’s favourable consideration. Submitted
for His Excellency’s perusal. Perhaps
the late application had better take its course in Mrs Presnell’s name, as she
has lost her husband. From
what I heard of Presnell’s character, I am very certain no report of the land
… would have influenced me to have given him any additional grant … he will
have and … an invistitile claim! A
communication anonymously. Shall
I answer the Memorialist in the terms of Your Excellency’s minute of the 1st
last? Merely
say that I have considered the application and additional land cannot be
granted. No. 866 Report of the Land Board on the application of Mr John Presnell for an additional grant. This
applicant it appears by an accompanying certificate died on the day he had been
requested to attend the Land Board. His
eldest son “John Presnell” 19 years of age, attended the Board, on this date
and stated that his mother still carries on the business of the White Hart Inn,
Antills Ponds, that she has been left a widow with 3 sons and 3 daughters, the
youngest five years of age. That
the whole of the improvements in buildings, and cultivation of land, was
effected by his late father, as certified by Mr Maclanachan and Messrs Harrison
and Anstey, Justices of the Peace. Did
not the application of the widow come under my consideration – if so, how was
it disposed of? She
was informed that the Lt Gov had fully considered her application and that
additional land could not be granted to her.
Former paper within … refused. The
Lt Gov has refused this application Inform
Mrs Presnell On 28 January 1831, the property was mortgaged to the value of £1000 to Messrs Joseph and Judah Solomon. John PRESNELL Jnr was heir at law to this property. (SC 285/36) Thus, John was granted 500 additional acres in 1831 and 1832 (or was it refused after initially being given) even though 320 acres of land was promised to John as compensation for removal of a road. (SC 285/36) On 25 May 1831, five days after John died, Jocelyn THOMAS, the Colonial Treasurer, placed a notice in the Hobart Town Gazette of 28 May 1831 stating: It is herby notified, that Warrants for the undermentioned sums are now lying unclaimed in this Office, and parties concerned are requested to apply for payment, to enable the Treasurer to close his Annual Accounts. The list of people included John PRESNELL for the sums of £4 7s 6d and £3 1s 9¼d. Thus, John had not collected these monies owed to him by the Government before his death. It is assumed they were paid to his wife or heir. John and his wife Eleanor made further applications for land and these were unsuccessful (CSO 1/79/1760) To
His Excellency Colonel George Arthur, Lt Gov of VDL, etc. Mrs Eleanor Pressnell requests the reconsideration of her application for an additional grant which was made previous to the said Regulations, but refused. The
… herewith any former papers and the report of the Land Board. Additional
land cannot be granted. Answer
accordingly. David SOLOMON was managing the Half Way House in 1833 and trying to work out a plan to run a freight service of bullock wagons along the main road. On 6 September 1833 the following notice about claims for approval of land grants from the Survey Office appeared in the Hobart Town Gazette.
David Lord Bounded on the south by an easterly line of 34 chains from William Kellow's south angle, south east by a line at an angle of 115° 67 chains, north east by a perpendicular of 76 chains, north west by part of a grant to John Presnell and by W. Kellow's grant, and south west by that grant. Thus, it would appear that some of the land originally granted to John PRESNELL was, after John's death, granted to David LORD. John must have owned some dogs because he is listed in the Hobart Town Gazette of 19 June 1830 as having given a description of his dogs to the Police Office for licensing. The licensing was intended to assist with the regulations recently introduced to restrain the increase in the dog population. |
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