50-Day Family History Blogging Challenge - Day 14
Fragments of Family History – Thomas Rose – Community Minded
Jennifer Jones from TRACKING DOWN THE FAMILY has initiated a 50-Day Family History Blogging Challenge. This is a big writing commitment, but I have decided to participate. I have decided my topic will be “Fragments of Family History”. I will write short posts of newspaper items or single stories connected to my family history. This may expand over the 50 days.
Thomas Rose – Community Minded
My 3x Great grandfather Thomas Rose was a member of the Sydney Loyal Association. They were volunteers who trained to defend N.S.W. from potential enemies. Governor Philip Gidley King issued a Proclamation on 11 December 1803 that read:
COUNTING on the Zeal and Loyalty of all His Majesty’s Subjects in this Territory, as well as in the proved disposition of every Briton and Irishman to defend their Families and Properties against any Invader’s mistaken Attention to this Colony ; and to guard against the first Effects of any unexpected Attack from the Enemy ;‐‐‐ And deeming it essential to the Preservation of Public and Private Property, that the LOYAL ASSOCIATION be forthwith Re‐Embodied.1
In 1804, an alarm was raised:
S𝐻𝐼𝑃 𝑁𝐸𝑊𝑆.
At daylight yesterday morning two ships appeared in sight ; and from their frequent evolutions were conjectured to be part of an enemy’s squadron that had condescended to favour us with a complimentary visit.
At half past ten a signal was made at the look out for an Officer from Head Quarters ; in answer to which HIS EXCELLENCY was pleased to dispatch Lieutenant Houstoun of the Investigator to the Naval Officer, then at South Head.
Various circumstances strengthening the former conjecture, the drums beat to arms, and the New South Wales Corps and Loyal Association immediately formed to welcome the Strangers home.
At eleven a Trooper arrived at Government House, with intelligence that one of the vessels appeared under British Colours: and the other with a Union triumphant over a Dutch Jack ; and shortly after certain intelligence was received, that one was an English Whaler, ushering in her Batavian Prize.2
SYDNEY.
The promptitude shewn in the formation of our armed force yesterday se’nnight, is entitled to the warmest eulogium : In less than twenty minutes the Loyal Association was in perfect readiness to second the exertions of the New South Wales Corps, had the first transient conjecture been realized.— The defence of the harbour was equally an object of attention ; and no pains were spared to be in readiness to compliment the strangers as they passed the batteries. At Parramatta all were equally alert ; and had the apprehension been more than momentary, all the settlements in the colony would in the course of a few hours have contributed to an extensive levy of loyal and determined Volunteers.3
On 13 June 1820, Thomas Rose sent a petition to Governor Lachlan Macquarie requesting permission to hold a two-day race meeting in Sydney in August.4
Sydney, 13th June 1820
May it please your Excellency
We are induced by recollection of your Excellency’s former indulgence to the Inhabitants of the Colony, to beg in their names the favour of Providing Horse Races for two days in August, persuaded the custom will lend to the improvements of that useful Animal as well as to the amusement of the public in general and we pledge ourselves to every exertion to preserve good order on the occasion.
His Excellency Governor Macquarie
Having the honor to be with all deference and due respect Your Excellency' s
Most Obedient and very humble servants.
Tho. Rose
Edward Franks
Miles Fieldgate5
NOTICE is hereby given, that, by a Resolution entered into by the Subscribers to the above Races, all Horses starting for either of the Prizes, viz. the Cup, Value 50 Guineas, to be Run for on Monday; and the Purse of 50 Guineas, to be Run for on Tuesday next, do take Place at 12 o'Clock at Noon precisely on each Day.
Notice is also hereby given, that a SILVER BOWL, COVER, and LADLE, is to be Run for on the second Day of the said Races, by all Horses except those which may be entered for the Cup, and the Winner of the Purse ; such Horses to be entered at Mr. Thomas Rose's, at any Time within one Hour previous to starting, carrying Weight for Age; the best of three Two-mile Heats, and start at Three o'Clock.
N. B. To prevent Accidents, it is requested that Persons will not bring Dogs with them on the Course.
THOMAS ROSE, Clerk of the Course.6
Thomas Rose petitioned the Governor in 1821 to begin a stagecoach between Sydney and Parramatta. There had been other stagecoaches running between the towns since 1818.
To His Excellency
Lachlan Macquarie Esqr
Captain General
25 Oct 1821
The humble Memorial of Joseph Underwood, Thomas Rose, Edward Franks and others
Respectfully herewith: That Memorialists perceiving the many benefits that would accrue to the Inhabitants of the Colony particularly to those residing in the Towns of Sydney and Parramatta from the establishment of a Stage Coach between those Towns.
They your Excellency’s Memorialists feeling assured of your patronage and desirous of receiving your Excellency’s sanction for the carrying such plan into execution.
That Memorialists fully aware of the difficulty and risk of such an undertaking in the present Infant State of the Colony yet having in view public utility rather than private benefit, are resolved to encounter every obstacle if assisted by the protection of your Excellency.
That Memorialists from the foregoing consideration humbly request your Excellency will be pleased to permit the Coach to run free of Toll, or any other duty for a specific term of Years, and that they may have the exclusive privilege by land during such period to carry all letters and parcels between the beforementioned towns.
That your Memorialists have with your Excellency's approbation determined upon the following rates for Passengers and parcels
For each inside Passenger 7.6
do do do up & down 10.0
do do outside do 3.0
do do do up & down 5.0
For every letter delivered at either of the above places as directed 0.2
For every pound weight of luggage 0.6
That Memorialists humbly submit the above to your Excellency's consideration.
And your Memorialists will ever pray
Joseph Underwood
Thoms Rose
Edwd Franks7
ADVERTISEMENTS.
NOTICE.—The PROPRIETORS of the STAGE COACH are requested to meet at the House of Mr. THOMAS ROSE, Castlereagh-street, on Friday Evening next; in Order to make some Arrangements relative thereto. UNDERWOOD, ROSE, AND FRANKS.
Sydney, Nov. 10,1821.8
THE PROPRIETORS of the STAGE COACHES respectfully inform the Public, that on Monday next, the 19th Instant, the Stage from Sydney to Parramatta will Start from Mr. Thomas Rose's, Castlereagh-street, at 8 o'Clock in the Morning, and return from Mr. Nash's, at Parramatta, at 4 o'Clock in the Afternoon. The one coming from Parramatta, will Start from Mr. Walker's at 8 o'Clock in the Morning, and return to Parramatta from Mr. Rose's at 4 o'Clock. Inside fare 5s ; Outside 3s. It is hoped that all Letters and Parcels will be paid for, when brought to be booked at each Office.9
On 31 October 1823, Thomas Rose was listed as one of 100 men to provide £100 each to the Bank of New South Wales to become a shareholder.10 This was the first bank is Australia.
In 1817, Thomas Rose joined the organisation that became the Benevolent Society of NSW, the first private charitable organisation in Australia. Its aim was “to relieve the poor, the distressed, the aged, and the infirm” through cash loans, grants, food and clothing.11
He was becoming a wealthy landowner and entrepreneur.
"Proclamation," The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) 11 December 1803: 1. Web. 25 Jun 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article625923>.
"SHIP NEWS." The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) 18 November 1804: 4. Web. 25 Jun 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article626511>.
"SYDNEY." The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) 25 November 1804: 2. Web. 25 Jun 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article626516>.
State Records Authority of New South Wales, Reel 6049, p. 370-2 No 49, New South Wales Government.
Ibid.
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) 9 September 1820: 2. Web. 25 Jun 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page494689>
Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Original data: New South Wales Government. Main series of letters received, 1788-1825. Series 897, Reels 6041-6064, 6071-6072. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia.
"Classified Advertising" The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) 10 November 1821: 2. Web. 25 Jun 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2180595>.
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) 15 April 1824: 3. Web. 25 Jun 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page494835>.
Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Original data: New South Wales Government. Main series of letters received, 1788-1825. Series 897, Reels 6041-6064, 6071-6072. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia.
"Sydney." The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) 12 July 1817: 3. Web. 25 Jun 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2177326>.; The Benevolent Society of NSW, About Us, Our History, https://www.benevolent.org.au/about-us/our-history
This is interesting Diane. I haven’t heard of the Sydney Loyal Association. Thomas rose seems like he’s doing well for himself
Boy that really paints a picture about the community in the early 19th century.