10 Sir William Macarthur, Notes on Aborigines, items 178–189, volume 39: Sir William Macarthur letters and miscellaneous papers, 1824–1882, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW.
11 Karskens, The Colony: A History of Early Sydney, 2009, p. 537.
12 Elizabeth Macarthur letter to England, extract, 22 August 1794.
13 Hadlow, The Strangest Family: The Private Lives of George III, Queen Charlotte and the Hanoverians, 2015, p. 200.
14 Elizabeth Macarthur to Bridget Kingdon, 1 September 1795 (incorrectly dated, should be 1798).
15 Ibid.
16 Atkinson, The Political Life of James Macarthur, PhD thesis, 1976, p. 20.
17 T.W. Plummer to Colonel Macquarie, 4 May 1809, Historical Records of New South Wales, vol. 7, p. 120, as cited in Summers, Damned Whores and God’s Police, 1994, p. 315.
18 Ibid., p. 321.
19 Elizabeth Macarthur letter to England, extract, 22 August 1794.
20 Ibid. Elizabeth claimed the dogs killed about 300 pounds of meat per week (136 kilograms)—the equivalent is 2–3 kangaroos (at 50 kilograms each) and dozens of ducks (1 kilogram each).
21 Broadbent and Hughes, Elizabeth Farm, Parramatta: A History and a Guide. Sydney, 1984, p. 75.
22 Clarke, A Colonial Woman: The Life and Times of Mary Braidwood Mowle, 1986, p. 220.
23 Elizabeth Macarthur to Edward Macarthur, March 1827.
24 Yarwood, Samuel Marsden: The Great Survivor, 1977, p. 30.
25 Ibid., p. 41.
26 Judge Advocate Ellis Bent, as cited in Whitaker, ‘Mrs Paterson’s Keepsakes: The Provenance of Some Significant Colonial Documents and Paintings’, 2004.
27 Ralph Clarke, as cited in Macmillan, ‘Paterson, William (1755–1810)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, viewed online, 20 June 2013
9. Babies, Bluster and Boasting
1 Auchmuty, ‘Hunter, John (1737–1821)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, viewed online, 22 June 2013,
2 Harris Papers, as quoted in Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 37.
3 The writer was Surgeon Balmain. See Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, pp. 89–91.
4 Steven, ‘Macarthur, John (1767–1834)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, viewed online, 15 November 2017,
5 Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 107.
6 As cited in Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 107.
7 Ibid., p. 112.
8 Ibid., p. 124.
9 Elizabeth Macarthur to Bridget Kingdon, 1 September 1795 (incorrectly dated, correct date 1798).
10 Ibid.
11 Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 139.
12 Bassett, The Governor’s Lady, 1992, p. 114.
13 Elizabeth Macarthur to Bridget Kingdon, 1 September 1795 (incorrectly dated, correct date 1798).
14 Ibid.
15 Ibid.
16 Bridget Kingdon to Elizabeth Macarthur, 15 September 1799.
17 The Australian, 2 December 1831, as cited in Hirst, Freedom on the Fatal Shore: Australia’s First Colony, 2008.
18 Elizabeth Macarthur to Bridget Kingdon, 1 September 1795 (incorrectly dated, correct date 1798).
19 Massy, The Australian Merino, 1990, pp. 26–27.
20 Elizabeth Macarthur to Bridget Kingdon, 1 September 1795 (incorrectly dated, correct date 1798).
21 Ibid.
22 Carruthers, The Horse in Australia, 2008, p. 5.
23 Yarwood, Samuel Marsden, 1977, pp. 93–94.
24 Elizabeth Macarthur to Bridget Kingdon, 1 September 1795 (incorrectly dated, correct date 1798).
25 Ibid.
26 Ibid.
27 Ibid.
28 Bridget Kingdon to Elizabeth Macarthur, 15 September 1799.
29 Ibid.
10. Pistols at Twenty Paces
1 As cited in Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 134.
2 Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 169.
3 Ibid., pp. 178–82.
4 Bassett, The Governor’s Lady, 1992, pp. 91–92.
5 Matthew Flinders, as quoted in Bassett, The Governor’s Lady, 1992, p. 78.
6 Bassett, The Governor’s Lady, 1992, p. 65.
7 Ibid., p. 36.
8 Harriet Abbott was buried in the cemetery of St John’s, Parramatta, index viewed online, 30 April 2017,
9 Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 198.
10 Ibid., p. 200.
11 As cited in Ellis, John Macarthur, p. 202.
12 Ibid., p. 203.
13 Governor King to Christopher Lethbridge, 30 June 1802.
11. Managing Alone
1 Wright, Beyond the Ladies Lounge: Australia’s Female Publicans, 2003, p. 20.
2 For entire paragraph, see Atkinson, The Europeans in Australia: A History, vol. 1, 1998, pp. 199–200.
3 Levi and Bergman, Australian Genesis: Jewish Convicts and Settlers 1788–1850, 1974, pp. 19–29.
4 Elizabeth Macarthur to John Piper, 15 April 1804, as cited in King, Elizabeth Macarthur and Her World, 1980, p. 30.
5 Massy, The Australian Merino, 1990, p. 27.
6 Sydney Gazette, 26 March 1803.
7 Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 225.
8 Ibid., p. 243.
9 Elizabeth Macarthur to John Piper, 15 April 1804, as cited in King, Elizabeth Macarthur and Her World, 1980, p. 30.
10 Davidoff and Hall, Family Fortunes, 1987, p. 274.
11 Matthew Flinders to Elizabeth Macarthur, 7 July 1803. Matthew Flinders—Private letters, vol. 1, 1801–1806, Safe 1/55, p. 50, letter No. 46, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, viewed online, 14 May 2014,
12 Elizabeth Macarthur to John Piper, 15 April 1804, as cited in King, Elizabeth Macarthur and Her World, 1980, p. 30.
13 Matthew Flinders to Mrs Kent, 28 July 1803. Matthew Flinders—Private letters, vol. 1, 1801–1806, Safe 1/55, pp. 55–56, letter No. 49, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales. viewed online, 14 May 2014,
14 Atkinson, The Europeans in Australia, 1998, p. 270.
15 Ibid., p. 269.
16 Yarwood, Samuel Marsden, 1977, p. 93.
17 Dyer, The French Explorers and Sydney, 2009, p. 59.
18 Matthew Flinders to Elizabeth Macarthur, 28 July 1803. Matthew Flinders—Private letters, vol. 1, 1801–1806, Safe 1/55, p. 51, letter No. 47, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, viewed online, 14 May 2014,
19 Cooper, ‘Flinders, Matthew (1774–1814)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, viewed online, 22 August 2014,
20 John Macarthur to Elizabeth Macarthur, 3 August 1810, as transcribed in Macarthur-Onslow, The Macarthurs of Camden, 1973, p. 201.
21 Macarthur Papers, vol. 39: Sir William Macarthur letters and miscellaneous papers, 1824–1882. William Macarthur’s memories noted by his niece, 18 March 1870, items 240–43.
22 Ibid.
23 Atkinson, The Europeans in Australia, 1998, p. 251.
24 Ibid.
25 Elizabeth Macarthur to Captain Piper, 15 April 1804, Mitchell Library, Microfilm : CY A 256, Captain John Piper papers and Correspondence, 1790–1845, Call # A 256, pp. 419–30.
26 Ibid.
27 Ibid.
28 Ibid.
29 Flannery, The Birth of Sydney, 1999, p. 199.
30 Elizabeth Macarthur to Captain Piper, 15 April 1804, Mitchell Library, Microfilm : CY A 256, Captain John Piper papers and Correspondence, 1790–1845, Call # A 256, pp. 419–30.
31 Atkinson, The Europeans in Australia, 1998, p. 270.
32 Elizabeth Macarthur to Captain Piper, 15 April 1804, Mitchell Library, Microfilm : CY A 256, Captain John Piper papers a
nd Correspondence, 1790–1845, Call # A 256, pp. 419–30.
33 Ibid.
34 Sydney Gazette, 27 January 1805.
35 Hill, Paper Houses: John Macarthur and the 30-year design process of Camden Park, PhD Thesis, 2016, p. 72.
36 Sir William Macarthur—Notes on Aborigines, items 178–189, vol. 39: Sir William Macarthur Letters and Miscellaneous Papers, 1824–1882, State Library of NSW.
37 Karskens, The Colony, 2009, p. 537.
38 Sir William Macarthur—Notes on Aborigines, items 178–189, vol. 39: Sir William Macarthur Letters and Miscellaneous Papers, 1824–1882, State Library of NSW.
39 William’s fragment of reminiscence does not provide a date for the activities he describes. But he does say that at the time his father ‘was absent in England’. Over the course of his life John Macarthur was absent in England only twice, and the second time he took William with him, so the event described here must have happened during his first absence, between 1801–05. And given that William wasn’t born until December 1800, it seems more likely he would remember events occurring later during that period. As well, the article in the Sydney Gazette that notes that Gogie, or Goguey, had previously been involved in a ceremonial spearing and had been responsible for the subsequent death is dated 17 March 1805.
40 Sydney Gazette, 17 March 1805.
41 Ibid., 28 April 1805.
42 Richard Atkins to Governor King, 8 July 1805, Historical Records of New South Wales, vol. v, No. 654.
43 Bassett, The Governor’s Lady, 1992, p. 92.
44 Sydney Gazette, 31 March 1805.
12. The King’s Merinos
1 King, Elizabeth Macarthur and Her World, 1980, p. 36. For a similar list see also Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 235.
2 Davidoff and Hall, Family Fortunes, 1987, p. 223.
3 viewed online, 12 September 2014,
4 Massy, The Australian Merino, 1990, Ch. 1.
5 Ibid., p. 34.
6 Ibid., p. 22.
7 Ibid., p. 30.
8 Hughes, John Macarthur and the Wool Industry, 1984, p. 5. O’Brian, Joseph Banks, A Life, 1993, p. 271.
9 Massy, The Australian Merino, 1990, p. 30.
10 Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, pp. 227, 234.
11 Atkinson, Camden: Farm and village life in early New South Wales, 1988, p. 10.
12 Copy of a letter received by John Macarthur from Henry Waterhouse, 12 March 1804, viewed online, 21 April 2017,
13 Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 235.
14 Ibid., p. 234.
15 King to Banks, 21 July 1805, as quoted in King, Elizabeth Macarthur and Her World, 1980, p. 38.
16 As cited in Bassett, The Governor’s Lady, 1992, p. 92.
17 As cited in Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 242.
18 Macarthur Papers vol. 39: Sir William Macarthur Letters and Miscellaneous Papers, 1824–1882, William Macarthur’s memories noted by his niece, 18 March 1870, items 240–43.
19 Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 240.
20 Ibid., pp. 242–43.
21 Ibid., p. 250.
22 Sydney Gazette, 8 December 1805.
23 viewed online, 30 April 2017,
24 Marsden Online Archive, Journal: Reverend Samuel Marsden’s First Visit to New Zealand in December 1814, viewed online, 3 October 2014,
25 Walsh, ‘Huon de Kerillieu, Gabriel Louis Marie (1769–1828)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, viewed online, 31 August 2015,
26 Atkinson, The Political Life of James Macarthur, 1976, p. 21.
27 Dyer, The French Explorers and Sydney, 2009, p. 59.
28 Kohen, ‘Pemulwuy (1750–1802)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, viewed online, 23 June 2013,
29 Ibid.
30 Elder, Blood on the Wattle: Massacres and Maltreatment of Aboriginal Australians since 1788, 2003, p. 11.
31 Connor, The Australian Frontier Wars 1788–1838, 2002, p. 39.
32 Karskens, The Colony, 2009, ‘Pemulwuy’s War’ pp. 474–481.
33 Macarthur Papers, vol. 39: Sir William Macarthur Letters and Miscellaneous Papers, 1824–1882, A few Memoranda Respecting the Aboriginal Natives, items 178–189.
34 Ibid.
35 ‘Told me by Sir William Macarthur, my great uncle’, Recollections by JW Macarthur-Onslow, AiATSiS Library.
36 Atkinson, The Europeans in Australia, 1998, p. 167.
37 While each of the three rectangular grants remained twice as long as they were wide, united they ran for some seven miles (twelve kilometres) along the river, but only four miles (seven kilometres) inland.
38 Atkinson, Camden: Farm and village life in early New South Wales, 1988, p. 11.
39 ‘Davidson, Walter Stevenson (1785–1869)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, viewed online, 24 July 2015,
40 Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 263.
41 As cited in Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 264.
42 Evatt, Rum Rebellion, 1975, pp. 19–20.
13. Malignant Falsehoods
1 ‘Death of Admiral Lord viscount Nelson’, Sydney Gazette, 3 August 1806.
2 Evatt, Rum Rebellion, 1975, p. 68.
3 Historical Records of New South Wales, vol. iv, p. 189.
4 Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 261.
5 Elizabeth Macarthur to Eliza Kingdon, 29 January 1807.
6 Macarthur Papers, vol. 39: Sir William Macarthur Letters and Miscellaneous Papers, 1824–1882, A few Memoranda Respecting the Aboriginal Natives, items 178–189.
7 William Macarthur to Edward Macarthur, 4 July 1840.
8 As cited in Macarthur-Onslow, The Macarthurs of Camden, 1973, p. 472.
9 Edward Macarthur to his father John Macarthur, 19 November 1809.
10 Sydney Gazette, 19 October 1806.
11 As cited in Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, pp. 269–270.
12 Elizabeth Macarthur to Eliza Kingdon, 29 January 1807.
13 Dando-Collins, Bligh’s Other Mutiny, 2007, pp. 3–4.
14 Edmund Griffin’s evidence at the trial of John Macarthur, 4 February 1808, Historical Records of Australia vol. i, p. 323.
15 Sydney Gazette, 21 Dec 1806.
16 Bassett, The Governor’s Lady, 1992, p. 95.
17 Elizabeth Macarthur to Eliza Kingdon, 29 January 1807.
18 Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 356.
19 viewed online, 11 December 2015,
20 Karskens, The Colony, 2009, pp. 171, 186.
21 As cited in Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, pp. 299–301.
22 As cited in Karskens and Waterhouse, Journal of Australian Colonial History, vol. 12, pp. 13–14.
23 As cited in Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 304.
24 Ibid., p. 305.
25 Atkins to Macarthur, 14 December 1807, Historical Records of Australia vol. i, No. 6, p. 307.
26 As cited in Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 309.
27 Ibid.
28 Historical Records of Australia vol. i, No. 6, p. 315.
29 Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 316.
30 As cited in Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 317.
31 Ibid., p. 328.
32 Historical Records of Australia vol. i, No. 6, pp. 225–227.
33 As cited in Ellis, John Macarthur, 1978, p. 346.
34 Ibid.
14. Rebellion and Consequences
1 Karskens, The Colony, 2009, p. 187.
2 Dando-Collins, Bligh’s Other Mutiny, 2007, p. 73.
3 Elizabeth Macarthur to Edward Macarthur, 27 December 1830, as transcribed in Macarthur-Onslow, The Macarthurs of C
amden, 1973, p. 463.
4 As cited in Dando-Collins, Bligh’s Other Mutiny, 2007, p. 90.
5 John Macarthur to Elizabeth Macarthur, likely date 30 January 1808, as transcribed in Macarthur-Onslow, The Macarthurs of Camden, 1973, p. 153.
6 Ibid.
7 Ibid.
8 As cited in Dando-Collins, Bligh’s Other Mutiny, 2007, p. 98.
9 Ibid., p. 101.
10 Ibid., p. 103.
11 Ibid., p. 104.
12 Ibid., p. 107.
13 John Macarthur to Captain Piper, 24 May 1808.
14 Hughes, The Macarthurs: A Brief Family History, 1984, p. 11. See also King, Elizabeth Macarthur and Her World, 1980, p. 51.
15 Sydney Gazette, 22 January 1809.
16 As cited in Dando-Collins, Bligh’s Other Mutiny, 2007, p. 181.
17 Ibid., p. 194.
18 John Macarthur to Elizabeth Macarthur, 30 July 1809, as transcribed in Macarthur-Onslow, The Macarthurs of Camden, 1973, p. 181.
15. Alone Again
1 Description of Parramatta in Naval Chronicle, vol. XXii, July–December, 1809, pp. 478–481.
2 Macquarie’s diary, viewed online 3 May 2017,
3 Karskens, The Colony, 2009, p. 248.
4 Description of Parramatta in Naval Chronicle, vol. XXii, July–December, 1809, pp. 478–481.
5 Cameron, ‘Parramatta’s General Hospital,’ in The Old Parramattan, 2016, viewed online, 18 August 2016,
6 As cited in Karskens, The Colony, 2009, p. 340.
7 Edward Macarthur to his mother, Elizabeth Macarthur, 15 January 1809.
8 Ibid.
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid.
11 Edward Macarthur to Thomas Thompson, 5 December 1809.
12 John Macarthur to Elizabeth Macarthur, 28 November 1809.
13 Edward Macarthur to his father, John Macarthur, 19 May 1809.
14 John Macarthur to Elizabeth Macarthur, 28 November 1809.
15 Edward Macarthur to Walter Davidson, 28 February 1809.
16 Edward Macarthur to his father, John Macarthur, 17 November 1809.
17 Edward Macarthur to his mother, Elizabeth Macarthur, 15 November 1809.
18 Edward Macarthur to his father, John Macarthur, 29 November 1809.
19 Letter from Governor Macquarie to his brother Charles, as cited in Walsh (ed), In Her Own Words, The Writings of Elizabeth Macquarie, 2011, p. 45.
20 Walsh, In Her Own Words, 2011, p. 44.
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