Search This Blog

Thursday, February 17, 2011

MORE ON GEORGE MAWBEY

The first post I made on this blog on 28 January 2010 was about my first ancestor to arrive in Australia, GEORGE MAWBEY.
New intriguing information about him has just come to light.
*
1. HE WAS DEFINITELY A PUBLICAN
I now know from newspaper research the name of the pub he held the liquor licence for in 1837, the year before he married.
It was the Hope and Anchor in Pitt Street, Sydney.
In June 1837, according to the Sydney Gazette newspaper, he had been granted a liquor licence for this establishment for that current year.
He gave his occupation as publican when he married in Sydney in July 1838.
*
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Thursday 29 June 1837
The following is the list of parties who have obtained new licenses for the current year: Joseph Ward, (a discharged constable) Cockatoo, Pitt street. James Murphy, Plasterer's Arm, Pitt street ... John Curtis, Governor Macquarie, Pitt-street. George Mawbey, Hope and Anchor, ditto...
[Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-articlexxxxx]
*
The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 29 June 1837
... George Mowbray, Hope and Anchor ...
[Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-articlexxxx]
*
Oddly, NSW State Records has no record of George Mawbey holding a publican's licence on its publicans' licences index. [Update 18-9-12 it appears under spelling 'Mowbery/Mowberry']
Nor of his son, John Thomas, who had an inn at Breelong and is said to have held a publican's licence there.
Similarly, John Thomas's younger brother, George, ran the Rose Inn near Little Hartly (Lithgow) and may also have held a liquor licence.

Update 1-6-11
Holders of publican's licences had to be married, but George was granted one before his marriage.
The Hope & Anchor he briefly held a liquor licence for was on the corner of Pitt and King Streets, Sydney.
It had been there since at least 1836 and was closed and its contents auctioned in 1846.
*
There were several other Hope and Anchor hotels:
1. On the corner of Druitt and Sussex Streets near Sydney Town Hall;
2. In Macquarie Place or Street;
3. In Parramatta Street (now George Street) near Central Station. In 1846, this was located across the road from the Benevolent Asylum.
*
2. HE WENT TO ADELAIDE
I also now know that a year after his marriage in July 1838, according to the newspaper article below, he was running a general store [Update 31-12-11: Refreshment Rooms] in the main street [Update 31-12-11 commercial heart] of Adelaide.
*
South Australian Register, Saturday 16 November 1939
The undersigned begs most respectfully to inform his friends and the public generally, that he has let the premises lately occupied by himself to Messrs Grieve and Campbell, as a General Store, and he hopes they will receive a share of that patronage which was so liberally bestowed on himself. GEO. MAWBEY.
The lease of the above premises to be disposed of.
Apply to George Mawbey on the premises. Rundle-street, November 9, 1839.
[Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-articlexxxxx]
*
I am yet to find out how and where and when he arrived in Australia.