NRS-787 | Stock returns and related correspondence

This series falls into three parts according to the origin of the returns: Sheep and cattle the property of the Orphan School Trustees, and depastured: (a) on the Orphan School Farm (b) at the Hunter River (1818-33) Horned cattle the property of the Corporation, depastured at Bathurst (1831-34) A small herd of cattle kept at the Aboriginal Native Institution, Blacktown (never amounting to more than 24 head), for the use of the Master and inmates (June 1827-August 1828). The returns usually show the total number of cattle with separate enumeration (according to age, sex, and condition) of bulls, oxen, steers, cows, heifers and calves (male and female). Increase and/or decrease in each class since the date of the last return is also shown. The amount of related correspondence varies in the different sub-series. There is a considerable amount of correspondence, bound with the returns, from Mr Robert Smith of Bathurst, describing the state of the cattle in his charge, with comments on the pasturage, the weather, the employment of stockmen and other matters. The Blacktown returns merely bear an occasional note, eg. "One bullock slaughtered weighing 429 lb. for the benefit of the Institution". Volumes 4/343A & B, which are labelled "Stock Returns and Correspondence/ Male Orphan School/From Messrs Orr and Ogilvie", contain returns and correspondence dating from 1818 to 1833. There are two returns made by Jno. Wylde in 1818 (acting as a trustee of the Female Orphan School), then a receipt dated 23 December 1818 and signed by Edward Gray on his taking over the superintendence of the stock (106 cattle, 319 sheep). There is no further return extant until that for August 1820 after which Gray's returns are available for each month, with a few exceptions, until the end of 1824. In January 1825, James Busby took over the superintendence of the Male Orphan Farms from Gray, and remained in charge there till the end of the following year. Some of Busby's returns (including quarterly summaries) are bound together with the others; but most of his monthly returns are bound separately (4/389). There are some returns from the Revd Robert Cartwright, for the first few months of 1827. On 18 April 1827, the flocks and herds of the Male Orphan Farm were divided, and about half of the livestock (215 cattle, 399 sheep) sent north to the Hunter River where they were depastured first on the property of James Orr, then (in and after August 1827) at Merton under the superintendence of William Ogilvie. Those remaining at the Orphan School Farm continued to be accounted for by Cartwright, until his retirement in January 1829; and subsequently by Richard Sadleir, who replaced Cartwright as Master of the Male Orphan School. Sadleir's returns follow those of Cartwright and are followed by returns and correspondence from Orr and Ogilvie; all are bound together in one volume (4/343). (4/343A-345 part, 4/389). 5 vols (part). Note: This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.