James Milson

23-year-old James Milson arrived in Port Jackson (Sydney) on Albion on 19 August 1806[3] as one of the earliest free settlers in the Colony of New South Wales.

[4] Milson did well in the Colony of New South Wales, and established a number of prosperous businesses, which included supplying ships with stone ballast, fresh water, and the produce of his dairy, orchard, and vegetable gardens.

He was a prominent resident of the area for more than 50 years until his death in 1872 at home at "Gratham" in the modern suburb of Milsons Point in what was then called the Municipality of East St Leonards.

The Beecroft and Cheltenham History Group states instead that James Milson had worked on Cornish Hills Farm when he first arrived as a free settler in 1806.

Andrew Murray, who married in 1818 a year after arriving in the Colony, also met his wife Eleanor Kilpack, Elizabeth's sister, while working at the Cornish Hill Farms.

The Memorial states that James Milson was residing on and farming a 100-acre grant that he had previously received from Governor Macquarie ("your Excellency was pleased to extend") at Pennant Hills.

There is a note held by the North Sydney Historical Society that states that Milson at first thought this land to be "nothing but rocks and stones, not enough soil to grow grass to feed stock.

[16] Warne's variation of this story is that Milson found the land to be "rocky and uncompromising but he was assured that the soil was good for farming and grazing, and he was provided two convicts to assist with the clearing".

[5] Milson initially leased this 120 acres of land for 7 years which extended to 30 June 1828[nb 4] for a rent of £10 per annum "as a matter of favour" from Campbell.

It was from the 120 acres of leased land that Milson built a good business supplying ships in Sydney Harbour with fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and water, as well as ballast from a quarry near Careening Cove.

[52] Elizabeth Warne also correctly records that the bushfires destroyed what was the other dwelling on the property, the "Milk House",[36] but incorrectly calls it a dairy building.

According to notes held by the North Sydney Historical Society this cottage was built by Martin Regan, one of Milson's assigned convict servants who lived until he was 105.

In September 1828 Milson wrote to the Surveyor-General and expressed surprise that the land on which his house stood had been "measured to the Honourable Robert Campbell whose claim has never been properly established."

Milton also did not disagree with the evidence of Campbell's son "that a formal instrument had been executed by the parties, binding them, under their hands and seals, to certain performances of a contract for a specified term of years".

[nb 6] This was for 30 acres (12 hectares) on the North side of the Harbour of Port Jackson, opposite Sydney Cove for a quit rent of 1s per annum after 10 years to an expired convict, Samuel Lightfoot.

The farm that Muir began to establish on the 30 acres he named, after his father’s home in Scotland, "Huntershill" (not to be confused with the modern day suburb of Hunters Hill further up the harbour).

- As soon as the melancholy report was communicated to the GOVERNOR in CHIEF by the Naval Officer, who had in the meantime, prohibited any communication with the vessel from any shore or ships' boats, HIS EXCELLENCY was pleased to confirm the interdiction until the nature of the prevailing malady should be ascertained, in the best manner that the circumstances of the case would admit, by the Principal Surgeon and the other Gentleman of the Medical Department; whose report, after being repeatedly alongside, confirmed the apprehension already entertained of the courageous nature of the distemper; and His Excellency was in consequence pleased to issue his instructions that she should be brought up at a convenient anchorage near the North Shore, where the people might be landed, and remain until the danger of their nearer approach should disappear; the necessary arrangements for which salutary precaution are stated in the General Orders of this day.

The benefit of a free circulation of air onshore, and the exercise which the still suffering patients may become progressively capable of enjoying in this salubrious climate, to which the present season is perhaps far from being unfavourable, will, we hope most fervently, very shortly put an end to the pestilential terrors and render the restraint no longer necessary.

In 1873, which was also after the death of James Milson, Jefferys sold 2 roods and 6 perches (.2 ha) to joint purchasers Neil Stewart of Parramatta and Henry Hocke Bligh of North Shore.

Adjoining the 120 acres (49 hectares) owned by the Estate of Robert Campbell the map also shows the location further up the point of the 50-acre (20 ha) grant of land made by Governor Brisbane to Milson in August 1824.

[4][13] The cropped detail map shows that Milson had an orchard, dairy, beehives and a (worker's) cottage on leased land in the vicinity of Jeffrey Street.

In an undated memorial sometime after 1 December 1821 and before 8 November 1822, James Milson dictated a letter to Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane giving his side of the land dispute.

[47] The order of possession that Milson had from the hand of John Oxley said: On 8 November 1822, James Shepherd dictated a memorial to Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane giving his side of the land dispute.

[68] On the back of James Shepherd's memorial some notes were scribbled to say that the Governor had decided that the decision to this dispute should be made by 2 arbitrators, one each to be chosen by the 2 claimants.

In a later undated memorial in 1824 written to Frederick Goulburn, the Colonial Secretary, Milson requests a ticket of occupancy for land bordering the Narrabeen Lakes where he wishes to place his horned cattle.

[nb 8] As a result of this publicly reported assault charge James Milson had a letter written to the Editor of the Sydney Gazette giving his side of the story.

In 1841 he was winning races in his second yacht the "Friendship" a famous 12 ton decked boat, built especially for him by Mr George Green, of Lavender Bay.

In 1855 James Milson Jnr returned from England with the "Mischief", an 11-ton cutter, the first English yacht in Port Jackson, which won many of the races into which it was entered.

Then on 8 July 1862 was founded "The Australian Yacht Club" when nineteen yachtsmen, including James Milson Jnr, met in the office of The Hon William Walker MLC who became the first Commodore.

On 27 June 1863 a letter was received from England notifying of the Prine of Wales' willingness to be patron, and designating the club as the "Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron".

Postcard of Milsons Point. The caption reads: "Milson’s Point – Probably in the early Seventies [1870s]. Kirribilli on the farther shore. Eastern Road Wharf is front. Alfred St to the right, the Arcade and clock are within speaking [?] distance of the spreading tree."
Early map of the Kirribilli area showing an area marked Milson's residence
Sketch map [ 50 ] first published in 1955 in the book "The Life and Times of James Milson" [ 21 ] showing approximate location in the vicinity of the modern Jeffrey Street of "Milson's residence" in the 1820s which included his orchard and dairy. Also shows approximate location of the residence of Milson's son-in-law William Shairp [ 50 ] who married Milson's daughter Sophia in 1827. [ 51 ] The perforated line marks the approximate extent of the 120 acres (49 hectares) leased by Milson from Robert Campbell in the 1820s. Above the perforated line was the adjoining 50 acres (20 hectares) that was granted to Milson in August 1824. [ 19 ] Milson's residence was burnt down in the bushfires of November 1,826 in (46.4 m)ilson built a new residence overlooked Hulk Bay (now known as Lavender Bay) [ 4 ] [ 13 ] located above the perforated line on his 50-acre (20 ha) grant.
Afternoon tea on the upper lawns of Carabella in the 1890s (Mitchell Library SLNSW)
MAP 1: Earliest detailed map of Kirribilli Point and Milsons Point: an 1840s subdivision map for the Estate of Robert Campbell (1769–1846) . [ 17 ]
MAP 2: Modern map of Kirribilli Point superimposed on top of 1840s map of the same area (superimposed on top of Map 2). Distortion in original 1840s map can be clearly seen. Marked on the map in green is the location of today' s Jeffrey Street; in yellow are the streets in the area of James Milson's Orchard on the 1840s map; in red (upper) is the location on the 1840s map of the large building shown near the milking bails; in red (lower) is the location on the 1840s map of the worker's cottage built within James Milson's orchard which can be seen to be located on modern day Jeffrey Street; in pink is the location on the 1840s map of the boundary of James Milson's orchard; and in pale blue is the approximate location of heritage listed Bratton.
Lavender Bay in the 1880s as photographed by Bernard Otto Hotermann from the western side of the bay towards Milsons Point. (Mitchell Library SLNSW)
MAP 3: Cropped detailed map of Jeffrey Street area of Kirribilli. Cropped from the 1840s subdivision map for the Estate of Robert Campbell (1769–1846) . [ 17 ]
MAP 4: Map is from the 1850s but refers to earlier land grants. Caption reads "Early map published in the North Shore Times 8 May 1963 showing the boundary of the Municipality of St Leonards East, proclaimed 1860." Added to the original map are the words "Lavender Bay" which used to be called Hulk Bay, and "Milsons Point". Colours have also been added. Highlighted in yellow is the original 120-acre grant to Robert Ryan in 1800 that was purchased around 1806 by Robert Campbell; in pale blue is the 50-acre grant to James Milson in August 1824; in green is the approximate position that was marked on the map for the orchard that James Milson was still leasing from Robert Campbell in the 1840s (in the 1820s he leased the whole 120 acres); and in pink is the approximate position that was marked on the map for the farm of F.J. Hilly that was leased from Robert Campbell in the 1840s. The boundary of the Municipality of East St Leonards is marked in red.