Uneasy Allies: an Englishman in Australia / H.V Vafeas

Many of the letters are reproduced in the thesis `Uneasy allies : an Englishman in Australia : Henry Vigors Hewitt 1839-1931 / H.V. Vafeas'

Presented by Helen Verity Hewitt, November 2010

Henry Vigors Hewitt arrived in Sydney in March 1865 and was met on board ship by John Blaxland where he stayed for one week at Blaxland's home `The Hermitage'. Henry was then taken to `Brindley Park' to begin his apprenticeship on the land during 1865 and 1866. At the end of 1866 he left life on the sheep run and went to Parramatta for the Christmas season where he stayed with the Langley family. While there he met Minnie (Maria) Hallen the daughter of Mrs Langley, William Lawson's youngest daughter. In 1867, Henry left Parramatta and spent several years working on Philip Street's cattle run at Condobolin. In 1868 Henry arrived back at Brindley Park and in September made a selection of 40 acres near Merriwa where in 1869 he built a cottage called Minnievale after his new wife Minnie. On 27 August 1873 Minnie gave birth to another daughter but died leaving him widowed with three small children. Following her death Henry married the children's English governess Mary Simmons in 1874. Together they raised their children, Mary, William, Thomas, Arthur, Helen, Deane, Roger as well as Leila, Henry and Minnie (Maria) from his first marriage. In 1876 he bought 4000 acres of land, 10 miles north of Scone and established Springvale. During the last years of the 1880s they lived in Muswellbrook as Henry's fortunes began to decline and he was forced to sell `Springvale' in 1890. He inherited some money from his father in which he brought a 20 acred block outside of Parramatta and named it `Dunsden' where he remained until his death in 1931.

William Vigors Hewitt (1879-1958), was the firstborn son of Henry and Mary. He was educated at King's School and left at age 16 to work on a station near Glengarry, `Abbotsford', owned by W.E. Abbott. In 1896 he joined his brother Vigors (Vi) as a storekeeper in the goldfields of Coolgardie, W.A. He sold his share in `The Big Buck' lease at Mount Higgins in early 1900 in order to buy a share in a new claim `Homeward' north west of Coolgardie and a half share in the Waihi Consols mine at Davyhurst. He was a successful storekeeper who ran a newsagency and bicycle shop in the evening. He then brought land in Davyhurst and was to buy property and land in Perth and Sydney. He returned to `Dunsden' for Christmas in 1902 where he met Nina Sealy whom he married in 1907. They had seven children, Verity, Glen, William (1912-2002), Geoff, Mary, June and Thomas.

Several Hewitt family members served in the Armed Forces including, William Hewitt's brother, Captain Thomas Hewitt and his son, Corporal Geoffrey Hewitt both whom died in active service.

Captain Thomas Cotgrave Hewitt was born in Wingen, NSW. He was educated at Kings School, Parramatta and trained as a teacher at the University of Sydney and later became a science master at Toowoomba, Qld. He served in the 26th Battalion, AIF, of Toowoomba, Qld. Capt Hewitt enlisted on 17 April 1915 in Toowoomba, Qld, and embarked aboard HMAS Ascanius from Brisbane on 24 May 1915. He was killed in action on the 29 July 1916.
Corporal Geoffrey Vigors Hewitt was educated at New England Grammar School and after leaving became a jackeroo on a sheep station. He served under the 2/13 Battalion, 9th Division (C company). He was killed in action on the 25 June 1941

References:
Compiled from the collection
Australian War Memorial website. http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au (accessed 14 March 2001)...