Australian Royalty: Genealogy of the colony of NSW

Name: Henry Lamb
Gender: Male
Baptism Date: 22 Dec 1758
Baptism Place: Staindrop,Durham,England
Father:
Henry Lamb
Mother:
Elizabeth
FHL Film Number: 91111

Henry enlisted in the New South Wales Corps on 29 Jun 1789 in England and arrived in the colony aboard the ship Albemarle in 1791 with the Third Fleet. He was discharged on 24 Apr 1803.

To Henry Lamb a grant of 25 acres at Hunters Hill
Granted by F. Grose 19 Nov 1794
1 shilling quit rent beginning 19 Nov 1799
Named Lamb Farm
Laying and situate in Lane Cove in the district of Hunters Hill
Cancelled

Henry's first land grant was a soldier's 25 acres at Rickaby's Creek. This land was inundated by flood waters.

Retrenched from the Corps in 1803, Henry's industrious reputation gained him 70 acres on the right bank of the river at Portland Head.
In 1805 the farm was burnt out by aborigines. The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser reported on 31 May: 'Last Wednesday a number of natives assembled near the farm of Henry Lamb at Portland Head, who was absent from home. After remaining some considerable time without manifesting any disposition to violence, they all ascended a ridge of rocks at a trifling distance from the house, where they kindled their fires ; and rising suddenly commenced an assault upon the settler's little property against which it was impossible to devise any means of security. A number of fire-brands were showered about the house and different sheds, which were thrown from a considerable distance by means of the 'mountang' or 's__-gig' ; and the premises being by this device set fire to, were in a short time wholly consumed, the family being able with difficulty to save themselves. The settler on his return went immediately in pursuit of the wanton assailants towards the interior of the Mountains ; but by a feint they eluded pursuit, having first taken that route, and afterwards struck off for the head of the Nepean'.

"The articles of property belonging to Henry Lamb, last week mentioned to have been fired by the natives and consumed, comprised his dwelling house, barn, a stack of barley, a cask of meat, household furniture, and whole wearing apparel of his family. Mrs Lamb was at a small distance from the dwelling in which she left an infant asleep; and perceiving a smoke issue from the roof, hastened back to the house, which was in a blaze before she entered it, and scarcely permitted her her with safety to herself to rescue the child from the flames. Two labouring servants at work in an adjacent field ran to her assistance, but the fire raged with such violence as to render every exertion to save a single article ineffectual."

"It has been discovered that the perpetrator in setting fire to the house lately destroyed at Hawkesbury was no other than a native girl, not exceeding 12 years, reared from her infancy by Henry Lamb, in whose family she had ever remained, and was a perfect stranger as well to the dialect as the manners of her kindred. This juvenile incendiary was detected in the very act of attempting to destroy with a fire-brand the premises of Thomas Chaseland; and immediately acknowledged that she has set fire to the premises of her benefactor and the kind protector of her infant years, who had rescued her when abandoned to famine in the woods, and clinging to the breast of her departed mother, but taken home and cherished was ordained by fate to attempt the ruin of her preserver, who still continued to afford her refuge. After Lamb was burnt out he took shelter at the farm of Yeouler and here the little miscreant gave a second instance of her monstrous depravity. Chaseland's was the next retreat of the distressed family of which she was still a member, and but for the interposition of providence here also would she have accomplished her execrable purpose - but fortunately fell a sacrifice to her unparalleled depravity, perfidy,, and ingratitude. To render still more unaccountable the conduct of this juvenile desperada, she had never been observed to intermingle with the Native Tribes, not to hold any intercourse among them, though she had frequently been missed of late, until shortly before her excess commenced she had been several times seen in conversation with a bot rather older than herself.

In 1809 he was granted 80 acres at Kurrajong, and before long the flood prone Rickaby's Creek land was sold. The new farm may have been leased before its occupation by son-in-law Ezzy, for Henry junior was a shoemaker and Henry senior was otherwise engaged for many years as an overseer in the service of Thompson and then the Reverend Cartwright.

"...The humble petition of Henry Lamb (a distressed settler)
Most respectfully sheweth
That your Petitioner volunteered into the New South Wales Corps in the year 1789 and arrived in this Colony in the ship Albermarle.
That he was discharged from the said Corps fourteen years after when the Regiment was reduced to peace establishment at which time he was settled and a portion of land was granted to him, which he was using his utmost endeavours to cultivate, when every thing he was possessed of was set fire to and destroyed by the Natives and himself and family were in imminent danger of losing their lives; which together with repeated losses from floods, oblige Your Petitioner to leave the place.
That Colonel Paterson in consideration of his services and the severe and repeated losses which he had experienced granted him a portion of land in the Koorajong Brush, which was measured out for him, but of which he was never in possession of the Deeds, otherwise he would have returned them agreeable to Your Excellency's order.
That Your Petitioner was some time overseer for Andrew Thompson Esq (which Mr. John Howe can testify) who promised to acquaint Your Excellency with these circumstances, but possibly his death may have prevent him fulfilling his promise.
That Your Petitioner is now overseer for the Revd. Mr. Cartwright, and that he has a wife and three small children dependant [sic] on him for support.
Your Petitioner therefore most humbly prays Your Excellency to take his case into consideration and be pleased to confirm his title to the above mentioned portion of land, by a grant from Your Excellency to that effect
And Your Petitioner
as in duty bound
will every pray ..."
[Annotated: "For renewal of grant of land in Curryjong Brush... To be confirmed."

Henry was assigned a convict housekeeper Elizabeth Chambers whom he later married when she became free. He was an overseer to Rev. Robert Cartwright, who performed the marriage ceremony.

"Sydney, 19th Feby 1822
Sir
In conformity to the minute of the Committee of the Native Institution, bearing date Decr 1821; submitted to, and approved by your Excellency, I beg now to state that Henry Lamb has taken charge of the Native Settlement. I have therefore to request that your Excellency will be pleased to order Lamb and his wife to be rationed from H M Stores, commencing from the 1st Inst. likewise the payment of his salary, from the Police fund, from the same date.
From the appearance of the Native... [illegible]"

"Colonial Secretary's Office
22nd February 1822
Sirs,
I have the honor to request you will please to give the necessary instructions that Henry Lamb and his wife who are in charge of the Native Settlement at Rooty Hill, may be victualled from the Parramatta Stores.
I have the honor to be
Sirs
Your Obedt Hble Servant
F. Goulburn
Col. Secy.

Lamb, Henry, came free, Albermarle, 1792, employed by Mr Blaxland, Parramatta

Lamb, Henry, 70, Albermarle, 1791, Protestant, gardener, John Blaxland, Newington
Lamb, Mrs., 65, free by servitude, Kitty, 1792, 7 years, Protestant

On leaving Cartwright's service, became a constable, and by 1828 was gardener to John Blaxland at Newington near Parramatta.