Free Settler or Felon
Convict and Colonial History




William Maxwell Shaw Stewart

Map 4


William Maxwell Shaw Stewart of the 62nd regiment brought with him to Australia recommendations from Lord Bathurst for a grant of land. He was granted 2060 acres of land in February 1825.
Archibald Bell James Black William Brooks John Cobb Henry Dangar John Earl John Gaggin William Harper William Kelman John Larnach George Wyndham George White Joseph Underwood A.B. Spark Benjamin Sullivan Alexander Shand Helenus Scott James Mitchell George Wyndham Helenus Scott John Larnach Shaw Stewart Early Settler Map 4

Assigned Convict Servants

On 1st December 1825 he applied to have six convicts from newly arrived ships to be assigned to him for his property in Sedgefield, Co. Durham. A week later six men who arrived on the Henry Porcher from Ireland on 3 December 1825 were assigned to him:

Owen McCawley
Hugh Daley
Patrick Conlan,
Michael Neill
Benjamin Reilly
Peter Clinch.

Brief Stay in the Colony

Shaw Stewart remained in the colony less than two years. His time in the colony can be traced in various newspaper articles in 1825 and 1826

In correspondence to the Sydney Gazette on 5th May 1825 he claimed to have introduced the first pheasants to the colony and in August 1825 he gave his address as 'Lochnagar'.

In September 1825 Captain Shaw Stewart was thanked by Nathaniel Payten of Parramatta for his actions in using the greatest judgment, coolness and presence of mind in extinguishing a disastrous fire that took place at Parramatta. [1]

The following month, October 1825 he decided to return to England. He was selling two valuable horses, household furniture consisting of bedsteads, bedding, tables, cabinets etc[2]. His premises in Phillip Street Parramatta comprising a cottage, nearly new, an elegant pheasantry and two stall stables with ground under a thriving plantation were also offered for sale [3]
Land Grant
In an advertisement in the Sydney Gazette dated 5 April 1826, his 2000 acre estate at the Hunter River was offered for lease -

To New Settlers....To be let and entered upon immediately, all the whole of that valuable estate called Loch-Na-Garr, comprising 2000 acres of excellent land. The estate is beautifully situated in the immediate vicinity of Wallis Plains, and will be let for a period of of nineteen years. The whole of the moveable property instantly to become bona fide, the property of the Tennant. The whole of the live stock together with their increased comprising 14 well improved dairy cows with calves to become property of the tenant, four working bullocks, an excellent dwelling house, bed room and parlour, stockyard, two excellent huts for six men now on the property, one new dray, plough and harrow, bullock harness , new; together with two sets of clearing instruments, grind stone etc., 100 rod  and upwards of the side line fenced in ; together with a great quantity of poultry consisting of turkeys ducks and fowls. Thirty acres of rich fine land had been felled and was ready to lay down a crop.

William Maxwell Shaw Stewart - departed the colony on the Lady Rowena bound for London early in August 1826 - passengers Mrs. Woods, widow of Lieut. Woods late of the 3rd regiment, Dr. Kelly and Dr. Doyle, R.N., William Maxwell Shaw Stewart Eds., and Lieut. Pigot with a detachment of invalids [4]

References

[1] The Australian 8 September 1825

[2] Sydney Gazette 17 October 1825

[3] Sydney Gazette 27 October 1825

[4] The Australian 2nd August 1826