The value of meticulous research and access to written records allows the historian to accurately fill in tiny details and correct long-held beliefs.
‘Men and a River’ written in the 1950s by Louise Daley, stated that the land William Yabsley had chosen was Brook Station, an area of 9600 acres, on which he foundered the town of Coraki. It was widely accepted that he took up the lease formerly held by James Kenworthy, New York merchant.
Kenworthy died in 1844 and Yabsley did not take up Brook Station until 1849 so there remained the question of what happened to the station in the intervening years.
New research reveals that Henry Gain leased the property from 1844 to 1846.
The first piece of evidence is a ‘Licence to Depasture Crown Lands beyond the Limits of Location’
On 1st October, 1845, Henry Gain wrote to the Colonial Treasurer concerning his payment of ten pounds for the Depasturising License for Brook Station, stating that it was now called Pallumba. He pointed out that this amount was five pounds over what was required and requested a deduction to the current amount for the license.
A notation was made on the back of the letter was made to the effect that Commissioner Fry was currently in Sydney and would be consulted to verify that payment was made and if so, five pounds would be placed in warrant to repay Henry Gain.
Henry married Mabel Hall in May 1845 and applied for a Wine and Beer License, which was granted in October, indicating that he had intentions of developing the prime riverside land in the heart of cedar country.
On 2nd August, 1845, the following shipping notice appeared in ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’
For the Richmond River to sail Monday evening 4th, the newly coppered cutter ‘Mary Jane’ has superior accommodation and will proceed about 50 miles up the river to Mr Gain’s Station.
Unfortunately, in January the following year, Henry Gain met an untimely death – accidently killed was written on the Coroner’s report. His son, John Henry, was born 3 months later.
It was a further 3 years until William Yabsley took up the lease – was it left vacant or was it released?
That question may yet be answered with the emergence of further documents.
With thanks to Noel Slattery and the Slaters, descendants of Henry Gain.