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The Burdekin Family Thomas Burdekin was born in Sheffield, England c.1798 and arrived in the Colony on the "Australia" on 7/7/1828 as the family representative of Burdekin & Hawley, Ironmongers & General Merchants. His success was rapid and in 1832 he married Miss Mary Ann Bossley. There were 5 children of the marriage -- Lloyd (1834-60), Bossley (1835-84), Marshall (1837-86), Sydney (1839-99) & Mary Ann (1842-45). At the height of his success he purchased an extensive piece of land in Macquarie St. and built a mansion costing 17,000 pounds. For many years it was known as "Burdekin's Folly" and is now the site of St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Sydney. A well known money lender, he foreclosed on Benjamin Singleton on 2/2/1842 for an amount of 2,100 pounds and gained control of most of the land in the township of Singleton. So hated by many for his usurious interest demanded on loans and for the power his wealth gave him over people, he was honoured by Ludwig Leichhardt, to whom he had been a benefactor, by having the Burdekin River (Queensland) named after him. He did not live long to enjoy his mansion or his wealth. His health gave way under his life style and he died in 1842, aged 44 years. Mrs. Burdekin, together with her brother John Bossley managed the extensive interests of the Estate which included the Mill near the river crossing at Singleton. The Mill Journal, dating from 14/7/1842 is a valued possession of the Singleton Historical Society. Young Mary Ann died in 1845 in her 4th year. The eldest son, Lloyd died in 1860 aged 26 years while studying for the medical profession. Bossley died in 1884, aged 49 years leaving 5 sons & 1 daughter. He had married a daughter of the Hon. E.C. Weekes. Marshall, a University graduate and a Barrister, was a member of the Legislative Assembly for many years. He died unmarried in England in 1886, also aged 49 years. The youngest son, Sydney, a University graduate also, was articled to a solicitor but not apparently admitted to practice. For many years he managed the pastoral runs which he and his mother held in northern N.S.W. and Queensland. He was most closely associated with "Attunga" near Tamworth and he married there on 21/1/1872 to Catherine Byrne. They had 8 children. He sold out in 1875 and became involved in the public life of Sydney. He served in the Legislative Assembly almost continuously from 1880-94 representing Tamworth, East Sydney and the Hawkesbury. Like Marshall, he was not a gifted debator. Their mother, devoted to them both, was said to have found comfort in Sydney's steadiness but deplored the objects of Marshall's misdirected generosity. Mrs. Mary Ann Burdekin died in 1889 and Marshall died on 17/12/1899. He was survived by his wife, 2 sons and 3 daughters, of whom Frances married Alexander Hay. The Burdekin family was not known for its generosity in Singleton. Following application for a donation of land to build a new Catholic school-house in 1866, the school patrons had to purchase from the family, the land in which St. Xavier's School now stands on the corner of Cambridge and Queen St. There was a public outcry, when the Market Place donated by Benjamin Singleton was put up for sale by auction. The outcome being the family very reluctantly donated the land to the town and is now Burdekin Park. First published in Family History Society Singleton Newsletter V01 2 No 2 June 1985. Gazette Vol 18 No 3 September 2001 |