John Frederick Small

John Frederick was the first child of John and Elizabeth Small, born at Ryde in 1821. He was educated at the Field of Mars School where he gained a proficiency medal in 1836. He would have been 17 years of age when he travelled with his parents to the Clarence River to assist in establishing the new home. In 1848 he married Matilda Chowne the daughter of William and Maria Christian Chowne. (Maria was the daughter of Thomas and Eliza Bragg of Bermondsey, Surrey, England). John Frederick Small engaged in pastoral pursuits, taking up land at Ulmarra and settling there in 1848 and engaging in cattle grazing and wheat farming. He also started a butchery, which he operated for twelve years and during part of that time he owned, in partnership with his brother in law, Thomas Seller, "Newton Boyd" Station. He also had bullock teams and drays employed in the Glenn Innes trade. He also appears to have run a business in Bacon Street, Grafton which he sold to a David Laird in 1868.

About 1870 he returned to Woodford Island to take over from his father. Here he built a sugar mill which was a costly failure. John Frederick was fluent in the Yoocum Yoocum dialect and was able to converse freely with aborigines in the area.

Mary Matilda died in 1860 when her fourth child and second son was being born. John Frederick Small later married Louisa Henrietta Chowne in 1861 with a further nine children being born to them. Louisa Henrietta was the daughter of Thomas Chowne, Mary Matilda's elder brother and was therefore the niece of Mary Matilda Small.

John Frederick Small died at Woodford Island 15.10.1897. Mary Matilda died 16.10.1860 at Ulmarra and Louisa Henrietta 19.07.1928 at Grafton.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Nov 26 2017, 23:28:56 UTC