John Walbey

John Walbey(Warby)was made Government Herdsman of the Cowpastures, farmer of Leumeah, Campbelltown.

John Warby married Sarah Bentley (Convict; Indispensible, 1795) they married 12 September 1796 at Parramatta, she was aged 16, he 26. They had a very large family. In 1837, in a memorial to Governor Bourke, John Warby stated that he and his wife had had 23 children, all born in wedlock and that 11 of these children had survived to adulthood.

Warby gained increasing respect within the colony as a guide and assistant to exploration parties in the south-western region of Sydney. In 1802 he accompanied Ensign Barrallier in his attempt to find a route along the Nattai and Kowmung Rivers and Christys Creek across the Blue Mountains; and later, in 1806, he assisted the naturalist George Caley in his endeavours to retrace Barrallier's route. Warby had an extensive knowledge of of the Camden/Appin area by the time of Macquarie's arrival in the colony. During Bligh's administration he had been appointed to the position of superintendent of the wild cattle in the Cowpastures region, with responsibility for the protection and culling of the herd. As a constable at Camden, along with Thomas Harper, he was provided with the assistance of a military guard and a hut at Cawdor. This hut is thought to be the first building constructed by white men in the Camden district, though the exact date of construction is unknown.

On 20 June 1816 Macquarie granted Warby 260 acres of fertile land in the district of Airds (on the site of present day Campbelltown). It is unclear as to when Warby and his large family moved there, though there is strong circumstantial evidence to suggest that this took place soon afterwards: there are baptismal records for five of their children listed for 11 August 1816 at St. Luke's Anglican Church at Liverpool; records listing Warby as liable for the delivery of fresh meat to the Government Stores at Liverpool on 23 November 1816; as well as a warning in the Sydney Gazette on 11 May 1816 that cautioned people against trespassing on the farm at Prospect known as 'Warby's Farm'.

1828 Census of New South Wales; [Ref - W0525]. Warby, John, 54, FS, Pitt, 1792, Settler at Airds. Also shown with wife, Sarah (48) FS, and children Jane (22), Mary (16), Robert (15), Eliza (13), James (11), Joseph (9), all born in colony. Landholding 900 acres, 400 cleared, 200 cultivated, 10 horses, 200 horned cattle and 2 sheep.

Auntie Frances Bodkin tells the story of what led to the Appin massacre in 1816, how the guide, Bundle, found out about the proposed massacre and he and his friend John Warby tried to warn people. https://historyofaboriginalsydney.edu.au/south-west/appin-massacre-april-1816-frances-bodkin Vale, Michelle (1994), "Warby. My Excellent Guide", Gould Publishing Services, South Australia ISBN 0646223569 https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/2043260

Family connections for John (Walbey) are: WARBY EXPLORER John (Walbey/Warby) was born on 18 2 1770 & became a farmer. He was tried for stealing at Hertford Assizes, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 14 2 1792 after a voyage of 8months on PTTT. He married Sarah (Bentley) on 12 9 1796 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He was Free by Servitude by 1801. He became guide & assistant to exploration parties in south west of Sydney: including, in 1802, an attempt to cross Blue Mountains Ensign (Barrallier). He became a constable at Camden with HQ at Cawdor. After 1810 he was appointed government herdsman of Cowpasture. In 1816 he was forewarned of Government troops setting out to punish aboriginal tribes in the Appin area & took steps to warn the aboriginal people of the danger-but did not prevent the 'Appin Massacre' of March 1816. He was granted 260acres on 20 6 1816 at Airds/Prospect/Campbelltown named 'Warby's Farm' & also 'Leumeah'. He was recorded in 1828 with his family on 900acres. He died on 12 6 1851 age81. [Some details taken from this Website] Sarah (Bentley) was born about 1770/80. She became cared for by a John (Taylor) & his wife. She was tried for stealing cotton gowns etc, on 16 9 1795, from her guardians at Old Bailey, sentenced to 7years, held at Marlborough St Station & probably London or Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 30 4 1796 after a voyage of 6months on INDISPENSABLE. She was Free by Servitude by 1803. She was recorded in 1828 with her family. She died on 19 10 1969 age89. [Some details taken from this Website] John (Warby) & Sarah/Mary (Bentley) produced 23children: many boys 1.Edward (Warby) was born on 20 4 1800 & baptised on 18 5 1800 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He died on 17/27 7 1804 age4 & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta. 2.William (Warby) was born on 31 7 1801 & baptised on 23 12 1804 age3 w/Elizabeth, John at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He married Jemima (Middleton) on 18 1 1821 at St Lukes CofE Liverpool. He is recorded in 1822 with his wife at Liverpool. He was often in trouble & was sent to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) for 14years. He died on 18 8 1885 age84. ..Jemima (Middleton) was born about 1803. She arrived in NSW with her mother in 1814 on HMS KANGAROO. She is recorded in 1822 with her husband at Liverpool. She is recorded in 1825 at Appin with her parents. She is recorded in 1828 at Murrumbidgee. ..Details of Jemima (Middleton)s family are given in entry for William (Middleton EARL SPENCER 1813) on this Website. ..William (Warby) & Jemima (Middleton) produced at least 2children: ..1.William (Warby) was born in 1827. ..2.George Samuel (Warby) was born on 11 8 1830. .. 3.Elizabeth (Warby) was born on 30 9 1802 & baptised on 23 12 1804 age2 w/William, John at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She married firstly James (Layton) printer on 8 2 1820 at St Phillips CofE Sydney & produced 4children. She is recorded in 1822 with her family at Liverpool. She was Free by Servitude by 1826. She is recorded in 1828 with her family on 30acres at Airds.>>> ..James (Layton/Leighton) was born about 1792/5. He was tried for grand larceny of coach glasses, on 10 10 1813, of John (James) at probably Old Bailey, sentenced to 7years, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 27 1 1815 after a journey of 3months on MARQUIS OF WELLINGTON. He was a printer in 1820. He is recorded in 1822 as Free by Servitude landholder Liverpool with his family. He died on 23 2/3 1828 age36. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Elizabeth (Warby) married secondly James (Kiernan) on 9 2 1828 (also recorded on 24 2 1829) at St Marys RC Sydney. She died on 12 7 1894 age91 mother of 4known children. ..James (Kiernan) arrived in Australia free. .. 4.John (Warby) was born on 3 11 1803 & baptised on 23 12 1804 age13m w/William, Elizabeth at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He died on 20/22 8 1826 age22 & was buried at St Peters CofE Campbelltown. 5.Benjamin (Warby) was born on 3 3 1805 & baptised on 11 8 1816 age11 w/Jane, Sarah, Charles Kable, Robert George & Eliza at St Lukes CofE Liverpool. He married Elizabeth (Hunt) on 13 9 1824 at St Peters CofE Campbelltown. He died on 8 3 1880 age75+. ..Elizabeth (Hunt) was born in 1807-(Smees records-no parents given). ..Benjamin (Warby) & Elizabeth (Hunt) produced 1child: ..1.Benjamin (Warby) was born on 6 9 1825 & baptised on 2 10 1825 at St Peters CofE Campbelltown. .. 6.Jane (Warby) was born on 10 10 1806 & baptised on 11 8 1816 age9 w/Benjamin, Sarah, Charles Kable, Robert George & Eliza at St Lukes CofE Liverpool. She was recorded in 1828 with her parents. She died on 26 3 1876 age69. 7.Sarah (Warby) was born on 10 10 1806also & baptised on 11 8 1816 age9 w/Benjamin, Jane, Charles Kable, Robert George & Eliza at St Lukes CofE Liverpool. She married at age16 Alexander (McDonald) on 14 1 1822 at St Lukes CofE Liverpool & produced 12children. She is recorded in 1828 with her family at Airds. She died on 6 1 1893 age86. ..Alexander (McDonald/White) was born about 1796 & became a farmer. He was tried w/1other for robberies with violence, on 18 11 1811, at Edinburgh Midlothian Scotland High Court of Justiciary on 31 3 1812, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW on 11 6 1813 after a voyage of 7months on FORTUNE. He is recorded in 1828 with Ticket of Leave as labourer with his family on 50acres at Airds. He died on 25 2 1847 age51. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. 8.Charles Kable (Warby) was born on 7 1 1810 at Prospect & baptised on 11 8 1816 age6 w/Benjamin, Jane, Sarah, Robert George & Eliza at St Lukes CofE Liverpool. He died on 24 8 1876 age66. 9.Mary Ann (Warby) was born on 3 1 1813 & baptised on 24 1 1813 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She was recorded in 1828 with her parents. She married James (Graham perhaps his second relationship) on 19 4 1830 at St Peters CofE Campbelltown. She died on 20 9 1904 age91. ..James (Graham) was born on 25 6 1808 & baptised on 10 6 1810 age2- at St Phillips CofE Sydney. He may have had a first relationship with Eliza (Owen). He was recorded as joiner at Parramatta in 1829. He died on 19 6 1852 age44- father of perhaps 1known child. ..Details of James (Graham)s family are given in entry for John (Graham GANGES 1797) on this Website. .. 10.Robert George (Warby) was born on 10 4 1814 & baptised on 11 8 1816 age2 w/Benjamin, Jane, Sarah, Charles Kable & Eliza at St Lukes CofE Liverpool. He was recorded in 1828 with his parents. He died on 5 12 1853 age29. 11.Eliza (Warby) was born on 20 10 1815 & baptised on 11 8 1816 w/Benjamin, Jane, Sarah, Charles Kable & Robert George at St Lukes CofE Liverpool. She was recorded in 1828 with her parents. She died on 6 8 1896 age80. 12.James (Warby) was born on 7 2 1817 & baptised on 6 5 1821 age4 w/Joseph at St Peters CofE Campbelltown. He was recorded in 1828 with his parents. He died on 12 5 1849 age32. 13.Joseph (Warby) was born on 7 11 1818 & baptised on 6 5 1821 age2 w/John at St Peters CofE Campbelltown. He was recorded in 1828 with his parents. He died on 23 3 1899 age80. 14.Richard (Warby) was born in 1821. He died on 2 8 1823 age about2. 15.-23.??? (Warby) Reference: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.