Major George Druitt (1775-1842)
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Born :
1775
Where : Ireland
Occupation : Soldier
Date Arrived : 13/11/ 1817.
Ship Arrived on : Barque..Matilda
Date of Enlistment
: October
1816 . from the 58th regiment
Where Enlisted :
Rank Attained : .Major
Date of Discharged
: July 1822,
(sold out his Commission)
Where Discharged : Sydney
Died :8/6/1842
Where Died /
Buried :
Sydney N.S.W the pioneer section he was at Devonshire st the
central railway station and is interned at botany with
his wife and son in d d 540
Parents Names :
Spouse's Name : Margaret Lynch (b......d.)
Date Married : April 1852
Where Married : Sydney
Spouse's Parents
Born :
Where :
Occupation : Home Duties
Date Arrived : 13/11/ 1817.
Ship Arrived on : Barque..Matilda
Died :
Where Died /
Buried :
the pioneer section Botany
Cemetery
- jvincent@telpacific.com.au
- Descendants
- Area Settled :
- Liverpool Plains & Sydney
-
- Children :
Descendants :
History
& Achievements :
- Major George Druitt began his
military career as a member of the 121st Regiment . Later
transferring to
- the 134th Regiment and on to the
58th Regiment in January 1796,being promoted whilst a
serving member of the 58th Regiment to the rank of
Captain. It was not until October 1816, he transferred to
the 48th Regiment . Major George Druitt arrived in Sydney
on board the "Barque..Matilda . 13/11/ 1817.
- Whilst en route to Sydney he
convinced the wife of Private Terrance Barnes, Margaret
Lynch to leave
- her husband upon arrival in Sydney,
this she did. George and Margaret eventually married in
April 1825. Margaret actually stowed away on board the
"Matilda" . She married her ship board lover
Private Terrence Barnes, whilst en route to Sydney .
Following disembarkation, Private Terrence Barnes saw
Druitt and his wife through a window .Barnes presented
his musket and fired one shot, which fortunately for
Druitt missed . Barnes was arrested but due to a possible
counter charge against Druitt, the charges against Barnes
were dropped.
- It is interesting to note: Upon
Druitt's arrival he claimed to be so poor he could not
pay his mess bill. The 48th's Paymaster Murray was later
to state,
" Unable to pay his mess bill and yet shortly after
he builds himself a fine house, lived in the most
extravagant way to the outrage of all decency and decorum"
.
- Following Major Druitt's arrival
in Sydney, he was appointed Acting Engineer, Artilley
Office and Inspector
- of Government Public Works . He
resigned these positions when he sold out his commission
in 1822. The government of the time was not impressed
with Druitt's administration and ordered an investigation
into its affairs. No charges were ever laid. The
investigation only delayed the land grants issued to
Druitt. It was not until 1837 that the grants were
confirmed.
- Following his discharge, Druitt
spent most of his life developing his lands. He extended
his holdings
- to Liverpool Plains. The site of
this grant is now the suburb of Mount Druitt located west
of Sydney. The first grant issued to Druitt is now the
location of the Carlton Kent Brewery on Broadway in
Sydney. Druitt devoted a lot of time to the public arena
serving time as the following, Parramatta Grand Jury 1926,
Justice of the Peace, member of the Agricultural Society
,The Australian Racing Club, and a share holder in the
Bank of New South Wales.
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- C to D
-
- Reference :
- Records of the 48th . Mitchell Library ,Sydney,New
South Wales.Australia.
- The Colonial Garrison 1817-1824 ( Clem Sargent )
published 1996
- Wellington's Military Machine(
Philip J. Haythornthaite) published 1995
-
- © Copyright B & M Chapman (QLD)
Australia
- Last revised: April 15, 2007.