D'Arcy Wentworth
Encyclopedia
D'Arcy Wentworth was born in Portadown, County Armagh
, Ireland
and emigrated to Australia
as an assistant surgeon to then-new colony of Sydney
.
he only narrowly escaped conviction of a fourth by declaring that he was moving to Botany Bay
to serve as assistant surgeon to the colony. He arrived in June 1790 on the Second Fleet
convict ship Neptune
and not only served in this role, but was made Superintendent of Convicts on Norfolk Island
, in Parramatta
and Sydney.
as his eldest son. According to Ritchie (page 23), D'Arcy did not board the Neptune until mid-December 1789 when he met for the first time Catherin Crowley who was already on board. Catherine gave birth to William on 13 August 1790, barely eight months later (Ritchie page 52). Ritchie on page 53 noted that the baby was at least five weeks premature and had to struggle for his life. D'Arcy, who had assisted at the birth, appeared to have no doubt that the baby was his.
Wentworth was granted 3.73 km² of land in what is now known as north Homebush
, part of the Strathfield municipality. Historian Michael Jones says that "Wentworth is popularly credited with having called the area after his 'home in the bush', although Homebush is also a place in Kent." Here he was put in charge of the police force and in 1810 became the commissioner of a road toll from Sydney to Parramatta.
Around 1808, Wentworth played a significant role in the rebellion against and overthrow of William Bligh
, then governor of the colony. The participants in the rebellion claimed that Bligh had suspended Wentworth from his role as assistant surgeon on the staff, without reason or justice.
In 1810 D'Arcy with two other was given by Governor Lachlan Macquarie a licence to import large quantities of rum
on condition that they built a hospital to cater for up to two hundred patients. The original Sydney Hospital was in the Rocks, but the one covered by the contract was in Macquarie Street. What was the original Sydney Hospital in Macquarie Street became in 1854 the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint.
D'Arcy was one of the original shareholders and directors of the Bank of New South Wales formed at the end of 1816. It is now part of what became Westpac Banking Corporation.
D'Arcy built his home in the relatively secluded settlement he had been apportioned. By the time of his death Wentworth had accumulated 543.2 km² of land and had built a large family home. He died in 1827 and his funeral procession, which started at Homebush and ended at Parramatta, was attended by 150 mourners.
The Sydney suburb of Wentworthville is named after him.
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and emigrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as an assistant surgeon to then-new colony of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
Emigration to Australia
The Australian Dictionary of Biography says that Wentworth was from an English aristocratic family that fell on hard times, and when he was acquitted of three charges of Highway RobberyHighwayman
A highwayman was a thief and brigand who preyed on travellers. This type of outlaw, usually, travelled and robbed by horse, as compared to a footpad who traveled and robbed on foot. Mounted robbers were widely considered to be socially superior to footpads...
he only narrowly escaped conviction of a fourth by declaring that he was moving to Botany Bay
Botany Bay
Botany Bay is a bay in Sydney, New South Wales, a few kilometres south of the Sydney central business district. The Cooks River and the Georges River are the two major tributaries that flow into the bay...
to serve as assistant surgeon to the colony. He arrived in June 1790 on the Second Fleet
Second Fleet (Australia)
The Second Fleet is the name of the second fleet of ships sent with settlers, convicts and supplies to colony at Sydney Cove in Port Jackson, Australia. The fleet comprised six ships: one Royal Navy escort, four convict ships, and a supply ship....
convict ship Neptune
Neptune (ship)
Neptune was one of the notorious Second Fleet ships to Port Jackson. Built in the River Thames in 1779, at 809 tons she was the largest ship of the fleet. In company with Surprize and Scarborough she sailed from England with 421 male and 78 female convicts on 19 January 1790. Her master was...
and not only served in this role, but was made Superintendent of Convicts on Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
, in Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
and Sydney.
Settlement
Wentworth had several children by several local women; he acknowledged William Charles WentworthWilliam Wentworth
William Charles Wentworth was an Australian poet, explorer, journalist and politician, and one of the leading figures of early colonial New South Wales...
as his eldest son. According to Ritchie (page 23), D'Arcy did not board the Neptune until mid-December 1789 when he met for the first time Catherin Crowley who was already on board. Catherine gave birth to William on 13 August 1790, barely eight months later (Ritchie page 52). Ritchie on page 53 noted that the baby was at least five weeks premature and had to struggle for his life. D'Arcy, who had assisted at the birth, appeared to have no doubt that the baby was his.
Wentworth was granted 3.73 km² of land in what is now known as north Homebush
Homebush, New South Wales
Homebush is an inner western suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Homebush is located 15 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Strathfield. Homebush West and Homebush Bay are separate suburbs...
, part of the Strathfield municipality. Historian Michael Jones says that "Wentworth is popularly credited with having called the area after his 'home in the bush', although Homebush is also a place in Kent." Here he was put in charge of the police force and in 1810 became the commissioner of a road toll from Sydney to Parramatta.
Around 1808, Wentworth played a significant role in the rebellion against and overthrow of William Bligh
William Bligh
Vice Admiral William Bligh FRS RN was an officer of the British Royal Navy and a colonial administrator. A notorious mutiny occurred during his command of HMAV Bounty in 1789; Bligh and his loyal men made a remarkable voyage to Timor, after being set adrift in the Bounty's launch by the mutineers...
, then governor of the colony. The participants in the rebellion claimed that Bligh had suspended Wentworth from his role as assistant surgeon on the staff, without reason or justice.
In 1810 D'Arcy with two other was given by Governor Lachlan Macquarie a licence to import large quantities of rum
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
on condition that they built a hospital to cater for up to two hundred patients. The original Sydney Hospital was in the Rocks, but the one covered by the contract was in Macquarie Street. What was the original Sydney Hospital in Macquarie Street became in 1854 the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint.
D'Arcy was one of the original shareholders and directors of the Bank of New South Wales formed at the end of 1816. It is now part of what became Westpac Banking Corporation.
D'Arcy built his home in the relatively secluded settlement he had been apportioned. By the time of his death Wentworth had accumulated 543.2 km² of land and had built a large family home. He died in 1827 and his funeral procession, which started at Homebush and ended at Parramatta, was attended by 150 mourners.
The Sydney suburb of Wentworthville is named after him.
External links
- State Records of NSW, Wentworth, D'Arcy (1811-Feb 1818)
- State Records of NSW, Wentworth, D'Arcy (Apr 1818-Feb 1822)
- State Records of NSW, Wentworth, D'Arcy (Mar 1822-Nov 1824)
- State Records of NSW, Wentworth, D'Arcy (Dec 1824) to West, James (1823)
- Australian Obituaries; Australian (Sydney), 11 July 1827, p 4: The Australian. D'Arcy's son, William Charles, was a joint owner of the Australian newspaper.
- Australian Dictionary of Biography: D'Arcy Wentworth