Lot 3833

Description

Promissory Note, Sydney, New South Wales, 2nd June 1825 for 24 pounds, issued by John Oxley, Esq. payable by James Blackman, on watermarked paper bearing Britannia in a crowned circle, the third installment due on account of purchase of six hundred and forty acres of Crown Land, verseo endorsed 'Pay William Balcombe Esq. Colonial Treasurer for the time being'. Fold in centre and left, frayed edges with light staining on bottom and right, otherwise fine - very fine.

Ex William Balcombe (1779-1829), the first Treasurer of New South Wales; by direct descent to his granddaughter, Jane Emma Murphy (nee. Balcombe) (1854-1924) of the "The Briars", Mornington, Victoria (the promissory note was once contained in her autograph album), and the Beckett family, Melbourne.

James Blackman junior was one of ten farmers settled by Governor Lachlan Macquarie at Bathurst in March 1818. In 1820 he marked out a road from Bathurst to Wallerawang and in 1821 with three companions explored a route from Bathurst to the Cudgegong River. He crossed the Turon River, went north-east to the Crudene and reached the Cudgegong about fifty miles (80 km) from Bathurst. He then went through Aaron's Pass, named after his Aboriginal servant, followed the Cudgegong for about twenty-six miles (42 km) and came to the Burrundulla Swamps, but did not reach the Aboriginal camp at Mudgee. William Lawson followed Blackman's route later in the year and is considered by some the discoverer of Mudgee. In 1822 Blackman and Lawson traced out a route from Wallerawang to Dabee, near Rylstone.