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THE PRIVATE TOWN OF SINGLETON For thirty six years we have been continually incorrectly reading in publications that Benjamin Singleton received a land grant of 240acres at St. Patrick Plains. The true facts are that he received two land grants in the County of Northumberland, in the parish of Whittingham and one in the County of Cumberland in the parish of Hunter's Hill. Firstly, 200 acres [In measurement 207acres] Promised on Order No.12, 31st March, 1821 by Governor Macquarie, as a member of John Howe's party on arrival "at the plains' and Hunter's River on 15th March 1820. On Benjamin's deeds dated 6th June 1836, it was recorded with the land description" as No.86 in the Government Notice of 29th April 1835 to be called Singleton Town". This became portion 7, Parish of Wittingham [Sic Whittingham]. Secondly, 100 acres adjoining Promised Order No 157, 26th August 1824, by Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane to Joseph Bigg/e. This land grant was deeded to Benjamin Singleton on 20th December 1835. This became portion 8 Parish of Wittingham [sic]. On receiving this 100 acres, Benjamin Singleton is said to have set out and named the streets and advertised the land for sale. Thirdly, the controversial 40 acres was situated in the County of Cumberland, in the Parish of Hunters Hill, and situated on the Parramatta River. This is fully explained in the Colonial Secretary's correspondence and which included:- "No.36/187 Col. Sec. Office 7th March 1836, to the Surveyor General; "Sir, With reference to the selection made by Benjamin Singleton of Forty acres of Land at Pulpit Hill, being in lieu of the like quality of Patrick Plains inadvertently granted to John Yeoman Junior, I have the honour by direction of the Governor, to inform you that under the circumstances of this case, His Excellency does not object to Mr. Singleton obtaining the present land though valued at ten shillings an acre." This does not appear to have been deeded to Benjamin Singleton. First settling on St. Patrick Plains, near where John Howe's party had arrived, Benjamin was displaced by James Mudie, who chose the land as part of his 2150 acre grant on Order No.38, 3rd August 1822. Benjamin Singleton lost his land and town in 1842 when he became insolvent, at the time his land was valued at Six thousand and ninety five pound and had property to the value of Three thousand one hundred and sixty four pounds. Thomas Burdekin was the greater beneficiary of Benjamin's bankruptcy. Benjamin Singleton "Pioneer of the Hunter District and Founder of the Town of Singleton" died on October 3rd 1853 aged 65years and at the time of his death it was sworn that his goods accumulated to less than one hundred pounds. By Dot Clayworth |