Fix this text
THE FIRST SETTLER
Fix this textEarly Clarence History
Fix this textLIFE OF HENRY GILLETT
Fix this textTHRILLING EPISODES ON A
Fix this textVOYAGE
Fix this textEARLY SHIPBUILDING ON THE
Fix this textCLARENCE.
Fix this text• THE DAILY EXAMINER, WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 3, 1934
Fix this textOur Maclean correspondent writes: —
Fix this textThe articles that are appearing in the
Fix this text“Daily Examiner”'from time to time
Fix this textunder the auspices of the Clarence River
Fix this textHistorical Society make very interesting
Fix this textreading for the general public, particularly
Fix this textfor those born here, who are proud of this
Fix this textgreat part of Australia where their fore-
Fix this textfathers were amongst the early settlers.
Fix this textAlthough the society is obtaining a
Fix this textgood deal of the history of this
Fix this textriver, particularly regarding those who
Fix this textacquired the big holdings on the upper
Fix this textreaches of the Clarence, it will be difficult
Fix this textfor them to obtain early information of
Fix this textthe nun and women who first came here
Fix this textand selected smaller areas and those who
Fix this textengaged in cedar-getting, shipbuilding
Fix this textand other early ventures and industries,
Fix this textmore especially in the Middle and Lower
Fix this textClarence districts.
Fix this textThere are men aud women of advanced
Fix this textyears, the son 3 and daughters of these
Fix this textpioneers, who have the information
Fix this texthanded down to them and in some cases
Fix this texthave records that would assist the His-
Fix this texttorical Society in compiling its valuable
Fix this texthistorical data.
Fix this textIf these people gave such information
Fix this textas they have to the Historical Society,
Fix this textprobably other records could be linked
Fix this textwith it, thus obtaining a fairly Compre-
Fix this texthensive history of the early settlement of
Fix this textthis important part of the Commonwealth.
Fix this textFIRST ON CLARENCE SOIL.
Fix this textIn the bridge issue, published by the
Fix this text“Daily Examiner” was an article from
Fix this textniv pen relating to the advent of the
Fix this textSmall family to the Clarence River in
Fix this textthe thirties and their subsequent settle-
Fix this textment.
Fix this textLinked with the arrival of Thomas
Fix this textSmall and his family on the river in the
Fix this textSusan .is that of Henry Gillett, who built
Fix this textthe Susan and arrived on the river in
Fix this text1836, and who, it is claimed, was the first
Fix this textman of that party to land on Clarence
Fix this textRiver soil. Henry Gillett’s early life was
Fix this textfraught with tragic happenings. He
Fix this textpioneered shipbuilding on this river and
Fix this textdid much to rank him among the greatest
Fix this textof our valiant band of pioneers.
Fix this texthieni-y Gillett who was born in Cork,
Fix this textIreland, in 1801, was apprenticed to and
Fix this textfollowed the calling of a ship’s carpenter,
Fix this textlie married early In life and wits stil’
Fix this textin the twenties decided to emigrate to
Fix this textAustralia, with his wife and young
Fix this textchildren. He secured the position of
Fix this textship’s carpenter on the immigrant ship.
Fix this textHibernia, which was sailing for Australia
Fix this textwith over 500 immigrants aboard. With
Fix this texthis wife and two children, he left Eng
Fix this textland in the Hibernia on a voyage that
Fix this textwas to prove so eventful and disastrous
Fix this textthat it shocked the whole world.
Fix this textBOAT CATCHES FIRE.
Fix this textWhin 60 days out from port, the
Fix this textHibernia caught fire in mid-ocean. All
Fix this textattempts to subdue the fire proved ineffec-
Fix this texttual'; with the result that orders were
Fix this textgiven for the boats to be manned and a
Fix this texttimited number of the immigrants were
Fix this texttaken off. The panic-strick n condition
Fix this textof the hundreds of men, women and
Fix this textchildren on the decks of the vessel can be
Fix this textrealised when it was found that there
Fix this textwere but few boats and these were most
Fix this textunseavvorthy, and inadequate to carry
Fix this textaway a tenth of the people on heard. By
Fix this textthe captain’s orders the different boats
Fix this textwere manned by officers and crews a id
Fix this texteach boat was speedily crowded to its
Fix this textutmost capacity. Henry Gillett. being
Fix this textthe ship’s carpenter, was ordered aboard
Fix this textti;e captain’s boot and was compelled to
Fix this textleave his wife and two children behind
Fix this textThe boats, for protection, were ordered
Fix this textaway from the vessel, which was now a
Fix this textraging furnace, with people jumping
Fix this textoverboard from the bows, preferring death
Fix this textfrom drowning rather than from the
Fix this textfierce flames.
Fix this textSoon ufter leaving the vessel the cap-
Fix this texttain found that he had left behind import-
Fix this textant papers and called for volunteers to
Fix this textgo back to the vessel and recover them.
Fix this textGillett was the only one who responded,
Fix this textand asked in return to be allowed to
Fix this textbring liis wife and children back into the
Fix this textboat with him, which the captain con
Fix this texts' nted to do. After fighting against
Fix this textthe fierce flames and recovering the
Fix this textpapers, Gillett frantically searched for his
Fix this textwife and children, but was too late to
Fix this textrave them.
Fix this textOVER 500 PERISH.
Fix this textOver 500 souls perished in the raging
Fix this textinferno and the small remnant, in leuking
Fix this textand ill-found boats, drifted aimlessly
Fix this textabout the ocean for gome eight days,
Fix this textEventually an American ship was sighted
Fix this textand hoved to, but a request for convey-
Fix this textance in his vessel was refused by the
Fix this textcaptain, who urged them to make for the
Fix this textSouth American toast, many miles away.
Fix this textDespite the tears and entreaties of the
Fix this textsurvivors, the, captain was adamant in his
Fix this textrefusal to take them aboard, notwithstand-
Fix this texting that the people were half dead with
Fix this texthunger and exposure. After entreaties
Fix this textfrom his own crew and after his own
Fix this textcarpenter had inspected the leaking boats,
Fix this textwhich were found to be most nnseaworthy,
Fix this text'lie holes anil cracks being stopped with
Fix this textfat and other contrivances, tlie sur-
Fix this textvivors were eventually taken aboard the
Fix this textvessel and were landed at Rio lie Janeiro.
Fix this textLANDS IN AUSTRALIA.
Fix this textSoon afterwards, Gillett obtained pas-
Fix this textsage on a ship sailing from Rio de
Fix this textJaneiro to Tasmania. After a short
Fix this textstay in Tasmania he embafked in a
Fix this textvessel for Sydney, landing there in 1828.
Fix this textHe went to Kissing Point, 'Parramatta I
Fix this textRiver, settling on the estate of the late
Fix this textThomas Small, where lie commenced ship-
Fix this textbuilding operations'. In the yards -P
Fix this textKissing Point, he built the cutters, Pris-
Fix this textcilla and Aquila. He subsequently '*iflt
Fix this textthe schooner Susan, of 52 tons register,
Fix this textwhich was called after one of Mr. Small’s
Fix this textfamily. This small vessel was afterwards
Fix this textto make history, being the first vessel to
Fix this textenter the waters of the Clarence River.
Fix this textThe builder (Mr. Gillett) and Mr.
Fix this textThomas Small, were joint owners of the
Fix this textSusan and thev decided to send her i.o
Fix this textthe Clarence River, or, as it was called
Fix this textthen, “The Big River,’’ to obtain a cargo
Fix this textof cedar. Henry Thom was master of
Fix this textthe vessel and Bovle, well known as a
Fix this textmaster of vessels that sn iseqwmiily traded
Fix this textto oth"r ports, was mate. Twelve pairs
Fix this textof sawyers accompanied the vessel, which
Fix this textwas to wait in the river until a cargo of
Fix this textcedar was cut. Mr. Gillett was als.o on
Fix this textthe vessel. On reaching the entrance to
Fix this textthe river, they were unable to enws in
Fix this textand were compelled to run to Moretofi
Fix this textBa.v to procure water. On their return
Fix this textto the Clarence entrance they were again
Fix this textunsuccessful in efforts to cross the bar and
Fix this texteventually returned to Sydney for provi-
Fix this textsions. Another attempt made afterwards
Fix this textwas successful.
Fix this textFIR3T VESSEL IN CLARENCE RIVER.
Fix this textAfter sounding the bar, the Susan
Fix this textcrossed into the river in 1836, being the
Fix this textfirst vessel to enter it. Soon after its
Fix this textarrival in the river, a boat put off from
Fix this textthe Susan and landed on the beach inside
Fix this textthe entrance. Among its occupants was
Fix this textMr. Gillett, who, being in the bow of the
Fix this textboat, was the first man to jump ashore,
Fix this textthus claiming to be the first white man
Fix this textto land on the Clarence.
Fix this textThe first venture of the Susan’s joint
Fix this textowners for cedar was not profitable and
Fix this textMr. Gillett decided to sell out his interest
Fix this textin the vessel, and the undertaking they
Fix this textwere engaged in, to Mr. James Devlin, a
Fix this textrelative of Thomas Small. Subsequent
Fix this textvoyages of the Susan in its quest tor
Fix this textcedar proved more successful, the round
Fix this texttrip being performed in 11 or 12 days.
Fix this textThe point at which the loading of cedar
Fix this texttook place on to the Susan in her voyages
Fix this textto the river was at the island called then,
Fix this textand now known as Helliman Island, op-
Fix this textposite Woodford Island, which is at pre-
Fix this textsent owned by Mr. Rupert Campbell, of
Fix this textGrafton.
Fix this textIt is interesting to note that the first
Fix this texttrip of Ihe Susan to the river also con-
Fix this texttained the first white woman to set foot
Fix this texton the Clarence, namely Mrs. Bryan Neil.
Fix this textSettlement now having taken place on
Fix this textthe Clarence, Mr. Gillett, who had married
Fix this textagain, decided to come to the Clarence and
Fix this textfollow his calling of shipbuilding. He
Fix this textlocated himself at Woodford Island jn
Fix this textthe South Arm side, building his yard on
Fix this textthe foreshore of the estate where stood
Fix this textthe Small homestead, which is now owned
Fix this textand occupied by Mr. John Hughes, of
Fix this textWoodford Island. In this yard he built
Fix this textthe sailing vess is, Martha and Elizabeth,
Fix this textas well as two other sailing vessels and
Fix this textthe sailing ship, Atalanta. A great deal
Fix this textof the planking used in the construction
Fix this textof these vessels was cut by Gillett’s own
Fix this texthands, his method being to work on top
Fix this textof the pit and weigh his saw with a heavy
Fix this textpiece of iron or timber.
Fix this textAfter building these five vessels, he
Fix this textmoved to the Bellinger River and there
Fix this textbuilt the Martha Ann. Moving again,
Fix this texthe went to the Tweed River and put an-
Fix this textother vessel on the stock, which he
Fix this textlaunched and nam'd The Twins (com-
Fix this textmemorating the birth of twins by* his
Fix this textwife, one being Mr. “Jack” gillett", who
Fix this textis still living in South Grafton, and the
Fix this textother Richard Gillett, who died lasi year).
Fix this textWhile living on the Tweed River, Mr.
Fix this textGillett was unfortunate to lose his second
Fix this textwife and shortly after her death he again
Fix this textreturned to the Clarence in 18,18. He
Fix this textpurchased an area of land near South
Fix this textGrafton in the vicinity of the railway
Fix this textwhere he lived several years and engaged
Fix this textin farming.
Fix this textTHE OLD HOMESTEAD.
Fix this textHe then bought the cattle run, formerly
Fix this textowned by the late James Sweeney on the
Fix this textColdstream, together with several farm-
Fix this texting properties. The run extended from
Fix this textthe co.usaeam to tne main river at
Fix this textClmarra. The homestead was on the hill
Fix this textknown as Gillett’s Ridge, and the family
Fix this textlived there several years. Mr. Gillett
Fix this textcarried on successfully breeding cattle,
Fix this textuntil free selection, under the Robertson
Fix this textAct, resulted in most of the large runs
Fix this textbeing selected
Fix this textIn the ’sixties, he went to live on his
Fix this textfarm s on the Coldstream, which included
Fix this textthe farms now occupied by Messrs. Jas
Fix this textO'Hara, Frank Blanch, Cecil Jackson
Fix this textan 1 Vaughan, and he resided there until
Fix this texthis deatli on March 17, 1880, us a result
Fix this textof being thrown from a horse when re-
Fix this textturning from a visit' to his daughter at
Fix this textWoodford Island. The injuries he re-
Fix this textceived, combined with his great age,
Fix this textcaused his death,
Fix this text'1 liis grand old pioneer and shipbuilder
Fix this textwas laid to rest in tlie Clmarra cemetery,
Fix this texthis remains being followed to the grave-
Fix this textside by people from all parts of the. river,
Fix this textwho came to pay'their respects to a man
Fix this textwho was honest and upright in all his
Fix this textdealings.
Fix this textMr. Gillett played a most important
Fix this textpart in the earliest history of the Clar-
Fix this textence, and the records of jliis work should
Fix this textbe obtained and recorded.
Fix this textSAILING SHIP, THE TWINS.
Fix this textMr. Gillett was survived by two
Fix this textdaughters., one of whom, Mrs. James
Fix this text0 Tiara, lives on the Coldstream, on one
Fix this textof ttie farms held by her father in the
Fix this textearly ’sixtiea now owned by her son,
Fix this textJames E. O’Hara.
Fix this textMrs. O’Hara, who is more than 8i)
Fix this textyears of age, was born on Woodford
Fix this textIsland, and was a girl of six years,
Fix this textwhen her mother died. She remembers
Fix this textthe launching of the sailing ship, Thu,
Fix this textT wins, on the Tweed Krver. The snip was
Fix this textafterwards lost on the Manning Bar.
Fix this textMrs O’Hara also remembers the early
Fix this textdays spent with her father on the cattle
Fix this textrun, and the q'uick selection of the pro
Fix this textperty that iolrowcd. The flood retuge at
Fix this textGillett’s Ridge is now the remaining un-
Fix this textselected a#ea of the huge holding held
Fix this textby her late father.
Fix this textThe other daughter of Mr. Gillet was
Fix this textMrs. Mat Oliisler, of Mullumbimby, wh
Fix this textdied recently. ,
Fix this textFour sous of this old pioneer ore Mr.
Fix this text“Jack” Gillett, of South Grafton, and
Fix this textthe late Messrs. Richard and Henry
Fix this textGillett and Edward Gillett, of Middle
Fix this textCieek.
Fix this textMONUMENT TO A PIONEER.
Fix this text• There is a monument ovor his grave
Fix this textin the Clmarra cemetery, to mark the
Fix this textresting place of Henry (jillet. There ’is
Fix this textanother monument in the work he did,
Fix this textimproving the farming lands on the banks
Fix this textof the Coldstream, which to-day rank
Fix this textamong some of the best holdings in the
Fix this textMiddle Clarence. Olllett’s Ridge will al-
Fix this textways perpetuate the name of this sturdy
Fix this texto.d pioneer.
Fix this textIt is claimed that Craig was the first
Fix this textman to discover the whereabouts of the
Fix this textClarence River. In view of the advent
Fix this textof Thomas. Small and Henry Gillett aud
Fix this textparty to the river in 1836, our centenary
Fix this textof Clartence River settlement is near at
Fix this texthand, and something should be done at
Fix this textonce to get the initial work of com-
Fix this textmemorating such an important event
Fix this textunder way.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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Clarence River Historical Society. (). [Clarence River history]. Aboriginals ... ; The first settler ... /[Clarence River Historical Society] Retrieved May 29, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-39852009
Clarence River Historical Society. [Clarence River history]. Aboriginals ... ; The first settler ... /[Clarence River Historical Society] : , . Web. 29 May 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-39852009>
Clarence River Historical Society. , [Clarence River history]. Aboriginals ... ; The first settler ... /[Clarence River Historical Society] , viewed 29 May 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-39852009
{{Citation
| author1=Clarence River Historical Society.
| title=[Clarence River history]. Aboriginals ... ; The first settler ... /[Clarence River Historical Society]
| year=
| section=2 sheets ; 62 x 15-19 cm.
| publisher=
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-39852009
| id=nla.obj-39852009
| access-date=29 May 2025
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}}
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