Isaac Nichols
Encyclopedia
Isaac Nichols was a convict on the Third Fleet
who became a successful businessman and was appointed the first Postmaster
of New South Wales
in 1809. The mayhem that could occur when supply ships arrived, which was said to include unscrupulous people taking other people's mail and selling it back to them, made a more secure and orderly system a necessity. Isaac used his house in lower George St, the Rocks, as the post office, going to newly arrived ships to pick up the mail and then posting a list of recipients outside his house. Isaac is credited with starting the first central post office.
He was transported for seven years in 1790 for stealing. In New South Wales he won favour with Governor Hunter and his aid-de-camp George Johnston, and was appointed chief overseer of convict gangs labouring in the Sydney area. In 1797 after his sentence expired, Hunter granted him 50 acres (202,343 m²) in the Concord district, on which he established a farm, and was assigned two convicts to farm it in lieu of his salary as chief overseer. The next year he purchased a spirit license and opened an inn in George St.
In 1799 he was convicted of receiving stolen goods and sentenced to 14 years on Norfolk Island
, in a trial that Hunter believed was based on perjury and prejudice. (Nichols had refused to assign more convicts than was correct to John Macarthur
and other officers of the New South Wales Corps
). Hunter suspended the sentence and referred the matter to England. Eventually, in 1802, Governor King was instructed to grant him a free pardon. In the meantime, Nichols had added greatly to his landholdings and built a house and substantial buildings in lower George St. He established a shipyard, and in 1805 built a ship 'the Governor Hunter' which he used for trade.
Despite his earlier problems with the New South Officers Corp, he sided with them in the Rum Rebellion
to depose Governor Bligh
. (He had been an assigned convict to George Johnston, one of the leaders of the rebellion, and later married his stepdaughter).In March 1809 he was appointed superintendent of public works and assistant to the naval office, and then in April he was appointed postmaster. When Governor Macquarie
arrived he also approved of Nichols, and appointed him principal superintendent of convicts. In his last ten years Nichols enjoyed the respect and friendship of most leading people in the colony. His home was the scene of many social functions, including the Bachelors' Ball and the annual dinners to celebrate the foundation of the colony. He was a major supplier of meat to government stores and a generous subscriber to public causes.
On 11 September 1796 Nichols had married Mary Warren, and after her death by drowning in October 1804, he married Rosanna Abrahams, daughter of Esther Johnston
on 18 February 1805. She bore him three sons, Isaac David (1804–1867), 'gentleman', George Robert (1809–1857), barrister and solicitor, and Charles Hamilton (1811–1869). Shortly before Isaac Nichols died he sent the two elder boys to England to be educated.
Third Fleet (Australia)
The Third Fleet consisted of 11 ships which set sail from United Kingdom in February, March and April 1791 bound for the Sydney penal settlement, with over 2000 convicts. The passengers consisted of convicts, military personnel and notable people sent to fill high positions in the colony...
who became a successful businessman and was appointed the first Postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in 1809. The mayhem that could occur when supply ships arrived, which was said to include unscrupulous people taking other people's mail and selling it back to them, made a more secure and orderly system a necessity. Isaac used his house in lower George St, the Rocks, as the post office, going to newly arrived ships to pick up the mail and then posting a list of recipients outside his house. Isaac is credited with starting the first central post office.
He was transported for seven years in 1790 for stealing. In New South Wales he won favour with Governor Hunter and his aid-de-camp George Johnston, and was appointed chief overseer of convict gangs labouring in the Sydney area. In 1797 after his sentence expired, Hunter granted him 50 acres (202,343 m²) in the Concord district, on which he established a farm, and was assigned two convicts to farm it in lieu of his salary as chief overseer. The next year he purchased a spirit license and opened an inn in George St.
In 1799 he was convicted of receiving stolen goods and sentenced to 14 years 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 a trial that Hunter believed was based on perjury and prejudice. (Nichols had refused to assign more convicts than was correct to John Macarthur
John Macarthur (wool pioneer)
John Macarthur was a British army officer, entrepreneur, politician, architect and pioneer of settlement in Australia. Macarthur is recognised as the pioneer of the wool industry that was to boom in Australia in the early 19th century and become a trademark of the nation...
and other officers of the New South Wales Corps
New South Wales Corps
The New South Wales Corps was formed in England in 1789 as a permanent regiment to relieve the marines who had accompanied the First Fleet to Australia. The regiment, led by Major Francis Grose, consisted of three companies...
). Hunter suspended the sentence and referred the matter to England. Eventually, in 1802, Governor King was instructed to grant him a free pardon. In the meantime, Nichols had added greatly to his landholdings and built a house and substantial buildings in lower George St. He established a shipyard, and in 1805 built a ship 'the Governor Hunter' which he used for trade.
Despite his earlier problems with the New South Officers Corp, he sided with them in the Rum Rebellion
Rum Rebellion
The Rum Rebellion of 1808 was the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's history. The Governor of New South Wales, William Bligh, was deposed by the New South Wales Corps under the command of Major George Johnston, working closely with John Macarthur, on 26 January 1808, 20...
to depose Governor 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...
. (He had been an assigned convict to George Johnston, one of the leaders of the rebellion, and later married his stepdaughter).In March 1809 he was appointed superintendent of public works and assistant to the naval office, and then in April he was appointed postmaster. When Governor Macquarie
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
arrived he also approved of Nichols, and appointed him principal superintendent of convicts. In his last ten years Nichols enjoyed the respect and friendship of most leading people in the colony. His home was the scene of many social functions, including the Bachelors' Ball and the annual dinners to celebrate the foundation of the colony. He was a major supplier of meat to government stores and a generous subscriber to public causes.
On 11 September 1796 Nichols had married Mary Warren, and after her death by drowning in October 1804, he married Rosanna Abrahams, daughter of Esther Johnston
Esther Abrahams
Esther Abrahams was a Londoner sent to Australia as a convict on the First Fleet. She later married George Johnston, who was briefly governor of the colony after leading the Rum Rebellion.- Transportation :...
on 18 February 1805. She bore him three sons, Isaac David (1804–1867), 'gentleman', George Robert (1809–1857), barrister and solicitor, and Charles Hamilton (1811–1869). Shortly before Isaac Nichols died he sent the two elder boys to England to be educated.