Aust Banknotes - Private Bank Issues

Lot 3859    SESSION 15 (7.30PM THURSDAY 30TH MARCH)    Aust Banknotes - Private Bank Issues

Estimate $5,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $6,000

BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALES, certificate for one share Bank Capital Stock one hundred pounds in name of Michael Robinson, No. 28, Sydney 18 August 1818, signed by Jno Thos Campbell President, and Directors, D.Wentworth and Thos Wylde, and entered by Fras. Williams signed on the back, 'Received Sixty (£60) pounds Sterling out of the Bank Stock on account of the within share - James Norton', and at the top is written, 'Memorandum that I Michael Robinson have this day assigned and transferred all my Right title and interest in hand to my share of the Bank Capital stock in (illegible) their Certificate mentioned to James Norton of Sydney Gentleman. Dated 8th August 1821', signed by M. Robinson and written, 'Bank Transfer/9th August 1821/Nich Bayly/Cashier', together with a contemporary envelope with written details, 'Bank of New South Wales/Certificate No.28/for 1 Share'. Printed on thick parchment, plate heavily embossed into the paper, folds and age toning, otherwise very fine and an excessively rare first issue type certificate bearing the signatures of very prominent colonials.

Details of signatories to share certificate are as follows,

Original stock holder: Michael Robinson was convicted of blackmail and sentenced to death in 1796 but was given a reprieve at the prosecutor's request and transported to New South Wales on the Barwell, arriving in May 1798. A lawyer, writer and poet, he was given special consideration on the voyage by taking his meals with the petty officers. A few weeks after arriving in Sydney he was granted a conditional pardon and began working in a legal capacity for the government for the registration of agreements. He engaged in corrupt conduct while issuing government licences and was charged and stripped of office however he was found to be indispensable so charges were laid aside and he was reinstated. He had a chequered career, often getting into trouble, and was the first official writer of verse in Australia. He also held government positions as Deputy Provost Marshall and principal clerk in the Police Office. He was one of the original shareholders of the Bank of New South Wales.

Transferee of stock: James Norton, a lawyer, arrived in New South Wales in September 1818 after serving as the captain's clerk in the Maria. There were only four solicitors practising in Sydney at the time so James established his own legal practice. He also received a large land grant at Mulgoa with a 9.6km frontage to the Nepean River. His was the first legal firm in Sydney and he acted for the Crown in many important cases. When he arrived in Sydney he became an active member to form a savings bank and was a director of the Bank of Australia from 1826 until it failed in 1843. In 1824 he married Jane, daughter of Alexander McKenzie, cashier of the Bank of New South Wales. In 1834 he purchased Elswick, a 100-acre estate at Parramatta Road. The property, located in what is now Leichhardt, was bounded by Parramatta Road, Norton Street (named in honour of James Norton), Marion Street and Elswick Street. James and Jane had ten children, eight sons and two daughters. Jane died in 1840 at Elswick and in 1843 James married Marian Backhouse of England. They had five children, three sons and two daughters. James Norton died at his Elswick estate in 1862 and a few months later his wife returned to England.

Bank Director: D'Arcy Wentworth arrived in Australia as Asst Surgeon on the convict ship Neptune. He was made Superintendent of Convicts at Norfolk Island, Parramatta and Sydney. He played a significant role in the Rum Rebellion when he was suspended as Asst Surgeon on the Government staff by Governor William Bligh. His son was W.C.Wentworth, the famous explorer, journalist, politician and author. D'Arcy Wentworth was one of the original shareholders in the Bank of New South Wales when it was established in 1816.

Bank Director: Thomas Wylde was the father of John Wylde, Deputy Judge Advocate of New South Wales.

Bank Cashier: Francis Williams arrived in Sydney in 1806 but he did not have permission to enter the colony and although he had married merchant Simeon Lord's ward shortly after arrival, he was deported in 1807. He returned to Sydney legally in 1810 entering into partnership with his father-in-law. For the next several years he plied his trade as a merchant in Sydney and Van Diemen's Land. He was a friend of D'Arcy Wentworth so that is probably why he got the position of accountant with the Bank of New South Wales in February 1818 and in March was promoted to the senior position of cashier. Unfortunately Mr Williams was too keen to please customers and in so doing he tampered with records and money, not really gaining anything for himself other than the pleasure of his customers, and was charged with embezzlement and sacked. He was found guilty and convicted to fourteen years but was granted a ticket-of-leave in 1828. He died at 'Luskentyre', a property in the Hunter Valley, NSW in October 1831.

Bank Secretary: Nicholas Bayly was appointed an ensign in the New South Wales Corps in 1797 and sailed as commander of the guard in the Barwell arriving in Sydney in 1798. He had a chequered military career and was described by John Macarthur as a 'violent oppositionist'. He was dismissed from office after the arrival of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. In 1820 he secured a job as cashier and secretary of the Bank of New South Wales. He died in May 1823.