Rose, Shamrock and Thistle Inn
Morpeth
In 1852 there were five inns at Morpeth - the Wheatsheaf, publican Robert Ballard; Rose Shamrock and Thistle, publican Ann Cornelius; Crown and Anchor, publican Moses Murphy; Morpeth Inn, publican Daniel Maher; The Globe Inn, publican Robert Canvin.
At that time Morpeth was the fort of the north, the end of the journey for hundreds of teams carrying wool, tallow or general produce, and the starting point for the same teams laden with merchandise for the northern and north-western district of the State and of Southern Queensland. Hotels, mills and stores flourished in the riverside town in those prosperous days, but with the advent of the railway the glory of Morpeth waned - Newcastle Morning Herald 31 March 1926
Mrs. Ann Cornelius held the publican's licence for the Rose Shamrock and Thistle Inn in the 1840s and 1850s.
She was the widow of Morpeth auctioneer Richard Cornelius who had died in 1842 at the age of thirty. She sometimes called on the assistance of her brother-in-law, Quinten Swift to assist her. When she suspected ticket of leave holder Samuel Brassington of stealing a bottle of gin from her hotel in 1846, Mr. Swift found the stolen gin and the thief who was later sentenced to twelve months in irons.[1]
Thomas Dowell was employed as a gardener at the Inn. Mrs. Cornelius also employed George Ferris in 1848 to work as a general servant at 6/- per week. Ferris was later dismissed from her service when he became drunk and failed to return after being sent to East Maitland to obtain water. Ferris was later ordered to forfeit one week's wages for misconduct .[2]
The youngest son of Ann Cornelius son Quinten Robert Cornelius died aged 7 1/2 years in November 1849 after contracting scarlet fever.
Ann Cornelius still held the licence for the Rose, Shamrock and Thistle in 1859
References
[1] Maitland Mercury 1 July 1846[2] Maitland Mercury 1 March 1848
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