James Milson

Postcard of Milsons Point. The caption reads: "Milson’s Point – Probably in the early Seventies [1870s]. Kirribilli on the farther shore. Eastern Road Wharf is front. Alfred St to the right, the Arcade and clock are within speaking [?] distance of the spreading tree." Surname In many records James Milson's surname is shown as "Milsom". "Milsom" was the surname by which James signed letters, shown below. By the time that James died in 1872 he was known as Milson, (2) Milson was shown a plan delineating the land in his name and that this sufficed as legal ownership in the early colony. However there is no legal precedent for this assertion. (3) Milson built his house on "Milson's Point" shortly after his marriage in 1810. However in the years after his marriage James Milson lived at the "Field of Mars". in addition to the memorial of 5 June 1820 establishing residence for himself and his family at that time at Pennant Hills (in the "Field of Mars", district of Parramatta), in Milson's own words in the years before 1825 he had "principally resided in District of Parramatta". However this case did indeed mention acreage, and was not about who owned the land. Milson lost his case against Campbell based on non-payment of a lease agreement between himself and Campbell. The case mentioned that Milson leased a farm of from Robert Campbell. In this case Milson did not purport to own the land that he was leasing. Milson instead referred to Campbell's absence of proof of title which made it impossible to ascertain the boundary between the that Milson leased from Campbell, and the adjoining "very large portion of land" (acreage not stated in the case but known to be ) that Milson had received as a grant from Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane in August 1824. It is true, however, that Milson did dispute Campbells ownership of the land during the nearly 3 years from 1828 that he ceased paying rent. During this time Milson wrote to the Surveyor-General and Governor Ralph Darling in an attempt to have the land recognised as his own instead of Robert Campbell's. The reply that Milson received on 13 March 1829 was that he could not obtain the land as it was the property of Robert Campbell, and that the land that Milson owned (the adjoining 50 acres) was already measured and marked out.

Versions of this family tradition, or parts thereof, have been repeated as fact in many publications about the life of James Milson. The most common part of the family tradition that is repeated is that the court case between Campbell and Milson was a dispute over land title. Examples of repetition of the family tradition, or parts thereof, are found in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, and the North Sydney Historical Society, Sydney Morning Herald,19 May 1926!!Evidence from documentation AN OLD FAMILY THE MILSON STORY (BY R. H. G.) The death recently of Mr. Arthur James Milson at his residence, Walaya, Milson's Point, removes another link connected with the early days of New South Wales. | His grandfather, James Milson, arrived in Sydney as a free settler in 1804 | James Milson arrived aboard Albion on 19 August 1806. and advertising the sale of this orchard in 1868. ) Milson had grazing land at Pennant Hills, which is close to Castle Hill. In addition his wife received an assigned convict servant, John Wallans (Agamemnon, 1820, 7yrs) on 24 November 1823 when she is recorded as Mrs Milson of Government House. James Milson himself received an assigned convict servant on 17 September 1824 when he was recorded as John (sic) Milson of Government House. The servant he received at that time was Edward Sharley ("Martha", 1818, 7yrs). Then on 1 November 1825 James Milson was again recorded as a Steward of Government House. James Milson married Elizabeth, a daughter of David Kilpack, a member of the New South Wales Corps, and one of the first grantees of land in the Paramatta district, and an early sheep breeder of the colony. | James Milson did marry Elizabeth the daughter of David Kilpack but most of the rest is incorrect. David Kilpack had arrived in the colony as a convict in the First Fleet aboard the Scarborough in 1788. He was never a member of the New South Wales Corps. He did receive an early grant in the Parramatta district receiving his first grant of land in 1794. He died in 1797 after having earlier sold his farm to John Macarthur. He was not involved in sheep breeding like John Macarthur and his friends. "King's Despatches" mention the number of sheep in the colony in 1805 to be 20,617, and the sheepbreeders were S. Marsden, John Macarthur, R. Hassall, Edward Lamb, T. Rowley, David Kilpack, Edward Robinson, James Sheppard, and Thomas Arndell. | It is well known from Australian History that Samuel Marsden, John Macarthur, Rowland Hassall, Thomas Rowley, and Thomas Arndell were involved in early sheep farming in the Colony of New South Wales. As an ex-convict David Kilpack did not move in this social circle, and did not have enough land on which to graze sheep. Other names are associated in some way with the Milson history. For example James Sheppard (sic) was a man with whom James Milson had a dispute over land in the early 1820s; Edward Lamb had worked for Robert Campbell’s nephew Robert Campbell Jnr, and James Milson Jnr had later been a partner in the firm of Robert Campbell Jnr & Co. It is not known who the name Edward Robinson could be referring to, though there was an Edward Robinson who had arrived as a convict on the "Admiral Barrington" in 1791 and who had farmed cattle in the Hawkesbury district. That David Kilpack was a sheepbreeder, or was included in "King's Despatches" with the likes of Samuel Marsden, John Macarthur, Rowland Hassall, Thomas Rowley, and Thomas Arndell has no basis in fact. Milson's house on the North Shore was the rendezvous of many such gentlemen as Dr. McLeod, Dr Ivory Balcombe, Brabyn, Sir James Brisbane and Judge Bent who would be found there on Sunday afternoons. |It is not known if this has any basis in fact. "The Monitor" of 8 December 1826 states that Milson’s farm on the North Shore of Port Jackson was "a well known resort for Sunday-goers" but no names are given. to 30 December 1826 with Sir James Brisbane dying during this time on 19 December 1826 while the ship was in the harbour. In 1826 bush fires raged over the whole of the North Shore and Milson's house was destroyed. Everything was lost including some valuable mares he had recently imported. The occupants were rescued by officers and men from H.M. S. Warspite. | There were bushfires that raged in 1826 and destroyed Milson’s house. There was no mention of valuable mares in the newspaper report about the effect of the fire on the Milsons. There was also no mention in the newspaper reports of rescue. and an undeveloped on the headland on the north side of Port Jackson that includes both Kirribilli Point and Milsons Point.

James Milson was immigrating to begin life in the Colony as a farmer. Initially before he could obtain a land grant of his own he needed to obtain employment. A court case between Campbell and Milson in 1831 stated that Campbell was a former employer of Milson. Elizabeth Warne says that Milson worked on the farm of Elizabeth's mother, the "widow Kilpack", a farm of 170 acres.

In a dispute with James Shepherd over ownership the 100-acre land grant that had been part of the Cornish Hills Farm, Milson chose John Macarthur as his arbitrator.

James Milson met his wife Elizabeth Kilpack while working on Macarthur's Cornish Hills Farms, as Elizabeth Kilpack was living prior to her marriage at the age of 16 on her step-father's 30-acre farm in the area. Her family also continued to have a close association with the Macarthurs as when her mother received a grant of 60 acres in 1816 the person who recommended for the grant was Mrs Macarthur. Andrew Murray, who married in 1818 a year after arriving in the Colony, also met his wife Eleanor Kilpack, Elizabeth's sister, while working at the Cornish Hill Farms. According to the Beecroft and Cheltenham History Group it is said that Andrew first met Eleanor while out herding cattle at Cornish Hills Farm. These 2 children were Sophia (1811) and James Jnr (1814).

On 5 June 1820 an unsigned Memorial was written for James Milson to Governor Maquarie requesting further land. ) This memorial states that James Milson came to the Colony with the family of Mr Robert Campbell, and Robert Campbell also wrote and signed a recommendation for James Milson to receive "favourable consideration" for his request on the bottom of the Memorial. The Memorial states that James Milson was residing on and farming a 100-acre grant that he had previously received from Governor Macquarie ("your Excellency was pleased to extend") at Pennant Hills. Of this 100 acres he had 20 acres under cultivation and an additional 10 acres ready for cultivation. He also had 40 head of Horned Cattle "and very little pasturage lands to graze them upon" and this was the basis of his request for a further land grant. first published in 1955 in the book "The Life and Times of James Milson" showing approximate location in the vicinity of the modern Jeffrey Street of "Milson's residence" in the 1820s which included his orchard and dairy. Also shows approximate location of the residence of Milson's son-in-law William Shairp The perforated line marks the approximate extent of the leased by Milson from Robert Campbell in the 1820s. Above the perforated line was the adjoining that was granted to Milson in August 1824. for a rent of £10 per annum "as a matter of favour" from Campbell. A lease agreement was signed by both parties with each taking a copy. The lease was then extended in a memorandum between the parties for a further period of 3 years to 30 June 1831 on the same terms. Non-payment of the rent on this lease between 1828 and 1831 became the basis of a court action in August 1831. By the time that Milson had stopped making rent payments on the lease, however, both parties had accidentally lost their copies of the original lease agreement, and Campbell had also accidentally lost his title deeds to the land. from Sydney. It was from the 120 acres of leased land that Milson built a good business supplying ships in Sydney Harbour with fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and water, as well as ballast from a quarry near Careening Cove.

There is no way of knowing exactly when in the early 1820s Milson and his family started to reside on the leased 120 acres. In the 1822 muster of New South Wales, however, he is shown as a resident of the District of Sydney rather than the District of Parramatta showing that the move probably had been made before then. Then in at least the period 22 August 1823 to 1 November 1825 Milson and his wife lived at least part-time at Government House as they were employed there, with James acting as a Steward and Keeper of Government House. Elizabeth Warne also correctly records that the bushfires destroyed what was the other dwelling on the property, the "Milk House",

A third newspaper report gives even more information about the events of the bushfire of 25 November 1826 that destroyed Milson's buildings and livelihood. This was coincidentally the 12th birthday of Milson's son James Milson Jnr. The report ends with the chilling words "chilling Poverty appears to be their only prospect." Fortunately that was not to be the case.

The Monitor 8 December 1826 DOMESTIC INTELLENCE It is our painful task to record melancholy instance of the mutability of human affairs. There dwelt upon the North Shore a reputable family named Melsham (sic), the heads of whom had long held confidential posts in the households of Governors Macquarie and Brisbane; having acquired an easy competency, they had retired to this sequestered spot to enjoy the fruits of their labour, a comfortable neatly furnished dwelling; a garden, cattle and a well known resort of Sunday-goers, known as "The Milk House," which produced a considerable weekly rental, constituted their possessions. Melsham (sic) was absent, and his wife and daughter saw with fearful solicitude the distant smoke rising o'er the hill; towards the set of sun the blazing heath presented to their view an appalling prospect – two male domestics then on the premises made active endeavours to cut off the communication of the flames, by clearing a space as ample as time would admit of, to check its destructive progress; but the attempt was vainly made. The impelling breeze wafted ignited masses through the air, and the only resource now left, was to remove the most valuable and necessary portables the house contained. Apparel, beds, &c. were hastily conveyed to a distance, but the unfortunate owners were compelled to witness the demolition of their peaceful habitation – the small remaining hope of saving the residue of their property was not left them long. The destructive element made rapid progress towards the depository of their moveables and quickly was the wreck complete – of a watch, the wheels alone remained – an old Kangaroo dog, guarding, it is supposed, the last relics of his master's worldly goods, had the hair literally singed off him, and his legs left in a pitiable state. The fate of their Cattle is not yet known, whether destroyed in the conflagration or driven into the bush. By this unforeseen visitation of Providence, these unfortunate people are once more thrown upon the world, their hopes destroyed, and in the decline of life chilling Poverty appears to be their only prospect. This was for on the North side of the Harbour of Port Jackson, opposite Sydney Cove for a quit rent of 1s per annum after 10 years to an expired convict, Samuel Lightfoot. The North Sydney Historical Society states that the 30-acre grant extended from where Milsons Point railway station is now to Kurraba Point but this is impossible as it is an area of much greater than 30 acres and extends over to Neutral Bay which was never part of the land grant.

In 1794 Thomas Muir, a Scottish constitutional reformer, was sentenced to transportation for sedition. He arrived in the Colony on the Surprise on 25 October 1794. Lightfoot sold his farm to Muir who also had a cottage on what is now Circular Quay. The farm that Muir began to establish on the 30 acres he named, after his father’s home in Scotland, "Huntershill" (not to be confused with the modern day suburb of Hunters Hill further up the harbour). Muir is thought to have built a hut marked on an old map, The 30 acres had been purchased by Robert Ryan and was being cancelled to incorporate it with an additional grant of into a total grant of On the North side of the Harbour, opposite Sydney Cove for a quit rent of 2s per annum after 5 years. The 90 acres (he already owned the 30 acres) was being given to Ryan for his services in the Royal Marines and the NSW Corps. The corresponding entry in the Register of Land Grants states Cancelled, and a New Grant given to Robert Ryan for 90 acres in addition to this Allotment, by Governor Hunter. See the third Register, Folio 37. The entry against the list of all grants and leases of land registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office for Robert Ryan's 120 acres says 90 acres of this grant is given towards the complement Ryan is entitled to of 160 for his services to the Marines & NSW Corps; the other 30 is a Grant of Samuel Lightfoot's which was purchased by the present proprietor & is now cancelled in the first Register folio 78. Robert Ryan therefore has yet 70 acres of land to receive. ), 2 were of the ship's crew, 2 were soldiers from the 46th Regiment, 1 was the 1st (Chief) Mate, and shortly before the ship anchored the Master (Captain) of the ship also died.

The Government Orders about the Quarantine were clear that no one was to go near the persons who had arrived on Surry. A guard was to be placed on board the ship, another guard on the land, and severe punishment was promised for anyone who broke the quarantine.

Sydney Gazette, Saturday 30 July 1814

GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL ORDERS. Head Quarters, Government House, Sydney, Saturday 30th July, 1814 The Male Convict Transport Ship, Surry. Which arrived in this Harbour from England on the 28th (sic) Instant, having brought a malignant Fever of a very infectious Nature, of which the Master (Captain), first Mate, and forty other Men (=42) have died during the Voyage, previous to the Arrival of the Ship in this Port; HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR had deemed expedient to use every possible Precaution to prevent the Danger of the Contagion extending from her to the Population of the Colony; and with this View he has given Orders to institute the most rigid Quarantine Restrictions in respect of the Ship herself, and all Persons on board of her, until such Time as the Fever is entirely subsided, and the People now infected are recovered.

It is therefore the GOVERNOR’S most positive Orders, that no Person whatsoever (the Medical Quarantine Officers and their Attendants excepted), shall have any Intercourse or Communication of any sort with the said Ship or the Persons now on board her, until such Time as she is relieved from Quarantine, which will be announced in Public Orders; and the GOVERNOR further directs and commands, that no Person shall visit, or have any Intercourse what ever with the Military Detachment, Sailors, ad Convicts, who are about to be landed from the said Ship on the North Shore of Port Jackson; where they are to remain encamped under strict Quarantine Regulations till further Orders. – There will be a Guard on board the Ship Surry, and also on the North Shore; to enforce these Orders; and any Person detected in attempting to act in Disobedience of them will be confined, and most severely punished. By Command of His Excellency The Governor, J.T.Campbell, Secretary.

Quarantine restrictions were lifted for the ship on 13 August 1814, but the restrictions on the camp lasted longer.

GOVERNMENT NOTICE SECTRETARY'S OFFICE, SYDNEY Saturday, 13th August, 1814 It being duly notified to HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR, that the Disease on board the Male Convict Ship, Surry, which had rendered it necessary to put the Vessel under strict Quarantine on her Arrival in this Port, has now happily terminated, and the Danger of Infection from the said Ship is entirely removed:--This is therefore to give Notice that his EXCELLENCY is pleased to relieve said Ship from any further Continuence of those Quarantine Restrictions: but as the Disease is not altogether ceased in the encampment on the North Shore, the Quarantine Restrictions in Regard to that Place, and the Persons there, shall continue in full Force. By Command of His Excellency, The Governor, J.T.Campbell, Secretary

The uninhabited land on the North Shore off which Surry anchored, and on which the persons who had arrived on the ship were allowed to land and set up camp during the time of their Quarantine, was the 120-acre headland owned by Campbell that included Milsons Point and Kirribilli Point. Thus this headland was the first site in Australia to be used for quarantine purposes. This is known because three typhoid victims from Surry were buried there with their graves being in the area that later became Milson's orchard. These graves are stated to be the site of the first burials on the North Shore. They are shown on MAP 3 in this article, a part of the 1840s map of the area.

The 42 deaths before the ship anchored, plus the 3 graves brings the death toll to 45 (assuming that the 3 graves were all for deaths that occurred after the ship anchored). Bateson, however, states that there were a total of 51 deaths before the quarantine was lifted and lists the additional 9 deaths as the 2nd Mate, the boatswain, an additional 4 seaman, an additional 2 soldiers, and the surgeon.

Thomas Raine was a junior officer on board the Surry. The epidemic of typhus left him the only surviving officer. He subsequently commanded her for the next three voyages (1816, 1819, 1823).

Raine's grandson Tom Raine founded Raine & Horne, an Australian real estate franchise in 1883. There is a memorial to Raine slightly to the west of the Jeffrey Street Wharf.

The family tradition is that Milson lived on this land from the time of his marriage in 1810, and that Milson gave permission for the victims from Surry to be buried there in 1814.

Other features of the cropped detail map in the vicinity of Jeffrey Street are as follows: The shape of the shoreline has not changed significantly since 1840, the variation is due to the construction of ferry landings in the vicinity of the Jeffrey Street Wharf over the past 100 years and also the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the 1930s. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is now located at the base (south) end of the point. The large building shown at the top of the map near the "Milking Bails" and a "Calf Pen" is marked as a "Barn". It is close to Bratton, a Victorian Italianate style heritage listed building at 36 Pitt Street Kirribilli. The small stream marked at the south east corner of the "Orchard occupied by J. Milson" is most probably the site of a small timber decked simple steel bridge in what is now called "Captain Henry Waterhouse Reserve". The map identifies the 1814 graves for three typhoid victims from the ship Surry. These graves were within the area that Milson leased from Campbell for his orchard. Many of the streets and some property boundaries can be readily compared with modern maps.

Map 4 A map from the 1850s for the then proposed Municipality of East St Leonards (which was proclaimed in 1860) shows boundaries of original grants. It shows the extent of the 50 acres that was granted to James Milson in August 1824 which has been highlighted in pale blue. When compared to modern maps it shows that the 50-acre grant extended from Berry Street in the North, Walker Street in the West, abutted Careening Cove and other grants in the East for which no modern street marks the boundary, and adjoined Campbell's 120 acres in the south at Willoughby Street.

Campbell v Milsom: 1831

Sydney Monitor, 5/10/1831:

SUPREME COURT - CIVIL SIDE

SEPTEMBER 30 - Before Mr. Justice DOWLING, and Messrs. McLaren and Ross, J, P.'s, Assessors.

Campbell v Milsom - This was an action of assumpsit (breach of a promise to pay), to recover the sum of £25 17 4d, for rent due from the defendant for the use and occupation of a certain farm situate on the North Shore, leased by the plaintiff to defendant for a term of years. It appeared in evidence that the defendant leased a farm of 120 acres at the North Shore, from the plaintiff his former employer, as a matter of favour from the plaintiff, at an under rent of £10 per annum, for a term of seven years originally, and which was subsequently extended three years for the purpose of growing vegetables, &c. For the fulfillment of the contract on both sides, an Instrument was signed by both parties, each taking a copy, but which instruments was by accident lost by both parties. That the defendant had punctually paid his rent up to the year ending June 1828, and also the sum of £4 2s 8d towards the rent of the year 1829, at which time he stopped payment, without assigning any reason for so doing; in consequence of which a servant of the plaintiff's waited on the defendant in June last, presented him with a bill for the arrears of rent, and received a promise of payment from him, but which promise he had never fulfilled, which was the occasion of the present action.

For the defense, Mr. Wentworth, without calling witnesses, in his address to the Court, stated that the defendant would not have resisted the payment of the rent if he could have discovered for what he was paying such, having frequently applied to Mr Campbell for the boundaries of his farm, but without being able to obtain them. In consequence of which, had the defendant been disposed to impound any cattle, he could not have done so without making himself liable to an action at law for a trespass. Another important fact was, that the defendant carried on a trade in supplying the shipping in the harbour with ballast, by the consent of the plaintiff; and yet although the farm ought to have been held sacred to the lessee, and which in fact the lessor was bound to secure to his tenant, a person of the name of Cunningham was in the habit of taking away quantities of soil for ballast, under the sanction of an order from the Colonial Secretary. In the absence of any proof of the title under which the plaintiff held the land, the defendant who was granted a very large portion of land from Sir Thomas Brisbane, had taken up a part of that grant adjoining the farm in question, but did not know how far he might have advanced for want of the proper boundary, and which the plaintiff also appears not to know. Mr. Wentworth contended, that by the evidence of the plaintiff’s son, it appeared that a formal instrument had been executed by the parties, binding them, under their hands and seals, to certain performances of a contract for a specified term of years, and that the present action of assumpsit for use and occupation, could not lie, but that an action of debt would have been the proper cause to pursue.

The learned Judge over-ruled the objection taken by Mr. Wentworth, as he was advised, that the second document was not formally drawn, but was merely a memorandum between the parties, and put the case to the Assessors on the merits, who immediately returned a verdict for plaintiff. Damages - £25 17s 4d. This second 100 acres at Pennant Hills then became the subject of a dispute between James Milson and James Shepherd.

Sir Thomas Brisbane became Governor of New South Wales on 1 December 1821. In an undated memorial sometime after 1 December 1821 and before 8 November 1822, James Milson dictated a letter to Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane giving his side of the land dispute. This memorial is signed "James Milson", in the same hand that wrote the memorial, on James Milson's behalf. Milson then took possession of the 100 acres, began to clear the land by "felling some timber", and built "the frame of a small dwelling". Another man, James Shepherd of Kissing Point (an area between Ryde and the Parramatta River) also received an order for a grant of 100 acres from Governor Maquarie, and order which Milson maintained (incorrectly) did not state where the land was located. James Shephard then came upon the 100 acres for which James Milson had a possession order and began felling timber. James Shepherd was claiming a right of possession of this land. Milson next mentions that this 100 acres was part of the land given up by John Macarthur to the Government. He then claims that John Macarthur had "begged that the piece of land alluded to if located to anyone might be given to" James Milson. Milson then asked for Governor Brisbane to redress this grievance and to confirm Milson's order of possession from Mr Oxley. adjoining a farm that James Shepherd already owned, that Shepherd memorialised Governor Maquarie respecting this land. (The memorial to which he referred was dated 6 August 1821 and referred to the 100 acres that had originally been granted to James Cover.) to which he received the following answer: The Governor has received Mr James Shepherd's Memorial of date 6th instant and in reply thereto had now to inform him that in compliance with his request the Surveyor General will be instructed to locate and mark out for him the one hundred acres of land lately relinquished by Mr McArthur to Government in the district of Dundas in lieu of the 100 acres for which Mr Shepherds name was some time since inserted in the list of applicants for land. Sydney. 30 Aug 1821 James Shepherd then mentions that Milson approached Oxley after this date requesting the same land, and Oxley not knowing that the land had already been granted to Shepherd promised it to Milson. As a result Milson took possession and felled about one acre of timber.

James Shepherd next states that he then approached Oxley showing Oxley the order that he had from the Governor, and that Oxley then directed Milson to choose land in some other place. (This is something that Milson did not mention in his memorial.) As a result of Mr Oxley's orders to Milson, James Shepherd then took possession of the land and be way of improvement began to fell timber. The two men acted swiftly to appoint arbitrators as on 20 February 1823 Shepherd had a letter written to Mr Goulburn complaining about Milson's choice of Arbitrator. Milson had chosen to be his Arbitrator John Macarthur. Shepherd disagreed with this choice on 2 grounds. One that due to Macarthur's illness proceedings would be delayed. Two that John Macarthur would not be impartial as John Macarthur had tried to procure the farm for James Milson. The Australian Dictionary of Biography states that Milson instead sought the 50 acres on the North Shore (that he was granted in August 1824) and 300 acres farther inland. This largely illegible document states that James Milson has 100 head of horned cattle. Bordering this land is "(east or west) side by the (illegible), (illegible) side (illegible) Lagoon called Narrow Byne and (north or south) (illegible words) ?amson’s farm." The ticket of occupation was granted on 28 December 1824 when Milson received a letter from Frederick Goulburn in regard to the memorial that Milson had submitted. It is not known how many acres this land was. Milson had disposed of this land before July 1829 as it was not listed in his will.

In 1825 James Milson was allowed to purchase 1000 acres of crown land. On 3 May 1825 his name appears on a list of persons who have received warrants to purchase crown lands which states that he had already paid for 1000 acres. This land was at Wollombi and Milson had disposed of some of this land before July 1829 as only 640 acres is listed in his will.

On 18 June 1825 Milson submitted another memorial requesting land at Lane Cove. The interesting thing about this memorial was that, even though it was prepared for him by another, James Milson signed it. It is signed as "J W Milson". In this memorial Milson stated that he had been in Colony for 19 years, that he came free (that is he did not arrive as a convict), and he has a wife & six children. He also states that he has built up a herd of 120 cattle. He has the means to improve and cultivate another farm if such is granted with which he will be better able to provide for his large family. He asked for a grant at Lane Cove near Mr Wolstoncroft’s and southwest of Higgins’ Farm. This request for more land was successful, and he received 250 acres. In regard to this 250 acres his name appears on a list of persons who have received orders for grants of land dated 25 August 1825 & on a list of lands granted and reserved by Sir Thomas Brisbane dated 17 September 1825. Milson had disposed of this land before July 1829 as it was not listed in his will.

The Australian Dictionary of Biography states that "In 1832 he built on the North Shore a reservoir for watering ships. In later years he acquired more land and was a keen yachtsman."

According to a letter from James Murphy the case had also been reported in an earlier edition of the "Sydney Gazette" dated Thursday 18 October 1825. As a result of this publicly reported assault charge James Milson had a letter written to the Editor of the Sydney Gazette giving his side of the story. Bruising that the magistrates had called "an outrage on humanity" Milson underplayed as a strike on the face.

This letter reveals in James Milson's own words details of his farm and business dealings: Milson had horned cattle grazing near Castle Hill. This agrees with the memorial to Governor Macquarie of 1820 stating that then he had a 100-acre farm at Pennant Hills (in the Field of Mars); Milson had in the period before 1825 principally resided in the District of Parramatta (which includes the Field of Mars); Milson was then living on the North Shore of Port Jackson opposite Sydney. Sydney Gazette, 3 November 1825 TO THE EDITOR OF THE SYDNEY GAZETTE. North Shore, October 30, 1825.

SIR,-Perceiving in your Gazette of Thursday, the 18th Instant, a certain Article, under the Head of Police Report, at Sydney, respecting Mr. JAMES MILSOM being brought forward on a Charge of his assigned Servant, James Murphy, for committing a violent Assault on his person; and as some officious person has falsely stated the Report to you, in justice to myself and character, and that the Public may not be lead astray, I beg leave to state the particulars of the case, and request you will insert the same in your Paper:---James Murphy came to my service in July, 1823, and was assigned to take care of my stock of horned cattle. During such time he was employed, I paid the pound keeper of Castle-hill, for stock impounded through his neglect, the sum of £3 18s 8d I allowed him a ration weekly of 4lbs of salt pork and a peck of wheat, besides £10 per annum. I then employed him to go in a boat, to supply the shipping daily with milk, but found that he neglected that duty, got drunk, and made away with great part of the money; on his expressing contrition for the same, I forgave him. I then employed him to mind twelve milch cows, which duty he neglected, and let them stray. He lost four head, and I desired him to go after them; he went for a few hours, and then returned, stating he could not find them. I told him he must find them. He went again, and returned in about half an hour stating he could not go after them as he had no shoes. I had supplied him with a new pair of boots only six weeks before. I told him to go after them, he said he would not, and dared me to make him, and used the most provoking language towards me, when in the heat of passion, I struck him with my hand in the face, when he ran away and called out murder. I came in on Monday morning last to lodge a complaint to the Police Magistrate, and found Murphy there. Murphy has drawn in the time he has been in my service to the amount of £20 16s 10d in cash, and necessaries. He has lost two cows wholly, which he cannot account for. I have been in the habit of keeping from two to four Government servants for the last fifteen years, and can appeal to the Magistrates at Parramatta, where I principally resided, whether any complaint had ever been exhibited before them of any ill-treatment I have used towards them; and shall, on the day of trial before the Quarter Sessions, at Sydney, produce such respectable evidence in vindication of my character, and will clear it from the aspersion that is attempted to be put on it in the report contained in your Gazette.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient Servant, JAMES MILSOM

James Milson Jnr (1814–1903) & the Royal Yacht Squadron, Kirribilli James Milson Snr was a farmer and his business interests were associated with the land and its produce. His son James Milson Jnr served a mercantile apprenticeship and became a merchant involved in importing and exporting. He gained a wide knowledge of shipowning.

In 1845 James Milson Jnr invested in the company that owned the paddle steamer the "Fairy Queen". In the 1860s James Milson Jnr also became a director of the Australian Steam Navigation Co. In September 1863 James Milson Jnr was one of the founders of the Milson's Point Ferry Co which inaugurated a regular service between Milsons Point and Circular Quay. Milson's Point Ferry Co was sold in March 1878 to become the North Sydney Ferry Co, and which later merged to become Sydney Ferries Limited.

With the same name, some sources confuse details between father and son and attribute to James Milson Snr some of the activities of James Milson Jnr. This includes the North Sydney Historical Society which states that James Milson Snr was the Milson who co-founded the ferry service. This, however, disagrees with the details in the Obituary of James Milson Jnr. Also often attributed to James Milson Snr is that he was a keen yachtsman and active in local politics, both attributes of James Milson Jnr not James Milson Snr.

James Milson Jnr was a prominent figure among yachtsmen from the early 1830s. His obituary states that he may be described as the "doyen" of Australian yachting.

James Milson Jnr described regattas from as early as 1834 when races were between ship's boats provided with temporary keels. By 1836 there were several small yachts afloat on Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) and an informal association of yachtsmen including James Milson Jnr, the first approach to a yachting club in Australia.

James Milson Jnr's first yacht was the "Sophia" named after his elder sister. He raced the "Sophia" in the 1st Anniversary Regatta of the informal association in 1837. In 1841 he was winning races in his second yacht the "Friendship" a famous 12 ton decked boat, built especially for him by Mr George Green, of Lavender Bay. In 1855 James Milson Jnr returned from England with the "Mischief", an 11-ton cutter, the first English yacht in Port Jackson, which won many of the races into which it was entered. In 1859 he built the "Era" which came out in framework from England. This 25-ton yacht was one of the best-known craft in Sydney in the 1860s.

In 1856-57 the first formal yachting club in Australia, the "Sydney Yacht Club" was formed with Mr Hutchinson Brown, police magistrate, as commodore, and James Milson Jnr as one of the members. Then on 8 July 1862 was founded "The Australian Yacht Club" when nineteen yachtsmen, including James Milson Jnr, met in the office of The Hon William Walker MLC who became the first Commodore. James Milson Jnr took a leading part in the formation of the association and was the first vice-commodore. Royal patronage was sought. On 27 June 1863 a letter was received from England notifying of the Prine of Wales' willingness to be patron, and designating the club as the "Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron". In 1863 James Milson Jnr was made Commodore.

The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron first began to lease a property as its base in 1902 when it contained a lease on a property at Wudyong Point on the eastern side of Kirribilli Point. Wudyong Point is on the 120 acres that James Milson Snr had originally leased from Robert Campbell. The site was formally occupied by the Royal Yacht Squadron on 24 January 1903, just 12 days after the death of James Milson Jnr on 12 January 1903.

(Elizabeth Warne is not used as a reference in this section as the details in her book are incorrect.)

Burial Both James Milson Snr (1783–1872) and James Milson Jnr (1814–1903) are buried in St Thomas' Rest Park, West Street, Cammeray just 3.5 km inland from Milsons Point.