John Pilmore Lees, Marine "Ganges" 1797

See Discussion on parents

John Lees arrived in Sydney per the "Ganges" as a soldier; enlisted: 18.9.1796 NSW Corps. Rank: Private. Discharged: 1803.

John Lees served his term as a soldier in the NSW Corps and when discharged was granted 90 acres of land at Evan (Castlereagh) on 4.6.1804. He is known to have lived on the land before then as the Sydney Gazette reported his temporary residence destroyed by fire in its issue of 26.2.1804. He grew wheat and corn and in the flood of March 1806 he lost 4 acreas of corn but saved 5 bushels of wheat. He later grew maize as well and later still tobacco and raised pigs. However, John's likeing for strong drink was to see him lose some of his land and most of his animals before a strange experience changed his life.

It is reported in one source that he went out one night to get some wood for the fire and grasped a deadly snake which bit him. Another source says he dreamed he saw the snake rising out of the spirit bottle. No matter which version is nearer the truth, there is no doubt that his life changed and he became a devout Christian.

When Samuel Leigh, the first Wesleyan missionary sent to NSW arrived and began making excursions into the countryside, he ebentually came to John's area and was directed to his home as one likely to give accommodation for the night. John was delighted that his prayers had been answered and lost no time in building a small chapel next to his home. This prioved to be the first Wesleyan chaped built in Australia. It was opened by the Rev Samuel Leight on 7.10.1817. John's enthusiasm lend him to given an acre of his land to the missionaries. He cultivated this acre with the rest of his land, giving its harvest or the proceeds to the missionaries. The official date of transfer was 3.10.1821.

John soon built another largerchapel and the first small one was turned into a sleeping room for the preacher whenever he decided to stay. When a chapel was built on the land of a neighbour , Henry Stockfish, some miles away in 1823, it was through the exertions of John.

In 1821 Governor Macquarie promised him a land grant of 80 acreas some way north of his first grant and this was legalised in 1831, together with another grant of 284 acreas to the east of his 80 acre grant, which had been promised by Sir Thomas Brisbane in 1825. These were named "Stoke" and "Pankle" respectively, the latter probably being a corruption of Penkhull, a small village in the Stoke-on-Trent area, John's native place.

John prospered and was able to make some liberation donations to the Wesleyan cause n the colony over the years.

In 1827 the family farm was advertised to let and the Lees moved to Sydney, living n Castlereagh Street. He served as a Committee mmember of the Sydney Circuit area for the church and also on the Committee for the Windsor area.

Then John had a stroke and the family returned to the farm. He lay bedridden for seven years and during this time "his physician prescribeda certain quantity of brandy every day". This reawakened his desire for strong drink with sad results. John's final hyears were spent in suffering, both physical and mental, though he still continued to teach Sunnday school as well as he could. He died on 28.8.1836 and was buried in Castlereagh. When Mary died three years later, she was buried in the same grave.

In 1848 a new stone church was opened on the acre of land given by John and it is still in use today. When the centenary celebrations for the opening of the chapel were held there in 1917, a movement began to have "the Chapel Builder" interred in the cemetery there and this came about in 1921. A Pilgrimage was held and the bodies of John and Mary Lees were reinterred in the Methodist cemetery at Castlereagh., in the acre of land John had gven to the missionaries, part of his original land grant. Tablets in the outside wall and on the inside wall were both unveiled on 15.10.1921 to commemorate John's efforts and generosity.

(SAG Australian Biographical & Genalogical Record 1788-1841 & The Christian Advocate Rev B Carvosso)

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In other centres the followers of John Wesley were growing. At Castlereagh, where the first chapel had been built by John Lees in 1817, a new one opened on 16.2.1848. Mrs Gorman, a daughter of the Lees collected 40 Pounds to help meet the cost of 250 Pounds for the new chapel, which measured 40 x 20'.

(Macquarie Country. A History of the Hawkesbury. D.G. Bowd)

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Undaunted by an obstacles, the early preachers zealously pursued their objective of the salvation of souls, over-zealously perhpas as they railed on about 'evil influences' and spoke of 'the proverbially drunken and ungodly town of Windsor. The narrow outlook of the preachers of the 1840's is shown by the action of John Lees Jnr, who 'was so jealous for the sanctity of the Sabbath that he took one of his own servants to court for milking the cows on the Sabbath, during his baence and against his orders.

(Macquarie Country. A History of the Hawkesbury. D.G. Bowd)

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A popular method of raising funds for churchs for many years on either side of the turn of the century was the holding of gatherings known as 'tea meetings'. People would arrive at the meeting by horse-drawn vehicle, boat, or steamer, or on foot. Luncheon and an evening meal were served in a large tent. During the afternoon the young folk played cricket, rounders, two and threes and Jolly Miller. More than one marriage resulted from meetins on these social occassions.

(Macquarie Country. A History of the Hawkesbury. D.G. Bowd)

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John Lees - Born 1771 in Penkhull, Stoke of Trent, Stafordshire, England

Died 28th August 1836 aged 65 years.

John was enlisted in the N.S.W.corp (Rum Corp) as a Private on 18th September 1796 at Clapham on the banks of the Thames, under Lt Colonel Grose.

He came to Australia on the "Ganges", a convict ship, which left Portmouth, England in January 1797. It arrived at Farm Cove on 2nd June 1797. The "Ganges" was a 700 ton ship built in India in 1794.

The voyage to Farm Cove took five months, which was considered a very fast time. She embarked from Portmouth with 203 men and disembarked 190 convicts and soldiers. Thirteen convicts died on the voyage. Among the convicts was John Randall who's grandson, George Shadlow was to marry John Lees grandaughter, Rachel Lees).

John Lees was discharged on 14th April 1803 having served less than 7 years in the army. On discharge, he was paid Seven Pounds and in 1804 he was granted 90 acres of land at Castlereagh Road, Castlereagh. By 1809 this land was cleared and in production which worked out to 18 acres cleared each year. In 1814 he was granted another 284 acres. In 1816 he sold 80 acres to Mr Rankle. He then sold 28 acres in 183 to Edward Field.

Mary Stevens was a convict who arrived on "Earl of Conwallis" on 12th June 1801. On hear arrival she was assigned to John Lees as a domestic worker. It was customary for army corps officers and men to have a convict assigned to them as a servant and then be freed on servitude on marriage. John and Mary married on 20th November 1809 at Penrith Church of England. At the time of their marriage, they had five children with a further five children being born after the marriage.

Their children were:-

Maria 7/9/1802 - Died 30/11/1819

Hannah 25/6/1804 - Died 1874

Richard 10/8/1805 - Died 15/11/1891

John 19/9/1807 - Died 22/12/1848

Mary 27/9/1809 - Died 1877

Esther 12/1/1812 - Died 1875

Samuel 20/4/1818 - Died June 1818

Timothy 19/12/1815 - Died 1878

Sarah 20/4/1818 - Died 26/5/1855

Cornelius 25/7/1820 Died 8/3/1886 (Grandfather of Raclel Hope)

It appears that with the arrival of Mary, John was a very hard working man and was assigned two convicts who helped to clear the remaining of his 454 acres.

Not long after settling on their land, their house burnt down leaving them without shelter, possessions or clothing. Mary was expecting thier second child, Hannah at the time. She was born four months after the fire in 1804.

They made an approach to the Governor who supplied clothing and immediate necessities from the Government Store.

In a colony where rum was used as a currency, consuptions of it was widespread. As an ex-member of the infamous NSW corpss, John would have celebrated the births of the children in the usual fashion. Richard was born next in 1805.

In March 1806, the Hawkesbury River burst its banks in a massive flood, destroying crops and harvest reserves of the previous year. It was recorded that John had lost 5 bushels of wheat and, lost 4 acres of corn. He was recorded as having a wife and three children at the time.

When the land began to produce again, many people were still dependant on Government Stores, but John and Mary and the children were keeping themselves.

A new Church of England church, St Phillips, was built in Sydney and the family patronised it with the baptisms of Maria, Hannah and Richard (Maria for the second time) on 5th January 1806.

The next two children bore the names of their parents, John Jnr was born 1807 and Mary in 1809; the year the river flooded again.

In 1809 John and Mary were moved to legalise their relationship. Marriages were not performed widely up to this period for several reasons, including the day to day struggle to exist, the lack of clergy or priest, and the preoccupation of successive governors with more urgent matters.

Marriages were done in this fashion: Couples marrying by banns had thier intentions announced for three consecutive SUndays in the church, giving time for anyone knowing of any reason why they should not be married, to inform the minister. For John and Mary, the banns had been called, and they were the eleventh couple to be married in the new church. Mary, baptised the previous day, had her name entered under baptisms of illegitimate children.

In 1810 the first in a series of caterpillar plagues destroyed crops of wheat, barley and vegetables. The plagues reoccurred every few years, John and Mary would have had to deal with this problem.

Upon the arrival of Governor Macquarie, and the resulting smooth running of the colony, Mary finally received her Certificate of Freedom on 5th Janyary 1811. It had been due in 1806 but the problems of th ecolony had with some governors and administrators during this period had been responsible for the delay.

In 1812 Esther was born and baptised 3 weeks later along with brother John Jnr at St Matthews, Windson.

The farm had begun supporting livestock when Samuel was born in 1813. He was also baptised at St Matthews, Windson.

There were few incidences of childhood diseases in hte colony at the time and thier rural existence made them least likely to contract them.

The arrival of mail from home (England) would have been advertised in the Sydney Gazette by the Post Office. The news may have been old but the letters would have been thoroughly read. John had some literacy and could sign his name but Mary signed her name by her "mark".

Produce from the farm was bartered locally whilst the bulk of the crops was sold to the Government Stores.

Mary gave birth once more, to Timothy, in 1815. He was baptised at the local Church of England in Castlereash.

John's addiction to strong drink was affecting his health and threatened his family, farm and possessions until an encounter with a snake and an awakening to his mortality. John then became the spiritual one and Mary remained the practical one. The baptising of thier children before marriage and the church wedding indicated a basic belief in God before John's dramatic conversion.

John build the first chapel onto their home, and a new spiritual life invaded the family. Mary did not share John's zeal, in fact opposed it when she ordered a servant to milk cows on a Sunday. John took the servant to court for working on the Sabbath and the magistate ordered that the "master's" orders were to be obeyed, thus overruling Mary. Nevertheless, she supported him over the years in giving subscriptions to the misionary cause.

He built a "lean-too" on the side of the house in 1817 measuring 24 feet by 12 feet to house his ten children. It was build from split slabs and iron bark and shingles made from white gum and box timber found on the property. It was also used as a church meeting place. A substantial church was started in 1819 on two acres of land set aside by John Lees for the church and a market garden for the church. The church measured 28 feet long by 14 feet wide by 12 feet high. and was build of brick. This was a community effort.

In 1820 Richard, at the age of 15, took over the running of the farm til his death in 1891. Cornelius, at the age of 15, was assistant to Richard after his father died in 1836.

John Lees and some of his family moved to Sydney on 2nd October 1827 where he suffered a stroke. He returned to Castlereagh where he was bedridden for 7 years. He died on 28th August 1836 aged 65 and was buried at St Johns Church of England, at Castlereagh.

Some sources say he was an alcoholic.

Footnote. A book called "John Lees, Chaple Builder" which was writen and privately funded by Merle Kavanagh. She was the one who organised the1997 Lees 200 reunion. Her phone number was 02 95211043 and her address is 6 Sumner St, Sutherland 2232. There is a limited stock of this booklet available.

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<p>Castlereagh church buildings</p><p>http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=4b068367-305e-4426-9b84-3...</p>

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<p>John Lees</p><p>http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=49744d38-8a58-4322-97e...</p>

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<p>John Lees plaque</p><p>http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=9d707b2e-28cd-42f3-8940-8...</p>

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<p>First Methodist Church in Australia </p><p>http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=70a78ee3-2d9b-440c-a048-e...</p>

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<p>Notes provided by Jenny Wellington</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Personal History</p></p><p><p>Enlisted as a private in the 102nd Regiment of the New South Wales Corps on 18th September 1796 at Chatham, on the south bank of the Thames, thirty miles east of London. His name was included in a list of recruits raised by Lt. Col. Grose for two additional companies of the Corps. John Lees was a native of Stoke in Staffordshire when he enlisted at Chatham.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Arrived in Australia on board the "Ganges" on 2 June, 1797 and served with the Corps until about 8 May 1803. The Monthly PayList to 24th April 1803 showed an entry in Captain Wilson's company under privates:</p><p><p></p></p><p><p> "John Lees 25th March to 24th April, 31 days, 14 shillings.</p></p><p><p> Disch. in 14 days. Pay in advance."1</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>On 26 February 1804 the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser reported that "a temporary residence on the Nepean belonging to John Lees, lately discharged from the New South Wales Corps and among the number that embraced the offer of becoming settlers, unfortunately took fire and was shortly consumed, together with every article of wearing apparel and its various other contents." It goes on to advise that John was issued with clothes from the stores.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>John Lees was officially granted 90 acres of landin an area known as Birds Eye Corner, by Governor King on 4 June 1804.2</p></p><p><p>In June 1814 he gave 4 pounds to a subscription for a schoolhouse, a place of worship and a bridge.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>In the 1814 muster, he is shown with a wife and seven children "Off the Stores", as well as a convict servant, Jarvis Marshall.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>During his time as a private in the New South Wales Corp, John began to drink heavily, and continued to do so until about 1815. About this time he met the Rev. Samuel Leigh.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>On 7th October 1817, Samuel Leigh opened a small Methodist Chapel which had been erected by John at Castlereagh. Contemporary documents show that this chapel was attached to John's home. At the same time he donated one acre of his land to the church, and agreed to sow and reap the produce, for the use of the preachers.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>By 1820 it was evident that a larger chapel was required, and this was also built byJohn. A freestanding building on the other side of the creek from John's home.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>After the initial years of struggle, John began to prosper, and gave freely to the Church. In 1821 he petitioned for a further 80 acre grant, which he called "Stoke" in recognition of this native place in Staffordshire. This grant became official in 1831, with details being published in the Sydney Gazette dated 15 September 1831. On 21 January 1825, he applied for a further grant of land, which resulted in a grant of 283 acres to the east of his 80 acre grant. This was shown as "Pankle" on the Castlereagh Parish Map, and became official in 1831.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>On 23 February 1827 John and Mary moved to Sydney, living in a house in Castlereagh Street, until around 1829 when he had a stroke which paralysed him. They returned to Castlereagh.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Books published about John Lees:</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p> "John Lees The Chapel Builder"</p></p><p><p> Merle Kavanagh ISBN 0 7316 0188 2</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p> "The Story of a Remarkable Life. Pioneer, Soldier & Settler"</p></p><p><p> Rev S.C. Roberts, Penrith</p></p><p><p> Published by Nepean Times, Penrith.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p> "A Legion of Lees"</p></p><p><p> Merle Kavanagh ISBN 0 7316 2821 7</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>WRITTEN AND RESEARCHED BY TIFFANY RAE as a student with the UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN SYDNEY (NEPEAN) AUSTRALIA:</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>LEES, JOHN ( 1777-1836 ) Soldier, Landholder and farmer. I am unsure as to theexact date or place of birth as some of his background obscured this information. Several reasons explain the problem I had although I was able to ascertain out the year he was born from early parishburial records.</p><p><p>John Lees was recruited by Lieutenant Colonel Grose into one of the two additional companies Grose was establishing for the New South Wales corps back in England.</p></p><p><p>Lees was registered as a private in the 102nd regiment of the New South Wales corps.2 At the age of nineteen in 1796 he set sail on a convict ship, the Ganges from Portsmouth bound for Port Jackson Australia.3 Lees was listed on the Return of Pay list for the New South Wales corps foot, from 18 September 1796 to 24 June 1797, receiving seven pounds.4 This presumably covers his payment before andduring his journey to Australia.</p><p><p>The Ganges arrived in New South Wales on 2 June 1797(5) and Lees served under Captain Rowley with whom he stayed under as a private until around 1804. Lees is listed on the Muster Rolls and Pay Lists for the 102nd foot by the Public Record Office (P.R.O.) in London from 1798-99. During 1798-1799.(6) Lees was paid on the 24th of every month.(7) These records are only the pay list records and provide no real insight into the duties undertaken or locations where the regiment were stationed. On December 25 however it does remark that Captain Rowley's section was detached but does not give detail of where to.</p><p><p>I was unable to find any documentation of when John Lees is discharged from the 102nd regiment but he does turn up in the General Musterof New South Wales in 1805. He settled in the Nepean district with a grant of 160 acres for his services in the army. During the same muster he is recorded to have purchased another 160 acres in the Field of Mars (now known as Marsfield).</p><p><p>Lees is not listed in the next muster in 1811 that includes Norfolk Island and Van Diemen's Land. He has either left the colony (N.S.W) for awhile or did not turn up to the muster that year. Both of these options are a possibility as he was not recorded at the next muster in 1814 and people often did not come to the musters for various reasons. He is however listed in the 1822 muster citing the area he lives in as Windsor, he may have by then sold his property in Marsfield.</p><p><p>Lees has quite a lot of correspondence with the Colonial Secretary from 1812 to 1825, now residing in the parish of Evan. On 12 September 1812 Lees is granted cattle from the government herds on credit. Throughout the Secretary' s correspondence Lees applies for grants of more cattle.</p><p><p>He is a signatory to many petitions in the district, reflecting his character. These include a petition for the mitigation of sentence on behalf of a convict John Clarke, and a petition to return the common near Castlereagh, that was given to Captain King, back for its original purpose.</p><p><p>Also a petition that public roads in the Evan district be surveyed. While all of this correspondence is not particularly exciting it reflects upon the type of man he was, motivated and willing enough to involve himself in public and individual's matter's concerning the area in which he lived. This is also illustrated by Lees inclusion on the jury list in the district of Windsor.</p><p><p>On 10 May 1820 Lees writes to the Governor asking for grants of land and cattle to expand his property holdings. While forever humble, he does not forget to remind his excellency of his years of servitude in the New South Wales corps.</p><p><p>He also mentions his family, documented here for the first time as having a wife and seven children. He also mentions that he still holds a part of the original grant given to him after being discharged from the army. From that request he receives another eighty acres.</p><p><p>On 17 January 1825 he lists four convicts in his employ, those being, Thomas Clarke, Thomas Woodbridge, John Hughes and Robert Deaken. He also receives another 400 acres as a result of a memorial to the Governor requesting land in 1825. In all documented memorials to the Governor, Lees is successful in gaining any grants requested for, building on his properties to form a quite impressive holding. While not incredibly wealthy, from the information gathered, he appears to make a relatively comfortable living to support his large family and employees.</p><p><p>Frustratingly, I was unable to re locate him until his death on 31 August 1836, making him 59 when he died. He was buried in Windsor.</p></p><p><p>By piecing together bits of information from the Archives it is impressive how much about John Lees' life I have actually come up with.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>NOTES FOR JOHN LEES</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>RECRUITMENT</p></p><p><p>John Lees was subsisted for seventy eight days from 8 October to 24 December 1796 at a rate of eight pennies per day. A subsistence allowance is chiefly a British term that is an advance paid to an employee to reimburse expenses, or paid before their pay begins.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>1 Public Record Office, London. War Office, 1789-1796</p></p><p><p>Musters Rolls and Pay Lists,</p></p><p><p>A.O. New South Wales</p></p><p><p>Veteran Company No. Reel 417.</p></p><p><p>2 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>3 Convict Guide</p></p><p><p>A.O. New South Wales, p. 23.</p></p><p><p>4 Public Record Office, London. War Office, 1789-1796</p></p><p><p>Musters Rolls and Pay Lists,</p></p><p><p>A.O. New South Wales No. Reel 417.</p></p><p><p>5 Convict Guide</p></p><p><p>A.O. New South Wales, p. 23.</p></p><p><p>6 Public Record Office, London. War Office, 1789-1796</p></p><p><p>Musters Rolls and Pay Lists,</p></p><p><p>A.O. New South Wales No. Reel 417.</p></p><p><p>7 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>8 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>9 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>10 Public Record Office, London. War Office, 1789-1796</p></p><p><p>Musters Rolls and Pay Lists,</p></p><p><p>A.O. New South Wales No. Reel 417.</p></p><p><p>11 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>12 Baxter, C.J. (Editor)</p></p><p><p>Musters of N.S.W. and Norfolk Island 1805-1806</p></p><p><p>(GRR COD 509).</p></p><p><p>13 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>14 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>15 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>16 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>17 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>18 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>19 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>20 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>21 Baxter, C.J. (Editor)</p></p><p><p>General Land and Stock Muster 1822.</p></p><p><p>A.O. N.S.W.</p></p><p><p>22 Colonial Secretary's' Correspondence (C.S.C.)</p></p><p><p>Index 1788-1825</p></p><p><p>A.O. N.S.W., sz758, Reel 6038, p.315.</p></p><p><p>23 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>24 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>4/1824B, No. 453</p></p><p><p>Fiche 3091</p></p><p><p>pp. 677-8</p></p><p><p>25 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>4/1854</p></p><p><p>Fiche 3184, p. 47.</p></p><p><p>26 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>4/5782</p></p><p><p>Reel 6017, pp. 299-301.</p></p><p><p>27 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>4/1843a, No. 500a. Fiche 3142, p.277.</p></p><p><p>28 Colonial Secretary's' Correspondence (C.S.C.)</p></p><p><p>Index 1788-1825</p></p><p><p>4/1775</p></p><p><p>Reel 6060, p. 188.</p></p><p><p>29 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>4/1824b, 453</p></p><p><p>Fiche 3024, pp. 677-678.</p></p><p><p>30 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>31 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>32 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>33 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>4/1843a, No. 459</p></p><p><p>Fiche 3141, p. 53.</p></p><p><p>34 Ibid.</p></p><p><p>4/3514</p></p><p><p>Reel 6014, p. 71.</p></p><p><p>35 A.O. N.S.W. No. 5002</p></p><p><p>Early Parish Records.</p></p><p><p>1</p></p><p><p>· His wage alternated between one pound eleven shillings and one pound ten shillings every second month.</p></p><p><p>· The positionof private was the lowest rank in the corps and the Lieutenant by comparison received ten pounds on average each month. The section remains at the same level of pay at that time and remains detached until the end of the reel on 24 July 1799.(11)</p><p><p>· His acreage in Field Mars was primarily used for grazing with 146 of the 160 acres documented as being under pasture.(15) Lees was cultivating eight acres of wheat and six of maize.(16) He had two bushels of wheat and forty bushels of maize on hand at the time of the muster.(17)</p><p><p>· He also had seven male and seven female hogs grazing on the property at the time.(18)</p></p><p><p>· Although a modest property, he is listed as employing one convict and seven free men at that time.(19) He is also listed as the sole proprietor, without government assistance and has a wife and one child at this time.(20)</p><p><p></p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>CASTLEREAGH METHODIST CHURCH - CASTLEREAGH ROAD</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>The original Methodist Church at Castlereagh is believed to be the first Methodist place of worship built in Australia. This first place of worship was a slab building attached to John Lee's home. Later he builta weatherboard chapel - opened in October 1817 - and give it to the Methodist Church. Lees was a former member of the N.S.W. Corps and had led a life "highlighted by drink and gambling", until recovery from a snakebite precipitated his reform.</p><p><p>The present church was built in 1847 for £450. The old chapel became the Wesleyan Common School until the State Education System was institutedand a school built opposite the church. The church was on the Penrith Methodist Circuit.</p><p><p>In the later part of the nineteenth century the population of the Castlereagh region declined and there were no local trust members to maintain the church. As a result, the building became dilapidated until, in 1894, a trust was reorganised and the church was repaired and improved at a cost of £70.</p><p>In 1984 a permanent conservation order was placed on the church building. The church, church hall, and adjoining cemetery are already classified by the National Trust.</p>

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<p>The following notes were taken from the Bean Web Site - with gratitude. These notes were cited from Jenny Wellington.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Enlisted as a private in the 102nd Regiment of the New South Wales Corps on 18th September 1796 at Chatham, on the south bank of the Thames, thirty miles east of London. His name was included in a list of recruits raised by Lt. Col. Grose for two additional companies of the Corps. John Lees was a native of Stoke in Staffordshire when he enlisted at Chatham.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Arrived in Australia on board the "Ganges" on 2 June, 1797 and served with the Corps until about 8 May, 1803. The Monthly Pay List to 24th April, 1803 showed an entry in Captain Wilson's company under privates:</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>'John Lees 25th Marchto 24th April, 31 days, 14 shillings. Disch. in 14 days. Pay in advance.'</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>On 26 February, 1804 the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser reported that a 'temporaryresidence on the Nepean belonging to John Lees, lately discharged from the New South Wales Corps and among the number that embraced the offer of becoming settlers, unfortunately took fire and was shortly consumed, together with every article of wearing apparel and its various other contents'. It goes on to advise that John was issued with clothes from the stores.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>John Leeswas officially granted 90 acres of land in an area known as Birds Eye Corner, by Governor King on 4 June, 1804. In June, 1814 he gave 4 pouds to a subscription for a schoolhouse, a place of worship and a bridge.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>In the 1814 muster, he is shown with a wife and seven children "Off the Stores", as well as a convict servant, Jarvis Marshall.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>During his time as a private in the New South Wales Corp, John began to drink heavily, and continued to do so until about 1815. About this time he met the Rev. Samuel Leigh.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>On 7thOctober, 1817 Samuel Leigh opened a small Methodist Chapel which had been erected by John at Castlereagh. Contemporary documents show that this chapel was attached to John's home. At the same time he donated one acre of his land to the church, and agreed to sow and reap the produce, for the use of the preachers.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>By 1820 it was evident that a larger chapel was required, and this was also built by John. A freestanding building on the other side of the creek from John's home.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>After the initial years of struggle, John began to prosper, and gavefreely to the Church. In 1821, he petitioned for a further 80 acre grant, which he called "Stoke" in recognition of this native place in Staffordshire. This grant became official in 1831 with the details being published in the Sydney Gazette dated 15 September 1831. On 21 January, 1825 he applied for a further grant of land, which resulted in a grant of 283 acres to the each of his 80 acre grant. This was shown in "Pankle" on the Castlereach Parish Map, and became official in 1831.</p><p><p></p></p><p>On 23 February, 1827 John and Mary moved to Sydney, living in a hosue on Castlereagh Street, until around 1829 when he had a stroke which paralysed him. They returned to Castlereagh.</p>

GEDCOM Note

John Lees enlisted in the NSW Corps in September 1796, whilst still in England, and sailed the the ship" Ganges" arriving in the colony of NSW on 2 July 1797. His future wife Convict Mary Stevens arrived on the ship " Earl Cornwellis" on the 12 June 1801. John and Mary had 10 children. John was known for his love of Alcohol, and while he keep it under control whilst estabishing thier farm to-gether, it soon began to control his life to the point that some of his land and a lot of his possessions were gone. A story goes that he dreamt that a snake had bit him while he was picking up wood and itbit him on the wrist. It may have change his life. He became a devout Christian and gave up the drink, he gave away 1 Acre of land and built a Chapel on it. John died on the 28 August 1836 and is buired at the Church of England Castlereagh,Cemetery near Sydney NSW . A new church at Castlereagh was built in 1847. And in 1921 Mary and John Lees were re-interred at that site.

GEDCOM Note

<p>John Lees, b 1771/1777 arrived as a free settler on the "Ganges" on</p><p><p>02-06-1851. He served his time as soldier in the NSW Corps and when</p></p><p><p>discharged was granted 90 acres of land at Evan (Castlereagh). John built the</p></p><p>first Wesleyan Cahpel on land next to his home.</p>

GEDCOM Note

<p>John Lees</p><p>http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=f5baa755-5282-44ea-ad91-2...</p>

GEDCOM Note

<p>of Fairfield</p><p>Built the Morovian Settlement and School at Salem</p>

Free Settler.

Arrived in Australia aboard the "Ganges" 6 2 1797.

Enlisted as private in the 102 New South Wales Corps. Chatham, UK.