06/06/2020
Thomas COWLING
Contact: Robert Mackinnon
It is thought that Thomas COWLING (Cooling) is identical with the person of the same name who was
baptised in the Parish of Richmond, North Yorkshire on December 16, 1765, the son of John Cowling,
Shoemaker.
In 1791, Cowling was tried at the York Assizes for the theft of leathergoods valued at about 3 Pounds, found
guilty and sentanced to seven years transportation. He arrived in Sydney on the "Pitt" on 14 February, 1792.
Cowling fathered two daughters; Jane, born 1795 and Sarah, born 1796. Both children were baptised at St.
Phillips church, Sydney.
Their mother was Eleanor Mary Brian (c. 1763-1806) who had arrived on the "Sugar Cane" in 1793.
In December 1796, Cowling was granted 30 Acres of land presumably at Richmond Hill. He assigned 15
Acres of land to Eleanor in consideration of her maintaining their two children. Eleanor drowned in the
Hawksbury river flood of March, 1806.
Another child, Cuthbert Cowling, was born at Castlereagh in 1813. His mother was Elizabeth Buller (17751822) who had arrived on the"Indispensible" in 1796. She had previously married Thomas Ward in 1797 at
Parramatta.
Thomas Cowling (Cooling) may be identical with Thomas "Coolan" of Nepean, referred to by James T. Ryan
in his book "Reminiscences of Australia" as having, with others, been "foremost in the slaughter of the
Blacks". This action was in retaliation for the blacks having killed a soldier at Springwood Barracks, "just
after the penetration of the Blue Mountains" (1813).
In 1819, Thomas Cowling applied to Governor Macquarie for a grant of land. In the memorial, he stated that
he was renting a farm on the Nepean, at Castlereagh. Cowling's request for a grant was not answered until
1822, when on 1 November that year he was granted 40 Acres at Myrtle Creek (present day Tahmoor). On
the same day his son in Law, Edward Allen, the husband of Sarah was granted 50 acres adjoining.
At about this time, Cowling was involved in a number of court actions, almost all of which involving one
William Ellensendorffe, who built ... at Myrtle Creek ... actions were over minor matters but one was more
serious. In 1825, in the Supreme court (NSW) case Wm. Klensendorlffe V Thos Cooling, Klensendorlffe
sued for the recovery of a 100 pound debt. Cowling lost and was obviously unable to pay. In consequence, he
spent more than a year in Sydney Gaol, wherefrom in 1826, he wrote two sad memorials to the Chief Justice,
Francis Forbes, seeking his release.
Thomas Cowling's last years are cloaked in obscurity. He does not appear in the 1828 Census. It is thought
that he may have retired to live at Kurrajong with his daughter Jane, whose husband David Hawkins farmed a
50 acre grant there. Alternatively he may have lived with his other daughter Sarah, whose husband Edward
Allen, farmed land at North Richmond, or with his son Cuthbert who lived at Kurrajong.
On 23 September 1835, "Thomas Coulan of Curryjong", aged 67 years, Farmer, per "PITT" was buried at St.
Peter's Church, Richmond NSW by Rev T. Stiles.
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