Kelman family - papers of Busby and Kelman families, 1822-1879

MLMSS 1183

fonds

1822-1879

423129

Microfilm : CY 985, frames 230-629 (MLMSS 1183)

1 volume of textual material

William Dalrymple Kelman (d.1863) came to Tasmania from Scotland, 1823. He was granted land on the Macquarie River, Tasmania. He sold it in 1828 and selected land at Kirkton, N.S.W. In 1827 he married Catherine Busby (1804-1872), daughter of John Busby (1765-1857).
John Busby (1765-1857), surveyor and civil engineer, was born at Northumberland, England. He arrived at Sydney in 1824 along with his wife Sarah, nee Kennedy, and his family. Busby was employed to construct a permanent water supply for Sydney, which was achieved by pumping water from the Lachlan Swamps (now Centennial Park) to Hyde Park. The scheme, which was originally anticipated to take three years, was completed in 1837 and during the project John Busby was assisted by two of his sons, Alexander (1808-1873) and William (1813-1887).
There were eight children of John and Sarah Busby, five sons and one daughter surviving infancy. The eldest son, George Busby (1798-1870), studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, and was appointed Assistant Colonial Surgeon (1826-1844) after following his parents to Sydney. In 1828 George Busby was appointed in charge of the convict hospital at Bathurst. James Busby (1800-1871), second son of John and Sarah Busby was the British Resident in New Zealand (1833-1840).
Alexander Busby (1808-1873), pastoralist and parliamentarian, was the fourth son of John and Sarah Busby. Alexander Busby was appointed to the NSW Legislative Council (1856-1858).
William Busby (1813-1887), pastoralist and parliamentarian, was the sixth son of John and Sarah Busby. William Busby was appointed to the NSW Legislative Council (1867-1887).

1822-1879; Correspondence, being mainly letters sent to William Dalrymple Kelman from relatives and friends in Scotland and Australia, including letters from Patrick Leslie, Patrick Dalrymple, Henry Baynton, Alexander Andrews, Robert Lethbridge, John Wood, Rev Charles Walsh, Sydney Croker, James Busby, Alexander Busby, William Busby and Catherine Kelman. Also includes letters to James B. Kelman, papers re Clergy and School Lands Corporation, German emigrants and the lease of land to Archibald Bell. Includes references to sheep, cattle, wine and John Busby. Miscellaneous papers, including notes on the families (Call No.: CY 985)

Information upgraded from Manuscripts Leaf Catalogue No. 1 (5-147B) as part of the eRecords Project, 2011-2012

This collection was listed in 2004 as part of the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW 1856-2006 Project.